Abstract

In the history of the Church one finds an event wherein a mother was
questioned in the beatification process of her son. This occurred in the case
of Marianna Popiełuszko, who before the court of beatification in Warsaw
in 1997, responded to all the questions put to her in order to assess the life
and work of Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko as a candidate for sainthood by Church
authorities.
From these testimonies there emerges an interesting picture of the life
and death of Fr. Popiełuszko, as well as his faith and steadfastness. It helps
to read the true intentions which were of a religious nature that guided him
during his activity. Moreover, this confirms the martyrological nature of
his death, in which what counts is not only the anguish inflicted, but the
reason for one’s achievements. This also demonstrates that martyrdom was
the crowning achievement of his life of faith and love, which was associated
with forgiveness that is opposed to hatred or vengeance.
This vision of martyrdom is consistent with the classical understanding
of martyrdom in the Church, which is not limited only to the moment of
death, but applies to the entire life of the martyr.