Abstract

In the year 2006 the Polish Catholic Church recalled two historical events of supreme importance for the life of the faithful in post-war Poland liberated from Nazism, but then finding herself under the Communist regime, irremediably determined to introduce there the Marxist vision of society, so destroying the Christian presence. They were the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Polish Nation (8 September 1946), carried out by the Primate, the Servant of God Card. Augusto Hlond, and the Solemn Vow to the Black Madonna of Jasna Góra (26 August 1956), by the Servant of God Card. Stefano Wyszyński.  These two anniversaries provide an opportunity to examine the significance of the vision of the Victory of Mary over the atheistic communist political system, witnessed by Card. Hlond before he died (22 October 1948). To understand it more correctly, we shall examine the kind of Marian devotion Hlond had; the socio-political circumstances of the birth of this vision; its extraordinary influence on the pastoral activity of Card. Wyszyński and the Polish hierarchy. Wyszyński recognised, in fact, the unusual creative force of the vision of Mary the Victorious in planning and implementing an extremely effective pastoral programme for the moral renewal and the evangelisation of Polish society, especially in view of the preparation of the Polish Nation for the Millennium of its Baptism (1966), by means of the Great Novena to the Madonna.  This Marian style of pastoral activity – which, despite the criticisms, was all centred on Christ – contributed decisely, even according to the opinion of the non Catholics, to the defence of the freedom of Polish citizens, with a positive reaction outside Poland. In addition reference is made to the perception of this Marian vision in the Petrine ministry of John Paul II, who on not a few occa- sions spoke about this victorious vision of Mary by Card. Hlond. Even though it is not explicitly mentioned , nevertheless the existence can be seen of a thread linking Hlond, Wyszyński and John Paul II: a particular Marian dimension of their pastoral activity.