Internal freedom as a foundation of strength and sovereignty of the nation in the thought of Primate Stefan Wyszyński

Internal freedom is at the heart of all human freedom. This truth was present in the thought and teaching of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. The Primate also expressed it through the testimony of his life – a man who will not hesitate to go to prison. The foundation of freedom in Cardinal Wyszyński’s life was faith. He conveyed this truth, teaching that freedom of spirit is constantly gained through living in accordance with the Decalogue and teachings of Jesus, that is, being faithful to God, the Church and the Gospel. The Primate saw the guarantee of internal freedom in the things seemingly opposite – namely in the surrender to slavery. However, in the Primate’s opinion, it was slavery which was giving true freedom – that is, slavery to love, sacrificing for the freedom of the Church to God and His Mother. He said that he wanted to replace this terrible, heavy slavery of modern man with sweet, maternal slavery in Mary’s arms. In this, he saw the salvation of a nation in political enslavement, enslavement to the pressure of atheistic morality, social and economic enslavement, as well as enslavement to sins and addictions. Cardinal Wyszyński also called for an attitude of service to personal and social life, to serve one another in love, justice and peace. In Cardinal’s conviction, it was the faith in the martyred and resurrected Christ that was a source of special inspiration for Poles, because it taught them that the nation was not allowed to come to terms with its own death, inflicted by the injustice of others, but they should look for ways to resurrection. Freedom is a fundamental condition for the development of a nation. Only an internally free nation is capable of achieving freedom and sovereignty, for it is love that is the true fulfilment of freedom.

Internal freedom is at the heart of all human freedom. This truth was present in the thought and teaching of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. The Primate also expressed it through the testimony of his life – a man who will not hesitate to go to prison. The foundation of freedom in Cardinal Wyszyński’s life was faith. He conveyed this truth, teaching that freedom of spirit is constantly gained through living in accordance with the Decalogue and teachings of Jesus, that is, being faithful to God, the Church and the Gospel. The Primate saw the guarantee of internal freedom in the things seemingly opposite – namely in the surrender to slavery. However, in the Primate’s opinion, it was slavery which was giving true freedom – that is, slavery to love, sacrificing for the freedom of the Church to God and His Mother. He said that he wanted to replace this terrible, heavy slavery of modern man with sweet, maternal slavery in Mary’s arms. In this, he saw the salvation of a nation in political enslavement, enslavement to the pressure of atheistic morality, social and economic enslavement, as well as  enslavement to sins and addictions. Cardinal Wyszyński also called for an attitude of service to personal and social life, to serve one another in love, justice and peace. In Cardinal’s conviction, it was the faith in the martyred and resurrected Christ that was a source of special inspiration for Poles, because it taught them that the nation was not allowed to come to terms with its own death, inflicted by the injustice of others, but they should look for ways to resurrection. Freedom is a fundamental condition for the development of a nation. Only an internally free nation is capable of achieving freedom and sovereignty, for it is love that is the true fulfilment of freedom.