LENTEN MARTYRS OF WWII

It has been said that the Catholic Church has had more martyrs in the past 120 years, than in the previous 1800 years combined- and the martyrdom is on-going. We all know of Sts. Maximillion Kolbe, Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein), Franz Jagerstatter, and the recently canonized Ulma Family.  But there are many more martyrs that have come out of World War II than most of us in the USA know about. 

This Lent I would like to consider a few, since we are facing wars (Ukraine and Middle East) and it never hurts to keep before us those who bravely gave of their lives for Christ Jesus. Of those we will briefly present, nine were canonized together and known as the 108 Martyrs.

The 108 Martyrs of World War II, known also as the 108 Blessed Polish Martyrs, were Roman Catholics from Poland killed by Nazi Germany. Their liturgical feast day is 12 June. They were beatified on 13 June 1999 by St. Pope John Paul II in Warsaw, Poland. The group comprises 3 bishops, 52 priests, 26 members of male religious orders, 3 seminarians, 8 religious sisters and 9 lay people. There are two parishes named for the 108 Martyrs of World War II in Powiercie and in Malbork, Poland.

The first woman from this groups isBL. ALICE MARIA JADWIGA KOTOWSKA. Born in Warsaw in 1889, she was the third of seven children. Her family was very devout and her father was an organist. She grew up during Poland’s struggle for freedom, and throughout her life said her two great loves were God and Country.

 After the outbreak of WWI, in 1918, she became a member of the Polish Organized Army and also began her studies in medicine at the University of Warsaw. She was very dedicated in her care of wounded soldiers and was awarded a medal of “Poland Restored”.

 In 1922 before completing her medical studies, she entered the Sisters of the Resurrection.  In her request for acceptance she wrote: “I desire to live and die for Christ, for He is the Greatest Love, Lord, and my All”.

After professing her vows she was directed to work in the school conducted by the Congregation in Warsaw, while at the same time she was to complete her studies in the area of chemistry.  She first taught in Warsaw,  then was the Directress in Wejherowo.

On October 24, 1939, two Gestapo soldiers came to the convent of the Sisters in Wejherowo with orders to arrest Sister Alice.  She had been warned a few days previously about the possibility of arrest.  She could have escaped but did not do so because she would not save herself at the cost of being an instrument of suffering for others.  She did not want to leave the Sisters in the community of which she was the superior.  

As soon as she was arrested, she knew that she had been betrayed by the school custodian.  The last words which the Sisters heard at the time of her arrest, were the evangelical words of forgiveness:  "I forgive Francis for everything."

On the day on which she was put to death, an eyewitness related how Sister Alice performed still another heroic act of love, of concern for others.  This regarded a group of Jewish children who were destined like her to be put to death in the forest of Piasnica.  As she left the prison, she saw the group of frightened, terrified children.  She ran to them, took them by the hand and walked with them into the waiting truck.

Blessed Alice’s  beatification came 100 years after her birth  and sixty years after her martyrdom.   For her country is was“a day of tremendous Resurrection hope.”