Blessed priest Jerzy Popiełuszko as a personal model in upbringing towards the virtue of courage

Abstract

The work focuses on personal models in upbringing towards the virtue of courage. The purpose of the research is answering to the following question: How can we use the blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko’s example in upbringing towards the virtue of courage? The author uses the history-pedagogy biographical method. The life and activity of this martyr, cruelly murdered by the communist secret services, is duly analysed. During his whole life, Jerzy Popiełuszko demonstrated determination to follow Jesus Christ in everything, including accepting a cruel death, while at the same time gracing his oppressors with love. The author concentrates particularly on this period of his life in which he was stationed in a military unit known for its strict discipline, in Bartoszyce (1965-1967). It was then, at the age of just 19, that he already proved to be the sole embodiment of courage. The applied criteria for the virtue of such courage have been proposed by Jacek Woroniecki – a Dominican monk, philosopher, pedagogue, and one of the brightest Thomists of his time.
 The result of the research are guidelines how to ensure an upbringing which guarantees the virtue of courage. The process should concentrate on the will to surmount fear in the face of danger; patience; compassion for the suffering of others; distance from both cowardice as well as insolence. The work shows that Popiełuszko perfectly fulfills Woroniecki’s criteria for courage from the Christian perspective, The author put particular emphasis on analysing the ‘scapegoat mechanism’ used by the communist secret services to torture chosen persons. The behaviour of the blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko can be an example and inspiration how to shape the virtue of courage. Jacek Woroniecki’s concept may be used to select the next courageous personal models.