Below, two hymns in search of a composer. The first, a Polish national hymn (in English), “John Paull II and the Polish Martyrs”. The second, an American national hymn, “O God Above, You Made Us Free”. John Paul II and the Polish Martyrs
The first hymn was commissioned by the Benedict XVI Institute, an important Catholic organization dedicated to the beautiful arts. The Institute is reviving Catholic art and culture. *
The second hymn is both thanksgiving and atonement, atonement for our nation’s many offenses, thanksgiving for our opportunity to better serve God’s purpose.
Also composed in recent months, translations of hymns by Saint Thomas Aquinas, King David, and others. Some of these translations can be found at the Expansive Poets online journal.
The Polish hymn would like a Polish translator. Here, an opportunity to mention Leo Yankevich, a friend passed on to his reward, a most excellent poet, among the best of our (my) generation. If you do not know Leo, you might read about him, here. Too, you might without charge read his chapbook, Metaphysics. Leo, an American born Polish citizen, was a leader in traditional poetry’s revival.
JOHN PAUL II AND THE POLISH MARTYRS
Bless’ed Polish martyrs, pray for us.
Forever faithful to his flock,
Good Father Rapacz would not flee.
Steadfast he heard the soldiers knock.
Devout, the priest was made to bleed.
“For God I’ll suffer every loss,
For I shall not renounce the Cross.”
The Soviets with foul intent
Did eye the nuns where they did lay.
Pure Teodora to prevent
Rape, died to keep her sisters safe.
With faith in Christ, care for our friends,
From life through death Love never ends.
The soldier hero, brave Witold
At Auschwitz prison did resist,
Then spoke out bold to every Pole
That we oppose the Communist.
To speak the truth, expose the lie,
Is cause enough to give one’s life.
A teacher, sister, and a friend
Defied the Nazi, saved the Jew:
Maria Anna met her end
In taunting, whipping, yet was true.
The pious deeds of life will teach:
More than our words our acts do preach.
In gentle Christian charity
He blessed the rocks tied to his feet:
Jerzy in Solidarity
When drowning did not know defeat.
The Party hoped the priest had died.
The martyr was beatified.
Some twenty-thousand Polish men
Were heaped in Katyn’s forest grave.
A bullet each to every head
From Stalin and Red Army knaves.
The ending of each deviled story
Is God bringing souls to glory.
The Moslem shot him in the chest
Yet Saint John Paul was saved from death.
When asked, “How did you live,” he said,
“Our Mother steered the bullet’s path.”
As in the way of Christ and Mary
The Christian pardons enemies.
O Polish martyrs, pray for us.
….Michał Rapacz, pray for us.
….Teodora, pray for us.
….Witold Pilecki, pray for us.
….Maria Anna, pray for us.
….Popieluszko, pray for us.
….Sainted Katyns, pray for us.
….John Paul the Great, pray for us.
O Polish martyrs, pray for us.
Dominus Vobiscum.
….O Holy Bishops, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
….O Holy Priests, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
….O Holy Brothers, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
….O Holy Sisters, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
….Blessed Laity, ad maiorem Dei gloriam.
Deo Gratias.
One hundred eight brave Polish martyrs
Bear witness to Christ’s victory.
Give praise! Their gift of faith restores our hope,
Inspires in us fidelity.
In toil and trial recall that God is Love.
Believe in Him, achieve Heaven above,
Believe in Him, achieve Heaven above.
NOTES
1. Father Michał Rapacz (1904-1946), beatified 15 June 2024
2. Sister Maria Teodora (1889-1945), Servant of God
3. Cavalry Captain Witold Pilecki (1901-1948)
4. Sister Maria Anna Kratochwil (1881-1942), beatified 13 June 1999
5. Father Jerzy Popieluszko (1947-1984), beatified 6 June 2010
6. Katyn Massacre (April-May 1940)
7. Saint John Paul II (1920-2005), canonized 22 April 2014
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam = For God’s greater glory
Dominus Vobiscum = The Lord be with you
Deo Gratias = Thanks be to God
The final stanza summarizes Saint John Paul II’s 13 June 1999 homily of the Mass which beatified 108 Polish martyrs.
Composed for the Benedict XVI Institute.
O GOD ABOVE, YOU MADE US FREE
O God above You made us free
….To do Your work and will.
O God above we bow to Thee,
….We are Your children still.
You gave us life to serve Your ends.
O make us great again.
O God above in Trinity,
….We turned our thoughts away.
O God above in Majesty,
….We yield to You and pray.
You gave us life to serve Your ends.
O make us great again.
O God above, we humbled men
….Give free our love to You.
O God above, to serve Your ends
….We pledge a faith renewed.
You gave us life to serve Your ends.
O make us great again.
O God above, You blessed this land,
….You made these hills and plains.
O God, with love in faith we stand.
….This land is God’s domain.
You gave us life to serve Your ends
O make us great again.
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Compliments from fellow poets for
John Paul II and the Polish Martyrs
Poems like this are depressing, but they are vitally necessary. Thank you, Professor Curtis.
Joseph Salemi
Thank you for the commemoration they deserve. (And thank you for all your efforts in the visual arts, as well.)
Adam Sedia
A moving, thoughtful piece of poetry, Michael.
Paul A. Freeman
Michael, an inspiring story of God bringing souls to glory. Each vignette is a fresh picture of Poland’s fidelity, with relevance for all. I admire the couplet repeated as conclusion to the last two stanzas.
Margaret Coats
This flood of memories comes back to me by reading your trenchant and marvelous poem providing sparkling vignettes of the heroism of the Polish people. Thank you for such reverential writing.
Roy Eugene Peterson
Michael, thank you so very much for this stark, poetic wake-up call at a time we should all be looking to the heinous acts of the past in order to fully appreciate exactly where we are heading if we choose to ignore the shocking lessons history has to offer.
Susan Jarvis Bryant
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For similar and related stories, you might like to visit
and other essays at The Studio Books, Annals.
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“John Paul II and the Polish Martyrs” appeared at The Society of Classical Poets.
* I rather agree with the Benedict XVI Institute’s vision, “The greatest art, the greatest liturgy the Catholic Church has ever produced is yet to come.”
John Paul II and the Polish Martyrs featured image, the Arian Baptistry dome, Ravenna, Italy.
At The Beautiful Home you will find a pictorial essay on the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
John Paul II and the Polish Martyrs
