reflect with devout hearts and minds on his martyrdom and his sanctity. It is our fervent desire that all who proudly bear the name of Catholics throughout the world, and especially those sons of our beloved Polish land, for whom the Invincible Hero of Christ, Andrew Bobola, is a source of pride and an admirable model of Christian courage, may, on the three-hundredth anniversary of his death, reflect with devout hearts and minds on his martyrdom and sanctity. We do not wish to let this memorable moment, inscribed in golden letters in the annals of the Church, pass without speaking of his life and virtues. Through this encyclical, we hope to point out to you, Venerable Brothers, and to the faithful entrusted to your pastoral care, an example in his life that each one, according to their state and vocation, may strive to imitate.

 

Among the many glorious qualities that shine in Andrew Bobola, the virtue of faith stands out above all. Strengthened by divine grace, this virtue became so deeply rooted and flourished in his soul over the years that it shaped his life and gave him the courage to embrace martyrdom with unwavering fortitude.​ In his life, the truth expressed by the Apostle to the Nations shines forth in a remarkable way: "The just man shall live by faith" (Hebrews 10:38). For whatever the Catholic Church proposed, whether as a matter of belief or a call to action, he embraced with all his heart and sought to carry out with the greatest eagerness. From the very beginning, he strove to restrain and bring into order those unruly inclinations that, since the lamentable fall of our first parent, tend to disturb human nature and draw it toward evil. At the same time, with unwavering zeal, he worked tirelessly to adorn his soul with every Christian virtue.

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​​He was born in 1591 in the Sandomierz region to parents distinguished not only by the nobility of their lineage but even more so by their virtue and steadfastness in the Catholic faith. Gifted with a keen mind inclined toward goodness, he received at home a noble and Christian upbringing from his earliest childhood. He was later sent to the Jesuit schools, where he quickly stood out for his innocence and heartfelt piety. Holding only contempt in his heart for worldly glories and vanities, he fervently longed for the "greater gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31). At the age of nineteen, with great eagerness, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Vilnius, seeking to tread more securely the path of evangelical perfection.

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​​Bearing in mind Christ's crucial exhortation, "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23), he devoted himself with utmost zeal to acquiring Christian humility through self-denial. Since by nature he had a certain tendency toward pride, impatience, and a touch of stubbornness, he declared an unrelenting war against himself. Through this inner struggle, he took up the cross of Christ upon his shoulders and carried it to Calvary, striving to attain, with God's grace, the perfection of humility a virtue he fervently desired and ardently prayed for. This humility, he understood, leads to all the splendors of Christian sanctity.

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He kept close to his heart the wise teaching of St. Bernard: "The spiritual edifice cannot be raised except on the firm foundation of humility" (Sermon 36 on the Song of Songs, n. 5; PL 183, 969-D). Moreover, he burned with an ardent love for God and neighbor. For him, there was no greater delight than spending long hours, whenever possible, before the Blessed Sacrament and assisting those in any kind of distress. Above all, he loved God, not himself, directing everything solely to God's glory, in keeping with the rule of the founder of his order. He embraced wholeheartedly and put into practice the counsel of the aforementioned holy Doctor: "Let us desire only Him who alone fulfills every desire" (Sermon for the Dedication of a Church, IV, n. 4; PL 183, 528-D).

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​​​It is no wonder, then, that this soldier of Christ, enriched with so many heavenly gifts, achieved such great merits in the field of apostolic work and reaped such abundant and salvific fruits from his efforts. Since his endeavors were directed primarily toward maintaining, strengthening, and safeguarding the Catholic faith, he devoted himself entirely to teaching the fundamentals of faith, first as an educator of youth in Vilnius and later in other cities. In doing so, he awakened in young hearts a deep reverence for the Eucharist and a fervent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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​When, after a few years, on the solemn day of the canonization of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier, he received the priesthood, he especially took to heart the mission to tirelessly spread the Catholic faith through sermons and missionary journeys, ensuring that it was a living faith, rich in good works. Since in the eastern parts of the country, the faith was under great threat from heretics who tried by all means to detach the faithful from the unity of the Church and infect them with their errors, on the command of his superiors, Andrew went to these regions. There, in towns, villages, and hamlets, through sermons, private conversations, and especially through the charm of his holiness and the fervor of his apostolic zeal, he purified the shaken faith of many Catholics from erroneous influences, grounded it on solid foundations, and brought it back into the one Christ's fold.

 

Not content with simply lifting and strengthening the weakening or fallen faith, wherever he could, he stirred up sorrow for sins, healed discord and doubts, and restored good customs, so that the places through which he passed, following the example of the Divine Master, "doing good," began to bloom as if touched by the heavenly spring, producing beautiful flowers and fruits of virtue. Therefore, as it has been preserved in memory, both the faithful and the schismatics gave him the characteristic name "soul-hunter," meaning the hunter of immortal souls.

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​​Just as this tireless apostle of Christ lived by faith and devoted himself with the greatest zeal to spreading the faith, so he did not hesitate to give his life in defense of that faith of his homeland. Among the countless persecutions that the Catholic faith always faced, a particularly violent and inhuman oppression of the true Church, which spread in the mid-17th century in the eastern parts of the country, stands out. These areas were devastated by a Cossack invasion. The full fury of the invaders was directed mainly at Catholics, their pastors, and missionary workers, to such an extent that throughout the entire country, one could witness destroyed churches, burned monasteries, the bodies of murdered priests and faithful, and the widespread ruin and destruction of everything sacred.

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​Andrew Bobola, who could boldly identify with the words of St. Bernard: "Nothing that is God's is foreign to me" (Letter 20 to Cardinal Haimer; PL 182, 123 - B), not fearing either death or torture, inflamed with love for God and neighbor, voluntarily entered into those perilous circumstances to do everything in his power to save from renouncing their faith those whom the heretics sought to ensnare with their errors, and tirelessly to strengthen everyone in the confession of Christ's truth. However, on May 16, 1657, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, he was captured in the vicinity of Janów by enemies of the Catholic name. This capture, as one might imagine, did not fill him with fear but rather with heavenly joy. We know that he had always longed for martyrdom and never forgot the words of the Divine Savior: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).

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​The soul recoils at the thought of all the torments that the Christlike hero endured with unwavering courage and unyielding faith. "After being beaten with rods and severely slapped, bound with a rope to a horse, he was dragged by the rider along a painful and bloody road to Janów, where his final torture awaited him." In this martyrdom, the Polish Martyr will stand alongside the most glorious victors revered by the Catholic Church. When asked if he was a Latin priest, Andrew replied: "I am a Catholic priest; I was born in this faith, and in it, I wish to die. My faith is true and leads to salvation: you should repent and do penance, for without it, you will not find salvation in your errors. By embracing my faith, you will come to know the true God and save your souls." (from the letter of Pius XI, Ex aperto Christi latere; AAS 30 (1938) 359).

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​These words not only failed to stir any mercy in the criminals but drove them into such a rage that they began to inflict the most cruel tortures upon the soldier of Christ with unimaginable brutality. "After being beaten again with rods, he was crowned with a painful wreath on his head in imitation of Christ, severely beaten on the cheeks, and wounded with a curved saber. He fell. Soon, his right eye was torn out, his skin was stripped from various places, the wounds were cruelly cauterized with fire, and they were rubbed with rough wicker. And that was not the end: his ears, nose, and lips were cut off, and his tongue was torn out through an opening made in his neck. He was then stabbed in the heart with a sharp awl. Finally, the unyielding hero, around three in the afternoon, was struck down with a sword blow and reached the palm of martyrdom, leaving behind a magnificent image of Christian courage." (Homily of Pius XI, delivered at the canonization of St. Andrew in 1938; AAS 30, 1938, 152 - 153).

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​Just as the invincible Martyr, in the purple of his own blood, was received in heaven with great triumph, so on earth he was presented by the Church for veneration and imitation by all the faithful, both for the personal brilliance of his holiness and for the astonishing signs with which God testified to and confirmed that holiness. In 1853, our venerable predecessor, Pius IX, included him among the Blessed, and in 1938, our immediate predecessor, Pius XI, solemnly enrolled him among the Saints.

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​We deemed it appropriate to briefly and concisely present in this encyclical the main outlines of the holiness of Andrew Bobola, so that all the children of the Church throughout the world may not only look upon him with admiration but also, with similar fidelity, strive to imitate the purity of his Catholic teaching, his unshakable faith, and the courage with which he fought for the honor and glory of Christ until his martyrdom. Let all, according to your instructions and guidance, especially during these celebrations linked to the three-hundredth anniversary of his martyrdom, deeply reflect on his virtues and awaken in themselves the sense of duty to follow in his holy footsteps.

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​Today, which is a cause of great sorrow for Us, in many countries the Catholic faith is either fainting and declining, or almost completely dying out. The teaching of the Gospel is unknown to a large number of people, and, even worse, it is completely rejected by others, under the pretext that it is entirely foreign to those who, advancing with the times, have come to the conviction that on earth, without God—that is, through their own reason and strength they can achieve everything they live by and act upon, by conquering and bending to their will and power, for the benefit and development of humanity, all the elements and forces of this earth. Others, meanwhile, seek to completely uproot from the hearts of simple and uneducated people, or those already touched by the plague of errors, that Christian faith which, for various poor souls, is the only consolation in this mortal life. They deceive them with promises of some extraordinary happiness, which is completely inaccessible to us in this earthly exile. For wherever human society turns and begins to strive, if it departs from God, it not only fails to attain the longed-for peace and harmony, but falls into confusion and unrest, like a person burning with fever; giving itself over to the pursuit of wealth, to a comfortable and pleasant life, which it values only for itself, it seeks to grasp something that constantly eludes it and builds on what is collapsing.

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For without the acknowledgment of the Most High God and His holy law, no order or true happiness can exist among people, for both private and properly conducted social life lack a foundation. Moreover, as you well know, Venerable Brothers, only heavenly, eternal goods—rather than the fleeting and transient goods of this earth—can bring full satisfaction to the soul. And it is also false to claim, as many boldly and carelessly spread, that Christian teaching diminishes the light of natural human reason; on the contrary, it adds brightness and strength to it, for it turns it away from the appearance of truth and directs it to a field of broader and higher understanding. Therefore, the divine Gospel, i.e., the teaching of Christ, which the Catholic Church proclaims by its calling and duty, cannot be regarded as something backward and defeated by today's progress, but as something living and vital, which alone can show people the sure and simple path to justice, to truth, and to all virtue, while securing their peace and mutual harmony, providing strong and inviolable supports for their laws and social institutions.

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Anyone who prudently considers all of this will easily understand why Andrew Bobola willingly and courageously took on so many labors and sufferings, in order to preserve the unshaken faith among his people, to protect their customs from such temptations and dangers, and to tirelessly shape them according to the principles of Christian virtue. Since, as we have already said, Venerable Brothers, the Catholic faith is today exposed to serious dangers in many regions, it must be defended, taught, and spread by all means. In this great and significant work, not only the servants of the altar, who have the duty to do this earnestly, should help, but also lay Catholics, noble and self-sacrificing enough not to fear standing up for the glory of God in peaceful combat. The more audaciously those who hate God and Christian teaching rise up against Christ and the Church He founded, the more fervently should not only priests but all Catholics oppose them with living words and writings scattered among the people, and most of all, through the brilliant example of their own lives, always respecting persons but bravely standing in defense of the truth. And even if they encounter various adversities, as well as the loss of time and possessions in this work, let them never turn back, always keeping in mind these words: courageous action and endurance of suffering is the work of that Christian virtue, for which God Himself promises the highest reward, eternal happiness. And it must be remembered that in this virtue, if we truly wish to guide it towards perfection, there will always be a bit of martyrdom.

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​For it is not only by shedding our blood that we give testimony of our faith to God, but also by courageously and persistently resisting temptations, and by generously offering ourselves and everything we have to Him, who is our Creator and Redeemer here on earth, and will one day be our eternal joy in heaven. Let all, then, look to the courage of Saint Martyr Andrew Bobola as an example. Let them keep his unwavering faith and defend it by all means. Let them imitate his apostolic zeal by doing everything they can, according to their state in life, to strengthen and expand the Kingdom of Christ on earth. And while we direct these fatherly instructions and desires to all the Pastors of the Holy Church and their flocks, our thoughts are especially directed to those who live in the lands of Poland. Since Andrew Bobola came from their nation and not only illuminated their land with the radiance of his numerous virtues but also with his martyr's blood, he is a magnificent ornament and pride for them. Let them, then, follow his brilliant example, defending the faith of their homeland against all dangers. Let them strive to adapt their customs to Christian norms, and let them hold it as the greatest glory of their country to achieve this by unyielding imitation of the unwavering virtue of their ancestors, so that Poland may always remain faithful as the "bulwark of Christianity." History, as the "witness of times, the light of truth, and the teacher of life" (Cicero, De Oratore 2.9.36), seems to indicate that God has destined this role for the Polish nation. Therefore, let them endeavor with a brave and steadfast heart to fulfill this role, avoiding hostile plots and combating, with the help of God, all adversities and trials.

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​Let them lift their eyes upward toward the reward that God promises to all those who live, act, and fight with complete faithfulness, willing hearts, and fervent love for the preservation and expansion of God's Kingdom of peace on earth. On this occasion, we cannot refrain from addressing, through this circular letter, all our dearly beloved sons of Poland, especially those leaders of dioceses who, for the name of Jesus Christ, have endured sufferings and trials. Continue to act bravely, but with that Christian courage that goes hand in hand with prudence and with that wisdom that is able to see and foresee clearly. Keep the Catholic faith and unity intact. Let your faith be "the girding of your loins" (cf. Isa. 11:5); let it be proclaimed throughout the world (cf. Rom. 1:8); let it be "the victory that overcomes the world" (1 John 4:4). And do all this, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2).

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​By acting in this way, you will achieve that all the Saints, especially those who have come from your lineage, will gaze upon you and your beloved Homeland with favor, sharing in the eternal happiness they now enjoy, alongside the Queen of Poland, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to protect and defend it. For this to be fulfilled, we earnestly desire, Venerable Brothers, that all of you, together with all the faithful of the world, especially during the observance of this centenary anniversary, fervently offer prayers to God, asking Him to graciously send more abundant gifts and comfort, particularly to those who must live in greater dangers and face heavier difficulties on the path of God.

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Through these same unanimous prayers, let us also implore God's mercy, asking that finally, the longed-for peace reigns among all nations and that the sacred rights and duties of the Church, which serve true human well-being, may find due recognition everywhere and be established on the legal path. To hasten all of this, we unite our deepest prayers with yours and, as a token of our Apostolic Fatherly affection and a pledge of God's grace, we impart to you, Venerable Brothers, and to all the Christian people, our blessing flowing from the depths of our heart. Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on May 16 – the anniversary of the day on which, three centuries ago, St. Andrew Bobola received the palm of martyrdom – in the year 1957, in the nineteenth year of Our Pontificate.

PIUS PP. XII