all men of good faith, other riches are left to you riches not in iron or steel boxes but treasured in the heart and soul. There is left to you the glory of military courage which filled even your enemies with admiration, and to which they have paid homage.
" There are left to you the great memories of your history, almost ten centuries of which are dedicated to the service of God. Several times Poland has come to the magnificent defence of Christian Europe. There is left to you, above all, a Faith which will not fail."
Glorious History
After alluding to the tragic days in the history of Poland, His Holiness referred to the many glorious events in the history of the country. He continued:
" There is one thing no one has ever seen in your history and your presence here assures us that no one will ever see it—a Poland unfaithful to and separated from, Jesus Christ and His Church.
"The country of St. Casimir, St. Hedwige, St. Stanislaus and St. Andrew Bobola may have lost, for a longer or shorter time, possessions and independence—it has never lost its faith. Never has it lost its tender devotion to the Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, whose miraculous image for centuries comforted the sorrows of the whole nation, a pledge of indestructible hope.
" For the rest, we will hope that Cod in His mercy will not permit the exercise of His religion to be interfered with in your country.
"We will even hope, in spite of the many reasons for fear, inspired by the too well-known intentions of the enemies of God that Catholic life may remain deep, and flourish among you
" That you will be able to renew religious ceremonies and manifestations of devotion to the Eucharist and homage to Christ the King, which was so recently displayed in your cities and countryside.
" That Catholic charitable institutes, social works, religious instruction, etc., may enjoy the freedom which is their due. It is these works which we specially exhort your spiritual pastors to continue, and even to increase their initiative in the fields which, with the help of God, will be left open to their zeal. Whatever may be the new circumstances in which this zeal may be exercised, the first duty of all pastors and their flocks is to persevere, not only in prayer, but also in courage and unshakable trust in their need.
Providence
"It is precisely in the hour when Providence seems to hide for a time that It is beautiful, meritorious and good to believe in it. You will therefore endeavour to see that Providence, which ordains everything for Its own ends, never errs, and by allowing a heavy cross to fall upon you only causes you to resemble more closely your Divine Saviour and render you dearer to the Sacred Heart.
Thirst for Justice
" Let your thirst for justice remain in conformity with the divine law of charity. It is from this practice of justice and charity which we have never ceased to urge that final good can be given to the world, so perturbed—that peace for which, amid the tumult of arms, the voices of the nations so anxiously plead, and for which millions of sincere souls, even of those who do not profess the Catholic faith, send up their prayers to God, the Almighty Master of heaven and earth,
" We do not say to you: ' Wipe away your tears.' Christ, who wept for the death of Lazarus and for the ruin of His country, will one day reward the tears which you shed for your beloved dead and for Poland, which does not wish to die."