The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

18 The Marian Martyrs of Rosica faceted activity, he anticipated much of what the Second Vatican Council said about the apostolate of the laity. His was an exceptional example of generous and industrious work for man, the homeland, and the Church. The work of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski is continued by the Handmaids, whom I warmly greet and thank for their silent service, filled with the spirit of sacrifice on behalf of their neighbour and the Church. 4. Munire digneris me, Domine Iesu Christe …, signo sacratissimae Crucis tuae: ac concedere digneris mihi … ut, sicut hanc Crucem, Sanctorum tuorum reliquiis refertam, ante pectus meum teneo, sic semper mente retineam et memoriam passionis, et sanctorum victorias Martyrum : this is the prayer recited by the Bishop as he puts on the pectoral cross. Today I make of this invocation the prayer of the entire Church in Poland which, bearing for a thousand years the marks of the Passion of Christ, is constantly regenerated by the seed of the blood of the martyrs and draws life from the memory of their victory on earth. Today we are celebrating the victory of those who, in our time, gave their lives for Christ, in order to possess life forever in His glory. This victory has a special character, since it was shared by clergy and laity alike, by young people and old, by people from different classes and states. Among them are Archbishop Anthony Julian Nowowiejski, Pastor of the Diocese of Plock, tortured to death at Dzialdowo; Bishop Wladyslaw Goral of Lublin, tortured with particular hatred simply because he was a Catholic Bishop. There are diocesan and religious priests who died because they chose not to aban- don their ministry and because they continued to serve their fel- low prisoners who were sick with typhus; some were tortured to death because they defended Jews. In the group of Blesseds there are religious brothers and sisters who persevered in the service of charity and in offering their torments for their neigh- bour. Among the blessed martyrs there are also laypeople. There are five young people formed in the Salesian oratory; a zealous activist of Catholic Action, a lay catechist tortured to death for his service, and an heroic woman, who gave up her own life in exchange for that of her daughter-in-law who was