The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

29 History of the Process to the work of the Church in Poland. These Martyrs are a prophetic “sign of defiance” and sign of hope that the love and power of our Savior is able to triumph even in a sea of hatred. The Church in Poland is celebrating the millenium of mar- tyrdom of St. Adalbert and is preparing itself for the celebration of 1,000th anniversary of his canonization (1999). Worshiping God for the tremendous labors of grace demonstrated in Him, the Church then perceives in the martyrdom of 108 of God’s Servants, in the perspective of faith, the multiplied fruit of the seed sown by this holy patron. Showing these fruits to God’s people during St. Adalbert’s Jubilee and on the eve of the Grand Jubilee of the Year 2000 will certainly be the source of new blessings. We may surmise that God’s Providence has preserved this grand testimony of martyrdom by lay and clerical sons and daughters of the Church, especially for our time, to make us powerfully aware again of the truths about the general vocation to sainthood; to remind us that genuine and fruitful pastoral programs can be created and managed only by holy people. All our Martyrs, before they gave their blood in testimony during persecution, lived saintly lives committed to the cause of the HEAVENLY Kingdom. How much poorer would have been the dioceses and the religious families, and therefore the whole Church, without their service. Our Martyrs confirm to the world the message that imitation of Christ in the spirit of generosity and perseverance to the end enables the human heart to break the barriers of egoism and personal weakness, rendering the highest sacrifice and foster- ing genuine love. That supreme sacrifice includes a love for our earthly Motherland and a great sense of social responsibility for building a true moral order in the world. Rev. Dr. Tomasz Kaczmarek Postulator of Cause of Beatification