Karol Wojtyła’s sermon for the centenary of Marian apparitions in Gietrzwałd

This article analyses the sermon which has been delivered by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, during the Holy Mass, on September, 11 in 1977, in Gietrzwałd, during the ceremony of the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions. The cardinal begins his sermon from the letter to Hebrews (1,1-2) which discusses the historic culmination of the God’s Revelation in the person of Jesus. He then explains the historic context of the apparitions in Gietrzwałd and accentuates the clue of the Polish speech in the message of Our Lady and develops the theme of human culture, expressed through language and words. He reminds us that Polish culture is based in Christianity and he justifies the right of Poles to manifest religiousness in their culture. The Blessed Virgin, because her message was delivered in Polish, is called Our Lady of Gietrzwałd by the Cardinal.