“Since I began my ministry as Peter’s successor, I have always paid special attention to Holy Thursday” – John Paul II wrote in his last encyclical letter. When I ask why, the Archbishop replies without hesitation: For it is the day of the establishment of the Eucharist, which the Holy Father said was the “sacrament of the sacraments”. For this is the day of the renewal of priestly promises, and to the end the Holy Father above all regarded himself a priest, a disciple of Christ, a pastor. And, only after that he was the head of the Church, the successor of St. Peter. “With emotions I see myself lying on the floor of the private chapel of the Archbishop Prince Adam Sapiecha” – he said during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of his priesthood – “I hear the singing of Veni Creator and The Litany to All Saints, I am awaiting for the placement of hands, I accept the call to proclaim the Good News.” He knew how much depends on who the priest is. From how he lives, how people see him. “The Church is easiest to overcome by priests” – he warned during the first pilgrimage to Poland. That’s why he made sure that clergy around the world felt that he thought about them, that he was praying for them. As he wrote in the Gift and Mystery – archbishop Mokrzycki recalls – he taught us every day that the most important thing in the priestly ministry is a deep relationship with Jesus. That we must be holy if we want to lead others to holiness. I served alongside a priest who, in the priestly ministry, saw the meaning of his life, who never neglected it. And, who wanted to strengthen our priesthood with his testimony. That’s why he was experiencing the Holy Thursday so much. And, he a lot experienced the letter he wrote to the priests every year.
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013
