 Illuminated facade of theBasilica of St Mary Immaculate at sunset. | |
  Location within Poland | |
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Friars Minor Conventual |
| Established | 1927 |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of Warsaw |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Maximilian Kolbe |
| Site | |
| Location | Teresin,Poland |
| Coordinates | 52°12′13.5″N20°25′14″E / 52.203750°N 20.42056°E /52.203750; 20.42056 |
Niepokalanów monastery (so calledCity of the Immaculate Mother of God) is aRoman Catholic religious community situated inTeresin (near theWarsaw-Łowicz railway line, about 42 km to the west from the capital ofPoland). It was founded in autumn 1927 byFriar Minor Conventual –Maximilian Kolbe, who was later canonized as a saint-martyr of the Catholic Church.[1]
In summer 1927 duke Jan Drucki-Lubecki, the owner of a large estate located in Teresin village, offered fr. Maximilian Kolbe a convenient ground near Warsaw for building a new monastery, later called Niepokalanów. In autumn of the same year the first three wooden barracks (including the firstchapel) were built and aconsecration of the new monastery took place on 7 December 1927.[2] The facility served as a home for the first group of conventual friars, apublishing house and a minor seminary. In 1930 father Kolbe founded a similar community inNagasaki (Japan), calledMugenzai no Sono (無原罪の園:Garden of the Immaculate).[3]
Quick growth of the Niepokalanów required more and more space. The donator, duke Jan Drucki-Lubecki, allowed the friars to use as much field as necessary, so the area of the monastery reached 28 ha. Before theSecond World War broke out, it was the largestmonastery in the world, housing as many as 760 men.[4] In December 1938, one million copies ofThe Knight of the Immaculate (inPolish:Rycerz Niepokalanej) were printed. Of these, 800,000 were distributed through monthly subscriptions, while 200,000 were allocated for promotional purposes.[3] The whole publishing house used about 1600 tonnes of paper annually for about 60 million copies of papers.
Since July 1931, avolunteer fire department composed of monks has been operating in the monastery.[5] This department, equipped with some basic tools such as hand pumps, a homemade water tanker, ladders and hooks, was responsible for ensuring fire safety for the monastery's wooden residential and publishing buildings, as well as paper storage areas. In the case of a fire, they also promptly assisted local residents.[2] In 1940, the Franciscan firefighters refurbished aMinerva car, adapting it for firefighting purposes, and used it for the following several years.
Shortly before the war, there came an idea of evangelization through the radio programmes. In December 1938, first testbroadcast was aired from the newly established SP3-RN radio (Stacja Polska 3 – Radio Niepokalanów), which operated with a low-power transmitter onshortwave frequencies.[3] The Franciscan radio's activities did not progress beyond a few test broadcasts, as efforts to obtain a formal license for regular broadcasting were halted by the outbreak of the war.
During the Second World War, the monastery provided shelter for many soldiers, injured in theSeptember Campaign of 1939 and also for war refugees, regardless of their nationality or religion. For example, at the turn of 1939/1940, a group of approximately 1500 Jews, displaced fromGreater Poland, stayed in Niepokalanów for several months, and the friars provided them with care.[6][7]
The war did not spare the inhabitants of the monastery itself. FatherMaximilian Kolbe, together with four other friars, was arrested by theGestapo and he was murdered inAuschwitz concentration camp in august 1941 when he chose to sacrifice his life soanother prisoner could live.[7] That time the media evangelisation was forbidden (with the only one exception – December 1940 issue ofRycerz Niepokalanej,[3] which aroused the hope of surviving dark time of war).
The Franciscans tried to keep up common prayers and help for the prisoners and numerous refugees. There was asawmill, carpentry and dairy, a repair shop foragricultural machinery, bicycles, scooters, watches and many other items. The friars grew their own food, they had livestock,bee hives and chickens.[6] Every day the local bakery provided fresh bread to many people in need. The courses of secret teaching were also held and PCK (Polish Red Cross) circle functioned.[3]
During theWarsaw Uprising, the monastery became a refuge for the wounded members ofPolish resistance, homeless families, and war orphans. Providing food for all that people was a big logistical challenge under the conditions of theoccupation. In the end of the war (January 1945) during heavy bombardment of Niepokalanów, six friars were killed, some others injured and many of the buildings of the monastery were destroyed. In total, about 50 friars lost their lives during the entire war.[7]
After the war theprinting house in Niepokalanów was reopened.The Knight of the Immaculate was issued again, as also some books, dedicated to St Maximilian (e.g.Dwie Korony [Two Crowns] byGustaw Morcinek). In 1948-1954 there was built anew church in the modernist style[2] according to the design of the architect Zygmunt Gawlik fromCracow. In June 1950, by the decree of cardinalStefan Wyszynski, a new parish in Niepokalanów was established (7500 faithful circa).[8]
In 1980, by decree of theHoly See, the church in Niepokalanów received the title and privileges of aminor basilica.[9] The church and the monastery were visited by popeJohn Paul II during his second Pastoral Visit in Poland, on 18 of June 1983. Thevisit of the pope made Niepokalanów famous not only in Poland, but also abroad.[2] John Paul II called the monasterya heroic place where saint Maximilian lived andthe environment of the Immaculate.[10]
Today the monastery is an importantpilgrimage center in this part of Poland. Every year, on the way toJasna Góra, the Warsaw Metropolitan Academic Pilgrimage makes a stop in Niepokalanów.[11] The monastery is a popular destination for many local pilgrimages, each made with specific personal intentions (penitential pilgrimages, for the nation's sobriety and so on). Many pilgrims have been able to visit this historic place, to pray in thelocal basilica, to see a museum, dedicated to St Maximilian (calledThere was a Man) or another museum – a collection of the volunteer fire department, which is housed on the upper floor of the fire station building.[5]
There also exist twoworth to visit chapels in Niepokalanów. The first is a wooden old chapel, one of the first and most important buildings in the monastery. Constructed in autumn 1927, it was later rebuilt and expanded.[4] In December 1997, after a two-year comprehensiverenovation, the chapel was reopened to the public. Visiting the chapel, the pilgrims have the opportunity to see what the beginnings of this large publishing monastery founded by St. Maximilian looked like.[2]
The second one is a new chapel ofperpetual adoration – "Star of the Immaculate" (inPolish:Gwiazda Niepokalanej). Located in the southern wing of the basilica, it was opened to the public in September 2018, marking the 79th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. The chapel, one of 12 centers worldwide dedicated to prayer for peace, offers the visitors an opportunity for personal prayer and reflection around the clock.[12]
