''Cum Jam Lustri'' is an apostolic letter of

Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...

, dated September 1, 1951, to the

bishops A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

"and brave people" of Poland about their sufferings during

Stalinist Stalinism is the means of governing and Marxist-Leninist policies implemented in the Soviet Union from 1927 to 1953 by Joseph Stalin. It included the creation of a one-party totalitarian police state, rapid industrialization, the theory o ...

persecution.AAS 1951, 775 He asks for prayers to the Virgin Mary, because she will not deny her help to the Polish people, who dedicated themselves to her protection. The letter expresses Papal condolences to the death of

Cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...

August Hlond of Warsaw, who formed the face of the resurrected Poland and sacrificed his life for his country, the Church and the Representative of Christ. The Pope also mourns the death Adam Stefan Sapieha Cardinal Archbishop of Kraków, who provided strong, courageous leadership during the terrible years of German occupation. Strengthening his fatherland and the Church, he was never timid despite all the persecutions. He took care of his people. Sapieha was like a firmly rooted tree, growing next to a river, his very existence an encouragement not only for Poland but for all of Christianity. Knowing how much Poland venerates the Blessed Mother, the Pope expresses his sadness that so many Polish bishops were not allowed to be in Rome during the proclamation of the

Dogma of the Assumption The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it in 1950 in his apostolic constitution ''Munificentissimus Deus'' as follows: We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by Go ...

, November 1, 1950. He is so much aware, that no other country has such an ardent love for the mother of the Lord. She will not deny her help to the Polish people, who dedicated themselves to her protection. He prays for her miraculous assistance and reminds, that Polish soldiers fought near the Basilica della Santa Casa in Loreto to save her house during the war. Polish soldiers also celebrated a Holy Mass in her honour, in smouldering ruins after the battle of Monte Cassino. AAS 1951, 775 The struggle continues. But,

is sure, the Virgin Mary will help, as the high minded Polish people continue to trust in her and confidently hope for a better future.

References

Sources

* Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Roma, Vaticano, 1939,1951 Pope Pius XII apostolic writings History of Catholicism in Poland Persecution of Catholics during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII Mariology Catholic theology and doctrine 1951 documents 1951 in Christianity {{RC-document-stub