Historical calendar: anniversary of the communist assassination of the Holy Mass. As a result, Catholic priest Stanisław Streich died.
Today in our calendar we will look at the circumstances accompanying this event.
On 27 February 1938, at 10:00 a.m. in the Lublin parish of St. John Bosco a service for children of school age began. The Mass was celebrated Father Stanisław Streich. After it was finished, the clergy took off the ornate and headed for the pulpit to preach. He never got to her. The 47-year-old Lorenzo Nowak, who pulled the gun, led him towards the parish priest, then pulled the trigger.
The priest down. The assailant approached his victim and then fired 2 more shots. After killing Father Streich Nowak, he was to shout at the pulpit (although according to any accounts he entered first) respective slogans. Their content is somewhat divergent depending on the publishing press.
They were besides remembered in various ways by witnesses of history, then by tiny children who, after many years of killing, talked about their own experiences. They mentioned the screams of the attacker in the style: “Get out of the church, that is for your freedom!” and “Let Communism live.”
After the murder, the aggressor tried to get out of the church. The heroic attitude was then demonstrated by the church Franciszek Krawczyński, who attempted to capture the attacker. Nowak, however, utilized his weapon again. 1 bullet grazed Krawczyński's temple, and the another went right through his left arm. The ricocheting bullets hit 2 children, wounding them, fortunately harmless. This did not discourage another adult men at the temple. The escaped killer was yet captured by 2 people: Railway Officer Mańczak and Organist Szulc.
The parishioners threw themselves at the killer. From the lynching he was protected by the attitude of respective people from the crowd who calmed the believers. Nowaka was placed at the Lublin railway station, where he was treated with wounds. A peculiar train was sent from Poznań to transport it to the capital of Wielkopolska. The perpetrator was placed in police custody, which was located at Liberty Square, and was subsequently transferred to a criminal-investigation prison at Młyńska Street.
The event touched all of Poland. About 20,000 people attended Father Streich's funeral. any 200 (including 12 members of the National organization from which about 800 people arrived) were issued in the banner mail. About 100 priests were besides mentioned. The archival photographs, at which the minute of the ceremony and its participants were immortalized, seem to confirm an exceptionally advanced attendance.
Photo of Father Streich's ceremony of March 3, 1938It turned out very rapidly that the crime was indeed politically motivated. Aggressor – Lorenzo Nowak was a communist activist, an old associate of the left wing. Polish Socialist organization (PPS – Left). The organization of mass manifestations was started, especially in Wielkopolska, which aimed to condemn the crime, but were besides directed against the communist movement in the country.
One of the largest demonstrations was organized by members of the National organization in Poznań. The march along the streets of the city was to number as many as 30,000 participants. Citizens then gathered at the Memorial of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. During the event there was a deficiency of political slogans, for example: “National Protection will destroy
commune!’. Subsequent manifestations were then carried out after the ceremony of the late priest Streich. 1 of them was held on 13 March 1938 in Inowrocław.
The press informed about the atmosphere at the time: "All Inowroclaw went out on the streets to gremily protest the red terrorists whose victims were Fr Streich of Lubonia, a priest of large civic virtues, fighting to the last hours of his life with the enemies of the Catholic Church."
During the trial, D.A. Pasikowski was to accuse the suspect of having committed a execution on a priest "refuting perverse slogans". He was accused of praising communism and the russian system, while mocking the regulation of the Second Republic. The press mentioned that Nowak explained the reason why he decided to commit the crime: "First he wanted to assassinate what minister, and only after the Krakow incidental he came to the conclusion that the church had large power, he took the thought of killing the priest."
Nowak admitted that he had been a associate of the Bolshevik militia many years earlier. He besides claimed that: “he is simply a follower of the teaching of Christ, and only hates priests”which active him in the Protestant doctrine. During his investigation, the suspect showed no remorse for the crime committed. The psychiatric examinations have shown that he is sane.
33 witnesses were listened to during the main proceedings, most of whom were children. Poakzano was besides the execution weapon, which was the Browning Baby Kal pistol. 6.35 mm. In addition to the execution of the accused, the attempted ecclesiastical killing of Francis Krawczyński and the injury of 2 children: Ignacy Paczyński (in the right advanced thigh) and Catherine Ciesielska (in the right arm).
On March 18, 1938, a conviction was passed. Lorenzo Nowak was sentenced to death and to deprivation of public and civilian rights of honor (for the execution of the late priest Streich) and to 10 years in prison (for the attempted execution of the church's Francis Krawczyński). The court found no mitigating circumstances, recognizing Nowak as a man threatening society. The appeal to his case, during which he attempted to simulate intellectual illness, was rejected. He besides received no grace from president Ignacy Muscicki. The conviction was executed on January 28, 1939.
In 2017, the beatification process of Father Stanisław Streich began.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here.
