Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Nasza Przeszłość

Vol. 123 (2015): Our Past

Profiles, memories

Fr. chaplain Colonel Jan Merta SDB in memories

  • Janusz Gajda
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.2015.123.265-277  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2015-06-30

Abstract

The life and activities of the military chaplain Fr. Colonel Jan Merta SDB were discussed in the context of his connections with both Poland and Italy. The author analyzes three main stages of a priest's life: childhood and youth in Poland, years spent in Italy during World War II, and return to his homeland and pastoral work until the end of his life. Jan Merta was born in Góra Włodowska near Zawiercie, he grew up in a family with a difficult financial situation. After taking his religious vows in Oświęcim in 1939, Fr. Merta went to Italy, where he was ordained a priest in 1943. He spent many years there as a military chaplain and pastor, also participating in the battles at Monte Cassino. After the end of the war, he returned to Poland, where he continued his pastoral service, first in various parishes in Lower Silesia, and then in Przemyśl, where he stayed until the end of his life. Fr. Merta was a valued and active priest who also helped build churches and was involved in the life of local communities. The article also emphasizes the deep patriotism of Fr. Merta and his close ties with Poles and Italians. His life and activities are treated as an expression not only of priestly service, but also of devotion to his homeland and his brothers. The author tries to show how the priest managed to combine pastoral service with patriotic commitment, both during the war and in the post-war period. By analyzing the life and activities of Fr. Merta, the author shows that his priesthood was not only an expression of spiritual service, but also a testimony of patriotism and devotion to the ideals he represented.

References

  1. Archidiecezja Częstochowska. Katalog, red. M. Mikołajczyk, J. Mielczarek, Częstochowa 2000. [Google Scholar]
  2. Banach R., Sucharski Henryk, [w:] Encyklopedia katolicka, t. 18, Lublin 2013, kol. 1151-1152. [Google Scholar]
  3. Besz Z., „Belgijka” majora Sucharskiego, „Super Nowości”, 9 maja 2000. [Google Scholar]
  4. Kanior M., Monte Cassino, [w:] Encyklopedia katolicka, t. 13, Lublin 2009, kol. 203. [Google Scholar]
  5. Konarski F., Czerwone maki, [w:] „Nasz dziennik” 2005-05-18. [Google Scholar]
  6. Paruch J., SOS, Słownik skrótów, Warszawa 1970. [Google Scholar]
  7. Piwowarski W., Religijność ludowa. Ciągłość i zmiana, Wrocław 1983. [Google Scholar]
  8. Salvatore G., L’amore visto dalla Vistola. Rifflessioni sula Bottega dell`orefice di Karol Wojtyła, Roma 1984. [Google Scholar]
  9. Wańkowicz M., Westerplatte, Warszawa 1959. [Google Scholar]
  10. Węgrzyn J., Pożegnanie śp. ks. Kapelana pułkownika Jana Merty, Lublin 2002. [Google Scholar]

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.