English
The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki invites everyone to join the novena prayer „Action 21:20”. It will be a prayer recited after the Jasna Góra Appeal for the Homeland, national harmony and respect for human life, offered through the intercession of St Andrzej Bobola and Bl. Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko. The novena will begin on 16 March and end on 24 March, before the Day of the Sanctity of Life, which falls on 25 March.
„In view of the social situation in our Homeland, which raises many questions and concerns, I ask everyone to pray together for the intentions that are important for our country” – wrote the President of the Polish Episcopate in an invitation to join the prayer initiative „Action 21:20”. The novena will be recited immediately after the Jasna Góra Appeal and also after each Mass. „If this is not possible, the novena can be recited individually at any time of the day” – he noted.
To join the novena, each day, starting from 16 March, one should read the intention for the day and recite the „Our Father”, the „Hail Mary” and any prayer for the Homeland, e.g. by Fr Piotr Skarga. „I strongly encourage everyone to recite the prayer in churches, chapels, parishes and pastoral communities” – wrote the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
In addition to the general intention, each day of the novena will be accompanied by specific intentions. On the first day of the novena (16 March), its participants will ask God to „renew the faith of each of us, so that it leads to the strengthening of the spirit of ourselves and our compatriots”. On the following days, the prayer will be accompanied by the following intentions in turn: „For national reconciliation, wisdom for those in power and social solidarity” (17 March); „For the preservation of peace and a secure future for Poland” (18 March); „For a reading of the true role of man and woman in marriage and for the permanence of families” (19 March), „For strength and courage for young people in discovering their faith and life vocation” (20 March); „For the light of the Holy Spirit for the Polish people, so that we are always guided by the good of the Homeland” (21 March); „For truth and responsibility for words in the media space, including social media” (22 March); „For respect and the language of dialogue in the public space” (23 March). On the last day of the novena, 24 March, which falls on the National Day for Life, and at the same time before the Day of the Sanctity of Life, which falls on 25 March, the prayer intention will be the full legal protection of the life of unborn children.
The President of the Polish Episcopate encouraged everyone to pray for all these intentions through the intercession of St Andrew Bobola and Bl. Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko – Poland’s great intercessors.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
