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Coming exclusively to theaters Nov. 15 and 17 is “Prophet,” a new feature film about Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński (1901-1981), the Primate of Poland who, after three years of imprisonment and persecution by the communist authorities, resumed his leadership of the Catholic Church in Poland, joining forces with his friend and ally, the future Pope St. John Paul II, to defend the faith and liberate his country.
The film is being released by Michał Kondrat, whose previous feature documentaries (including “Love and Mercy: Faustina”) have won acclaim among audiences around the world. Visit prophet2022.com to order tickets.
Watch a recommendation by Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC, and the film's trailer.
Watch a recommendation by the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC.
Highly recommended
“I highly recommend ‘Prophet,’ from the same talented team that told us the story of St. Faustina,” says the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, provincial superior of the Marian Fathers in the United States and Argentina. “Cardinal Wyszyński, now beatified, endured imprisonment and constant harassment by the evil atheistic communist regime. Undeterred, this modern-day Moses led a national spiritual revival in his homeland, inspiring his friend and ally, the future Pope St. John Paul II. Don't miss this extraordinary and inspiring film!”
“It gives me great honor to invite you to watch ‘Prophet,’” adds Fr. Kaz Chwalek, MIC, one of the original translators of the Diary of St. Faustina into English. “This new film offers insights into the heroic life of Blessed Cardinal Wyszyński. Enjoy this great film, be inspired by it, and spread the word to your family members and friends.”
Spiritual leader and visionary
“Prophet” tells the story of a spiritual leader and visionary who negotiated with the communist authorities to win more rights for the Catholic Church and the oppressed nation. The apparent agreement turned into a silent war, a struggle for religious freedom and human dignity.
A wider audience will now have the opportunity to see on screen interesting stories from the life of Cardinal Wyszyński told in the context of historical events of importance for Poland. The film reveals an unyielding leader who is not afraid to dialogue with the communists seeking to destroy the Church; it also shows a man of great faith who can see further than his opponents do. It was Cardinal Wyszyński who first noticed the future St. John Paul II, Karol Wojtyła, later appointed auxiliary bishop of Kraków at Cardinal Wyszyński’s request.
Using all available means, the communist government tried to destroy the primate and his congregation, forcing atheism on the entire country. To this end, the authorities launched an operation code-named “Prorok” (Prophet), engaging hundreds of agents to follow the Primate’s every move.
Undeterred, in 1966, Cardinal Wyszyński organised the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Poland at Jasna Góra, site of the miraculous Image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, which was preceded by a nine-year novena asking Our Lady’s intercession for Poland. The climax of the millennium celebrations was the entrusting of the Church and the Polish people to Our Lady. Several hundred thousand people attended the celebrations. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Wojtyła. The Primate later described this moment as the most important one in his life.
The unwavering faith and consistent attitude of this clergyman, community activist, and strategist, as well as his promotion of the principles of freedom, dignity of the individual, and love, became the prelude to the fall of communism in Poland and in the Soviet Union.
Cardinal Wyszyński died on May 28, 1981, on the Feast of the Ascension. His beatification took place in Warsaw on Sept. 12, 2021.
Overlooked no more
“One of the most important and heroic, but often overlooked, figures of the latter half of the 20th century was Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, the Archbishop of Warsaw, who not only led the resistance to the communist dictators who overtook his beloved Poland, but who also had a profound impact on the life of Pope St. John Paul II,” says Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. “Please God, ‘Prophet’ will help make the story of this remarkable churchman better known, and inspire a new generation to boldly uphold their faith.”
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