Gniezno Archive commemorates 70th anniversary of Jasnogórskie Śluby Narodu

The Archdiocesan Archive in Gniezno organized a historical and spiritual meeting on September 19 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Jasnogórskie Śluby Narodu (Vows of the Nation at Jasna Góra). The event featured guests from Jasna Góra and Warsaw, including Pauline Fathers and representatives from the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Primate Institute.

A central highlight of the panel was the rare public display of the original 1956 vows, which is typically kept in the Gniezno Archdiocesan Archive. Participants discussed the historical context of the vows, noting the involvement of the Pauline Fathers, the ‘Ósemka’ group of laywomen, and Bishop Lucjan Bernacki, who was exiled by communist authorities following the arrest of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in 1953.

The discussion also touched upon the evolution of the idea of national vows, moving from historical commemorations of the defense of Jasna Góra to the creation of new vows intended to serve as a contemporary spiritual call for the Polish nation.