Bienheureux Pie Bartosik
Prêtre franciscain et martyr (✝ 1941)
Né Louis Bartosik, prêtre franciscain mort à l'âge de 32 ans, béatifié par Jean-Paul II le 13 juin 1999.
Au camp de concentration d'Auschwitz (Oswiecin) près de Cracovie en Pologne, l'an 1941, le bienheureux Pie Bartosik, prêtre franciscain conventuel et martyr. Arrêté avec saint Maximilien Kolbe et trois autres religieux, déporté comme eux, il mourut des suites des mauvais traitements, des travaux forcés et des maladies contractées dans le camp.
Martyrologe romain
Bienheureux PIE BARTOSIK
Bienheureux Pie Bartosik
prêtre franciscain et martyr (✝1941)
Stanislas Antoine Trojanowski nait en Pologne dans une famille villageoise de Sadlowo ( paroisse de Poniatow, diocèse de Plock en Mazovie ) le 29 juillet 1908.
Il a une scolarité courte, car il doit aider ses parents. Il entre à 22 ans chez les Frères Mineurs Conventuels ( franciscains ) de Niepokalanow près de Varsovie.
Niepokalanow qui signifie en français Cité de l’ Immaculée était un immense couvent, véritable cité mariale avec une basilique, fondée en 1927 par saint Maximilien Kolbe. A la veille de la seconde guerre mondiale il comprenait environ un millier de frères profès, de séminaristes, de prêtres et d’ employés. Un couvent moderne et extrêmement actif avec un immense majorité de jeunes.
Le couvent éditait une revue tirée à 120 000 exemplaires : le Chevalier de l’Immaculée, et émettait une radio propageant le message marial.
Lorsqu’ il entre au couvent en 1930, il prend le nom de frère Timothée. le Père Maximilien Kolbe était alors à Nagazaki au Japon où il resta jusqu’ en 1935 pour fonder un couvent. Timothée prononce ses voeux simples en 1932 et ses voeux solennels en 1935. Il est chargé de l’ expédition de la revue, travaille à l’ infirmerie et au magasin d’ approvisionnement. Il avait le désir d’ être missionnaire et de " suivre partout la volonté de Dieu."
Lorsque l’ armée allemande envahit l’ ouest du pays en septembre 1939 et les Soviétiques l’ est de la Pologne, la Cité de l’ Immaculée est bombardée et saccagée. Des réfugiés, dont un certain nombre de Juifs, sont accueillis.
Les Allemands veulent en faire un camp de prisonniers et des moines doivent quitter Niepokalanow. Finalement le camp abrite un hôpital et un centre de réfugiés. Timothée travaille sans relâche à l’ infirmerie. Le Père Kolbe avait été arrêté fin septembre avec 35 moines, le Père Bartosik et un frère japonais et envoyé à Lamsdorf ( Il sera libéré le 8 décembre 1939 ).
Le frère Timothée décide de rester à Niepokalanow avec un groupe de moines, la plupart très jeunes, mais la situation empire : Le Père Maximilien Kolbe est à nouveau arrêté en février 1941 avec le bienheureux Père Pie Bartosik, le bienheureux Père Antonin Bajewski et les Pères Justin Nazim et Urbain Cieslak. Ils seront déportés.
Après l’ attaque d’ Hitler contre l’ URSS à l’ été 1941 la répression augmente. Le frère Timothée est arrêté par la Gestapo en octobre avec six autres religieux dont le bienheureux Père Boniface Zukowski. Ils sont envoyés à la prison de la rue Pawiak à Varsovie.
Déporté à Auschwitz en janvier 1942, il est mis aux travaux forcés : transport de matériaux de construction, puis extraction et transport de gravier. Dans d’ horribles conditions de faim et de froid, il arrivait à réconforter ses frères dans la foi. Epuisé, il meurt d’ une pneumonie le 28 février 1942. Il avait 34 ans.
Il a été béatifié par Jean-Paul II le 13 juin 1999 à Varsovie avec d’ autres martyrs polonais.
Bienheureux Pie Bartosik
Louis ( Ludwik ) Bartosik naquit en Pologne à Kokanin, le 21août 1909. Son père était cordonnier. Malgré la situation modeste de sa famille, il parvint avec l' aide du curé et d' amis bienfaiteurs à poursuivre ses études au lycée de Kalisz. Le 8 septembre 1927, il émit ses premiers voeux religieux, au sein de l' Ordre des Frères Mineurs Conventuels, où il prit le nom de Frère Pie ( Pius ).
Il poursuivit ses études au séminaire franciscain de Sanok, puis à Lwow. En 1931, il entreprit des études de philosophie et de théologie au séminaire majeur des Franciscains de Cracovie. Il y reçut l' ordination sacerdotale, en 1935. Sa première destination fut le couvent de Krosno, où il se distingua pour son assiduité au ministère de la confession.
En août 1936, il fut transféré au couvent de Niepokalanow, à la requête explicite du futur saint Maximilien-Marie Kolbe. Niepokalanow, ou Cité de l' Immaculée, était un immense couvent fondé par lui dix ans auparavant. C'était aussi un centre médiatique, dirait-on aujourd' hui, où l' on imprimait et diffusait des revues, des journaux et des brochures catholiques. On lança même une radio en 1938.
A la veille de la seconde guerre mondiale, Niepokalanow était le plus grand couvent du monde, avec 13 Pères, 18 séminaristes, 527 jeunes moines, 82 novices et 122 garçons dans un petit séminaire !
Sensible à ses qualités intellectuelles, en plus de ses qualités spirituelles, le Père Kolbe l' assigna à la tâche de rédacteur de la revue " le Chevalier de l' Immaculée ". Revue missionnaire franciscaine qui connaissait un succès certain dans la nouvelle Pologne de l'époque.
Il travaillait aussi à un ouvrage de mariologie, dont on conserva après sa mort une version dactylographiée. Ses Frères se souviennent de lui comme un Franciscain généreux qui donnait de son temps pour confesser et prodiguer des conseils spirituels.
Il fut arrêté par les occupants allemands, le 19 septembre 1939, avec le Père Kolbe et une quarantaine de confrères. Il passa trois mois au camp de Lamsdorf et dans d' autres camps de transit. Il supporta patiemment la faim et les souffrances, répétant : " Nous avons prêché aux autres la patience ; à présent que nous devons supporter nous-mêmes ces souffrances, quelle valeur auraient nos paroles, si cela ne se confirmait par des actes ? "
Il fut libéré, le jour de l' Immaculée Conception le 8 décembre 1939, et retourna au couvent, vidé d' une grande partie de ses moines, afin de garder le matériel. Le Père Kolbe, libéré lui-aussi, abrita dans la Cité de l' Immaculée, où l' on ne pouvait plus publier, des foules de personnes déplacées, qui venaient en majorité de la région de Poznan. Le jeune Père Bartosik aida à l' organisation de cette nouvelle structure...Il y avait 3000 personnes, parmi lesquelles 2000 Juifs, chassés de chez eux, et dont le pouvoir allemand ne savait que faire pour l' instant...En plus de l' organisation matérielle ( ateliers de réparations et ateliers de couture, pour procurer du travail, etc... ), les Franciscains mirent en place aussi l'adoration perpétuelle à l'église moderne du couvent qui était encore ouverte.
A nouveau, il fut arrêté par la gestapo, le 17 février 1941, avec le Père Kolbe, le Père Bajewski et deux autres religieux. Les Allemands avaient décidé de vider définitivement le couvent. Ils furent détenus à la prison de la rue Pawiak, et le 4 avril 1941, en pleine Semaine Sainte, il fut déporté avec le Père Bajewski à Auschwitz ( le Père Kolbe y sera déporté le 25 mai ).
Il fut assigné aux travaux forcés, à la construction ; mais malade, il fut finalement destiné à l' hôpital du camp. Il s' efforça de soutenir ses compagnons d' infortune, aussi bien physiquement que moralement. Là aussi, il donna le sacrement de la confession.
Il mourut à l' infirmerie, après avoir reçu les derniers sacrements, dans la nuit du 12 au 13 décembre 1941.
Blessed Ludwik Bartosik
Also known as
- 12 December
- 12 June as one of the 108 Martyrs of World War II
Profile
Eldest son of Wojciech, a poor shoemaker, and Wiktoria Tomczyk. With the help of his parish priest, Ludwik obtained a good education. Joined the FranciscanConventual Friars in 1926, taking the name Pius. Studied in Franciscan seminaries in Sanok, then Lviv and finally Krakow, Poland. Ordained on 23 June 1935. Noted confessor at the Franciscan convent in Krosno,Poland. At the request of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Father Pius was transferred to the convent at Niepokalanów, Poland in August 1936 where he worked in a number of positions, including editor of the magazines Knight of the Immaculate, Little Knight of the Immaculate and Miles Immaculatae, all the while continuing to serve as confessor to his brother friars. Wrote a number of works including a noted book ofMariology. Imprisoned by invading German troops on 19 September 1939 and transferred to several prisons, finally ending at the Auschwitz forced labour concentration camp. He continued his vocation as confessor to other prisoners. Martyred in the Nazi persecutions of World War II.
Born
- tortured to death during the night of 12 to 13 December 1941 in Oświęcim (a.k.a. Auschwitz), Małopolskie, Nazi-occupied Poland
- 26 March 1999 by Pope John Paul II (decre of martyrdom)
Blessed Martyrs of Niepokalanow
Ludwik Bartosik was born on August 21, 1909, at Kokanin, near Kalisz. He was the firstborn of Wojciech, shoemaker, and Wiktoria Tomczyk. His parents were very poor. Thanks to the efforts of the family, of their acquaintances and of the parish priest of the village, the young Ludwik was so well intellectually prepared that he could begin his studies in the gymnasium “Tadeusz Kosciuszko” of Kalisz, where he attended classes.
In 1926 he was accepted in the Conventual Franciscan Order. He began his novitiate on September 7, 1926, at Kalwaria Paclawska, receiving the name Pius. On September 8, 1927, he pronounced his temporary vows. He started his studies again in the Franciscan minor seminary, at first at Sanok and then in Lwow (now Lviv, Ukraine), crowning them in 1931 with a diploma. Afterward, he began to study philosophy and theology in the major seminary of Krakow, where the Bishop Stanislaw Rospond ordained him a priest on June 23, 1935.
His first destination was the friary of Krosno, where he distinguished himself for his devotion and especially for his dedicated ministry in the confessional. In August 1936 he was transferred to Niepokalanow, by explicit request of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, just elected guardian of that friary, after six years of mission in Japan. Perceiving in Father Pius a lot of spiritual and intellectual qualities, Father Kolbe entrusted him with many tasks of responsibility, appointing him editor of the monthly magazines Rycerz Niepokalanej (The Knight of the Immaculata, 1936-39), Rycerzyk Niepokalanej (The Little Knight of the Immaculata, 1937- 38) and the quarterly review in Latin Miles Immaculatae(1938-39). Father Bartosik wrote many articles and a book with a Marian theme, which remain in print. The friars remember Father Pius as a thoughtful priest, who spent a lot of time in the confessional, and treated his collaborators with extraordinary kindness and respect.
Martyrdom
On September 19, 1939, the Germans arrested him together with St. Maximilian Kolbe and about forty confreres, and he spent nearly three months in the prison camps of Lamsdorf, Amtitz, and Ostrzeszow. He patiently bore hunger and sufferings, repeating: “Until now we wrote and told others how to bear suffering, now it is our turn to experience all this, otherwise what value could our words have?”
On February 17, 1941, he was arrested for the second time, together with Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, Fr. Antonin Bajewski and other two friars, and taken to Warsaw in the Pawiak prison, where he patiently bore every mistreatment. During Holy Week, on April 4, 1941, he was transported with Father Antonin to Auschwitz, where he was registered with the number 12832. At the beginning, he was assigned to building works. Afterward, because of his bodily breakdown, a skin infection and a painful injury to the leg, he was sent to the hospital of the “lager.” There, with extreme dedication, he helped the other patients, cleaned their wounds, assisted them both bodily and spiritually, above all with the sacrament of Penance. He repeated: “The sufferings of this moment can’t be compared with the future glory, with the future happiness that we are going to have near God, in Heaven.”
Father Pius, notwithstanding his severe sufferings, patiently bore the situation that he was compelled to undergo. He died, after receiving Extreme Unction by Fr. Konrad Szweda, in the night between the 12th and 13th December, 1941. “So died the editor of the Rycerz Niepokalanej, of the Rycerzyk Niepokalanej and of the Miles Immaculatae, a knight of the Immaculata and an authentic apostle of suffering, as he was called in the concentration camp. He got through the most terrible torments with heroic patience, following the example of the divine Master Jesus Christ, crucified for our salvation. ‘Blessed are they that suffer, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven!’” With these words, ends the testimony of Fr. Konrad Szweda, ex-prisoner of Auschwitz and Dachau.
Father Pius was proclaimed "blessed" by Pope John Paul II on June 13, 1999.
Blessed Pius Ludwik Bartosik
Kokanin, August 21, 1909-Auschwitz, December 12, 1941
Roman martyrology: Next to Krakow in Poland, Blessed Pius Bartosik, a priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and martyr who, during the occupation of Poland by a foreign regime hostile to God, prostrated by torture carried out his martyrdom for Christ in the extermination camp of Auschwitz.
Ludwik was born on August 21 1909 at Kokanin, firstborn of Wojciech, a shoemaker, and Wiktoria Tomczyk. His family was very poor, but thanks to many efforts and with the help of friends and the pastor of the place, the boy received a good intellectual preparation so that he could begin his studies at the gymnasium below Tadeusz Kosciuszko Kalisz. In 1926 he was therefore accepted the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, where he began his novitiate Sept 7 at Kalwaria Paclawska and then Pagiewniki. On September 8, 1927 he made his first religious vows and was given the name Pius.
He continued his studies in the Franciscan minor seminary, first in Sanok and as a result of Lviv, arriving finally in 1931 the degree of maturity. Then undertaken studies in philosophy and theology in the Franciscan seminary in Krakow, where he received priestly ordination on June 23, 1935 at the hands of Bishop Monsignor Stanislaw Rospond. His first destination was the convent of Krosno, where he was distinguished for his devotion and especially for diligence in the ministry of confessor. In 1936 he was transferred to Niepokalanow, at the express request of the future Saint Maximilian Kolbe, then newly elected guardian of the convent. Noting in Father Pius several qualities of spiritual intellectuals, Kolbe did not hesitate to entrust to him certain positions of responsibility, particularly as editor of the magazines “Knight dell’Immacolata”, “Little dell’Immacolata Knight” and “Miles Immaculatae.”
Among his many outstanding deeds, was writing a Marian book, for which he kept the typed version. Father Leo was recalled by the friars which premuroso priest, who devoted much time to the confessional and his brother was with kindness and respect specimens. On September 19, 1939, with some forty other brothers, among which was Kolbe, he was imprisoned by the Germans and spent nearly three months in concentration camps of Lamsdorf, Amtitz and Ostrzeszów. He patiently endured hunger and suffering, solendo repeat: “So far we have written and we have said to others as endure the suffering, time for us to overcome this, otherwise that would value our words?”. A second time he was arrested on February 17, 1941, again with Father Kolbe, Father Antonin Bajewski and two others, and led to Warsaw in prison via Pawiak, and patiently endured every torment. On April 4, 1941, during the holy week, Father and Father Antonin Pius were deported to the concentration camp of Auschwitz: Pius was registered under number 12,832 and assigned to forced labor costs. Pursued, now physically exhausted from beatings, from skin infection and a painful wound in the leg, he was admitted in hospitals of lager. Sick of the sick, not astenne however dall’aiutare others with the utmost dedication, taking care of the wounds, both physically rescue as spiritually, primarily through the sacrament of reconciliation. He usually repeated: “The sufferings of this moment can not be compared with future glory, with the future happiness that we have with God, Kingdom of Heaven.” Pius Bartosik, despite trying hard physically, endured extreme patience with this tragic situation. He died after receiving the anointing of the sick, on the night between December 12 and 13, 1941. Just to December 12 this holy friar is remembered by martyrology: “At Krakow in Poland, memories of Blessed Pius Bartosik, priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and martyr who, while Poland lived under a despotic regime alien and hostile to God, was deported to extermination camp in Oswiecim (Auschwitz) bringing to fruition his martyrdom for Christ, ending crashed by torture. ”
Author: Fabio Arduino
<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –Kokanin, August 21, 1909-Auschwitz, December 12, 1941
Roman martyrology: Next to Krakow in Poland, Blessed Pius Bartosik, a priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and martyr who, during the occupation of Poland by a foreign regime hostile to God, prostrated by torture carried out his martyrdom for Christ in the extermination camp of Auschwitz.
Ludwik was born on August 21 1909 at Kokanin, firstborn of Wojciech, a shoemaker, and Wiktoria Tomczyk. His family was very poor, but thanks to many efforts and with the help of friends and the pastor of the place, the boy received a good intellectual preparation so that he could begin his studies at the gymnasium below Tadeusz Kosciuszko Kalisz. In 1926 he was therefore accepted the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, where he began his novitiate Sept 7 at Kalwaria Paclawska and then Pagiewniki. On September 8, 1927 he made his first religious vows and was given the name Pius.
He continued his studies in the Franciscan minor seminary, first in Sanok and as a result of Lviv, arriving finally in 1931 the degree of maturity. Then undertaken studies in philosophy and theology in the Franciscan seminary in Krakow, where he received priestly ordination on June 23, 1935 at the hands of Bishop Monsignor Stanislaw Rospond. His first destination was the convent of Krosno, where he was distinguished for his devotion and especially for diligence in the ministry of confessor. In 1936 he was transferred to Niepokalanow, at the express request of the future Saint Maximilian Kolbe, then newly elected guardian of the convent. Noting in Father Pius several qualities of spiritual intellectuals, Kolbe did not hesitate to entrust to him certain positions of responsibility, particularly as editor of the magazines “Knight dell’Immacolata”, “Little dell’Immacolata Knight” and “Miles Immaculatae.”
Among his many outstanding deeds, was writing a Marian book, for which he kept the typed version. Father Leo was recalled by the friars which premuroso priest, who devoted much time to the confessional and his brother was with kindness and respect specimens. On September 19, 1939, with some forty other brothers, among which was Kolbe, he was imprisoned by the Germans and spent nearly three months in concentration camps of Lamsdorf, Amtitz and Ostrzeszów. He patiently endured hunger and suffering, solendo repeat: “So far we have written and we have said to others as endure the suffering, time for us to overcome this, otherwise that would value our words?”. A second time he was arrested on February 17, 1941, again with Father Kolbe, Father Antonin Bajewski and two others, and led to Warsaw in prison via Pawiak, and patiently endured every torment. On April 4, 1941, during the holy week, Father and Father Antonin Pius were deported to the concentration camp of Auschwitz: Pius was registered under number 12,832 and assigned to forced labor costs. Pursued, now physically exhausted from beatings, from skin infection and a painful wound in the leg, he was admitted in hospitals of lager. Sick of the sick, not astenne however dall’aiutare others with the utmost dedication, taking care of the wounds, both physically rescue as spiritually, primarily through the sacrament of reconciliation. He usually repeated: “The sufferings of this moment can not be compared with future glory, with the future happiness that we have with God, Kingdom of Heaven.” Pius Bartosik, despite trying hard physically, endured extreme patience with this tragic situation. He died after receiving the anointing of the sick, on the night between December 12 and 13, 1941. Just to December 12 this holy friar is remembered by martyrology: “At Krakow in Poland, memories of Blessed Pius Bartosik, priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and martyr who, while Poland lived under a despotic regime alien and hostile to God, was deported to extermination camp in Oswiecim (Auschwitz) bringing to fruition his martyrdom for Christ, ending crashed by torture. ”
Author: Fabio Arduino
Beato Pio (Ludwik) Bartosik Sacerdote dei Frati Minori Conventuali, martire
Kokanin, Polonia, 21 agosto 1909 - Auschwitz, Polonia, 12 dicembre 1941
Ludwik Bartosik nacque il 21 agosto 1909 a Kokanin in Polonia, in una famiglia molto povera. Dopo gli studi liceali, fu accolto nell’Ordine dei Frati Minori Conventuali, dove, l’8 settembre 1927, professò i primi voti col nome di fra Pio. Fu ordinato sacerdote il 23 giugno 1935. Dopo la prima destinazione nel convento di Krosno, fu scelto da san Massimiliano Kolbe come suo collaboratore nelle opere stabilite nel convento di Niepokalanów. Il 19 settembre 1939, con una quarantina di altri confratelli compreso padre Kolbe, fu imprigionato dai tedeschi e passò all’incirca tre mesi nei campi di concentramento di Lamsdorf, Amtitz e Ostrzeszów. Una seconda volta venne arrestato il 17 febbraio 1941, nuovamente con padre Kolbe, padre Antonio Bajewski ed altri due frati. Anche lì, come nella precedente detenzione, sopportò con pazienza ogni tormento. Infine, il 4 aprile 1941, padre Pio fu deportato con padre Antonio nel campo di concentramento di Auschwitz. Malato e provato dalle percosse e dalle privazioni, morì il 12 dicembre 1941. È stato beatificato il 13 giugno 1999, insieme ad altri sei confratelli, inseriti nel più ampio gruppo di 108 martiri polacchi morti dal 1939 al 1945.
Martirologio Romano: Vicino a Cracovia in Polonia, beato Pio Bartosik, sacerdote dell’Ordine dei Frati Minori Conventuali e martire, che, durante l’occupazione della Polonia da parte di un regime straniero ostile a Dio, prostrato dalle torture portò a termine il suo martirio per Cristo nel campo di sterminio di Auschwitz.
Con un papà, umile calzolaio, e una famiglia povera in canna, il piccolo Ludvik Bartosik ha davvero poche speranze di riscattarsi da un destino di miseria, che sembra eredità di famiglia. Sono alcuni conoscenti e, soprattutto, il parroco del paesetto polacco in cui è nato, a dare credito a quel ragazzo dall’intelligenza vivace che ha tanta voglia di studiare. Incredibile a dirsi, quella preparazione “casalinga” gli permette di accedere al ginnasio e di mettersi al pari degli altri più fortunati, che hanno alle spalle un regolare curriculum di studi.
A 17 anni viene accolto tra i Frati Minori Conventuali ed inizia il suo noviziato con il nuovo nome di fra Pio. A 26 anni è ordinato sacerdote e lo destinano subito al convento di Krosno, dove si fa ammirare per la sua devozione e per l’assiduità con cui si presta per le confessioni.
Anche padre Massimiliano Kolbe finisce per accorgersi di quel frate che prega tanto, ama la Madonna e dirige così bene le anime: così, appena un anno dopo l’ordinazione, lo vuole con sé nel convento di Niepokalanow.
Ha in serbo per lui molti incarichi di responsabilità e comincia subito col nominarlo redattore dei due mensili «Cavaliere dell’Immacolata» e «Piccolo Cavaliere dell’Immacolata» e del trimestrale in latino «Miles Immaculatae». Di lui i confratelli ricordano la premura, la straordinaria gentilezza, il profondo rispetto con cui tratta tutte le persone che gli vivono accanto.
Il 19 settembre 1939, insieme a padre Massimiliano Kolbe e ad una quarantina di altri confratelli, viene fatto prigioniero dai tedeschi e, anche se solo per tre mesi, conosce l’amarezza e la sofferenza dei campi di concentramento. «Fino ad ora abbiamo scritto e abbiamo detto agli altri come sopportare le sofferenze, ora tocca a noi superare tutto questo, altrimenti che valore avrebbero le nostre parole?», lo sentono commentare spesso, quando la fame si fa più sentire o quando il lavoro è più massacrante.
Poiché i frati, una volta liberati, continuano imperterriti la loro opera evangelizzatrice, il 17 febbraio 1941 viene arrestato una seconda volta, ancora con padre Kolbe e altri tre confratelli. Una tappa di un paio di mesi nelle prigioni di Varsavia e poi via verso il campo di sterminio di Auschwitz, dove arriva esaurito nel fisico, stremato nelle forze, con un’infezione cutanea e con una brutta ferita ad una gamba, tanto da dover esser ricoverato nell’ospedale del lager. Ma neppure qui riescono a tenerlo fermo, perché appena riesce a muoversi gira da un letto all’altro per curare, confortare e soprattutto confessare.
Destinato ai lavori forzati di costruzione e distrutto dalle fatiche, dalle botte e dalla fame, non si riesce a capire dove trovi la forza per mantenersi costantemente sereno e paziente, addirittura con la forza di consolare gli altri.
Le torture finiscono per schiantarlo nella notte tra il 12 e il 13 dicembre 1941, quando muore con la consolazione degli ultimi sacramenti che gli vengono amministrati da uno dei tanti sacerdoti prigionieri nel campo.
Dopo essere stato preceduto nella gloria degli altari da padre Kolbe, anche padre Pio Bartosik insieme ad altri sei confratelli è stato proclamato beato da Giovanni Paolo II il 13 giugno 1999.
Autore: Gianpiero Pettiti
Ludwik Bartosik nacque il 21 agosto 1909 a Kokanin in Polonia, primogenito di Wojciech, calzolaio, e Wiktoria Tomczyk. La sua famiglia era alquanto povera, ma grazie a molti sforzi e con l’aiuto dei conoscenti e del parroco del luogo, il ragazzo ricevette una così buona preparazione intellettuale da poter iniziare gli studi presso il ginnasio inferiore “Tadeusz Kosciuszko” di Kalisz.
Nel 1926 venne dunque accolto nell’Ordine dei Frati Minori Conventuali, dove cominciò il noviziato il 7 settembre a Kalwaria Paclawska e poi a Pagiewniki. L’8 settembre 1927 emise i suoi primi voti religiosi e gli fu imposto il nome di fra Pio.
Proseguì gli studi nel seminario minore francescano, in un primo tempo a Sanok ed in seguito a Leopoli, giungendo finalmente nel 1931 al diploma di maturità. Intraprese poi gli studi filosofici e teologici nel seminario maggiore francescano di Cracovia, in cui ricevette l’ordinazione presbiterale il 23 giugno 1935 per mano del vescovo monsignor Stanislaw Rospond.
Come prima destinazione fu inviato al convento di Krosno, ove si distinse sempre per la sua devozione e soprattutto per l’assiduità nel ministero di confessore.
Nell’agosto 1936 fu trasferito a Niepokalanów, su richiesta esplicita del futuro san Massimiliano Kolbe, allora appena eletto guardiano di tale convento. Notando in padre Pio parecchie qualità sia spirituali che intellettuali, il Kolbe non esitò ad affidargli alcuni incarichi di responsabilità, in particolare come redattore delle riviste «Cavaliere dell’Immacolata», «Piccolo Cavaliere dell’Immacolata» e «Miles Immaculatae».
Tra i suoi numerosi scritti spicca un libro mariologico, di cui si conserva la versione dattiloscritta. Padre Pio fu ricordato dai frati quale sacerdote premuroso, che dedicava molto tempo al confessionale e trattava i suoi confratelli con gentilezza e rispetto esemplari.
Il 19 settembre 1939, con una quarantina di altri confratelli compreso padre Kolbe, fu imprigionato dai tedeschi e passò all’incirca tre mesi nei campi di concentramento di Lamsdorf, Amtitz e Ostrzeszów. Sopportò pazientemente la fame e le sofferenze, solendo ripetere: «Fino ad ora abbiamo scritto e abbiamo detto agli altri come sopportare le sofferenze, ora tocca a noi superare tutto questo, altrimenti che valore avrebbero le nostre parole?».
Una seconda volta venne arrestato il 17 febbraio 1941, nuovamente con padre Kolbe, padre Antonio Bajewski ed altri due, e condotto a Varsavia nella prigione di via Pawiak, ove sopportò con pazienza ogni tormento.
Il 4 aprile 1941, durante la settimana santa, padre Pio e padre Antonio furono deportati nel campo di concentramento di Auschwitz: padre Pio venne registrato con il numero 12832 e assegnato ai lavori forzati di costruzione. Inseguito, ormai fisicamente esaurito dalle percosse, da un’infezione cutanea e da una dolorosa ferita alla gamba, venne ricoverato nell’ospedale del campo.
Malato tra i malati, non si astenne però dall’aiutare gli altri con la massima dedizione, curandone le ferite, soccorrendo tanto fisicamente quanto spiritualmente, principalmente con il sacramento della riconciliazione. Ripeteva abitualmente: «Le sofferenze di questo momento non possono essere confrontate con la gloria futura, con la futura felicità che avremo presso Dio, nel Regno dei cieli».
Padre Pio, benché duramente provato nel fisico, sopportò con estrema pazienza questa tragica situazione. Morì, dopo aver ricevuto l’Unzione degli infermi, nella notte tra il 12 e il 13 dicembre 1941.
La fase diocesana della causa di padre Pio Bartosik, padre Antonio Bajewski e di altri cinque Frati Minori Conventuali polacchi è stata aperta il 26 maggio 1994 e chiusa il 12 dicembre dello stesso anno. Nel frattempo, il 29 aprile 1994, è stato rilasciato il nulla osta dalla Santa Sede. Il decreto che convalidava gli atti dell’inchiesta diocesana è stato emesso il 2 giugno 1995.
Dal 13 ottobre 1995 sono stati inclusi nel più ampio elenco che comprendeva in tutto 108 potenziali martiri, uccisi durante la persecuzione contro la Chiesa polacca, scaturita durante l’occupazione tedesca, durata dal 1939 al 1945.
La “Positio super martyrio” unitaria è stata trasmessa nel 1998 alla Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi. I Consultori teologi l’hanno esaminata il 20 novembre 1998, mentre i cardinali e i vescovi membri del medesimo Dicastero l’hanno valutata positivamente il 16 febbraio 1999.
Il 26 marzo 1999 il Papa san Giovanni Paolo II ha autorizzato la promulgazione del decreto con cui i 108 Servi di Dio potevano essere dichiarate ufficialmente martiri. Lo stesso Pontefice li ha beatificati il 13 giugno 1999 a Varsavia, durante il suo settimo viaggio apostolico in Polonia.
Autore: Don Fabio Arduino ed Emilia Flocchini