God’s Playground. A History of Poland, Vol. 2. 1795 to the Present

THE GROWTH OF THE MODERN NATION 15

I stand on Parade

As God has bidden,

My Commission defray'd

For leave in Heaven.

For Freedom, I'll die;

My Faith not deny.

That is my Hazard.

The Cross is my Shield,

Salvation my Loot,

I'll stay in the Field

Though Death be afoot.

My Safety is nought.

My Soul's rest is sought

In the Fatherland.

It's nothing novel

When Poland's Fate

Is to enter the Battle

As Mary's Breastplate.

In the thick of the Fight

She succours her Knight,

And Thee, Sweet Fatherland.^13

After the Partitions, for the Poles in Russia and Prussia, and to a lesser extent in
Catholic Austria, these associations assumed capital importance. Ever since, the
celebration of the Mass has traditionally ended with the singing of the same
patriotic hymn:

O God who through the ages

Hast girded Poland with power and fame,

Whose shield hath kept Her in Thy care

From evils that would cause her harm.

Before Thy altars, we bring our entreaty:

Restore, O Lord, our free country.*

Hymn writing in this period occupied an important branch of literature, and

hymn-singing a prominent place in popular culture. The hymns of Franciszek

Karpinski (1741—1825) were learned by generations of churchgoers. At

Christmas time, Karpinski's carols enjoyed universal acclaim.

Some scholars have chosen to minimize the Catholic contribution to Polish

nationhood. They point to the fact that devout Catholics frequently struck

entirely passive attitudes towards political and social reform, and that the

Bote cos Polske was composed in 1816 by the Revd Alojzy Feliriski (1771-1820) as a 'Hymn

on the Anniversary of the Declaration of the Congress Kingdom', and was later adapted. In

1918-39, and again after 1945, the last line was changed at official request to read 'Bless, O

Lord, our free country'.; hut many people still kept to the traditional words.^14