Polish Priest – Father Adrian Mantykiewicz Returns To Mass With A Message Of Forgiveness
Polish Priest, Reverend Father Adrian Mantykiewicz has returned back to the altar just two days after he survived a stabbing attack which claimed the life of another priest at a Benedictine monastery in Jarosław, Poland.
The attack reportedly took place on September 24 at the Benedictine Sisters’ abbey, where five people were allegedly stabbed. One of the parishes serving father, Stanisław Zbojniewicz died from the injuries he sustained, while Father Mantykiewicz was treated at a hospital and released the same day. While another priest, Father Marek Pieńkowski, remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
Despite carrying visible injuries on his head, Father Mantykiewicz still celebrated Mass at the abbey on September 26 with his head and hand bandaged. Rather than using his condition to express anger toward the attacker, he delivered a message which centered on forgiveness, prayer and Christian love.
“As a disciple of Jesus Christ,” Mantykiewicz said, he wanted to make clear that they have forgiven the attacker. He also asked the congregation to pray specifically for the person responsible and for God to grant him the grace of conversion and repentance.
The priest also tells his followers not to respond to the viølence with hatred. The suspect is a Ukrainian citizen, and Father Mantykiewicz appealed to Poles not to blame the wider Ukrainian community for the actions of one individual.
He further stated that, the crime was committed by a specific person who must answer for his own actions. He encouraged the people instead and he responded to evil with love, support, understanding and care.
His message also reflected the abbey’s history of helping Ukrainians who fled the wãr following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Mantykiewicz recalled how the monastery opened its doors to people seeking shelter, assistance and compassion.
“Let us care for one another,” he told the congregation, encouraging Christians to show love to the people they encounter.
