Love Transposed in Silence. Wojciech (Albert) Męciński's Vocation to Japan.

Nowakowski, Paweł

Love Transposed in Silence. Wojciech (Albert) Męciński's Vocation to Japan.

Abstract

The article presents Wojciech (Albert) Męciński, S.J., (ca. 1598-1643), a Jesuit martyr and the first Pole to reach Japan through the prism of his vocation to the country. The outlined historical background of Męciński's travel was supplemented by references to his letters, from which there emerges an image of a man deeply convinced about the necessity of a personal testimony of faith. The stability of Męciński's decision – twenty years passed from the moment of making it to its realization – becomes clear after an analysis of deep religious motivation. Męciński is almost silent about the country which is the objective of the journey of his life, stressing his devotion to Christ. On his way to Christ, he is heading to Japan, and thus combines the love of Christ with his willingness to give up his life in the country he did not know.