Father Jan Twardowski (1915 – 2006) used to call himself 'a priest writing poems'. He had loving parents, Jan and Aniela, three sisters, and a big multigenerational family, which secured him a happy childhood. The atmosphere at home, countryside holidays and the books he was reading shaped the future poet’s sensitivity. One of his favorite authors was J. Ch. Andersen. Thanks to his works Twardowski learned to notice poverty, harm, injustice, humiliation, undeserved ugliness. In 1935, Jan Twardowski entered Polish language faculty at the University of Warsaw. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 interrupted his studies. During Warsaw Uprising (1944), the poet was involved in the resistance movement, in the ranks of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa). He was wounded twice. In 1945, he entered a seminary and simultaneously went back to the University of Warsaw to continue his interrupted studies, which he completed in 1948. His MA thesis was devoted to the poetry of Juliusz Słowacki. The same year, he was ordained priest.

 

At the end of the 20th century, father Twardowski’s works were immensely popular, and he was ranked among the most valued Polish poets – even by the agnostic circles. Prosaic works, much varied in form (deliberations, thoughts, essays, aphorisms, tales for children) mirror rich diversity of reflection of father Twardowski as a thinker, philosopher, spiritual guide and an outstanding preacher. He was popular among all generations of readers, and was acclaimed one of the best Polish authors as well as a moral authority.