Priesthood

In 1942, Karol asked to be received as a candidate for the priesthood. He was accepted and then began to lead a new, double life. The Gestapo tried to control the seminary by not allowing instruction. However, the seminary simply ignored these instructions. The Gestapo then tried to ban the acceptance of new seminarians. The archbishop responded by hiring the young aspirants as parish secretaries. Even under this disguise, raids were frequent. On one occasion five students were arrested and either immediately executed by firing squad or sent to Auschwitz. The archbishop then decided to take the seminary fully underground. Telling no one, the candidates would continue their work studying and taking examinations. In time, they hoped they would complete their studies and be ordained without the Gestapo finding out. In the midst of experiencing so much suffering and death, it would have been easy for Karol to reject God. However, his response was to surrender his life to God in the priesthood.