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  What it means

  “It’s not through litanies, psalms, and fasts that one builds bridges to heaven.” Piety alone — prayers and rituals — is not enough; good deeds and virtuous action are what truly matter.

  Vocabulary

  • litania — litany
  • psalm — psalm
  • post — fast, fasting
  • budować — to build
  • most — bridge
  • niebo — heaven, sky

  Grammar note

  'Buduje się' is an impersonal reflexive. 'Do nieba' uses the genitive after 'do' (to/toward). 'Mosty' is the accusative plural of 'most'.

  Cultural context

  Reflects a strand of Polish folk wisdom that values deeds over ritual observance, despite Poland's deeply Catholic culture.

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