Jan Bula’s letters that he wrote on 19th May 1951, thus the night before his execution, are one of the few written relics that we have of this man. However, these letters from death cell were not delivered to their addressees. Only after decades they were found in archives. Bula’s closest friends and relatives could not feel the pleasure in reading his last sentences that expressed a great mental balance and hope. You can read six of these here; they are entitled by the address on each of the envelopes.
Dear Krotkova family, Vícenice n. 12, Mor. Budějovice
Jihlava 19th May 1952
Dear brother-in-law, sister and all!
I was not granted the pleasure to say goodbye to you in person; and thus, I use this opportunity to do so. As I have written to the others, it is as if I was leaving to a remote country from where, I know, I won’t be coming back. I wave my handkerchief for the last time and I say my last adieu.
The first person I am going to meet, and I am looking forward to it, is daddy and together with him also uncle Karel, grandma and grandpa. Hopefully, it is the same providence as when uncle Karel died and you, little sister, started to speak at last. Perhaps this time Mařenka will start to speak. My grave will be unknown. Remember me by daddy’s. I really owe you in many things. I will try to make it up to you in another way.
I wish God gave you strength and joy! I believe in his goodness and in his justice! Believe too and believe strongly.
I wish the little ones, whose godfather I am, to grow up in such adults you hope for. If only they become your pride and joy.
Make mum both happy and strengthen her as well as each other. Send greetings to my godfather, the aunt in Třebíč and the many friends I wouldn’t be able to squeeze in here if I named them all.
Once again I give my regards to the brave mother, brother and sister-in-law in Lukov.
I thought of each of you a lot and I prayed for all of you.
God bless you and give you strength.
Goodbye, I kiss you all in my thoughts and I bless you!
Jan Bula
Dear Mr Ladislav Völk, Lipník nad Bečvou, Losertova st.
Jihlava 19th May 1952
Dear brother and sister-in-law!
I send my last goodbye to all of you. I remembered you these days more often than ever. I think of the little ones as well – I think of your “prettiest girl in the world” and even of the smallest whom I haven’t met yet. When you get this letter, the one who recalls you in this way will be watching you from another world. I will already be with daddy whose last words I often recall. He said: “You must go to sleep with me.” My place won’t be next to him. Nevertheless, I will be close to uncle Karel, who taught me my first steps and who was laid to rest here in Jihlava. Remember me in Lukov by daddy’s grave.
I had many plans and such a little trifle causes them all to evaporate. But why bother one’s head with it. Don’t ask why it had to be me. I’ve done a lot of work in one year for which my predecessors in Rokytnice would have needed years and they still did nothing. Perhaps this was so because such a short life has been measured for me. Today I must seek comfort in it.
The greatest comfort to me is that I faithfully served God until the very end. We never love God enough and that is the only thing we must regret. You brother, who have gone through a concentration camp, know how powerful is the faith in Him. I cannot recompense to you or other siblings or mother for anything any more. Don’t forget mother; any of you.
I know you would expect me to write much more when this is the last time; however, I think it is enough. I feel as if leaving to remote unknown parts, which I perhaps dreamed of, and when I come back from there I won’t find anybody familiar. In fact, because I know that there is no coming back, I know that you will come to me. We will meet again and I will embrace you once more in the new world where I’ll be waiting with our friends.
Bring up your children well! And take care yourselves that our meeting is true and happy.
May the Lord be with you and goodbye.
Farewell and kisses,
Yours Jenda
Dear Mr Jan Bula, Podmolí by Znojmo
Jihlava 19th May 1952
Dear uncle and aunt!
I say goodbye to you and all friends and relatives and I send my last greetings. As the one who leaves to some remote parts – I wave my handkerchief for the last time to say goodbye.
I wish the Lord remembered you for all that you have done for me.
Be happy.
Be a comfort to my mother and siblings. I did not anticipate that I would cause them such pain. The faith in a happy reunion with me and with our beloved who preceded us to heaven should be a consolation both to you and to them.
May the Lord be with you and goodbye.
Kisses
Yours Jan Bula
Dear Mr Cyril Bojanovský, town councillor, Lukov, Mor. Budějovice
Jihlava 19th May 1952
Mr councillor!
I would consider it unforgivable if I did not express to you my last goodbye.
You have given me so much. I remember all of it gladly! The Lord has given me a short life; however, I believe that it was not lived in vain. I am happy today that I served Him and that I remained His servant until the end. Reconciled with Him, I leave. I am looking forward for having a rest and for meeting all those who preceded me to heaven. My patron saint did not have a longer life than me and I have much in common with his fate.
I had many plans; nevertheless, all of them were conditioned by God’s will. Even the new altar is not going to be built. It was this altar that I put all the not even served out intentions aside for. The earnings are deposited in the cooperative. How I kept looking forward to all of this! However, there won’t be any altar of mine in Rokytinice.
Tomorrow, when you will have received this letter, I would have prayed my psalm “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in piece. For my eyes have seen your salvation, […]” Thank the Lord for this!
Be a comfort, Mr councillor, to my mother and siblings and pass my last greetings to my countrymen. Although my thoughts are not balanced, they indicate my reconciliation. Rely on the Lord’s justice. I say goodbye to you and I wish the Lord remembered you!
Similarly, I recall the miss and all her works and worries for me.
I believe you won’t forget me during the time of your terrestrial journey and then we will meet happily!
Goodbye and remembering you
Yours Jan Bula
Miss Ludmila Kolářová, Rudíkov by Vel. Meziříčí
Jihlava 19th May 1952
Miss,
I send my last goodbye also to you! You know that the path I trod was not easy; that it was rather filled with hawthorns. You worked for me loyally; and thus, I consider it my duty to say thank you. I wish God remembered you; I cannot reward you in any other way.
I often remembered you and the ones at your home. In my thoughts I envied your parents their ripe age. What would I manage to do having lived so long! However, a short life has been measured for me - the same as to my patron saint John the Baptist!
I leave reconciled with the Lord and as I remembered the ones entrusted to me I hope they will remember me. In my thoughts I bless them and you and I remember you.
I wish you all good health and contentment and a happy reunion.
Yours
Jan Bula
Dear Hádlíkova family, Němčičky n. 155, Velké Pavlovice
Jihlava 19th May 1952
Dear uncle, aunt and all relatives,
I send you my last goodbye!
As everyone who is preparing for a long journey likes to look back to wave his handkerchief
and say goodbye for the last time, I’m doing so as well.
I wish the Lord remembered you for all that you have done for me. I surely owe you in many things. I will try to make it up to you in another way. Remember me well. I won’t be able to come to your place any more; however, I believe I will be able to see you. Be happy, all of you. I wish you good health and contentment - you all who were so dear to me.
I kiss you all in my thoughts for the last time and I say goodbye in faith for a happy reunion.
Yours
Jan Bula
