>>1554
Historically Catholicism unified country against foreign threats (Swedes, Ottomans etc), then it helped to preserve national identity during partitions (Prussia was largely Protestant, Russia Orthodox) and under socialist rule it played major supporting role in dismantling it. Hate Catholicism myself, it's paganised Christianity, but I can't deny it did some good things for the country (it did some bad things politically too especially in Jagiellonian times when it was important to get together with Hussites). There's never was a strong enough Protestant presence and default religion or 'way to God' led through catholic church. When people grow up majority isn't very serious about it but they don't feel the need to reject it either, more pious will go to church every sunday and so on but that's where it stops. Then when troubles come and they require God's help they go to Catholicism first not even considering other options. Another way to look at it is a cultural Catholicism that usually has children (most sent there by parents) and elderly as active participants and only comes into forefront during times of trouble.