Kapłan jako przewodnik w kierownictwie duchowym

Refleksja na kanwie dokumentu Kongregacji ds. Duchowieństwa Kapłan — szafarz miłosierdzia Bożego

Author(s): Robert Kantor / Language(s): Polish Issue: _/2012

Desde los primeros siglos de la Iglesia hasta nuestros días, se ha practicado el consejo espiritual, llamado también dirección, guía y acompañamiento espiritual. El objetivo de la dirección espiritual consiste principalmente en ayudar a discernir los signos de la voluntad de Dios. Normalmente la dirección espiritual es vinculada al ministerio del sacerdote y con frecuencia a la confesión, donde el sacerdote actúa en nombre de Cristo y se muestra como padre, amigo, médico y guía espiritual. El documento de la Congregación para el Clero presenta algunas cualidades del sacerdote–director espiritual. En general se pide que el director tenga un gran espíritu de acogida y de escucha, con sentido de responsabilidad y disponibilidad, con un tono de paternidad y de fraternidad, y de respetuosa amistad, siempre como servicio humilde de quien ofrece un consejo, evitando el autoritarismo, el personalismo y el paternalismo, además de la dependencia afectiva, la prisa y la pérdida de tiempo en cuestiones secundarias, con la debida discreción y prudencia, sabiendo pedir consejo oportunamente a otros con las debidas cautelas, etc. Estas cualidades se integran con el don del consejo. No debe faltar una nota de sano “humor” que, si auténtico, es siempre respetuoso y contribuye a reducir a sus justas dimensiones muchos problemas artificiales y a vivir más serenamente. El artículo consta de seis capítulos: 1. La dirección espiritua en la historia de la Iglesia católica; 2. La dirección espiritul y el sacramento de la penitencia; 3. La dirección espiritual en la formación sacerdotal; 4. Las cualidades del director espiritual; 5. La dirección espiritual en la vida del sacerdote–guía; 6. La dirección espiritual del sacerdote y armonía entre los diversos niveles formativos.

Vulgarised Rahnerianism and Post-Critical Recontextualisation: Solvents of Catholic Identity in Contemporary Catechesis

Author(s): Gerard O'Shea / Language(s): English Issue: _/2012

Undoubtedly, one might point to the usual range of difficulties facing Catholic education in our contemporary circumstances: the prevailing popular culture for promoting a worldview at odds with Christian teaching on a broad range of issues — sociological, political, economic and spiritual. Yet it is intriguing that a similar set of problems overcame Protestant educational efforts in the nineteenth century, but left Catholic efforts unaffected. This begs the question: what has changed? It would be unwise to claim that any one cause will offer an adequate solution. Nevertheless, it may be the argued that it is not only external attacks that lie at the root of the problem; it may include factors that are internal to Catholic Education itself. This paper will mount a case for this contention in three parts. The first part will demonstrate that the influence on Catholic education of what may be described as a “popularly received” version of the theology of KARL RAHNER may have laid a foundation for problems of Catholic identity schools. This general phenomenon is described by the English Dominican, AIDAN NICHOLS, as vulgarised Rahnerianism: “an attitude of mind among theologically literate, or at least religiously articulate, Catholics which owed much, certainly, to Rahner but on the way had shed much too in the way of nuance and qualification”.

Effects of Matrimonial Canon Law: Pastoral Aspects

Author(s): Stanislav Přibyl / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The value changes in the Western world since the 1960s have been markedly strong as regards the youth towards marriage. This situation was reacted to already in the 1983 Code of Canon Law promulgated by Pope John Paul II. Canon law can thus more effectively become a relevant tool in the pastoral care for the betrothed and married spouses in the Catholic Church. However, the basis for such pastoral ministry is a thorough preparation of couples for marriage and their permanent spiritual accompaniment. Legal tools referred to in the present paper can contribute to solving unusual or difficult situations of the spouses and enabling them access to sacramental life.

The Holy Eucharist Today: Pastoral-Spiritual Prolegomena

Author(s): Adrian-Lucian Dinu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

This study includes testimonies concerning the Holy Eucharist by three great Fathers of Romanian Orthodoxy: Fr. Cleopa Ilie, Fr. Prof. Constantin Galeriu and Fr. Prof. Dumitru Stăniloae. All three of them are recognized as being highly proficient in Church teaching, devoutly Orthodox and, consecrated preachers and catechists. This is why I consider that their contribution to the understanding and valorisation of the many aspects related to the Holy Eucharist is essential.

The Application of Oikonomia in the Sacrament of Ordination

Author(s): Emilian-Iustinian Roman / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

The issue of the status of divorced and remarried priests as well as of widowed and remarried ones is present in the life of the Church today. The post-modern, secularized society in which we live is the auspicious context for discarding a man from the balance between what the Church teaches and lives, that is between orthodoxy and orthopraxis, attempting in every way to sweeten rules and, implicitly, to justify sin. In this study, we shall deal first of all with issues concerning the principle of oikonomia, and secondly with the way this principle is reflected in Decision no.1092 of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church passed on the 24th of February 2010 regarding the status of divorced and remarried priests, and widowed and remarried ones, thus addressing the principle of oikonomia in the Sacrament of Ordination.

Święto Matki Boskiej Gromnicznej w religijności ludowej

Author(s): Zdzisław Kupisiński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 09/2015

The Feast of Our Lady of Candles is the later name for the Feast ofPresentation of the Lord,founded in the fourth century. Initially, the celebration had a Christological accent, but with time it acquired features of Marian feast (now in the liturgy the original name is in force). In Polish folk religiosity the name Our Lady of the Thunder Candle has functioned, as people came to church to have their candles called “gromnica” (the Thunder Candle) blessed. Under the influence of the Church's teaching, ancient folk customs and rituals have changed their content and meaning.So it was with the symbolism of light and candle.After giving it a Christian interpretation burning candle symbolizes the eternal light, which is Christ for every Christian.In the life of the villagersgromnicahad great significance and was used for various practices. It was handed to a dying person to be safelyaccompaniedby Mary to the “other world” and in the light of Christ. Aftercoming backfrom church, sign of the cross was marked with a smoky flame ofgromnicaat the frames of windows and the front door of the house to ensure God's protection from evil spirits. Gromnica waslit and placed in a window or on a table during storm to protect the house and farm fromthunder-lightand “avert” storm. This was not a magical act, as some ethnologists asserted,but a form of folk piety through the intercession of Mary (People prayed Rosary and “Beneath Thy Protection”).Gromnicawas also used for medical and meteorological practices; by observing the flame during the church service or on the way home people were makingpredications.According to the folk beliefs, candle had its power, because it was blessed in the church by the priest.Nowadays verylittle is left of the ancient folk customs associated with the Thunder Candle. Only in some families the custom of handinggromnicato the dying person or marking sign of the cross on the frames of the door and windows is still practiced. However, the candle as such and its burning flame reminds the faithful about Baptism and Christ – the eternal Light.

Osoby życia konsekrowanego w służbie katechezy

Author(s): Piotr Tomasz Goliszek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 11/2015

Catechesis should lead to the formation of a personal bond with God following the model of Christ, and to professing the faith in the Church for a full personalization of man and of the world. For this service, in a special way, in all the history, the Church has always called consecrated persons to devote the maximum of their abilities and possibilities to the work of teaching, educating and of initiation that is realized by catechesis in various circles. The contribution of monks to catechization is most fully realized by making the Person of Christ present with the use of the example of one's life, and by following the example of the Son of God, by the profession of evangelic councils and by the testimony of one's Christian life in agreement with the Gospel, revealing Christ and showing the face of the Church, as well as by monastic charismas involved in the process of catechization, giving it a special emphasis and a telling character. Involvement in catechization on the part of monks, nuns, and members of associations of apostolic life is of utmost importance at the present moment in the history of the new evangelization of the new Europe and the new world.

Paschalne ukierunkowanie homilii

Author(s): Ks. Stanisław Dyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 12/2015

The Homiletic Directory presents the correct dynamics for the contents of a homily by pointing to its three elements: explaining the sacred texts through the prism of the death and resurrection of Christ; making present the Paschal mystery in the liturgy; and extending this mystery into the life of the faithful. Such an approach to preaching a homily reveals the clear impact of liturgical theology, according to which the liturgy combines three elements: the misterium (the mystery of Christ), the actio (the liturgical celebration) and the vita (the Christian life). In this vision, the liturgy and the homily preached during mass are a celebration (an actualization) of the salvific mystery in order that it encompass the lives of Christians and at the same time it is a celebration of the life of Christians, placing them into the saving mystery. In this way, the homily, which is always at the service of the mystery of Christ, becomes a special meeting place for theology, the liturgy and Christian life. In this perspective, the basic task of the homilist is gradually uncovering and making present the whole mystery of Christ by continually referring to the Passover.

Nova evangelizacija pred izazovom integralne formacije unutar skupina mladih u Vrhbosanskoj nadbiskupiji

Author(s): Šimo Maršić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2015

The new evangelization is clearly a necessary element in overall Church practice; and Church associations are important for the new evangelization. Taking into account the results of a study conducted among high school students in the Vrhbosna Archdiocese the author first examines the profile of those who belong to formal and informal groups of young people. He then examines the capacity of these youth groups to respond to the challenges of integral formation of young people (in the human, spiritual, doctrinal and cultural spheres), as a contribution to the success of the new evangelization in Bosnian and Herzegovinian society. The author seeks to prove the hypothesis that formal and informal groups of young people are places of integral formation and thus respond positively to the need for the new evangelization. He also assesses the extent to which young people’s groups respond to the need to receive permanent educational incentives, development of organizational skills, education for solidarity, tolerance, ecumenism, and interreligious dialogue, and to what extent the community life of groups or communities of lay associations affects the participation of young people in parish catechesis. The author also discusses variable samples that affect the responses of young people (group affiliation, gender, length of stay in the association, regularity of participation in activities of their own associations, and regularity of attendance at Sunday Masses).

„Siła dobranego słowa”. O kwartalniku „Pastores”, o formacji kapłańskiej i potrzebie odkrywania przez Kościół wciąż na nowo swojej misji. Z Józefem Augustynem SJ rozmawia ks. Dariusz Sonak

Author(s): Dariusz Sonak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2016

The Church still needs to read in a new light its mission in a changing world. It should be done by the people who will look responsibly at the man seeking God, and in Him the meaning of his own life. For almost twenty years the quarterly „Pastores” serves as a help for priests and seminarians seeking their own path of spiritual growth.

Blog – użyteczne narzędzie katechizacji

Author(s): Adam Bielinowicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 53/2016

Today, blogs play an increasingly important role in education, becoming not only a source of knowledge, but above all a tool to assist the learning process and communication between teachers and students. Blogs are also a particularly valuable tool that is used by many Christians in preaching the Word of God. The article describes the usefulness of the blog as a tool to facilitate catechesis and communication of the religious teacher with students.

Duchowo-moralne wyzwania starości

Author(s): Antoni Jucewicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 53/2016

The Christian approaching his old age faces yet another spiritual and moral challenge, just as he did throughout his life. His first moral task at this stage of life is to accept his advanced age and come to terms with the physical and psychological consequences of it. The research presented here indicates that only one driven by his religious faith and sustained by the hope of eternal life may sincerely accept his old age and inevitable death. This is because his Christian faith tells him that his death does not end anything, but opens him up to the everlasting communion with God. Another important moral challenge in man’s advanced years is putting his priorities right. He must shake off his egocentrism and all obstacles to his human and Christian development so that he can reach an internal autonomy. His conviction of God being at his side and watching over him may ease his spiritual tension and prepare for the ultimate end of his earthly sojourn not as something to be feared, but rather longed for: a passover, after which he would surely meet his beloved Maker. In his advanced age, with all its infirmities and helplessness, the Christian may be the bearer of hope to others by showing them that life, no matter how difficult and full of suffering, is worth living to the full of its natural end.

HOMILIA JAKO PRZYKŁAD SYNTEZY TEOLOGICZNEJ

Author(s): Ks. Stanisław Dyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 15/2016

Homily, in each stage of its performance, is mystagogical, as it shows the way to the mystery of Christ. Homily is theology in its original sense - it deepens the existential knowledge of the mystery of Christ revealed in the Holy Bible, in the liturgical celebration, as well as in the whole Deposit of Faith. This leads to the participation in the mystery of Christ realized in liturgical celebration; points out to the way of life in faith through reenacting in oneself the mystery of Christ.The homily may be perceived as an answer to the contemporary question of a synthesis in theology (See: Decree on Priestly Training - Optatam To tins, Holy See, 28 October 1965, 16; Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy - Sacrosanctum Concilium, Holy See, 21 November 1964,16). It introduces the most crucial aspects of the Christ’s mystery in a panoramic way. The function of the homily is to combine the richness of the God’s Word with liturgical celebration and Christian way of life. The homily should always resound with the relation between the lex ceredendi, lex orandi i lex vivendi.

Duszpasterstwo Bibliotekarzy Archidiecezji Katowickiej na tle współczesnego duszpasterstwa specjalistycznego w archidiecezji katowickiej

Author(s): Henryk Olszar / Language(s): Polish Issue: 40 (1)/2015

The pastoral care of the librarians in Archdiocese of Katowice was launched in 1999. Its aim is to integrate the community of librarians around chaplain assigned by Archbishop of Katowice and joint formational meetings, annual pilgrimage to Jasna Góra as well as the organization of scientific conferences. The thing that matter the most is to construct the discourse of values and opening to another person.

Părintele Dumitru Stăniloae şi poetul Ioan Alexandru, în două texte rare

Author(s): Costion Nicolescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 06/2016

This article includes an interview of Father Dumitru Stăniloae taken in 1992 and a text by the great poet Ioan Alexandru as a tribute to Father Dumitru Staniloae’s celebration of 90 years, entitled Theology and poetry.

Tradiţie şi reînnoire în teologia Părintelui Sofronie

Author(s): Andrew Louth / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 06/2016

Tradition and innovation are in fact deeply interwoven in the theology of Fr Sophrony. Although Fr Sophrony was initially criticized by his fellow Orthodox for speaking so freely about his personal experience of God, in doing this he was only following the mainstream of the theology of the Russian emigres, amongst whom he may be counted, for whom theology and personal experience were inseparable. Again, Fr Sophrony might be regarded as innovative in the emphasis he lays on sin and darkness, to the point of finding parallels with the Western teaching of St John of the Cross on the Dark Night of the Soul. But this emphasis on the darkness of sin is well represented in the Lenten offices of the Church, and his notion of a human solidarity in sin that is experienced as the darkness of separation, from other human beings and from God, is entirely traditional, as is his understanding of the vicarious nature of ascetical experience, to be expected in a century such as the twentieth that knew so much of the horror of suffering and evil. This led Fr Sophrony to an understanding of the humility of God, and to explore the notion of divine kenosis, finding in such divine self-emptying the revelation of God’s essential nature as Iove, in this developing in innovative ways doctrines that had become characteristic of Russian Orthodoxy.

Celebracja sakramentu pokuty i nabożeństwo pokutne w rekolekcjach dla młodzieży

Author(s): Paweł Witkowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2016

Contemporary Rites put forward three forms of celebration of the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.The intention of Rites of penance in a renewed form was to demonstrate the nature and effect of thesacrament of penance more clearly and to show their social dimension. This is best expressed by the secondway of celebration – the rite of reconciliation of many penitents with individual confession and absolution. Ithelps to understand better a social dimension of sin and forgiveness. In comparison to the first form – the riteof reconciliation of one penitent with individual confession and absolution – we can see how the same elementsof penance which are expressed in analogues signs stress a social character of the sacrament. A communalform of the sacrament of penance seem to be underestimated and it is hard to speak about it commonusage. Against a background of this reluctance and sometimes of some arbitrariness in the practice of communalpenitential celebration we must stress the necessity of sacramental catechesis. Youth retreats are theopportunity to change this situation as during them this form of celebration is often applied.The Penitential Rites include nine models of penitential services and demonstrate their benefitand significance in their theological and pastoral aspects. One can observe a distinct analogy with thepenitential rite for many penitents with individual confession and absolution although they are differentin their nature. Youth retreats give opportunity to revive the practice of those services. It this case it isnecessary to prepare the celebration well. It is particularly important to adapt the content (subjects) andform to recipients and, if possible, to involve the young in the co-creation of the celebration.

Parafia unicka w Michalowie w latach 1711-1747

Author(s): Janusz Adam Frykowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2015

The paper presents an outline of the history of the Uniate parish in Michalów from 1711 to the end of its functioning as an independent entity. At the outset the article defines the geographical location of the parish, its size and position in the organizational structures of the Church. During the analysis of post-inspection protocols written by bishops of Chełm, as far as it was possible, the appearance of the church and its fittings are presented. The personal information of the three local clergy members managing the parish are identified. On the basis of the foundation act the benefice of the priests is characterized. The remainder of the article presents the state of the residential and farm buildings. At the end of the paper the approximate time of the liquidation of the parish and its incorporation into the neighboring parish of Rachanie is presented.

TRADYCJE HOMILETYCZNE W MYŚLI PATRYSTYCZNEJ

Author(s): Maciej Radej / Language(s): Polish Issue: 12/2013

From the beginning of the existence the teaching of the Church passed the message of the faith on to the Christians. It had to overcome lots of adversities and correspond to the needs of people and so it could lay permanent and solid foundations, which were helpful to the development of the true doctrine. The Word of God preached by the Jesus Christ, apostles, martyrs and Fathers of the Church could bear the living faith. The development of the preachers’ soul, which was presented in the article, showed the abundance of essence from the Bible and comments to the holy books. The preached faith is a sign of the Church, which is alive thanks to the Word of God. We can find its confirmation in the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - Dei Verbum. The masters of theology, who were educated by the Holy Book, were looking some possibilities and ways, because they wanted that the grain of the Gospel could yield the fruit of faith. The balance of preached sermons is rather positive and satisfactory. The Church’s teaching hat a considerable influence on the formation of humanity, on the creating of the next ages and it made famous the apostolic doctrine.The pulpit as a table of the Word God’s and a sign of the faith rose to the task. It also gives the chance to the present-day preachers, that they answer its requirements of the preaching of the Gospel among the people.

ROLA AKLAMACJI „JEZUS PANEM” W TEOLOGII KERYGMATYCZNEJ. STUDIUM NA PODSTAWIE TWÓRCZOŚCI O. RANIERO CANTALAMESSY

Author(s): Michał Zborowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 23/2016

Father Raniero Cantalamessa’s kerygmatic theology is characteristic of combining a dogmatic and pastoral dimension. Within this meaning the Italian theologian carries out an analysis and introduction of acclamation ” Jesus is the Lord”. On one hand he points out the dogmatic dimension of creed and on the other hand he presents its pastoral perception. The analysis of the early church creed of ” Jesus is the Lord” for the Italian preacher is the way to recognize Jesus, His identity, mission and justification to pro-existence and God’s will to human salvation. Moreover, after revelation of Jesus Christ presence and deeds, there is calling for human’s will to appreciate Jesus as his Lord which is a way to personal life conversion. The acclamation ”Jesus is the Lord”is one of methods of kerygmatic prophesy. It influencies a pneumatological opening, choice of changable content of preaching, inculturation, using accurate language and, also or primarily, it points to the preacher prophesing words of God. The Italian teologian states that ”the power given in the name of Jesus activates just through the preacher’s faith, not by means of usual teaching”. This is the reason why father Cantalamessa devotes much in an attempt to characterize the preacher, his attitude and formation on the base of cathegory "Jesus is the Lord”.