Two Stances of Otherness: the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the fairytale The Old Woman’s Daughter and the Old Man’s Daughter, by Ion Creanga

Author(s): Mihaela Dumitru Bacali,Constantin Oprea / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

The relationship with the other is the key to the notion of “otherness”. This relationship is placed in the center of two different works with respect to the formal completion: one is a parable, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, the other is a fairytale, The Old Woman’s Daughter and the Old Man’s Daughter. What they have in common is the presence of a character that contradicts the idea of selfishness, specific for the ordinary people, and the notion of negative devaluation of the unknown person, highlighted by anthropologists. Both works place in the center the notion of “otherness” and they highlight two possible attitudes connected to this: that other person can become “a limit” or “an object” in the fulfillment of the existential adventure. In other words, that person can be a step towards moral perfection or, on the contrary, a limit in the way of personal development. The two “spiritual creations” (the parable and the fairytale) put into question a moral problem, that of the person next to us or “the Other one”, they both comprise a debate on ethical matters and they are built on the relationship I – the other one, placing in the center the same type of character: “the good man”, gifted with a high ethical sense, the one who, in his journey through life, shows no indifference, but he constantly relates to the person next to him – “the other one” whom, most of the times, is seen in opposition with or they have a conflictual relationship. At the same time, both works comprise the subject of “the road”, that of “the journey”.

Teologia przebudzenia religijnego według Charlesa Finneya. Kontekst historyczny, źródła i jej wpływ na późniejszy rewiwalizm

Author(s): Kamil Hałambiec / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2015

Charakterystykę i podstawowe cechy rewiwalizmu datuje się od powstania w XVIII wieku przebudzenia metodystycznego. John Wesley nauczał o potrzebie doświadczenia „drugiego błogosławieństwa” (second blessing), jakim według niego było całkowite uświęcenie, co można odnaleźć w swego rodzaju sukcesji realizowanej przez XIX-wieczny ruch przebudzenia uświęceniowego. Jednakże najwybitniejszym teologiem przebudzenia w XVIII wieku nie był John Wesley – którego wpływy sięgały nie tylko całej Anglii, ale i Ameryki – lecz Jonathan Edwards, który jako pierwszy dokonał systematycznego opisu przebudzenia religijnego. Kontynuatorem, ale i reformatorem jego myśli przebudzeniowej, był uznawany za najwybitniejszego spośród kaznodziejów przebudzeniowych Charles Finney. Jego wpływ na teologię i praktykę ewangelizacyjną jest tak wielki, że Finneya nazywa się „ojcem współczesnego rewiwalizmu”. Celem niniejszego studium jest ukazanie samej istoty teologii Finneya z uwzględnieniem akcentu, jaki położony jest w niej na przebudzenie, w jej historyczno-biograficznym kontekście oraz zaznaczeniem wpływu na cały ruch przebudzeniowy.

Menjetek el! – Útravaló beszéd teológusoknak…

Author(s): Botond Péter Koppándi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2016

Az együttérzés áldása

Author(s): Sándor Kovács / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2016

A szeretet gazdagító ereje. Jászboldogháza és Sinfalva testvérkapcsolatának 20. évfordulójára

Author(s): Dénes Pálfi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2016

Áldott éhség és szomjúság. Úrvacsorai ima őszi hálaadásra

Author(s): Dénes Pálfi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2016

Ítélet helyett szeretet

Author(s): Béla Botond Jakabházi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2016

Lelked, a jó termőföld

Author(s): Kinga Réka Székely / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 2/2016

Anioła Ślązaka polemika z luteranizmem

Author(s): Robert K. Zawadzki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2016

The article first gives a short presentation of Angelus Silesius (1624-1677) or, Johannes Scheffler, and then more thoroughly analyses the first part of his work entitled Idea causarum fundatarum, transeundi a Lutheranis ad Ecclesiam Catholicam; comprehensarum Illationibus duabus which has been forgotten today. The baroque writer used exclusively brief statements which confirm the truth of the Roman faith and simultaneously debunk arguments in favor of Protestant religion. Above all his work was supposed to provide polemical ammunition for the supporters of the Roman Catholic Church and to justify discontinuing relations with Protestantism. In order to achieve this purpose, the writer enumerated and discussed arguments related to the most important arguable theological issues, such as the apostolic succession, miracles, attitude to God's Word, religious life, celibacy, the figure of Luther and his adherents, etc.

SPRAWOZDANIE Z DZIAŁALNOŚCI DIECEZJALNEGO STUDIUM ORGANISTOWSKIEGO W RZESZOWIE W ROKU SZKOLNYM 2015/2016

Author(s): Andrzej Widak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 23/2016

Bóg Izraela – wojownik czy miłośnik pokoju?

Author(s): Grzegorz Szamocki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 30/2016

Old Testament historiography represents theological reflections upon the ancient history of the world and of Israel. These literary expressions draw a certain picture of God based upon – and coherent with – conceptions and definitions well known to the intended audience of that day. For today’s reader of the Bible, however, some of these seemingly divergent depictions can be most difficult to understand and to harmonize with each other. Thus, this article attempts to address the problem of reconciling the image of YHWH-God as warrior with his presentation as a lover and a giver of peace. Analysis was carried out in essentially two stages, the first focusing on interpretation of the term „YHWH warrior” and the second on a proper understanding of the phrase „YHWH peace”. The result is the conclusion that the image of “YHWH warrior” is a literary way of projecting the theological message of the presence of YHWH-God in human life, of His omnipotence and faithfulness. As such, however, it is subordinate to the concept of a God who loves peace and desires to bestow peace upon his people.

Apostolat maryjny i eschatyczny jako dominanta duszpasterskiego charyzmatu św. Stanisława Papczyńskiego (1631-1701)

Author(s): Ryszard Sawicki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2017

Saint Stanislaus Papczynski has a place among the most remarkable Polish personalities of the 16th century, to which his life, pastoral work and literary legacy are all a testament. He was a holy monk, a valued teacher, a great worshiper of Virgin Mary, a preacher and a confessor who cared greatly for the profound spiritual development of the human being, as well as the founder of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary – the first religious order for men in Poland. The article presents the pastoral charisma of Saint Stanislaus Papczyński, whose dominant characteristic was Marian and eschatic apostolate.

Śpiewaniem Boga wychwalajcie

Author(s): Zbigniew Machej / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

Jirzik Trzanowski, editor, translator and co-author of the Czech hymnal Cithara sanctorum, the most important work of this type published in the Slavonic languages, was born in Evangelical Cieszyn in 1592.

Księgi "dla prostych i nieumiejętnych ludzi"

Author(s): Beata Stuchlik-Surowiak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

When, under the Peace of Westphalia treaties (1648) that ended the Thirty Years’ War the Habsburg rulers started to re-catholicize Silesia. The only territories which could count on their tolerance were Wroclaw and Duchies of Bydgoszcz, Legnica and Oleśnica ruled by the independent evangelical princes.

Oktawa liturgiczna. Rys historyczny i obowiązujące unormowania

Author(s): Kazimierz Dullak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 32/2022

Celebrating and participating in the liturgy is an expression of the faith of the people of God. The liturgy forms the community of the Church. The hierarchical Church seeks to make its experience as fruitful as possible for all the baptised who make up the priestly people of God. The established liturgical norms, including calendars, have changed over the centuries. Thus, the accents emphasising the importance of individual religious events in translating into liturgical celebrations changed. The established law was also influenced by the sense of faith of the people of tGod, it manifested itself in the customs and tradi- tions expressed in folk rituals. An example of the overlapping of the Church’s liturgical regulations and bottom-up initiatives rooted in popular piety is, among others, the tradition of the octave of the Solem- nity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) cultivated in Poland.The twentieth century is the time of liturgical reform activities undertaken by the Pastors of the Univer- sal Church. Many signs accumulated in the liturgy, which were not properly read by the participants of the services, were reduced. The principle of simplifying the liturgy and reducing the rituals to the level of legibility of its meaning was adopted.The liturgical octaves have a very strong message in them: strengthening in the intensity and duration of experiencing the content of the solemnities. It is often repeated that consecutive octave days are like celebrating the solemnity itself for the following eight days. While this claim can be implied for the Oc- tave of Passover (Easter), it is difficult to relate to the Octave of Christmas. Although currently only two octaves are left in the liturgical calendar, they differ in many respects. The question arises: is this a good solution for the faithful of the Catholic Church? Should we not return to other octaves, e.g. the Solemnity of Pentecost? Do the current tables of priority of liturgical days require redrafting? Many doubts arise, followed by questions concerning liturgical regulations.This study was aimed at showing the development and present shape of liturgical octaves. This project was done based on bringing closer the decisions of the popes and the bodies acting on their behalf (con- gregations) over the centuries. The final chord presents the current regulations and highlights the source of their formation.

Dowody ze świadków w postępowaniu kanonizacyjnym Sługi Bożego ks. Stanisława Streicha

Author(s): Wojciech Mueller / Language(s): Polish Issue: 32/2022

On October 28, 2017, in the church of st. John Bosco in Luboń, the beatification process began at the diocesan stage of rev. Stanisław Streich, murdered at the foot of the altar on February 27, 1938 in Luboń by a communist – Wawrzyniec Nowak. Neither the period of World War II, nor the location of post-war Poland under strict control of the Soviet Union, although it actually delayed the efforts towards the be- atification process, did not overshadow the belief that the Luboń martyr deserves the glory of the altars. It was for this reason that the opinion of martyrdom, holiness, and signs was the driving force that eventually led to the initiation of the diocesan inquiry. One of the essential elements of this process is the evidence phase, i.e. collecting the appropriate human arguments that will allow us to achieve moral cer- tainty as to the fact of martyrdom, or the heroic virtues of a candidate for altars, a miracle, and the exist- ence of the cult of the Servant of God. Among the evidence taken in canonical trials, apart from the state- ments of the parties, evidence from documents and expert opinions, as well as on-site inspections and court examinations, evidence from witnesses is of particular importance, as indicated by the instruction of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Sanctorum Mater on conducting diocesan or eparchial in- quiries in matters of canonization, which in Article 29 § 2 it states that in new cases the investigation concerns “primarily” the questioning of witnesses. Thus, the evidence from witnesses was an important element of the diocesan canonization proceedings of the Servant of God, rev. Stanisław Streich.

“KOINONIA” IN REFORMED THEOLOGY

Author(s): Sándor Fazakas / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

This presentation is an edited and revised version of the presentation given at the Ecumenical International Conference “Active Participation in Community”, Pannonhalma Archabbey, 21 October 2022. The theme of the conference was synodality − accordingly, this paper aims to present the basic features of Reformed ecclesiology. It highlights the fact that adapting different forms of communion from a secular context is not a viable solution for the church, even though it remains a challenge for the church today in almost all countries. Instead, the ecclesiological and practical implications of koinonia must be considered. According to Reformed theology and Confessions of faith, the ministries, services and governance of the church derive from the koinonia with Christ and with one another. Participation in this communion requires a concrete form of ecclesial and social service; it is concretized by participation in the threefold office of Christ (royal, priestly and prophetic). Last but not least, sharing in the threefold office of Christ has an as yet unexploited ecumenical potential for the common witness of Christians.

WHO ARE “THE LEAST?” ἘΛάΧΙΣΤΟΣ (MT 25:31-46) – A HERMENEUTICAL RECONSIDERATION

Author(s): Hrisostom Ciuciu / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

The present paper deals with the interpretation of one of the Matthean texts that still raises problems to modern exegesis, namely the one relating to the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46), and this because of a term – ἐλάχιστος (v. 40) – translated with “the least”. The question to which the author tries an answer is: “Who are the little ones?” The approach of the work is not so much one of an exegetical nature, but it is of a hermeneutical nature. Beyond the difficulties that modern exegesis seems to have failed to overcome, the real challenge is the spiritual interpretation of this text, an interpretation which depends very much on identifying those who are “the least”. This work attempts to harmonize the textual exegesis with the patristic interpretation, having the stated purpose of applying this text to the spiritual life, both relating to the person and community.

PRZYGOTOWANIE PIERWSZOKOMUNIJNE W DOKUMENCIE WSKAZANIA DUSZPASTERSKO-KATECHETYCZNE ARCYBISKUPA METROPOLITY BIAŁOSTOCKIEGO

Author(s): Leszek Marius Jakoniuk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 9/2023

Eucharystia jako „źródło i szczyt całego życia chrześcijańskiego” domaga się solidnej katechezy parafialnej odwołującej się do modelu katechumenalnego, która pozwoli dzieciom na skuteczne przygotowanie się do pełnego i świadomego uczestnictwa w życiu sakramentalnym Kościoła. "Wskazania duszpastersko-katechetyczne Arcybiskupa Metropolity Białostockiego dotyczące przygotowania dzieci do sakramentu pokuty i pojednania oraz Pierwszej Komunii Świętej w Archidiecezji Białostockiej” są dokumentem prezentującym archidiecezjalny program formacyjny zatytułowany „Na spotkanie z Panem Jezusem”. W artykule zostanie ukazany program przygotowania dzieci do sakramentu pokuty i pojednania oraz Pierwszej Komunii Świętej w Archidiecezji Białostockiej, który jest głównym tematem dokumentu. W omawianym dokumencie można zauważyć wszelkie działania obejmujące doprowadzenie dzieci do osobistego spotkania z Chrystusem w sakramencie Eucharystii. Realizacja założonego celu jest możliwa poprzez program formacji, który jest podzielony na cztery etapy: przygotowanie dalsze (wychowanie religijne w rodzinie i parafii), przygotowanie bliższe (katecheza szkolna i parafialna w klasach I i II), przygotowanie bezpośrednie (intensywna katecheza w klasie III) oraz pogłębienie mistagogiczne (formacja sakramentalna w klasie IV). Ponadto dokument kładzie nacisk na aktywne uczestnictwo rodziców, rolę proboszcza i katechetów oraz integrację dzieci w życie wspólnoty parafialnej. Celem tych działań jest zapewnienie dzieciom głębokiego i świadomego przeżywania sakramentów oraz rozwijanie ich życia duchowego we wspólnocie parafialnej.

LA FUNZIONE EURISTICA E METODOLOGICA DELL’EPINOIA IN GREGORIO DI NISSA

Author(s): Teofil Ciucheş / Language(s): Italian Issue: 1-2/2024

The heuristic and methodological Function of the Epinoia in Gregory of Nyssa. The content of this article has as its object the elaboration of the reflection of Gregory of Nyssa who, in the context of the development of Trinitarian theology in the fourth century, facing the problems emerging from the eunomian controversy, elaborated the preceding findings and opened new paths towards a positive and balanced conception of the epinoetic function of thought. In a particular way Nyssa valued the contribution provided by Basil and contributed to the understanding of the methodological and heuristic role of epinoia, the constitutive instrument of human knowledge for seeking and discovering in general, predisposing in particular the method and formation of theological language.