Kult Opatrzności Bożej w Kościele katolickim w Polsce

Abstract

One of the signs of God’s presence is His efforts to protect the world. According to the Bible, God creates and shapes man that is just and protects him from evil, even at the cost of his premature death. Ancient Fathers of the Church interpreted Providence’s actions as the continuation of the process of creation. This view was adopted by St. Thomas Aquinas and Rev. Wincenty Granat. Next Rev. Cz. Bartnik emphasized God’s providential activity in the life of His creature that notices and recognizes its Author. From the Fathers of the Church onwards, theologians have also seen Providence’s actions as the way of revealing God’s love towards man. Our answer to God’s love and protection is manifested in different forms of worship – prayers, charity works (done by religious groups and orders), dedications of churches and parishes and iconography. The cult of Divine Providence has the longest tradition and is most intensive in Bialystok, Katowice and Warmia archdioceses and Bielsk-Żywiec diocese. There are two sanctuaries of Divine Providence, namely in Jastrzebie Zdroj (Katowice Archdiocese) and Bartąg (Warmia Diocese). The feast of Divine Providence in Poland is 2nd May.