Latin Rite Research Articles

The Offence of Abduction in Canon Law and Kidnapping in Polish Penal Law—Selected Issues

The article examines the issue of abduction and kidnapping in the modern world. This issue is analyzed in two legal systems: the canon law of the Latin Rite Catholic Church and Polish penal law. The choice of these two systems aims to highlight the consistency in understanding and penalizing the offence of abduction (kidnapping). A mixed-method approach, incorporating both analysis and synthesis, is employed in this study. The analysis is comprehensive and multifaceted, while the synthesis aids in organizing and integrating the findings on this topic.

The Activities of the Sandomierz Canons in the Chełm Cathedral Chapterof the Latin Rite in the 17th Century

W artykule przedstawiono zaangażowanie członków Kapituły Kolegiackiej w Sandomierzu w działalność siedemnastowiecznej chełmskiej kapituły katedralnej obrządku łacińskiego w Krasnymstawie. Kanoników sandomierskich zidentyfikowanych zarazem jako kanonicy kapituły chełmskiej było w ciągu całego stulecia jedynie trzech: ks. Jan Skrzyński (zm. 1651/1652), ks. Andrzej Bzicki (zm. 1664) i ks. Andrzej Pęgowski (zm. 1689). Stanowili oni tylko nieco powyżej 2 proc. Składu kapituły. Wydaje się, że świadczy to o niewielkim zainteresowaniu członków prestiżowej i dobrze uposażonej kapituły sandomierskiej miejscami w kapitule chełmskiej. Wymienieni kanonicy znaleźli się zatem w Krasnymstawie nie z powodu atrakcyjności tamtejszej kapituły, lecz z racji osobistych związków z biskupami diecezji chełmskiej lub z powodów rodzinnych. Ponadto z uwagi na słabe rozpoznanie w dotychczasowej literaturze w artykule szczegółowo przedstawiono na podstawie przebadanych archiwaliów aktywność wspomnianych kanoników w kapitule chełmskiej: obecność na posiedzeniach kapitulnych, wypełnianie obowiązków liturgicznych w katedrze, pełnienie funkcji wewnątrzkapitulnych, specjalne misje podejmowane z ramienia kapituły oraz inne zadania publiczne.

THE FRANCISCAN MISSION IN HALYC IN THE 13TH CENTURY: HISTORY AND LEGEND

The article examines the issue of the possibility of establishing a Franciscan mission in Halych, one of the capital centers of the state of the Romanovychi dynasty in the 13th century. The outlined issues are somewhat indirectly presented in the historiography, as well as little reflected in contemporary sources. At the same time, the Minorite historical tradition, based on an uncritical reading of the sources, dates the appearance of the Friars Minor in Halych to 1238, linking the foundation of the convent with the person of the Kraków prince Bolesław the Shy. Many other Franciscan legends about the arrival of the Minorites in Rus' in general and Lviv in particular also define the 13th century as the time of the beginning of missionary work here. While analyzing the political and religious circumstances during the 13th century, it should be noted that despite the activity and stability of the contacts of various ruling princely and royal dynasties in Halych with the Roman Curia, there is still no direct confirmation of the functioning of the Franciscan mission here. At the same time, the socio-economic, cultural, and political-religious ties of medieval Halych with the countries of Latin Europe are well represented, both in written and archaeological sources. Therefore, it is pretty likely that in the capital center of the Galician land, there were separate missionary centers for followers of the Latin rite. Mainly among them, merchants, groups of burghers (perhaps the German community), and mercenary knighthood, who needed the spiritual protection of the Catholic Church, should be singled out. It is possible that in the 13th century, along with other missionary clergy, the Franciscans were also involved in this process.

Kroniki parafialne w zasobie Archiwum Państwowego w Przemyślu

Parish chronicles in the fonds of the State Archives in Przemyśl In the State Archives in Przemyśl there are chronicles from parishes of the Latin rite and from Greek-Catholic parishes. They are documents from the parishes in Tartaków and Wojniłów which belonged to the Lviv Archdiocese, located in fonds no. 2441 “Parish files and register books of the Lviv Archdiocese and Przemyśl diocese of the Roman-Catholic rite”. The chronicles of Greek-Catholic parishes in the fonds of the Przemyśl Archives are represented by: a chronicle of the parish in Dębno (the Leżajsk district), Grab, and a chronicle from the parish in Smolnik near Lutowiska. This paper presents general information on the chronicles, their appearance, the chronicler, the content and the manner of writing. The analysis of the preserved parish chronicles in the fonds of the State Archives in Przemyśl allow to decide that the manner of keeping them depended largely on the involvement and ingenuity of their authors.

Jak sufragana chełmskiego kijami pobito, czyli o rozruchach religijnych w Hrubieszowie i Czerniczynie z marca–kwietnia 1636 r. Oblata protestacji i obdukcji Abrahama Śladkowskiego oraz oględzin ran jego kapelana, siostrzeńca i woźnicy w urzędzie grodzkim grabowieckim

One of the main areas of conflict between the Uniates and the Orthodox in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the early 17th century was the issue of rights to use places of worship. In order to settle the related feuds, a commission was established in 1635 to repartition Orthodox churches in royal towns in proportion to the number of Greek Catholics and Disuniates residing there. One of the centers covered by its efforts was Hrubieszow in the Chełm region, where officials granted the Orthodox the right to own two temples. Despite the verdict, which was favorable to themselves, the non-Uniates there caused riots, during which they attacked a Greek Catholic temple, Catholic clergy and townspeople of the Latin rite. In addition, upon hearing of the arrival of Chelm suffragan Abraham Sladkowski to Czerniczyn, located nearby, they decided to attack the clergyman, to which they convinced the peasants living there. Under their influence, the peasants first attacked the local orthodox church and battered the pop who was in charge of it, and then beat up the aforementioned dignitary, who had arrived there upon hearing of the unrest, not sparing the people accompanying him. As a result of actions taken by the Uniate bishop of Chelm, Methodius Terlecki, the culprits of the incidents were to answer for their actions with their lives and property. However, the punishment was waived after the townspeople did public penance and adopted the Uniate religion.

The Liquidation of the Roman Catholic Clergy of the Latin Rite in the USSR (1917–1938)

After the peace treaty with Poland (18 March 1921) and after the reorganization of the Church administration in 1921 and in 1923, ten administrative units of the Catholic Church were placed within the borders of the USSR; eight were of the Latin rite and two of the Eastern rite. In this article, the author presents the history of repressions organized by the Soviet authorities towards the Roman Catholic Church (1917–1938) with special attention given to the process of liquidation of the Roman Catholic Clergy of the Latin rite.

KYIVAN METROPOLITANATE GENERAL PROCURATOR IN ROME OF 1760–1772, FR IGNATIUS VOLODZKO’S ASSISTANCE CONCERNING THE CANONICAL CREATION OF THE MUKACHEVO EPARCHY

The paper describes the Kyivan Metropolitanate Basilian general procurators’ in Rome activities to support the Mukachevo eparchy during the 17–18 centuries. The author studies the vectors and forms of this work by analyzing sources. The direct aim of this investigation is to examine the engagement of Fr Ignatius Volodzko OSBM, the general Basilian procurator of 1760–1772, in the case of canonical erection of the Mukachevo Eparchy of Byzantine Rite and its emancipation from the Eger Diocese of Latin Rite control. The historian ascertained that Fr Volodzko systematically communicated with the Mukachevo bishop Manuel Olshavsky. Fr Volodzko contacted Roman Apostolic Holy See officials to defend the Mukachevo Eparchy’s rights and interests and to speed up the official canonic erection of it in 1771. The researcher reconstructed a list of cardinals and dignitaries in close contact with Fr Volodzko and defined problems they had helped resolve. He also characterized Fr Volodzko’s recommendations to the bishop concerning the struggle for the Eparchy canonical erection in Vienna and Rome. Henceforth the author anatomized and published in attachments two of Fr Volodzko’s letters to bishop Olshavsky from 1766. This correspondence complements the research with information about many events and details during the Mukachevo Eparchy's contention for liberation from the Eger Diocese's “wardship.” The author concludes that the Basilian general procurator in Rome, who indeed officially represented the whole Kyivan Metropolitanate, at the same time was the Mukachevo bishop's deputy in Rome. Bishop Olshavsky trusted Fr Volodzko highly and delegated him largescale authority. As a result, this general procurator and the Kyivan Metropolitanate helped the Mukachevo Eparchy preserve itself and ensure future development. Keywords: Kyivan Metropolitanate, Mukachevo eparchy, Basilian Order of St Josaphat, Manuel Olshavsky, Ivan Bradach, Andrii Bachynskyi, Ignatius Volodzko.

Реформы Иосифа Вельямина Рутского как фактор укрепления униатской церкви на белорусско-украинских землях в первой половине ХVII в.

Introduction. This article discusses the impact of the reforms of Joseph Velyamin Rutsky, who headed the Kyiv Uniate Metropolis in 1613-1637, on the further development of the Uniate Church in the Belarusian-Ukrainian lands.Materials and methods. The article was prepared on the basis of a critical analysis of the historiography of the history of the Uniate Church and published historical sources, including the works of Joseph Velyamin Rutsky. The principles of objectivity and historicism served as the methodological basis. The author of the article used general scientific (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization) and special historical research methods (comparative historical, historical genetic).Results. The main achievements of Metropolitan Rut-sky were the monastic reform and the formation of the congregation of the Holy Trinity, the creation of a network of Uniate schools, raising the educational level of the clergy, and reforming the administrative-territorial structure of the Kyiv Uniate Metropolis. He defended the interests of the Uniates at meetings of the diets, opposed the proselytism of the Latin clergy and the conversion of believers to the Latin rite. On this path, he was accompanied by both successes and failures.Conclusion. The activities of Joseph Velyamin Rutsky contributed to the exit from the crisis state of the Uniate Church, its internal strengthening and the formation of sufficiently strong foundations for its further existence. At the same time, this became a serious challenge for the Orthodox, complicating their position in the Commonwealth.

Odnowa struktur obrządku greckokatolickiego w Przemyślu przez księdza arcybiskupa Jana Martyniaka. Wspomnienia i relacje

Restoration of the structures of the Greek Catholic rite in Przemyśl by Archbishop Jan Martyniak. Memories and accounts The aim of another publication which is a part of the “spoken history” project is to present the retired Greek Catholic Przemyśl-Warsaw metropolitan, Archbishop senior Jan Martyniak and his role as a restorer of the Greek Catholic rite structures in Przemyśl. The publication includes a calendar of Archbishop’s life, memories in which he goes back to various periods in his life: he talks about his youth and homeland, clerical years and studies, his biritualist ministry and the function of the Przemyśl metropolitan. The Archbishop also comments on the dispute between Catholics and Greek Catholics concerning the handing over of the former Carmelite church to the Uniates; he also remembers Bishop Stefan Moskwa as the one who received him after his arrival in Przemyśl. The Greek Catholic metropolitan is also presented from the perspective of Archbishops Józef Michalik and Ignacy Tokarczuk (recorded conversations by Rev. Stanisław Bartmiński). The text is complete with selected priests of the Eastern and Latin rites.

Panny benedyktynki obrządków łacińskiego i ormiańskiego we Lwowie – ślady koegzystencji i wzajemnych relacji

BENEDICTINE NUNS OF THE LATIN AND ARMENIAN RITES IN LWÓW – THE TRACES OF COEXISTENCE AND MUTUAL RELATIONS The article analyses relations between two monasteries of the Benedictine nuns in Lwów – Latin and Armenian – from the 17th century to the 20th century. The source base includes here the archives of the Latin Benedictine nuns, taken away in 1946 from Lwów (since then: Lviv) and kept in their monastery in Krzeszów, Lower Silesia. The author demonstrated closeness and multiplicity of the relations, determined many episodes unknown by now and showed in new light some facts which have been already known.

Diecezje łucka i żytomierska w świetle schematyzmu na 1832 rok (3). Duchowieństwo

We present another text concerning the situation of the Latin Rite Catholic Church in Russia before the fall of the November Uprising, based on schemata, supplemented and verified based on sources (especially visitation records). The previous ones discussed the schematism of the Kamieniec diocese in 1831 and the Lutsk and Zhytomyr diocese in 1832, as well as issues related to the organization of the Lutsk, Zhytomyr and Kamieniec dioceses and the Catholic clergy from Podolia. This text presents the clergy incardinated in the autumn of 1831 in the Łuck and Żytomierz dioceses. Based on schematism, it was established that there were 161 priests in these dioceses at that time, most of whom were involved in pastoral care at parish churches and public chapels. In the first three decades of the 19th century, the number of clergy in Volhynia significantly decreased. In 1801, 329 priests belonged to both dioceses. However, it is worth to remember that at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the chancel of both dioceses was joined by 116 clergymen who had changed from the Greek-Uniate to the Latin rite, due to government restrictions and the lack of freedom in conducting Catholic pastoral ministry in the Eastern Rite, which resulted in the transition of many Uniate parishes on Orthodoxy. In 1831, 15 priests out of this number were still alive. Thus, In Podolia, in the dioceses of Lutsk and Zhytomyr, there were not enough priests to fill pastoral positions. Most of the priests operating in Volhynia in the fall of 1831 came from the Ukrainian lands, although there were also clergymen from Lithuanian-Belarusian lands. Many of them, choosing the priesthood, chose the Volyn seminaries due to the lack of clergy in both dioceses. The priests who came from Volhynia mainly came from the nobility and obtained secondary education close to their family home. Few of them had a university education and had an academic degree. Usually, those alumni of Volyn seminaries, whom the bishop sent to the Main Seminary in Vilnius and to study theology at the Imperial University, constituted the elite of the clergy. They became members of chapters, officials of the consistory and lecturers of theological seminaries, and in later years provosts and priests in prominent parishes. Half of the described priests lived to the age of 60.

Dzieje „Księżówki” polskiej w Worochcie 1901-1939

The issue of the struggle for Polishness during the time of partitions excites many historians and cultural experts even now. This “catalog” of the steadfastness of the Polish nation also includes the fascinating history of the Księżówka in Worochta, built at the beginning of the 20th century, in the system of common donation by Galician clergy of the Latin rite. The role of the direct “investor” was played by the Lviv Society for Mutual Aid for Priests, which at the end of the 19th century included 32% of Polish clergy working in the Austrian partition. From the very beginning it was assumed that the fortress of Polishness would be built in Worochta, the more so as there was no parish or church there. First, a wooden Księżówka building was built in 1901, then a brick church was erected in 1906, and just before the outbreak of World War I, the second part of the Księżówka was opened in a brick building. A kind of “oasis of Polishness” was created, with priests in the lead role. It is thanks to them that the chapel located in the first building began to function as a parish church for the local faithful. Later, this role was taken over by a newly erected temple, where services were held, and religious and state ceremonies were organized by priests staying in Worochta for rest. The priests from Lviv also continued their mission in the borderlands during the interwar period, when Worochta was again within the Polish territory. The pastoral service was intended to cover 10,000 Poles who came here every year to relax. After the end of World War II, Worochta found itself within the “Ukrainian” part of the USSR. At that time, the fate of “Księżówka” seemed doomed...

Anointing with the Holy Oil of St. Sharbel — a New Phenomenon in Catholic Practice

In recent years, especially in eastern Slovakia, a new phenomenon has emerged in Catholic practice — anointing with the Holy Oil of St. Sharbel. Although the rite of such anointing is not found in any liturgical book, some Catholic priests of the Latin rite, especially in this part of the country, confer it to the Catholics of their rite. Catholics from various parts of Slovakia, western Poland, Ukraine, Moravia and others also take part in it. The author of the article mainly uses the comparative method, comparing this practice with the documents of the Magisterium and the bishop guidelines. He tries to find out if it is a sacramental in the Maronite church. If so, he states that the priests of the Latin rite cannot confer sacramental of the Maronite church without permission. The aim of the article is to find an answer to the question of whether it is a sacramental within the Catholic Church of the Latin rite or a rite that belongs to the field of human faith, such as immersion in the Lourdes water, during which several miraculous healings have taken place, but which is not accompanied by any assistance by a priest or deacon.

Diecezje łucka i żytomierska w świetle schematyzmu na 1832 rok (2). Dekanaty, parafie, zakony, kościoły i klasztory

The presented article describing the administrative structure of the Dioceses of Lutsk and Zhytomyr in the fall of 1831 is part of the text describing the state of these dioceses in the light of schematism published for 1832. The description of the Dioceses of Lutsk and Zhytomyr and the previously published description of the Kamieniec diocese are part of a project aimed at presenting the condition of the Latin rite in Russia before the outbreak of the November Uprising. The fall of the uprising accelerated the actions of the Russian authorities aimed at limiting the activities of the Catholic Church and subordinating it to the state. The time of relative freedom of the Church in the tsarist state ended then, as well as the time of unhampered pastoral activity conducted in Polish. The text describes the boundaries of both dioceses, the deanery, parishes, male and female monasteries operating in the diocese, and the churches that functioned at that time. The Lutsk diocese was reactivated in 1798 with the capital in Lutsk, and the diocese of Zhytomyr was established at that time, with the capital in Żhytomyr (connected by a personal union), following the decision of the authorities recognized by the Holy See, they covered the area of the Volyn governorate. In 1831, the Lutsk diocese was divided into ten deaneries, and the Zh?ytomyr diocese – into two. At that time, there were 120 parishes in both dioceses (113 in the Lutsk diocese and 17 in the Zhytomyr diocese). The diocesan clergy conducted pastoral ministry and administered the benefice in 84 parishes, religious in 36. There were 63 monasteries and religious houses, 55 male orders and congregations, and 8 female congregations.

SHORT-TERM MISSION OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS IN STRYI (1904–1905)

After a brief ban in 1848–1852, the Society of Jesus restored its activities in the Lviv Archdiocese. The order not only returned to its centers in Ternopil and Lviv during the second half of the 19th century, but also intensified missionary activity in Stanislaviv, Chernivtsi and Kolomyia, where it managed to collect donations and, with the help of local authorities, successfully organize the construction of three large churches. The article notes, that at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Jesuits received an invitation from Lviv Archbishop Józef Bilczewski to start a mission to Stryi, because the Catholic clergy, together with the city authorities, were interested in building of a new large church for the city, because the presence of one temple was not enough to properly meet the spiritual needs of the population with the Latin rite. The Society of Jesus had two tasks: to organize the collection of donations and the construction of the temple, as well as to engage in pastoral work, primarily among local workers. Such a specific direction of spiritual work was connected with the spread of socialist ideas among the working class in Galicia, and Catholic Church had to respond to contemporary social problems, especially since socialist slogans contained anti-clerical elements. The Society of Jesus arrived in the city in January 1904, but at the end of October 1905, the leadership of the order decided to end the mission. The article examines the stay of the Society of Jesus in Stryi at that time, highlights the activities of the Jesuits in the city. Keywords: Society of Jesus, Jesuits, Stryi, Lviv Archdiocese, Roman Catholic Church.

Wpływ chrztu Polski na język ojczysty

Baptism of Poland in the 10th century is a historical act for the Polish language and native culture. This act had a fundamental impact on the formation of the Polish language. Through the act of baptism and the subsequent work of Christianization in the Latin rite, the Polish language passed from the era of speech to the era of writing and gained access to Western culture. The Latin alphabet gradually introduced Polish to the group of literary European languages. Under the influence of baptism, a new lexicon was formed expressing the foundations of all sciences, the foundations of education, religious and moral lexis, beautiful names of people were created. The Bible, which has been translated into Polish for at least 700 years, has become a model of literary texts.

Lights and Shadows of the 34th International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest. Theological, Historical and Ecclesial Background

The 1938 Eucharistic Congress in Budapest was held in a complicated historical context, marked by geopolitical changes, the rise of national-socialism and anti-Semitism, and by interconfessional tensions. After an overview of the theological significance of the Eucharistic Congress in a period when the ideas of the liturgical movement were gaining momentum, this paper proposes a nuanced assessment of the Congress, acknowledging the tensions that have overshadowed it. The paper also discusses the significance of the event for Catholics of Latin and Eastern rite, including some reflections on the participation of Roman and Greek Catholics from Transylvania (Romania). In the wake of the 52nd Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, this historical overview allows for some lessons for today. As Pope Francis stressed at the concluding Mass of the 2020 Congress [on 12 September 2021], the past needs to be confronted and the looming threat of hatred requires vigilance. Triumphalism should leave place to a life of service and fraternity, drawing its source from the Eucharist.

Z materiałów źródłowych do dziejów Ormian w zasobie Archiwum Państwowego w Przemyślu: biskupa Franciszka Ksawerego Zachariasiewicza wypisy i szkice do „Wiadomości o Ormianach w Polszcze”

From source materials concerning the history of Armenians in the resource of the State Archive in Przemyśl. Entries and outlines of the bishop Franciszek Ksawery Zachariasiewicz for his work “Wiadomość o Ormianach w Polszcze” The State Archive in Przemyśl includes materials concerning the history of Polish Armenians. Among these sources, the unit with the signature 516 in the division „Kapituła greckokatolicka w Przemyślu” [„Greek and Catholic Chapter in Przemyśl”] contains important data. It presents source abstracts and a manuscript of the work of Franciszek Ksawery Zachariasiewicz – the Przemyśl bishop of the Latin rite – titled Wiadomość o Ormianach w Polszcze [News About Armenians in Poland], Lwów 1842. These data show the research workshop of the historian who as the first Polish Armenian managed to finish his research and present its results in print.

The Role of the Cult of Josaphat Kuntsevych in Biała Podlaska in Creating Intercultural Space

The article describes the history of the relics and cult of Josaphat Kuntsevych in Biała Podlaska (ca. 1705-1915) in terms of their significance for the creation of cultural space. After the relics had been transported from Polatsk to Biała Podlaska, they were kept in the chapel of Radziwill Castle, and then from 1764 they were displayed in the Basilian Orthodox church. The analysis of visual forms, musical culture, and religious practices demonstrated the readiness of the Uniate community to adapt and absorb cultural phenomena. The activity of the Basilians contributed to the transmission of elite culture to the whole society. The creation of the cult did not cause barriers for any groups to act either as creators or as recipients. Josaphat Kuntsevych gained popularity among people of different social status, believers of Greek and Latin rites; he was not identified with any ethnic group or nationality.

Diecezje łucka i żytomierska w świetle schematyzmu na 1832 rok (1). Schematyzm – edycja źródła

The edition of the schematics of the Łuck and Żytomierz dioceses, which is handed over to the readers, makes it possible to get to know the condition of the Catholic Church of the Latin rite in Volhynia at the end of 1831. This year is important historical censorship for the history of the Church in Russia. The Polish uprising, known as the November uprising, which started at that time, caused tsarist repressions that significantly limited the pastoral capacity of the Church, for example by liquidating monasteries and parishes. The prepared catalog edition has been divided into three articles. The first one contains a critical edition of the schematics of the Łuck and Żytomierz dioceses published for 1832, as well as information on the formation of the rules for the preparation of Łuck schematisms for printing from the mid-18th century to the outbreak of the November Uprising. In the second part, the administrative structure of the Łuck and Żytomierz dioceses, the condition of male and female monasteries in the diocese before their dissolution, and the history of Volyn churches will be presented on a schematic basis. In the third one, biographies of the clergy working in the Łuck and Żytomierz dioceses on the eve of the November Uprising will be published along with their speaking.