Z problematyki politycznej w kazaniach katolickich okresu stanisławowskiego

Abstract

Polisch Catholic clergymen also actively attended in the intensive political life of second part of the XVIIIth century. Many sermons were printed in this period. We have difTrent sermons from that lime: sermons of the seym; from sessions of the judicial tribunals; on the occasion of church and national celebrations (e.g. nameday of king, anniversaries coronation etc.) and also because of funerals of the leading persons. During the reign of Stanislaw August the preacher’s political idea was formed. It was the part of the Enlightenment thinking of Polish political privileged groups (elites). The distinguished preachers of this epoch: Karpowicz, Witoszyński, Wyrwicz, Kossakowski, Łodzia-Rogaliński and many other among the provincial and monastic clergymen propagated the necessity of reforms of Poland. These voices accepted the resolutions of the Great Seym (1788-1792), the Act about the royal towns from April of 1791, and the 3rd of May Constitution (1791). In times of insurrection of 1794 the preacher’s speeches became more radical. There were stronger patriotic, antirussian and antiroyal feelings, as well. In some sermons you can find direct influences of the French Revolution and even Jaccobinical influences (e.g. speeches of Witoszyński). In this period the preacher’s political idea was changing all the time. In the beginning sermons supported the strong reign of king. Next they propagated constitutional changes. At last they proposed republicanism according to the rules of J. J. Rousseau.