Marijonų sielovadinė veikla Lietuvoje pirmosios sovietinės ir nacių okupacijų metais

Abstract

Straipsnyje aptariama marijonų sielovadinė veikla Lietuvoje 1940–1944/45 metais. Vienuolijos veiklą lėmė besikeičianti istorinė situacija. 1940 m. vasarą su pirmąja sovietine okupacija baigėsi sielovadai palankus laikotarpis. Marijonai išgyveno sunkius metus, kai reikėjo stengtis išlikti, skleisti tikėjimą bendruomenėje, užsiimti sielovadine veikla, esant nepalankioms aplinkybėms

The Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary is a fraternal community of priests and non-priests, the members of which are encouraged to spread God’s glory by Christian love and apostolic legation and seek evangelical perfection for themselves. The special aim of the Congregation is to earnestly strive for all the people living on the earth or the ones who are in the purgatory to achieve eternal happiness in the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Congregation pursues this aim especially when obtaining education and teaching others, carrying out the holy service and helping priests in dioceses. One of the most important activities which is suitable for monks is to infuse faith in people’s hearts and spread virtuousness. Missions and recollections are important means for this purpose. The first Marian monastery in Lithuania was founded in 1750, in Marijampolė. After 150 years the Marian monastery vanished due to unfavourable historic circumstances, the old monks nearly died off and there were no new callings. In 1909 the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis reopened the Congregation. The most favourable period of time for the activity of the Marian Congregation was the independence of Lithuania. During the interwar period the province of Lithuanian Marians united 165 members. The Marians settled down in several Lithuanian towns. During the first Soviet occupation conditions for pastoral care were unfavourable for the Catholic Church and congregation due to Soviet politics in respect of religion – some churches were closed, the property of churches and monasteries was nationalized and the victimization of priests and monks was started. Some monks were exiled and imprisoned. However, the Marian Congregation was still doing the work of pastoral care in different places of Lithuania. [...]