Sielovada Šv. Benedikto reguloje (I)

Abstract

Dviejų dalių straipsnyje nagrinėjama sielovada šv. Benedikto reguloje. Tai gali padėti suprasti ne tik šv. Benedikto regulos išplitimo priežastis, vykdant misijas, jau žlungant Romos imperijai, bet ir suvokti, kokio pobūdžio sielovada atskleidžiama reguloje. Taip pat išryškinamas regulos naujumas ir įtaka Vakaruose. Ši tema visiškai nauja, niekada netyrinėta. Straipsnyje analizuojamas patristikos laikotarpis (I a. pab. – IX a. pr.), norint išsiaiškinti sielovados sampratos kaitą prieš šv. Benedikto regulos paplitimą ir po jo

Pastoral care has been an important issue during different epochs in history, as well as it is nowadays. Yet, a particular significance of pastoral care can be noticed in the Patristic era due to the emergence of its new forms and functions. Until the end of the 4th century, when Christianity became the religion of the Empire, pastoral care was understood as a personal and interior duty of each Christian and an urge to proclaim the Word of God by personal witness, public teaching, polemics, as well as by a developed pastoral care in writings. All this aimed at confirming people and supporting them in their faith. Thus pastoral care acquired the function of support and confirmation. Martyrdom was the fruit of such pastoral care. Undoubtedly, the most important pastoral care was prayer, the character of which was changing throughout centuries: from personal into communal. Liturgy became written and acquired various forms. At the end of the 4th century, when Christianity became the religion of the Empire, the perception of pastoral care changed from internal to external. The period witnesses the foundation of monasteries, the most prominent of which is the monastery of St. Benedict. St. Benedict himself presented pastoral care as ministry and education. For him, the background pastoral care was the pastoral care of silence and pastoral care as the prayer therapy. All this was covered in his Rule written in c. 543–546, when he had the experience of the leading abbot and was able to write on superior (cf. RB 64, 16). St. Benedict’s Rule was promulgated by Gregory the Great who introduced the conception of pastoral care as public and social activity. Accordingly, Gregory emphasized pastoral care as ministry with its functions of leadership and reconciliation. The missions under his commandment provided internal conception of pastoral care with an evangelizing-missionary character.[...]