Miłość, małżeństwo i rodzina w publikacjach Karola Wojtyły na łamach „Ateneum Kapłańskiego”

Abstract

“Ateneum Kapłańskie” is the oldest Polish theological magazine published since 1909 by the Seminary of Włocławek scholar environment. Karol Wojtyła belonged to the group of its faithful authors since 1950 until he was elected the Pope. For him, “Ateneum Kapłańskie” was something more than the place where his writings had been published. He felt jointly responsible for its shape and actually had influence on the subject area of some issues, which at that time significantly moulded the thinking of a considerable part of Polish priests and in a way the Church in Poland. Among Karol Wojtyła’s articles that appeared in print in “Ateneum Kapłańskie” some pieces of writings are considerably important. They are devoted to love, marriage and family. Their analysis makes it possible to trace the development of his thought as a gradual project realisation not only of philosophical and theological character, but primarily pastoral that concerns such significant human and Christian dimensions of life as marriage and family life. Karol Wojtyła’s reflection on marriage and family is rooted in his priestly experience and is a deep and original answer to the pressing pastoral and human needs of his and our time. The crux of his mental pivot as a philosopher and theologian who tries to answer the challenges put by the contemporary marital and family crisis and by the young adults’ doubts, who he had accompanied as a priest and a friend, is the anthropology of the person. According to Wojtyla, the erroneous utilitarian, empirical and subjective conception of man lies as a final dimension on the basis of contemporary marital crisis which affects not only the institution but also the sacrament of marriage. Using the philosophical notion of a human person and the theological vision of a man created in the image and likeness of God, the author of “Love and Responsibility” in a novel way portrays the size and beauty of vocation for love, the nuptial love based on selfless gift of oneself. It reaches its peak in the sacrament of matrimony and communion of persons, communio personarum. He perceived family as an irreplaceable, not only in function of procreation, but also as its personalistic and communal function, making it possible to mature human personality and create truly personal relationships. Karol Wojtyła’s writings published in “Ateneum Kapłańskie” represent the maturing certificate of remarkable and riveting project of marital and family theology, which found its culmination in “Theology of the Body” of Pope John Paul II. The project, which has opened horizons not only in philosophical and theological thinking about marriage and family, yet responding to pastoral needs allowed and still allows many people uncover the real and the deep meaning of the marriage and the family. Such people strive to realise Karol Wojtyła’s vision and to live up to his ideals.