Verbum Vitae, 2025, T. 43, nr 2

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The Tragedy of Divided Christianity: Diagnosis of Main Problems on the Basis of the Vota Sent to the Second Vatican Council
Wąsek, Damian; Gilski, Marek (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
This article addresses diagnosing problems emerging from the existing divisions among Christians. The analysis is based on the vota submitted in the preparations for the Second Vatican Council. The voices of bishops, major religious superiors, and Catholic universities reveal four areas where a lack of Christian unity has disastrous consequences. The first area is sociopolitical and shows the problem of marginalization of Christianity, which cannot respond to the challenges the modern world faces. The second area concerns Christ’s prayer for his disciples to be one, presenting Christianity as failing to fulfill the Savior’s desires. The third, concerning the missionary and apologetic activity of the Church, reveals the incredibility and weakness of divided Christianity. The fourth, presenting the issues of interdenominational marriages, shows the consequences of an overly legalistic approach to sacramental reality. The final part includes conclusions and perspectives emerging from the analyses.
“The War at the Gates” by Shelomo ben Aharon of Poswol: Issues of Text Reading and Interpretation
Kubicki, Sebastian (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The article presents ‒ using the Karaite work “The War at the Gates” by Shelomo ben Aharon (17th/18th century; a polemic with rabbinic Judaism) ‒ three common issues related to the analysis of Hebrew manuscripts written before the 19th century. These issues include: (1) determining the fundamental meaning of individual parts of the work; (2) analyzing the argumentative structure of the work’s narrative in relation to its biblical interpretation, which seeks to justify specific religious laws established within the religious community of the tradition/author; (3) verifying certain commonly accepted scholarly assumptions. I demonstrate how I addressed these challenges while working on the aforementioned treatise and attempt to draw generalized, practical conclusions.
Augustine in the Footsteps of Moses: On the History of Interpretation and Impact of Exodus 3:14a
Hoblík, Jiří (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
This article compares the revelation of the divine name to Moses in Exod 3:14 and its counterpart in Augustine’s first vision in his Confessiones. The main aim is to elucidate the continuity and difference in Augustine’s relationship with, and thought regarding, the figure of Moses and the revelation Moses received. Methodologically, it is based on comparing the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin versions of the text, their relationship with the history of thought, and on juxtaposing it with selected relevant passages in Augustine’s work. It proceeds from the change brought about by the Greek text through its reception, with particular reference to Philo of Alexandria. The main part of this article focuses on the Ego sum qui sum as the content of Augustine’s visionary experience and as an object of interpretation in interrelation with the philosophical concept of being; the main finding is that Augustine does not define God, but interprets his self-identification with being as the starting point for Augustine’s own indirect reference to being and to humanity’s relationship with the incomprehensible but repeatedly revelatory God.
William of Ware’s Arguments in Defense of Mary’s Immaculate Conception
Salvador-González, José María (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The current article aims to shed light on the reasoning used by the 13th century English Franciscan master William of Ware to defend the belief in the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. To do so, this English theologian begins by dismantling the alleged reasons of those who opposed such belief. He then examines the numerous proofs that, in his opinion, confirm the truth of the thesis under study. As a methodological strategy, the author of this article sets out step by step and in detail the interrelated arguments of William of Ware to rationally support his defense of the immaculate conception thesis. The results of this research highlight the courageous and innovative pro-immaculate stance of William of Ware in the face of the then dominant current of deniers of the belief in the immaculate conception of Mary.
Directions and Foundations of Pope Francis’ Approach to Ecumenism
Sawa, Przemysław (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The article presents an analysis of Francis’ numerous statements on the topic of ecumenism and attempts to synthesise papal thought in the key of directions, foundations and practical guidelines for the search for unity by contemporary Christians. The study of the source texts first helps to demonstrate the main areas of Francis’ ecumenism (including the motivation for a common path and theological dialogue, the focus on spiritual life and service to the world). The theological foundations of this service will then be recognised, above all the gift of grace, the ecclesiology of unity, starting from the source of baptism, the profession of faith and the perspective of holiness. Finally, the third part of the article is an attempt to synthesise Francis’ practical orientations and indications for ecumenism, including openness to the word of God and the Holy Spirit, evangelisation, awareness of imperfect unity, moving from the logic of “what I can teach” to “what I can learn,” response to the challenges of the world.
Gérard Philips and the Triumph of Via Media: A Historical Note on the Redaction of Lumen Gentium
Laksito, Petrus Canisius Edi (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
This article aims to investigate the redaction aspects of the dogmatic constitution of the Vatican Council II on the mystery of the Church Lumen Gentium. It is hoped that this attempt will provide a good understanding of the spirit that worked behind the written text and the theological vision that accompanied its creation. In order to achieve this aim, the author presents the historical aspects of the redaction of the document, focusing his attention on the efforts of the main redactor of the document, Mons. Gérard Philips, to introduce a conciliatory approach, a via media, so that there would be no winners nor losers behind the successful realization of the document’s writing. This article begins with a highlight of the essence of the Council as a peaceful process, as wished by Philips. The story continues with the remark on Philips’ painful attempt to redact a new schema, ‒ as the Council Fathers had rejected the original schema previously prepared by the doctrinal commission ‒ due to the negative judgement by Fr. Sebastiaan Tromp, the secretary of the doctrinal commission, who said that the new proposal was “unworthy” of the Council. Yet, Philips’ painful attempt complete the redaction process of the document in peace was ultimately successful, as the majority of the Council Fathers unanimously accepted the final draft of the document, which was subsequently issued as the key document of the Council.
Via ethica in Justifying the Credibility of Christianity and the Church According to Marian Rusecki
Mastej, Jacenty (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The article presents via ethica in justifying the credibility of Christianity and the Church according to Marian Rusecki (1942–2012). The professor from Lublin, although he was the creator of both the so-called models and an impressive set of credibility arguments, he did not comprehensively develop via ethica. The purpose of the article is to present the basic assumptions of that type of argumentation found in his work. A thorough analysis of his scientific achievements allowed for a critical synthesis and a comprehensive exposition of the methodological conditions of via ethica in Rusecki’s approach. In demonstrating the credibility of Christianity and the Church, within via ethica, the fundamental issue is to define the relationship between religion and ethics. There are many different relations between them and they need each other, therefore, it is a mistake to separate them or to reduce religion only to ethical principles. The foundation of via ethica is the individual existence and dignity of man; these constitute the priority values of religion and ethics. The promotion of the revealed dignity of the human person and the apologia for the human rights that stem from it constitute the credibility of the Christian ethos. The absolutely unique feature of Christianity is the ethos of following Jesus Christ. According to Rusecki, the essence of via ethica is based on the outright uniqueness of Christian ethics. Ethical indications constitute the originality of Christianity in relation to other religions.
Mystical Contemplation and Other Ways of the Cognition of God According to Saint John of the Cross
Niziński, Rafał Sergiusz (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
This philosophical article analyzes the direction of changes in human knowledge of God under the influence of mystical contemplation in the teachings of Saint John of the Cross. The introductory part features the specificity of various types of knowledge of God: based on the beauty of nature, metaphysical analysis of the world, and faith. This serves as the backdrop for showing mystical contemplation, its nature, and the goal it pursues. The author makes a thorough analysis of the character of transformations in knowledge of God (including faith) under the influence of mystical contemplation. This idea is emphasized by John of the Cross. Yet, it is not well-developed. Conclusion: contemplation makes it possible for a man to free himself from thinking about God in worldly categories, in particular from categories of the anthropomorphic nature, because the aim of mystical contemplation is to prepare the human mind to see God after death.
Andrzej Napiórkowski, O większy skandal chrześcijaństwa. Postulaty dekonstruktywizmu Kościoła i świata (Pelplin: Bernardinum, 2024). Ss. 158. 49,90 PLN. ISBN: 978-83-8333-282-6.
Leśniewski, Krzysztof (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The Integral Nature of the Liturgical Formation of the People of God in Light of the Apostolic Letter “Desiderio desideravi”
Megger, Andrzej (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
This article focuses on the concept of liturgical formation, which Pope Francis identified as an urgent need for the entire Catholic Church in his Apostolic Letter Desiderio Desideravi. Since the liturgy is a concrete reality and not a mere idea, formation presupposes the prior fulfillment of conditions which are faith and awareness of the nature of the liturgy, as well as the proper disposition of a person based on Christian anthropology. First, the broad perspective of the liturgy was presented, which is the work of the entire Holy Trinity, expressed in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, whose goal is to bring every creature into communion with the Creator. Man participates in this work as a corporealspiritual being with the ability to understand symbols and capable of liturgical action. Formation for participation in the liturgy involves not only intellectual preparation, but also ascetical preparation, that is, the involvement of the whole person and all the faculties of man in the process of becoming like Christ, the source of which is the celebration. Formation through participation in the liturgy applies to all conditions and forma of Christian life; therefore, based on the Apostolic Letter and the Church’s teaching, a general characterization of the formation of the various groups of the faithful has been made. On this basis, liturgical formation is an integral process for the formation of the human person as a liturgical person, capable of realizing his vocation which comes from the fact of creation.
Theological Hermeneutics and Discourse About God as Seen by Juan José Tamayo-Acosta
Gardocki, Dariusz (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
One of the important tasks and at the same time challenges facing theology of all times is how to speak about God in an understandable way. This is due to the fact that God is an incomprehensible mystery that exceeds human cognitive abilities. As well as with the multiplicity of existing concepts and images of God not only in different religions, but also often within the same religion. The task of theology is to help us understand both how God reveals himself to us and what he communicates to us about himself in his word, especially in the person of Jesus Christ. The purpose of this article is to show how God can and should be spoken of in theology today according to Spanish theologian Juan José Tamayo-Acosta. The first point presents theological hermeneutics as an essential tool in rethinking in a new way God’s self-revelation in history, as well as in understanding dogmas. The second point discusses the need to include language in discourse about God, which refers to symbols and metaphors as means that express meaning better than concepts alone the mystery of God. In the third point, Christian mysticism is shown as an example of a metaphorical way of talking about God.
Shaping Love Through Contemplation According to St. Titus Brandsma OCarm (1881–1942)
Miczyński, Jan (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The article is a theological-spiritual analysis of the teaching of St. Titus Brandsma (Anno Sjoerd Brandsma), a Dutch professor and martyr from Dachau, who lived in the years 1881–1942. This study seeks to show that in the Carmelite’s opinion, the contemplation (active and passive) of transcendent Love serves man in the formation of human love ‒ for God, for people and for all creatures. In this way, mysticism does not alienate man, but introduces him to concrete reality, inspiring him to deep commitment and taking responsibility for himself and others. This is of particular importance in the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil ‒ individual and social. Seeing the dangers of the anti-human ideology of Nazism, Fr. Titus, seeing the dangers of the anti-human ideology of Nazism, tried to show contemplation as a way to return to the Truth and as a chance to save the human family. The analysis carried out in this study, focusing more on the substantive aspect of the writings and less on their chronology, makes it possible to discover the logic, coherence, and originality of Brandsma’s thought.
The Contribution of Eugenio Corecco to Understanding the Synodality of the Church
Proniewski, Andrzej; Roux, René (Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II, 2025)
The Authors of the article, guided by the challenges of the modern Catholic Church regarding the promotion of the concept of synodality, analyze the invaluable contribution of Eugenio Corecco, a well-educated lawyer and theologian, the bishop of Lugano diocese in the years 1986–95, to the understanding and development of the concept. The article aims to underline the main elements of his thought, based on his experience and works. (1) Such an understanding of synodality mainly resulted from the impact of such personalities as Klaus Mörsdorf and Luigi Giussani on Corecco’s intellectual and spiritual development. (2) The critical assessment of the “synodality crisis” perceived by Corecco in the direct post-synodal period, led him to the conclusions on synodality that will be presented here. (3) Indicating and describing the essence of synodality in comparison with the term communio which, according to Corecco, is irreplaceable, determines the fundamental influence on the proper interpretation of synodality and is its only method of identification. Synodality understood this way, according to Corecco’s intention, eventually affects the main legal concepts connected with synodality in the Church. (4) The updating of Corecco’s thought in the perspective of the ongoing Synod of Bishops on Synodality in the Church: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” complements the realization of the aim assumed by the Authors.

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