Natura liturgii, jej reforma i odnowa oraz duszpasterstwo liturgiczne w świetle uchwał wybranych synodów polskich po II Soborze Watykańskim

Abstract

The paper analyses the resolutions of 18 synods held in the years of 1967-1994. The synods before 1994 were chosen because had been directly related to the administrative division of the Church in Poland before 1992. Out of those synods, 17 are diocesan, and one is provincial. They all took place in the following archdiocese: Włocławek (1967), Poznań (1970), Gdańsk (1973), Warszawa (1974), Katowice (1975), Kraków (1979), Gniezno (1981), Tarnów (1986), Częstochowa (1986), Lublin (1987), Koszalin Kołobrzeg (1989), Lubaczów (1990), Płock (1991), Kielce (1992), Wrocław (1993), Poznań (1993), and Włocławek (1994). A provincial synod was held in Kraków, and promulgated in 1983. In this period the working texts of the second Polish plenary synod of 1991 were written, and its resolutions were eventually promulgated in 2001. The synods had many times returned to a reflection on the essence and nature of the Liturgy, a fact that is summarized in the following words: “The Liturgy means to perform in this time of the history of salvation – from the Ascension of the Holy Spirit till Parousia – the sacerdotal mission of Jesus Christ, the only Mediator between God and people. By means of signs that can be recognized by the senses and by virtue of the Holy Spirit He sanctifies people in the fellowship of the Church (the salvational and soteriological trends), and together with the Church, His Mystic Body, He renders the Father a complete public cult (the cultic and latreutic trend)” The synods assess the reform and regeneration of the Liturgy in Poland taking into consideration the fact that they ran a gradual course and by stages, according to the intention of the Conference of the Episcopate and were often under difficult socio-political circumstances. Nevertheless, there were some positive symptoms, e.g. making the Scripture available – owing to the reform and regeneration of the Liturgy – to the faithful, popularizing liturgical ministries of the lay faithful, a participation of the laity in the Holy Mass on weekdays, and the frequent Holy Communion. At the same time, the synods kept asking whether the reform and regeneration of the Liturgy had not been effected only at the level of rituals, or whether it had been sufficiently prepared and justified. A series of disquieting symptoms are presented as an object of concern, such as: a part of the faithful do not regularly participate in the Liturgy, several days a year, older adolescents and adult men rarely go to the Mass, and are engaged in the liturgical life of the Church only to a very small degree. Additionally, there are some obstacles on the part of priests. Some of them show selfwill, and others are reserved to any changes in the Liturgy. New initiatives are proposed in the service of formation and mystagogy, and the development of liturgical pastoral care, e.g. the Pastoral Hour with an opportunity to dialogue and exchange of experiences, especially among adolescents. Other proposals deal with establishing in Poland a National Centre for Liturgical Pastoral Care, organization of liturgical groups and Liturgical Weeks in parishes, etc.