Ks. Józef Kentenich i początki Ruchu Szensztackiego w Polsce (do 1946 roku)

Abstract

In its 20th-century forms the lay apostolate draws its inspirations, above all, from the work of St. Vincent Pallotti. His outcome, however, did not allow right away to define clearly pastoral, spiritual and organizational forms for his ideas. The association of Pallottins, while preserving the spirit of their founder, had struggled for a few generations to make them come true. Rev. Józef Kentenich S.A.C., like Pallotti, saw the foundation of universal apostolate in covenant with Mary and based the Schönstatt Movement anew on that covenant. The work improved in terms of its organization and spirit, started to gather priests, nuns, single women, men and families. Each of the branches was internally different in view of its commitment to the work of the Movement. The activity of each fellowship focused on the original idea of a sanctuary. The years Rev. Kentenich spent in Dachau (1942-1945) and in exile in the United States (1952-1965) created an opportunity to instil the Schönstatt Movement ideas in new milieus and new continents. Now Pallottins were the first who had transplanted those ideas in Poland, among whom a particular role was played by Rev. Wojciech Turowski and Rev. Augustyn Urban who belonged to the German province of Pallottins. Together with their activities, a female line gradually came to existence, a trend that was built on the testimony of the first Sisters of Mary from Schönstatt. The first part of the study presents the figure of Rev. J. Kentenich and the integral history of how particular the Schönstatt Movement fellowships came to existence (except Poland), their structures and goals. The second part describes the origins of Polish Pallottins and their reception of the idea of the Schönstatt Movement until 1946, the infiltration of those idea through the Pallottins from outside the Polish province, and Rev. Kentenich’s contacts with Poles.