Działalność duszpasterska średniowiecznego Kościoła w trosce o człowieka. Z problematyki teorii duszpasterstwa

Abstract

Pastoral activity is an essential mission of the Church, and it is the salvatory mission of Christ. This activity carried out over the period of twenty centuries has brought a number of experiences. The Middle Ages also have some achievements in this care for man. The very pastoral care at that time was taken to mean rather an art of governing and holding an office (in keeping with pope Gregory the Great who said that pastoral care was „ars artium regimen animarum”). The overall care for the faithful was placed within the frameworks of parochial activities. It had an impact on others, mainly through: 1. verbal teaching and setting examples from one’s own life, 2. divine ministry - mainly the Holy Mass, 3. administering sacraments. One should not fail to mention other forms, such as: pilgrimages, mysteries and the works of various confraternities. It was in the Middle Ages that the Church did a great thing, namely it sacralized the everyday life of man. However, the believer was in all that always a passive party, leaving the whole pastoral activity to the pastor.