Rev. Prof. Jonas Totoraitis MIC: Ideas and Conceptions

Abstract

The topic of this article is devoted to the discussion of the ideas of cultural and social activities propounded by Professor of History, Rev. Jonas Totoraitis (1872-1941). It also deals with a question of what conditions were present for their implementation in the early twentieth century. The first idea to establish the Society to Investigate the History of Lithuania was largely predicated on his professional background as historian. Another idea was indebted to his perception of the duty of the priest. It manifested itself in the aspiration to set up a special organization (association) of Roman Catholic clergy to tackle world-view issues of society at large. Another field of Rev. Totoraitisʼ activities was organizing youth in the countryside. His most significant contribution was theoretical: a study entitled “Catholic Youth Associations”, published in the journal “Vadovas” (Leader), and some time later republished in a separate booklet “The Guardianship of Youth and Its Associations”.