Pierwszy polski drukowany śpiewnik katolicki na Śląsku Cieszyńskim

Abstract

The first Polish Catholic songbook printed in Cieszyn Silesia is entitled "The work for every day, for every year and for the whole of every Catholic Christian". The author of the songbook was Father Antoni Janusz. It was published anonymously in Cieszyn in 1857. The ample collection contains no notes but does contain 436 songs, as well as many prayers for the whole church year. Scores of commentaries concerning the liturgical periods, the holy days and various situations in life were also included in it. The purpose of those commentaries is to deepen the understanding of the secret of faith through the explanation of its theological basis and of the way believers experience it. The contents of the collection concerns the whole of Christian life, both the religious life in the strict sense and lay life. The collection is an important work in many respects. It is primarily a songbook which initiated a whole series of such publications in Cieszyn Silesia. For the majority of authors at that time it provided a model both as regards arrangement and repertory. The collection of Father Janusz started the process of eliminating foreign language songbooks from use. It propagates not only a regional repertory and local traditions, customs and rites, but also is aware of the repertory of other regions of Poland. Its most outstanding quality is the spirit of respect for the teaching of the Catholic Church and for its liturgy. It is considered to be one of the most significant Polish Catholic songbooks from the middle of the XIXth century. The work of the Rev. Antoni Janusz found an enthusiastic reception among the Catholic Polish population of Cieszyn Silesia. The value of this songbook was also appreciated beyond the confines of Cieszyn Silesia.