Maryjność polskich świadków wiary według Piotra Skargi i Jana Pawła II

Abstract

A study of Piotr Skarga’s and John Paul II’s biographies of Polish saints from between the 10th and the 16th c. reveals that the saints represent many models of Marian devotion: from calling upon the Virgin Mother to following her attitudes. Thus, no evidence has been found for promoting and highlighting a specific model of Marian devotion. Indeed, some biographies even fail to mention the subject. Therefore, the hypothesis of a single and uniform Marian way of Polish saints must be refuted. The study has also revealed an original model of Polishness in the period investigated. It had a universal dimension, approximating the idea of “Church”. For example, St. Wojciech (Adalbert of Prague) is a patron saint of Poland and is regarded as a Polish saint.

A study of Piotr Skarga’s and John Paul II’s biographies of Polish saints from between the 10th and the 16th c. reveals that the saints represent many models of Marian devotion: from calling upon the Virgin Mother to following her attitudes. Thus, no evidence has been found for promoting and highlighting a specific model of Marian devotion. Indeed, some biographies even fail to mention the subject. Therefore, the hypothesis of a single and uniform Marian way of Polish saints must be refuted. The study has also revealed an original model of Polishness in the period investigated. It had a universal dimension, approximating the idea of ”Church”. For example, St. Wojciech (Adalbert of Prague) is a patron saint of Poland and is regarded as a Polish saint.