Specyfika społecznej misji rolników w świetle nauczania Jana Pawła II

Abstract

The Church in its teaching discerns all professions, states and conditions. It takes a keen interest in agriculture, which is now faced with a lot of difficulties and problems. In Poland, too, a crisis of the traditional model of farming caused by the erroneous ideology and practice of the past decades, which resulted in its underdevelopment in comparison with modern European agriculture supported for many years by state subsidies, has deepened for the last few years. In its very nature farmer's work is connected with land entrusted to people by God. The gift of land is also connected with responsibility for it. Man is responsible before God for this entrusted gift, therefore it is his duty to wisely use its produce. The process of subduing the earth depends on many different factors: on talent, skills, man's work and essential means. Farmers cooperate with the Creator in sustaining life by supplying their brethren with food. This accounts, to a large extent, for the dignity of work on land. For it is the fulfilment of a commandment God gave man at the very beginning “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it” (Gen 1, 28). It can be said that the bond between the farmer and his land is sacred in character. Man who lives and works in the country almost instinctively experiences God's might and kindness through everyday experience of the blessing of the power of nature. For centuries one of the basic duties of the farmer in the Polish tradition was to protect his father's legacy and care for the land; as this land was expected to produce crop from generation to generation. Farmers not only supply others with food, but also – through their strong faith - teach us that material matters should not conceal the most important goal from us; willingness to devote our own toil for the benefit of others and entrust ourselves humbly to God's Providence. The development of a just society demands respect for the farmer's work. He is entitled to receive efficient aid, not alms or a substitute for justice. The basic right and requirement of dignity of a man working on land is an ability to draw the means necessary for himself and his family from his labour.