Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

THE SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVEN’T REACHED THE USE OF REASON (AND FOR THE MENTALLY DISABLED FROM BIRTH).
Summary
Relying on the Code of Canon Law which states that „[t]he anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful who, having reached the use of reason, begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age” (CCL Can. 1004 §1), the author of the present article aims at proving that, from the theological point of view, there are no contraindications against administering this sacrament to seriously ill persons who, with all certainty, haven’t reached the use of reason and whose loved ones ask for it with faith. This problem concerns very small children and the mentally disabled from birth. On the basis of careful biblical, historical and theological analysis, it has become clear that the penitential dimension of Anointing of the Sick is not primary, and as such is not an obstacle to confer this sacrament on those who, having been baptized, have not reached the use of reason and do not bear the personal guilt. The act of faith, which is essential in all sacraments and which is required on the part of the recipients, can be realized through the fact that the sacrament is administered in an environment of faith surrounding ill children or the mentally disabled. The act of conferring this sacrament to them is a sign of their unity with Christ, crucified and risen, and will serve as a spiritual strengthening for their loved ones.

INDIRECT AND DIRECT PREPARATION FOR THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
In the awareness of many faithful the sacrament of penance is but a sheer formality, if not a magical way of getting rid of sin. This attitude manifests itself in the way preparation is made for this sacrament. Quite often the major focus is on reading an examination of conscience from a book of prayers and confessing one's sins, whereas the other conditions of adequate and fruitful participation in the sacrament: penitence, contrition, resolution to amend one's life and penance are performed only on a formal level. While preparing the faithful for the sacrament of penance and reconciliation one should, therefore, speak of indirect and direct preparation. As far as the ministry of penance, one can clearly see specific conclusions and tasks. The main source of the present crisis of this sacrament may be found in reducing the whole penance practice solely to individual confession at the cost of non-sacramental forms of taking sins away. The major postulate is therefore to celebrate the liturgy of the sacrament of penance in the context of the whole penance practice of the Church. For the preparation for the sacrament of penance and reconciliation cannot be separated from the holistic context of penance as the major life attitude of everyday conversion understood here as the biblical metanoia. Moreover, the common practise of celebrating the sacrament may make one conclude that the character of penance is purely personal and that the purpose is to re-establish a correct relation between an individual and God. The reality is that a man does not live in perfect isolation from one's brothers and sisters. One's salvation takes place in a human environment. Therefore one can enumerate these most vital pastoral postulates preparing for the sacrament of penance: shaping the sensibility of the faithful to an individual and social character of sin and conversion, emphasizing the communal element in preparation for the liturgy of the sacrament of penance and understanding a confessor's involvement in shaping the social and ecclesial attitude of a penitent.

IL RAPPORTO FRA LA PREDICAZIONE DELLA PAROLA DI DIO E L’INDENTITÀ SACERDOTALE.
Sommario
Ogni sacerdote, grazie al sacramento dell’ordinazione, diventa icona viva del Cristo. Durante la celebrazione liturgica agisce in persona Christi. Grazie al carattere sacramentale che possiede sin dal giorno dell’ordinazione ha un rapporto particolare con Cristo e lo Spirito Santo, partecipando all’unico sacerdozio del Nuovo Testamento, che è quello di Cristo. Tale fatto ha un significato profondo per la vita e la missione delle persone ordinate. L’aspetto partocolare di tale missione, e cioè l’annuncio della parola di Dio, non può essere letta soltanto sul piano di una attività esteriore, bensì scaturisce dal servizio della Chiesa. La predicazione equivale al segno del sacerdozio nuovotestamentale – vissuto e sperimentato. Anzi, la predicazione manifesta l’identità stessa del sacerdote. E’ il motivo, per cui ogni sacerdote-predicatore deve essere cosciente e responsabile della necessità di coniugare ogni giorno la sua vita e il servizio fatto a nome do Cristo e per il bene di tutta la Chiesa, soprattutto deve collaborare alla diffusione della Parola di salvezza. E’ necessario pertanto che ogni sacerdote-predicatore interiorizzi sempre più l’atteggiamento diaconale nel suo quotidiano. Un valido esempio di diaconalità può attongerlo dalla Bibbia, la quale mette in luce il servizio profetico delle persone scelte da Dio. Esse esprimono un grande desiderio di far avvicinare i popoli a Dio; profeti bruciano dello zelo dell’annuncio della Buona Novella, sono pronti a dare la vita per la Parola predicata. E’ chiaro che ogni forma di trascuramento dell’opera della predicazione della verità salvifica fa sempre pensare a una crisi di identità sacerdotale.

CATECHESIS INTRODUCING THE CHILD TO THE SACRAMENTS OF PENANCE AND OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE LIGHT OF THE POST-VATICAN II DOCUMENTS OF THE CHURCH
The reflection taken up in this article shows that the documents of the Church which have been published after the II Vatican Council are a rich source of information concerning the preparation of children to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation and to the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In Church teaching after the Council we find not only indicated the content, which should be present in the preparation of children to Penance and the Eucharist, but also its forms and method. The documents of the Church generally outline a certain program or direction of sacramental formation, so the demands given need to be supplemented by a catechetical and pastoral reflection, which would lead to more detailed and practical suggetstions, possible to use in pastoral and catechetical ministry. Although each elaboration must take into consideration elements that are characteristic for the introdution formation of the child to the reality of Penance and the Eucharist, which - in accordance with requirements given in the Church documents after the Council - regard above all the following issues:
- the preparation of children to the Sacraments of Penance and of the Eucharist takes place through a number of stages, which can be called: far, close and direct;
- the formation of penance and eucharistic attitudes begins already in the first months and years of the children's lives, thus the important role of parents and family;
- in the process of introducing children to the reality of Penance and the Eucharist initiation catechesis has a principal role;
- on each of the stages of preparation one has to take into consideration the situation of the catechized, the level of personal development and family environment.

Zusammenfassung
Mann und Frau, die das Sakrament der Ehe empfangen und aus diesem Ehesak¬rament heraus ihr Leben gestalten, wissen sich im trinitarischen Raum der Liebe geborgen und dazu berufen, heilig zu werden. Ehe wird in den Mittwochskatechesen Johannes Pauls II. (1979–1984) als Schule der Heiligkeit dargestellt. Die Theologie des Leibes kommt zur Geltung und entfaltet sich im Konnex von Eros und Ethos. Eine sakramental-christlich gelebte Ehe ahmt nicht nur die communion mit Gott nach, sondern fängt sie selbst ein und reflektiert sie.
Safety in God’s Love. The Sacrament of Marriage from the Perspective of Karol Wojtyła’s Theology of the Body
Summary
Men and women who have received the Sacrament of Marriage and who shape their lives out of this sacrament feel safe in the Trinitarian space of love and feel called to become holy. In his Wednesday catecheses, John Paul II (1979–1984) portrays marriage as a school of holiness. The theology of the body advances and develops in the connection between eros and ethos. A practical sacramental Christian marriage does not only imitate communion with God but furthermore captures and reflects it.

THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASPECT OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
In our dissertation attention is concentrated on the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. The fundamental aim is to consider the anthropological dimension of this sacrament. The sacrament of penance, like all the sacraments, is a personal meeting between God and an individual person. Its intent and purpose is to restore that individual's relationship to God: that is, the community of life with Him, lost by sin. The sacrament is not only reconciliation with God, but also with the Church and with other people. Man is reconciled with himself, and what is more, with the whole world. The sacrament of penance and reconciliation is a precious gift given man by a God of Mercy, who is the Father of Mercy and the source of all forgiveness. The sacrament is also a challenge for a person to become totally involved in the process of internal conversion. It builds the identity and integrity of a human being. It allows an individual to find himself and his vocation to live the Divine Life. Finally, it remains the only obvious way of an individual's personal development, the aim of which is to reach human holiness. Our responsibility to freedom is also constantly strengthened by this sacrament.

CATECHUMENATE FOR MARRIAGE.
Summary
After the restoration of catechumenate in the Church its ideas are still more often applied in a post-baptism formation according indications presented in the 4th chapter of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. New suggestions appeared for marriage preparation since it should be similar to catechumenate.
The main rules of catechumenate are considered in this text concerning Christian formation and applied to an initiation to the „Church of the home”. The last should be analogous to Christian initiation, being the pre-marriage catechumenate, as is shown in Familiaris consortio. It is possible to fulfill all the required periods, degrees and celebrations during one year, as it is in formal catechumenate.
The article presents pastoral and liturgical foundations for such a formation.

The meaning of selected qualities of matrimonial communio personarum in the realization of tasks faced by a family as a “domestic Church”
Summary
Matrimony participates in the existence and mission of the Church. It actualizes itself as a Church and on that basis it is entitled to the title „home Church”. Christian spouses implanted in Christ through the power of baptism and included as „unity of the two” in betrothed bond of Christ with the Church through the power of the sacrament of matrimony – are gifted and obliged to perform functions specific for the whole Church. Thanks to their specific qualities they fulfill, in a unique way, prophetic, priestly and royal function of Christ. Among these qualities one can distinguish: the ability to adopt, listen and announce of the word of God, sanctifiction oneself through the sacrament of matrimony, sacrament of the Eucharist and the Penance and prayer, as well as through coming with the mutual help in the attitude of service.
It allows us to perceive essential and fundamental subject of priestly activities in the matrimony.

DURCH DIE SAKRAMENTALE EHE ZUR HAUSKIRCHE.
Zusammenfassung
Heutzutage wird viel über die Position und Bedeutung der Ehe und der Familie in der modernen Welt diskutiert. Diese Wirklichkeit berühren auch die postmodernistischen Strömungen. Die Kirche verteidigt unaufhörlich die Würde der Ehe und unternimmt verschiedene Bemühungen um der Familie, bei Erfüllung ihrer Mission, mit Hilfe zu dienen.
Die Ehe ist vom Schöpfer beabsichtigt und erwünscht. Er hat die Menschen in das Werk der Übertragung des Lebens einbezogen. Den Eltern hat er die Begabung zum Erleben der menschlichen, treuen und einzigen, sowie vollen und fruchtbaren Liebe gegeben. Die Ehe ist der Weg zur Heiligung von Mann und Frau. Christus hat der Ehe die Unzerreißbarkeit (Unlösbarkeit) wiedergegeben.
Die Ehe ist auf die Neuschöpfung ausgerichtet. Die Familie wird zur Hauskirche. Sie ist mit Macht der Eucharistie aufgebaut. Zum Zelebrieren werden die einzelnen Familienmitglieder durchs Gebet und fromme Praktiken vorbereitet. Die Andachten zur Verehrung von Christus, der Gottesmutter oder von Heiligen haben als Ziel, die Gläubigen zum Hören des Gottes Wortes während der Liturgie einzustimmen und um mit Christus ein, dem Himmlischen Vater angenehmes Opfer zu werden.

DIE NÄHERE VORBEREITUNG AUF DAS LEBEN IN DER EHE UND FAMILIE.
Zusammenfassung
Seit dem zweiten Vatikanischen Konzil führen die katholischen Kirchen in Polen und in Deutschland eine vertiefte und den Grundvoraussetzungen des Konzils entsprechende Reflexion über ihre pastorale Sendung bezüglich der Ehe und Familie. Sie findet ihren Platz unter anderem in den offiziellen Dokumenten der Bischofskonferenzen oder ihrer Pastoralkommissionen. In den letzten Jahren wurden sowohl vom polnischen als auch vom deutschen Episkopat wichtige Dokumente über die Ehevorbereitung herausgegeben: Die deutsche Bischofskonferenz, Auf dem Weg zum Sakrament der Ehe. Überlegungen zur Trauungspastoral im Wandel (2000) und der Rat der polnischen Bischofskonferenz für die Familienpastoral, Direktorium für die Familienseelsorge (2003). Sie weisen darauf hin, dass die Kirchen in Polen und in Deutschland ständig nach einer der jeweiligen gesellschaftlich-kulturellen und religiösen Situation entsprechenden Konzeption der Ehevorbereitung suchen. Die polnische und die deutsche Konzeption unterscheiden sich jedoch voneinander. Der vorliegende Artikel ist also ein Versuch, die Konzeptionen der näheren Ehevorbereitung der beiden Kirchen zu vergleichen und daraus Impulse für die pastorale Sorge der Kirche um die zukünftigen Ehen und Familien darzustellen.