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Vol. 117 (2012): Our Past

Articles

Concerns of the bishops of Płock for the upbringing and education in seminaries from the 18th to 19th century

  • Michał Marian Grzybowski
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.2012.117.57-61  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2012-06-30

Abstract

Due to a considerable lack of clergy and scarce funds for the upkeep of seminarists, seminary education usually lasted only two years. It depended on the academic advancement of the candidate or on receiving a benefice followed by ordination. No wonder then, that the academic level in seminaries of that time was not high. The necessity to carry out academic and educational reforms was noticed in his seminaries by bishop Michał Jerzy Poniatowski (1773-1785), who dearly cared for the education and academic advancement of the clergy, as well as for the increase of its number. He separated dogmatic theology from moral theology, introduced church history, canon law, exegesis of the books of the Holy Scriptures and – at the same time – introduced secular subjects such as arithmetic, geometry or geography. Regulations stipulated twenty four hours of lectures per week. Further changes in the regulations were introduced by bishop Michał Nowodworski. General history, Polish literature and calligraphy were removed from preparatory and philosophical course. However, holy preaching was introduced on two courses, introduction to church history was added to preparatory course and introduction to holy preaching was introduced on philosophy course. The next bishop to have had considerable merit for the Theological Seminary in Płock was Antoni Nowowiejski (1908-1941). It was he who – on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Płock Theological Seminary jubilee - procured from the Holy See a privilege of granting theological baccalaureate to the more diligent and talented alumni. Owing to the undertaken reforms the alumni of the Theological Seminary were well educated and possessed proper spiritual formation.

References

  1. Grzybowski M., Reforma studiów seminaryjnych w diecezji płockiej biskupa Michała Jerzego Poniatowskiego (1773-1785), Studia Płockie, t. l, s. 175-187. [Google Scholar]
  2. Karpiński W., Michał Nowodworski biskup płocki 1831-1896, Płock 2009. [Google Scholar]
  3. Mąkowski W., Pięćdziesiąt lat 1881-1931 pracy kapłańskiej J. E. arcybiskupa dra Antoniego J. Nowowiejskiego, Płock 1931. [Google Scholar]

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