The significance of family Marian catechesis in Poland has been increased by a series of historical events involving Marian revelations and by the pastoral strategy of the Catholic Church. The Marian catechesis was not only included in the plans of religion teaching, textbooks and catechisms, but was also present in the Marian traditions of Polish families. Before children started school or parish catechesis which dealt with the subject of Virgin Mary, they already had extensive knowledge of Her and they could pray to Her. Living in families, they could also easily understand all bonds that mother and son share. In the case of Virgin Mary, they easily acquired the truth that Her Son is God and that She, like every mother, does not leave anyone in need. The Marian catechesis, invariably passed to the catechisized in the family environment, also today must constitute guidance for Poles in answering the question: “what to believe in, how to act and what means of grace to use in order to achieve salvation?” In the layer of content, there must be a clear reference to the mysteries of Christ connected with the life of Blessed Virgin Mary. Religious elements, historical traditions and Marian educational ideas should further converge into one voice praising Mary, Mother of God-Man.
Samuel Brzezewski was a monk, highly regarded as a priest and hagiographist in the 17th century. Two out of three of his sermons that have remained till today talk about Virgin Mary. One of them is Zaciąg dworzanów na kurią Najaśniejszej Królowej nieba i ziemie Maryjej, in which the author describes the criteria necessary for becoming a part of the Virgin Mary’s court. While portraying the Virgin Mary, he uses many epithets taken from the Biblical tradition. The Virgin Mary is e.g. the Queen, the Empress, second Eva, the Gate, the Window and… the Fire Place. Brzezewski tries to explain these metaphorical descriptions and their theological meanings. Wespazjan Kochowski did the same, writing Ogród panieński. It is possible that Kochowski was inspired by the sermons written by Brzezewski.
PL
Samuel Brzeżewski to zakonnik, który w XVII w. był docenianym kaznodzieją i hagiografem. Dwa z trzech zachowanych jego kazań dotyczą Maryi. Należy do nich Zaciąg dworzanów na kurią Najaśniejszej Królowej nieba i ziemie Maryjej, w którym autor użył konceptu: przedstawia kryteria doboru chrześcijan na dwór Matki Bożej. Opisując Maryję, stosuje wobec niej bardzo wiele określeń, które zaczerpnął z tradycji biblijno-patrystycznej. Matka Boża to m.in. królowa, cesarzowa, druga Ewa, brama, okno i… piec. Brzeżewski używając tych nazw, starał się wyjaśnić ich metaforyczny lub teologiczny sens. Podobnie postąpił w tym samym stuleciu Wespazjan Kochowski, pisząc Ogród panieński. Niewykluczone, że barokowy twórca inspirował się również kazaniem krakowskiego zakonnika.
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