The Image of a Social Activist in Sermons Delivered in 19th and 20th Centuries

Abstract

The presented article aims at a synthesis of sermons delivered by Polish ecclesiastical speakers living at the turn of the 20th century on the subject of social activists who had exerted their impact on numerous spheres of social and economic life. The activists mentioned by preachers of that time were not only lay persons but also members of the clergy, who were involved in the work of building the identity of Polish society, especially in the time of national slavery. On the basis of source texts, several categories of social activists were created. Among the most well-known activists were those of the Greater Poland region, who promoted loan and benefit funds, associations or cooperatives of financial character. The promoters of social initiatives were also those who took measures to encourage domestic craft and industry. An equally significant role in the consolidation of the Polish raison d’être was played by culture animators and educators at both school and academic levels. The image of a Polish social activist encompasses also people involved in charity work, who often originated from the wealthier strata of Polish society.