Bishop Ignacy Krasicki's Pastoral Service in the Warmia Diocese

Abstract

The books and articles devoted to Bishop Ignacy Krasicki published up till now have focused almost exclusively on his literary output and left out his pastoral and administrative activities. But from December 1766 to May 1795 he was the Bishop of the Warmia Diocese and for the next six years the Gniezno Archbishop. In that period he fulfilled all the functions resulting from his teacher's, priestly and pastoral power. He gave sermons very often: not only in his own diocese but also during national ceremonies. He was a very good orator who willingly quoted fragments of the Holy Writ, explained dogmatic issues and pointed to their application in everyday life.

Bishop Krasicki also performed all the duties resulting from his priestly power. Documents have been preserved that confirm the fact that he celebrated Holy Masses and administered sacraments, especially the sacraments of confirmation and of priesthood (reserved for the bishop). However, most information that has been preserved concerns fulfilling his pastoral function. In the Warmia Diocese Archive the protocols are kept of about 50 general inspections of parishes that he himself carried out. He also consecrated 10 churches. He issued nomination documents for parish priests and for curates. After the Jesuit Order had been dissolved he made efforts that aimed at enabling Jesuits to work in the reformed schools. In 1771 he sent a relation concerning the state of his diocese (relatio status) to the Holy See.

Until 1772 Bishop Krasicki was also the governor of the dominion in the Warmia Diocese, that is, he exercised the secular power on a defined territory. It was his prerogative to appoint lay clerks who took care of the properties and the subjects. Within the King's Prussia the Bishop of Warmia acted as the chairman of the Prussian states. However, when Warmia was occupied by Prussia, Krasicki lost his dominion and became the Prussian King's subject; he received his annual salary from the King.