Opportunities and Chances for the Young in the Teaching of Primate Stefan Wyszyński

Abstract

As Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński credited young people with an important role in the future of the Church, the state and the nation. His pronouncements on the subject present a positive approach. In analysing the characteristics of young people as a group, their typical attitudes and tendencies, he pointed out opportunities as well as dangers. There was no room in his sermons for complaints or pessimism; on the contrary, there was deep trust in the fundamental goodness of contemporary youth as manifested in the values they already had. Primate Wyszyński stressed young people's desire for development, which expresses itself in their search and their struggle for their own personal identity. Young people build it up by discovering and realizing their dreams, needs and aspirations, through openness to the values of truth, love, beauty and good. Primate Wyszyński regarded young people's constant search for what is genuine, just and free as a natural expression of their need to mature into a rich humanity. This purpose is served by integral education, to which young people are open despite their critical attitude. Such education involves the mind, the will and the heart, and proceeds in an atmosphere of friendship and respect.