Contribution of Rev. Prof. Adam Ludwik Szafrański in the Development of Pastoral Theology

Abstract

In 2014 we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the death of Fr. A.L. Szafrański, professor at the Catholic University of Lublin. This is an opportunity to re-examine his scientific output. This article presents the achievement of Szafrański on the history of theological thought, concept of pastoral theology, theology of the parish, and theology of signs of the times – called kairology. Szafrański's pastoral theology can be defined as alive, dynamic, existential and constantly seeking theology. It is a theology of human beings and human culture, and theology of dialogue with modern world, problems of modern society and its changes. Szafrański was returning permanently to the fundamental sources of theology – the Holy Scripture and the Tradition, but he always remained sensitive to the signs of the times in which he tried to hear the voice of God speaking in the history of the world and man, but also in the community of the Church. It seems this style of pastoral theology, Szafrański left to his disciples as a model, is still up to date and relevant to the challenges facing the Church in Poland at the beginning of the XXI century.