Polish prayer-books in Polish communities abroad

Abstract

Among various books accompanying Polish emigrants, the prayer-book has been the most popular and best appreciated one in every-day life. For centuries it has wandered with the emigrants in Germany, and from 19th century on also in other European countries as well as in other continents. It was brought there by the emigrants, or was imported by various means from Poland, and later it was also printed abroad in Polish or foreign publishing houses.

The prayer-books distributed among Polish emigrants can be classified as ones printed in Poland and abroad (edition), ordinary and special (purpose), original and reprinted, or translations. They all differ from one another in the way they were edited, in their form and contents. They were usually bought by men in the street, both emigrants and their descendants, belonging to different categories with regard to age, profession and living conditions.

Polish prayer-books abroad had an important religious, moral and national function. Depending on the situation and need they became defenders of faith, moral leaders and educators) or even teachers of the mother tongue and history. They played a special role where there were no Polish priests.