Concern about the People and the Mother Country: The Beacons of Cardinal August Hlond from 1945–1948

The life and the activity of Primate Cardinal August Hlond (1881–1948) continuously inspires the search, analysis, and discovery of the meaning of his teachings and his mission within the Church and the society. The return of Cardinal August Hlond to Poland on July 20^th1945 was expected to strengthen the nation’s spirit and religious belief in the new post-war reality. His concern about the revival of the mother country and about building state governance on the basis of moral principles and human rights can be seen in all his undertakings. He offered education and care to families and young people. The Christian upbringing of young people, the growth of Catholic youth organizations, the presence of Christian values in school curricula and in secular organizations involved in education –these were the matters he supported and fostered. He was focused on the development of various forms of spiritual life. He responded to the then current problems of religious and community life. As he pursued various measures to these ends, despite the difficulties he encountered, he believed in a mature society of well-educated citizens. Therefore, it seems reasonable to interpret the thoughts of Cardinal Hlond regarding the human being –within the period from 1945 to 1948 –as a person open to transcendence, to infinity (personal subjectivity and their spiritual life), to a person within a family (a family as a community of individuals) and within the society (the national community).

The life and the activity of Primate Cardinal August Hlond (1881–1948) continuously inspires the search, analysis, and discovery of the meaning of his teachings and his mission within the Church and the society. The return of Cardinal August Hlond to Poland on July 20^th1945 was expected to strengthen the nation’s spirit and religious belief in the new post-war reality. His concern about the revival of the mother country and about building state governance on the basis of moral principles and human rights can be seen in all his undertakings. He offered education and care to families and young people. The Christian upbringing of young people, the growth of Catholic youth organizations, the presence of Christian values in school curricula and in secular organizations involved in education –these were the matters he supported and fostered. He was focused on the development of various forms of spiritual life. He responded to the then current problems of religious and community life. As he pursued various measures to these ends, despite the difficulties he encountered, he believed in a mature society of well-educated citizens. Therefore, it seems reasonable to interpret the thoughts of Cardinal Hlond regarding the human being –within the period from 1945 to 1948 –as a person open to transcendence, to infinity (personal subjectivity and their spiritual life), to a person within a family (a family as a community of individuals) and within the society (the national community).