Catholic Mariavite Church
Encyclopedia
The Catholic Mariavite Church is a Polish
religious organization begun in 1935 by Archbishop Jan Maria Michal Kowalski
.
Kowalski had been the leader of the Old Catholic Mariavite Church, since the death of its foundress, Felicja Kozłowska (Sister Maria Franciszka), in 1921. He had been her confidante and the leader of the 1903 - 1906 attempt to reconcile the Mariavite movement to the Vatican and for it to be recognized, or at least tolerated, as an official part of the Roman Catholic Church
. When this attempt was rejected by Pope St. Pius X
, Kowalski set about codifying the movement's own doctrines and beliefs in concert with Sister Maria Franciszka, and upon her death became her successor.
However, under his leadership the Mariavites began to dwindle somewhat in numbers. This was no doubt in part due to the pressures of Polish nationalism
, which was very much caught up in the idea of Roman Catholicism as being an intrinsic part of the Polish national identity and was enjoying a resurgence as Poland had just reemerged as an independent nation-state after over two centuries of distribution among the "great powers" of Prussia
, Austria
and Russia
. Another factor in the decline of the group was persecution of the Mariavites by Roman Catholics with the scarcely-veiled support of the new Polish government. But much of the decline could be traced to factors involving Kowalski himself — his generally autocratic rule of the church as Felicja's successor, and innovations that he had introduced which drove him further from the Catholic Church, such as the endorsement of consummated clerical marriages between priests and nuns, and later the ordination of women
as priests and bishops, which took him out of fellowship with the Old Catholic movement (at that stage) as well.
By 1935, most of the Mariavite clergy
had decided that Kowalski was destroying the movement and any good that it could do, and voted to remove him. Undaunted, he rejected this and moved his headquarters to the village of Felicjanów, named for the foundress. He named his group the Catholic Mariavite Church, despite its by-now considerable departure from traditional Roman Catholicism, and considered himself to continue to be the true leader of all true Mariavites. Freed from the restraining influences of much of the clergy which had formerly been subordinate to him, he declared even more radical pronouncements, the most radical of which was that Felicja had in fact been the incarnation of the Holy Spirit
upon the earth.
Kowalski died in a World War II
concentration camp and was succeeded as the church's leader by his wife, who had been consecrated a bishop. This body continues to this day and is still based in Felicjanów. It apparently has no adherents outside of Poland proper, unlike the larger Old Catholic Mariavite body. Never large to begin with (perhaps 3,000 members at its founding). It is now a true church movement, and finds most ecumenism
to be both unnecessary and sinful, since all true believers are to be found within its ranks. This insularity, of course, contributes to a general inability for the group to be penetrated by outsiders to learn details such as its actual current size. This group is led by a female bishop. While considering itself the true church, the church is very liberal in its theology, unlike most of the Old Catholic Mariavites, who retain a certainly moderate-conservative view upon liturgy and theology.
and the World Council of Churches
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
religious organization begun in 1935 by Archbishop Jan Maria Michal Kowalski
Jan Kowalski
Jan Maria Michał Kowalski was the first Minister Generalis of the order of the Mariavites. At the time of his selection, he was the most important person in this Christian movement. He was consecrated Bishop in 1909 by the Utrecht Union Old Catholic Archbishop Gerardus Gul...
.
Kowalski had been the leader of the Old Catholic Mariavite Church, since the death of its foundress, Felicja Kozłowska (Sister Maria Franciszka), in 1921. He had been her confidante and the leader of the 1903 - 1906 attempt to reconcile the Mariavite movement to the Vatican and for it to be recognized, or at least tolerated, as an official part of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. When this attempt was rejected by Pope St. Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
, Kowalski set about codifying the movement's own doctrines and beliefs in concert with Sister Maria Franciszka, and upon her death became her successor.
However, under his leadership the Mariavites began to dwindle somewhat in numbers. This was no doubt in part due to the pressures of Polish nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, which was very much caught up in the idea of Roman Catholicism as being an intrinsic part of the Polish national identity and was enjoying a resurgence as Poland had just reemerged as an independent nation-state after over two centuries of distribution among the "great powers" of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Another factor in the decline of the group was persecution of the Mariavites by Roman Catholics with the scarcely-veiled support of the new Polish government. But much of the decline could be traced to factors involving Kowalski himself — his generally autocratic rule of the church as Felicja's successor, and innovations that he had introduced which drove him further from the Catholic Church, such as the endorsement of consummated clerical marriages between priests and nuns, and later the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
as priests and bishops, which took him out of fellowship with the Old Catholic movement (at that stage) as well.
By 1935, most of the Mariavite clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
had decided that Kowalski was destroying the movement and any good that it could do, and voted to remove him. Undaunted, he rejected this and moved his headquarters to the village of Felicjanów, named for the foundress. He named his group the Catholic Mariavite Church, despite its by-now considerable departure from traditional Roman Catholicism, and considered himself to continue to be the true leader of all true Mariavites. Freed from the restraining influences of much of the clergy which had formerly been subordinate to him, he declared even more radical pronouncements, the most radical of which was that Felicja had in fact been the incarnation of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
upon the earth.
Kowalski died in a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
concentration camp and was succeeded as the church's leader by his wife, who had been consecrated a bishop. This body continues to this day and is still based in Felicjanów. It apparently has no adherents outside of Poland proper, unlike the larger Old Catholic Mariavite body. Never large to begin with (perhaps 3,000 members at its founding). It is now a true church movement, and finds most ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
to be both unnecessary and sinful, since all true believers are to be found within its ranks. This insularity, of course, contributes to a general inability for the group to be penetrated by outsiders to learn details such as its actual current size. This group is led by a female bishop. While considering itself the true church, the church is very liberal in its theology, unlike most of the Old Catholic Mariavites, who retain a certainly moderate-conservative view upon liturgy and theology.
Leaders (bishops)
- Jan Maria Michał Kowalski (1935–1940)
- Antonina Maria Izabella Wiłucka-Kowalska (1940–1946)
- Józef Maria Rafael Wojciechowski (1946–2005)
- Beatrycze Szulgowicz (2005-present)
Affiliations
The Catholic Mariavite Church is a member of the Polish Ecumenical CouncilPolish Ecumenical Council
Polish Ecumenical Council founded in 1946 to promote interchurch cooperation includes nearly all churches except the Polish Catholic Church. In 1989 member churches included the Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Reformed, and Old Catholic...
and the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
.