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    Published: 2023-12-311
    Vol. 65 No. 4 (2023)

    Official Ecumenical Dialogue between the Old Catholic Mariavite Church and the Roman Catholic Church in the years 1997-2011

    Borys Przedpełski

    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5377-2106
    https://doi.org/10.36124/rt.2023.30

    Abstract

    The article discusses the official phase of dialogue between the Mariavite and the Roman Catholic Church in the years 1997-2011. The bilateral relations between the Old Catholic Mariavite Church and the Roman Catholic Church are presented in the context of comprehensive discussions concerning the questions of history, doctrine, organization, liturgy and pastoral care as well as ecumenical meetings and services.Most attention is focused on the work of the Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Old Catholic Mariavite Church. In the period of 14 years, the members of the Commission, within the framework of 26 joint sessions, carried out a theological analysis of the scriptures by Sister Feliksa Maria Franciszka Kozłowska and enquired into the origins of the Mariavite Movement, explained the Teaching on the Holy Baptism, and exchanged views on other specific questions. In the aftermath of the discussions, it was stated that the Mariavite side had recognized the authenticity of the revelations of the Foundress of Mariavitism, but not as part of the Church’s dogmatized doctrine, whereas the Roman Catholic side had denied the mystical experiences of Mother Kozłowska the status of authentic spiritual experience. As regards the grounds for the schism between the Mariavites and the Roman Catholic Church, after familiarization with the documentation concerning the Mariavite issue from the years 1903-1906 that had been unknown before, the representatives of both Churches emphasized the difficulties in the evaluation of the painful occurrences related to the religious conflict between the Mariavites and the Roman Catholics early in the 20th century. A significant achievement of the discussed inter-denominational dialogue was the signing in the year 2000 of a joint declaration between the Old Catholic Mariavite Church and the Roman Catholic Church together with other Christian Churches in Poland relating to the validity of Baptism.

    Keywords:

    ecumenical dialogue, mariavites, Mariavite Church, Roman Catholic Church, Maria Franciszka Kozłowska, Work of Great Mercy

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    Citation rules

    Przedpełski, B. (2023). Official Ecumenical Dialogue between the Old Catholic Mariavite Church and the Roman Catholic Church in the years 1997-2011. Theological Yearbook, 65(4), 823–891. https://doi.org/10.36124/rt.2023.30

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