Jonas Totoraitis MIC: biografija ir veikla

LTMonografija skirta kunigo profesoriaus Jono Totoraičio MIC (1872-1941) biografijai ir veiklai nušviesti. Jo biografijoje galima rasti apibūdinimą, kad buvo tarp pirmųjų. Pirmasis iš lietuvių istorikų apgynė disertaciją, buvo tarp pirmųjų trijų asmenų, kurie atnaujino marijonų vienuoliją, buvo pirmasis Lietuvos marijonų provincijos provincijolas, pirmasis pasisakė už istorijos tyrimų draugijos įkūrimą. Monografijos aktualumą sudaro tai, kad pirmą kartą istoriografijoje nuosekliai atskleidžiama J. Totoraičio biografija ir veikla, o tai leidžia nustatyti jo indėlį į Lietuvos kultūros istoriją ir Lietuvos istoriografiją. [Anotacija knygoje]

ENThe life path of Jonas Totoraitis is interesting in several respects. He was born in the parish of Griškabūdis, which was the birthplace of a number of clerics. He received secondary education at the gymnasium in Marijampolė where the national self-awareness of many young people was formed, pursued his professional education at the theological seminary of Sejny, and was ordained a priest upon graduation. He then went to study at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. At the end of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth century, this university was one of the most important education centres for Lithuanian clerics. Totoraitis was one of the first students from Lithuania at this university. At that time, priests could not go abroad to study officially, they had to do it secretly. Totoraitis studied at the University of Fribourg under the pseudonym of Norus. His studies culminated in a dissertation on King Mindaugas, which was the first dissertation on Lithuanian history written by a Lithuanian historian. After graduating from the seminary, Jonas Totaraitis began his pastoral work in the parish of Daukšiai and continued it after his studies at the university. While in this parish, he took part in the Great Seimas of Vilnius and was elected to the editorial board of the future Christian Democratic newspaper. In addition to his pastoral work in the parish of Daukšiai, he was also engaged in scholarly activities: he collected fairy-tales and explored local hill forts. In the first Lithuanian-language daily newspaper in Lithuania, he published an article encouraging the establishment of a separate society for history scholars. This article resonated among Lithuanian intellectuals and contributed to the idea of creating the Lithuanian Scientific Society.Jonas Totoraitis served on the editorial board of Šaltinis (The Source), which was launched in Sejny, and he was one of the initiators and editors of the Žiburys calendar. He wrote historical and journalistic articles for the press. Totoraitis was involved in public work and his efforts led to the establishment of a special organisation (association) for priests. The project had reached the organisational stage: the statute of the priests’ association had been adopted and printed, and meetings were held. However, the organisation dissipated without having developed a broader activity. As a vicar in the Šunskai filial parish, he founded a branch of the ‘Žiburys’ association and took an active part in its activities. Another area of Totoraitis’s activity was organising young people. Here he achieved more in the theoretical field: in the magazine Vadovas, he published the study ‘Catholic Youth Associations’, which later appeared as a separate book, Jaunimo globa ir jo susivienijimai (Youth Care and Youth Associations). The ideas in this book contributed to the organisation of young people in rural areas. Jonas Totoraitis was one of the first to join the monastery of Marian Fathers of Immaculate Conception, which was restored through the efforts of Jurgis Matulaitis. He completed his novitiate in St Petersburg. He was already a monk when he was appointed spiritual father of the theological seminary of Sejny. His duties as a spiritual father gave him the opportunity to contribute to the spiritual training of young priests. His conferences, meditations, and sermons reached the hearts of future priests, and the thoughts he expressed would become the subject of reflection. Totoraitis encouraged the seminary students not to be satisfied with a seminary education alone but to pursue higher education and develop their intellect in general. He also worked as a teacher in gymnasia.The first of these was in Sejny, where the gymnasium of the ‘Žiburys’ association was founded in 1918; he was its first headmaster. After moving to the Marian monastery in Marijampolė, he taught at the ‘Žiburys’ gymnasium in Marijampolė, which was transformed into the state gymnasium of Rygiškių Jonas. Yet his most important work as an educator is related to the Marian gymnasium in Marijampolė. He was the founder of this educational institution and headed it until 1937. Thanks to his efforts, the building of the gymnasium was constructed; he was a wise and caring educator of young people. As a monk, he took care of the affairs of the Marijampolė monastery and contributed his efforts to all important activities in the monastery. Totoraitis was a passionate gardener: the orchard, greenhouses, and kitchen gardens of the monastery were nurtured through his efforts. As a historian who had defended a dissertation, Jonas Totoraitis was offered a professorship at the newly-established University of Lithuania, which was later renamed Vytautas Magnus University. Here he taught modern history, historical methodology, and palaeography. The university students respected and loved Prof. Totoraitis for his gentle manner and highly appreciated him as well-versed in the subjects he taught. Despite his various responsibilities, Jonas Totoraitis did not renounce his vocation as a historian. While living in St Petersburg, he began collecting historical material for the history of the revival of Lithuania. [...]. [From the publication]