The Catholic Enlightenment

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Bažnyčios istorija; Katalikų bažnyčia; Krikščionių tikėjimai; Krikščionybė; Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); Lietuvos istorija; Religingumas; Christianity; Church history; Lithuania; Lithuanian history; Religiosity; Christian faiths; Catholic Church; Protestant Church.

ENIdeas from the European Enlightenment which reached Poland and Lithuania in the mid-eighteenth century created a special version of Catholic Enlightenment in the Commonwealth. It is possible to give a clear topographical picture of the spread of enlightenment ideas. The Rome-Kraków-Warsaw vector with an offshoot in Vilnius was one of the main channels through which Catholic Enlightenment spread. In the first half of the eighteenth century Rome once more became the second largest Italian city, second only to Naples in size. This was not only a city of the fine arts, music and the home of the great Gian Lorenzo Bernini, but also a centre of scholarship whose growth was greatly influenced by Pope Benedict XIV (1740-58). After concluding concordats with Savoy, Spain, Portugal and Naples Benedict strengthened the position of the Church in those realms and gained considerable material support from them. Benedict raised the University of Rome, La Sapienza, from its deep lethargy. While he was still Professor Prospero Lambertini, Benedict taught in this university for many years. On his initiative the teaching of the natural sciences was improved and in 1748 two new chairs were created for mathematics and chemistry; a chemical laboratory was set up and the theatre of anatomy was renovated. The botanical gardens were recreated too. The Dalmatian Jesuit Josip Roger Boscovič from Ragusa (Dubrovnik) had papal support to carry out astronomical observations and together with his fellow Jesuit Maire he drew up a map of the Papal States. The Papal States lived to the general rhythm of the European Enlightenment. In pastoral activities Benedict XIV laid great stress on the importance of episcopal visitations, which, he thought, were the "basic means of caring for the diocese". In Lithuania this method of pastoral care was employed energetically by Bishop Ignotas Jokūbas Masalskis [Ignacy Jakub Massalski]. [Extract, p. 106]