Kunigas Juozas Konstantinas Matulaitis: XX a. knygnešio gyvenimas

LTXX a., ypač antrojoje pusėje, sovietinės okupacijos metais, randame daugybę iškilių asmenybių, pasauliečių ir kunigų, aktyviai ir drąsiai dirbusių Bažnyčios ir tautos labui. Ne vienas iš jų ragavo kalėjimo duonos ar ilgus metus vargo tremtyje. Pasipriešinimas sovietiniam okupaciniam režimui vyko ugdant žmonių religinį sąmoningumą, neatsiejamą nuo tautinio tapatumo supratimo. Sovietmetyje valdžia visokiomis priemonėmis kovojo su Bažnyčia, bendrai su religija. Drąsūs kunigai, vienuolės ir pasauliečiai suprato, kad pasyvumas čia nebus jų sąjungininkas. Taip atsirado kunigų, nebijančių per pamokslus sakyti tiesą, įvardijant Bažnyčiai daromas skriaudas, raginančių tikinčiuosius išlikti tvirtiems savo įsitikinimuose ir nebijoti to rodyti savo elgesiu. Seselės vienuolės organizavo jaunimą, ruošė vaikus sakramentų priėmimui. Sovietų valdžia, žinodama, koks svarbus žmonių religinis ugdymas, sunaikino ir katalikišką spaudą. Senieji leidiniai išliko tik atskirų asmenų, ypač kunigų, bibliotekėlėse. Nauji leidiniai – knygos, žurnalai, laikraščiai – nebuvo spausdinami. Per visą pokarinės okupacijos laikotarpį buvo leista atspausdinti tik ribotą maldaknygių skaičių. [Iš straipsnio, p. 142]

ENIn Lithuania, the Soviet government fought against religion and the Catholic press. A very limited number of prayer books was allowed to be printed throughout the post-war occupation. Religious books were not printed at all. Priests translated them from other languages and rewrote them on a typewriter and later bound them. In that way, five hundred books were translated and produced in Lithuania during the Soviet era. Under these conditions, new book carriers were needed. One of them was the priest of Vilkaviškis diocese Juozas Konstantinas Matulaitis. He was born in 1912 in the village of Netičkampis, Liudvinavas parish. After graduating from primary school, Matulaitis went to study at Rygiškių Jonas Gymnasium. Later he studied at the Vilkaviškis priest seminary. Here, clergyman Matulaitis learned German well and was able to read German books and prepare for serious work of a translator. On June 29, 1935, Bishop Antanas Karosas ordained him a priest in Marijampolė. He was appointed vicar of Slavikai parish, later Šakiai, and Žemoji Panemunė parishes. In 1942, Matulaitis was appointed Vicar of Lazdijai, and in 1947 he was transferred to Liudvinavas. He spent a lot of time here at the typewriter. He translated and bound religious books. After becoming the pastor of Šunskai, priest Juozas Matulaitis continued the work of a translator and distributed his translated books.At the honourable age priest Matulaitis was appointed altarist of Šunskai parish. After Lithuania regained its independence, he continued to translate books. In total, about 100 religious books were translated by him. Hardworking, pious, humble priest Juozas Konstantinas Matulaitis must be considered one of the most outstanding people of the nation today. He was a worker in the Church, an educator of Catholic consciousness, and an example of a holy priestly life. The personality of priest Juozas Matulaitis, a book translator and distributor, is undeservedly forgotten in Lithuania. His translated books are in the personal library of many priests, and several dozen books have been published and distributed throughout Lithuania. [From the publication]