TERCJARZE ŚW. FRANCISZKA Z ASYŻU W DIECEZJI CHEŁMIŃSKIEJ I GDAŃSKIEJ OD POŁOWY XIX WIEKU DO 1992 ROKU
THE TERTIARIES OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI IN THE DIOCESE OF CHEŁM AND GDAŃSK – FROM THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY TO 1992

Summary/Abstract: The present study attempts to show the movement of the Tertiary in two of the dioceses: Chełm and Gdańsk. The chronological range of the work covers the period between the second half of the nineteenth century up to the twentieth century, when in 1992 the Polish church was administratively reorganised. The Third Order of Saint Francis from Assisi, nowadays known as the Franciscan Lay Order, has existed since the eighth century. Its basis has been penitential movements. The influence of Francis of Assisi together with his followers made the penitential groups more secular. In the Third Order there were people of various alliances, clergy, kings, the poor and the rich. Over the centuries, the Church has recognised almost 300 Tertiaries. The Franciscan Tertiary has been active in Pomerania for many centuries. One of the first congregations of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi in Chełm diocese was the community from Wejherowo (1862) and the first community from The Free City of Gdańsk (before the Gdańsk diocese was established) was the congregation at Holy Trinity Parish in Gdańsk Oliwa. The most dynamic time for the development of the Tertiary movement was the interwar period (1918-1939). After World War II the movement weakened, one reason for it being the greater power of the communists relative to that of the Church in Poland.

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