Europejskie relacje podróżnicze franciszkanów polskich XVIII w. – Poszukiwanie sacrum, odnajdywanie profanum
European travel accounts of Polish Franciscans of the 18th century – the quest for sacrum and discovery of profanum

Summary/Abstract: The research covered several travel accounts of the Polish Franciscans who travelled around Europe in the 18th century. Accounts which could be found in monastic manuscripts were most commonly used. They were usually journeys undertaken by the Order’s Chapter and within these articles you can see the elements of sacrum and profanum are clearly pointed out in those accounts. The described voyages were treated in one respect as pilgrimages filled with deep religious experiences and on the other hand they were mainly cognitive journeys. The Friars, who enriched their spirituality, also came across numerous sanctuaries and the relics kept within them and took part in important religious celebrations. Simultaneously, they got to know many historical places and during their numerous, often dangerous journeys. They often had to find a way out of difficult life situations, therefore expanding their horizons and developing their understanding of the secular world. The encounters they had with secular people who they met along the way were also significant. Overall we find much ambivalence in these accounts.

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