Fr. Leon Dehon – a broad-minded man with an open heart Cover Image

Ojciec Leon Dehon – człowiek z otwartym sercem i umysłem
Fr. Leon Dehon – a broad-minded man with an open heart

Author(s): Stanisław Gruca
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Theology and Religion, Pastoral Theology
Published by: Wyższe Seminarium Misyjne Księży Sercanów
Keywords: Dehon;industrial revolution; working class; devotion to the Heart of Jesus, unity; the Church; the training of the clergy;

Summary/Abstract: To reach the roots of one’s monastic order’s spirituality is believed to be a task and a mission of each congregation. One considers such an activity as one of the ways of keeping the founder’s mission up-to-date in the modern world. This article aims at showing Fr. Leon Jan Dehon, the founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as a broad-minded man with an open heart to both God and challenges faced by the Church and France on the turn of the 19th century. Rapid industrial development and new social and political movements led to the change of social system in Europe. Not only was the newly created working class most numerous but also in hopeless plight. One of those who devoted themselves to the ministry of social justice was Fr. Leon Jan Dehon. Since the very beginning he had become fully involved in social work among the poor, work with the elite, rising awareness of the clergy in the social matters as well as acquainting the working classes with the Gospel. His activity based on the Tradition of the Church together with the new priestly methods soon brought him esteem and being called „the progenitor of social works”.

  • Issue Year: 34/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 11-34
  • Page Count: 24
  • Language: Polish