The most popular proof used in the 18th century for the existence of God was the proof from design: the orderliness and beauty of nature pointed to the existence of the supernatural Designer. Physicotheologians who used this proof not infrequently made details of their investigations a subject of derision. Maupertuis proposed his proof he considered superior to other proofs to avoid pitfalls of the proof by design, a proof based on his principle of least action. The article discusses the theological relevance of this principle and his views on the attributes of God and on eschatology as related to his proof of the existence of God.

The biblical notion of creation lies at the very heart of Levinas’ anthropology and metaphysics. He realises that the notion is totally ignored by modern philosophy, and he does not endeavour a discussion of the subject within the framework of philosophy. Instead, he frequently engages in a polemic with the concept of creation which prevails in traditional Christian theology. His perception of man as a created being, as well as his metaphysics as a whole, draws on desire rather than thought seeking to comprehend, or ontology;
he demonstrates that modern scepticism, or post-modernism, opens a way to better see man s a created being. He argues that the notion of creation is far more closely related to the
concept of separation that that of participation which pervades traditional theology, while man, as a created freedom, is atheistic by nature. The temporality of human life, on the other hand, is a relation to God. All the above mentioned strands of Levinas’ thought, developed in a controversial way, may prove inspiring for modern theological reflection on creation. This inspiring and critical function of Levinas’ philosophy is clearly visible against the background of Jürgen Moltmann’s theology and the theological project of Marc Harris.

The text entitled Prayer to the emanations was found in situ in the village Kellis in Egypt and subsequently recognized as the Manichaean daily prayer. It is a Greek translation of an Aramaic original, most probably composed by Mani himself. The paper consists of an introduction and commented translation. It focuses on the elements of the Manichaean theology present in the prayer.

Anonymous Life of Saint Avitus, the Bishop Vienne is an interesting example of a medieval hagiographic work. The article takes up the topic of the relationship between the presented work and the epistolary legacy of its main protagonist. Life of Saint Avitus, however, is rather a cursory presentation of the life of the bishop of Vienne, and it is not precise in quoting his literary work. It relies mainly on the life of his brother Bishop Apolinar, focusing on the controversy with King Sigismund and the miracles performed by Apolinar. Admittedly, in Avitus correspondence, the confirmation of many facts mentioned in The Life of Saint Avitus can be found, nevertheless the purpose of its author was clearly marked – to show and justify the sanctity of the Bishop of Vienne. The article is supplemented with the first Polish translation of The Life of Avitus of Vienne (Żywot Awita z Vienne).

The Silesian (Katowice) Diocese, established in 1925, was one of the most populous in Poland. However, it was not the numer of inhabitants but the complexity of the problem (German pastoral care, political involvement of the clergy, care for the upbringing of workers’ families in the Christian spirit) that decided that already five years after its creation, Bishop Arkadiusz Lisiecki asked Pope Pius XI to appoint an auxiliary bishop. Unfortunately, his death in 1930 hindered these plans. In 1933, another Silesian bishop, Stanisław Adamski, made a similar request to the Pope. The Vatican appointed Fr. Teofil Bromboszcz, the first auxiliary bishop. The author analyzing the opinions of card. August Hlond about the candidates answers the question of what determined the nomination and what conditions excluded the other candidates’ chances. 

After World War II , there was a rapid development of industry in Upper Silesia. As a result, new cities were built, which became centers of heavy industry. Mining developed the most. After the fall of communism, there was a transition to a market economy. This resulted in the restructuring of industry and the liquidation of workplaces. This led to an increase in unemployment. This problem was also noted by the Archbishop of Katowice Damian Zimoń, who in 2001 published a document entitled Catholic Church in Silesia in the face of
unemployment. The topic of unemployment was also raised during state pilgrimages to the shrine of Our Lady to Piekary Śląskie. That is why the Archbishop of Katowice can be called the “bishop of the unemployed”.

Wanda Boniszewska one of the most recognizable Polish mystics of the twentieth century. The publication of all her spiritual writings in 2016 opens the way to the analysis of her spirituality. Among its components, the Eucharist has an important place. The sacrament of Holy Communion is her daily practice, but also a real strengthening both in the fight against Satan and in suffering. It mentions visions that appear when she participates in the Holy Mass or adores the Blessed Sacrament and those that are a reference to the Passion of Christ. The love for Christ manifests in her as a desire to unite with the “Prison of Love in the Tabernacle” and pay Him for insults committed by priests and consecrated persons. The text is an analysis of those parts of the journal of Wanda Boniszewska, which have a reference to the Eucharist.

Nursing home is an institution that provides comprehensive care for the elderly, sick, physically or mentally disabled. The chaplain’s ministry is a part of this service. The chaplain
cares for the spiritual life of the residents by performing pastoral service on the premises. This includes celebration of the sacraments, as well as undertaking numerous initiatives to bring residents, the staff and the families staying there closer to God. The ministry of the chaplain is extremely important in the modern world, it is not only a way of holistic care for the residents, but above all, an opportunity to evangelize the world, which the Church undertakes.

The decision to get married changes the life of the engaged couple. For this reason, good preparation for this sacrament plays a very important role. The direct stage of preparation for marriage is associated with participation in premarital classes and a visit to the Family and Pastoral Counseling Center. The analysis of the spatial distribution of the parishes of the Katowice Archdiocese, where preparation for marriage takes place, was possible thanks to an interactive map on the website of the Family Pastoral Care Concern of the Katowice Archdiocese. The map and analysis was made thanks to the Geographic Information Systems (GIS ) tools. This article also examines whether the location of the forms of preparation for marriage is related to the population density and the age structure of population in Katowice Archdiocese. Thanks to this, it was proved that it is possible and beneficial to combine the subject of theological research and family sciences with geographical research tools.