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Željko Mardešić's Catholicity

Špiro Marasović

Sažetak

At first, the title of this report 'Željko Mardešić's Catholicity' can be confusing: as if the orthodoxy or the wholeness of the faith by the biggest modern sociologist of religion is being questioned whilst let it be known, he was working for the Church and was also a true practicing believer. However, that would be wrong. With this report, the author reveals the specifics of Catholicity which Željko Mardešić had been embracing, and which has not been embraced amongst those Catholic circles who have not accepted The Second Vatican Council truly either. Željko Mardešić's Catholicity is in fact compared with the understating of Catholicism of the latter ones who are quite present and active in Croatia. In order to point to the specifics of Željko Mardešić's Catholicity, in the first part of his report the author discusses Željko Mardešić's 'Basic coordinates of the personal standpoint' which can be seen in the fact that Ž. Mardešić was both a true ecclesial believer and a convinced democrat. The synthesis of his two basic options is the standpoint of understanding his Catholicity. Respecting this fact, the author approaches Ž. Mardešić's Catholicity from two points: affirmative and negative. Firstly, in his affirmative approach he discusses those values which are basic and important to Ž. Mardešić: a) Christian spirituality, b) the theology of the Second Vatican Council and c) ecumenism. Whilst in his negative approach he talks about those variations of Catholicism which are negative and in opposition to the affirmative approach, which Mardešić rejects and they are: a) ideological Catholicism and b) political Catholicism. In the end, the author concludes that 'Željko Mardešić was a great spirit in a fragile body. The greatness of his spirit was in his uncompromising commitment to the true and holy: he
searched for the truth as a scientist of deep erudition and he searched for holiness as a Christian believer. No lie which was taken as the truth, nor profane and sinful taken as the holy could ever pass by him unnoticed. In Catholicity, especially the one reaffirmed in the Second Vatican Council, he had discovered his spiritual home in which he was able to develop both of those characteristics, and which he had continued to do until his death. In a modest and humble manner, as is becoming of a follower of Jesus Christ.'

Ključne riječi

believer; Catholicity; Catholicism; ideology; Council; ecumenism; democracy

Hrčak ID:

28989

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/28989

Datum izdavanja:

23.8.2008.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 1.444 *