| Abstract [eng] |
Object of thesis – a social, cultural and partly political movement initiated by a whole range of talented young Catholic intellectuals – Young Catholic Movement (YCM) that operated in 1936 – 1940. The desire to prepare successors of S. Šalkauskis, K. Pakštas and J. Eretas and other Catholic culture workers united in Romuva Society in 1919 was one of the most important factors of YCM genesis. YCM was influenced by world-view and political climate unfavourable to liberal democracy formed in Europe in the 4th decade and provided YCM with national and social radicalism. Idealism opposed to materialism and Catholicism as religions and ideologies synthesis model – open („wide”) Catholicism and the Catholic Action (CA) became the basis of YCM religious programme. Meanwhile, the programme included the nation‘s efforts to seek for modernization of the country and the solidarity of nation. Refusal of traditional Catholicism exclusiveness enabled a positive attitude to cooperation with non-Catholics. This allowed the relations with hostile to CA ideological groups (with Nationalists, Voldemaras adherents, Populists, the Social Democrats, Communists). The paper focuses on cultural movement of Naujoji Romuva (NR), considered being the expression way of young Catholics deep world-view attitudes. During the period of significantly increased risk to independence (1938 - 1940) YCM performance was determined by efforts to educate the Lithuanian national and social solidarity in the preparation of Catholics and structures of co-national organizations influenced by them for resistance against threatening Soviet occupation. |
