Work and Enterprise in Selected Encyclicals by John Paul II

Abstract

As we read in their introductions, papal encyclicals are documents aimed at not only the clergy, but all the faithful of Catholic Church as well as at people of goodwill. All the more, should the thoughts handed down by St Peter's successors be not only the source of information but most of all the material for in-depth analysis or commitment. It strangely happens that the nation declaring in majority its affiliation to Catholic Church, the nation being so fortunate by giving the world this great witness of God's love to man, shows hardly any interest in his teachings. We prefer to remember the Pope John Paul II as the moral and scientific authority, not knowing exactly what hidden massages are implicit in these notions, as well as worship him on posters and T-shirts. In an international competition concerning John Paul II.s teaching, it could turn out that his countrymen know very little of what he had to tell us.  The author of the article wishes to draw readers´ attention to some key elements of papal teaching, among which  the  focal points are  subjective . personal  role of man  in  the world, transcendental dimension of human being, personalistic perspective of man with his relation to work and  the  status of  the  latter, as well as  its  significance  in man´s development. Tomasz Tadeusz Brzozowski has made these issues the subject of his analysis, which has been detailed and deepened by relating them to John Paul II.s teaching expressed in his social encyclical, also provided with the author , s commentary. If the content of this article influences at least to a small extent a bit deeper reception of papal teachings, it will accomplish its aim filling its author with satisfaction.