Letter from the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin on Christmas

Letter of Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for the Nativity of the Lord

The advent of God on earth is a call for dialogue and reconciliation, stressed Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who addressed a letter to the faithful and friends of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin for this year's Christmas. During this time of Christmas, the most family-oriented holiday, which should be permeated with the spirit of peace and reconciliation, I wish that the culture of dialogue becomes more and more a reality, wrote the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin.

For Christians, the Nativity of Christ is not merely a historical event, but above all a great mystery of faith. Its essence is the coming of God Himself to humanity and the encounter of the loving Creator with His creation - these are the first words of the letter of Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who pointed out that the encounter that took place in Bethlehem can be described as dialogue between heaven and earth. Father Rector observed moreover: The Son of God, entering humanity, began a salvific dialogue, knocking at the gates of our hearts and patiently asking to be received and listened to. Our life is an attempt to continually respond to this God's call. It is only when we listen to His voice, when we honestly present our reasons to Him, confronting our own views with His will, that we can grow internally and build a vital relationship with Christ. Only when we learn to argue and reconcile with God will we be able to speak honestly, sincerely, and humbly with another person.

However, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin pointed out that observation of various spheres of public life prompts the reflection that dialogue with God is gradually losing its importance and that people forego dialogue in favour of quarrelling: Interlocutors are unable and unwilling to listen to each other, unable to calmly present their arguments and seek consensus, and are not interested in seeking the truth but in pursuing their own interests. If this dangerous process is not stopped and remedied by means of Christian principles, it can lead to the dissolution of social bonds and of the sense of community, symbolised in the Bible by the confusion of languages and the unsuccessful construction of the Tower of Babel.

In several sections of the letter entitled "Christ teaches humanity to dialogue", "Conditions for fruitful interpersonal dialogue", "Catholic University as a school of dialogue", Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin pointed to the importance of a closer look at the role of dialogue in the relationship not only with God, but also with people: This ongoing dialogue between God and us proceeds not only at the level of words recorded in the books of Holy Scripture, but goes back to the most difficult deeds performed by Jesus. This is what the incarnation of God's Word consists in; it did not remain at the level of theory, but materialised in the person of Christ, showing extraordinary solidarity with creation, for which the Creator felt responsible.

Furthermore, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski recalled that dialogue requires an active participation of those who meet: In order for dialogue with others on personal or social levels to be fruitful, certain conditions must be fulfilled; these conditions can be found in Christ's attitude towards His interlocutors.

First, one should approach the other person with respect and have the goodwill to seek the truth. Second, both parties should listen calmly to each other's points of view, seeking first and foremost commonalities rather than differences. Third, when criticising or rejecting the views of the interlocutor, one should not hurt the person and violate his or her dignity. Fourth, making a remark, criticising, or proposing a difficult solution must not be based on prejudice or a hostile attitude on the part of the person offering criticism. On the contrary, such remarks must not be perceived by the admonished person as a personal attack but as a proposal to rethink his conduct.

When addressing His interlocutors, Christ always looked into their faces with love, which is the prerequisite for fruitful dialogue. Only by respecting the interlocutor is it possible to listen patiently, to put forward one's views without force or offence, to come to an understanding, to defend the truth and, at the same time, to learn certain things even from someone with whom we fundamentally disagree.

In the context of a Catholic university such as the one in Lublin, dialogue implies the creation of an atmosphere for a sincere exchange of ideas, getting to know each other and striving for truth, as well as the ability to listen to the Other, proposing rational hypotheses and solutions, free of negative emotional background, emphasised Father Rector. He pointed out as follows: Honest dialogue, supported by arguments developed through many years of academic research, has been a symbol of the activities of universities since their inception. A Catholic university has a unique role in this regard, since the person of Christ, the Son of God, is in the background of everything that is undertaken within its walls.

There is no better model for conducting meetings and engaging in dialogue than Jesus Christ Himself, noted Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. He moreover recalled the words of Pope Francis, who teaches that in the Christian understanding, dialogue begins with listening and creates communion. It is God who is the first listener; He listens to the human heart in order to open it to receive the fullness of love and the joy of life. During this time of Christmas, the most family-oriented holiday, which should be permeated with the spirit of peace and reconciliation, I wish that the culture of dialogue becomes more and more a reality, concluded Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski in his Christmas letter.

The full text of the letter click here. 

PEŁNA TREŚĆ LISTU REKTORA KUL NA BOŻE NARODZENIE 2023 r - in Polish.