POLSKIE PIEŚNI NABOŻNE W KANCJONAŁACH KOŚCIELNYCH

The term “church hymnal” is applied in the text in only one meaning, denoting a group of books with Cantionale ecclesiasticum in the title used during liturgical ceremonies in the lands of the Polish nation in the 19th and the first half of the 20th Century. The name “hymnal” (Polish “kancjonał”) is an abbreviated Polish version of the Latin title. Of note, Cantionale ecclesiasticum turned out to be a characteristic name, not found in any other European country. The author of the first edition of Cantionale ecclesiasticum, published in Warsaw, in 1822, was Rev. P. Rzymski (1784-1869). The most recent edition (by Rev. G. Mizgalski) is from 1954. The hymnals by Rev. J. Surzyński are considered the best. The repertoire of Cantionale ecclesiasticum consists of ca. 1000 Latin songs and ca. 160 Polish tunes. Among the latter, a few (for instance, Through your holy, in Polish: Przez Twoje święte) have functioned within specific elements of liturgical celebrations since the Middle Ages. This tradition was abandoned after the Second Vatican Council. In contemporary times, the employed hymnals only contain general church hymns. Indeed, the only proposal put forward of a hymnal referring to the ways of thinking typical for the past, and which is based on Graduale romanum (Sundays, celebrations and holidays have their own hymns sung only once a year), was that by Rev. S. Ziemiański (1966). However, the notion has gone unnoticed. After 50 years of liturgical experience, I consider it vital to return to the idea.