Distinguished Professor of Theology and Spirituality at the
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw
Originator of the Polish school of spirituality
Canon, Prelate
Theologian of the Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family in Czestochowa
NOTE: The numbers following the names of institutions and organizations have their original Polish names listed at the end of this text.
Stanislaus (Stan) Wiesław Urbański was born in Poland at Kamyk near Częstochowa, on June 12, 1947. Ordained to the priesthood in 1973, choosing the motto „Serve!”.
In years 1967-73 he studied at the Higher Theological Seminary of Czestochowa1, and in the years 1970 -74 in the Papal Theological Faculty in Cracow 2.
Forcefully interrupting his theological studies for two years he was enlisted in the special military service for "enemies of the communist system". Then in years 1973-75 he studied pastoral theology in the Pastoral Institute of Catholic University in Lublin 3, and in years 1974-79 he studied spiritual and moral theology at that University. In 1975 he obtained master’s degree, in 1976 licentiate of theology, and in 1979 doctorate. His was the first doctorate in the spiritual theology in Poland.
In the academic year 1979/1980 he made a scientific visit to the United States. He got habilitation in 1989 at Catholic Theology Academy in Warsaw 4 based on his dissertation: “The Spiritual Formation Approach of the Main Representatives of the Resurrectionists School”, Warsaw 1988. It became the founding publication of the Polish school of Resurrectionist spirituality.
In the same year he got the title of Primadocent. In 1996 he obtained the general title of Professor based on his scholarly achievements and dissertation: „Polish theology of the mystical life”, Warsaw 1995 (a trailblazing elaboration of studio mystics), and in 1998 he was honored a Distinguished Professor by Minister of National Education.
In years 1980-1984 he lectured in the following colleges:
- Catholic Seminary in Czestochowa 5
- Theological Institute College in Czestochowa at Papal Theological Academy 6 (renamed in 2009 the John Paul II Papal University) in Cracow,
Theological Academy in Warsaw (Akademia Teologiczna w Warszawie).
Christian Spiritual College 7 (which he originated) at that Institute.
During his lecturing at the Theological Institute of The Most Blessed Virgin Mary the Capital of Wisdom in Czestochowa 8 he became the Director of Research and of the Teaching Team of Theology of the Spiritual Life 9
In the years 1980-86 he led the classes of tha Polish Spiritual and Mystical History at the Lublin Catholic University KUL 10, and in the years 1992-1996 he led scientific seminar at Salesian Seminary College at Ląd. 11
In 1996/1997 he had lectures on priestly spirituality for priests from the Łomża Diocese. In the academic year 2007/2008 he had lectures on the mystical theology at the Primate’s Institute of Spiritual Life at the Papal Department of Theology in Warsaw 12.
Also in the years 2000-2014 he gave lectures in the Seminary of Pallotin’s Priests College in
Ołtarzew 13 within theological faculty of UKSW (UKSW Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University). From 2010 to 2018 he lectured spiritual leadership at Postgraduate Study of the Spiritual Leadership at Theological Faculty UKSW 14, (which he co-established; it is the only one existing in Poland). In years of 2016-2019 he lectured mystical theology at the Papal University in Warsaw
In the years 1992 – 2010 as a guest he gave lectures at the Christian Spirituality Studies (which he co-established), at the Catechetical Institute and at Spiritual Seminary College 15 (Instytut Katechetyczny oraz w Wyższym Seminarium Duchownym 16 in Grodno, Belarus.
From 2011 he lectured at the Open University UKSW 17 (Warszawa,Płock, Płońsk, Zielonka), and also in Łuck (Ukraine), in cooperation with the Raoul Follereau Polish Foundation 18,.the Association of the Volhynian Doctors of Polish Descent, 19, T. Czacki Cultural and Educational Center in Zdołbunow (Ukraine), 20 (Centrum Kulturalno-Oświatowe im. T. Czackiego w Zdołbunowie).
He also had lectures and and educational workshops at the Mission Center in Warsaw (Centrum Misyjne w Warszawie) in years 1996--2006, and at the Spiritual Center „Honoratium” 21 in Zakroczym (2006).
Since 2017 he lectured ethics, logic, the contemporary philosophy concepts, the Resurectionists spirituality, at the following colleges:
- Entrepreneurship College 22 ,
- Social-Medical School in Warsaw 23
- Bogdan Janski College in Warsaw 24
- Catholic Theology Academy in Warsaw 25
At the latter college he became the Director and Curator of the newly created Department of Spiritual Life and of the Hagiography Department 26 and of the Christian Mysticism Department (first in Poland).
The creation of these two Departments was met with sharp criticism from of some professors and also from the Dean’s and presidential authorities, because Spiritual Theology was not approved as a separate theology domain.
That strong attack, in the form of ridiculing, slandering, criticism of mystics gradually subsided, but even today there is still a lack of knowledge of spiritual mysticism among the clergy and the faithful.
Spirituals theology, after ages of merithorical-methodological dependence, especially from moral
theology, became a separate scientific discipline, in the fullest sense of the word. It must also be
After centuries of being a part of moral theology, the spiritual theology found its place in the great schools of spirituality created in monasteries and in the mystical movements of the Victorians, on the Rhine River and in Spain and by the great theologists and mysticists like St. Bernard de Clairvaux and St. Bonaventure and by St. John of the Cross.
For this reason this path is only rarely included in the main stream of the moral and dogmatic theology.
In spite of its marginality, it is quickly gaining momentum in the theology research. In particular, the discoveries of the spiritual achievements of the Polish mystics (both men and women), these discoveries done by Dr. Urbanski indicate that the ascetic-mystic form of the spiritual life needs to become the core of the spiritual theology research. The ever-growing number of the institutions of the spiritual theology is demonstrating this need, and it is also reflected by the quickly growing the number of doctorates.
An important component of Professor Urbanski's life at the University was education.
He guided 80 doctorates, (several of whom became Distinguished Professors), 118 MA's, wrote 45 reviews for professorships, 108 Ph.D reviews and 639 M.A. reviews.
Has authored and co-authored 86 books (some translated into English) and 696 articles, 305 reviews, founded, 134 Encyclopedia entries, 172 brochures on spirituality for various congregations, gave 118 interviews (45 radio broadcasts and a part of the movie "St. Faustina in the Glory of Mercy"), wrote 8 recommendations for beatifications, founded four publishing agencies dealing with the mysticism in Poland which has published 160 books including "Education in the Church's Teaching", "Janski - toward the future", "The Theology of Europe" 29. Professor Urbanski organized 223 conferences and delivered 537 invited lectures. He is a consultant and a member of advisory committees for numerous theological publishers in Poland and abroad.
In years 2013-2014 he was leading the project on the influence of ethics on business "A Model of Principles of Working Ethically for Future Managers for Polish and European Colleges" at the Janski College in Warsaw 30. The results became the basis of the new-founded global network Young Managers Ethicality Research (YMER).
Professor Urbanski is the President of the School of Enterprenership,
Professor Urbanski was the Director of the departments of research of:
- The Institute of the Resurectionist Spirituality 32 and of the Spirituality of the Polonia 33
- The Studium of Formation of Catholic Educators "Augustinianum" 34 in Warsaw
- The Studium of European Spirituality in Warsaw 35
- Director-Consultant of the Scientific Council of the Polish Episcopate
He initiated creation of the Theological Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences Polish Society of Spirituality Theologians. He is a member of the Czestochowa Theological Society, of the committee of the award "The Crew of a High-Ethics Company" (based on the project "Numerical Results of the Ethics of the Crews on the competitive productivity, social benefits and the workplace creation under the integration and globalization". The program of establishing ethical standards in Polish and European companies (EU 1000) is being developed by the Janski College.
He is the Vice-President of the International Academy of the Lord's Mercy in Cracov 36
He was a member of the organizational Committee of the Second World Congress ot he God's Mercy
Heis a member of the Czestochowa and Warsaw sections of the Polish Theological Society, and of the Theological Committee of PAN
Prof. Urbański was the first Dean of the Theology Department of that newly-created University, which was created according to the newest government regulations, which met resistance from some elders and even from the office of the President. That conflict was clarified in five Accreditation proceedings and the final Certificate of Quality of Education in Theology was issued on May 24, 2000.
As a part of the specialization of theology of the mass media, two departments and four institutes were created, three information laboratories, the Department of Journalism, the Department of the European Spirituality, the Department of Theology in the Media and the Department of the Biblical Theology.
The history of the 185 years of the Theological Department including the individual achievements of the researchers was assembled.
Postgraduate studies of:
- theology,
- journalism and media,
- catechesis and education
- European spirituality
- Biblical-pastoral
- missionary
- Catholic Action.
Established a for-profit Theological External Studies in the Institute of Theology of Apostolate in Oltrzaew, expanding it by e new Section of the Spirituality of the Ecclesiastical Life.
A close operation with the following Theological Departments was established:
- Dresden, Germany
- Bonn, Germany, - Louvain, Belgium
- Paris, France
- Kaunas, Lithuania (the Vytautas Didysis University)
- Grodno, Belorussia
- Ivanofrankivsk, Ukraine -
- Universities in Poland: Bialystok, Olsztyn, Opole, Szczecin.
The Seminary College Department in Płock has been affiliated by the Department of Theology.
As the Dean he was trying to raise the employees' salaries, but that was met with fierce opposition from the Department's Council.
Since the fall of the communism brought new life to religious education, resulting in a surge in the demand for religious educators; in particular, in the newly created theology departments in Opole, Poznań, Radom, Katowice, Olsztyn, Toruń and Białystok. Our Theology Department immediately joined that drive by educating and nominating more professors of all the ranks. Many of our own researchers participated in the organization of those remote theology departments, so practically all those newly created theology departments are now tightly tied with the Theology Department of the UKSW
The UKSW itself continued adopting themselves to the quickly expanding field of the theological education. A general plan of the teaching was established, and quantitative standards of effectiveness were introduced for the first time. Some programs became required, expanded the specialization in the Theology in the Media, allowing a larger number of student there.
The program of lectures for the Consulting Points was established. The finances of the extramural studies and of the Pastoral-Missionary Study.
Some outstanding researchers were nominated for the University's President Award and a candidate for the title of a Member of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN).
Professor Urbanski's efforts have led to establishing in PAN the Theological Committee; he became the Vice-President of that Committee. The Students Club organized the first Theological Days.
There were 37 senior researchers and 36 junior ones in the Theology Department in the Theology Department in 2001/2002, Those professors grouped themselves into thirteen Sections. 951 full-time students and 3021 extramural ones. 244 graduates were studying for doctorate. The number of senior researchers increased by 11%, of the junior ones by 12% and of the post-graduate students by 225%.
During the (typical) five-year period of 1999-2002 the following achievements were achieved at the Theology Department of UKSW: 10 researchers became professors; 61 became doctors; 725 became M.A's. (plus 1167 extramurally): more than 2000 received an undergraduate degrees.
9 M.A. diplomas were nostrificated.
It became necessary to improve the morality of the eighty priest-students. Every week they had a Mass, a spiritual conference, praying together and the breviary prayers; also adoration of the Holy Sacrament, Rosary prayers and the May and June Prayers. The daily Masses and those at various College's and church's events, during Advent and the Lent as well as funeral Masses were celebrated by those priest-students. They were having meetings with the Department leaders, and performed auxiliary service in Warsaw's churches. They were strongly engaged in the academic ministry.
Since 1995 Professor Urbanski has been strongly involved in editing and publishing in the Scientific Councils of several scientific journals:
- the bimonthly journal of the Janski College "Management and Education"; it promotes the Resurectionist spirituality, especially in its sections "The thouhgts of Bogdan Janski" and "Philosophy and Ethics";
- the monthly "Emaus 2000" renamed to "Emaus", published by the Resurectionist community of our College
- the Ann and Maciej Formanowicz Foundation series "Our Way" (five volumes so far)
and cooperates with some other periodicals:
- a students' paper "Glejt"
- "Quo Vadis Polonia”
- "The Beatified Lite" 37 of Wroclaw
- Epistome (Olecko, since 2010 Warsaw)
- Christianity and Ecological Education 38
- Communio in Christo (in Polish and English)
- Annuals of the Theology of Spirituality 39 “
- Studia Theologica Grodnensia” (Grodno, Belarus),
- Spirituality in Poland 40
- Scientific Letters of the College of Entrepreneurship 41
- Słownik polskich teologów katolickich
- Duchowość klasztorów polskich: przekaz i komunikacja
- Homo meditans
- Homo orans
- Roczniki Teologiczne KUL
- Duchowość w Polsce
- Mistyka polska
- Mistyka chrześcijańsk
- Duchowość Europy
- Center of Spirituality Honoratianum
- Institute of Spirituality Carmelitanum in Poznan
- Studia Nauk Teologicznych PAN
- Człowiek-Wiara-Kultura” (Uniwersytet Humanistyczny Jana Długosza, Częstochowa)
Professor Urbanski is also a member of the editing councils of some other journals and organizations:
- Veritati et Caritati published by the Theological Institute of Theologe
- The Czestochova Theological Studies
- He co-edits the Ann and Maciej Formanowicz Foundation series Our Way (five volumes so far)
He participated in creation of the publishing series Theological Studies of Polish Academy of Sciences.
Professor Urbanski expanded his Department by adding the popular the extramural doctoral study in the spiritual theology, and the post-graduate Study of Spiritual Leadership.
Acting as the Dean he was trying to create several other studies, journalism in the first place. Because of the fierce opposition in the Department, those efforts were abandoned. He succeeded however in creation of some other studies:
- Study of the Christian Spirituality (in Czestochowa, Kalisz, Lodz, Grodno (Belarus) and Ivanofrankivsk (Ukraine).
- Formation Study for Catholic Educators"Augustinianum"(Warsaw section of Civitas Christiana)
- Study of the European Spirituality
- Study of the Polonia's Spirituality
- Study of the Resurectionists' Spirituality at the Bogdan Janski School in Warsaw
- The Knights of the Lord's Mercy - an organization of secular admirerers of the Lord's Mercy =
in Grodno, Warsaw and Yorba Linda, CA.
- "Faustinianum" for Polish-Americans in Yorba Linda. (1966+
Professor Urbanski started his research on the Catholic spirituality several decades ago, in a pioneering way. The spiritual and mysticism theology had been on the list of forbidden books for 350 years, until 1929. Then first Ascetics and Mysticism Departments were created at the Gregorianum University in Rome, but mysticism was not lectured at all for a long time.
The research achievements of Professor Urbanski and of the entire Department of the Theology of Spirituality have in fact become "Polish School of Spirituality” research. That school has discovered the previously unknown thirty-nine Polish female mystics and twelve men.
For his achievements Professor Urbanski was recognized with many awards:
- Ten-times the award of the President of UKSW
- The I. & F. Skowyr award for the book "The Mystic Life of the Blessed Faustyna Kowalska"
- Congratulations letter and Recognition Diploma from the Vice-Consul of Poland for studying the spirituality of Polish-Americans in Los Angeles (twice)
- Recognition Diploma from the St, John Paul II Polish-American Center in Yorba Linda, the Polish-American-Congress and the Piast ZNP Group for many years of his service
- has been admitted to The Knights of Columbus Society.
- The American Biographical Institute Board of International Research nominated Professor Urbanski for the title Man of the Year 1997, USA (17. oct. 1997).
- Certificate of Appreciation :“In Solidarity With Our Priests. The Year for Priests”, for "dedicated and devoted service to our Church".
- A medal and a Letter of Appreciation for active participation in the national celebration of the Year of the Primate of the Millennium Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński
- Award of the journal Moderation and Labor 44
- a medal from the Charitable Committee of the Polish Episcopate
- a statue from the Bogdan Janski College
- a medal from the Polish Military Blood Service
- an award from the Foundation for Polish-Belarusian Friendship in Melbourne, Australia
- a Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko medal
- award "Resurrectio et Vita" of the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ
for the discovery of the Polish School of Spirituality and thirty years research and propagation of the spirituality of the School of Resurrection in the servise of resurrecyion of the society
- State awards by the President of Poland
- Silver Cross of Merit
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Medal of Resurrection of Poland.
In the standard rating of researchers Professor Urbanski, in the areas of teaching, research, publications, scientific conferences and international activity is rated by far the first in the entire University.
He is also listed in the Gold Book of the Polish Humanities (Warszawa 2001; Gliwice 2006 i 2007), in the bibliographical dictionary "Contemporary Polish Researchers" (Warszawa 2002) 45, in
"Who is Who w Polsce” (Schweiz 2004) and in the Gold Book of Humanities” (Gliwice 2013).
The complete list of Professor Urbanski's research until 2015 is presented in the books
- "Szukać Miłość – Boga" (a jubilee book for 35 years of working in the Theologocal College in Czestochowa, by S, Jesionek and W, Galazka, Czestochowa 2015
- "Tylko Służyć" by W. Galazka, (a jubilee book for ks. prof. dr hab. StanisławUrbański
seria: Mistyka polska 145, t. 1 and seria: Mistyka polska 146, t. 2, Wyd. UKSW, Warszawa 2016
Professor Urbanski's publications are also listed in the Internet page stanislawurbanski.pl
THE ORIGINAL NAMES
1 Częstochowskie Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Krakowie
2 Papieski Wydział Teologiczny w Krakowie
3 Katolicki Uniwersytet Teologiczny, Wydział Teologii
4 Akademia Teologii Katolickiej
5 Seminarium Duchowne w Częstochowie
6 Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II. Wyższy Instytut Teologiczny w Częstochowie przy Papieskiej Akademii Teologicznej
7 Studium Duchowości Chrześcijańskiej
8 Wyższy Instytut Teologiczny im. Najświętszej Maryi Panny Stolicy Mądrości
9 Wydział Teologiczny – Sekcja w Częstochowie (Zespół Naukowo-Dydaktyczny Teologii Życia Wewnętrznego)
10 Lublin Catholic University KUL
11 Salezjańskie Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne
12 Papieski Wydział Teologiczny w Warszawie)
13 Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne Księży Pallotynów w Ołtarzewie
14 Podyplomowe Studium Kierownictwa Duchowego na Wydziale Teologicznym UKSW
15 Instytut Katechetyczny;
16 Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne
17 Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego w Warszawie
18 Fundacja Polska Raoula Follereau
19 Stowarzyszenie Lekarzy Polskiego Pochodzenia na Wołyniu
20 Centrum Kulturalno-Oświatowe im. T. Czackiego w Zdołbunowie (Ukraina)
21 Centrum Duchowości „Honoratium”
22 Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości
23 Uczelnia Społeczno-Medycznaj w Warszawie
24 Szkoła Wyższa im. Bogdana Janskiego w Warszawie
25 Akademia Teologii Katolickiej w Warszawie
26 Katedra Hagiografii)
27 Katedra Mistyki Chrześcijańskiej
28 Katedra Ascetyki i Mistyki na Uniwersytecie Gregorianum w Rzymie
29 „Edukacja w nauczaniu Kościoła” „Jański- ku przyszłości” „Duchowość Europy”
30 „Model zasad etycznej pracy dla uczelni w Polsce i Europie do kształcenia przyszłych menedżerów” (2013-2014), Wyższa Szkoła im. Bogdana Jańskiego w Warszawie.
31 Zakład Duchowości Zmartwychwstańczej,
32 Studium Duchowości Zmartwychwstańczej
33 Studium Duchowości Polonijnej
34 Studium Formacyjnego dla Nauczycieli i Wychowawców Katolickich “Augustianum” w Warszawie;
35 dyrektorem Studium Duchowości Europejskiej w Warszawie;
35 Myśl Bogdana Jańskiego
36 Międzynarodowej Akademii Miłosierdzia Bożego w Krakowie
37 Życie Konsekrowane
38 Chrześcijaństwo i Edukacja Ekologiczna” (Warszawa UKSW)
39 Roczniki Teologii Duchowości” (KUL);
40 Duchowość w Polsce” (KUL)
41 Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości, Uczelnia Społeczno-Medyczna w Warszawie,
42 Zeszyty Naukowe
43 Nasza Droga
44 Powściągliwość i Praca
45 Współcześni Uczeni Polscy
46 Złota Księga Nauk Humanistycznych