Pal. Jurgis Matulevičius (Matulaitis) Sankt Peterburge

Jurgis Matulaitis studijavo Petrapilio (Peterburgo) dvasinėje akademijoje 1895- 1899 m. Ją baigęs gavo teologijos magistro laipsnį. Šveicarijos Fribūro dominikonų universitete 1902 m. gavo teologijos daktaro laipsnį. 1903-1907 m. profesoriavo Kielcų kunigų seminarijoje. 1907-1911 m. Peterburgo dvasinėje akademijoje dėstė teologiją ir naują discipliną - socialinį Bažnyčios mokslą, rengė būsimus to mokslo skleidėjus. [...] 1909 m. Peterburge susikūrė Romos katalikų draugija Oświata ("Apšvieta"). Kun. Matulaitis buvo išrinktas pirmuoju jos pirmininku. Skaitydavo socialinio pobūdžio paskaitas. Su juo bendradarbiavo kun. Pranciškus Būčys ir kun. Fabijonas Abrantovičius. Nuo 1908 m. Peterburge veikė "Šv. Vincento Pauliečio draugija". Jai išmintingais patarimais padėjo kun. Matulevičius, sociologas, remiantis visokią socialinę veiklą. Kun. Matulevičius stengėsi priartinti stačiatikius prie Katalikų Bažnyčios. Pirmas tų pastangų liudijimas - jo daktarinės disertacijos tema Doctrina Rusorum de statu iustitiae originalis. Stačiatikių ir katalikų suartėjimo mintis turėjo jam būti svarbi: tą tezę jis plėtojo netrukus po kunigo šventimų. Vėliau jo paskatintas kun. prof. Būčys vadovavo susitikimams su pasauliečiais, vadinamiesiems "Apologetiniams ketvirtadieniams", kuriuose aiškino katalikų tikėjimo mokslą. Kun. Matulevičius pats juose nedalyvavo, nes nuo 1908 m. buvo atsidėjęs Marijonų ordino reformai ir atnaujinimui. Tačiau pas jį būdavo siunčiami "kandidatai" į unitus, kad jiems išaiškintų unijos problemą. Taip pat Sankt Peterburge pal. Jurgis Apaštalų Sosto pavedimu vykdė Marijonų ordino reformą ir atnaujinimą, parašė naujus Įstatus, pritaikytus to laiko poreikiams; tie Įstatai rėmėsi t. Papczyńskio duota marijonams Konstitucija.Jurgis Matulaitis studied at the Petrograd (St. Petersburg) Spiritual Academy in 1895–1899. Upon graduation he received a master’s degree in theology for his dissertation "De iure belli et de pace aeterna" (About the right of war and about eternal peace). Bishop Karol Niedziałkowski ordained him as a priest on 20 November 1898. In 1902 he received a doctor’s degree in theology from the Dominican Freiburg University in Switzerland for the dissertation "Doctrina Russorum de statu iustitiae originalis" (The Doctrine of the Russians about the Original Status of Justice). In 1903–1907 he was a professor at the seminary of Kielce, recuperated and worked in the social area in Warsaw. In 1907–1911 he gave courses in theology and a new discipline – the Church’s social science, prepared the future propagators of this science. He was acquired extraordinary authority and favor with the students which no one else had acquired for a long time. He was the spiritual counselor of many seminarians and recently ordained priests, conducted spiritual conferences and retreats, fostering their minds and hearts. He also served in this capacity in Petrograd and for many convents of secret sisters. In the cathedral he gave sermons to the Polish speaking believers. In 1909 in St. Petersburg the Roman Catholic society "Oświata" (Enlightenment") was formed. Rev. Matulaitis was elected its first chairman. He presented lectures of a social nature. The priests Pranciškus Būčys and Fabian Abrantovich* cooperated with him. "The St. Vincent DePaul Society" operated in Petersburg from 1908. As the Jesuit priest Urban later wrote, Matulevičius, as a sociologist relying on various kinds of social activities, aided it with intelligent suggestions. Matulevičius tried to bring the Orthodox closer to the Catholic Church. The first testimony of these efforts was his doctoral dissertation "Doctrina Rusorum de statu iustitiae originalis". The idea of closer ties between the Orthodox and Catholics had to be important for him; he expanded this thesis shortly after his consecration as a priest. Later at his urging, Rev. Prof. Būčys headed meetings with the laity, entitled the "Apologetic Thursdays" in which he explained the teachings of the Catholic faith. Matulevičius did not participate in them directly because after 1908 he was more concerned with the reform and renewal of the Marian Order. Nevertheless, "candidates" of the Uniats were sent to him so that he could explain to them the problem of the union. In Saint Petersburg fulfilling a directive of the Holy See, Matulevičius also carried out the reform and renewal of the Marian Order, wrote new statutes, adapted to the needs of the time. These statutes was based on the Constitution given to the Marian Fathers by Father Papczyński