Prayers and hymns of stasys yla

This paper analyzes prayers and hymns of priest Stasys Yla. These sources are one of the areas where Yla tries to join in the movement of the renewal of the Catholic Church. This study aims to find out what the peculiarity of prayers and hymns is, if these texts relate to the change of the Church and carry out a literary analysis of texts. The concept of prayers and hymns is given by the scientists of 20th century and Church documents. Also, this paper describes the ideas of the renewal of the Church in Lithuania, analyzes how Yla contributed to these ideas and what impact he has made on their development. The research consists of three chapters which analyze the newness of the prayer-book "Tikiu Dievą", prayers and hymns as witnesses of painful public experiences and the peculiarities of prayers and hymns poetic. First of all, in the prayer-book "Tikiu Dievą" prayers and hymns give the opportunity to reveal every individual himself, also to find out a personal relationship with God and consciously understand the teaching of the Church. The author of the book gives the explanations that help to understand the faith, ascertain religious holidays and deepen the essence of prayer. The second chapter deals with prayers and hymns written for difficult social situations such as reality of a concentration camp and life of emigrants. Prayers connect people to one community as Yla wrote them especially for prisoners which were facing Concentration Camp reality. In these texts the tragic situation is expressed but hope is also evident. The motive of the nation is noticed in the prayers and hymns for Lithuanian emigrants at the United States of America. Yla offers a prayer for Lithuania, reminds important sacred people as Saint Casimir, Saint Jorge and others. Also, Yla invites people to use folk hymns for Holly Mass. The peculiarities of prayers' and hymns' poetic are analyzed in the last chapter. The main feature is the abundance of tropics. By using metaphors and comparisons Yla refers to God as he wants to speak up humanity's experiences and notice God's action for people. Yla also uses a neat silabotonical versification in his own hymns. All in all, this study shows that original prayers and hymns of Stasys Yla coincide with the ideas of the renewal of the Church. These texts are distinguished by their adaptation to the person of the 20th century. Prayers and hymns are personal, adapted to the difficult situations of people. Also, it helps to grow the faith for every person