The Secondary Schools in the Bernardines' Lithuanian Province During a 'National Bondage' Period

The Bernardines, as one of the Minor Brothers Order provinces, were founded in 1453 as a result of St. John Kapistran’s activity in Cracow. They focused mainly on pastoral work among low and middle social classes. Their activity was realized by celebrating Holy Masses and services, administering holy sacraments, preaching the word of God and leading the Tertiary Order for lay people, fraternities and religious associations. The historical events, which were described as a ‘national bondage’, made the monks start their educational and social work in numerous Bernardine schools whose total number was close to 45. Most of those schools were elementary, only 10 were the secondary ones. This article presents the secondary schools in the Bernardines’ Lithuanian Province, namely the schools in Traszkuny, Datnów, Telsze, Mścisław and Bienica. The author’s aim was to show the activity of those schools with a special focus on their curricula and educational methods