Lietuvos istorijos institutas

Franciszek Ksawery Michał Bohusz (1746–1820) was a multifaceted, Jesuitshaped, wide-thinking personality. While growing-up and maturing in the Saxon period, Bohusz developed his public and intellectual life, as well as spiritual ministry, in the era of the Enlightenment. On the basis of historiography and primary sources the article analyses the development of the ecclesiastical career of Bohusz. It distinguishes and amply discusses the key stages of the ecclesiastical career of Bohusz: the novitiate, ministry of a parish priest, and membership in the chapter of Vilnius diocese. The article questions historiographic assertion that Bohusz was a prelate of the chapter of Vilnius diocese. The top level of the ecclesiastical career for Bohusz was becoming a coadjutor of cantor of prelate of the chapter of Vilnius diocese. This circumstance did not prevent either his contemporaries or Bohusz himself from actually using this title. Bohusz was not interested in a full-fledged office of prelate of the chapter of Vilnius diocese. The assumption here is that this was determined by Bohusz’s decision to favour secular ministry.