Superstitions in a Sermon of Stanisław of Skarbimierz (ca. 1360-1431)
Superstitions in a Sermon of Stanisław of Skarbimierz (ca. 1360-1431)

Author(s): Ewelina Kaczor
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History, Middle Ages, Theology and Religion, History of Religion
Published by: Trivent Publishing
Keywords: medieval preaching; sermons; superstition; popular devotion; Church reform
Summary/Abstract: Stanisław’s of Skarbimierz’ sermon no. 47 from his collection Sermones sapientiales provides one of the most detailed records of superstitions in a Polish sermon. Moreover, to a large degree, such a record is independent of material contained in earlier sources concerning the same topic. This suggests that the sermon was an instrument for correcting the beliefs and practices of a living congregation into which the preacher had insight and was versed in its folk beliefs and practices. The aim of this chapter is to study the accounts of these superstitions and to examine the preacher’s attitude toward it.

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