Barokowy kaznodzieja czyta rzymskich pisarzy (na przykładzie wielkopiątkowego kazania Mikołaja Szomowskiego Raj niebieski na ziemi, potopem złości i okrucieństwa żydowskiego zniesiony […])

Abstract

The article refers to the Good Friday sermon (Raj niebieski na ziemi, potopem złości i okrucieństwa żydowskiego zniesiony […], 1655) by baroque preacher, Mikołaj Szomowski. It is the only known sermon by this author. The paper discusses how the preacher read and used works of ancient Roman writers (Valerius Maximus, Plutarchus, Pliny the Elder, Seneca, Vergil, Martial, Ovid). The author of this article investigates the purpose of the citations, their interpretation and adaptation for the Christian context. These excerptions show Szomowski’s erudition and — indirectly — the character of baroque education and preaching, which were based on ancient rhetoric, poetics and literature. The problem with Szomowski’s interpretation of ancient authors lies, however, in the fact that quotations from Roman literature are used for a biblical exegesis and are just as important as the Bible. Perhaps it was the reason why Szomowski published only the one sermon.