Bl. Ladislaus of Gielniów: An Observant Franciscan Shaper of Religious and Literary Culture In Poland (with select translations of his poetry)

Abstract

Bl. Ladislaus of Gielniów (Władysław z Gielniowa, c.1440-1505) is commonly regarded as the first major literary figure in Poland to write in Polish, as well as Latin. He is also the most important writer among the friars of the early Franciscan observant reform movement in Poland, which grew vigorously there after the visit of St. Giovanni of Capestrano in 1453. There, they took on the name of “Bernardines” to distinguish them from the Conventual Franciscans, after the cult of St. Bernardino of Siena, which Capestrano promoted so strongly on all his travels.1 The Bernardine contribution to the development of the Polish literary language was significant, and the Bernardine contribution to the development of popular Polish religious culture was arguably even more fundamental.2 Ladislaus of Gielniów, twice vicar of the Polish province, and an important producer of easily accessible Polish religious song texts, may be said to exemplify both these Bernardine accomplishments in Poland.3 Despite the fact Polish language scholarship on him and his works has seen a modest revival in recent decades, not much has been published on him in English.4 This article will thus endeavor to give a general