Franciscan Authors
Franciscan Authors

Ladislaus de Gielniow (Ladislaus de Gielnovio/Wladyslaw of Gielniowca, ca. 1440-1505), Beatus

Ladislaus de Gielniow (Ladislaus de Gielnovio/Wladyslaw of Gielniowca, ca. 1440-1505), Beatus OMObs. Polish friar from Gielniow (Poland, Gniezno diocese). Studied theology (?) at the university of Cracow and entered the Polish Observants (1462/4). Was guardian of the Observant Cracow convent by 1487, at which date he was elected provincial vicar, a post he held until September 1490 (also attended the general chapter of Urbino in that year). Was elected for another term on 24 June 1496 and attended the general chapter of Milan (1498) as provincial vicar of the Polish Observant vicariate. Was famous for his barefooted travels throughout the large Polish vicariate (between 1487-1490 and again after 1496) to visit the various convents. Made a series of new constitutions for the Polish Observant province, which were approved on the provincial chapter of Cracow (12 August 1488), and established a several new convents (such as Skepe (Poland,) and Polock (Hungary, 1498). Cf. AFH 63 (1970), 80-82). At the end of his life, Ladislaus was elected guardian of the Warschaw convent in September 1504. Died there on 4 May, 1505, supposedly after a bout of levitation and a few weeks of illness. Was highly regarded for his saintly lifestyle and received a cult after his death. This cult received papal approbation by Benedict XIV, when he was beatified on 11 February 1750. The same pope named him the patron of Poland and Lithuania on 19 August, 1753. Apparently, the dossier for his official canonisation is still in preparation. Aside from his constitutions, Ladislaus left a substantial number of sermons for sun- and feast days, many of which addressed the passion of Christ and its moral and eschatological implications. In addition, he composed a series of religious songs, to be sung/recited during and after hearing the sermon. These songs, as well as the sermons indicate that Ladislaus was well-acquainted with ars-memoriae techniques, which is not surprising, as he was a pupil of the Polish friar Jan Szklarek, known for his expertise in that area. Several of the songs of Ladislaus (notably Judasz Jesusa sprzedal (Judas has sold Christ) and some songs on the Virgin Mary) became very popular (also helping to bolster Polish antisemitism). Ladislaus also devised a lengthy devotional exercise (taking up ca. one hour) for after the Vespers, consisting of eight Pater Noster and 72 Ave Maria recitations, interspersed with meditations on the joys and sorrows of the Virgin. According to some bibliographers, Ladislaus is also the author of a penitential manual ( Taxatae Poenitentiae Metricae ) that concentrates on the appropriate penance for severe vices.

Works

  • Constitutions for the Polish Observant province (1488).

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  • Sermones de Tempore ac de Sanctis : See esp. the study of Kantak.

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  • Rythmi & Cantilenae . Religious Songs: See esp. the study of Kantak, the 2006 study of Jan Godyn, the 2010 study of Rafal Wójcik, and the 2019 study of Paul J. Radzilowski.

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  • Opuscula devotionem excitantia Devotional exercises in Latin and Polish: See esp. the study of Kantak.

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  • Norma recitanda corona Deiparae Virginis [?]

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  • Taxatae Poenitentiae Metricae : MS St. Peterburg.

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  • For more information, see also https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw_z_Gielniowa

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Literature