Marcin Białobrzeski

Marcin Białobrzeski was a 16th-century Polish Bishop, bibliophile, author, theologian and preacher.

Born c.1530 at Białobrzegach^[1][2] (now in Tomaszów Mazowiecki) into the Abdank Noble family, he took vows made in the Cistercian Monastery in Sulejów and was educated at the expense of the monastery in Krakow Academy of literature.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

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  Marcin Białobrzeski

He was a relative of Andrzej Szpota, after whose death in 1559 he was elected Abbot and in 1565 assistant at Krakow, and in 1571 Cannon.

He was active in both Priestly ministry and political activities. He was a representative of the clergy in 1573 at the Sejm in 1574 and, gave when King Henry of Valois was crowned on 13 February 1574 he delivered a sermon at the funeral of Sigismund Augustus. After the escape of Henry Valois, was very loyal to the Habsburgs. In March 1576 he went together with Krzysztof Lanckorońskim to Vienna in the Embassy to the Emperor Maximilian, to tell him about the newly elected King Stefanie. April 7, 1576 greeted Stefan Batory in the monastery of mogilskim. Shortly afterwards he received the bishopric of kamienieckie. Along with Łukasz Podoskim, Canon of Krakow, he participated in 1557 in the Congress, in Northern Poland, and a year later in jędrzejów.

In 1580 he went to Rome, and served as diplomatic mission. He was also a representative of the King at the funeral of his brother, Christopher Báthory and at the Sejm in 1585 he was an opponent of Zborowskich. He died on 19 April 1586 in Krakow, where he was buried.

Literature Works

He was involved in literary activities. Known as a humanist with an unusual gift of eloquence he is thought to have authored of 19 works, among which are the first Catholic Homily in Polish and many books on różnowierstwa. He left a entries in the margins of books. Works include:

• the Catechism or the image of the right faith, Kraków 1567
• Sermon at the funeral of the Holy memory of worthy Sigismund Augustus, Kraków 1574,
• Confessio Orthodoxa de uno Deo, quem christiani credunt catholici, adorant et invocant, ex s. Literis descripta, Krakow 1577,
• Sermon ... about taking the body of Jesus Christ under one person, Krakow 1579
• Postilla orthodoxa, Sacred and ceremonial lecture Sunday Ewanielii feasts throughout the year cz. 1–2, Cracow, 1581
• Book about religion and the mighty deeds of the Turks
• Letter to Andrzej Dudycza, 27 February 1575^[8]
• Letters to the Pope (1583^[9]
• Five receipts confirming the receipt of salt 1570,^[10]
• How to say Merry Christmas in 44 languages

Gallery

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  Marcin Białobrzeski

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  Nagrobek Marcina Białobrzeskiego, opactwo oo. cystersów w Mogile

References

1. Nowa Huta Mniej Znana.
2. Reprezentowanie króla i Kościoła na XVI wiecznych sejmach koronnych.
3. Bibliografia Literatury Polskiej - Nowy Korbut, Vol.2 Piśmiennictwo Staropolskie, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1964, pp. 23–24.
4. W. Budka, Białobrzeski Marcin, Polski Słownik Biograficzny t. 1, Warszawa 1935.
5. Maksymilian Rode, Mała Encyklopedia Teologiczna, t. I, Warszawa 1988, p.224.
6. Jarosław Pązik, Andrzej Wróbel, Białobrzegi 1405-1977, Tomaszów Mazowiecki 2005
7. W. Budka, Białobrzeski Marcin, Polski Słownik Biograficzny t. 1, Warszawa 1935.
8. Materials for the history of Polish literature. 1, Warsaw, 1900, p. 182.
9. Savio De actis Nuntiaturae Poloniae quae partem Archivi Secretarius constituunt Status, Vaticano 1947, theological studies XIII, p105.
10. Wierzbowski materials for the history of Polish literature t. 1, Warsaw, 1900, item 1, p148-150.