Roman Catechism in Polish

Catholic Church. Catechismus Romanus. Polish. Katechizm.
Cracow: Mikoláiá Szárffenbergá, 1568. (BRB0701)

The Catechismus ex decreto Concilii Tridentini ad parocos was the official Roman Catholic response to the Protestant catechisms which proliferated in the early Reformation period.  In contrast to catechisms composed with questions and answers for various levels of learners, the “Roman Catechism” intended for parish priests is a doctrinal exposition of the Apostles’ Creed, Sacraments, Ten Commandments, and prayers. The text was finalized after the Council of Trent, issued by papal authority, and first published in Latin in 1566. European vernacular language printings were soon disseminated, including this Polish translation printed in Cracow in 1568. On display is the section on Creeds illustrated with a woodcut of the Baptism of Jesus and a banner with the Latin inscription “Hic est filius meus dilectus in quo mihi complacui” from Matthew 3:1 (“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”).