The Novelty of Bohuslav Balbín’s Biographies about Saint John of Nepomuk and their Role in Proving His Veneration
The Novelty of Bohuslav Balbín’s Biographies about Saint John of Nepomuk and their Role in Proving His Veneration

Summary/Abstract: I focus on the attributes of three biographies written about Saint John of Nepomuk by Bohuslav Balbín (1621–1688), a Czech Jesuit monk and historian. I attempt to explain how the features of the ecclesiastic discipline of the cult of saints after the council of Trient and the issue of public respect before canonization can be identified in these texts. The biographies of Saint John of Nepomuk were written to be more than simple hagiographies. Due to their complexity and structural features, they became materials suitable for challenging Pope Urban VIII’s Coelestis Hierusalem decree, in which he firmly forbade the veneration of individuals not approved by the Holy See. Balbín wanted to prove that veneration for Saint John of Nepomuk had existed continuously since his death, and the manifestations of this had characterized contemporary communities as well. Also, that this devotion had become ever more intensive, thus was not inconsistent with Pope Urban VIII’s restrictions.

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