Games, Gamblers, and Gambling in Late-Medieval Polish Homiletics Based on the Collection Sermones sapientiales Authored by Stanisław of Skarbimierz (c. 1360-1431)
Games, Gamblers, and Gambling in Late-Medieval Polish Homiletics Based on the Collection Sermones sapientiales Authored by Stanisław of Skarbimierz (c. 1360-1431)

Summary/Abstract: This article focuses on the collection of sermons known as Sermones sapientiales, authored by the Polish late-medieval preacher, Stanisław of Skarbimierz (c. 1360-1431), in which content relating to games can be identified. The author of this essay attempts to establish the role and functions which the motifs of medieval games of chance, namely those with the use of dice, played in sermons of one of the most renowned and influential late-medieval Polish priests. The analysis has been conducted from a historical perspective and in the European context. The author explains why the sermonist in question adopted in his homilies a highly critical view of games of chance and of gambling in general. It is argued in this paper that words of criticism towards such games were uttered mainly because of the element of chance included in them, which was in contradiction of the Christian conception of time and prediction. In addition, some social and economic aspects of gambling - discussed in this paper - have also been listed as factors contributing to the ill-fame of this practice.

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