Naučení o kazatelství

Zpráva a naučení o kazatelství sepsaná roku 1651 od Jana Amosa Komenského, kterýžto rukopis pro jeho řídkost a vzácnost přepsal Josef Gerža, duchovní pastýř církve evanjelitské vyznání helvétského prosetínské na panství kunštátském v Margrabství moravském leta Páně 1807

A report on the teaching of preaching, written in the year 1651 by Jan Amos Komenský, whose manuscript has for its uncommonness and rarity been copied by Josef Gerža, spiritual shepherd of the evangelist church of the Helvetic confession at Prosetín on the Kunštát estates in the Margravate of Moravia, in the year of Our Lord 1807

Origin of the work:
  1620 – 1621 Fulnek

Editions:
  1823 Prague, published by J. L. Ziegler (under the title Jana Amosa Komenského Umění kazatelské)

1893 Prague, Jana Amosa Komenského Sebraná díla kazatelská I

1974 Prague, Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. VII (only the third part)

1983 Prague, J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 4

Contents:

This treatise, which sets out teachings on the theory and practice of preaching, was intended as a handbook for preachers, and in particular for those who had a poor grasp of Latin.

The author divided his instruction into four parts:

Part 1 considers the need for the general and linguistic erudition of the preacher, and the preparation of sermons.

Part 2 teaches the arrangement of sermons and the means by which they can be made clear and understandable.

Part 3 is used by Comenius to consider the beauty of preaching and the artistic aspects of style and elocution.

Part 4 speaks of the power and penetration of preaching, that it might act aesthetically and ethically to deepen religious feeling.

Doubts began to arise as to Comenius’ authorship in the second half of the 19^th century, but he also found his defenders. The opinions of the latter are supported by the fact that the teachings contain traces of the influence of Alsted and Melanchthon, including the systematic nature of rhetorical theory and practice, as well as of the preacher’s expression and art.

For further study, see also:

J. A. Comenii Opera omnia, vol. 4. Prague 1983, pp107-111

J. V. Novák & J. Hendrich, J. A. Komenský, jeho život a spisy.Prague 1932, pp466-467

Vybrané spisy J. A. Komenského, vol. VII.Prague 1974, pp12-14 & 795

Dějiny české literatury I. Prague 1959, p415

S. Souček, Komenský jako theoretik kazatelského umění. Prague 1938

Jan Kumpera, J. A. Komenský, poutník na rozhraní věků. Prague & Ostrava 1992, p314