Sacral profanations in the Krakow agglomeration on the example of Stefan Ranatowicz’s chronicle

Abstract

Although the problem of sacral profanation was present in the reality of Polish society and clergy in the seventeenth century, however, it was not a subject eagerly discussed by chroniclers and historiographers in general. Stefan Ranatowicz CRL (1617–1694), author of the chronicle of the monastery of Canons Regular of the Lateran Congregation in Krakow at the Corpus Christi Church in Kazimierz, he raised this issue many times in the pages of his book, but he did it not to cause a sensation or to attract the reader with an interesting subject, but only to show future generations what not to do. He claimed that the described deeds of the ancestors are to be a model for posterity, but also a warning to them, therefore, he did not shy away from reporting not very commendable behavior. It fit perfectly into the didactic intention of his historiography.