Autor: Silvia Lauková – Petra Kaizerová (Katedra slovanských filológií, Filozofická fakulta Univerzity Konštantína Filozofa v Nitre)

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5593-5776 – https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3128-1071

Jazyk: slovenčina

Bibliografické údaje: Litikon, 2025, roč. 10, č. 1, s. 47 – 53

Bibliografické údaje (ENG): Litikon, 2025, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 47-53

Abstrakt (ENG):

This article focuses on the analysis of Cantus Catholici from 1655, the first printed Slovak Catholic hymnal, compiled by Jesuit Benedikt Szőllősi in Levoča. In 2025, we will commemorate the 370th anniversary of its publication, which gives us an opportunity to appreciate its significance as a key instrument of spiritual renewal and cultural consolidation of Catholic identity in the context of the Counter-Reformation in Upper Hungary in the 17th century. This article examines the historical circumstances of its creation, including the influence of the Council of Trent and the missionary strategy of the Jesuits, as well as the literary and liturgical elements of the songs, which combine Latin hymns with texts in the national language. Attention is paid to Moravian influences, the preface, and selected songs that reflect the Baroque aesthetics of duality, the symbolism of nature, and the collective participation of the faithful. The analysis emphasizes the lasting influence of the songbook on Slovak hymnography and its significance as a testimony to the resilience of Catholicism in a period of religious conflict.

Keywords:

Cantus Catholici, Benedikt Szőllősi, Baroque aesthetics, Slovak hymnography,
370th anniversary

DOI:

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