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Jakub Wujek (1541 – April 27, 1597) son of Maciej Wujek; a Polish Jesuit, religious writer, Doctor of Theology, Vice-Chancellor of the Vilnius Academy and translator of the Bible into Polish.

He studied at Cistercians School in Wągrowiec and continued humanities and classical science studies in Silesia where he proved himself exceptionally talented, especially in languages. On his parents advice he moved to Cracow from Silesia in 1558 and studied classics, where in 1559 he received a Master’s degree in Philosophy.

He began to teach at the bishop of Cracow’s, Jakub Uchański, school in Cracow. When Uchanski was made Primate he sent Wujek to the Jesuit’s College in Vienna. Here Wujek completed a master’s degree in Philosophy and supplemented his philosophical studies with mathematical lectures and learning Greek.

In 1565 he joined the Jesuit Order in Vienna and after novitiate he began theological studies at Collegium Romanum where he received a doctor’s degree. After two years in Rome he returned to Poland to Pułtusk, where he became a lecturer in Jesuits’ College. He was ordained a priest in 1568 in Pułtusk and from that moment he devoted himself the undertaking of preaching and writing. In 1571-1578 as Chancellor he organized the Jesuit College in Poznań. In 1578-1580 he was Chancellor of the Vilnius Academy. In 1579-1584 he founded the Jesuits province of Koloszwarz in Transylvania.

Wujek published two books: Postylla katoliczna (Postylla catholica, 1573), Postylla mniejsza (Lesser Postilla), "Żywoty"(Lives), "Pasję"(Passion) and others.

In 1584 the authorities of the Society of Jesus commissioned Wujek to translate the Bible from Vulgate - St.Jerome’s Latin translation of the Bible which was sanctioned by the Council of Trent as the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church in 1546. The first official version of Vulgate, known as Sistine Vulgate was published on Pope Sixtus V’s recommendation in 1590 and evoked one of the biggest theological scandals in the history of the Roman Church. In an attempt to end the controversy with the interpretation of the Bible, Pope Sixtus V, deeply convinced of being inspired by the Holy Spirit, amended it. He changed the layout of chapters as well as the numbers of the verses, omitting some phrases and adding others at his own discretion. Immediately after the publication of the Sistine Vulgate and the death of Pope Sixtus V, all copies were bought by the Society of Jesus who then re-edited the Bible (completed in 1592). The changes introduced by pope Sixtus V were regarded as misprints. The re-edited Vulgate, known as the Clementine Vulgate, was officially published along with the bull “Aetenus Ille” by pope Clement VIII in 1592.

Translation of the New Testament first appeared in 1593, later it was corrected and republished with psalms in 1594. The final version was completed in 1595. However, because the translation was still based on Sistine Vulgate, Jesuits reviewed the translation and adapt it to the concord of Vulgate Clementine. It took a few years and the official translation was finally published two years after Jakub Wujek’s death in 1599. Although Jesuits’ corrections were numerous and significant, the translations went down in history as Wujek’s.

Wujek’s translation, Clementine Vulgate, contains numerous factual explanations and direct references to the original text.

In terms of language, Wujek continued to write in his predecessors’ style. His translation is precise and multilateral; its language is easy and clear whilst at the same time serious and dignified. Wujek’s translation replaced the Leopolita Bible and served as the fundamental Polish Catholic translation for over three centuries.

Jakub Wujek was buried in the grounds of Saint Barbara’s Church in Cracow.

References

• Encyklopedia Polski, Kraków, Wydawnictwo Ryszard Kluszczyński, 1996, p. 768.
• Jan Sygański, Ks. Jakób Wujek z Wągrowca w świetle własnej korespondencji 1540-1597, Kraków 1914
• Znaczenie Biblii Wujka w kulturze polskiej