Eight sermons before the Sejm

Skarga likely composed the work in the aftermath of an unruly parliament session (Sejm) of February–March 1597. After a number of quarrels, the Sejm failed to pass any legislation, even those related to national security; some suspected that foreign powers bribed some deputies to ensure this outcome. Skarga published the Sermons later that year as a supplement to the second edition of his Kazania na niedziele i święta całego roku (Sermons for Sundays and Holidays for the Entire Year). == Content ==

In the Sermons, Skarga discusses what he sees as the problems of the ailing Commonwealth: lack of love for the Fatherland, internal quarrels, tolerance of "heretics", the relative powerlessness of the king, problematic laws (a critique of the Golden Freedoms) and immorality. Another noteworthy aspect of the book is its focus on the desperate situation of the serfs (the peasants). == History and significance ==

'', by Jan Matejko, 1862, oil on canvas, 224 × 397 cm., Royal Castle, Warsaw. Piotr Skarga (standing at right) preaches. King Sigismund III Vasa is seated in the first row, left of center. Polish historian Janusz Tazbir, author of Skarga's biography, notes that there is an incorrect myth that the Sermons were delivered as a real sermon to the king and deputies. The same year Berga published a monograph about Skarga, Un prédicateur de la cour de Pologne sous Sigismond III, Pierre Skarga, 1536-1612: étude sur la Pologne du XVIe siècle et le protestantisme polonaise. == References ==