Patron Saint of Chess
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2020 8:47 pm
According to Jimmy Wales august organ, the patron saint of chess is allegedly
Saint Teresa of Avila
However, the following letter to British Chess Magazine (Volume LXXIV, August, page 258) from W.G.Daish (Mr.) of Wateringbury, Kent (July 17th, 1954) reads as follows :
"Sir, - "St," the suggestive abbreviation of the name Stefan (your current issue) revives an old query of mine. Who is the patron saint (not the goddess) of chess, if, indeed, she has one?
St. Francis spoke in harsh terms of this too-engrossing game. Jacob de Cessolis, thirteenth-century monk, whilst choosing it as the theme of a powerful, and best-selling moral sermon - Liber Moralis de Ludo Scaccorum - does not appear to have invoked any saints. He used the chess-board to symbolize Babylon, the pawns being Labourer, Blacksmith, Weaver, Merchant, Physician, Innkeeper, Tax-Collector* and Gambler.
It would be interesting to know if there is any evidence of saintly patronage for this most spiritual (or spirituel, if you like!) of all games.
Can you shed light on this matter?
*I'm sure Mike Basman would be pleased to find the g-pawn given the alter-ago of Tax-Collector : oh what irony for HMRC!
Saint Teresa of Avila
However, the following letter to British Chess Magazine (Volume LXXIV, August, page 258) from W.G.Daish (Mr.) of Wateringbury, Kent (July 17th, 1954) reads as follows :
"Sir, - "St," the suggestive abbreviation of the name Stefan (your current issue) revives an old query of mine. Who is the patron saint (not the goddess) of chess, if, indeed, she has one?
St. Francis spoke in harsh terms of this too-engrossing game. Jacob de Cessolis, thirteenth-century monk, whilst choosing it as the theme of a powerful, and best-selling moral sermon - Liber Moralis de Ludo Scaccorum - does not appear to have invoked any saints. He used the chess-board to symbolize Babylon, the pawns being Labourer, Blacksmith, Weaver, Merchant, Physician, Innkeeper, Tax-Collector* and Gambler.
It would be interesting to know if there is any evidence of saintly patronage for this most spiritual (or spirituel, if you like!) of all games.
Can you shed light on this matter?
*I'm sure Mike Basman would be pleased to find the g-pawn given the alter-ago of Tax-Collector : oh what irony for HMRC!