Homiliarium
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
A homiliarium or homiliary is a collection of homilies, or familiar explanations of the Gospels.
History
Late Antiquity
From a very early time the homilies of the Fathers were in high esteem, and were read in connection with the recitation of the
Medieval Europe
As new feasts were added to the Office, the demand for homilies became greater and by the eighth century, the century of liturgical codification, collections of homilies began to appear.[2] Such a collection was called a homiliarium, or homiliarius (i.e. liber) doctorum. In the early Middle Ages numerous collections of homilies were made for purposes of preaching.
Many homiliaria have survived, and there are medieval references to many others. Mabillon (De Liturgia Gallicana) mentions a very old Gallican homiliarium. A manuscript of the eighth century refers to a homiliarium by Agimundus, a Roman priest. The
Homiliarium of Charlemagne
Perhaps the most famous homiliarium is that of
The purpose of this work is disputed. Johann Lorenz von Mosheim[4] and August Neander,[5] followed by various encyclopedias and many Protestant writers, describe it as compiled in order that the clergy might at least recite to the people the Gospels and Epistles on Sundays and holidays. The Catholic Encyclopedia disagrees, saying that the royal decree clarifies that this particular collection was not made for pulpit use but for the recitation of the Breviary, and that copies were made only for such churches as were wont to recite the Office in choir.
Manuscript copies of this homiliarium are found at
Anglican homiliaria
During the
The
The Second book of Homilies contained twenty-one sermons and was written mainly by Bishop John Jewel, and were fully published by 1571. These were more practical in their application and focused more on living the Christian life.
The reading of the
Translations and collections
Translations of homilies were frequently ordered by the Catholic Church, The first German translation of this kind was due to Ottfried of Weißenburg.
Collections of the homilies of the Greek and Latin Church Fathers will be found in Migne's "Patrology". An account of the editions of their works, homilies included, is in Otto Bardenhewer's Patrology.[8] The surviving Irish homilies are found principally in "The Speckled Book" (Leabhar Breac), which is written partly in Latin and partly in Irish.[9] It is largely taken up with homilies and passions, lives of the saints etc. The "Book of Ballymote" contains, amongst miscellaneous subjects, Biblical and hagiological matter; and the "Book of Lismore" contains lives of the saints under the form of homilies.[10]
The binding and illumination of gospels and homiliaria were both elaborate and artistic. They were frequently deposited in a highly wrought casket (Arca Testamenti), which in Ireland was called cumdach (shrine). Emperor
See also
References
- ^ Pierre Batiffol, History of the Roman Breviary, 107.
- ^ Pierre Batiffol, History of the Roman Breviary, p. 108.
- Trithemius in John Lingard, Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church, volume 2, 313, note.
- ^ Eccl. Hist., volume 2, p. 471, London, 1845
- ^ General History of the Christian Religion and Church, volume 5, p. 174
- ^ v. g. Second Council of Reims, 813; Third Council of Tours, 813--cf. Louis Thomassin, lxxxv, 510.
- ^ John Lingard, Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church, volume 2, p. 313
- ^ tr. Thomas J. Shahan, St. Louis, 1908.
- ^ See extract "Passions and Homilies", ed. Atkinson, Dublin, 1887.
- ^ See Hull, "Text Book of Irish Literature", appendix.
- ^ Kraus, "Geschichte der Christlichen Kunst", volume 1, p. 528
Sources
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Homiliarium". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Homiliarium". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.