Old Norwegian Homily Book
Encyclopedia
The Old Norwegian Homily Book (AM 619 4to) is one of two main collections of Old West Norse
sermon
s. The manuscript was written around 1200, contemporary with the other principal collection of sermons, the Old Icelandic Homily Book
; together they represent some of the earliest Old West Norse prose. The two homily
books have 11 texts in common, all of which are based on earlier exemplars. Two of these texts, the 'Stave-church
Homily' and a St. Michael’s Day sermon, are also found in one of the oldest Icelandic manuscript fragments, AM 237a fol., which was written around 1150.
Linguistic features suggest that the manuscript was written in Western Norway
. The Benedictine
monasteries
of Sancti Albani at Selja and Munkalíf in Bergen, and the Augustinian
house of Jónskirkja, also in Bergen, have been proposed as possible candidates for producing the manuscript. The latest publication on the Norwegian homily book, however, argues that it belongs to a group of Old Norwegian and Latin books which were presumably not intended for a Benedictine community, and that it most likely was written in the town of Bergen itself, either at Jónskirkja or the Cathedral Chapter.
The core of the Old Norwegian Homily Book is a series of homilies ordered according to the church year, but it also contains material which is not homiletic in character, such as a complete translation of Alcuin’s
De virtutibus et vitiis, as well as commentaries on the Lord’s Prayer and the service of the mass. For this reason, it is better considered a homiletic hand-book rather than a homiliary
. Further, despite its name, the ‘homilies’ it contains are closer in character to the definition of sermons.
Its style is simple, and similar to that of the Íslendingasögur, unlike later religious prose which makes use of Latinate syntax and vocabulary.
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
s. The manuscript was written around 1200, contemporary with the other principal collection of sermons, the Old Icelandic Homily Book
Old Icelandic Homily Book
The Old Icelandic Homily Book , also known as the Stockholm Homily Book, is one of two main collections of Old West Norse sermons; the other being the Old Norwegian Homily Book , with which it shares eleven texts...
; together they represent some of the earliest Old West Norse prose. The two homily
Homily
A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture. In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a homily is usually given during Mass at the end of the Liturgy of the Word...
books have 11 texts in common, all of which are based on earlier exemplars. Two of these texts, the 'Stave-church
Stave church
A stave church is a medieval wooden church with a post and beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks. The load-bearing posts have lent their name to the building technique...
Homily' and a St. Michael’s Day sermon, are also found in one of the oldest Icelandic manuscript fragments, AM 237a fol., which was written around 1150.
Linguistic features suggest that the manuscript was written in Western Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Sancti Albani at Selja and Munkalíf in Bergen, and the Augustinian
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
house of Jónskirkja, also in Bergen, have been proposed as possible candidates for producing the manuscript. The latest publication on the Norwegian homily book, however, argues that it belongs to a group of Old Norwegian and Latin books which were presumably not intended for a Benedictine community, and that it most likely was written in the town of Bergen itself, either at Jónskirkja or the Cathedral Chapter.
The core of the Old Norwegian Homily Book is a series of homilies ordered according to the church year, but it also contains material which is not homiletic in character, such as a complete translation of Alcuin’s
Alcuin
Alcuin of York or Ealhwine, nicknamed Albinus or Flaccus was an English scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert at York...
De virtutibus et vitiis, as well as commentaries on the Lord’s Prayer and the service of the mass. For this reason, it is better considered a homiletic hand-book rather than a homiliary
Homiliarium
A homiliarium is a collection of homilies, or familiar explanations of the Gospels.-History:From a very early time the homilies of the Fathers were in high esteem, and were read in connection with the recitation of the Divine Office . That the custom was as old as the sixth century we know since...
. Further, despite its name, the ‘homilies’ it contains are closer in character to the definition of sermons.
Its style is simple, and similar to that of the Íslendingasögur, unlike later religious prose which makes use of Latinate syntax and vocabulary.