Friday Faves: Sandra Hindman presents her favourite manuscript from Textmanuscripts.com
July 9, 2020This small-format miscellany contains texts to nourish the religious life, both practically and spiritually. The Sermons to the Brothers in the Desert (attributed to Augustine, but composed many centuries after his death), and the Soliloquy by St. Bonaventure were medieval bestsellers. The Italian text on the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary in contrast appears to be uncommon. This is an excellent manuscript for teaching, both for its interest as physical artifact (for its parchment, signatures, catchwords, and maniculae), and as a macaronic collection illustrating the religious sensibilities of its era.