“Predicationes Palatinae”: The sermons in Vat. Pal. lat. 220 as an insular resource for the Christianization of early medieval Germany

467 Pages·2011·8.82 MB·English

by  Tomas O’Sullivan

PREDICATIONES PALATINAE: THE SERMONS IN VAT. PAL. LAT. 220 AS
AN INSULAR RESOURCE FOR THE CHRISTIANIZATION
OF EARLY MEDIEVAL GERMANY

Tomás O’Sullivan, B.A., M.A., M.A.

A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate Faculty of
Saint Louis University in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

2011
UMI Number: 3494269
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COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF CANDIDACY:

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Chairperson and Advisor

Professor G. John Renard

Adjunct Professor Charles D. Wright

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DEDICATION

For my parents:
Thomas and Eileen O’Sullivan

parentibus honorem impende … qui(a) hoc beneplacitum est Deo
“Weigh out honour to parents … because this is pleasing to God.”
— Vat. Pal. lat. 220, f. 35v, lines 2 and 6

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Every dissertation and every Ph.D. is the product of more than one man or woman’s
work, and like all who have gone before me, I would never have reached this point without the
support, guidance and friendship provided by so many people. I have been truly blessed by the
companions that have journeyed with me along this road, those who have set up the signposts
and barriers to keep me from following false paths, and those who have stopped to rest, have
broken bread, and shared their lives with me each day. I can only mention a few names here, but
my gratitude is extended to all who have joined in the journey: may we meet again in celebration
in that great convivium towards which every life strains, at which (as a close friend is ever wont
to remind me) they will certainly be beer and wings.
First and foremost, I wish to thank my Committee, whose guidance and encouragement
have significantly improved this dissertation. Dr. James R. Ginther, mentor, teacher, and friend,
has provided a model whose pedagogical and scholarly skills I can only hope to emulate. His
enthusiasm, encouragement, care, and boundless curiosity, and his knowledge of when (and
when not) to sternly wave a big stick, have played an essential part in my completion, not just of
this dissertation, but of this Ph.D. as a whole. Dr. Jack Renard—who taught the first class I ever
attended at SLU—has opened my eyes to new scholarly vistas and new methodologies, always
providing insightful comments from a unique perspective, and I will ever cherish our chats about
Ireland, as well as his seminar on medieval hagiography, which was one of the finest classes I
have every taken (it still remains a toss-up between Renard on hagiography, Ginther on exegesis,
and O’Reilly on Insular illuminated manuscripts; although I am truly blessed to have sat at the
feet of all three). I have also sat at the feet—and stood on the shoulders—of Dr. Charles D.
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Wright, although in this case through the medium of his written words rather than his presence,
actions and voice. So many of my “discoveries” in the course of this dissertation I later re-
discovered referenced in the footnotes of his erudite publications; it was indeed comforting to
learn that he himself had undergone the same experience when following in the footsteps of
James E. Cross! I thank him for his interest, his guidance and his support, and I hope to have
provided in this dissertation some small contribution to our understanding of the apocryphal lore
and Insular traditions on which his work has shed so much light.
Many other faculty members in the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis
University have played a significant role in my formation, opening their hearts—and on occasion
their homes—to this Insular peregrinus. In particular, I wish to express my gratitude to Fr. J.A.
Wayne Hellmann, Dr. James A. Kelhoffer, Dr. Cornelia Horn and Dr. Robert Phenix, Dr. Jay M.
Hammond, Fr. Kenneth B. Steinhauser, Fr. J.J. Mueller, and Fr. James K. Voiss. I also wish to
thank the indefatigable staff-members who have kept our Department functioning from day to
day (and have put up with—and always successfully answered—my innumerable questions):
Mary Boles, Charlotte Ruzicka, Elizabeth Ingenthron and Rebecca Elliott.
I also owe a great debt to the staff and faculty of the Knights of Columbus Vatican Film
Library at Saint Louis University. Without the resources and the expertise they have provided, I
could not have completed this dissertation on Vat. Pal. lat. 220. My thanks to Dr. Gregory A.
Pass, Dr. Susan L’Engle and Barbara J. Channell. Thanks are also due to Dr. Ronald Crown for
preserving and improving the superlative theological collection in Pius XII Memorial Library,
from which I benefitted on many an occasion.
I have also benefitted from the wisdom and experience of other faculty at Saint Louis
University: Dr. Jack Marler, who first taught me how to read a manuscript, and in whose class I
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made my first faltering attempts to understand Vat. Pal. lat. 220; Dr. Thomas J. Finan, whose
interest, enthusiasm and encouragement have been of even greater benefit than his extensive
knowledge and insight into medieval Ireland; and Dr. Evelyn Meyer, whose friendship I cherish,
and whose assistance with German, in both its contemporary and medieval forms, I very
gratefully acknowledge. And I thank her, once again, for the tee-shirt of the Lorscher
Bienensegen!
I also wish to thank all those in the (former) Graduate School and the College of Arts and
Sciences who have facilitated the completion of this work. Special mention must be made of
Catherine M. Zimmer and Rachel Philippone: I thank them both for putting up with all the
annoyances I am sure I have provided for so long.
Penultimately, I thank my companions and colleagues, the fellow graduate students who
have kept me sane along the way. Special thanks must go to Dr. Donna Hawk-Reinhard for
assistance with Greek, Dr. Marilyn Kincaid for assistance with Hebrew, and Rev. Timothy R.
LeCroy for assistance with Czech. I must also thank Dr. Chris Evans, who (inadvertently) first
introduced me to the manuscript which has come to dominate so much of my life.
I also wish to acknowledge my constant friend and companion from the very first day:
Lisa Duffield. To Rev. Daniel Handschy, Dr. Catherine Scine (who showed us all it could be
done), Sr. Felicity Dorsett, Jonathan King, Noël Pretila, Andrew Jendraszak, Aaron Overby,
Elissa Cutter, and Alex Giltner: I could not have done it without you. I also express gratitude to
Erin E. Ruegg for accompanying me through much of this journey. To those I have inadvertently
omitted, please allow me to express my apologies to you in person at the very next graduate
student happy hour.
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I would also like to thank those who, although far-off physically, have been present in
spirit throughout the course of my studies, unceasingly supporting me though their prayers:
Sister Colette-Marie of the Poor Clares Convent on College Road in Cork; Eileen Daly; Kitty
Dullea; Nora Keohane; Ella Kingston; Jenny Mullins; Sister Kevin O’Brien of the Sisters of
Mercy; Breeda O’Mahony; Betty Wren; my uncles and aunt, Fr. Joseph O’Sullivan and Joseph
and Ann Keane; and, of course, my parents.
No words can express my gratitude to Kristen Camille Giltner, whose patience, care,
support and love over the last ten months have surely earned her a place in heaven: she has
certainly given me an insight into heaven here on earth. I am grateful for every moment I have
spent with her, and I certainly intend to enjoy far more moments with her now this dissertation is
complete. She has given far beyond the call of duty and I doubt this work could have been
completed without her presence by my side.
Finally, I thank my parents, who formed me and loved me and made me what I am. None
of this would have been possible without them. In gratitude, humility and love, I dedicate this
dissertation to those who deserve it the most: Thomas and Eileen O’Sullivan.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Sigla x
List of Abbreviations xi

CHAPTER 1: LIBELLUS PREDICATIONIS: VAT. PAL. LAT. 220, THE PREDICATIONES
PALATINAE AND CHRISTIANIZATION IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES

1.1. CHRISTIANIZATION AND GERMANIZATION: CONVERSION,
PAGANISM, AND POPULAR CULTURE IN THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES 2
1.2. CEIST: RESOURCES AND STRATEGIES OF CHRISTIANIZATION IN THE
EARLY NINTH CENTURY 13
1.3. NÍ ANSE: VAT. PAL. LAT. 220 AND THE CHRISTIANIZATION OF
EARLY MEDIEVAL GERMANY 17
1.4. THE PREDICATIONES PALATINAE IN VAT. PAL. LAT. 220 AND
RELATED TEXTS AND MANUSCRIPTS 27
1.5. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 46

PART I: THE PALATINE COLLECTION AND VAT. PAL. LAT. 220:
SOURCES, ORIGINS AND ANALOGUES

CHAPTER 2: IN NOMINE DEI SUMMI: AN INSULAR HOMILY COLLECTION?

2.1 IRISH AND IRISH-INFLUENCED HOMILIES AND HOMILY
COLLECTIONS 58
2.2 SEVEN “HIBERNO-LATIN” SERMONS FROM THE PALATINE
COLLECTION 67
2.3 THE RECEPTION OF MCNALLY’S THESIS OF IRISH ORIGINS 74
2.4 THE PHRASE IN NOMINE DEI SUMMI AS A SYMPTOM OF IRISH
INFLUENCE 79
2.5 ITEM 15B: IN NOMINE DEI SUMMI (II) 87
2.6 ITEMS 5 AND 17: SECUNDUM MATHEUM (IV) AND IN NOMINE DEI
SUMMI (IV) 91
2.7 CONCLUSION 95

CHAPTER 3: LIBRI ABSCONSI: ESCHATOLOGY, APOCALYPSES AND INSULAR
AFFILIATIONS

3.1 ITEM 13: THE THREE UTTERANCES APOCRYPHON 103
3.2 ITEM XXIV: THE APOCALYPSE OF THOMAS 114
3.3 GOD ÆLMIHTIG US LÆRAÐ: ITEMS 19 AND 21 AND THE OLD
ENGLISH HOMILIES IN JUNIUS 85/86 129
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3.4 ITEM XXVI: REDACTION XI OF THE VISIO SANCTI PAULI 136
3.5 LOCUS, TEMPUS, PERSONA? THE ORIGINS AND DATE OF THE
PALATINE COLLECTION 147

PART II: THE THEOLOGY OF THE PALATINE COLLECTION AND
MANUSCRIPT P AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE
CHRISTIANIZATION OF EARLY MEDIEVAL GERMANY

CHAPTER 4: UENUNDATUS EST UT NOS REDEMERET: CATECHESIS, ATONEMENT AND
THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE PALATINE COLLECTION

4.1 DE FIDE TRINITATIS: CATECHESIS AND THE CREED 171
4.2 CHRISTUS PROPTER NOS: THE CORE OF THE CATECHESIS 184
4.3 ARGUMENTUM DIABULI (I): μίμησις OR κένωσις? 195
4.4 ARGUMENTUM DIABULI (II): GRASPING AT RUNES 210
4.5 CONCLUSION 220

CHAPTER 5: NUMQUID POTEST DICERE “NON POSSUM DILIGERE”: MORAL AND
ETHICAL INSTRUCTION AND THE CREATION OF A CHRISTIAN SOCIETY

5.1 UT SEQUAMUR UESTIGIA EIUS: THE UN-DOING OF THE ARGUMENTUM
DIABULI AND HUMAN LIBERATION FOR PRAXIS 227
5.2 NIHIL A TE EXTRA TE QUERIT: THE LOCUS OF PRAXIS ENVISIONED IN
MANUSCRIPT P 235
5.3 SURGE IN BONIS OPERIBUS: MORAL AND ETHICAL INSTRUCTION IN
THE PALATINE COLLECTION AND THE CREATION OF A CHRISTIAN
SOCIETY 245
5.4 SIUE UIRI SIUE MULIÆRES: THE INTENDED AUDIENCE OF THE
COLLECTION 262
5.5 CONCLUSION 265

CHAPTER 6: SEMPER DE FUTURO SECULO COGITEMUS, ET PLUS PRO ANIMA QUAM PRO
CORPORE LABOREMUS: ESCHATOLOGY AND THE COMING OF THE
KINGDOM OF GOD

6.1 TERRENDO TEPIDIS: PREACHING AND ESCHATOLOGY IN THE EARLY
NINTH CENTURY 271
6.2 QUAM TREMENDUS EST NOBIS DIES ILLE: THE ESCHATOLOGICAL
MATERIAL IN THE PALATINE COLLECTION AND MANUSCRIPT P 275
6.3 SI BENE AGIMUS: THE CONCRETIZATION OF THE ESCHATOLOGICAL
KINGDOM 286
6.4 ELEGAT UNUSQUISQUE PROPRIA UOLUNTATE PROUT UOLUERIT: THE
REALIZATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD 300

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