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Breviary (Text relating to the Virgin)

F-lrae

Utopia, armarium codicum bibliophilorum, Private Collection, Canada, Fr.G1-9

Private Catalogue, Canada, 2026. (Born Digital)

General Information

Title Breviary (Text relating to the Virgin)
Material Parchment
Place of Origin Germany [?]

Current Condition

Dimensions 90 mm x 223 mm (close); 65 mm x 435 mm (open)
More about the Current Condition

The fragment was recovered from a binding. It was initially part of a bifolium. Each half is written in a double column format. There is some fading and soiling throughout, particularly along the middle of the recto of the prior leaf and verso of the posterior leaf, seemingly where the fragment was pasted down. The fragment was cut unevenly. There is a small remnant of binding thread from the host volume in the inner gutter. 

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

Some initials are penned in red ink. Rubrication is also penned in red. 

Content

  • Content Item
    • Content Description

      The bifolium fragment contains text predominantly relating to the Virgin. On the recto of the prior fragment (Ar), there is text that appears to be intended for the Hours of the Virgin from the Nativity to the Purification. In the first column is text for lauds: parts of an antiphon (O admirabile commercium creator generis), Psalm 92:1 (Dominus regnavit decorem), and another antiphon (Quando natus est ineffabiliter ex). The second column contains text for terce: Ecclesiastes 24:15 (In Syon firmata sum), a responsory (Sancta dei genitrix virgo), a versicle (Intercede pro nobis ad dominum), another versicle (written as Ora pro nobis, possibly shortened for Ora pro nobis sancta dei genitrix), and a collect (Deus qui salutis aeternae). It also includes Ecclesiastes 24:16 (Et radicavi in populo) and part of a responsory (Ora pro nobis sancta dei) for sext. The verso of the prior fragment (Av) contains John 19:25 and part of a corresponding homily by Augustine (In Joannis Evangelium, Tractatus CXXIV), the latter of which continues into the second column. The verse and homily are often used at Eastertide and the Seven Sorrows of Mary (Septem Dolorum Beatae Mariae Virginis). On the recto of the posterior fragment (Br) are readings for the Virgin at matins. The first and second columns contain parts of Lectio II and Lectio III respectively from Peter Damian’s Lectiones ad matutinum. The verso of this fragment (Bv) contains part of Origen’s Homilia XLII, In Dominica intra Octavam Natalis Christi in the first column. In the second column is part of a responsory that is mostly cut off (Continet in gremio caelum terramque) and a versicle (Virgo dei genitrix quem totus), both of which are usually used during the Octave of Christmas (Octava Nativitatis Domini) at matins. This column then continues with part of the same homily by Origen. Seeing as Av contains text usually used later in the year than Bv, it is possible that the current orientation of the bifolium fragment was inverted within its parent manuscript.

History

Provenance

The fragment was purchased from That Guy with the Books (Zubairul Islam) at the Montreal Antiquarian Book Fair on 27 September 2025. It was part of a collection of binder’s waste acquired in Germany.

Bibliography

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