Galleri

Monastic rules and similar formative texts

Life in a monastery was structured through and governed by monastic rules, which set out the daily programme and the duties of each member. Most orders followed the Rule of Saint Benedict, but there were others. Curated by Eva De Cooman for [ARMA](https://www.medieval-reads.eu/)

E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

This codex contains the Benedictine Rule. A German translation follows each Latin chapter. The different sections are to varying degrees distinguished from each other through simply decorated initials in red ink, and the Latin text appears in a slightly t…

Institute of Material Culture of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period
Wellcome Collection
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford

Text: Rule of St. Augustine. Decorated initial 'A(sculta)' with foliated tendrils. Bar border with interlace and ivy.

KB, National Library of the Netherlands
E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

The most historically significant exemplar of the Benedictine Rule from the time after 810.

E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

This codex contains the miracles of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, which the Benedictine monk Benedict of Peterborough began to collect after Thomas’ murder on December 29, 1170. The manuscript, which has beautiful initials with scroll ornamentation on p. 12…

E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

The Directorium perpetuum of the monastery of St. Gall, commissioned by Abbot Franz von Gaisberg (1504–1529), consists of seven volumes (Cod. Sang. 533–539). A total of 36 regulae contain the liturgical rules for the Liturgy of the Hours for all possible …

E-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland

Meant for daily use in the chapter office, this volume was written in 1542/43 by the secular cleric Fridolin Sicher (1490−1546), born in Bischofszell, for St. Gall Prince-Abbot Diethelm Blarer (1530−1564; cf. his coat of arms on p. 5 and p. 8 as well as p…

Institute of Material Culture of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period

Theology illustration cycle/image initials V

Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford

Arabesque initial 'H(oc)', with decoration in monochrome style laid down by the Cistercian rule.

Institute of Material Culture of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period

Illustrative cycle Legendar/Initiale F