Psaltrs-Rose-lnks – 11/29/05
A set of web links to information on medieval Psalters and Rosaries by Dame Aoife Finn of Ynos Mon.
NOTE: See also the files: rosaries-msg, Icons-art, The-Crusades-lnks, nuns-a-monks-lnks, roses-art, beads-msg, beadwork-msg, p-bibles-msg, pilgrimages-msg.
************************************************************************
NOTICE -
This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.
This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org
I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.
The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.
Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).
Thank you,
Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous
Stefan at florilegium.org
************************************************************************
From: aoife at scatoday.net
Subject: [Aoife-Links] Please Pass the Psalt!
Date: January 26, 2005 8:44:32 PM CST
To: aoife-links at scatoday.net
Hello my faithful readers!
I wish upon you all the joys of a MILD winter such as we are NOT
experiencing here in the (modern) Pocono Mountains! I've got snow up to my
unmentionables! My Dogs Samwise and Legolas refuse to go outside except for
the direst of emergencies (most of which involve chasing wildlife and
wrestling in the snow). The upside of horrible winter weather, however, is
that there's plenty of time for leisure pursuits that require us to be
indoors. So now it's time to turn our attention towards two articles many of
our personae might possess, though scribes, historians and artisans will
also find these links useful for other reasons. Courtesy of an avid reader,
Ro, this week's Links List is about Psalters and Rosaries.
Medieval Psalters were named because they contained the Psalms, which are
certain poetic and allegorical portions of the Bible well known for the
beauty of their language. They also contained a religious calendar, and
certain other articles a religious person might use in everyday life. They
were often lavishly illustrated in multiple colors and personalized for the
person who sponsored their creation. A great many Modern Medieval
Illumination works are based upon the work of real medieval scribes who
created these Psalters. Psalters aren't just for Catholics. At least one
Hebrew Psalter is shown in a link below, from Parma Italy.
Of course, Rosaries are prayer beads combined in certain ways so that devout
persons could remember their prayers in a certain order and thus easily
recite them or repeat/reflect on them throughout the day.
Stay warm, my friends, and share this missive wherever you will find a ready
audience.
Cheers!
Aoife
Dame Aoife Finn of Ynos Mon
Canton of Riverouge
Barony of Endless Hills
Kingdom of Aethelmearc
Byzantine Medieval Hypertexts: Theodore Psalter
http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~slavman/hypertexts/Theodorepsalter.htm">http://www.ischool.utexas.edu/~slavman/hypertexts/Theodorepsalter.htm
(Site Excerpt) The Theodore Psalter (British Museum Add. 19.352) remains one
of the most significant representations of the Byzantine manuscript
tradition, a masterpiece of art that exceeds the span of medieval time and
space. Experts consider the Psalter a watershed document because of its
fixed and documented date and authorship, attested to in its colophon. The
colophon reveals that Abbot Michael of the Stoudios Monastery received the
Psalter as gift from the scribe Theodore, a priest in the same monastery.
The Stoudios Monastery, near the Byzantine capital Constantinople, was
founded circa 454 A.D. after the rules established by St. Basil the Great
for Eastern monasticism, later augmented by its abbot Theodore the Studite
(759-826), known also as Theodore of Stoudios.
The Christ Church Psalter in Context:
Manuscripts from the Medieval Priory
A special exhibition in the Crypt
of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
http://www.cccdub.ie/visitors/treasury/mss-exhibition/mss-exhibition.html">http://www.cccdub.ie/visitors/treasury/mss-exhibition/mss-exhibition.html
The Luttrell Psalter 1345
http://www.redruth.cornwall.sch.uk/departments/History/lutt/The%20Luttrell%20Psalter%201345.html">http://www.redruth.cornwall.sch.uk/departments/History/lutt/The%20Luttrell%20Psalter%201345.html
(Site Excerpt) The Luttrell Psalter was the work of many calligraphers and
artists, all working for many months on sheepskin vellum or parchment. Each
page is beautifully painted in a style known as illumination. The first
capital letter of each page is usually decorated.
Last Chance To Save Recently Discovered Illuminated Medieval Manuscript -
The Macclesfield Psalter
http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/press_notices/archive_2004/dcms106_2004.htm">http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/press_notices/archive_2004/dcms106_2004.htm
(Site Excerpt) Arts Minister Estelle Morris has placed a temporary export
bar on an outstanding illuminated manuscript known as the Macclesfield
Psalter. The work, thought to be the most important discovery of any English
illuminated manuscript in living memory, was until earlier this year,
unknown and unrecorded. Its discovery adds hugely to our knowledge of
English fourteenth-century art, of which very little survives elsewhere.
Medieval psalter presented to King's
By Jim Anderson
http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/story.html?listing_id=4285">http://communications.uwo.ca/western_news/story.html?listing_id=4285
(Site Excerpt) The psalter, believed to originate from Flanders in the late
14th or early 15th centuries, is a millennium gift to the college from
retired Chief Librarian Elizabeth Russell and current Chief Librarian John
Clouston. They acquired the book from local antiquarian book dealers who
purchased it from a private collector in Halifax. The manuscript originally
was found in South America. How it got there from Flanders remains a
mystery, but it may have traveled to the New World with the Conquistadors or
early Spanish missionaries.
Medieval Manuscript Leaves: Fifty-one Leaves from Medieval Manuscripts from
Western Europe: 12th - 16th centuries
http://wally.rit.edu/cary/cc_db/manuscripts/">http://wally.rit.edu/cary/cc_db/manuscripts/
.......Including 8 psalters
University of London Library: Psalter Fragment
http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/14/1268.htm">http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cats/14/1268.htm
(Site Excerpt) A medieval psalter usually comprised a Calendar, the 150
Psalms, and a collection of canticles and creeds. The three text-types
worked together in the practice of the Divine Office, the Church's daily
public prayer. When a psalter-book was intended for private use as well,
other texts, such as prologues, hymns, or favourite prayers were added.
looksmart:
The Luttrell Psalter and the making of 'Merrie England' - Cover Story
History Today, Sept, 1998 by Michael Camille
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1373/is_n9_v48/ai_21104452">http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1373/is_n9_v48/ai_21104452
(Site Excerpt) There are many reasons why this particular manuscript has
played such an important role in the English national consciousness -- most
obvious is the superb quality of its illumination. The naturalistic detail
and inventive fantasy are the credit of its major artist who, inspired by
the words of the Psalms, started work on the manuscript in the late 1320s
but left it mysteriously unfinished, even before the death of his patron,
Sir Geoffrey Luttrell, in 1345.
University of Aberdeen: Burnet Psalter
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/historic/collects/bps/">http://www.abdn.ac.uk/diss/historic/collects/bps/
(Site Excerpt) Welcome to the online version of the Burnet Psalter. This
fifteenth-century manuscript (AUL MS 25) was bequeathed to Marischal
College, Aberdeen by one of its most famous graduates, Gilbert Burnet
(1643-1715), Bishop of Salisbury, historian, theological writer, and adviser
to William III. This site provides full-page images (text and illustration)
and details from the manuscript.
The Parma Psalter
http://www.facsimile-editions.com/pp_page.htm">http://www.facsimile-editions.com/pp_page.htm
(Hey, who could afford this georgous facsimile edition? But we can
drool.....several pages are shared online. Site Excerpt) Of all medieval
Hebrew manuscript psalters, one of the earliest and most important to
survive is the masterpiece Ms. Parm. 1870 (Cod. De Rossi 510), the treasure
of the Palatina Library in Parma, Italy. This profusely illuminated book of
Psalms was written and decorated in about 1280, probably in Emilia in
Northern Italy. Its 452 pages contain the biblical text in a clear, large
vocalised Hebrew hand.
Full reference manuscripts
The Hague, KB, 69 B 10 (1-10 of 33 )
http://www.kb.nl/vh-cgi/vhfullref.pl?Language=&Iconminiaturist=&Formerowner=&equalsdate=&Words+from+descriptions=&Style=&searchButton%2ex=48&toheight=&searchButton%2ey=10&Script=&fromwidth=&nr=1&Miniaturist=&fromheight=&Iconkeywords=&Icontext=&Scribe=&beforedate=&origin=vhoverview%2epl&Image+type=&isFromIcon=0&from=1&Author%2c+title=psalter&Binder=&iconView=IMAGELIST&isSub=&Placeoforigin=&isFromMan=1&towidth=&Annotation=&Shelfmark=&afterdate=&total=22&file=%2fusr%2fwww%2fdata%2fkb%2fmanuscripts%2ftempfiles%25">http://www.kb.nl/vh-cgi/vhfullref.pl?Language=&Iconminiaturist=&Formerowner=&equalsdate=&Words+from+descriptions=&Style=&searchButton%2ex=48&toheight=&searchButton%2ey=10&Script=&fromwidth=&nr=1&Miniaturist=&fromheight=&Iconkeywords=&Icontext=&Scribe=&beforedate=&origin=vhoverview%2epl&Image+type=&isFromIcon=0&from=1&Author%2c+title=psalter&Binder=&iconView=IMAGELIST&isSub=&Placeoforigin=&isFromMan=1&towidth=&Annotation=&Shelfmark=&afterdate=&total=22&file=%2fusr%2fwww%2fdata%2fkb%2fmanuscripts%2ftempfiles%2f685499
Note: Copy-paste this too-lengthy URL in order to see the page. See the
Images link at the bottom of the page to view the pages.
Psalter Psalterium
http://wally.rit.edu/cary/cc_db/manuscripts/psalter25.html">http://wally.rit.edu/cary/cc_db/manuscripts/psalter25.html
(Site Excerpt) Vellum leaf from an illuminated Medieval Manuscript
France; Late 14th Century Latin Text; Gothic Script 18 by 12 cm. The
Psalter with its one hundred and fifty psalms is the best collection of
religious lyrics which the world possesses. It is no wonder, therefore, that
it forms an important part of so many medieval manuscripts. The Psalms are
found not only in manuscripts of the Bible, but also in Missals, Breviaries,
and Books of Hours; and, as they had to be memorized by the priests, they
were also transcribed separately.
The Medieval Rosary
http://www.pomian.demon.co.uk/rosary.htm">http://www.pomian.demon.co.uk/rosary.htm
(Site Excerpt) The Rosary was brought to Europe by the Crusaders, and
consists of a number of groups of beads. Strictly, the full rosary consisted
of three Chaplets, each consisting of 5 Decades and 5 Paternosters. Each
decade consisted of a number of small Ave beads (these were used to count
Ave Marias.) Although a decade usually consisted of about ten beads, there
was variation through the middle ages from 8 to about 15 beads. The decade
was preceded by a large Paternoster (for the Lord's Prayer) bead, and
sometimes followed by a Gloria bead (for Glorias) . In many cases, the
Paternoster bead and Gloria bead are combined.
Historical Rosaries and Paternosters
http://paternosters.home.igc.org">http://paternosters.home.igc.org/
(Site Excerpt) The practice of counting prayers using a string of beads is
very old. There are legends of St. Anthony in the desert counting his
prayers with pebbles in the third century, and a string of beads is
preserved in Belgium that is said to have been buried with the saintly
Abbess Gertrude (d. 659). Other religions use prayer beads as well, but we
cannot be certain whether Christians, Muslims and Hindus invented the idea
independently or borrowed it from each other.
MEDIEVAL ROSARY
http://www.spirit-of-the-past.com/medievalrosary.html">http://www.spirit-of-the-past.com/medievalrosary.html
(Site Excerpt) Different versions of the medieval rosary are often seen in
paintings from the Middle Ages, and rosary beads are commonly found at
archaeological excavations of medieval towns.The origin of the Christian
rosary - a string of beads or a knotted cord used to count prayers, is
uncertain but it may ultimately originate with the desert monastics of the
early church. The widespread use of rosaries among Roman Catholic laity in
medieval and modern times most likely evolved in Western Europe (possibly
first on Ireland), as church developed more elaborate rituals, and its
largely illiterate followers had an increasing number of prayers to count.
Stefan's Florilegium: rosaries-msg
http://www.florilegium.org/files/RELIGION/rosaries-msg.html">http://www.florilegium.org/files/RELIGION/rosaries-msg.html
(Site Excerpt from one message) Try contacting the Met. Museum of Art, NYC -
it has a collection of
central Rosary beads that'll leave you standing in front of them and staring
for an hour or more in awe over their construction - the entire Crucifixion
in a hinged, little (4"diam.) sphere, 30 or 40 separate layers of
micro-sculpture.
SCAtoday weblink directory
http://scatoday.net/weblink/view/170">http://scatoday.net/weblink/view/170
Several Links pertaining to paternosters and rosaries, and e-lists to
discuss them.
Prayer Beads, A Tradition of Prayer
http://www.ourroserosary.com/prayerbeads.htm">http://www.ourroserosary.com/prayerbeads.htm
(Site Excerpt) The idea of using beads to count prayers is ancient and rich
with history.
Ireland 800-900AD Historians trace the origin of the Rosary back to
approximately ninth century Ireland commonly called the Celtic Rosary formed
within the Community of Saint Columbia. Today, as then, the 150 Psalms of
the Bible, the Book of Psalms of King David, were an important form of
prayer. Monks and clergy recited or chanted the Psalms as a major source of
hourly worship. People living near the monasteries/abbeys realized the
beauty of this devotion but unable to read or memorize the lengthy Psalms,
the people were unable to adapt this form of prayer for their use.
How We Got The Beads by By Sandra Miesel
http://www.marysyellowstone.com/hope/beads.htm">http://www.marysyellowstone.com/hope/beads.htm
(Site Excerpt) And, odd as it may sound, prayer beads are older than our
Rosary, and our Rosary is older than the complete Hail Mary. The practice of
counting prayers with beads, pebbles or other markers is not unique to
Christianity. Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims also use beads. Christian
prayer-counting started among the Desert Fathers around the fourth century.
They let illiterate monks substitute 150 Our Fathers for the 150 Psalms
normally recited. Western monastics and laity copied this. St. Gertrude of
Nevelle (d. 659) supposedly owned prayer beads, as did England«s famous
Lady Godiva (d. 1041).
Ancient Order of Hibernians
THE ORIGIN OF THE ROSARY
by Mike McCormack National Historian
http://www.aoh.com/history/archive/rosary.htm">http://www.aoh.com/history/archive/rosary.htm
(Site Excerpt) Theologians have traced the origin of the Rosary back to the
Ninth century, and a form of prayer that evolved in the monasteries of the
early Irish church. Prayer and labor filled the days of the Irish monks, and
one of the most important forms of monastic prayer was the daily chanting of
the 150 psalms of David. Lay people around the monastery would hear the
psalms every day as they were sung or recited, and the beauty of this form
of prayer intrigued them. They yearned to join in, but the psalms were too
long to memorize, copies could not be found since printing was rare, and few
knew how to read Latin anyway. The lay people were however, determined to
adapt this prayer form for their own use.
If you wish to correspond with Aoife directly, please send mail to: mtnlion
at ptd dot net as she is unable to respond in this account
<the end>