Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1980, Blaðsíða 90

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Sermo de beato Thorlaco episcopo
MS Uppsala C 301 contains sermons by Nicolas de Gorran, O. P.
(c. 1210-1295), prior of the convent of Saint-Jacques in Paris from
1276, and a renowned preacher. According to an owner’s note, f. 49v,
‘Iste est liber fratris Johannis sictunensis qui ergo hunc tytulum
alienauerit anathema sit’, it formerly belonged to the Dominicans of
Sigtuna in the diocese of Uppsala.16
MS Uppsala C 301 is a small delicately written manuscript
measuring 21x14 cm with a written space of c. 13x10 cm and 27 lines
to the page. It contains sermons for the Sanctorale, beginning, as usual,
on lob, 7,15, ‘Suspendium elegit anima mea et mortern ossa mea’, for
the feast of St. Andrew, 30 November.17 A sermon for St. Thorlak’s
Natale, 23 December, is preceded by a sermon for the feast of St.
Thomas, 21 December, and followed by one for the Vigil of the
Nativity, both included in Schneyer’s list of Nicolas’ sermons.18 The
St. Thorlak sermon, though seemingly in the manner of Nicolas, is not,
however, in Schneyer’s list. Does it represent an unknown text by
Nicolas or by another author of the same school, adapted by an
Icelander for his national saint? The sermon, built on the theme of
Esth. 6,7, could apply to any confessor saint.19 See Plates 48-49.
de beato thorlaco episcopo.
(4)r Hoc honore dignus est quemcunque rex honorare uoluerit. Hester (6,7).
Verba proposita licet secundum ystoriam dicantur de mardocheo quem rex
assuerus temporaliter honorauit. Allegorice intellecta isti sancto siue beato
thorlaco competere possunt quem rex regum christus eternaliter exaltauit et
honorauit. S ed quia secundum apostolum omnes conuenit honorare. precipue
tamen eum quem a deo scimus honoratum. Debet ergo honorari tamquam
pater a filijs. medicus ab infirmis. magister a discipulis. prelatus a subditis. . .
16 For a study of the manuscripts formerly belonging to the Dominicans of Sigtuna,
see Toni Schmid, Om Sigtunabrodernas bocker och boner: Sigtuna Fornhems minnes-
skrift 1247-1947 (Halmstad 1947), pp. 45-82; the owner’s note and the beginning of the
St. Thorlak sermon have been reproduced p. 66.
17 See J. B. Schneyer, Repertorium der lateinischen Sermones des Mittelalters =
Beitråge zur Geschichte der Philosophie und Theologie des Mittelalters, 43/4 (Munster
W. 1972), p. 281, no. 377.
18 Ibid., p. 282, no. 407, and p. 283, no. 412, respectively.
19 The theme of Esth. 6,7 was frequently used for the feast of St. Andrew by the
medieval preachers; see J. B. Schneyer, Wegweiser zu lateinischen Predigtreihen des
Mittelalters (Mtinchen 1965), pp. 291 sq.