The Homilies of Organyà
Manuscript 289 of the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya in Barcelona, known as The Homilies of Organyà is a codex of historical significance: it is the first literary document in the Catalonian language! The 13th century manuscript contains the text of six homilies on various religious themes, written in a splendidly lifelike and polished tone. This manuscript from the cathedral of Tortosa – discovered in the church of St. Marie de Organyá in 1904 – is the oldest and best-known surviving attestation of Catalonian, which does not come from a legal text. It was likely commissioned by an unknown Augustinian, probably a capitular in the cathedral of Tortosa. The Homilies of Organyà bears witness to the spread of the Catalonian language in 13th century Spain.
The Homilies of Organyà
The Catalonian language has great meaning within the linguistic area of the Iberian Peninsula. The manuscript of the famous Homilies of Organyà impressively bears witness to the meaning of that tradition, which was already established in the 13th century. This historic document was presumably the commission of an unknown Augustinian, probably a capitular in the cathedral of Tortosa. The 16-page text of six homilies in the Catalonian language was written at his behest in the 13th century.
Literary Bible-Commentary in Catalonian
These homilies are commentaries on the Gospels and other biblical texts and contain, inter alia, a homily for Ash Wednesday. The Catalonian text is probably a translation of homilies with a provincial origin, which was widely circulated at the time. The religious themes were presented in language that is expressive and lively, cultivated and polished. With that said, The Homilies of Organyà is the first Catalonian literary document.
Of Historical Significance
The Homilies of Organyà is considered to be the oldest known and surviving literary manuscript in Catalonian, aside from a few older and little-known documents that deal with legal and non-literary subjects. Thus they bear witness to the entrenchment and expansion of Catalonian language and culture in the lifeworld of the 13th century. The document came from the collection of the St. Maria de Organyá church. It was discovered there and made public in the year 1904 by the historian Dr. Joaquim Miret i Sans and is found today under the shelfmark Ms. 289 in the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya in Barcelona.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Homilies d’Organyà
Homilien von Organyà - Size / Format
- 16 pages / 17.5 × 12.0 cm
- Origin
- Spain
- Date
- 13th century
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- Severel initials
- Content
- 6 Catalan homilies
- Artist / School
- Unknown Augustinian monk
- Previous Owners
- Church of Saint Mary of Organyà
The Homilies of Organyà
Homily for Lent
Homily for Lent
The initial 'I' on this page, reminiscent of an hourglass, opens the homily for the beginning of Lent. More precisely, it was to be preached on the first Sunday of the forty-day Lent before Easter, which was to prepare the faithful for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ. The very first two phrases of the homily use a biblical quotation to explain the duration of Lent, which is based on Christ's forty-day fast in the desert:
"In illo tempore ductus est Jhesus in deserto in spiritu ut tentaretur a Diabolo. Et cum jejunaset xl diebus et xl noctibus, postea esurit." (Matthew 4, 1-2) - English: "At that time, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. And when he had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry."

#1 Homilies d'Organyà
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