The Homilies of Organyà

The Homilies of Organyà – Millennium Liber – Ms. 289 – Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain)

Tortosa Cathedral (Spain) — 13th century

An early testimony of the rich culture of Catalonia and its diffusion in the 13th century: the oldest religious texts in the Catalan language, originally created for Tortosa Cathedral

  1. This collection of six homilies is the oldest religious text in the Catalonian language

  2. It bears witness to the wide expansion of Catalonian language and culture in the 13th century

  3. The valuable artifact was rediscovered in the year 1904 at the church of St. Marie de Organyá

The Homilies of Organyà

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  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
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
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Church of Saint Mary of Organyà

Available facsimile editions:
The Homilies of Organyà – Millennium Liber – Ms. 289 – Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain)
Millennium Liber – Madrid, 2010
Limited Edition: 995 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Homilies d'Organyà

Millennium Liber – Madrid, 2010

Publisher: Millennium Liber – Madrid, 2010
Limited Edition: 995 copies
Binding: Parchment
Commentary: 1 volume by Amadeu J. Soberanas, Andreu Rossinyol and Joana Escobedo
Languages: English, Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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