Pontificalia: A Repertory of Latin Manuscript Pontificals and Benedictionals

Abstract

Medieval bishops often had a special book of liturgical services that only a bishop could perform. Such books are of two kinds: one is termed a “benedictional,” or collection of pontifical blessings; the other is called a “pontifical” and it includes the rest of the Episcopal liturgy. The present work is a catalog of 1249 such manuscripts in Latin that have been identified, but it is not exhaustive. Each item contains a short description and a bibliography.

In addition, three appendices list: relevant manuscripts the present location of which is unknown; printed editions of pontificals and benedictionals; and manuscripts that for some reason have been excluded from this catalog.

This catalog is a research tool that will be useful especially to specialists in the history of medieval liturgy, but also to those interested in Latin paleography, medieval art, and church history.