E06541: The Latin Gelasian Sacramentary (or Liber Sacramentorum Romanae Ecclesiae), probably compiled around 750 near Paris using earlier material from Rome, records prayers to saints on their feast days in February.
online resource
posted on 2018-09-19, 00:00authored byPhilip
Gelasian Sacramentary 2.8-12
Below are the entries from the Sacramentary that relate to the feasts of saints; other entries, to feasts of the Christian year that were not for saints, are not included in our database.
IV Non. Febr. orat. in purificatione sanctae Mariae. '2 February Prayers on the feast of the purification of Mary.' [*Mary, Mother of Christ, S00033] Three prayers listed
Nonas Febr. in natali sanctae Agathae. '5 February on the feast of Saint Agatha.' [*Agatha, virgin and martyr of Catania, S00794] Three prayers listed
IV Febr. in natali sanctae Soteris. '10 February on the feast of Saint Soteris.' [*Soteris, virgin and martyr of Rome, buried on the via Appia, S00548] Three prayers listed
XVI Kal. Mart. in natali Valentini, Vitalis, et Feliculae. '14 February on the feast of Valentinus, Vitalis, and Felicula.' [*Valentinus, bishop of Terni (Interamna) and martyr of Rome, S00434; *Vitalis and Felicula, martyrs of Spoleto, *S01917] Three Prayers listed
XIII Kal. Mart. in natali sanctae Iulianae. 17 February on the feast of Saint Juliana. [*Iuliana, martyr of Nicomedia, buried at Pozzuoli/Cumae, S01162] Three Prayers listed
Edition: Wilson 1894. Translation: P. Polcar.
History
Evidence ID
E06541
Saint Name
Valentinus, bishop and martyr of Terni (Interamna) : S00434
Vitalis and companions, martyrs at Spoleto in Umbria (Italy), early-4th century : S01917
Iuliana, martyr in Nicomedia, buried near Pozzuoli : S01162
Agatha, virgin and martyr of Catania :
Saint Name in Source
Valentinus
Vitalis, Felicula
Iuliana
Agatha
Soteris
Maria
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Paris
Tours
Tours
Toronica urbs
Prisciniacensim vicus
Pressigny
Turonorum civitas
Ceratensis vicus
Céré
Rome
Rome
Rome
Roma
Ῥώμη
Rhōmē
Major author/Major anonymous work
Sacramentarium Gelasianum
Cult activities - Liturgical Activity
Service for the Saint
Cult activities - Festivals
Saint’s feast
Source
The 'Gelasian Sacramentary' (Sacramentarium Gelasianum) is a compilation of liturgical texts, mostly prayers, for use in church celebrations such as the Eucharist, the administration of sacraments, or other liturgical events. It is the second oldest extant liturgical book in the West, the oldest being the 'Verona Sacramentary' (Sacramentarium Veronense). It has been preserved in one manuscript, now divided into two parts: the Codex Vaticanus Reginensis Latinus 316, and the Codex Latinus 7193 of the Bibliotèque Nationale in Paris.
The Gelasian Sacramentary is preserved in a Frankish version, copied in c. 750; it must have been used in contemporary Francia (for nobody would copy liturgy if they did not intend to put it to use). The core of the Sacramentary is, however, undoubtedly of Roman origin for use in the area of Rome, as is evident from the inclusion of so many saints from the city and from the regions around it (some of them not particularly well known). The composition of these core texts can be dated between 628 and 715 (Vogel 1986, 69). This substratum is also a mixture of various sources. At some point before the pontificate of Gregory II (715-731), this early version of the sacramentary was brought to Gaul, where prayers were added for certain celebrations, such as for the consecration of virgins, the dedication of churches, and the blessing of holy water.
Bibliography
Edition:
Wilson, H.A., Liber Sacramentorum Romanae Ecclesiae, (Oxford, 1894).
Further Reading:
Vogel, C., Medieval Liturgy: An Introduction to the Sources, (Washington, 1986), 61-76.