Accession No. RARE.2024.0010: Purchased, 2023 December
[identification of item], Composite Monastic Manuscript and Printed Devotional Book, Possibly Compiled by a Benedictine Nun, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0382, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2024, February; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2024, February
Monasticism is a religious way of life in which an individual stops chasing material goods in order to follow a path of spiritual fulfillment. Monastic life is found in Christian churches, including Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions. It can be found in faiths practiced such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism as well. Monasticism in Christianity was created from various forms of religious life. It can be seen in the early in the history of the Church, but is not found in scriptures.
The rule of Saint Benedict, written in the sixth century, focuses on two elements; peace and creating a life of prayer and work. Benedictine prayer books follow the tradition of morning, afternoon, and evening prayer. Prayer books written in monasteries were created to not only spread the rule of Saint Benedictine, but to train individuals hoping to become a part of the order.
The Composite Monastic Manuscript and Printed Devotional Book, Possibly Compiled by a Benedictine Nun collection contains one 4 7/8 inch by 3 1/8th inch devotional book that is comprised of both manuscript and printed elements. The book is written in French and is dated circa 1800 to 1825. The cover is created from recycled vellum, while the interior pages are mostly manuscript. In the middle of the book there are pages pasted in from one or more printed sources. Contents of the book mention an unnamed nun of the Benedictine order.
The outside vellum cover includes the text “egress in columb[a]e,” a phrase appearing in services for the Translation of Saint Benedict.
Manuscript pages contain headings relating to prayers or meditations and mentions several female saints, including Thecla, Agnes, Cecilia, Catharina, Agatha, Lucia, Barbara, mater Scholastica, Genovesa, Catharina, and Radegondi.
Pasted in material is dated circa the 17th or 18th centuries and appears to be from a daily prayer book.