The Christology of the Anglo-Saxon Homilies

239 Pages·2013·1.47 MB·English

by  Naomi Ruth Bennett

The Christology of the
Anglo-Saxon Homilies

Naomi Ruth Bennett

Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic
Corpus Christi College
University of Cambridge

A Dissertation Submitted for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy in 2012.
To Tom, with love

Scio enim quod redemptor meus vivat
Job 19.25

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DECLARATIONS

This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work
done in collaboration.

The dissertation does not exceed the regulation length, including footnotes and references, but
excluding the bibliography.

This dissertation is written in conformance with the ASNC style-sheet.

Naomi Ruth Bennett
12/12/12

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The Christology of the Anglo-Saxon Homilies Naomi Bennett

ABSTRACT

This thesis examines the representations of Christ in the Old English homilies, by analysing as
separate groups the homilies of Ælfric, Wulfstan, and the anonymous collections in the Blickling
Homiliary and the Vercelli Book. The introduction outlines the background and contexts of the
homilies, their significance, and previous work in the field. A definition of Christology is given for
this context, as well as a brief examination of the Christology of other Old English texts.
The chapters of the thesis follow rough chronological order, beginning with the Blickling
Homiliary. Although this homiliary is incomplete and its homilies are anonymous, one can gain some
sense of the compiler’s attitudes, and it is a valuable record of preaching at the time. The majority of
the homilies are for penitential feasts, and due to this penitential purpose there is an emphasis on
Christ’s future role as Judge, rather than a personal relationship with Christ. Christ is a fairly
abstracted and inactive figure, more divine than human, and his involvement in the world is often
represented by intermediaries, such as the saints. Nonetheless the image of Christ is on the whole a
gently compassionate one, with the homilists’ overall goal being to encourage listeners to emulate
Christ and his saints in order to be with them in Heaven. The collection’s anonymity and early date
suggests a more popular conception of Christ than some of the later, more deliberate collections.
The Vercelli Book, of which the content is also anonymous and roughly contemporary with
the Blickling Book, exhibits perhaps the most uniform Christology of any of the Old English homily
collections. Whereas the Blickling Homiliary follows the sequence of the Church’s calendar, the
compiler of the Vercelli Book made what is effectively a florilegium and thus had greater freedom to
choose texts to fit his intended message for the collection as a whole. The Vercelli Book focuses
heavily, though not exclusively, on penance and judgement, and Christ is most often portrayed as an
enthroned judge, whilst the judgement itself rests less upon him than on an individual’s actions and
the petitioners’ pleas. There is little emphasis on Christ’s life, though the saints’ actions reflect his
teachings. The poetry of the Vercelli Book is also examined where relevant.
Ælfric’s portrayal of Christ is both comprehensive and consistent. With a strong focus on
scripture, Christ takes more of a predominant role. Augustine’s heavy influence brings with it the
notion of grace, which allows Ælfric to focus more on the Bible’s positive messages, and less on
eschatology. Ælfric depicts Christ particularly as Redeemer, significant both for individuals and
humankind; his portrayal has the same gentleness as that of the Blickling Homiliary. The homilies
follow the liturgical calendar, hence their wide scope. Ælfric’s varied yet deliberate presentation of
Christ exemplifies his broad theological aims and his use of a wide range of sources. His homilies
aimed to evoke a response from his listeners, in penitential acts, praise of God, receiving the
sacraments, and thus meriting salvation.
Wulfstan’s relatively succinct corpus of homilies spends little time on the gospels, and
emphasises far more the need to live a good Christian life, through education in prayer, the catechism
and creed. God is usually the background authority figure, with the Antichrist often taking a more
prominent and defined role than Christ. Even so, the legalistic and authoritative divinity can be
associated with Christ, who must be appeased for fear of the end of the world and imminent
judgement, and who also mirrors the earthly rulers with whom Wulfstan would have interacted on a
regular basis.
In conclusion, I have found that the depiction of Christ is a telling reflection of the intents and
styles of each homilist or collator. Whilst the anonymous homilies may show contradictions, the
overall trajectory is coherent, and both Wulfstan and Ælfric exhibit consistent and deliberate
Christologies, usually distinct from their theologies. The depiction of Christ is by no means uniform,
but reflects both a wide range of sources and images, and the abilities of the respective homilists to
adapt them to their own purposes, settings and audiences.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication i
Declarations ii
Abstract iii
Contents iv
Acknowledgements xi
Chapter I: Waldend and Wyrhta ealra Gesceafta: Introduction 1
Introduction 1
Christology 2
Anglo-Saxon Christology 3
Overview 3
Bede’s Christology 4
Previous work 7
Contribution of this thesis 11
Texts 12
Anonymous homilies 13
Sources 14
Patristic and Carolingian influence 14
Apocryphal texts and Irish influence 15
Biblical sources 15
Preaching in Anglo-Saxon England 16
Background 16
Old English homiletic literature 17
Production 18
Function 19
Teaching and delivery 20
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Content 20
Summary 21
Chapter II: Se Goldbloma: The Blickling Homiliary 22
Introduction 22
Overview 22
Purpose 23
Eschatology 24
Manuscript history 25
Language 26
Influences 26
Scope 27
Christology 27
Saints’ Lives 30
XIV. The Birth of John the Baptist (Sancte Iohannes Baptista Spel) 31
XV. The Passion of Peter and Paul (Spel be Petrus ond Paulus) 33
XVI. The Feast of St Michael the Archangel (To S. Michaheles Mæssan) 36
XVII. The Feast of St Martin (To Sancte Martines Mæssan) 38
XVIII. St Andrew (S. Andreas) 39
Summary 41
The Marian Homilies 41
I. Incarnation of the Lord (In Natali Domini) 42
XIII. Assumption of the Virgin Mary (S. Maria Mater Domini Nostri) 45
Summary 49
The Lenten Homilies 49
II Quinquagesima Sunday 50
III Dominica Prima in Quadragesima 53
IV Dominica Tertia in Quadragesima 56
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V Dominica V in Quadragesima 58
VI Palm Sunday 59
Summary 63
The Rogationtide Homilies 63
VIII Rogation Monday 64
IX Rogation Tuesday 65
X Rogation Wednesday 66
Summary 68
From Easter to Pentecost 68
VII Dominica Pascha 68
XI Ascension Thursday 71
XII Pentecost Sunday 74
Summary 76
Conclusions 77
Chapter III: Æfter his agenum gewyrhtum 7 geearnungum: The Vercelli Book 78
Introduction 78
The Vercelli Manuscript 78
Selection and Organisation of Homilies 81
Christ in the Homilies 82
Vercelli Poetry 83
Eschatological Homilies 84
Introduction 84
II. De Die Iudicii 84
IV. 85
Soul and Body I 87
VIII. 88
IX. 89
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X. 91
XV. Alia omelia de Die Iudicii 94
Summary 96
Exegetical/Liturgical Homilies 96
Introduction 96
I. De Parasceue 96
V and VI. 98
V. To Middanwintra. Ostende nobis Domine. 98
VI. Incipit narrare miracula 100
XVI. Omelia Epyffania Domini 101
XVII. De Purificatione Sancta[e] Maria[e] 104
Summary 105
Rogationtide Homilies 106
Introduction 106
XI. Spel to forman Gangdæge 106
XII. Spel to oðrum Gangdæge 107
XIII. Spel to þriddan Gangdæge 108
XIX, XX and XXI. 109
XIX. 109
XX. 111
Summary 113
Unspecified Homilies 113
Introduction 113
III. 114
VII. 115
XIV. Larspel to swylcere tide swa man wile. 116
XXII. 117
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Homiletic Fragment I 118
Summary 118
Saints’ Lives 119
Introduction 119
XVIII. De Sancto Martino Confessore 119
XXIII. 121
Hagiographic poetry 122
Andreas 123
Elene 125
Dream of the Rood 127
Summary 128
Conclusion 129
Chapter IV: We gelyfon on ðone ancennedan Godes Sunu, Hælend Crist, þone ðe se
Ælmihtiga Fæder for ure alysednysse asende: The Homilies of Ælfric 130
Introduction 130
Ælfric 130
Homiletic texts 131
Audience 133
Style 134
Adaptation of sources 135
Ælfric’s use of New Testament texts 138
Major topics 140
Theology 142
Ælfric’s Christ 142
Ælfric’s names for Christ 143
Christ’s role in Salvation History 145
Creation, and Christ’s two natures 147
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Redemption 148
Judgement 152
Practical Applications 153
Christological typology in Ælfric’s homilies: some examples 155
Conclusion 163
Chapter V: Crist is eallra cristenra heafod: The Homilies of Wulfstan 164
Introduction 164
Wulfstan’s homilies 164
Wulfstan 164
Edition 165
Homiletic texts 166
Other writing 168
Style 169
Theology 171
Adaptation of sources 171
Penance 172
Christ 173
Structure 174
The Eschatological Homilies 175
Christ 176
Who is Antichrist? 176
Allowing Antichrist power 178
What Antichrist does 180
Summary 180
Catechetical homilies 181
Xa, Xb and Xc. Her ongynð be Cristendome, etc. 182
XI Incipit de visione Isaie Prophete quam vidit super Iudam et Hierusalem 183
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