The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church
The First Part Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Aelfric in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version

This two-volume collection, published 1844–6, contains transcriptions and translations of the Sermones Catholici by Ælfric of Eynsham (c.950–c.1010).

Ælfric Abbot of Eynsham (Author), Benjamin Thorpe (Edited and translated by)

9781108061100, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 22 August 2013

644 pages
21.6 x 3.6 x 14 cm, 0.81 kg

The writings of Ælfric of Eynsham (c.950–c.1010) are among the most important to survive from Anglo-Saxon England. He was shaped by tenth-century monastic reform, and his promotion of Old English was highly influential. His earliest known works, the Sermones Catholici (c.990–5), are adaptations of Latin texts rendered in Old English. The homilies draw on the gospels, saints' lives and other doctrinal themes. They were intended to be delivered over two years. This two-volume collection, first published between 1844 and 1846, contains transcriptions of the Old English texts with facing-page translations by Benjamin Thorpe (1781/2–1870). A well-respected scholar with a strong interest in promoting the study of Old English, Thorpe produced an important edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for the Rolls Series (also reissued in this series). Volume 1 of the present work contains the sermons for the first year, focusing on important events in the church calendar.

Preface
1. On the beginning of creation
2. On the nativity of Our Lord
3. The passion of the Blessed Stephen protomartyr
4. The assumption of St John the Apostle
5. The nativity of the Innocents
6. The octaves and circumcision of Our Lord
7. The epiphany of Our Lord
8. The third Sunday after the Lord's epiphany
9. On the purification of St Mary
10. Shrove Tuesday
11. The first Sunday in Lent
12. Midlent Sunday
13. The annunciation of St Mary
14. For Palm Sunday
15. Easter Sunday
16. The first Sunday after Easter
17. The second Sunday after Easter
18. On the greater litany
19. On the Lord's prayer
20. Of the Catholic faith
21. On the Lord's ascension
22. On the holy day of Pentecost
23. The second Sunday after Pentecost
24. The fourth Sunday after Pentecost
25. The nativity of St John the Baptist
26. The passion of the apostles Peter and Paul
27. The nativity of St Paul the apostle
28. The eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
29. The passion of the blessed martyr Lawrence
30. On the assumption of the blessed Mary
31. The passion of St Bartholomew the apostle
32. The decollation of St John the Baptist
33. The seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
34. Dedication of the church of St Michael the Archangel
35. The twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
36. The nativity of All Saints
37. The nativity of St Clement the martyr
38. The nativity of St Andrew the apostle
39. The first Sunday in the Lord's advent
40. The second Sunday in the Lord's advent
Notes.

Subject Areas: Theology [HRLB]