Likely France, early to mid-14th century. (135 x 105 mm) Latin. 16 lines of well formed Gothic script with hairline extensions, bifurcation of ascenders. One 2-line illuminated initial with ivy vine decoration extending into the margin. Ruled lightly in pink. Twelve 1-line illuminated initials with blue and pink backgrounds. Text: Luke 1:68-79, John 11:25
This leaf comprises a complete prayer, the Benedictus Canticle, concluding in one of the most well-known statements of the Christian faith: “I am the resurrection and the life, all who live and believe in me shall never die.”
Benedictus [Dominus] Deus Israhel
quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suae
et erexit cornu salutis nobis
in domo David pueri sui
sicut locutus est per os sanctorum
qui a saeculo sunt prophetarum eius
salutem ex inimicis nostris
et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos
ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris
et memorari testamenti sui sancti
iusiurandum quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum
daturum se nobis
ut sine timore de manu inimicorum nostrorum
liberati serviamus illi
in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso
omnibus diebus nostris
et tu puer propheta Altissimi vocaberis
praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius
ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius
in remissionem peccatorum eorum
per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri
in quibus visitavit nos oriens ex alto
illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent
ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
Requiem.
Ego sum resurrectio et vita et omnis qui vivit et credit in me, non morietur.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;
because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:
To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,
The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:
To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.
I am the resurrection and the life and all who live and believe in me, shall not die.
MB366