The oldest necrology of the Franciscan Monastery of Lucerne has not survived; KF 80 is the second necrology and includes parts of the lost first volume; the entries go up to 1734. Two important donor families, who were particularly close to the monastery, were remembered specifically in a separate section with their family coats of arms: the Martin family (fol. 17v) and the Sonnenberg family (fol. 62-63v). After the dissolution of the monastery, this volume, along with the monastery archives, became part of the state archives in 1838. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

Together with the “Schwarzbuch” (KU 4b), this urbarium offers a comprehensive overview of the rights and possessions of the Cistercian Abbey, which reached its economic peak in the second half of the 15th century. Copies of documents and compilations of rights and dues, organized according to geographic criteria, demonstrate the size of the abbey’s possessions. The “Weissbuch” covers the core of St. Urban’s manorial power around Pfaffnau and Roggliswil and in the Bernese Upper Aargau region. After the dissolution of the monastery, this volume, along with the monastery archives, became part of the state archives in 1848. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

Together with the “Weissbuch” (KU 4a), this urbarium offers a comprehensive overview of the rights and possessions of the Cistercian Abbey, which reached its economic peak in the second half of the 15th century. Copies of documents and compilations of rights and dues, organized according to geographic criteria, demonstrate the size of the abbey’s possessions. The “Schwarzbuch” contains sources regarding possessions in the administrative area of Zofingen and Sursee, which reached into the Canton of Solothurn and the Basel area. After the dissolution of the monastery, this volume, along with the monastery archives, became part of the state archives in 1848. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

The oldest necrology of St. Urban’s Abbey, in a 16th century binding with wooden boards, has unfortunately survived only in fragments. The first part (fol. 3-14v) consist of the abbey’s necrology; the second part contains the incomplete Liber anniversariorum benefactorum (only Jan. 1-12, May 1 - Sept. 1, Sept. 4-7, Sept. 22 - Dec. 31) with supplements; the third part comprises the Officium defunctorum, a litany and supplements with a register of members of the abbey’s lay brotherhood. After the dissolution of the monastery, this volume, along with the monastery archives, became part of the state archives in 1848. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

The precarious condition of this volume (missing its binding and several quires, with the sewing dissolved and with discoloration caused by various substances) indicates that it was intensively used for a long period of time. The recipes from different areas (human and veterinary medicine, kitchen) are from the 15th-17th century. This manuscript was deposited in the state archives along with the archives of the patrician family Balthasar from Lucerne. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

The exact origin of this manuscript is unknown; the script and the language suggest that it was created in the Southern Alemannic region. The contents covering astrology, grafting trees, bleeding, advice regarding health, urology and recipes for the most part are taken from well-known sources and mostly correspond to Codex 102b of the Zentralbibliothek Zurich. The author probably did not come from an academic background, but must rather have been a medical practitioner. In this sense, the volume can be characterized as a “house book of folk medicine”, probably the oldest of its kind. It is also considered the oldest source for the so-called “iatromathematical corpus”. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

By his own account, Hans von Hinwil, lord of Elgg castle (1498-1544), wrote his family book in the year 1541. An introduction to the history of the family is followed by the coats of arms of his ancestors in chronological order. This manuscript can be compared with other well-known family books such as those of the lords of Eptingen or the lords of Hallwyl; however, for Eastern Switzerland it constitutes a unique example among the nobility of the formation of tradition in words and in images. (jag)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

This is the only know work of monogrammist B.G.; it was created in 1557 for Abbot Peter I. Eichhorn (†1563) of Wettingen Abbey. While most of the many initials are based on woodcuts by Bernard Salomon (Quadrins historiques de la Bible, Lyon 1553), the painter composed the decoration of the margins independently and very charmingly with allusions to the name of the client (Eichhorn = squirrel) who commissioned the work as well as to a motif of geese. (jag)

Online Since: 10/10/2019

This antiphonary from the 2nd half of the 14th century includes the texts from Pentecost to the end of the liturgical year, as well as the corresponding saints’ days and texts for the Commune sanctorum. The origin is unknown, but based on the inclusion of certain saints’ days, the manuscript originated in the Cologne area. Written in a uniform script, with neumes on four lines throughout and a few later additions with neumes on five lines; signs of usage and later notes. Five larger and five smaller initials are covered in gold leaf, and in addition there are 36 plainer initials; all initial letters are set off in red or blue, the rubrics are in red. A father from Marienstein, who worked at the Kollegium of Altdorf, received the manuscript second-hand. From there the manuscript came to Mariastein in 1981. Not published. (sck)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

This codex from the end of the 15th century contains several appealing initials and select shorter works by Bernard of Clairvaux. Among them are also several works attributed to Bernard. The scribe ist the Cistercian Johannes Fabri, professed member of the monastery of Heilbronn. According to an old entry (17th century?), the book belonged to Beinwil Abbey, which was relocated to Mariastein in 1648. (sck)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

Texts in German, written in the middle of the 15th century, for use in the nuns’ convent of Maria Magdalena in den Steinen in Basel. Later the book belonged to Olsberg Abbey. It contains spiritual texts by various authors, also sermons for Sundays and holidays, as well as legends of the saints. Mariastein Abbey acquired the book at a Basel auction around 1820. The sermon for the Assumption of Mary on Fol. 194r-198v can be found in a printed version in ZSKG 4, 1910, pp. 205-212 or 207-212, based on a copy therefrom by P. Anselm Dietler of Mariastein (died 1864). (sck)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

This booklet, written by a single hand around the middle of the 15th century, was used for the prayer of the little hours at the Schönsteinbach Convent of Dominican nuns in Upper Alsace. It contains the texts of the Proprium de tempore and of the Commune Sanctorum. The last part contains the Ordinarium, but it is incomplete. Philipp Jakob Steyrer, Abbot of St Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest, purchased the book in 1781; through him, it came to Mariastein Abbey. (sck)

Online Since: 09/26/2017

This booklet, with notes and decorated with three initials, contains the texts for the Office of the Dead, the seven penitential psalms, and prayers for a deceased Dominican nun, probably in the convent in Colmar. Judging by the script, it is from the first half of the 15th century. The book belonged to Sister Martha Gosslerin. In 1782 it was acquired by Philipp Jakob Steyrer, Abbot of St Peter's Abbey in the Black Forest; through him, the booklet came to Mariastein Abbey. (sck)

Online Since: 09/26/2017

This composite manuscript from the middle of the 15th century is from the Augustinian hermitage in Basel. Since 1470, several brothers there cared for the pilgrimage site Mariastein. This volume was probably left there and was found by the monks from Beinwil, when they took over the pilgrimage site in 1636. It contains, among others, sacred (S. Bonaventura), profane (Cicero, Sallust), historical (Piccolomini/Pius II.) and rhetorical (Laurentius de Aquileja) texts. The second part of the volume, containing the Rhetorica , was written in 1465/66 by the Augustinian Matthias Glaser from Breisach in Basel. A fragment glued to the interior of the front cover gives information regarding the content of the volume. (sck)

Online Since: 09/26/2017

This parchment manuscript, which was created around 1460, is in small octavo format and consists of 14 leaves with writing. The central part of the manuscript contains the Story of the Holy Blood, which was written in Latin around 1460 by Hans Rabustan, chaplain of Santa Maria. The event described is said to have occurred in the time of Abbess Adelheid I (1211-1233). According to the account, important to the history of piety, the nun Agnes, daughter of a knight from Sent in the lower Engadine, received the Eucharistic Host one Holy Thursday, with a dubious conscience; she did not eat it however, hiding it instead in her veil and then storing it in her little chest. Thereafter the host transformed into flesh and blood. This is the origin of the pilgrimage to the Holy Blood at Müstair. Appended to the narrative text are regesta of documents concerning the cult of the Holy Blood. (ack)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

This small work contains suggestions for receiving Holy Communion with devotion. They are imbued with the spirit of German mysticism and thus have as their goal the union with God. (ack)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

This paper manuscript from 1509 is written in a late Gothic minuscule with initials executed in red. The ritual for the profession was adopted by another Benedictine monastery. It contains all elements of the ceremony, such as the formula for profession, the litany of saints and the orations. The rubrics (instructions) are in German, while the prayers are in Latin. (ack)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

This 15th century devotional book consists of 27 leaves. It contains texts for the Liturgy of the Hours. These are followed by the Litany of the Saints titled "Letania in der Vasten", which lists almost one hundred saints. Next there are intercessory prayers for the poor, for prisoners, for the sick, for pilgrims, for the deceased and others. Finally, there are prayers of praise and supplication, as well as a prayer for the veneration of the Holy Cross. (ack)

Online Since: 06/22/2017

Register of ownership compiled in 1394, at the behest of Abbess Luzia I, by the notary Jakob von Schluderns; a fair copy was written on parchment by his son Peter. The register records 517 leaseholds in 36 localities. The ornamentation is simple, but beautifully executed. Important are two large figures in color, representing John the Baptist as patron and Charlemagne as founder of the monastery. Valuable from the point of view of historical linguistics is a passage in the vernacular that is copied in the urbarium as part of a Latin document from 1389. This is the oldest testimony of the Romansh language of the Engadine, or rather of the Val Müstair. (ack)

Online Since: 09/26/2017

Urbarium compiled in 1418 by the notary Jakob von Schluderns and written by his son Peter. This is one of three registers of ownership compiled during the tenure of Abbess Agnes II. Kytz (1418-1436); it not only gives information about the status of the monastery’s possessions, but also makes clear how hard the abbess strove to preserve them. (ack)

Online Since: 09/26/2017