Abstract

The Herwagen preacher and the homiliary which preserves his work are unique witnesses to spiritual life in Southern Germany during the eleventh century. The preacher’s collection represents one of the most coherent series of sanctoral and penitential sermons surviving from this period. Their simple style and lay focus makes these homilies especially noteworthy. Due partly to his pseudonymous character, the work of the Herwagen preacher has influenced little historical research on medieval preaching, on the Gregorian reform, on the development of the liturgical calendar, or on the reception of Late Antique hagiography during the Middle Ages. Scholars could profitably read other major sermon collections of the eleventh century, such as the works of Ælfric of Eynsham or Peter Damian, in comparison with the Herwagen series. Hopefully, a clearer understanding of this preacher’s origins and corpus will better integrate him into the larger picture of his times.

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