Fribourg/Freiburg, Couvent des Cordeliers/Franziskanerkloster
The library of the Franciscan Monastery is a private library; it joined RERO (the network of libraries of Western Switzerland and union catalog) in 2013. The library contains about 35,000 volumes, 10,000 of which date from before 1900. The majority of the books can be accessed via a card catalog. The old library can be traced back to Guardian Friedrich von Amberg; 18 of his volumes have been preserved. During the monastery’s golden age in the 15th century, the superiors collected mainly sermon and study literature. The Franciscan Monastery was able to preserve its library on site; it contains 80 medieval and 100 post-medieval volumes of manuscripts (not catalogued), as well as 136 incunabula and 80 post-incunabula.
This composite manuscript consists of four parts, the oldest of which is dated 1416 (Part 2). It contains sermons and other short texts related to pastoral care. Parts 3 and 4 originally belonged to the Strasbourg monk Johannes Rüeffel, who wrote them during his studies in England and in 1446 in his home town. They include introductions to scholastic philosophy and quaestiones. Part 1 with French-Latin translation exercises and other school texts probably originated around the middle of the 15th century in the area around Fribourg i. Ue. The volume was probably compiled by Jean Joly, guardian of the Franciscan monastery of Fribourg.
Online Since: 12/10/2020
Collection of anonymous sermons (Quadragesima) from the early 14th century, containing 96 sermons. The foliation by Friedrich von Amberg (guardian in Fribourg, † 1432) indicates that the manuscript is incomplete. Catchwords by Friedrich von Amberg, ownership note f. 115v. Typical white leather binding from the Franciscan workshop, non-restored chained volume (cf. ms. 66).
Online Since: 12/14/2017
Codex 25, a paper manuscript from the middle of the 15th century, consists of two separate codicological textual units. The first contains an average quality copy (and selection) of the most important and earliest work of the Dominican Johannes Herolt, known as “Discipulus” (d. 1468): De eruditione Christifidelium. The second textual unit was written in 1455 by the scribe Franciscus de Gallandia from Yvonand. It goes by the title Fabulae moralizatate and consists of 122 Latin fables taken from various sources from antiquity, presented in the form of dialogs. Magninus Mediolanensis (d. 1376) and Nicolaus Pergamenus are identified as the authors. Beginning with the first print edition (1480) the Fabulae moralizatae were re-named Dialogus creaturarum optime moralizatus.
Online Since: 10/04/2011
During his studies in Avignon, Jean Joly (Guardian of the Franciscan Convent of Fribourg 1467-1469, 1472-1478, 1481-1510) prepared this copy of the Quaestiones in quattuor libros sententiarum by Peter of Aquila, an Italian Franciscan theologian who lectured at Paris in the 1330s. His commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard earned him the nickname “Scotellus” for his accessible presentation of the doctrine of John Duns Scotus (d. 1308). The wooden-board binding and formerly chained volume from the fifteenth century was restored by Carole Jeanneret in 2022.
Online Since: 12/20/2023
Excerpts from Bonaventure's commentary on Peter Lombardus' Sentences, written by the Franciscan Heinrich von Isny (Bishop of Basel, 1275-1286). Ownership note on f.1r (Johannes Joly). Colophons f. 336vb (frater Henricus), f. 337ra (Antonius de Maasmünster, scribe, 1478), f. 352ra (Johannes Joly, scribe, 1478). Former chained book with pressed leather cover of the 15th century.
Online Since: 06/14/2018
Antiphonary from the Franciscan Monastery of Fribourg, dated 1488 according to the colophon f. 214v. Drolleries are drawn in the margins and by the initials. The manuscript contains a miniature (f. 14v, birth of Christ) and beautiful initials (flowers, fruit, zucchini), attributed to the Master of the breviary of Jost von Silenen.
Online Since: 04/09/2014