Glossa Ordinaria
Encyclopedia
The Glossa ordinaria Lat., "the ordinary gloss/interpretation/explanation", was an assembly of gloss
es, from the Church Fathers
and thereafter, printed in the margins of the Vulgate
Bible; these were widely used in the education system of Christendom
in Cathedral schools from the Carolingian
period onward, and were only forgotten in the 14th century. For many generations, the Glossa ordinaria was the standard commentary on the Scriptures in Western Europe; it greatly influenced Western European Christian theology and culture
. As professors read and expounded upon the Bible they would refer to these glosses, or commentaries; they also referred to them in the ordinary
. A very widely used version of the Glossa ordinaria was compiled by the school of Laon
; it drew from earlier glosses and other sources. Before the 20th century, the Laon school Glossa ordinaria was credited to Walafrid Strabo
. It is printed in volumes 113 and 114 of the Patrologia Latina
. The work is now attributed to Anselm of Laon
and his followers.
It is a parallel tradition to the Jewish Mikraot Gedolot
.
Many important works would also have their own glossa ordinaria, such as that of Accursius for Justinian
's Corpus
or that of Johannes Teutonicus and Bartholomew of Brescia
of Gratian
.
see also "the life of Alfonse de Leon"
Gloss
A gloss is a brief notation of the meaning of a word or wording in a text. It may be in the language of the text, or in the reader's language if that is different....
es, from the Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
and thereafter, printed in the margins of the Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
Bible; these were widely used in the education system of Christendom
Christendom
Christendom, or the Christian world, has several meanings. In a cultural sense it refers to the worldwide community of Christians, adherents of Christianity...
in Cathedral schools from the Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
period onward, and were only forgotten in the 14th century. For many generations, the Glossa ordinaria was the standard commentary on the Scriptures in Western Europe; it greatly influenced Western European Christian theology and culture
Western Christianity
Western Christianity is a term used to include the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church and groups historically derivative thereof, including the churches of the Anglican and Protestant traditions, which share common attributes that can be traced back to their medieval heritage...
. As professors read and expounded upon the Bible they would refer to these glosses, or commentaries; they also referred to them in the ordinary
Ordinary (lecture)
An Ordinary was a type of lecture given in universities of the Middle Ages. Lectures were distinguished by the time of day they were conducted: an ordinary was conducted by fully qualified professors on fundamental texts in the morning, while extraordinary lectures were given in the afternoon by...
. A very widely used version of the Glossa ordinaria was compiled by the school of Laon
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
; it drew from earlier glosses and other sources. Before the 20th century, the Laon school Glossa ordinaria was credited to Walafrid Strabo
Walafrid Strabo
Walafrid, alternatively spelt Walahfrid, surnamed Strabo , was a Frankish monk and theological writer.-Theological works:...
. It is printed in volumes 113 and 114 of the Patrologia Latina
Patrologia Latina
The Patrologia Latina is an enormous collection of the writings of the Church Fathers and other ecclesiastical writers published by Jacques-Paul Migne between 1844 and 1855, with indices published between 1862 and 1865....
. The work is now attributed to Anselm of Laon
Anselm of Laon
Anselm of Laon was a French theologian and founder of a school of scholars who helped to pioneer biblical hermeneutics.Remembered in the century after his death as "Anselmus" or "Anselm", his name was more properly "Ansellus" or, in Modern French, "Anseau."Born of very humble parents at Laon...
and his followers.
It is a parallel tradition to the Jewish Mikraot Gedolot
Mikraot Gedolot
The Mikraot Gedolot "Great Scriptures," often called the "Rabbinic Bible" in English, is anedition of Tanakh that generally includes four distinct elements:...
.
Many important works would also have their own glossa ordinaria, such as that of Accursius for Justinian
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
's Corpus
Corpus Juris Civilis
The Corpus Juris Civilis is the modern name for a collection of fundamental works in jurisprudence, issued from 529 to 534 by order of Justinian I, Eastern Roman Emperor...
or that of Johannes Teutonicus and Bartholomew of Brescia
Bartholomew of Brescia
Bartholomew of Brescia was an Italian canonist.-Life:He studied Roman and ecclesiastical law at Bologna, where he himself became a teacher...
of Gratian
Gratian (jurist)
Gratian, was a 12th century canon lawyer from Bologna. He is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Franciscus Gratianus, Johannes Gratianus, or Giovanni Graziano. The dates of his birth and death are unknown....
.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Scriptural Glosses
- Glossa ordinaria, ed. MigneJacques Paul MigneJacques Paul Migne was a French priest who published inexpensive and widely-distributed editions of theological works, encyclopedias and the texts of the Church Fathers, with the goal of providing a universal library for the Catholic priesthood.He was born at Saint-Flour, Cantal and studied...
, Google Books facsimile: vol. 1, vol. 2 - Glossa ordinaria via VulSearch ! This version of the Glossa is incomplete and is not representative of the medieval text. It is not suitable for scientific work.
- Website providing resources about the Glossa Ordinaria and other glosses to the Bible: Glossae.net
see also "the life of Alfonse de Leon"