corey Nason | Ottawa University (original) (raw)

Papers by corey Nason

Paul the Deacon in his Liber de episcopis Mettensibus relates an origin myth about the Carolingia... more Paul the Deacon in his Liber de episcopis Mettensibus relates an origin myth about the Carolingian dynasty. This myth consisted of two elements that the Carolingians were descendants of the Trojans through Aeneas and that they were also descended from St. Arnulf of Metz. The historical sources available to Paul the Deacon (Fredegar Chronicles, Historia vel Gesta Francorum, Liber historiae Francorum, and Vita sancti Arnulfi) are surveyed in order to determine the derivation of Paul’s ideas. The conclusion is reached that the origin myth was a literary concoction of Paul the Deacon based on pre-existing traditions. Those traditions were literary, legendary, and local in nature.

Preliminary PhD thesis proposal submitted to the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, Ot... more Preliminary PhD thesis proposal submitted to the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, Ottawa University. The proposed research focuses on the ecclesiastical province of Trier (Trier, Metz, Toul, and Verdun). The study will examine the lives of the higher clergy in the period 768 until 869. This is a time period that corresponds to the creation of the province by Charlemagne until its dissolution following the death of Lothar II.

Sacris Erudiri, 2015

This study examines the Vita Sancti Arnulfi (BHL 689-692), an anonymous hagiographical life of Sa... more This study examines the Vita Sancti Arnulfi (BHL 689-692), an anonymous hagiographical life of Saint Arnulf of Metz who was a seventh century bishop of that city. The approach taken emphasizes the religious context of the work in an attempt to make known how contemporaries would have understood the narrative. The analysis begins with an examination of the manuscript evidence. The early manuscripts dating before the twelfth century are categorized on the basis of contents and function into three groups: (i) monastic legendary or miracle collections, (ii) collections of a local interest focused upon Metz, and (iii) liturgical collections. The discussion then turns to an examination of the text of the Vita dealing with such questions as the intended audience and the hagiographer's purpose in writing. Finally, the way in which the Vita was used is summarized and its influence on the hagiographical tradition is assessed. Some conclusions reached are the dating of the composition of the work to the last half of the seventh century and identifying the place of composition within a monastic community in the Vosges and Messin region that was influenced by the Irish monastic tradition. The Abbey of Remiremont is suggested as a possible site. An argument is made that the Vita was the focal point of the liturgical veneration of Saint Arnulf serving in a similar manner as did relics within the cult of relics.

Revue Benedictine, 2014

The cult of Saint Arnulf developed at Metz soon after his death around the year A.D. 642. Yet no ... more The cult of Saint Arnulf developed at Metz soon after his death around the year A.D. 642. Yet no evidence exists until the mid-ninth century for a Mass to celebrate his feast day. Through an examination of the iconography of the historiated initial D found in the Drogo Sacramentary, as well as the texts of the prayers themselves, it is argued here that such a Mass was composed under the instigation of Bishop Angilram of Metz. Angilram served as archchaplain to Charlemagne at a time when the prestige of Metz was in decline. This loss of position for Metz in combination with the restrictive policy of Charlemagne toward the cult of Saints suggests that Angilram's motivation was to protect the cult of a local saint for which he had a duty of care as the bishop of Metz.

Revue Benedictine, 2004

The Mass Commentary Dominus Vobiscum: Its Textual Transmission and the Question of Authorship Thi... more The Mass Commentary Dominus Vobiscum: Its Textual Transmission and the Question of Authorship This essay is based on the research for my M.A. thesis of the same title supervised by the late Roger E. Reynolds in 1977. The Dominus Vobiscum is an exegesis on the Mass and is one of a group of commentaries known collectively as the expositiones missae. These commentaries were very influential until the eleventh century when their significance was overtaken by the works of Ivo of Chartres and Bernold of Constance. Susan Keefe in her exhaustive examination of baptismal tracts, research also supervised by Roger Reynolds, showed that Carolingian liturgical exegesis was an expression of the bishop's role in clerical education. An argument is made from the extent corpus of manuscripts and the literary style of the piece that the work should be attributed to Alcuin of York.

Archiv fuer Liturgiewissenschaft, 2003

The Missa pro principe is found in the Bobbio Missal from the beginning of the eighth century. Th... more The Missa pro principe is found in the Bobbio Missal from the beginning of the eighth century. This essay explores the connection between liturgy and politics in Merovingian Gaul. I suggest that the historical context of the Mass is the emergence of Charles Martel.

Reviews by corey Nason

Review of Jamie Kreiner. The Social Life of Hagiography in the Merovingian Kingdom. Cambridge Stu... more Review of Jamie Kreiner. The Social Life of Hagiography in the Merovingian Kingdom. Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought; 4th ser., v. 96. Cambridge: CUP, 2014.

Paul the Deacon in his Liber de episcopis Mettensibus relates an origin myth about the Carolingia... more Paul the Deacon in his Liber de episcopis Mettensibus relates an origin myth about the Carolingian dynasty. This myth consisted of two elements that the Carolingians were descendants of the Trojans through Aeneas and that they were also descended from St. Arnulf of Metz. The historical sources available to Paul the Deacon (Fredegar Chronicles, Historia vel Gesta Francorum, Liber historiae Francorum, and Vita sancti Arnulfi) are surveyed in order to determine the derivation of Paul’s ideas. The conclusion is reached that the origin myth was a literary concoction of Paul the Deacon based on pre-existing traditions. Those traditions were literary, legendary, and local in nature.

Preliminary PhD thesis proposal submitted to the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, Ot... more Preliminary PhD thesis proposal submitted to the Department of Classics and Religious Studies, Ottawa University. The proposed research focuses on the ecclesiastical province of Trier (Trier, Metz, Toul, and Verdun). The study will examine the lives of the higher clergy in the period 768 until 869. This is a time period that corresponds to the creation of the province by Charlemagne until its dissolution following the death of Lothar II.

Sacris Erudiri, 2015

This study examines the Vita Sancti Arnulfi (BHL 689-692), an anonymous hagiographical life of Sa... more This study examines the Vita Sancti Arnulfi (BHL 689-692), an anonymous hagiographical life of Saint Arnulf of Metz who was a seventh century bishop of that city. The approach taken emphasizes the religious context of the work in an attempt to make known how contemporaries would have understood the narrative. The analysis begins with an examination of the manuscript evidence. The early manuscripts dating before the twelfth century are categorized on the basis of contents and function into three groups: (i) monastic legendary or miracle collections, (ii) collections of a local interest focused upon Metz, and (iii) liturgical collections. The discussion then turns to an examination of the text of the Vita dealing with such questions as the intended audience and the hagiographer's purpose in writing. Finally, the way in which the Vita was used is summarized and its influence on the hagiographical tradition is assessed. Some conclusions reached are the dating of the composition of the work to the last half of the seventh century and identifying the place of composition within a monastic community in the Vosges and Messin region that was influenced by the Irish monastic tradition. The Abbey of Remiremont is suggested as a possible site. An argument is made that the Vita was the focal point of the liturgical veneration of Saint Arnulf serving in a similar manner as did relics within the cult of relics.

Revue Benedictine, 2014

The cult of Saint Arnulf developed at Metz soon after his death around the year A.D. 642. Yet no ... more The cult of Saint Arnulf developed at Metz soon after his death around the year A.D. 642. Yet no evidence exists until the mid-ninth century for a Mass to celebrate his feast day. Through an examination of the iconography of the historiated initial D found in the Drogo Sacramentary, as well as the texts of the prayers themselves, it is argued here that such a Mass was composed under the instigation of Bishop Angilram of Metz. Angilram served as archchaplain to Charlemagne at a time when the prestige of Metz was in decline. This loss of position for Metz in combination with the restrictive policy of Charlemagne toward the cult of Saints suggests that Angilram's motivation was to protect the cult of a local saint for which he had a duty of care as the bishop of Metz.

Revue Benedictine, 2004

The Mass Commentary Dominus Vobiscum: Its Textual Transmission and the Question of Authorship Thi... more The Mass Commentary Dominus Vobiscum: Its Textual Transmission and the Question of Authorship This essay is based on the research for my M.A. thesis of the same title supervised by the late Roger E. Reynolds in 1977. The Dominus Vobiscum is an exegesis on the Mass and is one of a group of commentaries known collectively as the expositiones missae. These commentaries were very influential until the eleventh century when their significance was overtaken by the works of Ivo of Chartres and Bernold of Constance. Susan Keefe in her exhaustive examination of baptismal tracts, research also supervised by Roger Reynolds, showed that Carolingian liturgical exegesis was an expression of the bishop's role in clerical education. An argument is made from the extent corpus of manuscripts and the literary style of the piece that the work should be attributed to Alcuin of York.

Archiv fuer Liturgiewissenschaft, 2003

The Missa pro principe is found in the Bobbio Missal from the beginning of the eighth century. Th... more The Missa pro principe is found in the Bobbio Missal from the beginning of the eighth century. This essay explores the connection between liturgy and politics in Merovingian Gaul. I suggest that the historical context of the Mass is the emergence of Charles Martel.

Review of Jamie Kreiner. The Social Life of Hagiography in the Merovingian Kingdom. Cambridge Stu... more Review of Jamie Kreiner. The Social Life of Hagiography in the Merovingian Kingdom. Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought; 4th ser., v. 96. Cambridge: CUP, 2014.