Candidate: Michael Thomas Martin

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: History

Title: The Italian Homiliary: Texts and Contexts

Committee: Dr. Thomas Amos, Chair
Dr. Rozanne Elder
Dr. Rand Johnson
Dr. Thomas Hall

Date: Thursday, October 7, 2004 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Rare Books Room, Waldo Library

Abstract: By studying smaller, independent sermon collections, such as the Italian Homiliary , I hope to discover the true Carolingian sermonary genre (one which combines originality with tradition) and its necessary contribution to early medieval studies and the phenomena of popular preaching. The sermons' author (rather than a compiler) combines original material with sources, and the sermons discuss themes central to the reform of religion by the Carolingians. It is precisely this sort of collection ( Carolingian sermons), rather than patristic compilations, which should be regarded as typical of the period. Through establishing a working text and analyzing materials found in these sermons, I hope to sustain this Theses, and thus contribute in an original way to our better understanding of Carolingian religious, cultural and social ideas.

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