Of Visigothic heritage, Smaragdus was born in Spain around 770. He had moved to Francia by the first decade of the 9th century. Through a fellow immigrant Goth, Theodulf of Orléans, he was introduced to Charlemagne.[1] After serving as principal of the convent school of the monastery on Castellion, he was elected abbot about 805. Around 814, he moved his monks a few miles away and founded the monastery of Saint-Mihiel on the banks of the river Meuse, in the diocese of Verdun.
Charlemagne employed him to write the letter to Pope Leo III, in which was communicated the decision of the Council of Aachen (809) respecting the adoption of the filioque clause, and sent him to Rome with the commissioners to lay the matter before the pope. He acted as secretary, and drew up the protocol. Louis the Pious showed him equal consideration, endowed his monastery, and in 824 appointed him to act with Frothar of Toul as arbitrator between Ismund, abbot of Moyenmoutier Abbey, and his monks. Smaragdus died about 840.
Worksedit
His writings show diligence and piety. His published works in prose are:
Collections of Comments on the Epistle and Gospel for each holy day in the year, (Collectiones in epistolas et evangelia de tempore et de sanctis. Migne, CII. col 13-552. an uncritical but comprehensive compilation from numerous ecclesiastical writers, prepared for the use of preachers, and described by the author as a liber comitis.
Diadema monachorum (The Crown of Monks), a collection in one hundred chapters of ascetic rules and reflections concerning the principal duties and virtues of the monastic life. It is for the most part a compilation. The sources are the Collectiones patrum of Cassian and the writings of Gregory the Great. Smaragdus made it after his elevation to the abbotship and enjoined its daily evening reading upon his monks (PL 102:693). It proved to be a very popular work, was widely circulated during the Middle Age, and was repeatedly published in the early modern period.[2][3]
Commentaria in regulam Sancti Benedicti. A commentary upon the Rule of St Benedict undertaken in aid of the monastic reforms instituted by the Council of Aachen. It is characterised by great strictness.[4]
The Royal way (Via regia, ibid. col 933–970) dedicated to Louis the Pious while king of Aquitania. So Ebert, l.c. p. III, it consists of thirty-two chapters of moral and spiritual counsels, which if faithfully followed will conduct an earthly king into the heavenly kingdom. The work is really only an adaptation of the Diadem to the wants of the secular life.
Acts of the Roman conference (Acta collationis Romanae) Migne, CII. col. 971–976, the protocol already mentioned.
Epistle of Charles the Great to Leo the Pope upon the procession of the Holy Spirit (Epistola Caroli Magni ad Leonem Papam de processione Spiritus Sancti), Migne, XCVIII. col. 923–929. the letter mentioned above.
Epistle of Frotharius and Smaragdus to the Emperor Louis (Epistola Frotharii et Smaragdi ad Ludovicum Imperatorem), Migne, CVI. col, 865–866. the report of the arbitrators.
Liberin partibus Donati. A larger grammar or a commentary upon Donatus (Grammatica major seu commentarius in Donatum). This is his earliest work, written at the request of his scholars, probably between 800 and 805. It is still unprinted, except a small portion in Mabillon, Vetera analectam, Nov. ed. (Paris, 1723) pp. 357, 358.
There remain in manuscript a Commentary on the Prophets, and a History of the Monastery of St. Michael (cf. Mabillon, l.c.) Smaragdus also wrote poetry. Besides a hymn to Christ (Ebert, l.c. p. 112) there have been preserved his metrical introductions to his Collections and Commentary on the rule of St. Benedict, of which the first has twenty-nine lines in hexameter, and the second thirty-seven distichs.
Referencesedit
Text taken from Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume IV: Mediaeval Christianity. A.D. 590–1073, which is in the public domain; source at CCEL
^Francis X. Gumerlock, Carolingian Commentaries on the Apocalypse by Theodulf and Smaragdus (Medieval Institute Publications, 2019), p. 11. The New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature allows the possibility that Smaragdus was "perhaps Irish" but gives no further information for this.
^Paris, 1532, 1640; Antwerp, 1540; Bibliotheca Maxima, Lyons, 1677, Tom. XVI. pp. 1305–1342.
^The text is printed in Migne, PL 102:593–690. A translation is David Barry, The Crown of Monks, CS245, (Collegeville, MN: Cistercian Publications)
^Migne, PL, 102:689–932. A more recent Latin edition appeared in the 1970s. An English translation is David Barry, Commentary on the Rule of St Benedict, CS 212, (Kalamazoo, MI, 2007)
Further readingedit
B. Lofstedt, L. Holtz, A. Kibre (1986), Liber in partibus Donati by Smaragdus
Terrence Kardong, Jean Leclercq, Daniel M. LaCorte, David Barry (2008) Smaragdus of Saint-Mihiel: Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict (translation)
Smaragdus of Saint-Mihiel, The Crown of Monks, trans David Barry OSB. Cistercian Studies no. 245. (2013) [translation of Diadema Monachorum]
Jean Leclercq. La voie royale/le diadème des moines. La Pierre-qui-Vire, 1949 (French translation).
Smaragdus, abbas monasterii Sancti Michaelis Virdunensis: Opera omnia in Migne, Patrologia Latina, Tom. CII. cols. 9–980: with Pitra's notes, cols. 1111–1132.
His Carmina are in Dümmler, Poetae Latini aevi Carolini, I. 605–619.
Hauréau: Singularités historiques et littéraires. Paris, 1861 (pp. 100 sqq.)
H. Keil: De grammaticis quibusdam latinis infimae aetatis (Program) . Erlangen, 1868.
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Smaragdus of Saint Mihiel lt OSB c 770 c 840 was a Benedictine monk of Saint Mihiel Abbey near Verdun He was a significant writer of homilies and commentaries Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 Further readingLife editOf Visigothic heritage Smaragdus was born in Spain around 770 He had moved to Francia by the first decade of the 9th century Through a fellow immigrant Goth Theodulf of Orleans he was introduced to Charlemagne 1 After serving as principal of the convent school of the monastery on Castellion he was elected abbot about 805 Around 814 he moved his monks a few miles away and founded the monastery of Saint Mihiel on the banks of the river Meuse in the diocese of Verdun Charlemagne employed him to write the letter to Pope Leo III in which was communicated the decision of the Council of Aachen 809 respecting the adoption of the filioque clause and sent him to Rome with the commissioners to lay the matter before the pope He acted as secretary and drew up the protocol Louis the Pious showed him equal consideration endowed his monastery and in 824 appointed him to act with Frothar of Toul as arbitrator between Ismund abbot of Moyenmoutier Abbey and his monks Smaragdus died about 840 Works editHis writings show diligence and piety His published works in prose are Collections of Comments on the Epistle and Gospel for each holy day in the year Collectiones in epistolas et evangelia de tempore et de sanctis Migne CII col 13 552 an uncritical but comprehensive compilation from numerous ecclesiastical writers prepared for the use of preachers and described by the author as a liber comitis Diadema monachorum The Crown of Monks a collection in one hundred chapters of ascetic rules and reflections concerning the principal duties and virtues of the monastic life It is for the most part a compilation The sources are the Collectiones patrum of Cassian and the writings of Gregory the Great Smaragdus made it after his elevation to the abbotship and enjoined its daily evening reading upon his monks PL 102 693 It proved to be a very popular work was widely circulated during the Middle Age and was repeatedly published in the early modern period 2 3 Commentaria in regulam Sancti Benedicti A commentary upon the Rule of St Benedict undertaken in aid of the monastic reforms instituted by the Council of Aachen It is characterised by great strictness 4 The Royal way Via regia ibid col 933 970 dedicated to Louis the Pious while king of Aquitania So Ebert l c p III it consists of thirty two chapters of moral and spiritual counsels which if faithfully followed will conduct an earthly king into the heavenly kingdom The work is really only an adaptation of the Diadem to the wants of the secular life Acts of the Roman conference Acta collationis Romanae Migne CII col 971 976 the protocol already mentioned Epistle of Charles the Great to Leo the Pope upon the procession of the Holy Spirit Epistola Caroli Magni ad Leonem Papam de processione Spiritus Sancti Migne XCVIII col 923 929 the letter mentioned above Epistle of Frotharius and Smaragdus to the Emperor Louis Epistola Frotharii et Smaragdi ad Ludovicum Imperatorem Migne CVI col 865 866 the report of the arbitrators Liberin partibus Donati A larger grammar or a commentary upon Donatus Grammatica major seu commentarius in Donatum This is his earliest work written at the request of his scholars probably between 800 and 805 It is still unprinted except a small portion in Mabillon Vetera analectam Nov ed Paris 1723 pp 357 358 There remain in manuscript a Commentary on the Prophets and a History of the Monastery of St Michael cf Mabillon l c Smaragdus also wrote poetry Besides a hymn to Christ Ebert l c p 112 there have been preserved his metrical introductions to his Collections and Commentary on the rule of St Benedict of which the first has twenty nine lines in hexameter and the second thirty seven distichs References editText taken from Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church Volume IV Mediaeval Christianity A D 590 1073 which is in the public domain source at CCEL Francis X Gumerlock Carolingian Commentaries on the Apocalypse by Theodulf and Smaragdus Medieval Institute Publications 2019 p 11 The New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature allows the possibility that Smaragdus was perhaps Irish but gives no further information for this Paris 1532 1640 Antwerp 1540 Bibliotheca Maxima Lyons 1677 Tom XVI pp 1305 1342 The text is printed in Migne PL 102 593 690 A translation is David Barry The Crown of Monks CS245 Collegeville MN Cistercian Publications Migne PL 102 689 932 A more recent Latin edition appeared in the 1970s An English translation is David Barry Commentary on the Rule of St Benedict CS 212 Kalamazoo MI 2007 Further reading editB Lofstedt L Holtz A Kibre 1986 Liber in partibus Donati by Smaragdus Terrence Kardong Jean Leclercq Daniel M LaCorte David Barry 2008 Smaragdus of Saint Mihiel Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict translation Smaragdus of Saint Mihiel The Crown of Monks trans David Barry OSB Cistercian Studies no 245 2013 translation of Diadema Monachorum Jean Leclercq La voie royale le diademe des moines La Pierre qui Vire 1949 French translation Smaragdus abbas monasterii Sancti Michaelis Virdunensis Opera omnia in Migne Patrologia Latina Tom CII cols 9 980 with Pitra s notes cols 1111 1132 His Carmina are in Dummler Poetae Latini aevi Carolini I 605 619 Haureau Singularites historiques et litteraires Paris 1861 pp 100 sqq H Keil De grammaticis quibusdam latinis infimae aetatis Program Erlangen 1868 Hist Lit de la France IV 439 447 Ceillier XII 254 257 Bahr 362 364 Ebert II 108 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smaragdus of Saint Mihiel amp oldid 1181106296, 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