Initia Operum Franciscalium

Initia Operum Franciscalium t Rev. G. E. Mohan, O.F.M. Published by THE FRANCISCAN INSTITUTE ST. BONAVENTURE, N. Y. 1975 EDITORS' PREFACE Gaudens E. Mohan, O.F.M. (f 1969) was professor of paleography at The Franciscan Institute and of Latin and Greek at St. Bonaventure University from 1941 to 1964. In order to assist the late Philotheus Boehner, O.F.M., and other associates of The Franciscan Institute in their research and editorial work, he explored the manuscript catalogues, books, and articles at his disposal, filling a large filing cabinet (50,000 to 60,000 cards) with incipits of logical, philosophical, theological, and spiritual works by authors of the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. In 1952, Fr. Gaudens published "Incipits of Logical Writings of the XIHth-XVth Centuries" (Franciscan Studies, 12 [1952], 349489 ). The publication was so much appreciated by mediaevalists that issues and offprints became exhausted in a very short time. During the following years he composed a 1,000-page incipit collection of logical and philosophical writings (commentaries, tracts, questions) which, after some editorial work, we intend to publish as a volume in the Text Series of Franciscan Institute Publications. Here we initiate the publication of a third collection, namely the incipits of philosophical, theological, spiritual, and scientific works by Franciscan authors of the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries. Fr. Gaudens redacted it during the last years of his life, confined by a stroke to his room, using only his filing cabinet and typing with one hand. He finished the preface two weeks before he died, the 8th of October, 1969. He was very much aware that this work is far from complete or perfect, but if mediaevalists find it as useful as do the members of The Franciscan Institute and visiting scholars, it well merits publication. The Editors PREFACE "O utilitas catalogorum, etiam saepe errantium, in quibus operum notantur rationabiliter saltern initia et fines." F.-M. Henquinet, Antonianum, 13 (1938), 335. This compilation was started some twenty years ago, in 1946 to be exact. It began with an attempt to discover unknown MSS of the works of William of Ockham, in which the Franciscan Institute here at St. Bonaventure University was primarily interested. The author had not advanced very far when he realized that many Franciscan items were not found in the various catalogues but were included in isolated articles which did not reach the general public. This compilation is the result. What A. G. Little had attempted for English collections of MSS in his Initia of the XHI-XVth centuries, the author tries to expand to include MSS in the United States and continental Europe as well. Close inspection indicates that not all names mentioned and included are Franciscan in origin; for instance, Alexander de Villa Dei is definitely not a Franciscan. Robert, king of Sicily, is included among the Franciscans only because he desired it so; in fact, there is a tradition that he was buried in Franciscan dress. Nicolaus de Byard (Briodi) may have been a member of the Order of Friars Minor. His inclusion in this collection is based on the evidence of only one MS ascription found in the Bibliothèque Nationale at Paris. In the case of Joannes Anglicus, one MS at St. Isidore's College in Rome, Italy, calls him 'frater,' but no other indication of the community he represents is mentioned. There are well over 1000 items of questionable authorship, some definitely Franciscan, some not, but others better equipped will have to determine true authorship. Every Franciscan from the time of, and including, St. Francis himself to Adam Sasboth and Gasper Sasgerus at the close of the fifteenth century, is represented, but not all Franciscan writings are had. For example, Bernardinus Senensis and Joannes Capistranus viPreface can be found here, but not in toto. Many references presented themselves too late to be added. In fact, there are at least six catalogues of major importance yet to be consulted. The reader will observe many items not included which might have been. In large measure, the spelling of names follows the pattern set by the Archivum Franciscanum Historicum. However, the vowels, / and V have been consonantized for easier reading...