Resumen de The "Vita Sancti Arnulfi" (BHL 689-692): its place in the Liturgical veneration of a local saint
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 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 do relics within the cult of relics.
