A Liturgical Witness of the Abbey of Pfäfers. The Ordo Missae of Cod. Fab. VII
A. Tacconelli, Priest of the Diocese of Prato. In 2024, he completed the second cycle in Liturgy at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo in Rome and is currently pursuing a doctorate in liturgy at the aforementioned institution.
Abstract
The ordo missae of Cod. Fab. VII, produced in the 12th century at the Abbey of Pfäfers, represents a unique witness of the so-called “Rhenish” type. Through codicological and comparative analysis, the manuscript reveals significant affinities with the centers of St. Gall and Reichenau, while maintaining distinctive features tied to its local context. Textual interpolations and ritual specificities highlight an adaptation of liturgical practice to the parish setting for which it was intended, providing insights into the evolution of the ordines missae in Europe and offering an opportunity to reflect on the current state of historiography on the subject.
Sommario
L’ordo missae del Cod. Fab. VII, prodotto nel XII secolo presso l’abbazia di Pfäfers, rappresenta una testimonianza singolare di ordo del tipo cosiddetto renano. Attraverso un’analisi codicologica e comparativa, il manoscritto rivela significative affinità con i centri di San Gallo e Reichenau, pur mantenendo tratti distintivi legati al contesto locale. Le interpolazioni testuali e le specificità rituali evidenziano un adattamento della prassi liturgica al contesto parrocchiale di destinazione, offrendo uno spaccato sull’evoluzione degli ordines missae in Europa e offrendo l’occasione di riflettere sull’attuale stato della storiografia in merito.