A confraternity book (german: Verbrüderungsbuch, la, liber confraternitatum or ''confraternitatis''), also called a ''liber memorialis'' (memorial book) or ''liber vitae'' (book of life), is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

register of the names of people who had entered into a state of spiritual brotherhood (confraternity) with a church or monastery in some way, often by visiting it in the capacity of a pilgrim. Persons named in such a book were actively remembered in the prayers of the priests or monks. In many cases these books were established as early as the 8th century and continued up to the 13th century. So-called '' Jahrtagsbücher'' (year books) are in many ways their successors. Confraternity books are a rich source for prosopography and

historical linguistics Historical linguistics, also termed diachronic linguistics, is the scientific study of language change over time. Principal concerns of historical linguistics include: # to describe and account for observed changes in particular languages # ...

of the early Middle Ages.

List of confraternity books

The following is a list of some earlier medieval confraternity books: * Confraternity book of the

Abbey of Saint Gall The Abbey of Saint Gall (german: Abtei St. Gallen) is a dissolved abbey (747–1805) in a Catholic religious complex in the city of St. Gallen in Switzerland. The Carolingian-era monastery existed from 719, founded by Saint Othmar on the spot ...

* Confraternity book of

Reichenau Abbey Reichenau Abbey was a Benedictine monastery on Reichenau Island (known in Latin as Augia Dives). It was founded in 724 by the itinerant Saint Pirmin, who is said to have fled Spain ahead of the Moorish invaders, with patronage that included Charl ...

* Confraternity book of

St Peter's Abbey, Salzburg St Peter's Abbey (german: Stift Sankt Peter), or St Peter's Archabbey (German: ''Erzabtei Stift Sankt Peter'', la, Archiabbatia sancti Petri Salisburgensis), is a Benedictine monastery and former cathedral in the Austrian city of Salzburg. It is ...

* ''Liber memorialis'' of Remiremont Abbey * ''Liber Vitae'' of the

Imperial Abbey of Corvey Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * Imperial, Tex ...

* ''Liber Vitae'' of Durham * ''Liber Vitae'' of the

New Minster, Winchester The New Minster in Winchester was a royal Benedictine abbey founded in 901 in Winchester in the English county of Hampshire. Alfred the Great had intended to build the monastery, but only got around to buying the land. His son, Edward the Elder, ...

and

Hyde Abbey Hyde Abbey was a medieval Benedictine monastery just outside the walls of Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was dissolved and demolished in 1538 following various acts passed under King Henry VIII to dissolve monasteries and abbeys (see Dis ...

* ''Liber Viventium'' of

Pfäfers Abbey Pfäfers Abbey (german: Kloster Pfäfers), also known as St. Pirminsberg from its position on a mountain, was a Benedictine monastery in Pfäfers near Bad Ragaz, in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Situated at the junction of the Tamina an ...

* Memorial and Liturgiecodex of San Salvatore

Sources

* {{Citation , last = Geuenich , first = Dieter , editor-last = Rollason , editor-first = David , editor-link= David Rollason , contribution = A Survey of the Early Medieval Confraternity Books from the Continent , title = The Durham Liber Vitae and Its Context , year = 2004 , pages = 141–8 , place = Woodbridge , publisher = Boydell Press , isbn = 1-84383-060-4 * Paulus Piper (Ed.): ''Libri Confraternitatum Sancti Galli Augiensis Fabariensis.'' In: ''Monumenta Germaniae Historica.'' Berlin 1894 (transcription of the Verbrüderungsbuch of St. Gallen with commentary) * Franz Beyerle: ''Die Fratres de Friburch im St. Galler Verbrüderungsbuch.'' In: ''Schau-ins-Land.'' Published by the Breisgau-Verein Schau-ins-Land, Freiburg im Breisgau 1954 Christian genres Christian monasteries in Germany Christian monasticism Documents of the Catholic Church History of Catholicism in Germany Medieval documents of Germany Middle Ages Christian texts Catholicism in the Middle Ages Confraternities