Membra Jesu Nostri
Manuscripts in German and Dutch
I. Introduction
This is a census of manuscripts related to the prayer-hymns Membra Jesu Nostri, originally written by Arnulf of Leuven (Arnulf von Löwen, Arnoul de Louvain, ca. 1200–1250), who for ten years was abbot of Villers, Belgium, a Cistercian abbey. While the original hymns were written in Latin, they were translated into German and Dutch starting around the end of the 14th century. More than one German rendition circulated, including “Gott grüße dich alle welt heil” and “Der welt heiland, nimm mein grüezen.” Some of these manuscripts have been made available digitally, and those are shown below when available.
II. Manuscripts
D01. Zentralbibliothek Zürich, Ms. A 131, fols. 132r–137r (1393)
In this manuscript, the German metrical translation was headed clearly as being derivative of the Latin, signified here by the incipit “Salve mundi salutare,” and it was credited to Bernard, thus documenting both the change to the first line and the common attribution to Bernard as early as 1393. The text was given in six sections, signified by large capital letters in red or blue, but the names of the parts were not given. The first part begins “Gott grüße dich alle welt heil” (“God, all the world greets you well”).
D01. Zentralbibliothek Zürich, Ms. A 131, fols. 132r–137r (1393).
D02. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 500, fols. 14r–19r (14th century).
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D03. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Mgq 174, fols. 132r–137r (1429)
D04. Badische Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe, Donaueschingen 112, fols. 151r–156v (1440)
From the former Katharinenkloster (St. Catherine’s Abbey), Nürnberg. The German text, credited to Bernard, begins “Der welt heiland, nimm mein grüezen.”
D05. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Cod. Cent. VI, 43e, fols. 282v–290r (1454)
From the former Katharinenkloster (St. Catherine’s Abbey), Nürnberg. This example is headed “Salve mundi salutare,” and each half-stanza of five lines is similarly headed by its Latin equivalent. The German text begins “Der welt heiland, nimm mein grüezen.” This 1454 manuscript and some others shown below include this interesting interjection:
As now Saint Bernard had spoken these words with great earnestness of desire, the image on the cross bowed itself, and embraced him with its wounded arms, as a sure token that to it this prayer was most pleasing. [tr. James Mearns, 1892]
This manuscript was transcribed by Philipp Wackernagel in Das deutsche Kirchenlied, vol. 2 (1867), pp. 296–300 (HathiTrust), except he did not include the introductory text or the Latin lines. He quoted the interjection (in German) at the end of his commentary.
D05. Stadtbibliothek Nürnberg, Cod. Cent. VI, 43e, fols. 282v–290r (1454).
D06. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB) München, Cgm 405, fols. 122r–129v (1452)
This manuscript is from the former Nürnberg Predigerkloster (Dominikanerkloster). The text is credited to Bernard. The German text begins “Der welt heiland, nimm mein grüezen.” Each section is labeled: feet, knees, side, chest, hands, and face. It includes the interjection of the cross bowing to Bernard in the middle of the last hymn.
D06. Staatsbibliothek München, Cgm 405, fols. 122r–129v (1452).
D07. Stadtbibliothek im Bildungscampus Nürnberg, Cod. Cent. V, App. 81, fols. 113r–122v (ca. 1450–1475)
This codex is from the former Katharinenkloster (St. Catherine’s Abbey), Nürnberg. The introductory paragraph names Bernard as the author and gives the Latin incipit (“Salve mundi salutare”). The German text begins “Der welt heiland, nimm mein grüezen.” In this case, the first lines of the corresponding Latin stanzas are included, tucked into the right margin. This text includes hymns to the feet, knees, side, chest, hands, and face, with the interjection of the cross bowing to Bernard in the middle of the final hymn.
D07. Stadtbibliothek im Bildungscampus Nürnberg, Cod. Cent. V, App. 81, fols. 113r–122v (ca. 1450–1475).
D08. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB), München, Cgm 858, fols. 131r–140r (ca. 1454)
D08. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München, Cgm 858, fols. 131r–140r (ca. 1454).
D09. Stadtbibliothek im Bildungscampus Nürnberg, Cod. Cent. VII, 39, fols. 79r–88v (Middle 15th century)
This codex is from the former Katharinenkloster (St. Catherine’s Abbey), Nürnberg.
D10. Sächsische Landesbibliothek, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden, Ms. Dresd. M.244, fols. 21r–24v (15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German, beginning “Ihesu Criste, heiler aller werlt, ich grues dich,” etc.
D11. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 194, fols. 272r–288v (15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D12. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 42, fols. 94v–104v (15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D13. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 53, fols. 24r–41r (15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D14. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 66, fols. 102r–109v (15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D15. Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, Hs. 5832, fols. 57r–63v (15th century)
A codex from the former Katharinenkloster (St. Catherine’s Abbey), Nürnberg. The text begins “Jhesu ein heyl der werlt,” etc.
D16. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 29, fols. 100r–104r (1470–1480)
“Salve mundi salutare” in Dutch, beginning “Gegruet systu myn salicheit.”
D17. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 820, fols. 13r–23v (1486–1500)
“Salve mundi salutare” in Dutch. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D18. Badische Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe, Wonnenthal 14, fols. 30r–36r (1491–1493)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D19. Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg im Breisgau, Hs. 60, fols. 28v–35v (1492–1494)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Credited to Bernard. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D20. Badische Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe, Donaueschingen 362, fols. 42v–52v (1495–1496)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German, credited to Bernard, beginning “Jesus ein heil der werlt.” The text is divided into seven sections.
D21. Badische Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe, Wonnenthal 16, fols. 187r–197r (End of the 15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D22. Augsburg, Universitätsbibliothek, Codex III. 1. oct 28, fol. 25 (End of the 15th century)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D23. Augustinermuseum, Freiburg im Breisgau, Inv. Nr. 11732, fols. 128r–145v (1502–1506)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. Incipit not specified in catalog.
D24. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Preußischer Kulturbesitz, Ms. germ. oct. 560, fols. 96v–98v (1505)
“Salve mundi salutare” in German. “Ich grußen dich du Erwirdige,” etc.
D25. British Library Add. MS 29985, fols. 9r–16r (ca. 1510)
Translated into Dutch.
D26. Laienbibliothek der Basler Kartause, D 74, fols. 163r–176r (1574)
Described in Volker Honemann, Deutsche Literatur in der Laienbibliothek der Basler Kartause 1480–1520 (Waxmann, 2020), p. 155.
Related Resources:
Catalogs
“‘Salve, mundi salutare,’ dt. Versübersetzung,” Handschriftencensus, Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz: Website
Manuscripta Mediaevalia: http://www.manuscripta-mediaevalia.de/
German Text: Manuscripts
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Berlin, Ms. germ. qu. (Mgq) 174 (1429): Images
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München, Cgm 858 (ca. 1454): Images
Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek, München, Cgm 5204 [Dutch]: Catalog
German Text: Editions
Philipp Wackernagel, Das deutsche Kirchenlied, vol. 2 (Leipzig: B.G. Teubner, 1867), pp. 296–300: HathiTrust