Barbara

Barbara of Nicomedia, martir and virgin, died 306 (?).

Feast: 4 December. Translation: 8 July (perhaps only in the city of Utrecht, as the Dom held relics of her; see Overgaauw 1992 p. 85, referring to Kruitwagen 1942, pp. 182 nr. 1).

In Limburg (and perhaps Rhineland as well) she was venerated more than in the rest of the Low Countries.

Chants

Chants for her are found in a number of manuscripts from the dioceses of Liège and Utrecht. Her office is in the manuscripts of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in Tongeren, B-TO 63 and B-TO 64, incl the hymn Gratuletur ecclesia laudum. Lessons for Matins are in NL-DHk 70 E 4. Incipits for offices are in NL-SHsj 216-1 (fol. 52v and 98r).

Her office is also in NL-Hs 184 C 5 (Lebuinuskerk of Zoeterwoude, 1480). Also in NL-Uu 404.

A different office is in NL-Uc BMH 11.

The sequentia Psallat cum letitia is in B-Br 3782, f. 150v, in B-TO 57, and in NL-Avu xv 05005. The sequentia Recolamus piis digna is in NL-Hs 184 C 1.

An alleluia Veni sancte spiritus per barbare suffragium is in the B-GEELdgm Graduale of the Dimpnakerk in Geel (fol. 161v). An alleluia Barbara virgo pia is in Gent, UB, 14/2 (for a transcription: Haggh 1996, p. 45). An alleluia O remedium salutis is in several manuscripts, a.o. NL-Uc BMH 21, NL-Uc BMH Warm 92 H 1, B-TONGLna V 326.

The hymn Digne colit ecclesia is in NL-Uu 425 (fol. 118r).

Literature

* Two Cambrai Antiphoners, p. xxix
* M.L. de Kreek: De verering van de heilige Barbara in de Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk te Maastricht, in: Millennium 3 (1989), pp. 32-50

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Last change: Tue 27 May 2003