Penitential of Cummean

The Penitential of Cummean is an Irish penitential, presumably composed c. 650 by an Irish monk named Cummean (or Cominianus). Of the remaining manuscript versions, notable are Codex Vat. Pal. Lat. 485, written in the ninth century in Irish-influenced Lorsch Abbey, and Codex Vat. 1349. The precise identification of Cummean is fraught with difficulties; one possible identification is with a bishop Cummean who retired at Bobbio Abbey between 711 and 744.[1] The later Excarpsus cummeani, or Pseudo-Cummeani, is named such in reference to the penitential of Cummean.

Content

The penitential follows the scheme of vices set up by John Cassian (c. 360 – 435) in his De institutis coenobiorum.[2]

References