09-09-2026, 04:35 PM
Could you link to the MS so we can see the original?
I'm not used to this particular kind of script and the resolution is bad, but I would read the Noe part as "labia".
So you have: fountain, garden, nose, lips, tongue, blood, mind, abra, grace, peace. Maybe "fons" was once "frons", forehead?
Our missing word sits between mind and grace, so it may be an abstract noun. My first idea would be a misread "alma"? But that's pretty far off. The dictionary tells me "abra" can be a female servant, but I doubt that's relevant here.
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Upon closer examination, this appears to be a version of the "Corpus Christi charm", which is mostly known from Irish sources.
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Cod. S. Galli No. 1395. has it as "Caput Christi, oculus Isaiae, frons nassium Noe, labia lingua Salomonis, collum Temathei, mens Beniamin, pectus Pauli, iunctus Iohannis, fides Abrache Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth."
This might offer an explanation for the "Abra" part, as having come from "Abracham" (?)
Here is an open access article about it, apparently it is indeed about Abraham: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
If the charm you found is unknown in the literature, some Irish scholars might be interested
I'm not used to this particular kind of script and the resolution is bad, but I would read the Noe part as "labia".
So you have: fountain, garden, nose, lips, tongue, blood, mind, abra, grace, peace. Maybe "fons" was once "frons", forehead?
Our missing word sits between mind and grace, so it may be an abstract noun. My first idea would be a misread "alma"? But that's pretty far off. The dictionary tells me "abra" can be a female servant, but I doubt that's relevant here.
------------
Upon closer examination, this appears to be a version of the "Corpus Christi charm", which is mostly known from Irish sources.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..
Cod. S. Galli No. 1395. has it as "Caput Christi, oculus Isaiae, frons nassium Noe, labia lingua Salomonis, collum Temathei, mens Beniamin, pectus Pauli, iunctus Iohannis, fides Abrache Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth."
This might offer an explanation for the "Abra" part, as having come from "Abracham" (?)
Here is an open access article about it, apparently it is indeed about Abraham: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
If the charm you found is unknown in the literature, some Irish scholars might be interested