Libellus precum

A libellus precum (literally "booklet of prayings, booklet of petitions", plural: libelli precum) is a medieval collection of prayers, a prayerbook, in the manuscript form, although the term is applied by scholars to texts of some other types. The beginning of the scholarship recognizing them as a distinct type of literature is attributed to André Wilmart. ^[1] The Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages says they are coming mainly from the Anglo-Saxon and Celtic lands.^[2]

Typically libelli precum are unique texts, varying in prayers collected. The texts of prayers may be or may not be unique.^[1]

Notable examples include Ælfwine's Prayerbook, folia Gertudiana, the prayerbook of Princess Gertrude of Poland included into the Egbert Psalter, Nawojka's Prayerbook [pl]

Usage as text titles

There are several historical texts referred to by the title Libellus Precum (in both meanings):

• Libellus precum ad Imperatores, a petition to the civil authority by two Luciferian clergy called Faustinus and Marcellinus [ru] ^[3]
• John of Fécamp's Libellus precum
• Libellus precum by Bede