IV. Writings upon Penance. (1) Two Penitentials.^1257 They give the decisions of councilsrespecting penance. (2) Canonical questions relating to penance.^1258 (3) The virtues and vices and
the satisfaction for sin.^1259
V. Miscellaneous. (1) Homilies.^1260 There are two collections, the first seventy in number
upon the principal feasts and on the virtues; the second, one hundred and sixty-three upon the
Gospels and Epistles. The first collection must have been made earlier than 826, for it is dedicated
to bishop Haistulf, who died in that year. The most of these homilies were doubtless actually
delivered by Raban. The sermons of Leo the Great, Augustin, Alcuin and others have been liberally
drawn on, and so the homilies are compilations in great measure, like the rest of his works. Yet a
few are apparently original and have the greatest interest, inasmuch as they treat of the vices then
current and so furnish a picture of the times.^1261
(2) Treatise on the Soul.^1262 It is an extract with slight additions from Cassiodorus’ De
Anima, as he acknowledges in his preface to king Lothair. To it are appended extracts from the De
disciplina Romanae militiae of Flavius Vegetius Renatus. The reason given for this strange appendix
is "the frequent incursions of the Barbarians." The treatise was perhaps the last product of
Rabanus.^1263
(3) A martyrology.^1264 The saints for the different days are noted, in most cases merely the
name is given, in others there are short sketches. Its principal source is Jerome. It was prepared at
the request of Ratleik, who stole the relics of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus for Einhard; and is prefaced
by a short poem addressed to the abbot Grimold.
(4) The vision of God, purity of heart and mode of penance.^1265 Three books dedicated to
the abbot Bonosus (Hatto). The first is mostly extracted from Augustin’s De vivendo Deo; the
second and the third from other old sources.
(5) The Passion of our Lord,^1266 a brief and pious meditation upon our Lord’s sufferings.
VI. Letters. (1) A letter to Bishop Humbert upon lawful degrees of relationship betweenmarried persons.^1267 (2) Seven miscellaneous letters.^1268 Epist. i. to suffragan bishop Regimbald on
discipline. Epist. iii. to Eigil against Radbertus’s view of the Lord’s Supper. Epist. iv. v. vi. to
(^1257) Poenitentiale, ibid. col. 467-494. Poenitentium liber, CXII. col. 1397-1424.
(^1258) De quaestionibus canonum poenitentialium libri tres, ibid. col. 1333-1336. (The preface only.)
(^1259) De vitiis et virtutibus et peccatorum satisfactione, ibid. col. 1335-1398. (Only the third book.)
(^1260) Homiliae, CX. col. 9-468.
(^1261) Ebert, l.c. p. 141, mentions particularly Lib. I., Hom. XLII., XLIII. and LXIII. The first is directed against the ridiculous
custom of making a great noise, shooting arrows and throwing fire in the air when the moon is waning in order to prevent its
being swallowed up by a monster. The second is directed against soothsaying in its various forms, and the third against gluttony,
drunkenness and scurrility.
(^1262) Tractatus de anima, Migne, CX. col. 1109-1120. The Vegitian extracts are not given in Migne, but by Dümmler, cf
Ebert l.c. p. 136.
(^1263) So Ebert conjectures, l.c. p. 136.
(^1264267) Martyrologium, Migne, CX. col. 1121-1188.
(^1265) De vivendo Deum, de puritate cordis et modo poenitentiae, CXII. col. 1261-1332.
(^1266) De passione Domini, CXII. col. 1425-1430.
(^1267) Quota generatione licita sit connubium epistola, CX. col. 1083-1088.
(^1268) Epistolae, CXII. Col. 1507-1576.