Codex Calixtinux Saint James essay

This pope was the Abbot at Cluny which was well known for its pilgrimages to Santiago. Once Calixtus II became the pope, he became a renowned benefactor of the pilgrimage crusades, thus playing a vital role in the compilation of the codex. Given these facts, the Codex was compiled between 1160 and 1173 when a pilgrim at Compostela duplicated the original copies from the works of his fellow brothers of Ripoll Cloister. The compilation placed the codex into 5 different Libros (sections). According to Karp 1992, Libro I give detailed information about the liturgy of St. The accounts given in this piece of literature among other sources account for St. James being both a pilgrim and a warrior during his time. St. James the Pilgrim According to the Codex Calixtinux St.

James was a pilgrim saint. The staff was symbolic of defense for the faith for which he stood. It was using this staff that he could symbolically ward off temptations and mortifications of the flesh. He also had a moral (purse) which was made of leather. The bag was meant to be a pouch within which he could store his food2. Symbolically, to pilgrims, this pouch was symbolic of patience. He also had a cape that was made of leather. It was a mantle with which he would lay over his shoulder to shield his thorax from the rain. The cape was accessorized with small shells and staffs whose material varied. All these items are both symbolic and influenced by season and varied based on his location.

The attire suggested that he was constantly on the move. St. James as a Warrior St. James is first identified as a warrior when he interceded for Christian troops when they were fighting against the Muslims. The Historia Silense and the Liber Sancti Iacobi of the Codex Calixtinux narrate the victory of the City of Coimbra with a lot of credit being given to St. James. It is through his record of reliable advice that leaders like Ferdinand II came up with the order of Saint James to confront any attempts by the Muslims to attack Spain. The order was founded in 1170 and grew into many centuries as Christianity continued to expand. St. James needed to be a warrior because he lived in the middle ages where social ranks were essential due to the accelerated number of regional conflicts.

Associating warriorhood was important since Christianity was only finding footing in its initial stages. With time, the wars became more brutal, and the saint became a common symbol in the battlefields. The wars against Muslims in the 14th-century use iconography of St. James as a Moor Slayer, an element that saw the Spanish monarchy elevate their status in the battle against the Muslims. The church at Santiago also encouraged the use of emblems associated with St. James within battle. James working with his disciples while clad as a pilgrim kneeling in front of the Virgin5. In the background of this image is the city Saragossa. The image is interpreted as St. James asking the Virgin to protect Spain. Through the Virgin, St.

In conclusion, Codex Calixtinux gave a basis against which St. James can be assessed as both a pilgrim and as a warrior. Following the death of Christ, St. James begun his pilgrimage in the Iberian Peninsula to spread the word of Jesus. The Codex Calixtinux gives details about his ministry, the music and poetry he made, his miracles (Colton, 2009). James is also a protector of humanity against evil. He has been associated with the Virgin Mary and the angel Michael as a protector against evil. He is an interceder for Christians when they need to communicate with the Virgin. Bibliography Romero Navarro, F.  On the Camino de Santiago. Music and Identity in Medieval Bury St Edmunds.  St Edmund King and Martyr: Changing Images of a Medieval Saint, 87-110.