Two previously unknown sermons by St Augustine have been identified in a 12th-century manuscript preserved at the diocesan library in Pelplin, Poland, after nearly two years of research by scholars from Germany and Austria.
The sermons, which address Saul’s encounter with the Medium of Endor in the Book of Samuel, will be published in a critical edition by the end of 2026. Researchers authenticated the texts through extensive philological, linguistic, liturgical and theological analysis.
The manuscript, copied at the Cistercian abbey of Bad Doberan, reached Pelplin in the Middle Ages through monastic connections. Scholars say the sermons provide fresh insight into St Augustine’s preaching and his willingness to consider multiple faithful interpretations of difficult biblical passages rather than insisting on a single explanation.
“He presents several possible interpretations, refrains from making a final judgment, and allows his listeners to draw their own conclusions,” said Paul Nebauer, a member of the Bad Doberan Monastery Association, who has spent years tracing medieval manuscripts from the former Cistercian abbey.
The sermons also highlight Augustine’s emphasis on God’s mercy, suggesting Saul may have repented after hearing Samuel’s prophecy. The discovery underscores the importance of preserving historic church libraries and manuscript collections.
