Missal of Silos facts for kids

The Missal of Silos is a very old and special book from Europe. It's famous because it's the oldest known document written on paper in Europe, dating back to before the year 1080 AD. Most old books from that time were written on parchment, which is a material made from animal skin.

This ancient book is a manuscript, meaning it was written by hand. It has 157 pages, called folios. The first 37 pages are made of paper, and the rest are made of parchment. Even though it's called a "missal," it's more like a breviary-missal. This means it contains prayers and readings for daily church services.

What is the Missal of Silos?

The Missal of Silos is a very old book that was used for religious services. It's not just any old book; it's a special type of manuscript that helped priests and monks follow their daily prayers and readings. Think of it like a very early version of a prayer book or a church calendar.

It's called a "missal" because it contains parts of a missal, which is a book used for the Mass (a church service). But it also has parts of a "breviary," which is a book with prayers and readings for different times of the day. So, it's a mix of both!

Why is This Ancient Book Special?

The main reason the Missal of Silos is so important is because of the material it's made from. It's the oldest known document in Europe that uses paper. Before this book, almost all documents in Europe were written on parchment. Paper was a new and exciting material at the time.

This book shows us that paper was starting to be used in Europe even before the 11th century ended. It gives us clues about how paper-making spread across the continent.

Where Was the Missal of Silos Made?

Today, the Missal of Silos is kept safe in the library of the Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos. This monastery is located near a city called Burgos in Spain. That's why the book is named after Silos.

However, the book wasn't actually made at the Silos monastery. It was created at another monastery called Santa María la Real of Nájera. The paper for the book is thought to have come from Al-Andalus, which was a Muslim-controlled area in Spain at the time. Even though Nájera was in Christian territory, they likely got their paper from areas where paper-making was more common.

The Mozarabic Rite

The Missal of Silos is one of several special books from the Mozarabic rite. This was a unique way of performing church services that was used in parts of Spain. Even though Pope Gregory VII tried to stop this rite in 1080, many of these old books, like the Missal of Silos, were kept safe in the Silos library. They are important examples of this ancient tradition.

A Famous Visitor

In 2013, a very famous writer named Umberto Eco came to see the Missal of Silos. Umberto Eco was an Italian author who wrote a popular book called The Name of the Rose in 1980. In his novel, he mentioned the Silos monastery.

When Eco visited the monastery and saw the actual book, it was a big event. Many newspapers in Spain reported on his visit. It showed how important and well-known the Missal of Silos is, even to people outside of history or religious studies.

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