|
Abstract:
|
[eng] This contribution presents an alternative to Asín Palacios’ assumed connection of Llull’s statement from the prologue of Cent noms de Déu, “since God has put power into words, stones and herbs, how much more, then, has he put power in his names”, with Muslim thinking. It maps out the Christian context of this statement, thus providing additional material to support the thesis that Cent noms de Déu was intended for a Christian audience. That “God has put power into words, stones and herbs” was in fact a widespread proverb in the medieval West. Thus, far from connecting Llull with Islamic sources, the presence of this statement on the virtue of words in the prologue of Cent noms de Déu would secure Llull a place in the medieval European debate on this topic. After situating the notion of virtus verborum in its theological context, above all that of medieval sacramental theology, we will sketch the use of the medieval proverb itself and have a closer look at Llull’s use of the proverb, which also links this concept of virtus verborum with the concept of the names of God, before we draw some conclusions for locating Cent noms de Déu in the picture we sketched. |
Ramon Llull and the virtus verborum: A theological exploration