Two Previously Unknown Sermons by St. Augustine Discovered in Medieval Manuscript

WÜRZBURG, GERMANY — Two previously unknown sermons attributed to St. Augustine have been identified in a 12th-century manuscript housed at a monastery in Pelplin, Poland, according to researchers at the University of Würzburg.

The discovery was made after Professor Christian Tornau was asked in 2024 to examine and decipher a medieval manuscript that originally belonged to Bad Doberan Abbey in present-day Germany. The volume contained six sermons attributed to St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most influential figures in Christian theology. After detailed study, Tornau and other specialists concluded that two of the sermons had not been known to scholars before.

The newly identified texts focus on the biblical account of the Witch of Endor in the First Book of Samuel. The sermons explore theological questions surrounding King Saul's consultation with a necromancer before a battle against the Philistines, including whether the apparition of the prophet Samuel was genuine or deceptive and how the event relates to the question of God's providence and power.

To verify authenticity, Tornau collaborated with scholars from the Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum and organized a scholarly review involving experts in Vienna. Researchers ultimately agreed that the style, content, and rhetorical approach are consistent with St. Augustine's known works.

The critical edition of the sermons is expected to be published by CSEL by the end of 2026.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a new volume of St. Theophan the Recluse's Lenten sermons was set for release during Great Lent 2026.