A valuable medieval liturgical manuscript stolen after the French Revolution has been recovered intact.

A cultural treasure has returned home more than two centuries after its disappearance. It is a valuable medieval manuscript originally from the library of Mont Saint-Michel , which disappeared during the French Revolution and was lost amid confiscations, sales, and archival silence. The discovery has returned to Avranches , the Norman city responsible for safeguarding this legacy , a key piece of its intellectual and spiritual history.

The manuscript was identified in 2018 when it appeared in an auction catalogue in Alençon. At first glance, it looked like any other medieval work, but its calligraphy, decorations, a liturgical prose dedicated to Saint Aubert —Bishop of Avranches and a key figure at Mont Saint-Michel—and other internal clues sparked the interest of researchers. A detailed review of old inventories confirmed its origin : it had been part of the monastic collection until it was dispersed during the Revolutionary period.

Following a legal and heritage battle, the manuscript was returned to the French State in April 2023 , restored and digitized. Finally, on June 27, 2025, it was officially handed over to the Avranches City Hall by the Ministry of Culture. Since July 5, it has been on display in the Treasury of the Scriptorial , the museum dedicated to the Mont Saint-Michel manuscripts, where it can be visited until October 11 of this year.

An exceptional manuscript: music, philosophy and humor

The rediscovered work is no ordinary manuscript. It brings together four different texts conceived for monastic teaching and dating between the 12th and 13th centuries . The liturgical sections, probably copied in the scriptorium at Mont Saint-Michel itself, coexist with philosophical and literary texts believed to originate from Parisian academic circles. This interweaving of knowledge demonstrates the intellectual wealth that the abbey housed in its golden age.

Among its contents, a treatise on music stands out, revealing the pedagogical use of the volume for monastic formation. It is followed by a poetic prose dedicated to Saint Aubert, which is not only a literary gem but also the oldest known version of this text. It establishes a symbolic connection between musical harmony, Christian spirituality, and human virtues—essential elements in medieval religious life.

The volume also includes two key pieces of medieval allegorical thought . The first, Architrenius by Jean de Hauville , narrates the journey of a young man disappointed by the vices of the world who seeks meaning in Mother Nature. The second, attributed to Alain de Lille , proposes an initiatory journey towards knowledge . Both works were widely valued in monastic circles of the 13th century for their symbolic richness and moral charge.

As an addition, on the last pages of the manuscript, there is an enigmatic drawing : an ancient-looking figure, sitting cross-legged, holding a walking stick or perhaps the neck of a musical instrument. Beside it, a handwritten Latin inscription reads: " It is well known that I love to drink. It bothers me that I cannot learn the art of grammar better than that of logic ." This note, full of irony and humanity, gives an unexpected touch to the volume and reminds us that humor also had a place in monastic life.

Since the French Revolution, the town of Avranches has been the official repository of the manuscripts of the former Benedictine abbey. In 1791, following the expropriation of church property, many volumes were transferred from Mont Saint-Michel to this episcopal town, which assumed responsibility for preserving this legacy.

Today, these manuscripts— around 200 copies —are housed in the Scriptorial , the only museum in France dedicated exclusively to the Mont collection. Opened in 2006, this space not only protects the texts but also displays them through rotating exhibitions , bringing the richness of medieval thought closer to the general public.

This piece rediscovers the intellectual splendor of Mont Saint-Michel, the spiritual and cultural beacon of Europe for centuries.

The return of the lost manuscript has marked a milestone in this work of preservation and dissemination. Beyond its value as a physical object, it represents a restored piece of cultural identity, a victory against oblivion , and a new opportunity to rediscover the intellectual splendor of Mont Saint-Michel, a spiritual and cultural beacon of Europe for centuries.