CULLMAN, Ala. – Two handwritten Latin choral books, one of them repaired with a scrap of parchment more than 700 years old, are on display at St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School as part of Cullman’s 2026 Oktoberfest.
The City of Cullman invited St. Bernard to take part in this year’s celebration because of the Abbey’s deep German roots. According to a handout prepared by the school, the founding monks of St. Bernard came from Germany, first stayed at St. Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania and then made their way to Cullman, where they founded St. Bernard Abbey in 1891.
“As you look around, we are sharing a few pieces of our history that help tell the story of the monks and the Catholic tradition they brought with them,” the handout reads.
Books from the 1600s
The centerpiece of the display is a set of two large Latin choral books. St. Bernard brought in Cullman County Museum Director Molly Bloom, who is trained in the study of old manuscripts, to examine both. Based on the type of book, the materials and the style of calligraphy, Bloom dated the books to the 1600s.
The pages are made of lambskin, and the bindings are wood and leather.
Their size is part of the story. Before modern printing, books were extremely expensive and time-consuming to produce, so monks did not each have their own copy. Instead, one oversized book was placed in the choir loft of the church so an entire group of monks could sing from it together. One monk was often responsible for turning the large pages while the others sang.
A patch older than the book
Visitors who look closely at the book nearest the door can spot a page that was repaired long ago. The piece used for the repair came from an even older manuscript dating to the 1300s.
“In one small section of this book, we are looking at material that is more than 700 years old,” the handout notes.
Each book carries its own history. Some pages of the book on the right, particularly those containing feast days, were removed over the years. The book on the left contains material highlighting Mary, the mother of Jesus, as well as St. Jerome.
St. Jerome, who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries, was a priest, scholar and monk best known for translating the Bible into Latin. His translation, known as the Vulgate, became one of the most influential Latin versions of Scripture in the history of the Church. St. Bernard called it fitting that he appears in one of its books, since faith, education, scholarship and monastic life have been connected at the school for more than 130 years.
More than beautiful objects
“These books are more than beautiful and very old objects,” the handout reads. “They give us a glimpse into the lives of the monks who came before us: their faith, their scholarship, their music, and their dedication to preserving and passing on the Christian tradition.”
St. Bernard thanked the City of Cullman for inviting the abbey and school to be part of Oktoberfest. “We hope you enjoy learning a little about our German roots and the remarkable history of St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School,” the handout reads.
Cullman Oktoberfest runs through Sunday, Oct. 4.
