Books of Life

The commemorative books from the Abbey of St Gall were created around 812 and 850. Those whose names were entered in this book could hope to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Early Middle Ages, many monasteries kept commemorative books, in which were listed the names of living and deceased persons who were regularly remembered in prayer during Mass.

The two commemorative books from the Abbey of St Gall contain the names of 15,000 people. Among them are members of many convents and monasteries throughout Europe, ruling families and benefactors from the region of Lake Constance. Despite the importance of these memorial books for the religious communities, only seven of them have survived.