Inskriptionen på Øster Homum fonten

Resumé

The Inscription on the Font in Oester Hornum.
In Western Himmerland, Jutland, the Oester Hornum church is
situated. Its baptismal font has a remarkable majuscule inscription on the rim of the font. The inscription is almost illegibly carved
(fig. 2.), and has therefore not been fully deciphered and explained
during later research. Because of the superficial carving the letters
must be presumed to have been painted.
The author has deciphered the text and published it in 1958 (footnote 1).
In its entirety the text says:
* QVONIACD APVD TE EST FONS VITE • ET IN
LVMINE TVO • VIDEBICD LVCD *
Near the • there is a hole in the stone shaped like a holder of a
candle, which also is quite in accordance with the symbolism after
»and in your light«. As further it has been a practice ever since
the primitive Church after every Roman-Catholic christening ceremony to light a candle for the newly baptized, the picture fits
very well.
The text comes from the Vulgate: psalm XXXV, 10: »For with thee is the fountain of life, and in thy light we shall see light«, -[39].
The first verse is clear around a baptismal water. The second verse
is just as symbolically clear when one thinks of the wax candle
being mirrored in the water.
Searching further I found that the majuscule inscription existed
as versiculus after »Rex sanctorum angelorum« yet as »Domine
apud te est fons vite« etc. - Rex sanctorum is a hymn which was
sung ad descensum fontis at the Easter vigil in the early MiddleAges. Later it has been left out of Missales Romanum. In the article
the rather lengthy mediaeval baptismal ritual is shortly gone
through. Benedictio fontis is described thoroughly in order to show
that the baptismal water in the font during the consecration,
which traditionally took place on Easter eve, was divided 10 times
by the priest ad modum crusis: by the hand, by blowing, and by
pouring crisma or oil or wine into the font.
This corresponds to the geometrical construction of our font inscription (fig. 3.). According to the first prophesy (Genesis, chapt.
1, 1-31, chapt. 2, 1-2) the cross is oriented after the points of the
compass with the light from the East, from where the Second
Coming can be expected.
The sinking of the Easter candle (Lumini Christi) three times into
the baptismal water, which has a strong sexual touch, the pouring
of the fertilizing crisma, wine, and oil during benedictio fontis as
well as the exorcisms are referred and described under foot-note
25. Reference is made to C.G.Jung’s treatment of benedictio fontis
in »Psychologie und Religion« (Rascher Verlag, Zürich) and to
D.R. Dendy »The Use of Lights in Christian Worship«, especially
chapt. 8, Lights in Baptism.
An old mediaeval relief on the Bjäresjö font in Scania (old Danish
area) is mentioned in the article. It represents the baptism of Jesus
in a cup-shaped font (fig. 4). St. John the Baptist gives a candle to
Jesus according to the usual ritual practice.
At the end a short epigraphic treatment of the inscription is given.
The stroke formed majuscules are being compared with the corresponding ones on the Bayeux tapestry and is suggested to date
back to about year 1100.
[39] The former translation. - The new one: Salm: 36, 9: »For with thee is the
fountain of life, and in thy light we are bathed with light«. -