In regard to 'animated manuscripts' one example involving St Dominic comes
to mind. While debating with some Cathars in either Montreal or Fanjeaux,
his book which contained arguments against the Cathars was seized by an
irate Cathar and thrown in a fire. However, the book jumped out of the
fire and was not burned or damaged in any manner. Moreover, the Cathar
threw it back into the fire two more times, but each time the book would
leap out unharmed. Conversely, a book containing Cathar doctrines was also
thrown into the fire, but it was immediately consumed by the flames.
There is a wonderful depiction of this story contained in Paris,
bibliotheque de l'Arsenal, ms. 280. It actually shows the book 'flying'
out of the flames. You can see a reproduction of this miniature in
*Histoire de la France religieuse*, Tome 1, *Des dieux de la Gaule a la
papaute d'Avignon*, Jacques le Goff and Rene Remond, eds, Paris: Seuil,
1988, p. 374.
Good luck!
Carolyn Muessig
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