Ramon Llull's autobiography

[Paul Ferguson]

"The Vita coaetanea (A Contemporary Life) is an autobiographical account of Ramon Llull´s life dictated by himself to a friend in 1311 when he was seventy-nine years old. In it Llull reviews his works in the context of a life dedicated to God and motivated by the desire to disseminate the message of the Christian faith among the infidels. Llull, the self-labeled troubadour of books, wrote this account in part as a self-justification of his life and work, in part as self-consolation for his unending toils and travails. It is very likely that he also had in mind the Council of Vienne (1311) which he was about to attend and where he submitted petitions dealing with the establishment of adequate places to study languages for the preaching of the Gospel to every creature and the founding of a Christian military religious order that waged permanent war against the Saracens until the Holy Land is reconquered. Llull wanted to frame these petitions within a well thought-out justificatory account of his life and works that exudes passion, commitment and love for his fellow man. This volume contains the Latin original, as well as translations into Catalan, Spanish, and English."

Full text.

https://www.academia.edu/31446411/Vita_c...17_205_pgs

[Paul Ferguson]

Llull’s A Contemporary Life: Narratio vera or Auto-hagiographic Account?

by Antonio Cortijo Ocaña
2016

Abstract: The Vita coaetanea is a mesmerizing autobiographical account of Ramon Llull’s life dictated by himself to a monk at the monastery of Vauvert in Paris in 1311. The philosopher was then 79 years old and was making preparations to attend the Council of Vienne that same year. Throughout the Vita Llull imagines himself as a combination of sinner, pilgrim, hermit, teacher, preacher and spiritual knight (miles Christi). The Vita closely follows the model of hagiographic accounts and has as its point of departure Llull’s so-called conversion to penitence.

https://www.academia.edu/69054290/Llull_...ic_Account