Quindecim orationes

These 15 prayers are of uncertain provenance, but often attributed to St. Birgitta. This attribution is however never made in manuscripts from Vadstena, nor was the work included in the first printed edition of Birgitta's works in 1492 by Bartholomaeus Ghotan.

The prayers proceed from the words of Jesus on the cross. Duffy (1992, p. 260) describes their character thus: "Despite their immense popularity these are learned prayers, with roots in patristic and early medieval theology, as well as the writings of Rolle and the affective tradition."

Their popularity can be seen from the large number of manuscripts, especially from England, and early prints, as well as the many translations into Italian, Swedish, German, English and even Arabic (Orationi di s. Brigida con la traduttione dalla lingua italiana nell'araba di Gioseppe Banese Maronita. 1677. Rome).

Gejrot, Claes. 2000. The Fifteen Oes: Latin and Vernacular Versions. With an Edition of the Latin Text. In: B. Morris, V. O'Mara (eds.), The Translation of the Works of St Birgitta of Sweden into the Medieval European Vernaculars. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 213–238.

Duffy, Eamon. 1992. The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England 1400–1580. New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, pp. 259–260.