Das Väterbuch is a Middle High German legendary, or collection of saints' legends, written in verse.
[3] The anonymous poet is probably the same person who wrote Das Passional.
He seems to have been a cleric of the Teutonic Order writing for the benefit of its members.
The poet cites the Vitae Patrum, but also made use of the Legenda Aurea.
[1][3] Like its source material, it mainly covers the lives of the Desert Fathers of Egypt.