medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
This could possibly make reference to "the bosom of Abraham" which, in
Last Judgement imagery during the 13th century, was often used to depict
the blessed in heaven. This, in turn, it strikes me, may make oblique
reference to the plenary indulgence offered to Crusaders.
Cheers,
Jim
Richard Kay wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> Dear Cecilia,
> Here is my translation of your blessing:
> "Being signed by the sign of the Cross, receive the yoke of
> Christ, which is a light burden for his faithful, so that going forth
> with the right side signed, you, like Abraham, may (with the aid of
> our lord Jesus Christ) deserve to possess the land of the living where
> the most favored destination of faithful souls is."
> Comments.
> FIDE ABRAHAM - literally, "with Abraham's guarantee/trust." The
> reference is esp. to Genesis 12:1, and again 13:15 ff. Note that
> Abraham, like the crusaders, was being sent to possess the Holy Land,
> which settles one of your problems.
> DEXTERA - the right hand, but understood broadly as that side of
> the body rather than the other. Cf. the use of dexter/sinister in
> heraldry.
> TERRAM VIVENTIUM - the inhabitants are in the present life. Some,
> e.g. in Ezechiel, are bad guys. Others are good guys: cf. Jerome in
> Ezechiel 11, 37, 15: "super terram mitium, terram viventium," which
> Blaise takes to refer to "the living (those who make up the Church)"
> (p. 854, s.v. "uiuens" - you would have to consult an edition of
> Jerome's commentary to decipher the reference). But the blessing
> goes on to define "terram viventium" more narrowly than Jerome (see
> next comment).
> PORTUS - surely refers to the Holy Land, which WAS the most favored
> pilgrim destination, and hence the raison d'etre for liberating it.
> That's my best shot,
> Richard Kay
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> *From:* Cecilia Gaposchkin <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 04, 2010 7:06 AM
> *Subject:* [M-R] another liturgical puzzle
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture Hello all,
>
> Anyone out there interested in offering ideas about another
> liturgical interpretation puzzle? I have been (as anyone who
> actually reads my silly posts might know) going through what we
> know about the rites for taking the cross in the 12th and 13th
> centuries. In Brundage's classic piece, he publishes a text from
> the last quarter of the 12th century from Ely, and it includes the
> following prayer to be given at the moment of handing over the cross:
>
> Suscipe iugum christi quod est fidelibus suis leve onus, signo
> sancte crucis insignante, quatinus fide abraham exeuntis dextera
> insignitus, terram viventium merearis possidere, ubi est fidelium
> animarum gratissimus portus, prestante domino nostro ihesu christo”
>
> I've had some trouble translating the central clauses ("quatinus
> fide abraham exeuntis dextera insignitus") - any help there would
> be great. Is "dextera" the right hand of God? or is it "on your
> right side" (where the cross would go).
>
> But in general, I don't understand the oration in its whole. The
> term "terram viventium" appears not infrequently in the Old
> Testament (mostly Psalms, Isaiah, and Ezekial, one reference
> Job). It is opposed to "the pit" (of hell), and I gather just
> means "one earth" or "secular (as opposed to heavenly, or eternal)
> life." (I'd initially assumed it means the land of eternal life,
> i.e., heaven, but I don't think that is correct). I have not
> found the term elsewhere liturgically, though I haven't looked
> everywhere and my guess is that it is used elsewhere.
>
> So, what does "to merit possessing the land of of the living"
> mean? The land of the living means is here defined as "where the
> delightful have of faithful souls is" and "where Christ
> prevailed". This must mean heaven, yes? But the land of the
> living biblically does not. The vague issue is whether it could
> possibly refer in any sense to the actual [holy] land? I'd be very
> surprised if this prayer did that. Is the earthly Jerusalem ever
> described as the "portus animarum" in the 12th century? and so forth.
>
> Any thoughts would be helpful in the extreme. Much appreciated.
> As is, as ever, the generosity of those on the list.
> cecilia
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