>Do I detect hints of female clergy (or is this just a measure of my
>ignorance)? What are forms and contexts in which the fourth- and
>fifth-century uses of the term occur?
>
>Graham
The early references that I know of are hopelessly non-committal and seem
mostly to refer to consecrated women of some sort living in their homes,
possibly with some connection to the episcopal retinue.
But, Yes, I think there might be some hint of some sort of female clergy in
the 8th=12th centuries. The canonesses often seem to have some attachment
to a Cathedral and, I think, perform some liturgical duties, mainly singing
and processing. But it really is very unclear and murky. Nevertheless,
thinking (or trying to think about canonesses) has led me forward to wonder
about the whole clerical situation before the Gregorian reform and to wonder
about the evolution of the sacrament of ordination which also seems pretty
murky. Unhappily there seem to be lots of tunnels with no light at the end
and I am left only with the sense that we don't know a lot of what we may
have thought we knew.
Happy holidays to all,
Jo Ann
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