As about half the cathedrals were monasteries, did they follow the monastic or secular regimen?
-----Original Message-----
From: Sherry Reames [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 4:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lessons on feast days
Dear Jimm,
The quick answer is that it's a different kind of institution that uses
nine lessons, not a different era. Non-monastic churches in England and
elsewhere (including secular cathedrals, most parishes, and churches of the
friars) followed a different and somewhat shorter format for the daily
office, which had either three or nine lessons at Matins (and a
corresponding reduction in the number of psalms, antiphons, and
responsories) in place of the monasteries' three or twelve. I can't tell
you when this difference began, but seem to recall reading that it stems
from a very old distinction between the version of the liturgy followed in
monasteries and the version used in cathedrals. Hope this helps--
Sherry Reames (English Dept., University of Wisconsin, Madison)
At 11:17 AM 2/2/2001 +0000, you wrote:
>Dear list members,
>
>When did it become common in England to celebrate a feast day with nine
>lessons?
>
>The chronological sampling of monastic calendars and breviaries I've
>consulted (mostly Benedictine) celebrate feast days with three, eight or
>twelve lessons. Yet in a series of mid-thirteenth century diocesan statutes
>from Worcester (Powicke & Cheney, "Synods & Councils 1205-1265," p. 323)
>there is a reference to "omni festo ix lectionem per totum annum."
>
>I'm not sure what to make of this. Any thoughts, suggestions or references
>would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Jimm
>**********************
>James B. MacGregor
>Department of History
>University of Cincinnati
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>**********************
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