medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The following response to my query about display of relics was sent
to me personally by Jessalyn Bird, who was unable to reply directly
to the list. Many thanks Jessalyn.
The exposure of relics from their cases was a favorite trick of
fund-raising preachers labelled as "quaestores" by reformers from Peter
the Chanter's circle--the gripe being that they were so bent on profit
(since many operated for their own monastic houses or on a commission
basis) that they would promise anything to obtain offerings from the
faithful, including disproportionate indulgences, or exposing genuine
relics to be kissed or venerated by the faithful in return for
offerings. They were also accused of faking episcopal or papal letters
of indulgence and/or relics, hence the decree's emphasis upon validating
relics as well and the council's stress on restraining the type of
episcopal indulgences granted.
In short, quaestores presented competition to reform preachers and
crusade recruiters and could potentially undermine public faith in the
motives of those offering indulgences for the crusade and other
appropriately approved projects--in fact, mendicants commissioned as
crusade and reform preachers and as inquisitors were granted the ability
to silence quaestores operating in their area.
I hope that this helps--I became so fascinated in the topic that I'm now
writing an article on it.
Sincerely,
Jessalynn Bird
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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