medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
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On Sun, 8 Dec 2002 08:33:47 -0800, you wrote:
>My question is about the relative "status" or "prestige" of martyr-saints
>v. confessor-saints around 1300. My impression is that there was more
>prestige associated to martyrdom than to mere confessordom. The reason I
>say this, and indeed, the reason I am interested in this question, is
>because of a debate evidenced around these years, it seems, over whether
>Louis IX was a martyr or a confessor. We have all read Joinville's
>preface, where he scolds the papacy for not recognizing his martyrdom.
>
>I also get this impression (that martyrdom was somehow better) from what I
>understand of the evolution of the understanding of Francis' sanctity in
>the 13th century.
>
>So, the question is whether 1) this impression is correct and 2) other
>indications of this, particularly in comparative texts. Is there any
>theological reasons, for instance, why martyrdom could be considered
>better than confessordom. Any other saints or canonization processes which
>evidence this tension.
>
>Many thanks, to all, for the generosity of the list-
>
>Cecilia Gaposchkin
I'm not sure this is specific to the mediaeval period. In the Catholic
tradition there is a definite order of precedence, beginning with Mary,
followed by apostles and evangelists, martyrs, teachers of the faith or
confessors, bishops, religious, missionaries, group commemorations and
finally any other saints. I don't know how long this order has been around,
but I suspect it's fairly ancient.
Gordon
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Gordon Arthur | I have loved justice and hated iniquity;
[log in to unmask] | therefore I die in exile. (Gregory VII)
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