medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I cannot help you with regard to late medieval baptisms, but this may be a
clue as to why the Irish may have a folk tradition of baptising with milk.
In the 8th century Vita Prima Sanctae Brigidae, the infant Brigid is washed
with warm fresh milk as soon as she is born. This is in no way a Christian
baptism, but considering Brigid's sanctity and her importance to Irish
spritiuality, the tradition of her milky bath may have given a certain
degree of legitimacy to this deviant practice. It's pretty doubtful given
the time gap, but it might be worthwhile to explore Brigidine traditions in
the late Middle Ages as on possible source for this story.
Diane Auslander
----- Original Message -----
From: "Salvador Ryan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 2:54 PM
Subject: [M-R] Baptisms by substances other than water
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am presently preparing a paper on unusual baptismal customs in late
medieval Gaelic Ireland.
> During the course of my research on popular religious devotion 1445-1645
(in Gaelic Ireland)
> I have come across a number of references to the practice of rich children
being baptised with milk
> (and on occasion with beer!). I would be grateful if those of you who have
come across similar unusual baptismal
> customs elsewhere (or in Ireland) for the medieval period could let me
know about them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Salvador Ryan (NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland).
>
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