medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
See Lester K. Little, Benedictine Maledictions: Liturgical Cursing in
Romanesque France. (Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 1993)
Clement's formula is similar to many of the quite lengthy maledictions
excerpted in Little's book. You also may find the bibliography useful.
best,
Nancy Caciola
History, UC San Diego
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill East" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Nancy Caciola" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 5:00 AM
Subject: Malediction
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Friends:
I recently came across a curse attribted to Pope Clement VI (1478-1534)
which runs as follows:
"The Lord strike him with madness and blindness. May the heavens empty
upon him thunderbolts and the wrath of the Omnipotent burn itself unto
him in the present and future world. May the Universe light against him
and the earth open to swallow him up."
I imagine some of our learned members specialise in Malediction, or if
not perhaps we should. It seems to me perhaps a neglected feature of
medieval religion. Can anyone tell me anything about the circumstances
of this particular curse? Better still, can anyone say if there was
ever a liturgical book containing curses, a Maledictional so to speak?
It would obviously be jolly useful to have such a book, perhaps with
curses for special occasions, curses in time of war, curses of an
abbot, curses on the anniversary of a divorce etc.
I know all about the curses in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer
service, "The Commination of Sinners".
"Cursed is the man that maketh and carved or molten image, to worship
it.
And the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Minister. Cursed is he that curseth his father or mother.
Answer. Amen.
Cursed is he that removeth his neighbour's land-mark.
Answer. Amen."
and so on for many curses, concluding:
"Minister. Cursed are the unmerciful, fornicators, and adulterers,
covetous persons, idolators, slanderers, drunkards, and extortioners.
Answer. Amen."
I have often wished we had something similar in the Catholic Church.
But perhaps we do, if there are medieval maledictionals around. If
someone can point me to one, I will use my good offices with ICEL to
get it translated and put into use.
Bill.
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