medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Terrill Heaps wrote:
> ------------
> I assume this to be a medieval custom, but one which is (or was, as
> recently as of the death of Pope John XXII)
I suppose to a medievalist, 1334 does count as "recent" :-)
> done to determine if the
> pope is alive or dead. Some one (I think it was the Cardinal
> Camerlengo, but I won't swear to it) "knocked" on the pope's skull,
> with a small golden hammer, and said "Angelo Roncalli, are you alive
> or are you dead." And receiving no reply, pronounced the pope to be
> dead.
>
It is supposed to be a silver hammer - much like that of Maxwell Edison, I
suppose. (See also Browning's "The Ring and the Book")
> Now, of course, we know about medical methods to determine if some one
> is alive. But, old usages do not willingly fall into desuetude,
> especially if there is a history behind them, and more especially if
> the history of that usage has to do with making something solemnized
> and official.
>
There is some doubt over the story of this ritual (once the cutting edge of
the scientific determination of death), and when it was last performed.
John Briggs
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