medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> It was possible, in extremis, for a lay person (ie one not ordained priest)
> to hear a deathbed confession and to pronounce absolution of some sort. This
> would be particularly the case on a battlefield or at some similar moment
> when a priest was unobtainable. I associate the idea particularly with the
> miltant Orders (Knights Hospitallers, in this case.)
This is not quite the same thing, but according to Philippe Aries, midwives were
authorized to perform the sacrament of baptism, in order to avoid lots of babies
ending up in limbo.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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