medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I have been asked to explain the classification of feasts in the the Sarum
Calendar. This is fiendishly complicated, and the following has been
adapted from Nick Sandon (ed), The Use of Salisbury. Vol. 2: The Proper of
Mass from Advent to Septuagesima. 2nd ed. (Antico Edition, 2000), pp.vi-ix.
The days of the year are classified as feast days or ferias (ordinary days).
Sundays are counted as feasts. Feasts are divided into three main
categories according to the number of 'rulers' who lead the choir at the
main services: Double Feasts (four rulers), Simple Feasts (two rulers) and
Feasts without rulers.
Double feasts are divided into: Principal doubles, Major doubles, Minor
doubles, and Inferior doubles.
Feasts with rulers generally have nine lessons at Matins - feasts without
rulers have three. For simple feasts and feasts without rulers, the
Invitatory (the opening psalm of Matins, Venite, exultemus Domino, with its
antiphon), can be performed by one, two or three singers: hence simple
Invitatory, double Invitatory or triple Invitatory as a convenient means of
classification. (On double feasts the Invitatory is always sung by four
singers, and on ferias it is always sung by one. Ordinary Sundays are
classed as simple feasts with double Invitatory.)
Simple feasts can have triple Invitatory (of saints, or of octaves - where
either the whole octave is ruled or only the octave day ruled) or double
Invitatory (of saints, ferias in octaves with rulers, or of commemorations).
Feasts without rulers can have double Invitatory (of saints, or of octaves)
or simple Invitatory (with or without a nocturn), or be feasts represented
by a Memorial attached to another feast (a double feast or a simple feast).
Sundays can be divided according to whether they have Principal privilege,
Major privilege, Minor privilege, or Inferior privilege.
Similarly, Ferias may have Principal privilege, Major privilege, Minor
privilege, Inferior privilege or be without privilege.
(The privileges of Ordinary Sundays and ferias affect how they interact with
feasts with which they coincide.)
John Briggs
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