medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The little piece is accessible at:
http://www.le.ac.uk/ee/pot/intro.html
Fascinating - but two points:
1. - what might be the role of the English WEATHER in this custom ? If you
are waiting about to meet someone or to do something, isn't a place out of
the rain and wind desirable ? In your average village or small town, what
other sheltered, neutral location would there be ? (A porch of private house
would not be neutral. Covered markets were rare. )
2 - Was there not a superstition that if a traveller gazed upon the image of
Saint Christopher, he would not die unshriven that day ? And that
consequently a number of churches had a painting of St Christopher on the
north wall of the nave, directly opposite the south porch, whose door was
normally open during the hours of daylight so that any passing traveller
could see the image of St Christopher and pass on reassured that if he was
set upon by brigands, he would survive the experience long enough to receive
the Last Rites. Here it is the OPEN south porch door that is critical.
Can anyone give chapter and verse for this ? It is just an item in the
rag=bag of my memory!
BMC.
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