medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
This may be a bit peripheral, but there was a whole rash of mass pilgrimages of
children in the later Middle Ages, which took place apparently without their parents'
permission. Mont-Saint-Michel was a favourite goal, beginning in 1333 (when they
were apparently drawn by sightings of "St Elmo's Fire" on the church steeple!) but
recurring into the mid-15th century. Initially, they came from Normandy and
Brittany, but eventually, crowds of them came from southern France, the Low
Countries and Germany. This was roundly criticized by the clergy and civil
authorities. There is more on this, with references, in Jonathan Sumption,
Pilgrimage (London, 1975), pp. 285-86.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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