medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
jbugslag wrote:
>
> > I think I shall go with the Westminster Calendar
> > (Benedictine.) Although I am baffled by the copes and
> > albs...
>
> Even if you are baffled by them, it would be splendid if
> you could mention what you could about liturgical
> vestments, not to mention processions.
When I say "baffled by the copes and albs..." this should perhaps be
interpreted in an allegorical sense :-)
As far as I can tell (which isn't very far...), the basic Benedictine
gradation of feasts is as follows:
Principal (or double) feasts
Feasts "in copes"
Feasts "in albs"
Simple feasts of 12 lessons
Simple feasts of 3 lessons
The top three are presumably all Double feasts, although not always
designated as such. A number of Benedictine calendars survive from medieval
England, but Missals and Breviaries tend not to survive from the same
houses. Perhaps the most accessible (published) late medieval Missal is from
Westminster, whereas the most complete Breviary is from Hyde, Winchester. I
think shall refer to two Calendars from Westminster, with a sidelong glance
at the Hyde Calendar. The Westminster Missal calendar specifies different
numbers of copes for various Feasts "in copes" (apparently the numbers
singing the invitatory, cf the Sarum Use), but the significance is obscure
and appears not to relate directly to the grading of the feast, so I shall
ignore it.
John Briggs
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