medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Gratian would seem to rule out knights being ordained. In Distinctio 50, c. 5 he says:
"Clericum, qui paganum occiderit, non oportet ad maiorem gradum prouehi, qui carere debet etiam acquisito, homicida enim est. Nam cum discreti sint milites seculi a militibus ecclesiae, non conuenit militem ecclesiae militare seculo, per quod ad effusionem sanguinis necesse sit peruenire."
("It is not fitting for a cleric who has killed a pagan to advance to a higher order, which he should be deprived of even if he has achieved it, since this is homicide. For since secular soldiers/knights should be distinct from the soldiers/knights of the church, it does not suit a soldier of the church to fight for the secular world, from which the spilling of blood would result of necessity.")
This is consistent with Lateran IV's later ruling (canon 18) that clerics should not be involved in occupations that involve bloodshed nor preside at occasions–judicial ordeals or executions–where blood is shed.
A story Joinville tells about Louis IX springs to mind. A cleric killed 3 robbers--one with a crossbow, another by chopping off his leg, the third with a sword cut to the head ("he split it to the teeth"). He was brought before Louis. "Sir clerk," said the king, "your courage has lost you your chance for the priesthood; but for your courage I retain you in my pay, and you shall accompany me overseas."
Among the Templar Knights, if I remember correctly, they had a separate grade of chaplains to minister the order's spiritual needs.
Best,
John
------------------------------------------
John Shinners
Professor of Humanistic Studies
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Phone: 574-284-4494 or 574-284-4534
Fax: 284-4855
www.saintmarys.edu/~hust
"Learn everything. Afterwards you will see that nothing is superfluous." -- Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141)
----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Cannon <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:49:18 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: [M-R] Nothing 'chivalric' about medieval priests
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Of course. To me it's a perfect example of the ellision between a chivalrous brotherhood and a religious one.
I wonder whether the Knights could be priested??
Jon
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:35:58 -0700
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] Nothing 'chivalric' about medieval priests
To: [log in to unmask]
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I read the posts rapidly and perhaps for that reason saw no mention of the Knights Templar. Or do they not "count" for some reason? I lost track of the original question and it may have concerned only those priests who were not members of religious orders.
MG
Marjorie Greene
http://medrelart.shutterfly.com/
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