medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: "Cormack, Margaret Jean" <[log in to unmask]>
>What is interesting about this one [Marcigny] is that it provides and [sic:
an] "excuse" for the (unusually large?) priory being a priory!
i have never heard what the actual size of the Cluniac priory of Marcigny was
--probably quite large, but perhaps not as large as some of the male priories
(St. Martin-des-Champs, La Charité-sur-Loire, Paray-le-Monial, etc.).
i don't know if the present early 12th c. church in the town
--which is good size but not as large as any of the above-- was the priory
church or not.
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/29032297.jpg
in any event, it was certainly a prestigious house, catering to the most
aristocratic ladies in the land --Countess Adela of Blois/Chartres retired
there, as did the widow of one of the Viscounts of Chartres.
but, i've always assumed that it was "merely" a priory because *that* was the
nature of the Cluniac system: only one abbot (at Cluny), with priors (or
prioresses) heading up all the daughter houses in the order.
this idea of the Virgin as "abbess" is a new one to me --which might very well
be true, but certainly was not the reason why Marcigny (or any of the male
priories) was a "mere" priory.
c
> From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
culture on behalf of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Mon 6/20/2011 12:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [M-R] female priories
>
>
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> The head of the priory of Marcigny (founded in 1054) was always referred to
> as a prioress. The
> ostensible reason was that the abbess was the Virgin Mary, at least that
> was the reason given in some
> accounts. There were to be 99 women, and the hundredth, the Virgin, the
> abbess.
> Judith Rosenberg
>
>
>
> Original Message:
> -----------------
> From: Cormack, Margaret Jean [log in to unmask]
> Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 07:49:35 -0400
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [M-R] female priories
>
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Greetings all!
> Probably all list members are familiar with Chaucer's prioress, so we know
> such an office existed in
> female religious houses. My question is, however, whether there is a
> recognized terminology for a
> female priory, i.e. a religious house headed by a prioress rather than an
> abbess?
> Meg
>
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