medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: James Ginther <[log in to unmask]>
> The transition [away from clerical marriage] was quite difficult, at least
in England and Normandy.
>There is an interesting epistolary exchange between Anselm of Canterbury
and Pius II over what to do with the married priests in England. Anselm
points out that if he enforced the law, there would be very few priests
around. Pius II responds that he should move slowly, and basically let the
current "married" (incontinent) priests die out and replace them with
celibate ones. A clear indication, I think, that the papacy of Pius II did
not conceive of clerical priesthood as a heresy (what kind of pope would
suggest that you just let the heretics die out, rather than impose
appropriate discipline?).
the modest Pius was also suggesting the use of a dodgy compromise which was
--i think-- common enough when dealing with secular (or regular) institutions
which had been reformed: allow the canons (or backslid monks) of the house to
retain their benefices for the rest of their lives provided that they live a
regular life, put their wives/concubines away and, basically, keep It in their
pants.
i assume that this was done --in large part-- because "reform" was difficult
enough to pull off, esp. in the face of what was frequently considerable local
(secular and, perhaps, ecclesiastical) opposition, without the added burden of
having thrown a bunch of second sons of the local nobility out of their jobs
in the bargain. it was naturally therefore preferred to allow them to stay
on, "in caritate," if they agreed to Clean Up their Act.
i have been intending to axe the Larnéd list about this, since it is what
happened at the collegial of St. Mary Magdeleine at Chateaudun, when it was
reformed/regularized c. 1130 --this stipulation re the old canons is
specifically mentioned in a bull of Innocent 2 (another modest fellow,
apparently) in 1131 which confirms the work of Bishop Godfrey of Chartres (who
also happened to be a papal legate, which didn't hurt).
i've seen this kind of thing before, as part of some reform, somewhere, but
can't recall where.
i'll post the revelent text of Inn2 later, if i can, as well as some more
factoids surrounding the case.
comments from the list will be, as always, most welcome.
> If university education was not possible (and it was expensive--plus ca
change), then in England the rural deans (on the continent archpriests
what the devil is an "archpriest"?
i've never come across such a term in my French documents.
though we do have some --a very few-- instances of "rural deans" in the
11th-12th c. charters (only recognizable because they are style "dean" and
it's clear that they are not the Dean of the cathedral chapter).
c
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