medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I can’t see how a priest can be downgraded to a deacon (the 2nd highest holy order) since priesthood, the last of the holy orders, was/is believed to confer an “indelible character” on its bearer that could only be removed by degradation. But wouldn’t degradation mean a return to lay status, a process conferred only for very serious offenses? It’s not like being reduced in rank in the military as far as I know. If I’m right that a priest can’t be demoted to a deacon or subdeacon, etc., then I think the new Penguin translator has been mislead by the old one in translating Erembald’s title “decanus” (which is what Migne gives) as “deacon.” Were he a deacon, one would expect “diaconus.” Unless 12th-century French is less strict about diaconus/decanus than 13th-century and onwards British sources that I know, or Guibert or his editors have had a “lapsus pennae,” Erembald is not a deacon of Cambrai but some kind of dean. I searched through the new translation where he appears a few other times, always as “deacon.” I’m wagering this is a mistranslation, though I could be wrong.
As for deacons preaching the gospel at Mass, I can see this in cathedrals or collegiate churches where folks were constantly squabbling over rank; whether it played out in ordinary parishes is beyond what I know at this point. I admit I’ve only begun to explore the deacon’s practical duties as part of a larger project. So far, I’ve only got what theologians have to say about the ideals of the rank (i. e., in Peter Lombard and Aquinas, both of whom are drawing on Isidore of Seville). I would welcome any guidance about what the wise ones of the list know about a deacon’s practical duties.
John
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From: "MAUREEN Tilley [Staff/Faculty [FCLC]]" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, April 4, 2013 1:53:55 PM
Subject: [M-R] Priests who become deacons?
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Taking off from a recent post, I have a question for the cognoscenti of the list. Here is the post with my concern highlighted:
" ....what sort of persons would normally deliver sermons in a cathedral (I'm
thinking of the 12th and 13th centuries). In particular, would it include
both priests and deacons?
"Jim, as it happens [sic!] i just this morning came across a section in
Guibert of Nogent's treatise "On the Saints and their Relics" wherein he
mentions a certain Erlebald, "deacon of Cambrai" who "had been the chief
guardian of the church and who also **in his many sermons, delivered to people
everywhere** in order to demonstrate the fruit of true confession..."
http://tinyurl.com/bj9ajy2
the new translation does not follow that of of the PL ed., which is the one
most easily available:
[PL 156.619C]
"In Cameracensi Ecclesia, ante hoc ferme biennium decanus, qui et summus
aedituus templi fuerat, cui Erlebaldus nomen erat, qui in multis quos
circumquaque faciebat ad populum sermonibus, ad fructum verae confessionis
ostendendum....
"G. assures us that Erlebald "had been in the priesthood , where he had
distinguished himself, and was especially close to me in friendship because
of his abundant knowledge of scripture."
[156.619E]
Fuit autem homo iste cum sacerdotio , quo fulgebat, et in Scripturae scientia
copiosus, et mihi valde amicitia affinis....
"Guibert is all-too-often an unbelievably Insufferable, Self-Righteous old
Fussbudget, but it is clear from this passage that Deacons were permitted to
give sermons, at least ie Diocese of Cambrai (including perhaps in the
cathedral?), at least c. 1100."
I am aware that in early Christianity men might move from one order to another, anachronistically 'down' the hierarchical order, but I do not know when the hierarchical order began to solidify as a one-way staircase. Does the bolded quotation from ca. 1100 above mean that (1) a man who had been a priest could at this late date become a deacon or does it mean that (2) he was later not deacon but (mistakenly written) dean ( diaconus, decanus ), an error which members of the list find possible in other contexts? If it is the former, can anyone on the list point me to resourcees on the solidification of the hierarchy as a one-way staircase.
Thank you to all of you from whom I have learned much.
--
Maureen A. Tilley
Professor of Theology and Medieval Studies
Fordham University
113 West 60th Street
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--
John Shinners
Professor, Schlesinger Chair in 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. Later you will see that nothing is superfluous." -- Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141)
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