Havingf recently rejoined the list after the holidays I missed the
earlier stretches of this thread and don't know how it has evolved so
far. For what it's worth, I do, however, have a vague recollection, no
more, that the idea was a thorough combing to ensure no vermin would fall
from the celebrant's head onto the altar during mass, especially at/immediately
after the consecration. This very well might have been an eager (and
Protestant?) antiquary's guesswork, however, and I won't claim this as a
definite solution. Given the general cultural importance attached to the
head and hair, the purpose of the comb might just as well have been to
present the congregation with a nicely-groomed celebrant.
John P.
On Thu, 2 Jan 1997 [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Funny how these types of queries and situations happen to more than
> one of us at about the same time (a list miracle?!) . When I was in
> New York before Christmas, we visited the Cloisters, and I saw for
>
> the first time in my life a comb such as the one described in
> Graham's message. The little sign under the comb seaid that it was
> used ceremonially before mass. Anyone else knwo something about this?
>
> George (well-groomed)
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|