[log in to unmask] wrote:
> Can anyone suggest work on canonization procedures that
> post-dates and significantly alters the conclusinos of W E Kemp's
> "Canonization and Authority in the Western Church," (Oxford 1948)
> in particular his statement on p. 107 that
> "The formal legal establishment of the right of papal
> canonization may for our convenience be regarded as settled by the
> publication of the decretals of Greg. IX in 1234. The decretal
> Audivimus of Alexander III became in the eyes of the canonists
> the foundation of this right..."
> I would also be interested in learning of any
> medieval cults that were established WITHOUT the involvement of
> the papacy or its representatives in the period 1150-1300, most
> especially if the cults have a continuous history of celebration
> since that time.
> I am investigating St. Roch, and will be hunting down
> footnotes in Vauchez.
> Thanks
> Margaret Cormack [log in to unmask]
> Dept. of Philosophy and Religion fax: 843-953-6388
> College of Charleston tel: 843-953-8033
> Charleston, SC 29424-0001
Dear Margaret Cormack,
in opposition to what we might tend to believe, Kemp's opinion has not
been surpassed by new studies on the the subject. Today Kuttner's
analysis (cf. Vauchez' bibliography) of the process how the decretal
"Audivimus" became a generally accepted rule in 1234 is not contested. A
more recent publication is
Marcus Sieger, Die Heiligsprechung. Geschichte und heutige Rechtslage,
Würzburg 1995.
Still extremely valuable:
J. Löw, C. Salotti, s.v. "canonizzazione", in: Enciclopedia Cattolica
Vol III. (1949), coll.1090-1100.
As far as the cults of saints who were not canonized is concerned,
modern ideas of papacy have had considerable influence on what people
think of medieval veneration of saints. Until the reforms of Urban VIII.
that came to an end in 1642 the vast majority of venerated saints was
not canonized. In the later middle ages the curia was neither able to
monopolize the control of the existing cults nor interested in doing so.
Even today all cults are "established withouth the involvment of the
papacy". The curia cannot and never could establish cults - the only
thing it started doing about the 10th and 11th century was to confirm
existing cults and to allow universal veneration by means only the pope
disposed of.
More detailed information is to be found in Vauchez fundamental study
that also lists lots of spontaneous cults comparable to that of Werner
of Oberwesel I have worked on.
As I am now studying the process of canonization in the 15th century I
would be interested to know about any recent publication that deals
with canonization in the middle ages. So please let me know (perhaps
off-list) if you come across anything connected with the formal and
legal aspects of canonization, especially in the 15th cent.
Thomas Wetzstein
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