In the Annals of Flodard, for the year 944, one finds that Queen Gerberga
gave birth to a son, who was named Charles "ad catezizandum" (the full
clause is "qui Karolus ad catezizandum vocitatus est").
While the translation is straightforward, I am curious about what is meant.
Is the naming a prelude to actual catechesis in the faith, is the naming
meant to signal that the baby is a catechumen (one meaning of which is an
unbaptized baby) and this means simply that the child was as yet
unbaptized, is this another way of stating that the baby was baptized thus
ending the catecumenate, or is something else meant?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Steve Fanning
University of Illinois at Chicago
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|