medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionmedieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religion"Sir" was indeed the usual way of addressing or refering to a priest in the Middle Ages. Many, many examples can easily be found.
Gordon Plumb
Anglican Priest (and definitely NOT Protestant!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Chandler <[log in to unmask]>
To: MEDIEVAL-RELIGION <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sat, Sep 14, 2019 1:27 am
Subject: Re: [M-R] addressing priests
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and cultureI think the short answer is "Sir" and equivalents. Even still in Italy, religious priests are called "Padre So-and-so" and diocesan priests "Don So-and-so", the equivalent of "Sir". From memory (sorry, I'm not near books) the use of Padre/Father began with the Capuchins (so post-16th century) and spread to other religious-order priests and only quite late, as you say, also to diocesan clergy. There's an article by David Holmes which might be of interest, though it is from a contemporary Protestant, not a medieval Catholic, perspective; there are a couple of further bibliographical indications:
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and cultureI would think that finding the manner of address would have to appear in literary sources because you'd need samples of dialogue. What I have noticed is that when a priest is referred to in third person, he's usually referred to as "the priest So-and-so" or "Such-and-such the priest." My impression from the Byzantine sources (and I can't think of anything specific off the top of my head aside from the Desert Fathers) is that the direct address would be "Father;" for a bishop it is, "Master."
********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionmedieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionGreetings all,How were priests addressed in the Middle Ages? I believe the Icelandic 'sera' comes from English (sira?) but today this is associate with knights, not priests. The best I could come up with was 'the Reverend' which is a bit clumsy, but may have to work. 'Father', it was pointed out to me, is 19th century. Any suggetions?
All the best,Meg
--
********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionPaul Chandler, O.Carm.
Holy Spirit Seminary | PO Box 18 (487 Earnshaw Road) | Banyo Qld 4014 | Australia
office: (07) 3267 4804 | mobile: 044 882 4996
[log in to unmask]