S. Milburge's saga sounds just a tad like the story of S. Winefride's
translation in Cadfael's first opus, also set in Shropshire. (and Wales)
At 10:15 PM 5/24/00 -0400, you wrote:
>>Shannon McSheffrey wrote:
>>
>> The church leaders cleaned up the
>>bones and put them on display, in the process encouraging people to place
>>crowns (couronnes) around the casket. Does this practice mean anything to
>anybody?
>____________________
>Shannon:
> The understanding of the life lived in Christ as a
>process__whether the metaphor be that of an athletic competition or
>psychomachic combat __ whose final metaphor is presented as the
>receiving of the victor's crown ( or the Princely crown of Royal
>sonship ) was commonly materialized in Christian burials in many
>cultures by some adornment of the remains, especially the head and
>neck.Wreaths of laurel ( Byzantine, Balkan practice), elaborately
>marked
>( woven, or embroidered) headbands as victor's crowns (N. and Central
>Slavs ), finely plaited wreaths of palm fronds ( Ethiopia ). The
>examples abound. The Acta SS .frequently describe processions with
>the body of the saint/s adorned/ crowned with flowers, wreaths, etc
>by those who accompany the body. It likewise seems to be a common
>practice in the yearly rituals or festivals later associated with the
>cults of many saints. It would thus seem quite natural in your
>example, especially in the ceremony for re-interment of the
>translated, or in this case, rediscovered relics, for those gathered
>to be encouraged to do the same.
>An example comes to mind:
>Rose Graham, in "The History of the Alien Priory of Wenlock",
>1965,p7ff cites the example of the Cluniac monks brought to Wenlock (
>Shropshire) ca 1080/81 to re-organize and reclaim the site of a
>former convent, whose first abbess happened to be St. Milburge ( ca
>720's). When the monks wished to re-locate and rededicate the site,
>her remains were not found in their supposed location
>( her shrine). As the tale goes, following the lead of some unearthed
>charters, they discovered her true remains,( I guess research does
>pay off) which were then unearthed, washed, anointed, and adorned (
>corona) and laid in their newly built shrine on the high altar. If
>Balzac's remains could be publicly crowned with laurel leaves and
>garlands of roses, why not a 19thc. re-interment of a 17th c. bishop?
>What would be of more interest to is the actual text of the
>re-interment and re-dediccation ceremony.
>I hope this helps.
>Josef Gulka
>
>
>Dr.Josef Gulka
>(215) 732-8420
>FAX (215) 732-8420
>[log in to unmask]
>
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