===On 10 Jan 2001, James B. MacGregor wrote:
>> J. B. L. Tolhurst, _The Monastic Breviary of Hyde Abbey, Winchester_
volume
>> VI "Introduction to the English Monastic Breviaries" (London: HBS,
1942) 146-8
>> . . . lists eight grades of feast day.
>>
>> Feasts graded as "in capis" are of the second rank and include, among
>> others, Epiphany, Circumcision, All Saints, and the commemoration of
saints
>> of local importance. "On these feasts the whole convent was usually
vested
>> in copes at least at high Mass; hence the term 'in capis'."
>> Feasts graded as "in albis" are of the third rank and include, among
others,
>> the feasts of the Apostles and Evangelists not included in grades one or
two
>> and saints days (Vincent, Lawrence, etc.) that are "universally" of high
>> grade. On these feasts "the convent was generally vested in albs at
high
>> Mass; so the term 'in albis'."
James,
My apologies. You initiated this discussion with a question (i.e., when
the grading of saint's days as "in capis" and "in albis" began in England),
and in response, you seem to have gotten only more questions thus far.
Alas, I too have no answer, but instead another question for you.
You mention eight grades, but list only two. For the benefit of the group,
could you describe all eight, and also indicate whether increasing
numerical order indicates descending priority (i.e., grade 1 is the
holiest, and 8 the least so) or vice versa.
Thanks in advance.
--Christopher Mislow
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