medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
why were they called quaestores? is it from magistrate, inquisitor,
searcher? what?
Dale Hample
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>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> The following response to my query about display of relics was sent
> to me personally by Jessalyn Bird, who was unable to reply directly
> to the list. Many thanks Jessalyn.
>
> The exposure of relics from their cases was a favorite trick of
> fund-raising preachers labelled as "quaestores" by reformers from Peter
> the Chanter's circle--the gripe being that they were so bent on profit
> (since many operated for their own monastic houses or on a commission
> basis) that they would promise anything to obtain offerings from the
> faithful, including disproportionate indulgences, or exposing genuine
> relics to be kissed or venerated by the faithful in return for
> offerings. They were also accused of faking episcopal or papal letters
> of indulgence and/or relics, hence the decree's emphasis upon validating
> relics as well and the council's stress on restraining the type of
> episcopal indulgences granted.
>
> In short, quaestores presented competition to reform preachers and
> crusade recruiters and could potentially undermine public faith in the
> motives of those offering indulgences for the crusade and other
> appropriately approved projects--in fact, mendicants commissioned as
> crusade and reform preachers and as inquisitors were granted the ability
> to silence quaestores operating in their area.
>
> I hope that this helps--I became so fascinated in the topic that I'm now
> writing an article on it.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jessalynn Bird
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
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