medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Hal Cain wrote:
> Bill East wrote:
>
>> The Tract is Psalm 102:10 and Psalm 78:8-9
>>
>> Domine, non secundum peccata nostra quae fecimus nos: neque secundum
>> iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis.
>> Domine, ne memineris iniquitatum nostrarum antiquarum: cito
>> anticipent nos misericordiae tuae, quia pauperes facti sumus nimis.
>>
>> The rubric here stipulates: Hic genuflectitur. Why we should
>> genuflect at this point is not obvious; it is not usual to genuflect
>> during the Tract. Perhaps it is on account of the invocation of
>> God’s Name, which occurs in the following verse:
>>
>> Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster: et propter gloriam nominis tui,
>> Domine, libera nos: et propitius est peccatis nostris, propter nomen
>> tuum.
>
> I suspect that "genuflectitur" was originally intended to mean
> kneeling, rather than just what we think of now, i.e. on one knee. I
> always supposed that it occurred because Lent, as a time of prayer
> and penance, is fittingly marked by a more humble attitude, physical
> as well as mental. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the rubric
> is as traditional as the text itself; can anyone shed any light?
The 'Liber Usualis' says: "Here all kneel." The plot thickens when we turn
to the Sarum Use:
"The verses of the Tract are sung alternately by the two sides of the choir,
each side standing to sing and sitting while the other side sings. This
same Tract is sung at Masses of the season on every Monday and Friday from
Ash Wednesday until Maundy Thursday. Note that no genuflection is made when
the verse 'Adjuva nos' is sung."
John Briggs
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