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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
There is quite a lot about offering candles, either at the high altar or to
images of saints, both as something Lollards disapproved of and as
reparation for their sins, in the records of the heresy trials held in
Norwich 1428-31 (Heresy Trials in the Diocese of Norwich 1428031, ed NP
Tanner, Camden 4th Series vol 20, 1977). Holding lights as part of a public
penance was also common for both heretics and other offenders. Richard Kyng
of Wymondham, whose major error was to believe that only bread remained
after consecration had the following penance enjoined:
'.. tres fustigaciones circa ecclesiam suam parochialem de Wymundham coram
solemni processione eiusdem tribus diebus Dominicis more solito facienda,
PORTANS UNUM CEREUM CERE IN MANU SUA PONDERIS UNIUS LIBRE; QUODQUE ILLUM
CEREUM ULTIMO DIE DOMINICO HUJUSMODI PENITENCIA SIC PERACTA OFFERAT SUMMO
ALTARI DICTE ECCLESIE; et quod omni Dominica per unum annum continuum
tempore elevacionis corporis Christi ad magnam missam UNAM TORCHEAM PRECII
DUORUM SOLIDORUM, per ipsum RK sumptibus suis propriis providendam, ob
reverenciam sacramenti predicti teneat; quoque singulis vigiliis festi
Corporis Christi per triennium in pane et aqua ieiunet' (ibid 107-8)
I wonder what form the two shillings worth of torch took?
Rosemary Hayes
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Shinners" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 3:50 PM
Subject: Re: [M-R] Medieval lighting
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> A few things:
>
> Herbert Thurston (whom I always find informative despite the age of his
> scholarship) has an article on "candles" in the 1914 on-line Catholic
> Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03246a.htm) that makes some
> interesting points about the history of the liturgical use of candles, and
> notes that, since bees were considered to be virgins, their wax was a good
> symbol of Christ's flesh. That would undoubtedly carry some allure for
> medieval people making an offering. In any event, since beeswax was, and
> still is, expensive, it would add weight to anyone offering of a candle or
> wax ex voto at a shrine. (Wax also lasts a long time--there are wax
> writing tablets from Roman times still quite legible--and is relatively
> inexpensive compared to molded metal or carved stone. This may have also
> made it a preferred medium for making an ex voto: malleability and
> durability.)
>
> Second, I've read a lot of wills from England from the 14th century
> onward, and even the most humble testators usually leave money to the
> "lights" (lumines) in their parish church, either generally "ad ecclesiam"
> or to a specific saint's altar.
>
> Finally, A. Roger Ekirch's already-mentioned "At Day's Close: Night in
> Times Past" really is a fascinating read and addresses several of the
> questions we have rasied here.
>
> Best,
> John
>
> ------------------------------------------
> John Shinners
> Professor of Humanistic Studies
> Saint Mary's College
> Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
> Phone: 574-284-4494 or 574-284-4534
> Fax: 284-4855
> www.saintmarys.edu/~hust
>
> "Learn everything. Afterwards you will see that nothing is
> rfluous." -- Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Anne Willis <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:56:47 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: [M-R] Medieval lighting
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
> culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of GarceauM
> Sent: 20 October 2009 14:09
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [M-R] Medieval lighting
>
>
>
> I work on miracle stories in Spain and offerings of candles and,
> particularly, of wax are extremely common. I should probably note that
> none
> of the saints I have studied in depth were canonized in the Middle Ages
> (though one was the Virgin). The offerings in general were highly valued
> and I have several regulations revolving around who gets to collect the
> offerings left at altars and what they can do with them; this seems to be
> a
> recurring problem in Vic, for example.
>
> Additionally, I have wondered - and Vauchez and Thompson don't really
> address this - about the physical malleability of the wax. As many of you
> know, wax offerings (and other votive offerings) were often made of the
> diseased/injured part either before it was healed (as in the problem was
> portrayed in the wax) or afterwards (a perfect arm, for example). I have
> seen prayers and miracle descriptions which seem to suggest that people
> are
> seeking, with the wax, to mirror what they want God and the saints to do -
> reshape their bodies. I wonder if, as in miracles from the 11th and early
> 12th century (Compostela) what we have is related to the physical actions
> taken by the saints to work miracles. James of Compostela in one of his
> miracles, for example, appears and physically sails a ship in a storm; the
> account includes wonderfully vivid details. Finucane in particular talks
> about the importance of candles measured to the sick as an offering, but,
> again, does not address malleability or even the physicality of wax. Has
> anyone seen anything similar or secondary work related to this topic?
>
> Michelle Garceau
>
>
> Assuming the wax used was bees wax, then that is malleable after placing
> in
> hot water for a short time. Alternatively you could use a Bain Marie,
> melt
> the wax and pour it into a mould. I presume sand moulds were an option.
>
> Wax was also used in the 'lost wax' method of casting bells. A model of
> the
> bell was moulded over a clay core and the inscription and decoration
> placed
> in the wax. A clay covering was then placed over the wax. When the outer
> mould was dry, the wax was melted out of the gap before the metal was
> poured
> in. This method allows a very crisp decoration on the bell, and is the
> method generally used in French foundries. English bell founders
> generally
> use a core and cope.
>
> See also http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0210/Pillai-0210.html
>
>
>
> Anne
>
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