medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I have been looking through the catalogue of an exhibition I saw at the
Louvre last spring, Les premiers retables, since putting an altarpiece
on the back of an altar pretty much rules out the possibility of the
priest standing behind it. This catalogue claims that France appears to
have been in the lead of this liturgical change (although I believe I
have also heard Rome credited with its early instances), but apart from
pointing out that the earliest surviving retables date from the 12th
century, it, too, claims that the change was complex. There are some
references to it, however:
Otto Nussbaum, Der Standort der Liturgen am christlichen Altar vor dem
Jahre 1000 (Bonn, 1965)
Kees Van der Ploeg, 'How Liturgical is a Medieval Altarpiece,' in
Italian Panel Painting of the Duecento and Trecento, Victor Schmidt ed.
(New Haven and London, 2002), pp. 102-121
Jean-Pierre Caillet, 'L'image cultuelle sur l'autel et la position du
celebrant,' in The Altar from the 4th to the 15th Century, Actes du
colloque, Hortus Artium Medievalium, vol. 11 (2005), pp. 139-146
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Jim
Terrill Heaps wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> Many liturgical scholars hold that from the beginning the priest stood
> at the head of the congregation, facing the altar with the
> congregation. It is also held that the idea of having the priest stand
> behind the altar, facing the people over the altar _during the
> consecration_ is a modern innovation, based on faulty liturgical
> scholarship.
>
> Also: The current Roman Sacramentary presumes that the priest is
> (along with the people) facing the altar.
>
> Part of the problem is those who confounded "celebrate" with "consecrate."
>
> Terrill Heaps
>
> --- On *Wed, 12/2/09, Madeleine Gray /<[log in to unmask]>/*
> wrote:
>
>
> From: Madeleine Gray <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [M-R] position of priest at Mass
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 6:57 AM
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture
>
> Many thanks, Stan. I thought it might be complex – I don’t think I
> have time to get hold of the book. The article is about the reuse
> of stone in a medieval church and is mainly geared to petrologists
> so I may be able to blur the issues!
>
>
>
> Maddy
>
>
>
> Dr Madeleine Gray
>
> Reader in History
>
> School of Education/Ysgol Addysg
>
> University of Wales, Newport/Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd
>
> Caerleon Campus/Campws Caerllion,Newport/Casnewydd NP18 3QT,
> Wales/Cymru
>
> Tel: +44 (0)1633.432675
>
>
> 'I ask you for help. And all you give me is ...papers!'
> (Magda in Gian Carlo Menotti's /The Consul/)
>
>
>
> History at University of Wales, Newport:
> http://timezone.newport.ac.uk <http://timezone.newport.ac.uk/>
> Gwent County History Association website:
> http://gwent-county-history-association.newport.ac.uk
> <http://gwent-county-history-association.newport.ac.uk/>
> Cistercian Way: http://cistercian-way.newport.ac.uk
> <http://cistercian-way.newport.ac.uk/>
>
>
>
> *From:* medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval
> religious culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Stan Metheny
> *Sent:* 02 December 2009 13:05
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: [M-R] position of priest at Mass
>
>
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture
>
> A complex question. There is a recent discussion of the history in
> Uwe Michael Lang, _Turning towards the Lord: Orientation in
> liturgical prayer_. (Ignatius Press, 2005)
>
>
>
> Stan Metheny
>
>
>
> *From:* medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval
> religious culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On
> Behalf Of *Madeleine Gray
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 02, 2009 3:28 AM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* Re: [M-R] position of priest at Mass
>
>
>
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture
>
> Can someone remind me (writing an article in a hurry for a
> friend's journal) - when (roughly) does the priest move from
> celebrating behind the altar facing the congregation to
> celebrating with his back to the congregation and with the altar
> against the east wall? I know we discussed this ages ago and I
> can't find it.
>
>
>
> Maddy
>
>
>
> Dr Madeleine Gray
>
> Reader in History
>
> School of Education/Ysgol Addysg
>
> University of Wales, Newport/Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd
>
> Caerleon Campus/Campws Caerllion,
>
> Newport/Casnewydd NP18 3QT Tel: +44 (0)1633.432675
>
>
>
> 'You may not be able to change the world but at least you can
> embarrass the guilty'
> (Jessica Mitford)
>
> -religion.html
>
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