medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
On 04/11/2011 09:49, Rosemary Hayes wrote:
>
> Certainly, my own work with episcopal registers has revealed very little below the level of acolyte but then I have NEVER come across the record of a confirmation. Perhaps both confirmation and the orders below acolyte were conferred ad hoc as the bishop (or his suffragan - and most had them in the fifteenth century) moved around the diocese.
Perhaps we are looking at this the wrong way round. Perhaps we should
ask why ordinations of acolytes *were* recorded. Is it "just" because it
was the most senior of the minor orders? If so, what makes this special?
Was this the sort of logic which led to subdeacon becoming a major
order? Would the same have eventually happened to acolyte?
John Briggs
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|