Sorry for the long delay in responding to your question, Gabriele. I
finally had a chance to check the standard editions of medieval English
liturgical books, and I didn't see any sign that Psalm 24 was used there in
either the office or mass liturgy for the feast of the Innocents. However,
I found another possibility when I happened to take a look at the Legenda
aurea. Jacobus de Voragine cites the same verse that's in your
inscription, in a conspicuous place near the beginning of his chapter on
the Innocents. This might suggest that there's a commentary and/or
preaching tradition which ties the "Innocentes" of the Psalm to the Holy
Innocents, or that if there *is* a liturgical connection it might be found
in the Dominican liturgy.
Sherry Reames
At 09:55 PM 7/29/1999 -0400, Stan Metheny wrote:
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: GABRIELE NEHER <[log in to unmask]>
>>
>> I was hoping for help with a problem I have encountered while looking
>> at a depiction of a 'Murder of the Innocents': the top-half of the
>> image depicts a Christ Child in a mandorla, carrying a cross, and
>> above His head is a stone tablet which bears the inscription:
>> 'Innocentes et recti adheserunt mihi'. Having looked this inscription
>> up, it stems from Psalm 24,21- not from Matt2:16 where the story is
>> told. Is the line used in the office celebrated on the feast day of
>> the Innocents?
>
>In my scan of the texts in the mass and office editions from 1931 to 1984
>(current edition) plus a look at the 1570 editio prima I didn't see this
>phrase, or Ps 24 for that matter. Holy Innocents was a popular feast,
>however, with many local customs. Also, medieval office texts were far more
>varied prior to the imposition of the move toward more uniformity after
>Trent. This phrase may have appeared in one of the myriad of medieval local
>or particular offices for the feast. Nor does the phrase appear in the texts
>for the Innocents in Lodi. Some kind list member may have access to a proper
>library and turn up something for you.
>
>
>
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