Blessing the World: Ritual and Lay Piety in Medieval Religion

345 Pages·2008·1.669 MB·English

by  Derek A. Rivard

Blessing
the World

Blessing
the World
Ritual and lay Piety in
Medieval Religion
z
derek A. rivArd
the CatholiC univeRsity of
aMeRiCa PRess • Washington, D.C.
Copyright © 2009
The Catholic University of America Press
All rights reserved
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standards for Information Science—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ansi Z39.48-1984.
¥
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rivard, Derek A.
Blessing the world : ritual and lay piety in medieval religion / Derek A. Rivard.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-0-8132-1545-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Benediction. 2. Liturgics —History—
Middle Ages, 600–1500. 3. Piety—History—Middle Ages, 600–1500. I. Title.
Bv197.B5R58 2009
264’.0200902—dc22
2008026818
For my family,
whose inestimable love, support, and generosity
made this project possible
and my dreams attainable
z
And in loving memory of my father,
Dr. William H. Rivard

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
A bbreviations xi
Introduction 1
1. The History and Theology
of Christian Blessing 25
2. Sacred Places and Sacred Space 45
3. Sacred Persons: Blessing the Laity 133
4. Sacred Vessels, Objects, and Events 217
Conclusion 269
Bibliography 295
Index 317

ACknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the invaluable assistance
of many of my teachers, colleagues, friends, and family. Special thanks go
first and foremost to my graduate mentor, Richard F. Gyug, who went above
and beyond the call of duty time and time again, particularly in the effort and
time he invested in helping me perfect my translations, improve my writing,
and strengthen my powers of argument. For this and his excellent teaching I
will always be deeply grateful.
I am also indebted to the advice, instruction, and kindness shown to
me by Louis Pascoe, S.J., who gave his time and effort to help improve the
manuscript and my own thinking over the course of many years. Thanks
also go out to H. Wayne Storey, whose advice and assistance in applying for
grants to fund my research were invaluable, as were his insights on my sub-
ject. I also owe a great debt to Maryanne Kowaleski, who pushed me in ev-
ery way to become a better writer and historian. The advice and conversation
of Daniel L. Smail were also of great value to me in laying the foundations
for my use of anthropological theory, as were the comments and numerous
suggestions for revision provided to me by Frederick Paxton. I would be re-
miss if I did not also express my great appreciation for my earliest mentors,
Dean Ferguson, Patricia Ranft, and Diane Mockridge, for guiding, teaching,
and preparing me for the path that has ultimately led me to this place and
this work.
As well as these individuals, my friends and colleagues in Fordham’s
graduate program, most notably Louis Hamilton and Christopher Bellito,
provided numerous helpful comments and suggestions in the course of my
study of blessings. The reference librarians and staff of Fordham Univer-
sity, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, and the Uni-
ix