Funeral
Part 2 History
Chapter 25 Late Medieval Period [1300-1499 CE]
Secular History |
Church History |
Ministry to the Dead and Bereaved |
Secular History
1.
Church History
1.
Ministry to the Dead and Bereaved
ANGEL Postings
Trend toward simplification of the station in the church and elaboration of graveside rites. Matter of local tradition. Ideal rites versus actual use.
Burial rituals continued to develop especially under Franciscan influence. Elaborate cemeteries, preparation of the deceased for burial, processions to church and to the cemetery indicated a solemn nature given to funerals. Invention of the printing press greatly influenced church rituals.
Popular piety surrounds liturgy - local adaptations. Elaborate cemeteries, prayers against sudden death, monuments. Funeral rites solidify through diocesan liturgical norms.
Thomas Aquinas - baptized children pertain to the unity of mystical body of Christ; absence of any reference to pain of bereaved; Capua liturgy - rite for burial of children
Specific Mass formularies being developed – especially the
Requiem Mass, characterized by fearful eschatology.
Special Mass offered for dead separate from daily Mass
Dies Irae, Wrath of God. Concept of suffering as expiation, not purification, atonement. Purgatory as a temporal space.
Requiem mass in papal court; fearful eschatology (pains of hell) and emphasis on need for purity continue; Christ as judge
Click here to go to the next chapter of this history Click here to return to the previous chapter
© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 10/25/07 . Your comments on this site are welcome at webmaster2@tomrichstatter.org.