My Sister, My Bride: The Liturgical Rites of Monastic Profession and Consecration of Virgins in the Usage of Monastic Women from the Tenth to the Thirteenth Century

This thesis investigates the liturgical rites used by women in England and Germany for initiation into the monastic life from the tenth to the thirteenth century. Two rites were used: monastic profession and the consecration of virgins. The contents of each rite are presented from a variety of liturgical sources, facilitating their comparison. The sources are divided geographically (England and the Continent) and according to type (pontificals are treated in chapters 2 and 3 and monastic sources in chapter 4). In some contexts, the consecration of virgins was used as the female version of monastic profession. In other places, monastic women used both rites, either in two different moments or in a hybrid rite. Initially, when women used profession rites, they were identical to those used by monks. The emergence of a new type of rite, monastic profession compiled specifically for women, is documented beginning in the thirteenth century. These new rites have the nuptial character of the consecration of virgins without the requirement that they be celebrated by a bishop. These new profession rites best reflect the ecclesial role of consecrated women as spouses of Christ.

Department dc:contributor.department

Medieval Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Clemens, Maria Parousia (Miranda Lynn)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ginther, James R.

• consecrated life
• consecration of virgins
• liturgy
• monastic profession
• nuns

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/125570

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/125570