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Archiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2011-12 > 1325038526


From: Mona Andrée Rainville <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] What Was the Custom?
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:15:26 -0500
References: <a06230901cb1fe8c93c25@[10.0.1.5]>
In-Reply-To: <a06230901cb1fe8c93c25@[10.0.1.5]>


Thank you Frances for these two texts.

Of course, they refer to later practices or practices followed in other
jurisdictions.

Alas, French new mothers in seventeenth century France were not spared
the unfathomable trip on their knees from the "parvis" to the "chapelle".

But it was certainly very interesting to read about how this ritual was
being performed elsewhere.

Cheers,

Mona



Frances Bishop wrote:
> Churching after Childbirth: I took a little research jaunt to compare
> accounts of Anglican and Catholic rituals when the phrase "on her
> knees" filled me with disbelief and 21st century revulsion. I'm
> pleased to report that further reading banishes the image of new
> mothers being forced to use their knees instead of their feet for the
> trip from the vestibule, through the church and finally to the altar
> where they did indeed kneel for the blessing. (Look, Ma -- no bloody
> knees!!!)
>
> Two useful sources, both indicating that churching evolved into thanksgiving :
>
> Scroll down to "THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN" (kneeling, etc.) in The
> Parson's Handbook (1899) --
> http://anglicanhistory.org/dearmer/handbook/1899/chapter07.html .
>
> Kneeling and candles also figure in the Catholic discussion at
> http://www.ewtn.com/library/liturgy/zlitur371.htm
> (July 2011 query and response plus follow-up in September.)
>
> Happy New Year to all. I enjoyed the emphasis on genealogy and
> research (same topic) at http://rememberwhen.u3anet.org.au/?page_id=26
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~For the list web page, goto:
> http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~unclefred/main.htm
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