Journal
2310 K Sat 27 Oct 2001
Today I read The Mirror of Charity written in 1143 by Aelred of In about the year 1143, Aelred of Rievaulx (1110 - 1167). I am writing an essay for Medieval Philosophy on friendship.
Here is one of his comments about liturgy:
We hear monks doing all sorts of ridiculous things with their voices, plaguing us with womanism falsettos, spavined bleating and tremolos. ... And they honestly do this in the name of religion, for they think that they are giving God a greater honour than if they sang without all this fuss. The simple folk who hear them may well be impressed by the organ music, but they cannot help laughing as they see such a ridiculous show going on in the choir. They are in fact more likely to think that they are watching a stage play than praying in church. (From Part 2, Chapter 21).
Copyright J.R. Lilburne, 27 October 2001.