Paradisi recuperatio : Den romersk-germanska kyrkoinvigningens form och innebörd : [the Romano-Germanic rite for the dedication of churches: shape and sense]

Abstract: This dissertation, to be subsequently published in German, deals with the Romano-Germanicrite for the dedication of churches in the Romano-Germanic Pontifical (PRG), also called the"Mainz Pontifical", composed c. 950-962 in Mainz, Germany. The pontifical belongs to theachievements of the Ottonian era. It got a speedy distribution on both sides of the Alps andwas seemingly propagated as a model for the episcopal rites. Not least the new rite for dedicating churches had an important impact and determined future developments.The PRG contains two rites for the dedication of churches: the `Roman' (PRC 33) and the`Romano-Germanic' (PRG 40). The latter is a combination of the first with other traditions,among which are Gallican influences, as has already been established by M. Andrieu andothers. With some few alterations it was to become the rite for the consecration of churches inthe West, made its way into the Roman Pontifical of 1485 and was somewhat changed onlyafter the Second Vatican Council.In Paradisi recuperatio the rite in its `original' form is reconstructed by way of describing an Ottonian church dedication. The cultural and external setting of the liturgical occasion is outlined by presenting the persons and objects that would be involved. In the analysis of the liturgical action as it progresses, special attention is given to the movements and actions of (mainly) the bishop as well as to the wording of prayers and songs, and to the way in whichthe actions and the words interact, explaining or interpreting each other. The aim in doingthis is to find out what a specific liturgical celebration, according to this specific rite, canyield of its purpose and meaning. The results are finally, in a sort of `case study', applied tosame contemporary works of art from (mainly) St. Michael, Hildesheim. The volume alsocontains a new edition of this rite (PRG 40) as contained in the Bamberg manuscript cod. lit. 53with an apparatus criticus based on four of the most important early manuscripts.