Churching of womenAn historico-canonical study

Laburpena

The aim of this research is to discuss various norms and customs related to the rites of churching over the ages. The practice of ritual purification of new mothers and their re-integration into the local ecclesiastical community used to generate genuine juridical rights and obligations, especially in certain areas of Medieval Europe. The first chapter explores early manifestations of feminine ritual purity in the primitive Church. The research shows that, contrary to the popular belief, these were really limited to the ancient Alexandrian Patriarchate. The second chapter analyses the key early-Medieval rescript on churching, i.e. the eighth chapter of Pope Gregory the Great's «Libellus responsionum». The study of this pivotal document leads to a surprising conclusion that it was most likely unauthentic and posterior to the local customs of postpartum confinement being already in place in the Celtic and the British Church. The third chapter presents the debate between Medieval theologians and canonists representing diverse views on churching. The problem was addressed by authors of penitential books, manuals for clergy and canonical collections. This chapter of the dissertation also brings up certain pieces of universal and particular ecclesiastical legislation on churching extending till the modern era. The research helps to appreciate the ancient rites and rules concerning new mothers as a historically relevant phenomenon. It also shows the ingenuity of Church legislators who had to tackle this complicated issue. Keywords: churching, ritual purity, Medieval canon law