Even within a women's community, the foremost leadership roles in the liturgy were primarily held by the male religious who oversaw the convent and its care. However, at the royally-funded Dominican convent in Poissy, France, the nuns held an explicit liturgical role in certain ceremonies, including processions. This can be seen in this Processional's rubrics (red-ink liturgical instructions). For example, on Good Friday, after two priests (duo sacerdotes) sang Christ's words in a ceremonial recapitulation of the Passion, this manuscript designates that two_ sisters (due so_rores) sang a part assigned typically to male deacons. The choir (chorus) responded afterward. Since it was unusual to include women . . as liturgical leaders, these rubrics indicate that women regularly used this manuscript and emphasized their agency within the liturgy. Each member of a procession likely held her own book as they moved through the ceremonial space. Some manuscripts were personalized with decorations and records of ownership. This processional contains a different ownership mark: ce livre apartiens a l 'office de Chantre 1699 (This book belongs to the office of Chantress, 1699). The inscription may indicate that the manuscript was a communal book under the care of the thantress-the appointed musical leader of the liturgy rather than personal property.
This exhibit is curated by Kristina Kummerer, a Ph.D. student in the Medieval Institute, as part of a curatorial assistantship in Rare Books and Special Collections. This and other exhibits within the Hesburgh Libraries are generously supported by the McBrien Special Collections Endowment.
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