A Glossary of the Medieval Church
impost : a projecting moulding supporting an arch
Inquisition : the official persecution of heresy by special ecclesiastical courts; formally constituted by the papacy in the 13th century
interdict : an ecclesiastical punishment excluding the faithful from participation in spiritual things; it could be applied to individuals, to local areas such as parishes, or to whole populations
International Gothic : an art style of the 14th century which spread across western Europe; stylistic similarities appeared in different forms of art including painting, sculpture, stained glass and manuscript illumination
label stop : an ornamental boss at the base of a hood mould or arch
Lady Chapel : a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary
laity : persons who are not members of the clergy
lancet : a simple narrow window with a pointed arch
lantern : a circular or polygonal turret surrounded by windows or openwork
Last Judgment : the final judgment of mankind by God after the resurrection of the dead
Lauds : the early morning service of divine office
lavatorium : a series of basins outside a monastic refectory for the washing of hands
lay : with reference to the laity, or persons who are not members of the clergy
lay brother : member of a religious order who is not bound to the recitation of the divine office and is occupied in manual work, generally adult converts to the monastic life; also known as conversi
lay sister : female member of a religious order who is not bound to the recitation of the divine office and is occupied in manual work, generally adult converts to the monastic life
lectionary : a book containing a series of biblical extracts to be read at the mass
lector : the third rank of minor orders of the ministry; also known as reader
Lent: the forty days preceding Easter; a period of fasting
lierne : purely decorative extra vaulting ribs joining the structural ribs to form a net-like pattern
light : with respect to a window, the individual openings
lintel : the flat top of a doorway
litany : a form of prayer consisting of a series of petitions sung by a deacon, a priest or cantors, to which the people made fixed responses
Little Hours : Prime, Terce, Sext and None; the less elaborate of the services of divine office
liturgy : all the prescribed rituals of the church, including the mass and divine office
Lollards : followers of John Wycliffe; they believed that the Bible was the sole authority in religion and that every man had the right to read and interpret it for himself
long and short work : long stones on end between flat ones, all bonded into the walls, at corners
maison dieu : almshouse, or residence for the poor
major orders : the higher ranks of the Christian ministry, comprising the orders of bishop, priest, deacon and sub-deacon
maniple: item of mass vestments; rectangle of fabric worn fastened to the left wrist
manual : a book containing special services for occasional use, such as baptisms, marriages and visiting the sick
manuscript : a written work transcribed by hand
marriage : the ceremony of union of man and wife was a sacrament of the church
martyr : member of the Christian church who suffered death for their faith; martyrs ranked before all other saints
mass : the principal ritual of the church, the service at which the sacrament of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is performed
mass vestments: ceremonial clothing worn by a priest for the celebration of the mass
master-general : the head of the Dominican order
Matins : the night office; the service recited at 2 am in the divine office
mendicant orders : term for the friars; the term refers to begging because of their dependence on alms for their support
metropolitan : a bishop with authority over a group of territorially contiguous dioceses and their bishops; also known as an archbishop
miniature : a full page or half page painting in a manuscript
minister general : term for the head of the Franciscan order
ministers provincial : term for the heads of provinces within the Franciscan order
minor orders : the lower ranks of the Christian ministry, comprising the orders of acolyte, exorcist, reader and doorkeeper
minster : a church served by a body of canons or prebendaries; the same as a collegiate church; in the north of England the term was also used for a cathedral
misericord : 1) a swing up seat in the choir of a major church, allowing clergy celebrating divine office to rest their weight while standing up; 2) a room in a monastery where the inhabitants were allowed occasionally to eat meat (Latin misericordia = pity, compassion)
missal : book containing the forms of service for the mass
mitre : the pointed headdress worn by archbishops, bishops and some abbots on ceremonial occasions
monastery : a community of monks
monastic : refers to the life or community of monks
monk : a male member of a religious community living under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; strictly it is confined to members of those bodies which live a communal life
monotheistic : a religion with only one god
morse: decorative fastener for a cope
mortal sin : a sin committed with a clear knowledge of its guilt, with full consent of the will, and concerning a grave matter; where circumstances allow, every mortal sin must be confessed to a priest otherwise the soul suffers eternal damnation
moulding : contoured projection around an arch, window or door
mullion : vertical bar dividing a window into lights
mystery plays: religious drama performed at major festivals, commonly performed out of doors
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Compiled by Dianne Tillotson. Now part of her Medieval Writing web site.
Last updated 11/8/2004.