Chapter 6 - The Ordo Romanus of the Baptismal Scrutinies

Summary

One key text, Ordo Romanus 11, is here subjected to keen scrutiny. Though always held to be Roman in origin, and, indeed, among the oldest of the ordines, it is shown that Ordo Romanus 11 is actually a Frankish reworking and enhancement of rubrics in the Gelasian Sacramentary, with minimal input of only Roman homilies and prayers. This concerns the performance of scrutinies, or pre-baptismal sessions of education and examination of the catechumens, and their godparents, that took place in Lent. Via the Gelasian of the Eighth Century, three Roman scrutinie sexpanded to seven Frankish ones. A more detailed examination of these processes comes from a North Italian Mass book, probably taken to Metz.Diverse understanding and putting into practice is seen in the expositions, or texts studying baptism.