The rite of Excommunication as Contained in the Medieval Roman Pontifical

Abstract

The pontifical is a lituigical book used by the bishop. It contains prayer formulas and the rites proper to the liturgical confection of sacraments and sacramentals reserved solely to the bishop. The pontifical arose from a practical necessity - the use of only one book during holy functions. It was formed from three different ancient books of the Church: Liber sacramentorum, Ordines Romaniand Benedictionale, used by the bishops in the Gallic liturgy. A new type of book, which became the first pontifical combining the Roman and Gallic traditions, appeared in the tenth century (in the years 950-961) in Mainz, in the monastery of Saint Alban and was called the Roman - Germanic Pontifical (Pontificate Romano-Germanicum).