Reconsidering silens and clamans through Burchard´s Corrector

Abstract

Silence and cries or other loud voice ways of expression are usually seen under the virtue / vice dichotomy, as respectively representing each of the extremes. However, this idea should be questioned. Bishop Burchard´s Corrector sive medicus -a penitential included in the 11th century collection Decretum- mentions a variety of sinful situations and the corresponding penance that had to be carried out in order to amend misconduct. Some of those sins described in Liber XIX show that it is necessary to revise established concepts and conceptions related to silence and noise, virtue and vice. Silence may appear in a context in which a sinful action is undertaken. For instance, a sin may lie hidden through silence -becoming a sin in itself-, as well as it may also be involved in a superstitious belief or practice -even though cries and chants are, in comparison, the mostly referred elements accompanying this kind of transgression. The aim of this paper is to reconsider silens and clamans through a critical analysis of the aforementioned medieval penitential and the sources by which Burchard von Worms was influenced. The reading of the Corrector under these approach highlights the complexity of the panorama of sin and sinners.