Hunting Practised by the Clergy in the Light of the Medieval Handbooks of Penance

Abstract

The handbooks of penance written during the Late Ancient Christianity and the Early Middle Ages are the evidence of the formation of the penitential practices in the Church. They were meant to help confessors, especially in regard to the unification of how penance was imposed.

This article aims to answer the question of whether, in the light of the handbooks of penance, the stance of the Church towards hunting was always positive, and whether the laity were treated in the same way as the clergy. The analysis of the handbooks of penance reveals that in the Middle Ages the members of the clergy, both deacons and priests, and, according to some sources, also bishops, were not supposed to take part in hunting, especially for entertainment. However, we do not find texts which suggest that laymen would not participate or were not allowed to participate in hunting. The said handbooks also indicate that penance for the clergy for participating in hunting activities was severe in comparison to the one imposed for serious wrongdoings.

Today, the Code of the Canon Law does not prohibit clergymen from hunting or showing care towards hunters.