The History and Mysteries of Europe’s Misericords Part I
On the night of January 29, 1497, a light frost settled over the fields around Villefranche-de-Rouergue. Père Dominique, sleeping on a wooden platform, woke up just before 2 AM to a temperature just below freezing. Breathing in the thin, icy air, his routine began.
It was a typical Tuesday according to the Julian calendar, but Dominique’s duties, like those of monks throughout Europe, were consistent every day. Monks would wake up between midnight and 2:00 AM to start their day. After a short nap before dawn, Dominique would remain awake until well after nightfall.
As they entered La Collégiale Notre-Dame, gargoyles watched from above. Dominique and six other monks moved through the nave into the chancel, the sacred part of the church. They filed into the choir stalls reserved for clergy. Once in his stall, Dominique lifted the wooden seat to stand for le Nocturne, the day’s first prayers. Underneath the seat was a small ledge where he could later perch to relieve his legs.
The misericord, or “mercy seat,” found here was more than a simple support. Monks like Dominique relied on these ledges throughout their long days, full of prayers and official duties. Alongside le Nocturne, they had le Matin, Lauds, Prime, Tierce, Sext, Nones, Vespers, and finally Compline, the final prayers before sleep. On top of these, they conducted private and High Masses. Altogether, monks spent over five hours daily in formal prayer, usually standing with arms outstretched toward heaven. Much of this time was spent in the choir.
Beneath each misericord’s platform were intricate carvings. Under Dominique’s seat, a scene showed a nude man exposing his buttocks to a man-headed creature resembling a dog or possibly an ape. Each choir stall had a unique carving—some depicted daily life, like cooking or farming, while others showed imaginative creatures.
These misericords were a practical solution for monks who struggled to stand for long periods, especially older or sickly ones. Designed from the Medieval period onward, many larger churches included choir stalls with folding seats for support. However, the woodcarvers didn’t leave these spaces plain. Instead, they filled them with a variety of subjects, often secular or even profane, contrary to what one might expect in such a holy place.
Scholars have pondered the intention behind these carvings. Some think they were meant to remind clergy to focus on real human experiences. Others believe they represent the repressed side of the Medieval psyche, or they might symbolize church doctrine. No single theory has gained full acceptance due to a lack of direct evidence about the carvers’ intentions.
Stay tuned for our next article where we’ll delve deeper into the origins and extent of these misericords in Europe. In our final piece, we’ll explore the diverse iconography found in misericords, from religious and mythological themes to more risqué depictions.
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