In omnibus essent conformes? Windesheimer Reform und liturgische Erneuerung in niedersächsischen Frauenkonventen im 15. Jahrhundert

Abstract

An important source for the monastic reform movement in fifteenth century North Germany has been the Liber de reformatione monasteriorum of the Windesheim canon Johannes Busch. In this book, he gives more attention to the liturgical reform of nunneries than to that of monasteries. In introducing the new liturgy, Busch took the first step himself by singing and celebrating with the communities. The liturgical reform primarily aimed to separate the monastic liturgy, celebrated by the nuns, from the liturgy of the secular clergy of the churches. The separation resulted from the introduction of enclosures in female convents. Part of the liturgical reform was the implementation of a uniform liturgy, which was realized to a great extent. It failed, however, with regard to the liturgical use of the organs, which was forbidden in reformed circles, but nevertheless practiced to a great extent in late medieval cloisters in North Germany.