The term handmaid of God is an expression found in patristic literature. For example the term was used as an address in letters by Augustine.[1]
In early Christian inscriptions the title ancilla Dei (Latin for "handmaid of God") is often given to a deceased woman. From the meaning attached to this term in the Middle Ages it has sometimes been assumed that the persons so qualified in the first age of Christianity were consecrated virgins.
The inscriptions containing this formula are of two classes: one, in which it is merely stated that a given person was ancilla Dei; the other, from which it is clear that this title was sometimes given to persons who certainly were not religious.
The former class is the more numerous, but one of the latter is quite explicit. This informs us that a certain monument was erected by a husband to his wife, whom he styles Dei ancilla: "(Laur)entius Rufine coniugi Dei anci(llae)...".[2] In a Roman inscription of the first quarter of the sixth century a certain Guttes is referred to as ancilla Dei, and it is further stated that she was nonnes: "in presence of the nun Guttes, a handmaid of God" ("sub presentiâ nonnes Guttes, ancille Dei"). This reference shows that even in the sixth century, ancilla Dei is a title not peculiar to religious persons; the author regarded it as necessary to state explicitly that she was nonnes.[3] From the pontificate of Pope Gregory I (590–604), however, only nuns, as a rule, were qualified by this title.[4]
^This female man of God: women and spiritual power in the Patristic p151 Gillian Cloke - 1995 "'Venerable handmaid of God' he wrote to Albina, 'devoted handmaid of God' to Proba; and this despite the readiness with which they took issue with him.
address in letters by Augustine. In early Christian inscriptions the title ancillaDei (Latin for "handmaid of God") is often given to a deceased woman. From...
US Ancilla bit, a bit used in quantum computing Ancilla (gastropod), a genus of olive snails AncillaDei, a title given to a deceased woman in early Christian...
Virgin Mary, where she responds to the angel Gabriel with the words Ecce ancillaDei ("Behold the handmaid of the Lord," Luke 1:38). An example of humility...
reverting to the family. The usufruct might be reserved to a female (ancilladei) or a male as yet unborn, let alone not yet in Holy Orders, and allowed...
populam aecclesiae regere nec presbiteros vel clericos, monachos vel ancillasDei defendere possum. Boniface 1976, pp. 91–94, has a translation of Carloman's...
Purgatory. Purg. XXVII, 2–3. Ecce ancillaDei: "Behold the handmaid of God." (In the original Vulgate: "Ecce ancilla Domini.") Response of the Virgin Mary...
Probini et Olybrii, 143-146. Claudian, 143-67-70. Anne Kurdok, "Demetrias ancilladei: Anicia Demetrias and the problem of the missing patron", in Kate Cooper...
Niccolò: Suscipe Christe et s. Cyriace atque Nicolae. Hoc opus ego Berta AncillaDei fieri iussi. The Gospel book was believed to date from the eleventh century...
such in the list below. The two coats of arms in the page from Missa Ecce ancilla Domini refer to the Fernández de Córdoba family. A facsimile of the Chigi...
addolorata; Santa Barbara; Head of Christ; Ecce Ancilla Domini; Arrivo di Sant’Antonio morente all’Arcella; Estasi dei Francescani; Morte di Sant’Antonio; Apparizione...
spinis (Rose without thorns) Fecit Potentiam (He has shown strength) Ecce ancilla (I am the servant) Esurientes (The hungry shall be filled) Sicut locutus...
State University of New York Press, Albany (1996), p. 3. Kathleen Freeman, Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers, Harvard University Press (1948), p. 1...
suis a 4 Missa Caput Missa cuiusvis toni Missa De plus en plus Missa Ecce ancilla Domini Missa Fors seulement a 5 (has not survived complete: only Kyrie...
i così detti pregoni o bandi; in sardo si cantano gl'inni dei Santi (Goccius), alcuni dei quali privi di dignità [...] È necessario inoltre scemare l'uso...
Clarendon Press Oxford, 1990. ISBN 978-0-198-14730-5. Freeman, Kathleen, Ancilla to the Pre-Socratic Philosophers: A Complete Translation of the Fragments...
castimonia Manebit in te pura Dei potentia." Ad haec, virgo nobilis Respondens inquit ei, "Ancilla sum humilis Omnipotentis Dei. Tibi coelesti nuntio, Tanti...
tui, Iesus. * Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen. ℣. Ecce ancilla Domini. ℟. Fiat mihi secundum verbum...
ISBN 978-0-8010-2639-3 Keating, James F. "The Natural Sciences as an Ancilla Theologiae Nova: Alister E. McGrath's A Scientific Theology." The Thomist...
by the dove, to read as he hovers directly above her. She answers ECCE ANCILLA D(OMI)NI ("Behold the handmaiden of the Lord"). Art historian Penny Jolly...
poet. Philotis Legendary Ancient Rome Hypatia In Roman legend, slave (ancilla) whose plan resulted in an important victory of the Romans over the Latins...
nostra victoria Latin Our faith is our victory St Mary's College, Durham Ancilla Domini Latin The handmaid of the Lord Stephenson College, Durham Me quondam...
Christe (five voices) Te Deum laudamus (five voices) Antiphones: Ave Maria Ancilla Trinitatus Ave Maria divae matris Annae Gaude Mater Matris Christi (some...
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