[Vwoolf] black priests

Mon Apr 30 08:27:15 EDT 2018

Given that the ‘black priests’ in Jacob’s Room are in Italy, they are certain to be Catholic. But many priests from other denominations at the time also wore black, something that became particularly popular with the Anglo-Catholics, who were on the increase. A non-Catholic version of a ‘black priest’ would be the Anglican Mr Bax from The Voyage Out, 'a stout black figure ... with a preoccupied expression', 'large and fat' with a face that looks 'smooth and white like a very large egg.'  (Intriguingly, then, a black figure with a white face.)

Incidentally, there is an age-old tradition of describing religious by colours, usually the colours of their clothing: hence the Blackfriars (Dominicans, with black cloaks), Greyfriars (Franciscans) and Whitefriars (Carmelites).

Jane

Jane de Gay
Professor of English Literature

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From: Vwoolf [mailto:vwoolf-bounces+j.degay=leedstrinity.ac.uk at lists.osu.edu] On Behalf Of Erica Delsandro via Vwoolf
Sent: 30 April 2018 10:39
To: Jeremy Hawthorn <jeremy.hawthorn at ntnu.no>
Cc: vwoolf at lists.osu.edu
Subject: Re: [Vwoolf] black priests

Hello!

If I am not mistaken, black robes or black priests refers to Jesuit priests, who were known for their missionary work.  I am not sure if this adds anything to the conversation, but just in case it is useful, I thought I'd share.
All best! -- EGD

On Mon, Apr 30, 2018 at 5:28 AM, Jeremy Hawthorn via Vwoolf <vwoolf at lists.osu.edu<mailto:vwoolf at lists.osu.edu>> wrote:

I had always assumed that "black priests" referred to Catholic priests, although on reflection the vestments they wore / wear are no blacker than those protestant priests wear (are they?).

Partridge's Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (my edition is the 8th) gives a couple of perhaps relevant entries.

black-beetle. (2) A priest: lower classes: C. 20. Also, Mrs C Raab adds, used by English-speaking Roman Catholic seminarians. Ex. black clothes.

black fly. Pej. for a clergyman: ca. 1780-1850. (Grose, 2nded.) Esp. in relation to farmers, who, on account of the tithes, dislike clergymen more than they do insect pests.

Perhaps my assumption that the black priests were specifically Catholic ones was based on the fact that at the time Woolf was writing, in continental Europe, Catholic priests seemed never to appear in public in non-clerical clothes, as Anglican priests often did in Britain (with only the dog collar as a marker). But the entry for black fly clearly relates to Protestant priests (although in an earlier period).

Jeremy H

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--
EGD
she/her/hers

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