The cult of the victims of alleged ritual murders in the Catholic Church in the 12th – 18th centuries Cover Image

Kult obetí domnelých rituálnych vrážd v Katolíckej cirkvi 12. – 18. storočí
The cult of the victims of alleged ritual murders in the Catholic Church in the 12th – 18th centuries

Author(s): Angelus Štefan Kuruc
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History of Church(es), Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion, Psychology of Religion
Published by: VERBUM - vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku
Keywords: the cult of the victims; the ritual murders; the alleged martyrs; the Catholic Church; Jews

Summary/Abstract: From the 5th century, Jews were falsely accused of murdering Christian boys to use their blood in the performance of religious rituals. In some cases, the alleged victims of human sacrifice became venerated as Christian martyrs and became objects of local cults and veneration; although they were never canonized, they were confirmed by the cult devoted to them "ab immemorial" (the giving the assent to a formal beatification). The attitude of the Catholic Church towards these accusations and the cults venerating children supposedly killed by Jews has varied over time. The Papacy generally opposed them, although it had problems in enforcing its opposition. The official liturgical cult of them has now been abandoned in accordance with the post-conciliar provisions and the feasts were removed from the Roman Martyrology.

  • Issue Year: 11/2022
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 8-24
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Slovak