Legal Definitions - episcopus puerorum

Episcopus Puerorum

Episcopus Puerorum refers to a historical custom, primarily observed in medieval England, where a layperson—often a boy or young man—would temporarily assume the role and vestments of a bishop during certain religious feast days. This individual would lead mock ceremonies, processions, or deliver playful sermons, often with a humorous, satirical, or even ludicrous tone, mimicking the solemnity of ecclesiastical rituals.

• Example 1: Festive Role Reversal

  During the medieval Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28th), a young chorister in a cathedral is selected to wear a makeshift mitre and cope. He leads a procession through the church, offering playful blessings to the congregation and perhaps delivering a short, lighthearted "sermon" that gently pokes fun at the more serious aspects of church life. This scenario exemplifies the episcopus puerorum tradition, where a non-clerical individual temporarily adopts a bishop's persona for a festive, often humorous, occasion.

• Example 2: Satirical Community Play

  Imagine a village celebration on St. Nicholas Day, where the local baker's son, known for his wit, is chosen to dress in oversized, slightly exaggerated bishop's robes. He presides over a mock "court" in the town square, playfully "sentencing" villagers to perform silly tasks or pay symbolic "fines" of ale and pastries. This playful subversion of authority, with a layperson acting as a "bishop" in a humorous, non-sacred context, perfectly illustrates the episcopus puerorum custom's blend of imitation and jest.

• Example 3: Enduring Tradition

  Despite official decrees from church authorities in the 16th century attempting to abolish "superstitious and frivolous" customs like the boy bishop, a remote parish in rural England secretly continues the tradition. Each year, on the eve of St. Stephen's Day, a clever young scholar is chosen to don a simple bishop's hat and lead the village children in carols and a short, comical play, demonstrating how the episcopus puerorum custom persisted among the populace even when officially discouraged or banned.