134 LaCitadeSancta
to attend the Mass ( 12 d. bon. was typical) and even expelled regular absen-
tees.^224 Society policing of attendance at religious exercises was not unique
to Bologna. At Florence in the 1280 s, during processions by the Society of
Saint Mary of the Carmine, its captain stood on a raised dais and checked
off those present on the society roll.^225 Bolognese statutes usually specified
that the priest chant a particular votive Mass, commonly that of the society
patron or the Blessed Virgin, a common copatron.^226 Like the society of
Saint Eustace, all societies shared blessed bread at the monthly Mass. Their
statutes carefully specified its quality and value (usually between 7 d. and 15 d.
bon.).^227
The event that defined the society as a corporate entity was the annual
candle offering. The Bologna Popolo as a whole observed this practice. Gov-
ernment officials (anziani) came as a group, and each offered a one-pound
wax candle to Saint John the Baptist in the church of San Giovanni in Monte
on 24 June, the saint’s nativity.^228 The Popolo was a neighborhood society
writ large. The societies typically offered four one-pound candles of ‘‘fine
wax,’’ two for use at the society Mass and two as a votive gift to the chapel.
Some societies offered as few as two candles and some as many as six.^229
The Barberia, which met in two different churches, had two annual candle
ceremonies, one offering of two tapers to Saint Isaiah at his church and
another offering of two to Saint Barbatianus at his.^230 The society’s officials,
the ministers, treasurer, and standard-bearer—as representative of the mem-
bership—presented the candles during the Mass of the patron saint.^231 In
others, such as the Lombardi, each member offered an individual candle
once a year. The Lombardi’s ministers organized the ritual on Pentecost—
total candle costs were 20 s. bon.—and then provided a banquet dinner.
Societies added other devotions according to their own tastes. Typical was
an offering of oil to light the vigil lamp before the patron’s altar.^232 Social
functions were important for creating fraternity in the societies, but they did
- E.g., ibid. (Matteo Griffoni, 1258 ), 1 : 307 – 24 ; (Aquila, 1255 ,c. 3 ), 1 : 237 ; (Balzani, 1230 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 121 ;
(Sbarre, 1255 , cc. 1 – 4 ), 1 : 191 ; and outside Bologna: Biella Stat. ( 1245 ) 3. 24 – 25 ( 85 – 85 ).
225 .Libro degli Ordinamenti della Compagnia di S. Maria del Carmine scritto nel 1280 ,ed. G. Piccini (Bologna:
Romagnoli, 1867 ), 39 ; on this text, see Trexler,Public Life, 268 , and 507 – 10 on the ways the Medici purged
their city of republican rituals and symbols. - E.g., Bol. Pop. Stat., 1 (Delfini, 1255 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 149 ; (Cervo, 1255 ,c. 7 ), 1 : 216.
- Ibid. (Aquila, 1255 ,c. 3 ), 1 : 237 ; (Branca, 1255 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 261 ; (Balzani, 1230 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 121 ; (Castelli,
1255 , cc. 4 – 6 ), 1 : 159 ; (Cervo, 1255 ,c. 7 ), 1 : 216 ; (Branca, 1255 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 258. The flagellants had mandatory
monthly Masses: Meersseman, ‘‘Statuto dei Disciplinati di Bologna ( 1260 )’’ 11 , Meersseman,Ordo,
1 : 480 – 82 ; id., ‘‘Statuto dei Disciplinati di Vicenza ( 1263 )’’ 7 , 22 , ibid., 482 – 83 ; Novara Battuti Stat. (xiv),
- Bol. Pop. Stat., 2 (General Stat. 1248 ,c. 5 ), 1 : 507.
- E.g., ibid., 1 (Vari, 1256 , cc. 16 , 43 ), 1 : 340 , 345 ; (Branca, 1255 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 261 ; (Cervo, 1255 ,c. 8 ),
1 : 217 ; (Sbarre, 1255 , cc. 1 – 4 ), 1 : 191 ; (Quartieri, 1256 ,c. 7 ), 1 : 297 ; (Delfini, 1255 ,c. 3 ), 1 : 149 ; (San Procolo,
1231 ,c. 47 ), 1 : 143 – 44 ; (Sbarre, 1255 , cc. 1 – 4 ), 1 : 191 ; (Aquila, 1255 ,c. 4 ), 1 : 237. - Ibid. (Barberia, 1255 ,c. 10 ), 1 : 205.
- Ibid. (Branca, 1270 ,c. 1 ), 1 : 458.
- Ibid. (Lombardi, 1291 ,c. 2 ), 1 : 47 ; (Toschi, 1256 ,c. 15 ), 1 : 96.