‖ Scala Cæli
(ˈskeɪlə ˈsiːlaɪ)
Also 5–6 scala cely, celi, 6–9 cœli, 6 scale, skaly celi.
[L. = ladder of heaven.]
1. The name of a church in the Tre Fontane, outside Rome, in which St. Bernard is related to have had a vision of souls for whom he was saying mass ascending by a ladder into heaven, and to which an indulgence is attached; hence, applied to chapels or altars in England and the masses said there to which the same indulgence was attached.
See Rymer Fœdera XII. 565, XIII. 102–3, Blomefield Hist. Norfolk (1745) II. 552.
| c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 102 Massis at rome, at scala celi. Ibid., Þat if a prest seye a masse at scala celi for a soule it schal onoon ben out of purgatorie. a 1400 Stac. Rome 118 (Vernon MS.), In þat place a Chapel is. Scala celi clepet hit is. c 1500 God spede the plough 74 Then commeth prestis that goth to rome For to haue silver to sing at Scala celi. 1515 in Coll. Surrey Archæol. Soc. (1858) I. 182, I will that there be seede..in the chapell of Skaly Celi at Westmynster v masses of the v wounds of our Lord God. 1519 Churchw. Acc. St. Margarets, Westm. (Nichols 1797) 8 To the Keeper of Scala Celi in the Abbey. 1534 Hylsey in Lett. Suppress. Monasteries (Camden) 12 Massys off scale celi. 1536 Articles devised by King D iij b. c 1550 Bale K. Johan (Camden) 17 Legacyes, trentals, with scala cely messys. 1583 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 4) 1178/2 That all partakers of the same gylde [of our Lady in S. Botolph's, Boston],..which..shall say or cause to be sayde Masses for soules departed in paynes of Purgatory, shall..have the full remission due to them which visite the Chappell of Scala Cœli. |
2. (With reference to the etymol. sense.) A ladder leading from earth to heaven; a means of attaining heaven or heavenly bliss.
| 1549 Latimer 5th Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 139 Scala cœli, is a preachynge matter I tell you, and not a massyng matter. 1603 J. Davies in Sylvester Du Bartas (1621) 651 Making loose lines (forsooth) their Scala Cœli; A Tauerne for a Temple, to adore, Their only god, their guts. 1626 Bacon New Atl. 15 The Magnificent Temple,..the seuerall Degrees of Ascent, wherby Men did climb vp to the same, as if it had bin a Scala Cæli. |