medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
[log in to unmask] wrote:
>I think deathbed conversion to a religious order was a recognized procedure
among the upper classes (I have some idea that Richard Lionhearted did so
Suger at the least suggests that it was Louis VI's intention to done the habit
before dying: "He recited his confession [to Abbot Gilduin of St. Victor's],
and devotedly sought to be fortified for death by the viaticum of the Lord's
Body. He also wished to be carried to the church of the holy Martyrs [St.
Denis] to discharge with great humility a vow he had often made..." [Vita,
Cap. 34]
i thought that somewhere else S. mentions this vow to be to become a Dionysian
monk, but i can't seem to find that in the text.
taking on the cowl at the End was a very, very widespread desired way of Exit,
i believe.
on an idle thought, i'm off to the library to check out the Necrology of Louis
VII's abbey, to see what his state was on his death.
of course, in his case, like that of his father, one would have to have lived
long enough to have gotten to the place to take the vows.
and, these guys were nothing if not great procrastinators.
>I find it very intriguing that such individuals were identified as such in
necrologies. Could this indicate that the monks (like my students) consider
such conversions a bit insincere?
?
i'm not sure i follow your reasoning there.
"ad succurrendum" would speak to the circumstances of the monk's entry into
the house --like, "ad juvenis" or something-- but not go to the sincerity of
the act, i would think.
seems like it was a given that if one was "stuck" in the world one fulfilled
one's duties there the best one could and, if the opportunity arose at the
End, one could avail oneself of it to Leave the world, twice, as it were.
christopher
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|