medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
This is a fascinating question, and makes me realise how much we (well, I) rely on our own disciplines in approaching broad questions about medieval religion and spirituality. In the case of lay piety and spirituality I would look at texts - translations,
vernacularisation, manuscript transmission etc. My interest, though, is more from the beginning of the 13th century onwards - when we do see more English language texts (I am, I'm afraid, talking only of Britain - and mostly England - here). So, Edmund of
Abingdon wrote his Speculum religiosorum, probably 1212/13, in Latin for, we presume, a religious readership (maybe Augustinian canons), but it was translated into Anglo-Norman (read by nuns but also found in manuscripts owned by lay gentry), back into a 'vulgate'
Latin version and finally, at the end of the fourteenth century, into English. It is found in famous manuscripts like the Vernon, but also in a manuscript belonging to John Pery of the Augustinian priory at Aldgate in London where it refers to the vocation,
or calling, of 'men & wymen of christis Relygyon'. So was it intended for lay readership? To aid an Augustinian canon in the execution of pastoral duties? Either way, has it now become an example of lay piety since it includes passages on the life and passion
of Christ to aid meditation at the Hours of the day? - the observation of the hours was becoming a popular practice among lay people, if we look at the increasing production of Books of Hours.
Looking at the history of Books of Hours, which have their origins in the 12th century, (Duffy's book Marking the Hours would be a useful starting point) may be another way of answering your question.
From someone smart enough to know she's not that smart
Cate
On 9 Jun 2014, at 15:14, Cecilia Gaposchkin wrote:
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Hello smart people, I need your help. I am trying to get my head around what we we mean when we say there was a shift in lay or popular piety, or spirituality, in the 13th century. Yes, I know this is the age of Francis and Dominic. Yes, I know that something
has changed with penitential culture (but
what has changed?); Yes, I know that the notion of
imitatio christi has shifted to a greater focus on passion (although anyone who has seriously read the sources for the first crusade might dispute this), and of "affective" suffering. I know there is an increase in lay literacy (and, by the way, what
does this mean for
lay understanding/participation/involvement in the liturgy? Does anyone know?)
I say this having read much of the literature and having myself written some of it. But it is so complicated, I'm hoping for anyone who has some good thoughts on this to share them. What do you see as the characteristic features of the shift? How do we know
this? How is it manifest? And actually, as I type, I'm curious about anyone's thoughts on this idea of lay involvement in the liturgy.
I am (again) thinking about all of this in context with crusading. I realize I have not deal with this adequately, which means I have not understood it adequately. And as always, I appreciate so much the warm generosity of the intellectual community
of this list.
Thanks
cecilia
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