>I would also be delighted if anyone could help me out with the following
>queries:
>
>Caterina's major works are entitled *The Seven Spiritual Arms* (a kind
>of self-help guide for novices detailing the seven weapons necessary for
>spiritual battle) and *The Twelve Gardens* (the twelve steps to
>spiritual perfection). Where can I find some information on the
>significance of the numbers 7 and 12 in medieval religious literature?
>(I was shocked, stunned and not a little amazed - 8-O - to find that UCD
>doesn't seem to have the New Catholic Encyclopedia).
>
>Anyway, I'm very happy to be a part of your list and looking forward to
>more interesting discussions in the future.:-)
>
>Isobel
>
Dear Isobel,
Two references to the number 12 immediately spring to mind; I suppose
others better qualified than I will comment on them. One is the tradition
of The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs; the other is the various
versions of the Bonaventure (or is it pseudo-Bonaventure?) Twelve Benefits
of Tribulation. I would be interested to know of other occurrences of
twelve.
Best wishes,
Brian Donaghey
Brian Donaghey - Dept of English Language & Linguistics - Ext 6291
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