Guidance for Women in Twelfth-century ConventsVera Petch Morton DS Brewer, 2003 - 203 pages These translated letters and texts composed for younger and older women in twelfth-century convents illuminate the powerful medieval ideals of virginity and chastity. They show that the literature of virginity and chastity could offer a wide range of role models and precedents for women in the medieval church, both in their spiritual formation and in the practical concerns of their monastic lives. Abelard's history of women's roles in the church and his letter on women's education, both written for Heloise in her work as abbess, are seen here alongside previously untranslated letters and texts for abbesses and nuns in England and France. Osbert of Clare, Goscelin of St Bertin and the women of Barking together with Peter the Venerable and the women of Marcigny offer fresh comparisons and contexts for the famous correspondence of Heloise and Abelard, as well as insight into the rich literary and cultural life of other women and men in religion. An interpretive essay explores the practical and spiritual engagement of women's convents with medieval commemorative and memorial practices, showing that the professional concern of women religious with death goes far beyond the stereotype of nuns as dead to the world, or enclosed in living death. VERA MORTON gained an MA in Medieval Studies at the University of Liverpool in 1994. JOCELYN WOGAN-BROWNE is Professor of English at Fordham University, NY. |
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Contents
Note on Texts and the Translations | 13 |
Osbert of Clare to his Nieces Margaret and Cecilia | 109 |
Interpretive Essay | 157 |
181 | |
189 | |
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Common terms and phrases
abbesses of Barking Abelard Adelidis angels Anglo-Norman anointing apostles Augustine Barking Abbey bishop blessed body bridegroom brothers burial CCSL Cecilia chaste chastity Christ Christian church commemoration consecrated convent CSEL daughter deacons dead death deeds devotion disciples Elfgiva England Erkenwald Ethelburga Etheldreda Eustochium faith father female flesh glory Goscelin Gospels grace heaven heavenly Hebrew Heloise Hildelitha Holofernes holy virgins holy women honour Jerome Jerusalem Jerusalem Bible John Judith king Latin learning letter to Adelidis living London Lord Luke Marcigny Margaret marriage martyr Mary Magdalene Matt Middle Ages monastery monastic monks mother nieces nunneries nuns offered Osbert of Clare Oxford Paula Peter the Venerable praise prayers priests prophet resurrection Rome sacred saints says Scripture sister Song of Songs soul spiritual things tion tomb translation twelfth century University Press vestal Virgin virginity and chastity virtue weaker gender widows woman words writing written Wulfhilda