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Lives and Miracles of the Saints

Michael Goodich

330 Pages
2004

Lives and Miracles of the Saints

Studies in Medieval Latin Hagiography

Routledge

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Lives and Miracles of the Saints - Summary

This scholarly work delves into the fascinating world of medieval hagiography, examining the lives and miraculous accounts of saints as valuable historical documents that illuminate various aspects of medieval society and culture. Michael Goodich presents a comprehensive analysis of Latin hagiographical texts, revealing how these religious narratives served both as instruments of institutional power and as windows into the daily lives, beliefs, and social structures of medieval Europe.

Key Ideas

1

Religious Authority and Social Control

The book explores how hagiographical texts were instrumental in establishing and maintaining religious authority, showing how accounts of saints' lives were carefully crafted to reinforce church doctrine and influence social behavior while simultaneously reflecting the political dynamics of medieval society.

2

Gender and Power Dynamics

Through examination of female saints' narratives, the work reveals complex relationships between gender, spirituality, and institutional power in medieval society, demonstrating how women navigated religious life and achieved authority within the constraints of patriarchal structures.

3

Popular Piety and Elite Religion

The text analyzes the intersection between popular religious practices and official church doctrine, showing how miraculous accounts served as bridges between elite and common religious expressions while reflecting broader social and cultural tensions.

FAQ's

These texts served multiple functions, including educational tools for religious instruction, propaganda for political legitimacy, and vehicles for transmitting cultural values and social norms across generations.

While these texts contain obvious elements of religious propaganda and miraculous events, they provide valuable insights into medieval social structures, daily life, and cultural practices when analyzed critically within their historical context.

Medieval Latin hagiography uniquely combines biographical elements with miraculous accounts, institutional history, and moral instruction, creating a distinctive genre that served both spiritual and practical purposes in medieval society.

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