What do you think?
Rate this book
Women in Culture and Society
Women and Religion in Medieval and Renaissance Italy
Between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries, women assumed public roles of unprecedented prominence in Italian religious culture. Legally subordinated, politically excluded, socially limited, and ideologically disdained, women's active participation in religious life offered them access to power in all its forms.
These essays explore the involvement of women in religious life throughout northern and central Italy and trace the evolution of communities of pious women as they tried to achieve their devotional goals despite the strictures of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The contributors examine relations between holy women, their devout followers, and society at large.
Including contributions from leading figures in a new generation of Italian historians of religion, this book shows how women were able to carve out broad areas of influence by carefully exploiting the institutional church and by astutely manipulating religious percepts.
These essays explore the involvement of women in religious life throughout northern and central Italy and trace the evolution of communities of pious women as they tried to achieve their devotional goals despite the strictures of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The contributors examine relations between holy women, their devout followers, and society at large.
Including contributions from leading figures in a new generation of Italian historians of religion, this book shows how women were able to carve out broad areas of influence by carefully exploiting the institutional church and by astutely manipulating religious percepts.
344 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 1996
40 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Read
February 20, 2023Read from this collection:
Bornstein's intro on History and Historiography addresses the increased public role of women and their influence on "affective piety" and personal attachment to Jesus. Also, more recognition of sanctity as possible in the home and married life.
Clara Gennaro on Sts Clare and Agnes' new forms of religious expression.
Mario Sensi "Anchoresses and Penitents in 13th and 14th Century Umbria"
Anna Benvenuti Papi, "Mendicant Friars and Female Pinzochere in Tuscany: from social marginality to models of sanctity"
Enrico Manesto "Apostolic Canonization Proceedings of Clare of Montefalco" They opened her body and found symbols of the passion on her heart, and also 3 globes in her gall bladder.
Chiara Frugoni "Female Mystics, Visions, and Iconography" presumes a fundamental mystics and their biographers and confessors.
Fernanda Sorelli "Inimitable Sanctity" Maria of Venice's biographer focused on her conversion and virtue. She wasn't an extreme aesthetic and there were no supernatural elements.
Anna Esposito "St Francesca" lived a saintly and virtuous life.
Gabrielle Azarri "Living Saints" discusses the social function of blessed women in times of ecclesiastical disarray.
Bornstein's intro on History and Historiography addresses the increased public role of women and their influence on "affective piety" and personal attachment to Jesus. Also, more recognition of sanctity as possible in the home and married life.
Clara Gennaro on Sts Clare and Agnes' new forms of religious expression.
Mario Sensi "Anchoresses and Penitents in 13th and 14th Century Umbria"
Anna Benvenuti Papi, "Mendicant Friars and Female Pinzochere in Tuscany: from social marginality to models of sanctity"
Enrico Manesto "Apostolic Canonization Proceedings of Clare of Montefalco" They opened her body and found symbols of the passion on her heart, and also 3 globes in her gall bladder.
Chiara Frugoni "Female Mystics, Visions, and Iconography" presumes a fundamental mystics and their biographers and confessors.
Fernanda Sorelli "Inimitable Sanctity" Maria of Venice's biographer focused on her conversion and virtue. She wasn't an extreme aesthetic and there were no supernatural elements.
Anna Esposito "St Francesca" lived a saintly and virtuous life.
Gabrielle Azarri "Living Saints" discusses the social function of blessed women in times of ecclesiastical disarray.
Displaying 1 of 1 review