Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 4399
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Griffiths , Fiona J
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: Brides and "Dominae": Abelard's "Cura monialium" at the Augustinian Monastery of Marbach [The Appendix presents the Latin text and the English translation of "Beati pauperes." It addresses the pastoral care of nuns and was inspired in large part by Abelard's Sermon 30, "On Alms for the Nuns of the Paraclete." Title note supplied by Feminae.].
  • Source: Viator 34, ( 2003): Pages 57 - 88.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Edition of Text;Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Abelard, Peter, Philosopher- Sermons- Sermon 30 Ecclesiastical Reform Guta- Sintram Codex, Manuscript Created by a Nun from Schwartzenthann and a Monk from Marbach Man Woman Relationships Manuscripts Marbach, Haut-Rhin, France- Augustinian House of Male C
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: France
  • Century: 12
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations: Three figures. Figure One Manuscript illumination of Guta, an Augustinian canoness, and Sintram, an Augustinian canon, with the Virgin Mary (Strasbourg, Bibliothèque du Grand Séminaire, Codex Guta-Sintram, 9). Figure Two Text page of "Beati pauperes" (Strasbourg, Bibliothèque du Grand Séminaire, Codex Guta-Sintram, 9). Figure Three Manuscript illumination of Saint Augustine with Augustinian canons and canonesses (Strasbourg, Bibliothèque du Grand Séminaire, Guta-Sintram Codex, 11).
  • Table:
  • Abstract: This article explores the use of Peter Abelard’s sermon "On alms for the nuns of the Paraclete" (Sermon 30) in the Guta-Sintram Codex (ca. 1154), a work of collaboration between Guta, an Augustinian canoness from Schwartzenthann, and Sintram, a canon from the nearby community at Marbach. Focusing on interactions between the men and women of the two communities, from their shared beginnings during the reform enthusiasm of the late eleventh century to the more cautious spiritual climate of the latter half of the twelfth century, the article reveals the ways in which Marbach’s commitment to the "cura monialium," the pastoral care of women, was influenced by Abelard’s belief in the dignity of women. That Marbach viewed the "cura monialium" as an integral, and even obligatory, part of its active ministry is most clearly expressed in "Beati pauperes," an extract from Abelard’s Sermon 30 that was included in the Guta-Sintram Codex. This text presents an intricate justification for men’s obligation to support religious women based on Abelard’s philosophy of women’s weakness and dignity. The identification of "Beati pauperes" with Abelard’s sermon provides the sole proof for the medieval use of Abelard’s sermons outside of the Paraclete and provides the clearest evidence that we have of the real impact of his vision for the pastoral care of women within the religious life. [Reproduced from the journal website: http://brepols.metapress.com/content/121213/?p=afdbc79947a4444b9739ff05942fde63&pi=0]
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  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 2003.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 00835897