The Oxford Handbook of Christian Monasticism

Description

The Handbook takes as its subject the complex phenomenon of Christian monasticism. It addresses, for the first time in one volume, the multiple strands of Christian monastic practice. Forty-four essays consider historical and thematic aspects of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican traditions, as well as contemporary 'new monasticism'. The essays in the book span a period of nearly two thousand years--from late ancient times, through the medieval and early modern eras, on to the present day. Taken together, they offer, not a narrative survey, but rather a map of the vast terrain. The intention of the Handbook is to provide a balance of some essential historical coverage with a representative sample of current thinking on monasticism. It presents the work of both academic and monastic authors, and the essays are best understood as a series of loosely-linked episodes, forming a long chain of enquiry, and allowing for various points of view. The authors are a diverse and international group, who bring a wide range of critical perspectives to bear on pertinent themes and issues. They indicate developing trends in their areas of specialisation. The individual contributions, and the volume as a whole, set out an agenda for the future direction of monastic studies. In today's world, where there is increasing interest in all world monasticisms, where scholars are adopting more capacious, global approaches to their investigations, and where monks and nuns are casting a fresh eye on their ancient traditions, this publication is especially timely. Preface Contents List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations List of Contributors 1. Introduction: Towards a New Monastic History • Bernice M. Kaczynski PART I: ASCETICISM AND MONASTICISM IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY 2. Asceticism before Monasticism: What the First Monks Owed to the Early Christian Churches • Richard Finn, OP 3. Holy Men and Women of the Desert • David Brakke 4. The Architecture of the Ascetic Body • Lynda L. Coon 5. The Literature of Early Eastern Monasticism • Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony 6. The Literature of Early Western Monasticism • Columba Stewart, OSB 7. Archaeological Evidence for the Study of Early Monasticism • Stephen J. Davis PART II: EASTERN MEDIEVAL MONASTICISM AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCHES 8. Spirituality and Prayer in the Eastern Traditions • Andrew Louth 9. Monasticism in the Byzantine Empire • Peter Hatlie 10. Monasteries, Society, Economy, and the State in the Byzantine Empire • Kostis Smyrlis 11. Monasticism in the Oriental Orthodox Churches • Samuel Rubenson 12. The Archaeology of Monastic Households • Darlene L. Brooks Hedstrom PART III: A. WESTERN MEDIEVAL MONASTICISM: FORMS OF MONASTIC AND RELIGIOUS LIFE 13. Monasticism in Early Ireland • Westley Follett 14. The Benedictines • Scott G. Bruce 15. The Cistercians • Anne E. Lester 16. The Military Orders: Templars and Hospitallers • Jochen Burgtorf 17. The Early Mendicants • Frances Andrews 18. Religious Women: Secular Canonesses and Beguines • Sigrid Hirbodian 19. Observant Reform in the Late Middle Ages • Kathryne Beebe PART III: B. WESTERN MEDIEVAL MONASTICISM: APPROACHES TO MONASTIC LIFE AND CULTURE 20. Prayer • Rachel Fulton Brown 21. Musical and Liturgical Practice • James Grier 22. Monastic Art, Sacred Space, and the Mediation of Religious Experience • Thomas E. A. Dale 23. Monastic Narrative Practices • Katherine Allen Smith 24. Friendship, Family, and Community • Julian P. Haseldine 25. Sickness and Healing • Peregrine Horden 26. Landscape, Land Use, and the Environment • Richard Oram PART IV: EUROPE AND THE WIDER WORLD: FROM THE EARLY MODERN ERA TO THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 27. The Dissolution of the Monasteries: England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales • James G. Clark 28. Monasticism in Early Modern France • Daniel-Odon Hurel 29. Monasticism in Early Modern Germany • Edeltraud Klueting T.OCarm 30. Monasticism in Early Modern Italy and Spain • Elizabeth A. Lehfeldt 31. Russian Orthodox Monasticism from 988 to 1917 • Scott M. Kenworthy 32. Monasticism in the Early Modern Atlantic World • Dominique Deslandres 33. Monasticism in the United States • Margaret M. MCGuinness 34. Monasticism in Latin America • Bonar L. Hernández 35. Monasticism in Africa South of the Sahara • Catherine Higgs 36. Christian Monasticism in Asia • Matteo Nicolini-Zani PART V: CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES 37. The Eastern Traditions Today: Greek Orthodox Monasticism • Chrysostom Koutloumousianos 38. The Eastern Traditions Today: Russian and Romanian Orthodox Monasticism • Scott M. Kenwo 39. The Protestant Tradition • Inge Mager 40. The Anglican Tradition • Adam D. MCCoy, OHC 41. The ‘New Monasticism’ • Douglas E. Christie and Bernadette Flanagan 42. Lectio Divina: Opening to God’s Word • Gregory J. Polan, OSB 43. Monastic Interreligious Dialogue • Fabrice Blée 44. Contemporary Monasticism: Challenges and Opportunities • Michael Casey, OCSO Index