Emotional Monasticism : Affective Piety in the Eleventh-century Monastery of John of Fécamp

Scholars of the Middle Ages have long taught that highly emotional Christian devotion, often called ‘affective piety’, originated in Europe after the twelfth century, and was primarily practised by late medieval communities of mendicants, lay people, and women. As the first study of affective piety in an eleventh-century monastic context, this book revises our understanding of affective spirituality’s origins, characteristics, and uses in medieval Christianity.Emotional monasticism: Affective piety at the eleventh-century monastery of John of Fécamp traces the early monastic history of affective devotion through the life and works of the earliest-known writer of emotional prayers, John of Fécamp, abbot of the Norman monastery of Fécamp from 1028 to 1078. The book examines John’s major work, the Confessio theologica; John’s early influences and educational background in Ravenna and Dijon; the emotion-filled devotional programme of Fécamp’s liturgical, manuscript, and intellectual culture, and its relation to the monastery’s efforts at reform; the cultivation of affective principles in the monastery’s work beyond the monastery’s walls; and John’s later medieval legacy at Fécamp, throughout Normandy, and beyond. Emotional monasticism will appeal to scholars of monasticism, of the history of emotion, and of medieval Christianity. The book exposes the early medieval monastic roots of later medieval affective piety, re-examines the importance of John of Fécamp’s prayers for the first time since his work was discovered, casts a new light on the devotional life of monks in medieval Europe before the twelfth century, and redefines how we should understand the history of Christianity. Medievalists have long taught that highly emotional Christian devotion, often called 'affective piety', appeared in Europe after the twelfth century and was primarily practiced by communities of mendicants, lay people and women. Emotional monasticism challenges this view. The first study of affective piety in an eleventh-century monastic context, it traces the early history of affective devotion through the life and works of the earliest known writer of emotional prayers, John of Fécamp, abbot of the Norman monastery of Fécamp from 1028-78. Exposing the early medieval monastic roots of later medieval affective piety, the book casts a new light on the devotional life of monks in Europe before the twelfth century and redefines how medievalists should teach the history of Christianity Medievalists have long taught that highly emotional Christiandevotion, often called 'affective piety', appeared in Europe afterthe twelfth century and was primarily practiced by communities ofmendicants, lay people and women. Emotional monasticismchallenges this view. The first study of affective piety in aneleventh-century monastic context, it traces the early history ofaffective devotion through the life and works of the earliest knownwriter of emotional prayers, John of Fécamp, abbot of the Normanmonastery of Fécamp from 1028-78. Exposing the early medievalmonastic roots of later medieval affective piety, the book casts anew light on the devotional life of monks in Europe before thetwelfth century and redefines how medievalists should teach thehistory of Christianity Front matter Dedication Contents List of figures and maps Acknowledgements Note on translations and editions List of abbreviations Introduction Reforming the reader’s interior: defining emotional reform and affectivity in John of Fécamp’s Confessio theologica Dicta mea sunt dicta patrum?: tradition and innovation in John’s Confessio theologica Reforming the monastic community: the uses of John’s devotional method within the walls of Fécamp Reforming monks in the temporal world: John’s devotional principles cultivated in the secular landscape John’s medieval legacy: the monastic roots of affective.piety Conclusion Bibliography Index Drawing on the devotional culture of John of Fécamp’s Norman monastery, Emotional monasticism exposes the monastic roots of medieval affective piety, casts a new light on the devotional life of monks in Europe before the twelfth century and redefines how medievalists should teach the history of Christian devotion.