Petrarch's Humanist Writing and Carthusian Monasticism: The Secret Language of the Self (Medieval Church Studies, 26)

The fourteenth century saw an exponential rise in charterhouses across Europe. During this period of growth, the cloister walls protecting the silence and solitude of the relatively small and isolated semi-eremitical Carthusian houses became more porous, pliable, and open to the outer world. Although still considered at the forefront of Christian piety and asceticism, the Carthusians began to be more clearly identified with their newly acquired taste for the arts, literature, and architecture. Gradually, charterhouses became major humanist centres attracting sophisticated patrons, artists, and scholars. Of the long line of renowned anti-scholastic intellectuals who were attracted to Carthusian circles, Petrarch was undoubtedly the first. By revealing the Carthusian imprint on Petrarch's thought as well as elements of Carthusian spirituality present in his texts, this book argues that Carthusianism was an essential component of Petrarch's Christian humanism and hermeneutics of the self. An interdisciplinary approach, involving parallel readings of Petrarchan texts, early monastic and Carthusian primary sources, together with more recent theological reflections, offers new insights into the role of Carthusianism in the intellectual debate on spirituality and the position of the individual within this order. Through Petrarch and his literary works, the Carthusian milieu ultimately shaped not only Renaissance humanism but also our understanding of the relationship between 'self', God, and others. By shedding light on the role played by Carthusian spirituality and practices in Petrarch's life and work and following a common line of philosophical and theological development through his writings, this book argues that there still are lessons to be learned in both about the relationship between religion and literature, theology and spirituality. The fourteenth century saw an exponential rise in charterhouses across Europe. During this period of growth, the cloister walls protecting the silence and solitude of the relatively small and isolated semi-eremitical Carthusian houses became more porous, pliable, and open to the outer world. Although still considered at the forefront of Christian piety and asceticism, the Carthusians began to be more clearly identified with their newly acquired taste for the arts, literature, and architecture. Gradually, charterhouses became major humanist centres attracting sophisticated patrons, artists, and scholars Of The Long Line Of Renowned And Anti-scholastic Intellectuals Who Were Attracted To Carthusian Circles, Petrarch Was Undoubtedly The First. By Revealing The Carthusian Imprint On Petrarch's Thought As Well As Elements Of Carthusian Spirituality Present In His Texts, This Book Argues That Carthusianism Was An Essential Component Of Petrarch's Christian Humanism And Hermeneutics Of The Self. Introduction: Petrach And The Carthusians -- Rethinking Solitude: The Practice Of Solitude And Silence In Petrach And Carthusian Spirituality -- Rethinking Otium: Cultivating Soul Through Soil -- Rethinking Liturgy: Petrach And The Laicization Of The Carthusian Liturgy -- Rethinking Reading And Writing: Petrarch And The Carthusian Practice Of Silent Preaching -- Conclusion: Petrarch's Humanism And The Practice Of Kenotic Writing. By Demetrio S. Yocum. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 277-296) And Index. Illustrations ix Foreword xi Acknowledgements xv Note on Names, Citations, Translations, Bibliographical Forms, Abbreviations xvii Chapter 1. Introduction: Petrarch and the Carthusians 1 Chapter 2. Rethinking Solitude: The Practice of Solitude and Silence in Petrarch and Carthusian Spirituality 27 Chapter 3. Rethinking 'Otium': Cultivating Soul through Soil 87 Chapter 4. Rethinking Liturgy: Petrarch and the Laicization of the Carthusian Liturgy 141 Chapter 5. Rethinking Reading and Writing: Petrarch and the Carthusian Practice of Silent Preaching 205 Chapter 6. Conclusion: Petrarch’s Humanism and the Practice of Kenotic Writing 271 Bibliography 277 Index 29