Speaking to Body and Soul : Instructions for the Moravian Choir Helpers, 1785–1786

Dating back to 1785, the Moravian “Instructions for the Choir Helpers” contain detailed advice for the spiritual counselors of the men, women, and children in Moravian congregations on how to address concerns about one’s body and soul. In this volume, Katherine Faull presents an annotated, translated edition of the original German manuscript. In monthly “speakings”—regularly scheduled dialogues between the choir helper and individual church members to determine whether the congregant could be admitted to communion—men and women received spiritual guidance on topics as varied as the physical manifestations of puberty, sexual attraction, frequency of intercourse, infant care, and bereavement. From their founding in 1722, the Moravians were remarkable for their positive evaluation of the body; they held that the natural manifestations of masculinity and femininity were integral elements of spiritual consciousness. The “Instructions for the Choir Helpers”—which were highly confidential at the time and passed on only by permission of the church administration—reflect that philosophy, providing insights into an interpretation of the body as a holistic system that should be cared for as a vessel for the spirit. A unique resource for scholars of religious history, gender studies, and colonial American church history, Faull’s translation of this fascinating set of documents provides an unprecedented glimpse into a period of foundational change in Moravian history.

Dating back to 1785, the Moravian "Instructions for the ChoirHelpers" contain detailed advice for the spiritual counselors ofthe men, women, and children in Moravian congregations on how toaddress concerns about one's body and soul. In this volume,Katherine Faull presents an annotated, translated edition of theoriginal German manuscript.

In monthly "speakings"-regularly scheduled dialogues between thechoir helper and individual church members to determine whether thecongregant could be admitted to communion-men and women receivedspiritual guidance on topics as varied as the physicalmanifestations of puberty, sexual attraction, frequency ofintercourse, infant care, and bereavement. From their founding in1722, the Moravians were remarkable for their positive evaluationof the body; they held that the natural manifestations ofmasculinity and femininity were integral elements of spiritualconsciousness. The "Instructions for the Choir Helpers"-which werehighly confidential at the time and passed on only by permission ofthe church administration-reflect that philosophy, providinginsights into an interpretation of the body as a holistic systemthat should be cared for as a vessel for the spirit.

A unique resource for scholars of religious history, genderstudies, and colonial American church history, Faull's translationof this fascinating set of documents provides an unprecedentedglimpse into a period of foundational change in Moravianhistory.

"An annotated and translated collection of instructions on religion, health, sexuality, and family life from the eighteenth-century Moravian Church"--Provided by publisher The single sisters' choir -- The single brethren's choir -- The married persons' choir -- The widows' choir