To Be The Neighbor Of Saint Peter

Barbara H. Rosenwein here reassesses the significance of property in the tenth and eleventh centuries, a period of transition from the Carolingian empire to the regional monarchies of the High Middle Ages. In To Be the Neighbor of Saint Peter she explores in rich detail the question of monastic donations, illuminating the human motives, needs, and practices behind gifts of land and churches to the French monastery of Cluny during the 140 years that followed its founding. Donations, Rosenwein shows, were largely the work of neighbors, and they set up and affirmed relationships with Saint Peter, to whom Cluny was dedicated.Cluny was an eminent religious institution and served as a model for other monasteries. It attracted numerous donations and was party to many land transactions. Its charters and cartularies constitute perhaps the single richest collection of information on property for the period 909-1049. Analyzing the evidence found in these records, Rosenwein considers the precise nature of Cluny's ownership of land, the character of its claims to property, and its tutelage over the land of some of the monasteries in its ecclesia.

Day of Reckoning: Power and Accountability in Medieval France applies recent approaches to literacy, legal studies, memory, ritual, and the manorial economy to reexamine the transformation of medieval power. Highlighting the relationship of archives and power, it draws on the rich documentary sources of five of the largest Benedictine monasteries in northern France and Flanders, with comparisons to others, over a period of nearly four centuries. The book opens up new perspectives on important problems of power, in particular the idea and practice of accountability. In a violent society, medieval lords tried to delegate power rather than share it—to get their men to prosecute justice or raise money legitimately, rather than through extortion and pillage. Robert F. Berkhofer III explains how subordinates were held accountable by abbots administering the extensive holdings of Saint-Bertin, Saint-Denis, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Père-de-Chartres, and Saint-Vaast-d'Arras. As the abbots began to discipline their agents and monitor their conduct, the "day of reckoning" took on new meaning, as customary meeting days were used to hold agents accountable. By 1200, written and unwritten techniques of rule developed in the monasteries had moved into the secular world; in these practices lay the origins of administration, bureaucratic power, and governance, all hallmarks of the modern state.

The essays published in this volume cover many aspects of the history of Cluny from its foundation until the end of the twelfth century. Four of them are published here for the first time, and others appear in a revised form. The three articles on Cluny in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries constitute a brief survey of Cluny at the height of its prestige and influence. Others, such as the articles on Cluny and the Investiture Controversy and the First Crusade, deal with the influence of Cluny outside its walls. Yet others are concerned with the relations between Cluny and other orders, between Cluny and its dependent houses, and between the abbey and town of Cluny. The remainder study the internal history of the abbey, the administration, legislation, and finances of the order, and its development and problems, especially in the twelfth century.

in 2 books St. Peter of Damascus. 3 Book Contents. 3 Preface to the publication in Russian translation. 5 Preface of the original 8 Book one. 9 The beginning with God of the contents of the book of the venerable and God-bearing father our Hieromartyr Peter of Damascus. 9 Necessary and very useful indication of the seven bodily works. 25 That he who wishes to keep the commandments must begin with fear God, so as not to crawl into the abyss. 29 About the second commandment and that fear gives birth to crying. 30 About the four virtues of the soul 37 About pro-active knowledge. 38 That bodily virtues are instruments of the soul 39 That it is impossible to be saved except by strict attention and guarding the mind. 41 About the fact that those who want to see themselves, in what dispensation they are moral, they can achieve this only by moving away from their desires, obedience and silence, especially those possessed by passions. 42 About the eight mental knowledges. 44 A necessary explanation about the first knowledge and about the way it should start 46 About the second lead. 48 About the third leading. 50 About the fourth knowledge. 58 About the Fifth Knowledge. 69 About the Sixth Knowledge. 70 About the Seventh Knowledge. 77 About the Eighth Knowledge. 78 That there is no disagreement in the Divine Scriptures. 79 Sharing the prayer of all knowledge. 81 About humility. 83 About Dispassion. 83 Best Recognition of the Seven Bodily Activities. 86 About Reasoning. 88 About reading according to God. 91 About True Reasoning. 94 About the fact that one should not despair, even if many have sinned. 95 Brief teaching on acquiring virtues and avoiding passions. 97 How can anyone acquire true faith?. 99 That silence is most beneficial to the passionate. 103 That True Repentance is a Great Good. 105 On the General and Special Benefits of God131. 107 That God Created Everything for Our Benefit 109 That the Word of God is Not Verbosity. 110 That Without Humility it is Impossible to Be Saved. 112 On Edifying the Soul with Virtues. 116 That Love and Advice with Humility are Great Blessings. 119 That the Frequent Reminder of Divine Scripture is Not Verbosity. 122 Explanation 143 about False Knowledge. 125 Calculus of Virtues. 136 Calculus of the Passions. 138 On the Difference between Thoughts and Intentions. 140 Book two, containing twenty-four short words, full of spiritual knowledge. 145 Preface. 145 Word 1 153. On spiritual wisdom.. 145 Word 2 156. About faith. 147 Word 3 157. About the Fear (of the Lord), Introductory and Perfect 150 Word 4 159. About piety. 153 Word 5 162. About Patience. 156 Word 6 164. About Hope (for the Future) 159 Word 7 169. About Impartiality. 162 Word 8 171. On the Mortification of Passions. 165 Homily 9 176. About the Honest Sufferings177 of Christ 168 Word 10 181. About humility182. 173 Word 11 186. About Reasoning. 176 Word 12 191. On the Knowledge of Sensory Creations. 181 Word 13 193. About Mental Knowing [understanding] 183 Word 14 194. About True Dispassion. 185 Word 15 196. About Love. 186 Word 16 198. About the Knowledge of God. 188 Word 17 199. About Wisdom.. 190 Word 18 201. About Chastity. 191 Word 19 202. About Courage. 192 Word 20 203. About Truth. 192 Word 21 204. About the Perfect World of Thoughts. 193 Word 22 205. About Spiritual Joy. 194 Word 23 208. About the Divine Scriptures, that there is No Disagreement in them.. 197 Word 24 214. About how a Person Comes to his Senses and Learns Something Useful 202

Prayer reflected a network of relationships that bound together the intercessor, the dead, and the divine.