Saints and Sinners in Early Christian Ireland: Moral Theology in the Lives of Saints Brigit and Columba English - Couverture souple

Ritari, Katja

 
9782503533155: Saints and Sinners in Early Christian Ireland: Moral Theology in the Lives of Saints Brigit and Columba English
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 2503533159 ISBN 13 : 9782503533155
Editeur : Brepols, 2010

Synopsis

In this volume, Katja Ritari shows how a theological reading of hagiography works towards gaining a fuller understanding of the complexity of issues that can be addressed in a hagiographical narrative and of the aims of the medieval authors. The three texts examined in this study belong to the earliest stratum of hagiographical writing in Ireland and thus provide evidence of the formation of an Irish Christian society. This work presents a fresh look at the earliest Lives of saints Brigit and Columba concentrating on moral theology through the image of an ideal Christian and his or her antithesis. In hagiography, the saint is presented as the paragon of perfect Christian behaviour, but the moral message concerning ideal Christian living can also be conveyed through the minor characters which populate the Lives as companions of the saint, and as witnesses and receivers of the effects of his or her miracles. This study is groundbreaking because it turns attention towards the portrayal of these characters, especially towards the lay people whose role in hagiography has thus far been neglected in scholarly studies. The topic of this study- a good Christian life- is a fundamental spiritual and theological question that has relevance to all Christians. It is a central question to the formation of a Christian identity and its soteriological significance makes it a focal theological issue.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l?auteur

Katja Ritari is a postdoctoral researcher at the department of World Cultures, Study of Religions, University of Helsinki. She holds a PhD from University College Cork, Ireland.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Brepols
Date d'édition
2010
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
2503533159
ISBN 13 
9782503533155
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
216
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible