Writings of Clare of Assisi

O.F.M. Conv., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, Ph.D., Jay M. Hammond, O.F.M., Michael W. Blastic

Description

STUDIES IN EARLY FRANCISCAN SOURCES provides commentary on the critical writings of Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi which were published as "The Early Documents" in recent years. Three of the world's top scholars in medieval and Franciscan studies are editing this series: Michael J. Blastic, O.F.M., Jay M. Hammond, Ph.D., and Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv. In addition to their own commentaries, they have assembled an impressive list of commentaries on the Early Documents of Francis and Clare from other top scholars, including Luigi Pellegrini, Jean-Francois Godet-Calogeras, Michael F. Cusato, Laurent Gallant, William J. Short, Ingrid Peterson and Lezlie Knox. These commentaries will become "must have" reading for any scholar, student or interested layperson in the Early Documents of Francis and of Clare.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Catholic Church
• Christian Church
• History of religions
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: The Franciscan Institute
• Date de parution: 15 septembre 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781576595312
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

T he W riTings of C lareof a ssisi

l eTTers , f ormof l ife , T esTamenTand B lessing

s Tudiesin e arly f ranCisCan s ourCes

V olume 3

General Editors

Michael W. Blastic, O.F.M., Jay M. Hammond, Ph.D., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv.

T HE W RITINGS OF C LAREOF A SSISI

L ETTERS , F ORMOF L IFE , T ESTAMENTAND B LESSING

s Tudiesin e arly f ranCisCan s ourCes

V olume 3

Edited by Michael W. Blastic, O.F.M., Jay M. Hammond, Ph.D., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv.

S t . B onaventure , n ew Y ork

Published in the United States by Franciscan Institute Publications St. Bonaventure University St. Bonaventure, NY 14778

© 2011 Franciscan Institute Publications, St. Bonaventure, NY

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writ- ing from the publisher.

Cover design by Books & Projects LLC. Cover art from the Dossal of St. Clare of Assisi Basilica of Santa Clara, Assisi

ISBN 10: 1-57659-233-2 ISBN 13: 978-1-57659-233-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Clare, of Assisi, Saint, 1194-1253.  [Selections. 2011]  The writings of Clare of Assisi : letters, form of life, testament and blessing / edited by Michael W. Blastic, Jay M. Hammond, and J.A. Wayne Hellmann.  p. cm. -- (Studies in early Franciscan sources ; v. 3)  Includes bibliographical references.  ISBN 978-1-57659-233-5 (hardcover) -- ISBN 978-1-57659-233-5 (paperback) -- ISBN 978-1-57659-298-4 (e-book)  1. Clare, of Assisi, Saint, 1194-1253. 2. Spiritual life--Catholic Church--Early works to 1800. I. Title.  BX2179.C57E5 2011  271’.97302--dc23 2011018841

Printed in the United States of America By BookMasters, Inc. Ashland, Ohio

CONTENTS

Introduction ........................................................................................ vii Dedication and Acknowledgements ............................................... xii Abbreviations ................................................................................... .xiii Contributors ...................................................................................... xvi

Chapter One: Clare of Assisi’s Letters to Agnes of Prague: Testaments of Fidelity ................................................................. 19 Ingrid Peterson 1. First Letter ........................................................................................43 2. Second Letter ...................................................................................44 3. Third Letter .....................................................................................46 4. Fourth Letter ....................................................................................48

Chapter Two: The Form of Life of the Poor Ladies Lezlie Knox TheForm of Lifeof the Poor Ladies ...................................................61

Chapter Three: The Testament of Clare Michael W. Blastic The Testament of Clare......................................................................109

Chapter Four: Clare’s Blessing Jean François Godet-Calogeras Clare’s Blessing .................................................................................. 135

I NTRODUCTION

Building on the scholarly research of the last half of the twentieth century, the first decade of the twentyfirst century has provided new translations of the writings of Clare into modern languages. In the English speaking world, the volume,Clare of Assisi: Early Documents 1 – The Ladyprovides new possibilities for those who are interested in reading the writings of Saint Clare. During the last ten years, translat ing the writings and hagiography of Clare has become an international project. This is why the seriesIntroduction to Early Franciscan Sources has begun. As of 2010 the task is to learn how to read, interpret, and apply these newly translated texts to enrich the historical understanding, theological vision, and practical living out of the Gospel message. However, the question remains: how does one get started? This third volume aims to provide assistance to those interested in deeper under standing of the writings of Clare. Hence, the volume contains essays on the known texts written by or about her. The authors, scholars interested in and committed to the Franciscan tradition, have brought contemporary research together, applied it to each of the specific texts, and offered their own perspective. The essays make available a new resource for further study and in terpretation in two ways. First, the essays define thestatus questionisby informing the reader about the state of current research on each of the texts considered. Hopefully, this will help the reader find a point of de parture for either interpreting the texts or for moving the research for ward. Second, the essays are intended to introduce the reader to these texts within the dimensions of their multilayered contextualhistorical framework. Hopefully, this will open the door for solid theological

1 Clare of Assisi: Early Documents,The Lady, Regis Armstrong, ed. and trans. (New York: New City Press, 2006).

viii

The Writings of Clare of Assisi

reflection, the only foundation for further development of Franciscan spirituality.

What Does This Volume Contain?

The volume contains the writings of Clare. Her writings are not presented historically or chronologically. Rather, the essays are or dered thematically according to the genre of the writings. However, each essay contextualizes the considered text within its own historical framework. Accordingly, the historical context is foundational to each essay. The presentation of historical context within each essay generally considers four perspectives. Consideration of these four perspectives is crucial for understanding and interpreting historical texts. These perspectives are the following:

1. There is the historical context of time and place that actually situates the text in its origins. For example, when and why was the text written? What were its social underpinnings? 2. There is the question of the transmission of the text or how did it develop from its origin to our own day. The study of the manuscript tradition considers the text as an historical artifact. This is called the codicological context. For example, how did the text survive, how did its migration through the centuries change the text, and how do we know it is authentic? 3. The receptive context identifies how scholars of more recent times have accepted and interpreted the text. For example, how do modern scholars read the text, and what questions do they ask of the text? 4. Finally, there is the context of Clare herself. This involves a study of how these text provide insight into the life of Clare and her community, and, at the same time, how these texts give crystallized expression of the Clarian life itself. For example, how is authorship understood? Along with the related questions of intertextuality, e.g., how does an earlierLetter of Clare to Agnescondition the interpretation of a later letter?

General Introduction

i

x

Awareness of these interrelated and multivalent contexts are foundational for an informed reading of these medieval texts. Because of this, the authors developed their essays with these perspectives in mind, as will be apparent.

How Are the Essays Structured?

Each essay examines a text or group of texts with the same general fourfold pattern:Establishing the Text,Approaching the Text,Interpreting the Text, andBibliography. While this fourfold pattern provides uni formity among the various essays, the specific execution of the essays varies according to the nature of and scholarship about particular texts. In other words, the fourfold pattern intentionally provides uniform categories while allowing for flexibility in the summaries and analysis. •Establishing the Textexamines the current status of the manu script tradition and modern critical editions upon which modern trans lations are based. Likewise, this section, if pertinent, addresses issues regarding authorship and explanation of the genres of the texts under consideration. •Approaching the Textgenerally presents the text’s historical con text, and the sources utilized within the text. Again, if pertinent, this section also surveys modern studies of the text and identifies unre solved questions surrounding the study of the text. •Interpreting the Text, outlines the text’s structure that organizes the material and also identifies significant themes, symbols, and images that encode the text’s meaning within its structure. Often this third section ends with a consideration of the text’s significance. •TheBibliography, provides reference to the manuscript tradi tion, critical editions, modern translations, at least in English, and key secondary studies that explore various issues in the text under consid eration. With these four categories, the volume attempts to examine the various interrelated contexts that surround the investigation of the text that emerge out of a specific thirteenthcentury social/religious move ment that underwent rapid and dramatic development.