The Oxford Handbook of Christian Monasticism

The Handbook takes as its subject the complex phenomenon of Christian monasticism. It addresses, for the first time in one volume, the multiple strands of Christian monastic practice. Forty-four essays consider historical and thematic aspects of the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant, and Anglican traditions, as well as contemporary 'new monasticism'. The essays in the book span a period of nearly two thousand years--from late ancient times, through the medieval and early modern eras, on to the present day. Taken together, they offer, not a narrative survey, but rather a map of the vast terrain. The intention of the Handbook is to provide a balance of some essential historical coverage with a representative sample of current thinking on monasticism. It presents the work of both academic and monastic authors, and the essays are best understood as a series of loosely-linked episodes, forming a long chain of enquiry, and allowing for various points of view. The authors are a diverse and international group, who bring a wide range of critical perspectives to bear on pertinent themes and issues. They indicate developing trends in their areas of specialisation. The individual contributions, and the volume as a whole, set out an agenda for the future direction of monastic studies. In today's world, where there is increasing interest in all world monasticisms, where scholars are adopting more capacious, global approaches to their investigations, and where monks and nuns are casting a fresh eye on their ancient traditions, this publication is especially timely.

Bernice M. Kaczynski, Professor Emerita of History and Adjunct Professor, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario and Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto

Bernice M. Kaczynski is Professor Emerita of History at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, and Adjunct Professor in the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto. Her primary research interests lie in the area of early medieval monastic culture. She writes on manuscripts and the transmission of texts, on medieval Latin and Greek, on notions of patristic authority, and, most recently, on the extended historical experience of Christian monasticism.

Thomas Sullivan, OSB, is a monk of Conception Abbey in Conception, Missouri, USA, and Professor of History and Humanities at Conception Seminary College. His primary research interest is the intersection of monastic life and the medieval university; other research interests include the Parisian Faculty of Theology, 1200-1500, and the history of medieval ecclesiastical libraries.

Preface
List of Illustrations
List of Abbreviations
List of Contributors
1 Introduction. Towards a New Monastic History, Bernice M. Kaczynski
Part I. Asceticism and Monasticism in Early Christianity
2 Asceticism before Monasticism: What the First Monks Owed to the Early Christian Churches, Richard Finn, OP
3 Holy Men and Women of the Desert, David Brakke
4 The Architecture of the Ascetic Body, Lynda L. Coon
5 The Literature of Early Eastern Monasticism, Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony
6 The Literature of Early Western Monasticism, Columba Stewart, OSB
7 Archaeological Evidence for the Study of Early Monasticism, Stephen J. Davis
Part II. Eastern Medieval Monasticism and the Orthodox Churches
8 Spirituality and Prayer in the Eastern Traditions, Andrew Louth
9 Monasticism in the Byzantine Empire, Peter Hatlie
10 Monasteries, Society, Economy, and the State in the Byzantine Empire, Kostis Smyrlis
11 Monasticism in the Oriental Orthodox Churches, Samuel Rubenson
12 The Archaeology of Monastic Households, Darlene L. Brooks Hedstrom
Part III A. Western Medieval Monasticism: Forms of Monastic and Religious Life
13 Monasticism in Early Ireland, Westley Follett
14 The Benedictines, Scott G. Bruce
15 The Cistercians, Anne E. Lester
16 The Military Orders: Templars and Hospitallers, Jochen Burgtorf
17 The Early Mendicants, Frances Andrews
18 Religious Women: Secular Canonesses and Beguines, Sigrid Hirbodian
19 Observant Reform in the Late Middle Ages, Kathryne Beebe
Part III B. Western Medieval Monasticism: Approaches to Monastic Life and Culture
20 Prayer, Rachel Fulton Brown
21 Musical and Liturgical Practice, James Grier
22 Monastic Art, Sacred Space, and the Mediation of Religious Experience, Thomas E. A. Dale
23 Monastic Narrative Practices, Katherine Allen Smith
24 Friendship, Family, and Community, Julian P. Haseldine
25 Sickness and Healing, Peregrine Horden
26 Landscape, Land Use, and the Environment, Richard Oram
Part IV. Europe and the Wider World: From the Early Modern Era to the Twenty-First Century
27 The Dissolution of the Monasteries: England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, James G. Clark
28 Monasticism in Early Modern France, Daniel-Odon Hurel
29 Monasticism in Early Modern Germany, Edeltraud Klueting T.OCarm
30 Monasticism in Early Modern Italy and Spain, Elizabeth A. Lehfeldt
31 Russian Orthodox Monasticism from 988 to 1917, Scott M. Kenworthy
32 Monasticism in the Early Modern Atlantic World, Dominique Deslandres
33 Monasticism in the United States, Margaret M. McGuinness
34 Monasticism in Latin America, Bonar L. Hern?ndez
35 Monasticism in Africa South of the Sahara, Catherine Higgs
36 Monasticism in Asia, Matteo Nicolini-Zani
Part V. Contemporary Perspectives
37 The Eastern Traditions Today: Greek Orthodox Monasticism, Chrysostom Koutloumousianos
38 The Eastern Traditions Today: Russian and Romanian Orthodox Monasticism, Scott M. Kenworthy
39 The Protestant Tradition, Inge Mager
40 The Anglican Tradition, Adam D. McCoy, OHC
41 The 'New Monasticism', Douglas E. Christie and Bernadette Flanagan
42 Lectio Divina: Opening to God's Word, Gregory J. Polan, OSB
43 Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, Fabrice Bl?e
44 Contemporary Monasticism: Challenges and Opportunities, Michael Casey, OCSO
Index