Eternal Light and Earthly Concerns: Belief and the Shaping of Medieval Society

In early Christianity, every church had a light burning on the altar at all times. This study explores the material and social consequences of maintaining these 'eternal lights' throughout the Middle Ages, revealing the social organization built around them. When the belief in their effectiveness collapsed in the Reformation, the lights were extinguished. The history of the lights offers a unique account of change in medieval Europe and an examination of the relationship between materiality and belief.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

In the early days of Christianity, it was firmly established that every church should have a light burning on the altar at all times. This intriguing study, titled "Eternal Light and Earthly Concerns," delves into the profound material and social implications of maintaining these "eternal lights." It explores the various ways in which the cost of lighting was met across Western Europe throughout the entirety of the Middle Ages, shedding light on the intricate social organization that was established in the belief that burning these lights would shorten the time spent in Purgatory. However, when the belief in the efficacy of these lights collapsed during the Reformation, the eternal lights were abruptly extinguished. The history of these lights not only provides a fresh perspective on the transformative changes that occurred in medieval Europe but also offers a sustained examination of the intricate relationship between materiality and belief.

In the early days of Christianity, it was firmly established that every church should have a light burning on the altar at all times. This intriguing study, titled "Eternal Light and Earthly Concerns," delves into the profound material and social implications of maintaining these "eternal lights." It explores the various ways in which the cost of lighting was met across Western Europe throughout the entirety of the Middle Ages, shedding light on the intricate social organization that was established in the belief that burning these lights would shorten the time spent in Purgatory. However, when the belief in the efficacy of these lights collapsed during the Reformation, the eternal lights were abruptly extinguished. The history of these lights not only provides a fresh perspective on the transformative changes that occurred in medieval Europe but also offers a sustained examination of the intricate relationship between materiality and belief.

Weight: 312g
Dimension: 215 x 140 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526167200