Fiction, Memory, and Identity in the Cult of St. Maurus, 830-1270

This book explores the origins and history of the cult of St. Maurus, the first known disciple of Saint Benedict, from the ninth-century Life of St. Maurus by Odo to its appropriation and re-shaping by three powerful abbeys through to the thirteenth century. It traces how these institutions deployed caches of mostly forged documents to adapt the cult to their aspirations and how the cult adapted itself further to face the challenges of the modern world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 388 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating book delves into the fascinating realm of one of the most significant medieval saint cults, that of St. Maurus, the revered first known disciple of Saint Benedict. Despite the pivotal role this story plays in the mythologization of medieval Benedictine culture, a remarkable gap exists in scholarly attention dedicated to Maurus since the late 19th century. By employing the insights of memory studies, this book embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the origins and historical trajectory of the cult, spanning from the ninth-century Life of St. Maurus authored by Odo, the abbot of Glanfueil, to its subsequent appropriation and re-shaping by three powerful abbeys: Fossés, Cluny, and Montecassino. It meticulously traces how these institutions strategically deployed caches of predominantly forged documents, many of which are presented here for the first time, to tailor the cult to their own aspirations. Furthermore, it delves into how the cult itself evolved and adapted to confront the challenges of the modern world.

This captivating book delves into the fascinating realm of one of the most significant medieval saint cults, that of St. Maurus, the revered first known disciple of Saint Benedict. Despite the pivotal role this story plays in the mythologization of medieval Benedictine culture, a remarkable gap exists in scholarly attention dedicated to Maurus since the late 19th century. By employing the insights of memory studies, this book embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the origins and historical trajectory of the cult, spanning from the ninth-century Life of St. Maurus authored by Odo, the abbot of Glanfueil, to its subsequent appropriation and re-shaping by three powerful abbeys: Fossés, Cluny, and Montecassino. It meticulously traces how these institutions strategically deployed caches of predominantly forged documents, many of which are presented here for the first time, to tailor the cult to their own aspirations. Furthermore, it delves into how the cult itself evolved and adapted to confront the challenges of the modern world.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030869441
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022