The heritagization of Catholic monasteries has received limited research attention, despite their historical presence and social impact. This book examines the heritagization process of De Heilige Driehoek, a religious site comprising three living monasteries in the south of the Netherlands. It explores how the distinctive religious tradition of the monastics shapes their heritage perception and how this is translated into a secular heritage discourse. The study highlights the struggle of heritage groups to create a compelling narrative for their intended audiences and the problematic impact this has on religious communities. It offers a new perspective on the complicated relationship between religion and heritage.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Sidestone Press

Religious heritage has long been a subject of academic study, but there has been relatively little research on the heritagization of Catholic monasteries. This is surprising given the longstanding historical presence and social impact of these institutions, which have also become popular spiritual centers and cherished heritage objects in recent times. This book addresses this gap by examining the heritagization process of De Heilige Driehoek (The Holy Triangle), a religious site comprising three living monasteries in the south of the Netherlands. Since the turn of the millennium, the monastic communities living in this area have increasingly engaged with heritage groups, leading to a distinctive heritage perception of the area that recognizes the spiritual and historical values of the monastic tradition. However, as these values are translated into a secular heritage discourse, the question arises as to how this translation relates to the self-understanding and needs of the monastics. The aim of this book is to conceptualize the evolving and differing ways in which the different parties involved envision the meaning, potential, and nature of the monasteries through a historical lens. This study highlights the struggle of heritage groups to create a compelling narrative for their intended audiences and the often problematic impact this has on religious communities. In doing so, it offers a new perspective on the complicated relationship between religion and heritage.

Religious Heritage and the Heritagization of Catholic Monasteries

Religious heritage has long been a subject of academic study, but there has been relatively little research on the heritagization of Catholic monasteries. This is surprising given the longstanding historical presence and social impact of these institutions, which have also become popular spiritual centers and cherished heritage objects in recent times. This book addresses this gap by examining the heritagization process of De Heilige Driehoek (The Holy Triangle), a religious site comprising three living monasteries in the south of the Netherlands. Since the turn of the millennium, the monastic communities living in this area have increasingly engaged with heritage groups, leading to a distinctive heritage perception of the area that recognizes the spiritual and historical values of the monastic tradition. However, as these values are translated into a secular heritage discourse, the question arises as to how this translation relates to the self-understanding and needs of the monastics. The aim of this book is to conceptualize the evolving and differing ways in which the different parties involved envision the meaning, potential, and nature of the monasteries through a historical lens. This study highlights the struggle of heritage groups to create a compelling narrative for their intended audiences and the often problematic impact this has on religious communities. In doing so, it offers a new perspective on the complicated relationship between religion and heritage.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789464262063