Constructing Saint Birgitta : Birgittine Preaching and the Cult of Saint Birgitta in Vadstena Abbey, 1397–c. 1510
Konstruktionen av heliga Birgitta : Birgittinsk predikan och heliga Birgittas kult i Vadstena kloster, 1397–c. 1510
Author
Summary, in English
The aim of this study is to examine the construction of Birgitta Birgersdotter (1303–1373) as a saint in sermons from Vadstena Abbey 1397–c. 1510 and the role of sermons in her cult. Even though the cult of Saint Birgitta in Vadstena Abbey has been studied, the sermons on her feast days have received comparatively little attention, even though Saint Birgitta was the founder and patron saint of Vadstena Abbey. Sermons are particularly interesting as a vehicle of Saint Birgitta’s cult.
Paying much attention to the construction of sainthood and the rhetorical strategies used by the preachers, I question the understanding of sainthood as something constant. Rather, I argue that the construction of sainthood is fluid between classical ideals of sainthood and a selection of the unique characteristics of a saint. Thus, I examine the origin, transmission, and change of older ideals in the construction of the sainthood of Birgitta in sermons. This entails examining the composition, structure, and content of the sermons.
I study the sermons against the backdrop of hagiographical and liturgical sources of Saint Birgitta’s cult, and model sermons used for composing sermons. In the usage of model sermons, I argue that preachers are affected by them and at the same time introduce new aspects of Saint Birgitta. Consequently, preachers reinterpret classical ideals of sainthood through the lens of Saint Birgitta’s life. I argue that preachers interpret exemplary stories from hagiography and the revelations by Saint Birgitta to teach about Saint Birgitta as a model of holiness to be followed and imitated. By investigating the sermons about Saint Birgitta, this study not only illuminates a previous unstudied aspect of her cult, but also seeks to explore how sainthood functioned in late medieval sermons.
Paying much attention to the construction of sainthood and the rhetorical strategies used by the preachers, I question the understanding of sainthood as something constant. Rather, I argue that the construction of sainthood is fluid between classical ideals of sainthood and a selection of the unique characteristics of a saint. Thus, I examine the origin, transmission, and change of older ideals in the construction of the sainthood of Birgitta in sermons. This entails examining the composition, structure, and content of the sermons.
I study the sermons against the backdrop of hagiographical and liturgical sources of Saint Birgitta’s cult, and model sermons used for composing sermons. In the usage of model sermons, I argue that preachers are affected by them and at the same time introduce new aspects of Saint Birgitta. Consequently, preachers reinterpret classical ideals of sainthood through the lens of Saint Birgitta’s life. I argue that preachers interpret exemplary stories from hagiography and the revelations by Saint Birgitta to teach about Saint Birgitta as a model of holiness to be followed and imitated. By investigating the sermons about Saint Birgitta, this study not only illuminates a previous unstudied aspect of her cult, but also seeks to explore how sainthood functioned in late medieval sermons.
Department/s
Publishing year
2024
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation
Topic
- Religious Studies
Keywords
- Late Medieval Sermons
- Birgittine Preaching
- Birgitta Birgersdotter
- Constructed Sainthood
- Hagiography
- Liturgy
- Cult of Saints
- Vadstena Abbey
Status
Published
Supervisor
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 978-91-89874-28-2
Defence date
3 May 2024
Defence time
13:15
Defence place
LUX C121
Opponent
- Pietro Delcorno (professor)