Dyan Elliott In the fourth century, clerics began to distinguish themselves from members of the laity by virtue of their augmented claims to holiness. Because clerical celibacy was key to this distinction, religious authorities of all stripes—patristic authors, popes, theologians, canonists, monastic founders, and commentators—became progressively sensitive to sexual scandals […]
Tag: medieval church
Virgin Whore
A surprisingly prevalent theme in late English medieval literature and culture: the celebration of the Virgin Mary’s sexuality.
‘The Stimulus of the Flesh’ and Margaret Singleton’s Broken Vow
While many vowesses broke their chastity vows, Margaret Singleton’s case was different and remains an unsolved mystery.
The Manly Priest: Celibacy, Masculinity, and Reform in the Medieval Period
The story of the imposition of clerical celibacy in the Anglo-Norman realms.
The Problematic Priestly Body: Celibacy, Sexuality and the Trials of the Medieval Clergy
Many medieval clerics struggled to obey rules which said they must remain celibate.
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