Madigan speaks to the relationship between the physical body and the spiritual power of saints and he comes to the conclusion that people in the medieval period believed that as a saint got closer to death their spiritual powers were amplified. This idea was the main catalyst behind the idea of pilgrimages to the burial… Continue reading →
Guibert’s book on saints and their relics illuminates the overwhelming power that relics had in the lives of Christians. Their power was believed to be so great, that people would bring stillborn babies to the relics of saints claiming they had the power to bring them to life, long enough to baptize them so they… Continue reading →
The role that saints had in the lives of Christians during the medieval times was very important. The saints were seen as a necessary mediator between the humans and God. Madigan explains how it is possible that some people were extremely afraid of the journey from earth to heaven after death occurred, and so they… Continue reading →
Madigan explains that the cult of saints played a crucial role in medieval Christianity by playing the mediator role between the sovereign, omnipotent God and the weak, vulnerable, and often suffering human. The saints were believed to be able to wield supernatural power and perform miracles for those who needed aid. The mighty miracle acts… Continue reading →
Gregory of Tours, The History of Franks Saints were able to influence the lives of Medieval Christians because they were a figure of perfection for people to strive to be like. They were also spiritual leaders in the highest sense, and provided guidance in the church as well as the everyday lives of the medieval… Continue reading →
Madigan describes the understanding of the relationship of the physical body and the spiritual body to be inversely proportional, meaning that the more aged and physically weak you are, the more spiritual power or closeness with God you attain. This related to the writings Guibert made me think more about how after death, when a… Continue reading →
Guibert of Nogent, On the Saints and Their Relics. Guibert wrote his book on saints and relics over five hundred years after Gregory of Tours composed his History. By Guibert’s time, the cult of saints had come to dominate Christian devotional life, and churches could claim considerable prestige (and wealth) if they were active in… Continue reading →
