IMC 2011: Sessions
Session 1512: A Poverty of Riches, I: Wealth and Donor Relations in the Carthusian Order
Thursday 14 July 2011, 09.00-10.30
| Sponsor: | Cartusiana vzw |
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| Organisers: | Tom Gaens, Cartusiana vzw, Zelem Stephen J. Molvarec, Department of History, University of Notre Dame |
| Moderator/Chair: | Emilia Jamroziak, Forschungsstelle für Vergleichende Ordensgeschichte (FOVOG), Technische Universität Dresden / Institute for Medieval Studies / School of History, University of Leeds |
| Paper 1512-a | Sufficit Domine: Carthusian Views of Poverty and Wealth (Language: English) Index terms: Monasticism, Religious Life |
| Paper 1512-b | 'Curst Be he that Moves my Bones': Inhumation, Gift-Giving, and Donor Relations at the Charterhouse of Vauvert, Paris (Language: English) Index terms: Economics - Urban, Lay Piety, Monasticism, Social History |
| Paper 1512-c | Donating to be Remembered: Gift-Giving Practices in the Utrecht Charterhouse (Language: English) Index terms: Economics - Urban, Lay Piety, Monasticism, Social History |
| Abstract | The renowned austerity of the Carthusians belies the more complicated economic and social realities of their late medieval houses. After the period of their 'pristine' foundation (1084), the realities of materially supporting the communities led to an enmeshment in economic and social networks, with spiritual goods and intercessory prayer often being a currency of exchange. To the end of exploring the ways in which ideals of poverty and necessities of wealth jostled and intersected, this session will first contain a paper exploring the critiques of Carthusian wealth and poverty, both internal and external. Following upon this, two case studies of later medieval charterhouses will be presented: Vauvert and Utrecht. Both of these urban houses and their relations with donors exemplify the tensions of an order committed to austerity, but having to engage in worldly negotium. |