| Popis: |
Even though the cult of patron saints is still viewed as an integral part – or even a distinctive feature – of Catholicism, it is not defined by any of the Christian dogmas. Since this is the case, what has made patron saints so constantly popular? The interdisciplinary edited volume Patron Saints and Saintly Patronage in Early Modern Central Europe wants to contribute to the searching for answers to this question. The introductory chapter aims to present the early modern Central European sources as a valuable material for the research of the phenomenon of saintly patronage. Especially within this period, the newly established Christian churches offered various new conceptualisations of sanctity, particularly in Central Europe, which was a meeting place for many Christian confessions. The concept of saintly patronage as a Christian religious practice allowing for the appealing image of centuries-long stability comes under criticism in the first part of the book, entitled “Dynamics of Saintly Patronage”. On examples particularly from Central Europe it analyses the intricacy of the process of establishing saintly patronage, the strategies for popularising the cults of patron saints, and the modifications of the patronages of a particular saint. While the concept of a patron saint has always been primarily connected with sacrum, it also allowed for the creation of meanings that go beyond this sphere. This makes it possible to study saintly patronages as models of organising society; to study the role saintly patronages played in creating various types of collective identity or sense of belonging; to study saintly patronages as sources of conflicts and also as a tool of discipline used to establish social norms; and last but not least, to study the processes of secularisation of saintly patronage. It is particularly the second part of this publication, “Functions of Saintly Patronage”, which deals with these issues. |
