
Contents
-
-
-
-
-
A Theology of Almsgiving and Charitable Service A Theology of Almsgiving and Charitable Service
-
The Sanctification of Charity The Sanctification of Charity
-
The Teaching of Charity and the Allure of Redemptive Almsgiving The Teaching of Charity and the Allure of Redemptive Almsgiving
-
Conclusion Conclusion
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 Medieval Understandings of Charity: From Penance to Commerce
Get access-
Published:December 2019
Cite
Abstract
This chapter discusses religious and moral ideas about charity, sanctity, and salvation, largely emanating from the University of Paris during the thirteenth century. Medieval representations of charity tended to focus on the almsgiver, not the recipient of charity. Much of the discussion about charity built on a long tradition of associating charity and the works of mercy with penance for sin. Thirteenth-century developments in confessional practices and a growing preoccupation with Purgatory as a real and terrifying place heightened the significance of the works of mercy. Moreover, confessional manuals and treatises on the virtues and vices identified charity as the virtue that most closely corresponded to the vice of avarice; in the increasingly commercial, profit-oriented economy of thirteenth-century Europe, charity therefore had additional social and religious appeal. The growing veneration for charitable work, for example, is reflected in “the sanctification of charity” during the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries, as sanctity increasingly became tied to the practice of charity. Indeed, popular representations of the saints canonized during this period depicted their extraordinary willingness to make personal sacrifices, debasing themselves and suffering in an effort to alleviate the suffering of others. Hagiographical accounts exalted these charitable saints' selfless service as holy and Christ-like and served as a role model for others to follow.
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
January 2023 | 7 |
September 2023 | 1 |
December 2023 | 6 |
August 2024 | 3 |
October 2024 | 2 |
November 2024 | 1 |
January 2025 | 3 |
February 2025 | 2 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.