Saints, Infirmity, and Community in the Late Middle Ages

This study depicts holy infirmity as an aspect of sanctity that is largely defined within the community, in continual dialogue with devotees, people suffering from doubt, the holy person, and the cultural patterns ascribed to saintly life.

Dr. Jenni Kuuliala is a senior research fellow at the Centre of Excellence in the History of Experiences at Tampere University, working on illness, disability, and healing in the late medieval and early modern period.

Abbreviations, Acknowledgements, Abbreviations,Introduction,-Approaching Holy Infirmity,-Canonization Processes as Sources for Holy Infirmity,Infirmitas Leading to Saintly Life,-Infirmity, Conversion, and the Path to Sainthood,-Ailing Health and Chastity in Marriage,Patientia and the Borders of Holy Infirmity,-(Un)diagnosing Holy Illness and Impairment,-Old Age and Infirmity,-Infirmity, Raptures, and the Marks of Passion,-The Saint and the Suffering Family,Abstinence, Devotional Practices, and Social Control,-Harmful penitentia and Discretion,-Controlling Austerity,Holy Infirmity and the Devotees,-Encountering the Infirm Saint,-The Saint as a Medicator,-Cure and the Benefits of Infirmity, Conclusions: Infirmity, community, and canonization, Bibliography,-Manuscripts,-Printed Sources,-Literature, Index.