Handmaids of the Lord: Holy Women in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages (Volume 143)

by Joan M. Peterson (translator)

All around the Roman world—in the Greek East and the Latin West, in Asia Minor, North Africa, Egypt, the Holy Land, Italy, and Gaul—widows, virgins, and sometimes matrons lived ascetic, celibate and devout lives either in community or in their own households. They created a powerful tradition which exerts an influence down to the present time. We see these women chiefly through the eyes of men who paid them the intended compliment of calling them 'virile', often simultaneously admonishing them to beware the attentions of lecherous men and foolish women. Descriptions of their lives were intended to serve both as a tribute to their 'manly' austerity and as a model to be emulated. In this volume, the only woman's voice is that of a Gallic nun.

Genres: Theology

444 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

Reviews

[Amy Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collections of primary sources are pretty much always welcome. This one offers readings of both Eastern and Western manifestations of female asceticism. The benefit of this particular collection is that the passages are not truncated for the most part and each grouping has an introduction explaining how they are related and then each work has its own introduction. For example, there is an introduction to Jerome's various relationships with high-born Roman women and how they were all connected to one another, as well as specific introductions for each individual letter Petersen included. This is immensely helpful to begin to make connections across antiquity, especially regarding Jerome's complicated relationships in both the East and the West.

I would have liked to see more on Macrina. Although the decision not to include De anima is understandable given its length and it not giving direct evidence of women religious. I would have liked more of an exploration of the "work" these women did, their legacy, etc.