Saint Leander, Archbishop of Seville : A book on the teaching of nuns and A homily in praise of the church / edited and translated with a historical introduction by John R.C. Martyn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leander, Saint, Archbishop of Seville, -approximately 600

Contributor:

Martyn, John R. C.

Standardized Title:

De institutione virginum et contemptu mundi. English

Language:

English

Latin

Subjects (All):

Monastic and religious life of women--Early works to 1800.

Monastic and religious life of women.

Physical Description:

181 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Lexington Books, [2009]

Summary:

Saint Leander, Archbishop of Seville describes the life of Leander, who brought the Catholic faith to Spain in the late sixth century and became a saint after his death in c. 600 AD. Despite inheriting great wealth and his sister's exposure to high society, Leander became a monk and persuaded his sister to give up wealth and opportunities for marriage in order to become a nun. Detailing how he persuaded her to join a convent and his celebration of his country's acceptance of the true faith, this book provides a new perspective on Leander's Byzantine parents and two brothers, Fulgentius and Isidore. When besieged by the Arian king, Liuvigild, Leander's parents and sister escaped to Carthage. Later in life, Leander taught Isidore to take over after him in Seville.

Contents:

Part I Leander's Background

Summary of Leander's Life 4

The Latin Text 5

The Historical Evidence 6

Leander's Literary Style 13

Dates for Leander and His Family 28

Part II Biography of Leander 35

Biographical Note (Notitia) 36

Isidore of Seville's Biography of Leander 41

Isidore's Latin Poems 43

The Life and Works of Leander 47

Part III On the Teaching of Nuns and Contempt for the Other World 61

Chapter 1 Let laywomen be shunned 87

Chapter 2 Let holy men be avoided 89

Chapter 3 A nun should avoid young men 90

Chapter 4 On abstinence 92

Chapter 5 A nun must not talk to a man on her own 95

Chapter 6 A nun must pray and read continually 96

Chapter 7 Hebraic Scriptures not to be read literally 97

Chapter 8 On the degree of fasting 99

Chapter 9 On the use of wine 100

Chapter 10 How far should a nun bathe 103

Chapter 11 Laughter, a sin for a nun 104

Chapter 12 How should slaves be judged on becoming nuns 106

Chapter 13 On the choice of an older nun with regard to individuals 107

Chapter 14 A nun must be equable both in poverty and in abundance 110

Chapter 15 On the allowance and prohibition of meats 114

Chapter 16 A nun must stay in the convent where she started 117

Chapter 17 How may a private life be avoided 119

Chapter 18 A nun must not have anything of her own in the convent 121

Chapter 19 A nun must not swear an oath 123

Chapter 20 A nun on her own should not talk with another nun alone 124

Chapter 21 A nun must not want to return to the secular world 125

Part IV Leander's Homily 134

Homily in Praise of the Church (in eleven sections) 135

An Epitaph for Saints Leander, Isidore and Florentine 150

Part V Leander's Links with Pope Gregory 151

Letters between Pope Gregory, Leander and Reccared 152

A poem praising Leander and Masona 161

Addendum: Pope Gregory's Treatment of Nuns in Rome 163.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [165]-173) and index.

Contains:

Leander, Saint, Archbishop of Seville, -approximately 600. Homilia in laudem ecclesiae. English.

ISBN:

9780739127711

0739127713

9780739132265

0739132261

OCLC:

242561384