DI4525 Medieval Monastic Spirituality

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

10-11 Monday (lecture) and 2-4 Thursday (seminar)

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr W P Hyland

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr W Hyland

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module focuses on the major forms of monastic spirituality in Latin Christianity from the sixth through the fifteenth century. We will consider the teachings of the major monastic Rules (Benedictine, Augustinian, Celtic), and how they shaped early medieval religious life. Important expressions of monastic spirituality in the high middle ages, including monks, canons regular, hermits, and the mendicant movements will then be addressed, as well as the devotio moderna of the later middle ages. Ongoing themes will include the relationship between action and contemplation, and the place of Scripture in monastic forms of prayer. Readings will include, among others, texts by Bede, Bernard of Clairvaux, Aelred of Rievaulx, Hildegard of Bingen, Guigo II the Carthusian and Thomas a Kempis.

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture and 1 x 2-hour seminar.

Intended learning outcomes

  • a sound grasp of the essential terminology and conceptual categories classically used to describe forms of medieval monastic spirituality
  • a firm idea of the development of forms of religious life in the Latin Church in the medieval period.
  • the critical ability to assess key aspects of medieval spirituality and their potential application to life in the church and world today.
  • an appreciation of the varieties of genre used to express monastic spirituality, and the ability to understand and engage with the various types of texts.
  • Transferable skills include: ability to engage in a careful, open and critical fashion with challenging texts, ideas and concepts; a capacity to frame independent perspectives on complex questions, and to consider respectfully possible objections to those positions; ability to develop and sustain arguments clearly and cogently, in oral presentations, group discussion, and written work.