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Document Details :

Title: Thirteenth-century Penitential Women
Subtitle: Fransiscan Life in the Secular World
Author(s): PETERSON, Ingrid
Journal: Studies in Spirituality
Volume: 12    Date: 2000   
Pages: 43-60
DOI: 10.2143/SIS.12.0.505289

Abstract :
Brief stories of five thirteenth-century lay penitents illustrate how the example of Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) provided a way for laity to live religious lives in the secular world. All lived close to Francis's lifetime and have been beatified or canonization by the church. They include Blessed Buonadonna (1 I260), Saint Viridinna (1182-1242), Saint IImilian Cerchi (1219-1246), Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231) and Saint Rose of Viterbo (1235-1252). The legends of their lives show how Francis's ideals of penance, poverty, prayer and service provided an expression for all the faithful, drawing them to the Christian life. They are some of the earliest models of lay spirituality.

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