The thesis analyses the relevance of infirmity in medieval monastic, hermitic and canonical communities, examining conceptualisations, practices, spaces and figures involved in care. Infirmity affects individual and community life, with disability as a normative distinction. Legislation tries to manage the exceptional nature of the illness, with cenobitic sources being more exhaustive in regulating behaviour and assistance. Care is organised in complex spaces, not confined to the infirmary, but extending outside the monastery. The infirmary, in addition to being a place of recovery, also deals with situations that disrupt the order, configuring itself as a marginal and liminal but integrated space. The nurse has a managerial role, while others are in charge of the material aspects. The normative sources focus on the community order, but examples show the concrete application of medicine by internal and external members. The analysis of bloodletting highlights historiographical stereotypes overcome by the distinction between the infirm and the bloodletters. The latter, while sharing weaknesses and licences, follow defined timelines. The normative sources describe the rituals and concessions, but the monastic texts reveal medical awareness and risks. Bloodletting is practised periodically or occasionally, with different methodologies. These themes have institutional implications, reflecting the community's relationship with its normative identity. Written formalisation manages issues related to infirmity, with legislative production as an indicator of centrality and response to community needs. The sources reveal common themes and concerns, with a thematic and normative koinè influenced by Benedictine rule. The management of infirmity is based on reticular structures that unite spaces, people and practices, whose effectiveness lies in systemic collaboration. Keeping the confrere in a religious space means preserving him in a salvific network. Relational networks are defined but flexible, requiring the discretio of superiors to adapt to circumstances, acting with the wisdom of a doctor for the health and salvation of the community.
La tesi analizza la rilevanza dell'infermità nelle comunità monastiche, eremitiche e canonicali medievali, esaminando concettualizzazioni, prassi, spazi e figure coinvolte nella cura. L'infermità incide sulla vita individuale e comunitaria, con la disabilità come discrimine normativo. La legislazione cerca di gestire l'eccezionalità della malattia, con fonti cenobitiche più esaustive nel regolamentare condotte e assistenza. La cura si articola in spazi complessi, non confinati all'infermeria, ma estesi al di fuori del cenobio. L'infermeria, oltre alla degenza, accoglie situazioni perturbanti l'ordine, configurandosi come spazio marginale e liminale ma integrato. L'infermiere ha ruolo gestionale, mentre altri incaricati provvedono agli aspetti materiali. Le fonti normative si concentrano sull'ordine comunitario, ma esempi mostrano l'applicazione concreta della medicina da parte di membri interni ed esterni. L'analisi del salasso evidenzia stereotipi storiografici superati dalla distinzione tra infermi e salassati. Quest'ultimo, pur condividendo debolezze e licenze, segue tempistiche definite. Le fonti normative descrivono la ritualità e le concessioni, ma i testi monastici rivelano consapevolezza medica e rischi. Il salasso è praticato periodicamente o occasionalmente, con diverse metodologie. Questi temi hanno implicazioni istituzionali, riflettendo il rapporto della comunità con la propria identità normativa. La formalizzazione scritta gestisce le questioni legate all'infermità, con la produzione legislativa come indicatore di centralità e risposta ai bisogni comunitari. Le fonti rivelano temi e preoccupazioni comuni, con una koinè tematica e normativa influenzata dalla regola benedettina. La gestione dell'infermità si basa su strutture reticolari che uniscono spazi, persone e pratiche, la cui efficacia risiede nella collaborazione sistemica. Mantenere il confratello in uno spazio religioso significa preservarlo in una rete salvifica. Le reti relazionali sono definite ma elastiche, richiedendo la discretio dei superiori per adattarsi alle circostanze, agendo con la saggezza di un medico per la salute e la salvezza della comunità.
'SUB LEGE INFIRMORUM'. CONCETTUALIZZAZIONE E PRASSI DELL'INFERMITA' NELLA NORMATIVA DELLE COMUNITA' RELIGIOSE MASCHILI MEDIEVALI (SECC. X-XII)
Frosio, Enrico
2025
Abstract
The thesis analyses the relevance of infirmity in medieval monastic, hermitic and canonical communities, examining conceptualisations, practices, spaces and figures involved in care. Infirmity affects individual and community life, with disability as a normative distinction. Legislation tries to manage the exceptional nature of the illness, with cenobitic sources being more exhaustive in regulating behaviour and assistance. Care is organised in complex spaces, not confined to the infirmary, but extending outside the monastery. The infirmary, in addition to being a place of recovery, also deals with situations that disrupt the order, configuring itself as a marginal and liminal but integrated space. The nurse has a managerial role, while others are in charge of the material aspects. The normative sources focus on the community order, but examples show the concrete application of medicine by internal and external members. The analysis of bloodletting highlights historiographical stereotypes overcome by the distinction between the infirm and the bloodletters. The latter, while sharing weaknesses and licences, follow defined timelines. The normative sources describe the rituals and concessions, but the monastic texts reveal medical awareness and risks. Bloodletting is practised periodically or occasionally, with different methodologies. These themes have institutional implications, reflecting the community's relationship with its normative identity. Written formalisation manages issues related to infirmity, with legislative production as an indicator of centrality and response to community needs. The sources reveal common themes and concerns, with a thematic and normative koinè influenced by Benedictine rule. The management of infirmity is based on reticular structures that unite spaces, people and practices, whose effectiveness lies in systemic collaboration. Keeping the confrere in a religious space means preserving him in a salvific network. Relational networks are defined but flexible, requiring the discretio of superiors to adapt to circumstances, acting with the wisdom of a doctor for the health and salvation of the community.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14242/212609
URN:NBN:IT:UNICATT-212609