"Beautiful on the Cross, Beautiful in His Torments": The Place of the Body in the Thought of Paschasius Radbertus
David P. Appleby
"BEAUTIFUL ON THE CROSS, BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TORMENTS": PLACE OF BODY THOUGHT PASCHASIUS RADBERTUS By DAVID APPLEBY The Humanism of Paschasius's VlTA ADALHARDi In his literary portrait Abbot Adalhard,1 written soon after the abbot's death in 826, Paschasius Radbertus Corbie2 compared subject 's moral and spiritual progress to method ancient painter Zeuxis as this had been described Cicero's De inuentione. According Cicero, people Cortona commissioned decorate a temple with image Helen, who was reputed be most beautiful mortal women. Because nature withheld overall perfection from any individual , studied several handsome models combined best features each an that more perfect than form actual maiden. Adalhard too artist sought realize work somehow went beyond nature, but case objective reformation God himself. To achieve this, used models, lives deeds saints, whose examples 1 On see Brigitte Kasten, von Corbie: Die Biographie eines karolingischen Politikers und Kloslervorstehers, Studia humaniora: Düsseldorfer Studien zu Mittelalter Renaissance 3 (Düsseldorf, 1986); on reign Louis Pious general Egon Boshof, Ludwig der Fromme (Darmstadt, 1996). " surviving sources inform us about Radbertus's life only way. He born toward end eighth century, around 790, presumably somewhere vicinity Soissons. His parentage is unknown. raised educated by Abbess Theodrada nuns St. Mary's at Soissons, where he took tonsure. As young man, entered monastery Corbie, Theodrada's brothers WaIa held abbacy during years 780-815 826-35. At Corbie served for time schoolmaster then abbot 843 851. tenure ended because some sort disturbance or dissent among monks Corbie. consequence withdrew few Saint-Riquier, returned before 860. See Henri Peltier, Pascase Radberl, Abbé de (Amiens, 1938); idem, "Radbert," DThC 13:1628-39; Reginald Grégoire, "Paschase Radbert." Dictionnaire spiritualité ascétique et mystique, doctrine histoire, 17 vols, 21 parts (Paris, 1937-95), 12:295-301; M.-A. Aris, "P. Radbertus," Lexikon des Mittelalters, 10 vols. (Munich, 1977-99), 6:1754-55. following abbreviations works are throughout: assumptione = Epistula beati Hieronymi ad Paulam Eustochium sanctae ? traditio virtue discerned mind's eye assimilated effort resemble transcendent archetype.3 This passage Vita Adalhardi exemplifies characteristic ninth-century Frankish culture have come identified humanism Carolingian period, obvious being use Cicero. Since nineteenth main built-in assumption view has interest literature pursuit liberal arts index humanism. One readily acknowledges differences scope between fifteenth-century studia humanitatis narrower curriculum known ninth centuries. Nevertheless, authors age exhibited deep enough familiarity classics it possible affirm they anticipated least spirit later humanism.1 Mariae virginis, ed. A. Ripberger, CCM 56C (Turnhout, 1985); benedictionibus patriarcharum Iacob Moysi, B. Paulus, 96 1993); corpore sanguine Domini, 16 1969); Epístola Radberti Pascasii Fredugardum, Epitaphium Arsenii, E. Dümmler, Abh. Akad. Berlin 2 (Berlin, 1900), 1-98; fide fide, spe el caritate, 97 1990); Lamentaiiones Expositio...
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