The Consolation of Community: Innovation and Ideas of History in Ratpert's ‘Casus Sancti Galli’
Christina Pössel
This paper takes the case study of a well-known but also rather poorly-regarded text, Ratpert St Gall's Casus Sancti Galli , to examine some methodological issues modern historians reading medieval historians. It is argued that features monastic history which readers have found frustrating or even boring were actually result author's specific rhetorical strategies and ideas history. developed an innovative way writing Christian community in mortal world. Unlike other who developing genre at time followed more hagiographical models, chose put anonymous, timeless collective monks centre his text. His idea suggests lack effective human agency world, ups downs forever follow one another, contrasts this with eternity God.
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History