Reforming Reform: Steven Vanderputten’s Monastic Histories
John Howe
Reforming Reform: Steven Vanderputten’s Monastic Histories John Howe (bio) Ecclesia in Medio Nationis: Reflections on the Study of Monasticism Central Middle Ages / Réflexions sur l’étude du monachisme au moyen âge central. Edited by Vanderputten and Brigite Meijns. [Mediaevalia Lovaniensia, ser. 1, studia 42.] (Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2011. Pp. 215. €45,00. ISBN 978-90-5867-887-4.) Reform, Conflict, Shaping Corporate Identities: Collected Studies Benedictine Monasticism, 1050–1150. By Vanderputten. [Vita Regularis: Ordnungen und Deutungen religiosen Lebens im Mittelalter, Abhandlungen 54.] (Zurich: LIT Verlag, 2013. €34,90. 978-3-643-90429-4.) Reform as Process: Realities Representations Medieval Flanders, 900–1100. (Ithaca, NY: Cornell xiv, 247. $55.00. 978-0-8014-5171-3.) Imagining Religious Leadership Ages: Richard Saint-Vanne Politics Reform. 2015. xvi, 244. $49.95. 978-0-8014-5377-9.) is rarely defined. Nevertheless, it was an important concept to Latin Church Fathers, particularly St. Augustine, whose fascination with early chapters Genesis led him meditate how, after fall, human beings necessarily needed be reformed—an act that, thanks Incarnation, would a reformatio ad melius. That patristic tradition famously analyzed at time Second Vatican Council Gerhart Ladner’s The Idea which presented reform leitmotif ecclesiastical history, or “the free, intentional ever perfectible, multiple, prolonged repeated efforts man reassert augment values pre-existent spiritual-material compound [End Page 814] world.”1 For Ladner, always progressive “in progress.” He himself never completed his general history idea reform, but work spawned small school studies, more successful later that were saturated discussions than central where post-Carolingian monks Roman reformers often preferred different terminology.2 modern world has evolved into vague model for gradual, positive change, usually employed without same level scrutiny given parallel paradigms change such renaissance revolution.3 narratives are getting new attention, Starting doctoral dissertation medieval monastic historiography (University Ghent. 2000),4 he been urging reexamination whole paradigm reform. His publications, aided major fellowships research professorships, extraordinarily numerous. even coordinated 220 conference sessions roundtable “Reform Renewal” 2015 Leeds International Congress. In contrast earlier historiography, however, “reform” now appears within “scare quotes” accompanied hints acquired so much dysfunctional baggage perhaps ought abandoned paradigm. Does obscure illuminate? To clarify issues, may helpful introduce four recent books. earliest edited volume stemming from 2009 sought showcase current scholarship Western religious communities 900–1050, focusing especially their relationships 815] outside world. Here, five papers French two English demonstrate first reforms profoundly renewed over course last twenty years” (34). Particularly distinguished Isabelle Rosé community life ninth through twelfth centuries (pp. 11–45) Florian Mazel relationship between monasticism aristocracy tenth eleventh 47–75). When juxtaposed introduction Identities ix–xxxii), containing ten collected studies focus specifically Flemish monasticism, they offer overview increasingly sophisticated regional developing disseminating. Two books from...
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