Ord, eld och blod : En analys av Katarina av Sienas karismatiska auktoritet och dess uttryck

Sammanfattning

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) is one of the most significant, but relatively unknown, figures in the religious and political landscape of the medieval period. She lived during a time when women had very little influence over and power in society and the church. Despite this, she managed to establish herself as an important agent in political and church affairs during the 14th century. The aim of this thesis is to show how Catherine used her charismatic authority to influence her time and how this authority was legitimised and perceived in a society and time where women were rarely given such power. To guide the thesis the following research questions were formulated: 1. “which factors were Catherine of Siena’s charismatic authority based on and how was it conveyed through her writing and actions?” and 2. “how was this authority perceived and validated by her contemporaries”. This was done through a qualitative textual analysis of her book The Dialog of Catherine of Siena and selected letters with a definition of charismatic authority based on Max Weber’s Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretative Sociology. Based on this I have concluded that her charismatic authority was based on a combination of religious experiences, rhetoric, bodily practices, and social validation. Catherine’s authority was not based on a position in the church or in society but rather on her particular calling and her perceived closeness to God. Her visions, mystical experiences, ascetic way of life, particularly her fasting and focus on the eucharist, was perceived as a sign of holiness by her contemporaries. Thereby she not only challenged gender roles, but also the established power structures of the church. Her authority was based as much on her religious experiences as how she phrased them. In her texts the body becomes a tool for writing theology and her suffering an instrument for influence. Another important insight of this thesis is that Catherine did not act in a social vacuum. Instead, her influence was strengthened through her social network consisting of both lay people, politicians and her own followers who helped spread her message. The time when Catherine was active was also a turbulent one both in politics and the church which also strengthened her authority. In conclusion Catherine became an important figure in her time through theological reflection, ascetic bodily practices, and effective use of language, not despite being a woman but because she used femininity as a tool to gain authority.