Paupercula feminea forma
Paupercula Feminea Forma

A Simple Woman of the Middle Ages and her Musical Visions

Summary/Abstract: In the Middle Ages most of the saints were men (90%). After 1200 women saints represented 18%. At first martyr men and women were quite the same, no female specific was named in case of beatification. In the 13th century women got the spotlight, as the Church began beatifying more and more women. The Church Fathers considered all that was female week, disposed to erotic failure and thus not able to live the life of a saint. In the 13th century the model of sainthood was transformed, first women of aristocratic descent were also beatified. Later, in the 15th century even women of lower descent, peasant girls became saints. The article analizes the model of sainthood in the case of Hildegard von Bingen.

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