"Conoscenza di sé" in the Late Middle Ages: society, corpus mysticum and
mysticism in the writings of Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Mysticism Language, Religiosity Women, Self knowledge, Society.
Abstract da Dissertação do Programa de Pós-Graduação em História da Universidade
Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, como parte dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do
título de Mestre em História.
The present research aims at the construction and understanding of particular aspects
of the western medieval imagery of society as an idealized part of the Corpus Mysticum
of Christ, through the clues collected in the epistolary and in the work "Dialogue of the
Divine Providence" of Catherine of Siena. The problematic that permeates this
investigation is found in how Catarina relates the society and the concept "corpus
mysticum de Cristo". I will show that the mystical discourse on the "corpus mysticum",
from the mystical experience of Catherine of Siena, went beyond representing and / or
reflecting social reality, but rather being an active instrument of power that built this
reality. As a general research goal, I will try to understand the way in which Catherine
of Siena understands the formation of Western medieval society through mystical
discourse. The hypothesis examined is that the notion of the practice of introspection,
the moral analysis of acts and virtues, what she called "knowledge of self and God"
would have an impact on the emergence of the individual. Self-knowledge would be an
essential element for a "good ruler" to establish a more just society, according to
Catherine. The temporal cut of the research covers the short trajectory of life of
Catarina, from 1347 to 1380.