Observant Memory and Propaganda in Johannes of Mainz'sVita fratrum predicatorum conventus Basiliensis(1442-1444)

Bibliographic Data

ID3338856
AuthorsAnne Huijbers (0009-0004-6386-2094, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume87
Issue3
Pages718-739
Publication date2018-09-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChurch History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0009-6407 • E-ISSN: 1755-2613
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0009640718001592
OpenAlexW2900235227
LanguageEN
References cited14

This article presents an unpublished and largely unexplored source written in Basel during the international church council, theVita fratrum predicatorum conventus Basiliensis(1442-1444). It deals with the reform of the Dominican friary, which was effectuated just before the start of the council to prevent scandals. Johannes of Mainz, its author, was the first lector of the reformed friary and wrote the text to corroborate the reformed religious identity of his community. He presented the reform of the Basel friary-which aroused fervent opposition of the original inhabitants-as a new episode in the history of salvation. A second part of theVita fratrumeulogized the characteristics that Observant friars have in common. By "othering" Conventual friars and by depicting their horrible deaths, Johannes tried both to convince the Observant Basel friars of their superiority over Conventuals and to exhort them to stick to an Observant lifestyle. Unfaithful friars, the narrative warned, were eradicated from the celestial vineyard. For the last part of theVita fratrum,which presents "the most fruitful plants" of the vineyard, Johannes of Mainz drew up personal and original biographies of contemporary Dominicans, such as Johannes Nider (d. 1438), who is presented as a "mirror of observance" and a "doctor of souls

Art · Art history · Identity (music) · Literature · Narrative · Opposition (politics) · Political science · Classics · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · Law · Medieval Literature and History · Philosophy · Reformation and Early Modern Christianity

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