The Privilege of Poverty: Clare of Assisi, Agnes of Prague, and the Struggle for a Franciscan Rule for Women

Theological Studies, Sept, 2007 by Michael W. Blastic

THE PRIVILEGE OF POVERTY: CLARE OF ASSISI, AGNES OF PRAGUE, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR A FRANCISCAN RULE FOR WOMEN. By Joan Mueller. University Park: Pennsylvania State University, 2006. Pp. 192. $40.

Relying on papal, political, and civic documents, Joan Mueller provides a "case study" (6) of how Clare of Assisi, Agnes of Prague, and their companions attempted, in response to Scripture, to establish an economy of sustenance for religious women living in medieval society. M.'s book traces this pursuit of poverty from the beginnings of Clare's connection with the brothers and her establishment at San Damiano, through the founding and development of Agnes's monastery in Prague, to the approval of Clare's form of life on her deathbed in 1253.

Largely preserved as correspondence between the sisters and other officials, charters, and letters of advice, and usually preserved only from the male side, the sources preserve an ongoing conversation about the nature of the sisters' life, issues of fasting and discipline that affected the economic stability of the monastery, and questions about patronage and income. Placing this information within the broader medieval context, M. demonstrates that the women's desire to live in absolute poverty was never easily achieved, but was effectively pursued.

While affirming her dissatisfaction with existing historical accounts, M. nevertheless relies on these same accounts, as indicated in the bibliography and footnotes. One problem with her reading of the sources is that, at times, she assumes a univocal understanding of Franciscan life at this period that the sources themselves do not support (e.g., 68-69). In addition, she sometimes uses Franciscan hagiographical texts too uncritically as historical narratives. While providing ample support for her affirmations in the Latin sources provided in the footnotes, the method of citation is not specific and leaves one searching at times for the name of the document and/or its location. Given these caveats, M.'s study does advance scholarship on a complicated historical and religious issue.

MICHAEL W. BLASTIC

St. Bonaventure University, N.Y.