Power and Sainthood: The Case of Birgitta of Sweden

In the High Middle Ages female saints were customarily noble virgins. Thus, as a wife and a mother of eight children, the Swedish noble lady Birgitta was an atypical candidate for sanctity. However, only 18 years after her death, in 1391, she was declared saint by the pope and became a role model for many late medieval women, who were mothers and widows. In Power and Sainthood she is seen as a living saint and analyzed from the perspectives of power, authority, and gender.The book will contribute to the discussions of medieval mysticism, medieval women and their collaborators, the performative construction of gender, and the 'new sanctity', which no longer required virginity from women and therefore made the path of sanctity accessible to many more women than earlier. The book investigates how Birgitta went about establishing her power and authority during the first ten years of her career as a living saint, in 1340-1349.

"Focused and meticulously researched, Power and Sainthood addresses the idea of holiness in action as St. Birgitta began to assert her authority in the formative years of her life as a mystic and visionary. Salmesvuori gives a grounded view of what Birgitta was like as both a woman and human being, but - very wisely - stops short of making any generalized character judgments . . . A truly interesting take on Birgitta." - Bridget Morris, Independent Scholar, York, UK

Analyzing the renowned Saint Birgitta of Sweden from the perspectives of power, authority, and gender, this probing study investigates how Birgitta went about establishing her influence during the first ten years of her career as a living saint, in 1340-1349.

Birgitta of Sweden (1302/3-1373) was a mother, visionary, counsellor to a king, inventor of her own rule, saint, and one of the best known medieval women in history. As a wife and a mother of eight children, the Swedish noble lady Birgitta was an atypical candidate for sanctity. Yet, only 18 years after her death, in 1391, she was declared a saint by the Pope and became a role model for many late medieval mothers and widows. Power and Sainthood investigates how Birgitta went about establishing her power and authority. Palvi Salmesvuori argues that the crucial factor was her successful performance of her sanctity.

Päivi Salmesvuori is Adjunct Professor in General Church History and Gender Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland. She has specialized in issues pertaining to gender, power, and religion. She is co-editor of the book Finnish Women Making Religion: Between Ancestors and Angels.

Introduction: How to Study Power and Saints?

1. Fama Sanctitatis in the 1340's

2. Lost Virginity and the Power of Role Models

3. The Beginning - Birgitta as a Channel of God

4. Master Mathias' Role Reassessed

5. Birgitta Encounters her Critics

6. Holiness in Action

7. Birgitta and Power