Description
The Abbess of Las Huelgas
Book Summary
This book is a rigorously documented historical-legal study on the exceptional case of the Abbess of the Monastery of Las Huelgas in Burgos, who for centuries exercised quasi-episcopal jurisdiction. The author analyzes the origins, development, and extinction of this singular privilege, offering the reader a reference work on a fascinating episode in the ecclesiastical and civil history of Spain.
What is it about?
The work focuses on the analysis of the jurisdictional power held by the Abbess of the Monastery of Las Huelgas Reales in Burgos. Throughout its pages, the historical and canonical foundations that allowed a woman to exercise authority over an extensive territory, with powers characteristic of a bishop—such as granting licenses to preach, hear confessions, or even appoint parish priests—are examined. The study, originally published in 1944, delves into original documentation to unravel the nature and limits of this unique privilege in Christendom, as well as the causes that led to its disappearance.
Main themes
- History of canon law and the Church in Spain.
- Analysis of female ecclesiastical jurisdiction in the Middle Ages and the Modern Era.
- Study of the temporal and spiritual power of medieval monasteries.
- Historical research based on primary documentary sources.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at historians, scholars of canon law, researchers of the history of the Church in Spain, and readers interested in unique episodes of the medieval and modern past. It will also be of great value to those who wish to understand the complex relationship between religious and civil power in the history of the Iberian Peninsula.
What this book provides
- An exhaustive and documented analysis of a unique case of female quasi-episcopal jurisdiction.
- A deep insight into the organization and privileges of great medieval monasteries.
- An original contribution to the study of the history of women in positions of ecclesiastical authority.
- A reference work for understanding the evolution of power structures in the Church.
Technical specifications
- Author: Escrivá de Balaguer, Josemaría
- Publisher: Ediciones Rialp, S.A.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE
- Collection: BOOKS BY JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA DE BALAGUER
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publication date: 1944
- Number of pages: 424
- Weight: 910 g
Editorial review
This is a highly reliable academic work that rigorously addresses a very specific and rarely covered topic. Its main value lies in the meticulous documentary research that supports it, making it an essential reference for specialists. For the general reader interested in history, it offers a window into a fascinating and little-known aspect of female power in the medieval and modern Church.