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A Woman’s Way

The Forgotten History of Women Spiritual Directors

  • Book
  • © 2000

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Authors:
  1. Patricia Ranft
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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
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  2. Introduction

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 1-8

  3. Early Christianity

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 9-23

  4. Women Spiritual Directors of Church Fathers

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 25-47

  5. Early Monasticism and the Early Medieval West

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 49-66

  6. The Great Medieval Directors

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 67-85

  7. Late Middle Ages: Direction Comes of Age

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 87-105

  8. Confessors, Spiritual Directors, and Women

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 107-128

  9. Spiritual Directors within the New Orders

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 129-156

  10. Spiritual Direction among the Protestants

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 157-172

  11. The Modern Era

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 173-191

  12. Conclusion

    • Patricia Ranft
    Pages 193-194

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 195-254
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Keywords

About this book

Given the significance of spiritual direction in modern Christianity, surprisingly little attention has been given to the tradition upon which today's spiritual direction is built. A long and interesting history does exist, though, as shown by Patricia Ranft in A Woman's Way . Ranft's insights shed light on the understanding society had of women as spiritual beings and on the position of women in a Christian society. This book delineates the history of spiritual direction for women and by women within the larger context of the history of Christian spirituality and its understanding of human perfectibility. By examining the ways in which women practiced spiritual direction, this study reveals the degree to which women influenced society by using an avenue of influence previously overlooked by scholars.

About the author

PATRICIA RANFT is Professor of History at Central Michigan University. Her books include, Women and the Religious Life in Premodern Europe (SMP 1996) and Women and Spiritual Equality in Christian Traditions (SMP 1998).

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