The Monastic Ideal of Discipline and the Making of Clerical Rules in Late Medieval Castile

A significant gap emerged between the monastic ideal of discipline and its practical application within the Burgos Cathedral Chapter during late medieval Castile. This study reveals that while clerical rules, inspired by monastic models, aimed to achieve spiritual perfection through strict control over behavior, these ideals often clashed with the realities faced by clerics—who were entangled in societal conflicts, patronage networks, and kinship dynamics. The research analyzes the regulations promulgated by the Burgos Cathedral Chapter and its bishop, demonstrating how they sought to shape both clerical conduct and the behavior of the faithful, yet struggled against the resistance of a secularized clergy. This tension underscores the complex interplay between monastic ideals and the practical demands of medieval ecclesiastical institutions.

Guijarro, S. (2013). The Monastic Ideal of Discipline and the Making of Clerical Rules in Late Medieval Castile. Journal of Medieval Monastic Studies, 2, 131–150. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.jmms.1.103651