A Woman’s Way

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

   PDF

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

    PDF

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. This book delinates 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.

• history
• history of literature
• women

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).

Policies and ethics