Konventstagesbuch (Convent Diary) of the Cistercian Nuns of Holy Cross near Braunschweig

Julie Hotchin

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-76219-3_308-1

Konventstagesbuch (Convent Diary) of the Cistercian Nuns of Holy Cross near Braunschweig

Julie Hotchin

School of History

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary › peer-review

Abstract

The convent diary (Konventstagesbuch) from Holy Cross (Kreuzkloster) near Braunschweig records daily life and events within this Cistercian community between 1484 and 1507. The identity of the author, a nun at Holy Cross, remains unknown. The work survives in a single manuscript, written in Latin on recycled parchment. Whereas many sources for women’s monastic life treat mystical themes, are inflected with reform ideology, or are normative sources that reflect clerical expectations of religious women, the convent diary is illustrative of works produced by nuns for use within their communities. It is representative of monastic women’s standard of education, commemorative culture, and reflexive practices. The convent diary presents an unparalleled insight into nuns’ daily life and activity from the perspective of an ordinary nun in the years preceding the Reformation.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Medieval Women's Writing in the Global Middle Ages
Subtitle of host publication	Living Reference Work
Editors	Sauer Michelle, McEvoy Liz Herbert, Watt Dianne
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-030-76219-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76219-3_308-1
Publication status	Published - 16 Sept 2025

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10.1007/978-3-030-76219-3_308-1

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title = "Konventstagesbuch (Convent Diary) of the Cistercian Nuns of Holy Cross near Braunschweig",

abstract = "The convent diary (Konventstagesbuch) from Holy Cross (Kreuzkloster) near Braunschweig records daily life and events within this Cistercian community between 1484 and 1507. The identity of the author, a nun at Holy Cross, remains unknown. The work survives in a single manuscript, written in Latin on recycled parchment. Whereas many sources for women{\textquoteright}s monastic life treat mystical themes, are inflected with reform ideology, or are normative sources that reflect clerical expectations of religious women, the convent diary is illustrative of works produced by nuns for use within their communities. It is representative of monastic women{\textquoteright}s standard of education, commemorative culture, and reflexive practices. The convent diary presents an unparalleled insight into nuns{\textquoteright} daily life and activity from the perspective of an ordinary nun in the years preceding the Reformation.",

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Konventstagesbuch (Convent Diary) of the Cistercian Nuns of Holy Cross near Braunschweig. / Hotchin, Julie.
The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Medieval Women's Writing in the Global Middle Ages: Living Reference Work. ed. / Sauer Michelle; McEvoy Liz Herbert; Watt Dianne. Palgrave Macmillan, 2025.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Entry for encyclopedia/dictionary › peer-review

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ER -

Konventstagesbuch (Convent Diary) of the Cistercian Nuns of Holy Cross near Braunschweig

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