The Bread of Life

"Jesus answered: It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) Unlike most of us nowadays, medieval people were not interested in nutritional facts, dietary prescriptions or healthy recipes. It was the religious significance of food that mattered more. Pious Christians were concerned with its participation in the economy of salvation, perhaps even a little more than other aspects of life, for nourishment is an unavoidable part of being alive and the perception of God as the source of life was consentient, so that the Scripture became a pervasive reference. This book draws attention to phenomena like fasting, extreme food deprivation and miraculous - foodless - subsistence among medieval saints like Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) and Catherine of Siena (1347-1380). Its purpose is to unravel the intricate devotional, theological, social and mental background of this prodigies.