You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing

Catholic monastic traditions have been passed on though centuries partly through monastic literature. Despite the long historical span, the role of monastic reading and writing in the transmission of traditions has generated little research interest, and no comprehensive study is available on this...

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Main Author: Riitta Hujanen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Teologia 2025-07-01
Series:Ephata
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.ucp.pt/index.php/ephata/article/view/17864
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author Riitta Hujanen
author_facet Riitta Hujanen
author_sort Riitta Hujanen
collection DOAJ
description Catholic monastic traditions have been passed on though centuries partly through monastic literature. Despite the long historical span, the role of monastic reading and writing in the transmission of traditions has generated little research interest, and no comprehensive study is available on this topic. This article investigates the transmission of monastic traditions through three studies: 1) An analysis of reference profiles of three contemporary monastic writers (Carthusian, Carmelite and Cistercian); 2) An analysis of novice reading lists from seven monastic communities (Carthusian, Carmelite, Cistercian and Benedictine); 3) A brief literature review on the transmission of tradition in early monasticism. These studies identify some similarities in reading and writing, especially regarding the early monastic traditions. Some differences of historical profiles between monastic reading and writing also emerged. Together these three studies indicate a tradition of ancient monastic path of life-long transformative learning in the school of humility and obedience.
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spelling doaj-art-682cea4d5055485c8f928f0d51d4bb3e2025-08-20T03:28:28ZengUniversidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de TeologiaEphata2184-57782795-49002025-07-017110.34632/ephata.2025.17864You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writingRiitta Hujanen Catholic monastic traditions have been passed on though centuries partly through monastic literature. Despite the long historical span, the role of monastic reading and writing in the transmission of traditions has generated little research interest, and no comprehensive study is available on this topic. This article investigates the transmission of monastic traditions through three studies: 1) An analysis of reference profiles of three contemporary monastic writers (Carthusian, Carmelite and Cistercian); 2) An analysis of novice reading lists from seven monastic communities (Carthusian, Carmelite, Cistercian and Benedictine); 3) A brief literature review on the transmission of tradition in early monasticism. These studies identify some similarities in reading and writing, especially regarding the early monastic traditions. Some differences of historical profiles between monastic reading and writing also emerged. Together these three studies indicate a tradition of ancient monastic path of life-long transformative learning in the school of humility and obedience. https://revistas.ucp.pt/index.php/ephata/article/view/17864MonasticismTransmission of traditionMonastic literatureReading
spellingShingle Riitta Hujanen
You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
Ephata
Monasticism
Transmission of tradition
Monastic literature
Reading
title You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
title_full You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
title_fullStr You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
title_full_unstemmed You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
title_short You become what you read: transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
title_sort you become what you read transmission of traditions in monastic reading and writing
topic Monasticism
Transmission of tradition
Monastic literature
Reading
url https://revistas.ucp.pt/index.php/ephata/article/view/17864
work_keys_str_mv AT riittahujanen youbecomewhatyoureadtransmissionoftraditionsinmonasticreadingandwriting