Orando en soledad: el salterio en la devoción "femenina" de la Baja Edad Media

Résumé

This thesis exposes how over several centuries the transformation in the life and religiosity of women, in their mentality and devotion, was reflected in the use of the psalter. The various social transformations had an influence in all areas, altering the conception of daily life, and affecting female devotion with greater intensity, the reflection of which was seen in the use of different prayer books. The general evolution of Christian spirituality was determined by a greater intervention of the laity, affecting mainly women who showed a peculiar spirituality centred on penance and repentance. Our objectives are to analyse the connection between feminine religiosity, mainly monastic,and the psalter, to delve into the importance of the liturgy, the Divine Office, and liturgical books. Starting from this approach, we will find out and deepen our knowledge of the use of the psalter, the most popular book in medieval private devotion. Also, we will establish why an element like the calendar had such an important interconnection between liturgy, medieval life, and prayer. Our purpose is to show that the environment in which female devotion developed, caused them to shelter in the prayer of the psalter, mainly in the monastic realm, and how some of them were specifically directed and made for, and by, female users...