Religio Augustini: Jordan of Quedlinburg and the Augustinian tradition in late medieval Germany.

Abstract

This study focuses on the Expositio Orationis Dominicae of the little known Augustinian friar Jordan of Quedlinburg (d. 1370/80). An edition of this work is presented in Part One. Jordan's treatise originated from lectures he held in the Order's studium at Erfurt in 1327. As such, they offer insight into the 'other side' of the Augustinian School, the teaching in the studia not associated with a university. In the fourteenth century there were 32 studia generalia in which Augustinians could receive the prerequisite instruction for the 'degree' lector, the license to teach in any school of the Order except for those associated with a university. The theology of the other side of the Augustinian school was more representative of the Order's theology than were the Sentences commentaries of the Order's magistri. Furthermore, the office of lector was not merely a stage within the Order's educational system. The lectors were the legislators of the Order's doctrine. Jordan's theology was thoroughly Augustinian. This becomes apparent when his theology is placed in context of the religio Augustini. Jordan exhorted his brothers to be the imitators of Augustine and to follow Augustine's religion. Thus, they were not to remain cloistered in their cells, but were to bring the riches of the contemplative life to society at large by teaching and preaching. In this light, the religio Augustini offers the foundation for an historical interpretation of late medieval Augustinianism, rather than one based on theological definitions of the term Augustinian. For the late medieval Augustinian Hermit, it was the religio Augustini that made one an Augustinian.