Furta Sacra

Geary looks at relic thefts in Western Europe between about 800 and 1100, seeking to categorise them but also to understand why they were carried out. Comprehending the motives of relic thieves can be puzzling for a modern audience, particularly when it comes to understanding why their actions were not automatically condemned. In this slim, clearly-written book, Geary does a good job at unpicking the rationalisations which were in vogue during this period of the Middle Ages. Relics, particularly those which were the bodies of saints, were 'alive' in some way, subjects and not objects; therefore, if they were 'stolen' it could only be because the saint had personally sanctioned it. To say otherwise was to deny the relic's mighty power. show more The stolen relics were used to provide a firm financial foundation for new monasteries, to create communal prestige, or to calm religious turmoil, amongst other reasons. There are perhaps places where Geary could have expanded his analysis further, or read his sources in more depth, but this is a useful starting point. show less