Oblation and Medieval Society

*Was the institution of oblation a positive influence on medieval society and, if so, to what degree?

*While there certainly were significant drawbacks to the practice of oblation, and areas in which
monasteries failed the oblates themselves, it must be said that oblation, on the whole, exercised a
positive influence on medieval society, especially given the lack of governmental institutions to take up a
similar role.

Notable Evidence:
-Rule of Saint Benedict
-Visio Wettini
-Thomas Aquinas on oblation and the irrevocability of monastic oaths
-Councils of Aachen and Mainz
-Nun of Watton and Gottschalk
-Commentary of Savonarola

Chief Points:
-Of course, there were positive and negative elements of oblation
-Worst centres around the irrevocability/life ordered by an external force
-However, oblation provided a measure of certainty otherwise unavailable, and had benefits both for
the oblate and the oblate’s family not mirrored in any alternative.
-On the whole oblation was preferable to any other solution to an “excess” of children and served a
necessary function in medieval society, allowing a better life particular for those who did not have any
other options.

Issues & Problems:

-The cycle of corruption and reform common to most monasteries during the Middle Ages
-The reality of life for most who dwelt within monasteries and convents vs. the most sensationalist
stories that remain to us and the contradiction between those accounts and what is known of the
conduct of monks in the remainder of the historical record.