Charisma in the Middle Ages: Theories, Practices, and Representations.

This article discusses the concept of charisma in the Middle Ages, tracing its origins back to St. Paul in the first century. Charisma was originally seen as a special gift from God that enabled believers to perform extraordinary feats for the benefit of the community. However, the meaning of charisma has evolved over time, with Max Weber redefining it as captivating attractiveness or charm that enables one to engage in leadership roles. This special issue of Religions analyzes the concept of charisma in the Middle Ages, examining its theories, practices, and representations in various disciplines such as history, art history, and political philosophy. The articles in this collection aim to provide a nuanced understanding of charisma in the medieval context, free from anachronistic definitions. [Extracted from the article]