Abstract

In the thirteenth century, the hagiographical prologue gave its authors an opportunity to reflect upon the theological implications of Catholic sainthood and to define the role of the saint in the divine scheme of salvation. The hagiographers were most frequently either monks or philosophers, and whereas the former would assume a humble stance, the latter would display their dialectical skill. Hagiographers used the opportunity of the prologue to answer critics and to criticize the learned disciplines, especially philosophy. The structure was usually two-part , with an occasional post-mortem. Though most were modeled after the traditional "florilegia," some authors grappled with theological issues