Quotidiano ed eroico: santità possibile tra i secoli XIII e XV

Abstract

Between the 13th and 15th centuries, the concept of sainthood shifted from heroic and institutional to a model attainable by laypeople, women, and the socially marginalized. Inspired by Francis of Assisi, a new ideal emerged that was rooted in poverty and Christ’s human suffering. Saints such as Lucchese of Poggibonsi, Fina of San Gimignano, and Zita of Lucca represent a humble, everyday sanctity grounded in urban life and fragility. Though often lying outside formal canonization, this form of holiness reveals a widespread spirituality, especially among lay and female communities. The study highlights a transition of sanctity from ecclesiastical authority to the lived experience of ordinary people.