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"Blake Leyerle offers the first sustained treatment of the pedagogy of emotions by which John Chrysostom, one of late antiquity's most revered preachers, sought to craft his audiences' Christian habits. Nuanced, captivating, and accessible to experts and generalists alike, this book presents the reader with a scintillating glimpse into the emotional worlds that ancient Christians inhabited and the voices that shaped them."—Maria Doerfler, author of Jephthah's Daughter, Sarah's Son: The Death of Children in Late Antiquity
"In this rich and beautifully written book, Blake Leyerle conveys the rhetorical and psychological genius of John Chrysostom, a master storyteller and incomparable preacher. As she brilliantly demonstrates, Chrysostom brought to life biblical and other narratives to manage the anger, fears, sorrows, and shame of his audience in the service of Christianity."—David Konstan, Professor of Classics, New York University
List of contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction. The Narrative Shape of Emotion
Chrysostom's Program
Plan of the Study
1. Anger
The Origin of Rage
Quelling Anger
Anger’s Imperative
Conclusion
Inscribing the Lesson: David and Saul
2. Grief
The Sadness of Things
Envy, Malice, and Indignation
Grieving over the Dead, the Sick, and the Barren
Lamenting Personal Debility
Mourning Sin
Conclusion
A Case Study in Surmounting Sadness: Job
3. Fear
The Disciplinary Force of Fear
Fear as a Bridle
Fear as a Goad
The Social Benefits of Fear
Fear as a Deliberative State
Conclusion
The Advantages of Fear: Cain
4. Chrysostom's Goal: Stimulating Zeal
Rhathymia
Arousing Aversion
Awe
Shame
Disgust
Inspiring Emulation
Conclusion
Imitating Zeal: The Samaritan Woman
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Blake Leyerle is Professor of Early Christianity in the Department of Theology and the Department of Classics at the University of Notre Dame.
Summary
John Chrysostom remains, along with Augustine, one of the most prolific witnesses to the world of late antiquity. As priest of Antioch and bishop of Constantinople, he earned his reputation as an extraordinary preacher.
In this first unified study of emotions in Chrysostom’s writings, Blake Leyerle examines the fourth-century preacher’s understanding of anger, grief, and fear. These difficult emotions, she argues, were central to Chrysostom’s program of ethical formation and were taught primarily through narrative means. In recounting the tales of scripture, Chrysostom consistently draws attention to the emotional tenor of these stories, highlighting biblical characters’ moods, discussing their rational underpinnings, and tracing the outcomes of their reactions. By showing how assiduously Chrysostom aimed not only to allay but also to arouse strong feelings in his audiences to combat humanity’s indifference and to inculcate zeal, Leyerle provides a fascinating portrait of late antiquity’s foremost preacher.
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"Leyerle’s book represents a convincing and definitive analysis of Chrysostom’s thought about the emotions, and of the practical application of emotional and cognitive strategies in his programme of moral reform.... Accessible and a pleasure to read!"
