Summary

The most thorough examination to date of the landmark decree that mandated strict enclosure of all nuns.

Pope Boniface VIII published a decree in 1298 that transformed long-standing attitudes toward nuns into universal Church law. Referred to as Periculoso, the decree announced that all nuns were to be perpetually cloistered. This volume provides an in-depth study of the watershed legislation. Elizabeth Makowski surveys precedents for Periculoso as well as some of the problems Boniface VIII hoped to solve with his ruling. She further analyzes the commentary on Periculoso and the attempts to enforce the legislation.