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Chapter vii: peter Of JOhn Olivi’S treatiSe On Spiritual Warfare Or “the armed SOldier”149 editOr’S intrOduCtiOn Peter of John Olivi’s spiritual treatise on Spiritual Warfare or “The Armed Soldier” presupposes medieval arms and armor.150 In the footnotes I will explain the various medieval arms and armor involved in Peter Olivi’s treatise. In the footnotes I will also refer to two interpretive parallels for Peter of John Olivi’s spiritual thought. In an Appendix I will provide a full translation of these parallels.151 149 I translate the critical edition of the Latin text found in Antonio Montefusco, “L’opuscola Miles armatus di Pierre de Jean Olieu. Edizione critica e comment,” Studi Francescani 108 (2011): 51-170 (84-94). I have also consulted the Latin text found in “Appendice I: Quattro operette ascetiche di Pietro di Giovanni Olivi dal Cod. Guarnacciano di Volterra 5230,” in Raoul Manselli, Spirituali e Beghini in Provenza, Istituto storico italiano per il Medio Evo, Studi storici 31-34 (Roma: Nella sede dell’istituto, 1959), 287-90. 150 In reconstructing Peter of John Olivi’s references to medieval arms and armor, I have found helpful materials in: Vesey Norman, Arms and Armour (London: Octopus Books, 1972); Ewart Oakeshott, A Knight and His Armor, 2nd edition (Chester Springs, PA: Dufour Editions, 1999); David Edge and John Miles Paddock, Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight: An Illustrated History of Weaponry in the Middle Ages (New York: Crescent Books, 1996), 151 See Expositiones Pavli Epistolarum ad Romanos, Galathas et Ephesios e codice Sancti Michaelis in periculo Maris (Avranches, Bibl. Mun. 79), ed. Gerard de Martel, CCCM 151 (Turnhout: Brepols, 1995), 252-53; Thomas de Chobham, Svmma de Commendatione Virtvtvm et Extirpatione Vitiorvm, ed. Franco Morenzoni, CCCM 82b (Turnhout: Brepols, 1997), 3138 , lines 961-1209. PETER OF JOHN OLIVI 104 I presuppose that the spiritual warfare terminology of Ephesians 6:11-17 provides the basic biblical background for Peter of John Olivi’s treatise. Here is how the Confraternity translation renders this passage: “Put on the armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high. Therefore, take up the armor of God152 that you may be able to resist in the evil day and stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of justice,153 and having your feet shod with the readiness of the gospel of peace, in all things take up the shield of faith with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God.”154 152 For ease of comparison between the various materials treated I use bold type to highlight the armaments involved. 153 Even though the prayer, The Lorica or Breastplate of St. Patrick, is attributed to St. Patrick, it most probably dates from the ninth century. Only in line 41 does it refer to an arm, namely, God’s shield. See The Works of St. Patrick, St. Secundinus Hymn on St. Patrick, translated and Annotated by Ludwig Bieler, ACW 17 (Westminster, MD: Newman Press, 1953), 67: “The text commonly known as the Lorica or Breast-Plate of St. Patrick is an Old Irish morning prayer, primarily an invocation of the Holy Trinity , which in its present form most probably dates from the ninth century.” 154 See New Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible Translated from the Latin Vulgate: The Old Testament Douay Version, The New Testament Confraternity Edition (New York: Catholic Book, 1949-1950), 255. Further biblical citations are taken from this edition which I modify from time to time. There are biblical antecedents to Eph 6:11-17. For example, Isa 59:6 says “He (the Lord) put on justice as a breastplate and a helmet of salvation upon his head. He put on the garments of vengeance and was clad with zeal as with a cloak.” See Wis 5:19-22: “He (the Lord) will put on justice as a breastplate and will take true judgment instead of a helmet. He will take equity for an invincible shield, and he will sharpen his severe wrath for a spear, and the whole world shall...

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