MAGAS CRISTIANAS EN LA GALIA TARDOANTIGUA.

This paper addresses the magical activity performed by Christian women in Late Antique Gaul. Beyond the invectives of preachers and hagiographers, magic continued to be a widespread activity in Barbarian Gaul, now in Christian hands. In fact, other hagiographical episodes attest that consulting Christian enchanters must have been a common phenomenon and the more frequent practices were potion manufacture, divination, and healing. The anecdotes portray Christian women as incantatores, famous wonder-workers, and their procedures involved traditional techniques, including application of salves and plasters, hanging protective amulets and ligaments about a patient's neck, and dispensing potions. Despite reservations, Gallic bishops allowed much latitude for practicing wonder-workers because they estimated their magical behaviors to be heavenly inspired, while they condemned those of opponents to be demonic and injurious to patients. Hagiographers were particularly interested in publicizing incidents in which Christian enchanters prevailed after their pagan opponents failed. Obviously the main goal was to discourage members of his congregation from relying on pagan healers and promote their own specialist in order to bolster their local churches and their spiritual authority in the immediate environs of their cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]