“Holy anorexia,” also known as anorexia mirabilis, describes a historical and religious phenomenon involving extreme self-starvation. This behavior was undertaken for spiritual purposes, not a desire for thinness. It reflects religious devotion, asceticism, and societal influences, primarily among women, across various historical periods. The practice often led to severe malnutrition and, in some cases, death.
Historical Context and Religious Origins
The phenomenon of holy anorexia was prominent in the European Middle Ages, especially within Catholic Christianity. It peaked around the 15th century, with many saintly women reportedly surviving on minimal or no food. This practice emerged within spiritual movements where abstaining from bodily pleasures was considered a path to higher spirituality.
Religious fasting was a recognized way to draw closer to God, contrasting with gluttony, which was considered sinful. While men often expressed suffering through physical punishment, women frequently chose fasting as a form of voluntary pain, imitating the torments of Jesus during the Passion. Saint Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) reportedly died from rigorous fasting practices at age 33, illustrating this trend.
Fasting became increasingly revered from the 13th century onward, with figures like Saint Margaret of Cortona (d. 1297) reportedly receiving divine messages emphasizing abstinence. The documented instances of holy anorexia are most closely associated with medieval European religious women.
Spiritual Motivations and Ascetic Practices
The motivations behind holy anorexia were spiritual aspirations. Individuals sought spiritual purity, aimed to demonstrate devotion, and hoped to experience divine visions or achieve union with God. Emulating the suffering of Christ was a central theme, as women believed that by embracing physical pain and renouncing their bodies, they could identify with and understand Jesus’s humanity and passion.
Beyond food restriction, these ascetic practices often included other forms of bodily denial, such as sleep deprivation, self-flagellation, or wearing uncomfortable garments like hairshirts. Such behaviors were undertaken to purify the spirit, atone for perceived sins, and suppress bodily desires, becoming more spiritually attuned to God.
For many religious women in patriarchal societies, renouncing ordinary food became a way to control their environment and turn towards divine nourishment. By letting go of physicality, they paradoxically gained a sense of control over their bodies and elevated themselves spiritually. Holy anorexics often consumed little to no food other than the Eucharist, believing they were symbolically sustained by the body of Christ alone.
Key Differences from Modern Anorexia Nervosa
Holy anorexia differs significantly from the modern psychiatric diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, primarily in its underlying motivations and societal context. The historical phenomenon was driven by spiritual and religious goals, such as seeking holiness and a deeper connection to the divine. This contrasts with modern anorexia nervosa, characterized by a distorted body image, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a desire for thinness.
In medieval societies, holy anorexia was often viewed positively, as a sign of piety and devotion. Some women engaging in these extreme fasting practices were even canonized and elevated to sainthood. This acceptance stands in stark contrast to modern anorexia nervosa, recognized as a serious medical and psychological condition requiring clinical intervention.
While both behaviors involve self-starvation, their historical context shaped their interpretation. Holy anorexics did not exhibit an obsessive fear of weight gain; their self-denial was part of a broader religious pattern. Conversely, modern anorexia nervosa is associated with a cult of slenderness and a strong emphasis on external appearance. These distinct frameworks underscore the differences between the historical phenomenon and the contemporary eating disorder.