The Law of the Clerics

Peter leason argues that curses also played a larger, more institutional role. In mediaeval europe and the practice known as a trial by ordeal. Clerics didn't actually wield the means of self protection physically. So how could these unarmed religious communities protect their property? They resorted to reliance on divine curses. Those curses were often called maledictions. And what they did was call upon god, or some of god's assistants,. for example, saints, to harm the individuals who were depredating the cleric's property.