Meditations from mechthild of magdeburg living library. Meditations from mechthild of magdeburg by mechthild of. Through mechthild s rich imagery, the reader finds an exposed soul in the passionate poetry of a bride to her bridegroom, thirteenthcentury german mystic mechthild of magdeburg recorded thirty years of her most intimate. To accomplish the task of articulating her revelations and spiritual insights, mechthild makes use of an astonishing multiplicity of literary and rhetorical means.
Indeed, divine praise was the keynote of her life as it is of her book. You have written me in the book of your godhead, you have fashioned me. As thrilling as amys new power is, it also brings danger. Margaret the lame of magdeburg 12101250 was an anchoress of the st. Mechthild of magdeburg now am i a naked soul this th century german visionary wrote her visions. Mechthild of magdeburgs the flowing light of the godhead is one of the great surprises of german medieval literature. Desiring divine and human bodies in mechthild of magdeburg. Jul 21, 2016 inspired by the writings of mechthild of magdeburg 1210 1282 her book, the flowing light of the godhead describes her ongoing experience of mystical union in terms of the sacred marriage. The book jumper pales in comparison to so many of the incredible books ive read that are about books or reading and i just wished the book jumper had spent some more time exploring its world and developing it.
Feb 19, 2009 effortlessly, love flows from god into man, like a bird who rivers the air without moving her wings. Mechthild of magdeburg 12071282 was among the most profound of mystic writers who presented strongly feminine images of mysticism in exquisite poetry to god. Mystical experience of mechthild of magdeburg mechthild of magdeburg 1207 1282 or 1297 was a german mystic, who, at the age of 12, first saw all things in god, and god in all things. Mechthild or mechtild, matilda, matelda of magdeburg c. Church history 111 primary source readings mechthild of. Meditations from mechthild of magdeburg by mechthild of magdeburg. She was born around 1207, possibly of minor nobility of the mittelmark.
It integrates visions, auditions, dialogues, prayers, hymns, lyrical love poems, letters, allegories and parables, and draws creatively on features from hagiography, the. Born in a castle near a city, she joined the medieval poverty movement at the age of 20 and consequently chose the descent from the castle, where she grew up. Mechthild of magdeburg, also mechtild great thoughts. This is written by knowledge out of the everlasting book. During the last twelve years of her life she lived as a nun in helfta. Her book, the flowing light of the godhead, describes experiences of unio mystica mystical union as the sacred. All her life she held this office and trained the choir with indefatigable zeal.
Through mechthilds rich imagery, the reader finds an exposed soul in the passionate poetry of a bride to her bridegroom, thirteenthcentury german mystic mechthild of magdeburg recorded thirty years of her most intimate. Mechthild of magdeburg and her book gender and the making of textual authority. Eroticism and mysticism as a transgression of boundaries. Teaming up with fellow book jumper will, amy vows to get to the bottom of the theftsat whatever cost. Poor seeks to explain this fate by considering mechthild s own view of female authorship, the significance of her choice to write in the vernacular, and the continued, if submerged, presence of her writings in a variety of contexts from the thirteenth through the nineteenth century. Mechthild of magdeburg was called to the religious life when she was only 12, proclaiming, no one can burn the truth, after marguerite porete was burned with her book. Effortlessly, love flows from god into man, like a bird who rivers the air without moving her wings. A latin translation was made of the first six parts. She experienced her first religious vision at the age of 12, and apparitions appeared to her daily thereafter. Mechthild of magdeburgs ideas are inspiring in their own right, but are all the more amazing considering the era she lived in 12071282 a time from which womens voices are mostly lost in the mists of time.
She had daily visions which continued until she was 43. Immediately download the mechthild of magdeburg summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching mechthild of magdeburg. This challenging work of deep religious insight reflects mechthilds inner life, and gods as well, employing a great variety of traditional medieval literary forms and genres in. Her book thus corrects late twentiethcentury arguments about women writers and canon reform that often rest on inadequate notions of exclusion. Mechthild had no formal education or training in theology but, being from a noble family, she was exposed to courtly literature. She had her first visionary experience at age twelve. Inspired by the writings of mechthild of magdeburg 1210 1282 her book, the flowing light of the godhead describes her ongoing experience of mystical union in terms of the sacred marriage. In 1235, mechthild became a member of a local house of the beguines, an independent group of laywomen who devoted their lives to god. Saint mechtilde of hackeborn 12401241 19 november 1298 was a saxon christian saint from what is now germany and a benedictine nun. The selections in this edition offer a glimpse into mechthilds vision of god and her constant longing to be in. A beguine a highly successful northern european spiritual movement for women mechthild lived at the convent at helfta, a center of feminine spirituality.
Here is the first english translation based on the new critical edition of the flowing light of the godhead, the sole mystical visionary work of mechthild, a thcentury c. Mechthild of magdeburg o burning mountain, o chosen sun, o perfect moon, o fathomless well, o unattainable height, o clearness beyond measure, o wisdom without end, o mercy without limit, o strength beyond resistance, o crown of all majesty, the humblest you created signs your praise. As the source strikes the note, humanity sings the holy spirit is our. Gold is often heavily flecked by copper, just as falseness and vain honor blot out virtue from the human soul. While poor is also influenced by feminist theory, her approach to the body.
Gender and the making of textual authority, middle ages series philadelphia. Poor, author of mechthild of magdeburg and her book. She had a defining ecstatic experience at the age of twelve, where she saw all things in god and god in all things. She wrote the first six sections between 1250 and 1270, while living in madgeburg. In her writing, she used highly erotic language, yet she cursed the body as a hindrance to the souls spiritual. However, this is not a book of such scale but it relates the personal stories of a girl and her family from within the city walls and soldiers of the besieging army. Marriage made in heaven mechthild of magdeburg youtube. The more mystical passages often lyrical in expression, show her familiarity with bride mysticism and other christian mystic traditions. Poetry chaikhana mechthild of magdeburg effortlessly.
She was the first mystic to write in german, as she did not know how to write in latin. Mar 26, 20 in mechthild of magdeburg and her book, sara s. The flowing light of the godhead classics of western spirituality 97808097763 by mechtild of magdeburg and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Thus we move in his world one in body and soul, though outwardly separate in form. Mechthild of magdeburg a medieval womans companion. Her first book, mechthild of magdeburg and her book. In the modern benedictine calendar, her feast is celebrated on the anniversary of her death, november 19. Thus we move in his world one in body and soul, though outwardly separate in. Describes a book or dust jacket that does show some signs of wear on either the binding, dust jacket or pages. Mechthild of magdeburg and her book offers new insights into medieval vernacular mysticism, late medieval womens roles in the production of culture, and the construction of modern literary traditions. Mechthild of magdeburg author of mechthild of magdeburg.
She lived and worked for about 40 years as a beguine in magdeburg. Born in a castle near a city, she joined the medieval poverty movement at the age of 20 and consequently chose the descent. This work is the first english translation of her th century classicthe mystical writings of mechthild of magdeburg. From about the age of twentythree, for the greater part of her life, she lived in magdeburg as a beguine, virtually as a hermit. In the passionate poetry of a bride to her bridegroom, thirteenthcentury german mystic mechthild of magdeburg recorded thirty years of her most intimate conversations with god. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with optical recognition software. Mechthild of magdeburg was born around the year 1207, probably into a noble family in northern germany. Media in category mechthild of magdeburg the following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. Poor sally, associate professor and director of the program in medieval. Mechthild of magdeburg, also mechtild great thoughts treasury. Mechthilds work has also gained recent attention from feminist scholars, including sara s. The flowing light of the godhead mechthild of magdeburg. In flowing light of the godhead mechthild of magdeburg c.
Medieval german mystic poet mechthild of magdeburg was born into a noble family. The sack of magdeburg during the siege of 163031 saw the massacre of approximately 25,000 of its citizens by the imperial army. Meditations from mechthild of magdeburg by mechthild of magdeburg and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Church history 111 primary source readings mechthild of magdeburg ca 1207ca 1282 biography there are no biographical sources about mechthild other than her text. Sometime around 1230, a young woman left her family and traveled to the german city of magdeburg to devote herself to worship and religious contemplation. The introduction and notes are intended to provide a theological, literary, and historical context for capturing the spirituality of her remarkable and independent spirit. Mechthild of magdeburg s the flowing light of the godhead is one of the great surprises of german medieval literature. Mechthild of magdeburg is the author of meditations from mechthild of magdeburg 3. The book jumper by mechthild glaser, paperback barnes. Gender and the making of textual authority, university of pennsylvania press philadelphia, pa, 2004. Church history 111 primary source readings mechthild of magdeburg. Rather than living in a community of holy women, she chose isolation, claiming that this life would bring her closer to god. Around 1270, mechthild joined the cistercian nuns at helfta, near eisleben, and lived in their convent until her death. Mechthild had no formal education or training in theology but, being from a.
Even in her lifetime, mechthild of magdeburg gained some renown for her extraordinary. Mechthilds strong individualism and her poetic qualities distinguish her from most. The selections in this edition offer a glimpse into mechthilds vision of god and her constant longing to be in his heart. To be fair, a lot of books i am comparing tbj too have been part of a series and can thus spend some more time on world building but. Gender and the making of textual authority 2004, upenn press was awarded the. German beguine medieval mystic, author of the flowing light of divinity. Gender and the making of textual authority the middle ages series sara s. Yet she sometimes anticipates thoughts and expressions found in meister eckhart. The selections in this edition offer a glimpse into mechthild s vision of god and her constant longing to be in his heart. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Her father is headmaster of her prestigious boarding school, her friends take her advice as gospel, and shes convinced that a relationship with her longtime crush is on the horizon. Oct 01, 2010 the sack of magdeburg during the siege of 163031 saw the massacre of approximately 25,000 of its citizens by the imperial army. In 1230, she left her home to become a beguine, one of a group of evangelical women who took vows together but chose to live in the world rather than a convent. The flowing light of the godhead classics of western spirituality 97808097763 by mechthild of magdeburg.
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