Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Christian : Catholic

13th Century

France
(Europe)

Marguerite Porete

Timeline (1260? - 1310)

Poems by Marguerite Porete
Books - Links

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Not much is known about the life of Marguerite Porete (also known as Marguerite of Hainaut) other than what is recorded of her heresy trial in Paris -- which eventually led to her death by being burned at the stake.

Marguerite Porete may have been a Beguine, like Hadewijch of Antwerp and Mechthild of Magdeburg, but this is questionable. Her accusers called her a Beguine, but apparently meant it as an insult. In her own writings, Marguerite lists the Beguines as being among her critics.

Her book, The Mirror of Simple Souls (or The Mirror of Simple Annihilated Souls, a reference to ecstatic annihilation in God), survived her death and was translated into many European languages, attributed initially to "an unknown French mystic." The book is a collection of poetry and prose that suggests a profound experience of mystical union which resulted in a complete loss of personal identity in which only the Divine remains.

Marguerite wrote: “God has nowhere to put his goodness, if not in meŠno place to put himself entire, if not in me. And by this means I am the exemplar of salvation, and what is more, I am the salvation itself of every creature, and the glory of GodŠ” (tr. by Peter Dronke).

Poems by Marguerite Porete

	Beguines say I err...
	Beloved, what do you want of me?
	How Love names the Soul by twelve names
	How Truth Praises Such Souls
	Humility
	O Lover of gentle nature,
	Peace of charity in the annihilated life
	Thought is no longer of worth to me,
	You who would read this book,

Recommended Books

	Christian Mystics: Their Lives and Legacies throughout the Ages, by Ursula King Amazon.com
	Marguerite Porete: Mirror of Simple Souls (Classics of Western Spirituality), by Ellen Babinsky Amazon.com
	Meister Eckhart and the Beguine Mystics: Hadewijch of Brabant, Mechthild of Magdeburg, and Marguerite Porete, by Bernard Mcginn Amazon.com
	Sacred Voices: Essential Women's Voices Through the Ages, Edited by Mary Ford-Grabowsky Amazon.com
	The Soul as Virgin Wife: Mechthild of Magdeburg, Marguerite Porete, and Meister Eckhart, by Amy M. Hollywood Amazon.com
	Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women, Edited by Jane Hirshfield Amazon.com
	Women Writing in India: 600 BC to the Present: Volume 1, Edited by Susie Tharu / Edited by K. Lalita Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Marguerite Porete http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/porete.html Brief biography notes and excerpts of her writings.
	Marguerite Porete http://www.digiserve.com/mystic/Christian/Porete/index.html Several quotes online.
	Marguerite Porete http://www.geocities.com/ganesha_gate/porete.html An excellent site with several excerpts from The Mirror of Simple Souls, along with commentary and biographical notes.
	Marguerite Porete: Gathering the Ashes of the Pearl of God http://www.liminalityland.com/marguerite.htm Extended commentary with excerpts from The Mirror of Simple Souls.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Marguerite Porete

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World