 |
Mechthild of Magdeburg Germany (1207 - 1297) Timeline Christian : Catholic Poems by Mechthild of Magdeburg Books - Links
|
She had a defining ecstatic experience at the age of twelve, where she saw "all things in God and God in all things."
In 1235, when Mechthild was in her twenties, she joined the Beguine sisterhood, as many women mystics of the time did in Germany and the Low Countries. As a Beguine she led a life of simplicity, service, and spiritual practice.
Her confessor, Heinrich of Halle, convinced her to write down her ongoing mystical visions. This project took many years as it was interrupted by periods of sickness and having to deal with the attacks of religious critics. She only completed this work in about 1282, a few years before her death, and just after she joined an order of Cistercian nuns at Helfta.
This book, The Flowing Light of the Godhead, describes the experience of unio mystica (mystical union) in terms of the sacred marriage between the soul as the Bride and Christ as the Bridegroom. Her poetry stands out as among the most elevated mystical love poetry in the German language, drawing comparisons to the Sufi poets of the Middle East and the Bhakti poets of India.
The great Italian poet Dante is said to have been greatly inspired by Mechthild's writing, and some have suggested that that he based his character Matilda in his Divine Comedy on her.
Poems by Mechthild of Magdeburg
- A fish cannot drown in water
- Effortlessly
- In pride I so easily lost Thee
- Of the voices of the Godhead
- The devil also offers his spirit
- Then shall I leap into love
- Wouldst thou know my meaning?
- Yea! I shall drink from Thee
Related Links
Mechthild of Magdeburg
http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/mechthil.html
Brief biography, some links and books, several poems on-line.
Catholic Encyclopedia: Mechtild of Mageburg
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10106a.htm
Brief biography.
Mystical Writers: Frauenmystics
http://www.nd.edu/~gantho/anth354-532/Frauenmystics428-437.html
A brief biography of Mechthild of Magdeburg in English, accompanied by a selection of verses in German.
