The Middle Ages saw a flourishing of mysticism that was astonishing for
its richness and distinctiveness. The medieval period was unlike any
other period of Christianity in producing people who frequently claimed
visions of Christ and Mary, uttered prophecies, gave voice to ecstatic
experiences, recited poems and songs said to emanate directly from God
and changed their ways of life as a result of these special revelations.
Many recipients of these alleged divine gifts were women. Yet the female
contribution to western Europe's intellectual and religious development
is still not well understood. Popular or lay religion has been
overshadowed by academic theology, which was predominantly the theology
of men. This timely book rectifies the neglect by examining a number of
women whose lives exemplify traditions which were central to medieval
theology but whose contributions have tended to be dismissed as 'merely
spiritual' by today's scholars.
In their different ways, visionaries like Richeldis de Faverches
(founder of the Holy House at Walsingham, or 'England's Nazareth'), the
learned Hildegard of Bingen, Hadewijch of Brabant (exemplary voice of
the Beguine tradition of love mysticism), charismatic traveller and
pilgrim Margery Kempe and anchoress Julian of Norwich all challenged
traditional male scholastic theology. Designed for the use of
undergraduate student and general reader alike, this attractive survey
provides an introduction to thirteen remarkable women and sets their
ideas in context.
