Mechthild of Magdeburg
Encyclopedia
Mechthild of Magdeburg (c. 1207 – c. 1282/1294), a Beguine, was a medieval mystic
, whose book Das fließende Licht der Gottheit (The Flowing Light of Divinity) described her visions of God
.
Definite biographical information about Mechthild is scarce; what is known of her life comes largely from scattered hints in her work. She was probably born to a noble Saxon family, and claimed to have had her first vision of the Holy Spirit
at the age of twelve.
In 1230 she left her home to become a Beguine, and live a life of prayer
and mortification
under the guidance of Dominican
friars. Her criticism of church dignitaries and claims to theological insight seem to have aroused some opposition, and around 1270, she joined the Cistercian nunnery at Helfta, who offered her protection and support in the final years of her life, and where she finished writing down the contents of the many divine revelations she claimed to have experienced. The nuns of Helfta were highly educated and important works of mysticism survive from Mechthild’s younger contemporaries, St. Mechthild of Hackeborn and St. Gertrude the Great
.
Mechthild’s writing is exuberant and emotional: her descriptions of her visions are filled with passion. Her images of Hell
are believed by some scholars to have influenced Dante Alighieri
when he wrote The Divine Comedy
, and Mechthild is thought to have been represented by Dante in that work, in the character of Matelda. However, there is no substantial evidence for this and there are important differences in Dante's conception of Hell.
While her work was translated into Latin
during her lifetime, Mechthild was never canonized by the Roman Catholic Church
. Her work was largely forgotten by the 15th century, but was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Pater Gall Morel
, who published the first edition. Her work has been increasingly studied, both for its academic interest and as a work of devotional literature.
Asteroid
873 Mechthild
is named in her honour.
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, whose book Das fließende Licht der Gottheit (The Flowing Light of Divinity) described her visions of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
.
Definite biographical information about Mechthild is scarce; what is known of her life comes largely from scattered hints in her work. She was probably born to a noble Saxon family, and claimed to have had her first vision of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
at the age of twelve.
In 1230 she left her home to become a Beguine, and live a life of prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
and mortification
Mortification
Mortification can refer to:*Mortification , theological doctrine*Mortification of the flesh, religious practice of corporal mortification...
under the guidance of Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
friars. Her criticism of church dignitaries and claims to theological insight seem to have aroused some opposition, and around 1270, she joined the Cistercian nunnery at Helfta, who offered her protection and support in the final years of her life, and where she finished writing down the contents of the many divine revelations she claimed to have experienced. The nuns of Helfta were highly educated and important works of mysticism survive from Mechthild’s younger contemporaries, St. Mechthild of Hackeborn and St. Gertrude the Great
Gertrude the Great
Gertrude the Great was a German Benedictine, mystic, and theologian.She is recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, and is inscribed in the General Roman Calendar, for celebration throughout the Latin Rite on November 16.Gertrude was born January 6, 1256, in Eisleben, Thuringia...
.
Mechthild’s writing is exuberant and emotional: her descriptions of her visions are filled with passion. Her images of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
are believed by some scholars to have influenced Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri
Durante degli Alighieri, mononymously referred to as Dante , was an Italian poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker. He is best known for the monumental epic poem La commedia, later named La divina commedia ...
when he wrote The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature...
, and Mechthild is thought to have been represented by Dante in that work, in the character of Matelda. However, there is no substantial evidence for this and there are important differences in Dante's conception of Hell.
While her work was translated into Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
during her lifetime, Mechthild was never canonized by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Her work was largely forgotten by the 15th century, but was rediscovered in the late 19th century by Pater Gall Morel
Gall Morel
Gall Morel O. S. B. was a poet, scholar, aesthete, and educationist, born at St. Gallen, Switzerland, on 24 March, 1803; died at the Abbey of Einsiedeln on 16 December, 1872. His baptismal name was Benedict, but in the monastery he took the name of Gall. In 1814, he entered the gymnasium at St. Gall...
, who published the first edition. Her work has been increasingly studied, both for its academic interest and as a work of devotional literature.
Asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
873 Mechthild
873 Mechthild
-External links:*...
is named in her honour.
Literature
- Mechthild von Magdeburg: Das fließende Licht der Gottheit. Edited and translated by Gisela Vollmann-Profe. Deutscher Klassiker Verlag, Franfurt a. M. 2003 (Bibliothek des Mittelalters 19) ISBN 3-618-66195-9
- Mechthild von Magdeburg "Das fließende Licht der Gottheit". Nach der Einsiedler Handschrift in kritischem Vergleich mit der gesamten Überlieferung. Tom. 1: Text. Edited by Hans Neumann. Artemis, München 1990 (Münchener Texte und Untersuchungen zur deutschen Literatur des Mittelalters 100)
- The Flowing Light of the Godhead. By Mechthild of Magdeburg. Translated and introduced by Frank Tobin. Preface by Margot Schmidt. Paulist Press, New York and Mahwah, NJ 1998 (Classics of Western Spirituality Series) online and review