Daily Medieval

After the successful spread in the Low Countries of the simplified Christian lifestyle of laywomen called Beguines , a similar trend appeare...

The Beguines were a 12th century movement in which ordinary Christian women decided to live a more simple and pious life, rather than forma...

I wrote two parts about this topic previously ( Part 1  and  Part 2 ), but the research for yesterday's post on just plain hair led me ...

John van Ruysbroeck was one of the foremost of the Flemish mystics, and even earned the titles "Admirable Doctor" and "Divine...

One of the more notable Beguines was the French mystic Marguerite Porete. We know little about her life except what was recorded in her tri...

Although the Beguines were great role models for how to live a Christian life, all was not rosy. By the end of the 13th century, most regio...

Christianity inspired many different approaches to life: some became canons regular (parish priests), some joined monasteries or convents, s...

It seems unfair that I mention Jacques de Vitry here and here and here , and don't really tell much more than he was a cardinal. He wa...

And God said to the soul: I desired you before the world began. I desire you now As you desire me. And where the desires of two come toget...