this issue
previous article in this issuenext article in this issue

Document Details :

Title: Feminine Mystic Writings as Witnesses of the Experience of God during the Middle Ages
Author(s): ASTI, Francesco
Journal: Studies in Spirituality
Volume: 18    Date: 2008   
Pages: 149-183
DOI: 10.2143/SIS.18.0.2033287

Abstract :
In a period in which feminist theology asks itself about its origins, the present essay guides us through the works and intuitions of the principal feminine theologians of the Middle Ages: Gertrude, Angela of Foligno, Hildegard of Bingen, Mechtild of Hackeborn, Julian of Norwich, Margaret of Oingt and Clare. On considering their works the present research presents how they have given a great contribution to universal Theology. In the first part the question of theological language is analysed. The essay continues with a series of ‘passages’ that constitute the centre of their writings: ‘From Agape to Eros’, ‘Conscience: Place of the transformed Eros’, ‘From the «Word» to the «words»’, and ‘From the «words» to the «Word»’. The essay concludes with two considerations: how theology comes from experience and the real idea that the medieval women considered in this research had of the mystic.

Download article