Roots of Western Mysticism

Week 5

READING: RESERVE: Mechthild of Magdeburg; NET Bernard of Clairvaux,On Loving God (excerpts)

Video: "The Fires of Faith: Dissidents and the Church" Part three of The Medieval Mind. CB 351.M415 pt. 3

Medieval Love Mysticism

• Song of Solomon (Song of Songs)
  • Song of Solomon (Song of Songs).
  • Ernst, Karl. "Interpreting the Song of Songs: The Paradox of Spiritual and Sensual Love".
  • Jesus the Bridegroom of the Soul (Anno Domini exhibit)
  • Other mystics on the Song of Songs.
    • Interpretations of the Song of Songs.
    • Gregory the Great, Commentary on the Song of Songs.
    • Madame Guyon.
      
      
• Courtly Love
  • Kinds of Love
  • Rules of Courtly Love (Andreas Capellanus).
  • Capellanus on Courtly Love
  • Courtly Love
  • Courtly Love.
  • Courtly Love (Geoffrey Chaucer page).
  • Troubador links.
  • Bard and Troubador Links.
  • Madrigals of Love
    
    
• Other Medieval Love Stories
  • Heloise and Abelard
    • Heloise, Letters to Abelard.

Bernard of Clairvaux

• Bernard of Clairvaux, introductory comments.
• Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God (excerpts).
• Bernard of Clairvaux, On the Kiss.
• The Mystical Doctrines of St. Bernard.
• Bernard of Clairvaux image.
• Overview of Bernard, with texts from sermons on Song of Songs.

Mechthild of Magdeburg

• Mechthild & the Minnesingers, introductory comments.
• What to look for while reading Mechthild.
• Flowing Light of the Godhead excerpts.
• Notes & links.

Beguines

• Abby Stoner, "Sisters Between: Gender and the Medieval Beguines".
• Begijns and the Love Mystics.
  • Begijnhoven - with pictures.
• Council of Vienne, 1311-1312 - Condemnation of Beguines.
  
  
• The Nuns of Helfta
  • Kloster Helfta.
  • Gertrude the Great
    • Notes & links.
    • The Herald of Divine Love, excerpts.
  • Mechthild of Hackeborn
    
    
• Marguerite Porete
  • Notes & links.
  • Introduction.
    
    
• Hadewijch of Antwerp
  • Notes & links.
  • Hadewijch, "The Twelve Unspeakable Hours of Love" from Letters.

Similar to the Beguines

• Beatrice of Nazareth.
  • Seven Ways of Divine Love.