medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From a thesis I did in my Masters - on bodily fluids -Margery Kempe and
Julian of Norwich
Regards Carol
Margery attains the "gift of tears" or gratia lachrymarium, also known as
compunctio cordis. This doctrine of Compunction, "a quadripartite division
of the engendering of tears"(McEntire 153), includes the weeping for one's
own sins, the weeping for the sins of others, the weeping for the Passion of
Christ, and the weeping for the bliss of Heaven. Weeping is closely allied
with spiritual health and healing. "The grace of Compunction impels the soul
to further progress . . . receiving beneficence of the cleansing that tears
represent"(McEntire 63). The washing away of sins and obtaining of
forgiveness for those sins through tears, weeping, and wailing is
reminiscent of the Sacrament of Baptism, thus "tears of compunction can be
seen as rebaptism"(McEntire 67).
Mahoney, Dhira B. McEntire, Sandra ed. "Margery Kempe's Tears and the
Power over
Language" Margery Kempe: A Book of Essays. New York: Garland Publishing
Inc: 1992 37-50
McEntire, Sandra J. The Doctrine of Compunction in Medieval England.
Lewiston:
The Edwin Mellen Press 1991
Staley, Lynn ed. The Book of Margery Kempe. Kalamazoo: TEAMS 1996
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