medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
If I recall correctly, Judith Brown's *Immodest Acts,* describes how the
a "visionary" nun planned a mystical marriage in the monastery church,
involving a whole elaborate wedding ceremony, only with the "bridegroom"
absent (or I guess you could say, invisible.) I place "visionary" in
quotation marks because this particular woman later was prosecuted for
false sanctity.
I also always have believed that the prevalence of stigmata among women
visionaries arises from the idea that, in marriage, the "two are made
one flesh." The visionary "marries" Jesus, then joins with him and
acquires these distinctive marks of his flesh. I think I discuss this
briefly in my book, *Discerning Spirits*.
best,
Nancy Caciola
UC San Diego
Sandra Lowerre wrote:
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>Dear Meri,
>
>Maybe check
>
>Mechthild von Magdeburg, ch. 44 (if memory serves) of her Fliessendes Licht
>der Gottheit; maybe also Margery Kempe (ch. 38 (?) where she is wedded to
>the Godehad using the actual phrasing of the then contemporary wedding
>service).
>
>There are probably plenty more examples out there, possibly even in the
>writings of later medieval male mystics such as Richard Rolle or Seuse
>(Suso) and Tauler.
>
>Sandra
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Meri Heinonen
>Sent: 10 January 2005 13:08
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [M-R] mystical marriage
>
>
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>Dear list members,
>
>I am working with the text of a German priest, Friedrich Sunder who
>describes his mystical marriage with baby-Jesus with the terms of
>bedding. According to him the mother of Jesus prepared a bed in which
>Jesus laid himself and then Mary united the soul with him. Sunder
>further describes the kissing and enjoyment of soul and Jesus and refers
>to the wedding feast in general.
>It seems that he utilises the marriage customs of German law that
>considered the bedding (concubitus) as an essential part of marriage.
>
>My question is, does any of you know further examples of bedding and
>mystical marriage. Are there other stories that would describe the union
>of soul and God with this type of at the same time 'legal and sexual
>terms'?
>
>Yours,
>
>Meri Heinonen
>Dept. of History
>University of Turku
>
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