candace robb
walking the Mean Streets of Medieval York
The Last Beguine
The spiritual community I find most inspiring and appealing in the middle ages is that of the Beguines. I’d no idea they still existed–or did until last month. Here is a beautifully composed tribute to the last of the Beguines. Perhaps this quiet obituary will resonate with some contemporary women looking for peace in our troubled world.
http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/21576632-marcella-pattyn-worlds-last-beguine-died-april-14th-aged-92-marcella-pattyn
Just continued reading on the medieval feminist forum this morning that she is not the last Beguine, there are still members of the community in Germany. http://www.dw.de/sisterhoods-make-a-comeback-in-germany/a-171906
At least as of 2005.
For a deeper look at the issues surrounding research on Beguines, read Jennifer Deane’s article here.
http://monasticmatrix.org/commentaria/beguines-reconsidered-historiographical-problems-and-new-directions
Jennifer would welcome feedback on the issues she presents. And stay tuned–she’s tentatively agreed to write a post for this blog later this summer.
candace robb 
Fascinating – I’d never heard of them before.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing about this little known (or little-remembered) group. Very interesting.
LikeLike
What a great story. I never heard of this group, either. I’m impressed that they managed to exist in the middle ages, and feel sad that they are no more.
LikeLike