Medieval Mystics

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Giovanni Bonaventure (1217–1274)

In the quaint town of Bagnorea, Italy, around the year 1217, Giovanni Bonaventure first saw the light of day. His path soon led him into the embrace of the Franciscan order, and from there, his journey took him to Paris to further hone his academic pursuits. In the heart of Paris, he crossed paths with Thomas Aquinas, a towering figure in the realm of Christian philosophy. From 1248 to 1257, Bonaventure imparted his wisdom as a teacher in Paris, until he ascended to the role of minister general of the Franciscan Order. This prestigious position he held for sixteen years, during which he crafted his seminal works, including the Life of Francis, a vivid portrayal of St. Francis of Assisi, and The Soul’s Journey into God. In 1273, he was elevated to the status of cardinal, but his earthly journey concluded the following year on July 15, during the Second Council of Lyons. He was canonized in 1482, and Pope Sixtus V honored him as a Doctor of the Church in 1587.

Catherine of Genoa (1447–1510)

Born in 1447 to a noble lineage, Catherine of Genoa's life was initially shrouded in melancholy, exacerbated by an ill-fated marriage. However, a profound spiritual awakening in 1473 altered her life's trajectory, leading her through a transformative period of penance and prayer. Her compassionate spirit called her to serve the city's sick and impoverished. By 1477, she had established Genoa's first hospital, assuming its directorship from 1490 to 1496. During her tenure, the summer of 1493 brought a devastating plague, obliterating nearly four-fifths of the city's population. Catherine herself fell victim to the plague but ultimately survived. Her spiritual charisma attracted numerous followers, with whom she shared her divine encounters from 1499 to 1507, including her experiences of unity with God. Catherine passed away on September 15, 1510, and her sanctity was recognized by Pope Clement XII with her canonization in 1733.

Catherine of Siena (1347–1380)

On March 25, 1347, in Siena, Catherine of Siena entered the world as the twenty-fourth child in a family of modest means. From a tender age, she was consumed by a fervent desire for the divine and staunchly refused marriage. At sixteen, she joined the Mantellate, a Dominican group devoted to aiding the destitute and infirm. Despite her lack of formal schooling, Catherine emerged as a respected teacher. Her life drew many followers, and she established a convent while playing a pivotal political role as an intermediary between the Papal authority and Florence. Throughout her life, she was graced with mystical experiences, visions, and ecstasies. In 1368, she underwent a "mystical marriage" to Christ, cementing her devotion. Catherine also bore the stigmata, the holy imprints of Christ’s wounds. Practicing extreme penance, she often consumed little food, and by 1380, her inability to eat led to her death on April 29 at the tender age of thirty-three. In 1970, she was declared a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Paul VI.

Meister Eckhart (c. 1260–c. 1327)

In the idyllic village of Hochheim, near Gotha, Germany, around 1260, Meister Johann Eckhart was born, destined to become a luminary among German medieval mystics. His father managed a knight’s fortress nestled within the Thuringian forest. At fifteen, Eckhart embarked on a spiritual journey by joining the Dominican monastery at Erfurt, lingering there for nearly a decade. His quest for knowledge led him to Cologne, followed by his appointment as prior of Erfurt and vicar of Thuringia. By 1300, he was dispatched to Paris to teach, defending the Dominican theological doctrines against the Franciscans. In 1302,...

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the esteemed Studium Generale in Paris awarded him a Master’s degree, thus bestowing upon him the title Meister Eckhart. Ascending the ranks, he became the Provincial of the Dominican order in Saxony in 1303, and four years later, Vicar of Bohemia. By 1313, Eckhart had settled in Strasbourg, preaching and leading a convent. Sometime after 1322, he was invited to lecture at the Studium Generale in Cologne, a testament to his esteemed reputation. However, the Archbishop of Cologne, wary of mysticism, accused him of heresy. Eckhart contested the accusations valiantly, though he is believed to have passed away in 1327. In 1329, Pope John XXII condemned parts of Eckhart's teachings as heretical.

Julian of Norwich (1342–c. 1416)

The veil of history conceals much of Julian of Norwich’s life, yet she stands as a beacon in the realm of medieval English mysticism. Her Revelations of Divine Love offers glimpses into her spiritual journey, recounting divine insights received in 1373 when she was thirty and a half, suggesting her birth in 1342. A record from 1416 indicates she was alive as a recluse supported by the church of St. Julian and St. Edwards in Conisford, under the Benedictine community’s aegis. Her writings reflect a deep engagement with Christian spiritual classics, hinting at an education potentially gleaned within a religious order, though her status as a nun remains uncertain.

Richard Rolle (c. 1300–1349)

Emerging from the heart of Yorkshire around 1300, Richard Rolle is often revered as the pioneer of English mysticism. A prolific writer in both his native tongue and Latin, Rolle's work captured the admiration of his contemporaries. Born in the quaint village of Thornton Dale, near the charming town of Pickering in Yorkshire, Rolle embarked on his scholarly journey at Oxford. Yet, he soon turned his back on academia, leaving without a degree, to embrace a life of contemplation. Immersed in the solitude of his spiritual quest, he experienced vivid psychic phenomena, including an intense warmth in his chest and the ethereal strains of heavenly music. To some of his peers, these experiences seemed eccentric, even mad. He eloquently narrated these occurrences in his work, Incendium Amoris (c. 1340, translated as The Fire of Love), where his writings pulsate with a fervent love for Christ and highlight the profound power of the divine name Jesus. Rolle championed a faith led by love and the heart. His journey concluded in 1349 at Hampole, near Doncaster, with legends suggesting he succumbed while caring for victims of the Black Death.

John Ruusbroec (1293–1381)

Nestled in the village of Ruusbroec, near the bustling city of Brussels, John Ruusbroec was born in 1293. By the age of twenty-four, he had embraced the priesthood, embarking on a long tenure as a chaplain at the church of St. Gudule in Brussels. Throughout these years, he ardently opposed the heretical teachings of a woman named Bloemardinne through his writings. In 1343, seeking solitude, Ruusbroec retreated into the lush greenery of Groenendael forest, not far from the city, accompanied by two close companions. In this serene refuge, their small group flourished into an established religious community, recognized as canons regular of St. Augustine, with the local bishop's blessing. Ruusbroec spent his remaining years at Groenendael, penning some of his most influential mystical works. He departed this life on December 2, 1381.

Henry Suso (1295–1366)

Born into nobility on March 21, 1295, Henry Suso stands as one of the towering figures of German medieval mysticism, alongside Eckhart and Tauler. Sent to the Dominican friary in Constance at the tender age of thirteen, Suso embarked on a path that would forever change him. Five years into his journey with the Dominicans, he underwent a profound spiritual transformation that shaped his destiny. Around 1322 or 1323, he was chosen to further his studies at the esteemed Dominican house in Cologne—a privilege bestowed upon a select few. Here, under the likely mentorship of Meister Eckhart, Suso deepened his understanding of theology and scripture. By 1326 or 1327, he returned to Constance, guiding the friary's students in their studies. Circa 1330, Suso faced charges of heresy in Maastricht but emerged unscathed, later assuming the role of prior at Constance. His voice resonated across the countryside through his preaching, and he oversaw the spiritual growth of Dominican nuns. Around 1348, he was transferred to Ulm's Dominican house, where he remained until his death, compiling his works into the collection Exemplar. Suso passed away in Ulm on January 25, 1366.

Johannes Tauler (c. 1300–1361)

Hailing from a prosperous family in Strasbourg around 1300, Johannes Tauler joined the Dominican Order in 1314, cultivating his skills as a preacher and spiritual guide. In 1339, political tides led him to Basle, aligning him with Pope John XXII against Louis of Bavaria, unlike his native Strasbourg which supported Louis. During his four to five-year stay in Basle, Tauler's influence among the spiritual movement known as the Friends of God grew. A disciple of Eckhart and a confidant of Suso, Tauler's sermons solidified his reputation as a revered preacher in the region. His final days were spent in the monastery of Saint Nicholas in Undis, where he succumbed to the plague in 1361.

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