Mechthild of Magdeburg

POETRY: Light Of Splendor by Mechthild of Magdeburg

July 12, 2017

With the dull hearing of my misery— A light of utmost splendor Glows on the eyes of the soul. Therein have I seen the inexpressible ordering Of all things, and recognized God’s unspeakable glory— That incomprehensible wonder— The tender caress between God and the soul, The sufficiency in the Highest, Discipline in understanding, Realization with withdrawal, According to the power of the senses, The unmingled joy of union, The living love of Eternity As it now is and evermore shall [...]

DEVOTION: Veneration Of The Sacred Heart by Mary Jeremy Finnegan

December 12, 2015

from The Women of Helfta Veneration of the Sacred Heart, based on belief in the incarnation, is rooted in scripture, Christian tradition, and liturgy. The theology of the first Christian millennium makes repeated mention of the fountain of living water from the wound in the side of Christ crucified. In the torrent of sacramental grace the Latin Fathers saw a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “You shall draw waters with joy from the fountain of the Savior.” The birth of the church ex aqua et sanguine from the wounded side of the new Adam asleep in death was, they affirmed, a parallel to the birth of Eve from the side of the sleeping Adam. “Both dogmatically and historically, this vision of the church [...]

SOULS: This Book Has Come From God by Mechthild of Magdeburg

October 17, 2014

The Soul Praises Herself for Many Things She is Given Two Angels and Two Evil Devils. With Twelve Virtues She Does Battle Against the Flesh From The Flowing Light of the Godhead All the days of my life before I began this book and before a single word of it had come into my soul, I was one of the most naive persons ever to be in religious life. I knew nothing about the devil’s malice; I was unaware of the frailty of the world; the duplicity of people in religious life was also unknown to me. I have to speak of God’s honor and for the sake of the book’s teaching: I, unworthy sinner, was greeted by the Holy Spirit in my twelfth year, while I was alone, with such an outpouring that I could never, ever after that endure [...]

SOULS: Nine Short Writings on the Soul by Mechthild of Magdeburg

November 20, 2012

The Soul Praises God for Five Things O Emperor of all honors. O Crown of all sovereigns. O Wisdom of all the learned. O Giver of all gifts. O Deliverer of all imprisonments. How God Comes to the Soul I come to my beloved as the dew upon the flower. How the Soul Receives and Praises God Ah, joyous sight! Ah, lovely greeting! Ah, dear embrace! Lord, the wonder of you has overwhelmed me. Your grace has crushed me. O you lofty Crag. You are so nicely honeycombed. In you no one can rest but doves and nightingales. How God Receives the Soul Welcome, my precious dove. You have flown so keenly over the earth That your feathers reach to heaven. God Likens the Soul to Four Things You taste like a grape. Your fragrance is like balsam. Your radiance [...]

ANGELS: The Nine Choirs, How They Sing by Mechthild of Magdeburg

November 20, 2012

Now hear, my Beloved: listen with spiritual ears. Thus do the nine choirs sing: We praise you, Lord, that you sought us in your humility. We praise you, Lord, that you have kept us in your mercy. We praise you, Lord, that you have glorified us in your humiliation. We praise you, Lord, that you have provided for us in your generosity. We praise you, Lord, that you have arranged us in rank in your wisdom. We praise you, Lord, that you have shielded us with your might. We praise you, Lord, that you have sanctified us with your nobility. We praise you, Lord, that you have instructed us in your intimacy. We praise you, Lord, that you have elevated us in your [...]

POETRY: Twenty Powers Of God’s Love And Many Kinds Of Names by Mechthild of Magdeburg

November 20, 2012

Ah, dear divine Love, ever embrace my soul, For it would murder me beyond all pain If I were to be separated from you! Ah, Love, let me now not grow cold, My actions are all dead When I do not feel you. O Love, you cause sweet pain and distress; You give the true children of God instruction and consolation. O Fetter of love, Your tender hand is strong. It binds both young and old. O Love, you make large burdens light, And to you small sins seem heavy. You serve without reward Ministering to all creatures. Ah, sweet divine Love, whenever I sleep too long And miss good things, Be so kind and awaken me, And sing to me, Lady, your song With which you touch the soul Like a sweet chord of strings. Ah, Lady Love, throw me beneath you. I would [...]