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Mechthild & Me

Earlier this semester, one of my profs gave me a book called Enduring Grace: Living Portraits of Seven Women Mystics by Carol Flinders. It was a perfect gift out of the leftovers of her overflowing bookshelves... Although I'm only two portraits in, I am floored and amazed and encouraged.

(I know, I am a weird, weird woman.)

It's likely that I'll have many excerpts to share over the summer...here is the first round!




My favourite 13th century German mystic, Mechthild of Magdeburg wrote this:
"If I am truly to show forth the goodness of God, then I am obliged to speak of myself."
A woman who loved God and knew her own self/voice. Boom.

---


This poem excerpt runs along the same lines:
Fish cannot drown in water,
Birds cannot sink in air,
Gold cannot perish
In the refiner's fire.
This has God given to all creatures,
To foster and seek their own nature,
How then can I withstand mine?
---

And here's a statement from the author about gender and ethics. Do you agree/disagree? Does it matter?
Women look at moral dilemmas in terms of the 'connectedness' of the individuals involved as opposed to contractual agreements into which they might have entered or abstract schemes of 'rights.'
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