Beginning with the Beguines Lessons from the Medieval Lay Women's Movement

Author

Wendy J. Rape, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University

Date of Award

8-2-1991

Document Type

Graduate Paper

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Theology

Department

School of Theology and Seminary

First Advisor

Columba Stewart OSB

Subject Categories

Catholic Studies | Christianity | History of Christianity | New Religious Movements | Religion

Abstract

The position proposed in this paper is derived from the ideal of the Beguines, a 12/13c Catholic lay movement predominantly of the Low Countries, but active also in France and the Rhineland. It was, as Eileen Power quite flatly stated, "a sort of religious movement ... a lay sisterhood, standing halfway between the lay and the monastic life." This proposal is a vision for community life today that could bear new witness to the need for Christian charity and prayer in an innovative yet tradition-rooted form.

The title of this paper playfully meddles with a Cole Porter (1892-1964) melody "Begin the Beguine". This song refers to a South American dance characterized by the female dancer's flirtatious, beguiling flair as she captures the momentum of the music. It is that same type of recaptured momentum that I propose here. A new community in today's church could draw inspiration from the Beguines. Theirs was a spontaneous response to a growing need to nurture and be enlivened within the existing Catholic community.

Comments

Access restricted to College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University on-campus users.

Recommended Citation

Rape, Wendy J., "Beginning with the Beguines Lessons from the Medieval Lay Women's Movement" (1991). School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses. 1876.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/sot_papers/1876