Adelheid Langmann (–1375) was a German Roman Catholic nun, belonging to the Dominican order at

Engelthal Engelthal is a municipality near Nürnberg (Nuremberg) in the Frankenalb (Frankish Alb). The municipality has a population of approximately 1100 people. History The place was named ''Swinnahe'' in former times and mentioned first in 1058/1059 o ...

Abbey in the 14th century. She is best known for her text, ''Revelations'', which consists of autobiographical details, prayers, and religious instruction. She was a renowned spiritual teacher during her lifetime.

Life

Adelheid Langmann was a German nun. She belonged to the Dominican order, and resided at

Engelthal Abbey Engelthal Abbey or St. Mary's Abbey, Engelthal, is a Benedictine nunnery in the Wetterau region, Hesse, Germany. Engelthal Abbey was a Cistercian nunnery from its foundation in 1268, until the secularisation of 1803. It was ruled by Imperial Count ...

. She is best known for written records of her religious visions, which were collected in a book titled ''Revelations.'' Along with the writings of

Christina Ebner Christina Ebner (also Christine), (26 March 1277 – 27 December 1356) was a German Dominican nun, writer and mystic. Life Ebner was born in the Imperial City of Nuremberg, the child of the patrician Seyfried Ebner and his wife, Elizabeth Kuhd ...

, these constitute an important text documenting female mysticism in the 14th century. Langmann was a widow who belonged to a well-established family from Nuremberg, and recorded her revelations on the advice of a lector who worked at Engelthal Abbey. Langmann's ''Revelations'' also contain an account of her own spiritual journey, including biographical details. Langmann writes that her vocation was apparent to her as a child, but she was betrothed to, and married Gottfried Teufel in deference to her parents' wishes. According to Langmann, the marriage was never consummated, and her husband died of illness within a year of the wedding, leaving her free to join the Dominicans. She joined the order in 1330, and was present there, as was

, when King Charles IV visited the Abbey seeking spiritual counsel. Langmann was renowned during her lifetime, and taught prayers at the Abbey, although she was not permitted to hold any official position. It was common for visitors to the Abbey to visit particularly to receive instruction from her in religion. These visitors ranged from lay persons, laborers and local residents, to members of the clergy and the aristocracy. During her lifetime she maintained a close friendship, and was a mentor to Marquart der Tokler of Nuremberg, a nobleman and later, cleric who later joined the

Augustinians Augustinians are members of Christian religious orders that follow the Rule of Saint Augustine, written in about 400 AD by Augustine of Hippo. There are two distinct types of Augustinians in Catholic religious orders dating back to the 12th–13 ...

under her guidance, and who recited prayers especially composed for him by Langmann. Langmann's ''Revelations'' is a compilation of prayers, letters, records of visions and other accounts, and is addressed to her fellow women, often utilising the phrase 'dear sisters' or 'fellow sisters'. Langmann's instructions in the ''Revelations'' are a guide on attaining salvation, chiefly through prayer and meditation. Langman's ''Revelations'' were rediscovered in the 19th century by scholars of the German language, who were looking for texts written in the medieval Bavarian language that Langmann used.

References

{{Authority control 1306 births 1375 deaths 14th-century Christian mystics 14th-century German nuns Dominican nuns Dominican mystics German Christian mystics German spiritual writers German spiritual teachers People from Nuremberg Roman Catholic mystics 14th-century German writers 14th-century German women writers