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Béguines
The Beguines () and the Beghards () were Christian lay religious orders that were active in Western Europe, particularly in the Low Countries, in the 13th–16th centuries. Their members lived in semi-monastic communities but did not take formal religious vows. Although they promised not to marry "as long as they lived as Beguines", to quote an early Rule of Life, they were free to leave at any time. Beguines were part of a larger spiritual revival movement of the 13th century that stressed imitation of Jesus' life through voluntary poverty, care of the poor and sick, and religious devotion. Etymology The term "Beguine" (; ) is of uncertain origin and may have been pejorative. Scholars no longer credit the theory expounded in the ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Eleventh Edition (1911) that the name derived from Lambert le Bègue, a priest of Liège. Other theories, such as derivation from the name of St. Begga and from the purported, reconstructed Old Saxon word , "to beg" or "to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Douceline Of Digne
Douceline of Digne ( 1215/1216 – 1274) was the founder of the Beguines of Marseilles and the subject of a vita that survives today, ''The Life of Douceline de Digne''. Life Douceline was born shortly after the death of Mary of Oignies, in 1215 or 1216, to a wealthy family, likely in the town of Digne in Provence, in the south of France. Her father, a wealthy merchant called Bérenguier (or Bérenger), was from Digne and her mother, Hugue, was from Barjols where the family lived when Douceline was a child. When her mother died around 1230, Douceline moved to Hyères with her father, probably to be closer to her brother Hugh who was a member of the town’s Franciscan monastery. Hugh was to become a well-known Franciscan theologian and preacher and was to have a significant role in assisting Douceline. A second brother died young leaving two daughters, Douceline and Marie, who later followed their aunt’s ways of life. After a very pious childhood and teenage years which wer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
