Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 6852
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Classen , Albrecht.
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: Die Mystikerin als Peregrina: Margery Kempe. Reisende in corpore - Reisende in spiritu
  • Source: Studies in Spirituality 5, ( 1995): Pages 127 - 145.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Autobiography Jesus Christ in Literature Kempe, Margery, Mystic Mystics Pilgrimage Travel Women in Literature Women in Religion
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: British Isles
  • Century: 15
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations:
  • Table:
  • Abstract: The irritation which Kempe's mystical visions have provoked is still considered to be a major stumbling block in understanding her work in our times. After a brief discussion of the various viewpoints, the paper focuses on the element of Kempe's international travels, which occupy a major portion of her autobiographical account. These travels are, first of all, worldly enterprises that satisfy the author's curiosity and her desire for spiritual salvation. On closer reading, however, the travels emerge as a direct move towards realizing the mystical quest in the mystic's physical existence. The more Kempe goes on travels, the more she is able to tranform her daily life into an "imitatio Christi." The travels also allow the mystic writer to assume a surprising level of authority and power over the representatives of the traditional Church. Moreover, the fact that Kempe mentions some of the most amazing features of her travels only in passing, indicates the extent to which travel, even to so remote locations as Jerusalem, had become almost a routine affair in the lives of many wealthy late-medieval women. [Reproduced by permission of the Titus Brandsma Institute. The journal may be ordered from the Institute, Attn. Ineke Wackers, Erasmusplein .1, 6525 HT Nijmegen, The Netherlands.]
  • Related Resources:
  • Author's Affiliation: University of Arizona
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 1995.
  • Language: German
  • ISSN/ISBN: 09266453