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November 19

St. Mechtild of Magdeburg

Life (1207-1282)

Mechthild most likely belonged to the nobility—her language and imagery suggest a courtly upbringing. Beginning at the age of twelve she received each day a divine “greeting,” as she called her mystical encounters with God. In 1230 she left her family “in order to dwell in the love of God,” and moved to Magdeburg, where she would live as a Beguine for 40 years. It is possible that for a time she even headed this devotional community of women, who lived together but were not members of a religious order. She did receive spiritual counsel from the Dominicans, in particular from her confessor Heinrich von Halle, who finally persuaded her in 1250 to write down her visions and spiritual experiences. She did this in her own hand, in the conviction that it was God’s will: “For you commanded me to write it myself.” By 1270 six of the seven books of the “Flowing Light” were brought to parchment and were collected and given chapter titles by Heinrich. Mechthild saw her book as a message to both believers and clergy, for she feared the church was in danger of being hollowed out from within; she called the powerful church officials, who often enjoyed worldly luxury, “stinking billy-goats” (VI,3). She hoped that her own unique relationship with God would inspire others to a stronger, more passionate faith. In union with God, the loving, adoring soul experiences “an unsurpassed exaltation” (VI, 3). In her mysticism of divine love Mechthild reflects the tradition of courtly love poetry as well as the biblical Song of Solomon; the mutuality of God’s and the soul’s longing for each other is, however, unique to her: “Where two heated desires unite / love is perfect” (VII, 16). God is “lovesick for her” (III, 2), “a burning God in his longing” (I, 17).

According to her own report Mechthild led a life in Magdeburg that was beset with many inner and outer difficulties, including serious illnesses. Around 1270 she was taken in by the convent of Helfta near Eisleben, where she was cared for and admired by the learned nuns Mechthild of Hackeborn and Gertrud the Great, among others, and where she dictated the seventh book of her revelations.

Source: https://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/mechthild-von-magdeburg/

Scripture (Song of Songs 1:1-14)

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—

for your love is more delightful than wine.

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;

your name is like perfume poured out.

No wonder the young women love you!

Take me away with you—let us hurry!

Let the king bring me into his chambers.

Writings

(Year C). It is well for me that I praise you, God, all ways for your noble goodness, that you have chosen me for your holy service. Sanctify my heart and mind, that I might receive all your gifts with holy inwardness and might remain with you in joy. It is well for me to thank you, imperial Son of God. I shall thank you always that you took me, in the world, out of the world. Your holy pain that you suffered for my sake is mine. All that I ever suffer I want to give to you in return. Even though this is an unequal bargain, it nevertheless makes my soul free. Keep me always in your favor, so that you may be praised forever. Jesus, my dearly Beloved, loosen my bonds; let me remain with you. It is well for me to thank you, Holy Spirit. It is my belief that you are one Person of the Holy Trinity. Your sweet loving spring waters erase all the suffering of my heart, for they come forth softly out of the Holy Trinity. I beg you, Lord Holy Spirit, to protect me from all malice of the evil spirits with your divine love, so that they not find in me what they are seeking. I, lacking all virtues; I, fragile in my being; if I dare or can, then I shall greet the sublimity, the splendor, the bliss, the wisdom, the nobility, and the wondrous oneness of the Holy Trinity. Out of it has flowed forth immaculate all that was, that is, that ever shall be. There I must one day enter again. How shall that happen? I must crawl back, for I am sinful. I must make amends with good works. I must hurry with faithful diligence. I must fly with the feathers of doves-these are virtues and goodness and a holy frame of mind. I must soar in all things above myself. When I am utterly spent, then I shall enter. How I shall then be received-never has a human eye beheld such a sight; never has a human ear heard it; never could a human tongue describe it. Glory to you, Trinity! (The Flowing Light of the Godhead)

Musical Selection

My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?

Collect

Draw near to the souls of your people, O God, that like your

servant Mechthild we may yearn to know you ever more, just as we

are known intimately by you, who knows each one of us better than

we can know ourselves. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our

Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God now

and for ever. Amen. (ECUSA)

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