MedievalWomenSpeak

Lady Justice came to me and said, ‘In my opinion, Christine, you have indeed done your very best... you’ve made a fine job of building the City of Ladies. It’s now time for me to add the finishing touches, as I promised you I would. I shall bring you a most noble queen.

-Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

For when you see in the southern sky an image, beautiful and wonderful in the mystery of God, like a human in form, this is because Divine Love is beautiful because of her election in the strength of unfailing divinity... and thus Divine Love reveals humankind.

St. Hildegard of Bingen, b. 1098

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If you want me to give you examples of male inconstancy from the past, since men persist in attacking women for this failing, just look at the behaviour of the most powerful princes and the most eminent men, in whom these are more dangerous faults than in others.

- Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

With this same expression of joy he looked down on his right side and said, ‘Would you like to see her?’ as if he had said with sweetness, ‘I well know you would like to see my blessed mother, for after myself she is the highest joy, the greatest delight and honour to me.’
Julian of Norwich, b. 1342

I have discovered that women are more than capable of undertaking any task which requires physical strength or of learning any discipline which requires discernment and intelligence. Books which say otherwise were definitely not written by women.

- Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

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'Rare' medieval hair accessory uncovered at Eilean Donan Castle The gravoir was used for neatly parting hair and creating elaborate hairstyles.

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Reason replied, “Believe me, many crucial and worthy arts and sciences have been discovered thanks to the ingenuity and cleverness of women, both in the theoretical sciences expressed through the written word, and in the technical crafts.”

- Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

She had such great compassion to see our Lord’s pain that she could not keep herself from crying and roaring though she should have died for it.This kind of crying lasted for many years and she suffered much contempt and much reproof for it. The crying was so loud and so amazing it astounded people.

So, cry cry, beat your hands and cry – as once the sad Argia did, along with the ladies of Argos – you ladies, damsels, and women of the kingdom of France! Because the swords that will make you widows and deprive you of your children and kin have already been sharpened.

Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

Alone am I and alone I wish to be,
Alone my gentle friend has left me,
Alone am I, with no companion,
Alone am I, in bitterness and in pain,
Alone am I in tormented lamentation,
Alone am I much more than any wandering soul,
Alone am I and without a friend remain

- Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

‘You have suffered much shame and reproof, and therefore you shall have very much bliss in heaven. Daughter, do not be ashamed to receive my grace... you shall be received into heaven with me everlastingly as my beloved darling, as my blessed spouse, and as my holy wife.’
Margery Kempe, born c. 1373

‘The perfect accompaniment to life’: why is a 12th-century nun the hottest name in experimental music? ​A mystic who turned visions into beautiful chants, Hildegard von Bingen has inspired everyone from Grimes to David Lynch. Musicians including Julia Holter explain the hold she has on them

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And she was many times ill while this treatise was being written, and, as soon as she would set about the writing of this treatise, then in a sudden way she was hale and healthy.

Margery Kempe, born c. 1373

After her child was born, and not believing she would live, she sent for her confessor. When she came to the point of saying that thing which she had so long concealed, her confessor was too hasty and began sharply to reprove her, and so she would say no more.

Margery Kempe, born c. 1373

After her child was born, and not believing she would live, she sent for her confessor. When she came to the point of saying that thing which she had so long concealed, her confessor was too hasty and began sharply to reprove her, and so she would say no more.

Margery Kempe, born c. 1373

Our Lord revealed the devil’s enmity, and from this I understand that everything contrary to love is from the devil. If our enemy gains anything from us by our falling—for in that we resemble him—he loses many times more from our rising through love and humility.

Julian of Norwich, b. 1342

‘You can it from me that any man who slanders the female sex does so because he has an evil mind, since he’s going against both reason and nature. Against reason, because he is lacking in gratitude. Against nature, in that even the birds and beasts love their mate.'

Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

Reason replied: ‘Note too that good judgement does not come from learning, though learning can help perfect it… in my opinion, anyone who has naturally good judgement or good sense and who also manages to attain learning is thoroughly deserving of praise.’

- Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

‘And therefore, do not be afraid, daughter, though people wonder why you weep so bitterly when you receive me, for, if they knew what grace I place in you at that time, they should rather wonder that your heart does not burst asunder.'

Margery Kempe, born c. 1373

But she was greatly troubled by one thing:
Each week she lost him
For three whole days
Many times she asked him
He hid nothing from her.
“Lady, I become a werewolf
I go into that great forest,
To the deepest part of the woods,
And live on prey and plunder.”

Bisclavret, Marie de France, b. c. 1140

That I love you passionately comes from my nature, for I am love itself. That I love you often comes from my desire, for I desire to be loved passionately. That I love you long comes from my being eternal, for I am without an end and without a beginning.

Mechthild of Magdeburg, born c. 1207

This fair lovely word ‘mother’ is so sweet and so kind in itself that it cannot truly be said of anyone except of him who is the true mother of life and of all things. The kind, loving mother who knows and recognizes the needs of her child protects it very tenderly.

Julian of Norwich, b. 1342

Those men who have attacked women because of their own bodily impediments, such as impotence or a deformed limb, are all bitter and twisted in the mind. The only pleasure they have to compensate for their incapacity is to slander the female sex.

The City of Ladies
Christine de Pizan, b. 1365

You are my resplendent mountain,
A feast for my eyes,
A loss of myself,
A tempest in my heart,
A defeat and retreat of my power,
My surest protection.

Mechthild of Magdeburg, born c. 1207

Now I have told you how the tear proceeds from the heart: the heart offers it to the eye, having plucked it from burning desire; just as green wood in the fire weeps water for the heat, — just so the heart, fresh and green again thanks to the renewal of grace.

St. Catherine of Siena, b. 1347

What is this frenzy? What rage or madness drives you? Do you think that you will not be punished for this? Or do you not realize that God will block your criminal efforts? Do you think He will allow you to remain in darkness and error?

-Joan of Arc, b. 1412

For some time now, rumor and public information have made it clear to me, Jeanne the Virgin, that from true Christians you have become heretics ... you have destroyed true faith and worship... there is not a single disgrace nor act of barbarism which you do not dare.

Joan of Arc, b. 1412