| Marguerite Porete France (1260? - 1310) Timeline Christian : Catholic Poems by Marguerite Porete Books - Links |
Marguerite Porete may have been a Beguine, like Hadewijch of Antwerp and Mechthild of Magdeburg, but this is questionable. Her accusers called her a Beguine, but apparently meant it as an insult. In her own writings, Marguerite lists the Beguines as being among her critics.
Her book, The Mirror of Simple Souls (or The Mirror of Simple Annihilated Souls, a reference to ecstatic annihilation in God), survived her death and was translated into many European languages, attributed initially to "an unknown French mystic." The book is a collection of poetry and prose that suggests a profound experience of mystical union which resulted in a complete loss of personal identity in which only the Divine remains.
Marguerite wrote: “God has nowhere to put his goodness, if not in me…no place to put himself entire, if not in me. And by this means I am the exemplar of salvation, and what is more, I am the salvation itself of every creature, and the glory of God…” (tr. by Peter Dronke).
Poems by Marguerite Porete
- Beguines say I err...
- Beloved, what do you want of me?
- How Love names the Soul by twelve names
- How Truth Praises Such Souls
- Humility
- O Lover of gentle nature
- Peace of charity in the annihilated life
- Thought is no longer of worth to me
- You who would read this book
Recommended Books: Marguerite Porete
Related Links
Marguerite Porete
http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/porete.html
Brief biography notes and excerpts of her writings.
Marguerite Porete
http://www.digiserve.com/mystic/Christian/Porete/index.html
Several quotes online.
Marguerite Porete
http://www.geocities.com/ganesha_gate/porete.html
An excellent site with several excerpts from The Mirror of Simple Souls, along with commentary and biographical notes.
Marguerite Porete: Gathering the Ashes of the Pearl of God
http://www.liminalityland.com/marguerite.htm
Extended commentary with excerpts from The Mirror of Simple Souls.
