Spirituality Of Hadewijch - My Love Is All

Several historical influences led to new movements of Christian life in the Middle Ages: The monasteries were filling up had financial concerns which led to reduced openings for new vocations. The influence of the Franciscan and Dominican mendicant orders modeled the radical call to apostolic witness (Vita Apostolica), serving the poor and outcast (the leper), voluntary poverty, and preaching in the vernacular(mother tongue instead of Latin). The church placed a ban on starting new religious orders. The movement of the Beguines(women)and Beghards (men)marked a new use of the vernacular to express mystical union with God.

Because the Beguines were not in religious orders they were not limited to using Latin for their texts. The emerging languages provided new ways to search for the expression of religious experience, and increased availability to a lay audience. The Beguines also claimed the divine authority of their texts. (See McGinn - The Flowering of Mysticism.)

The convergence of these historical elements provided the perfect climate for a new outpouring of the holy spirit in mysticsm.

The Beguine mystics employed various literary forms and broke new ground in communicating mystical experience. These forms included influences from Bernard of Clairvaux and the use of the "Song of Songs", troubadour language and bridal mysticism, essence mysticism, void and abyss language, dialog, poetry, instructions, songs, and visions.