Marguerite Porete: The Mirror of Simple Souls (Classics of Western Spirituality) (Paperback)

by Ellen Babinsky (Author, Translator) "Here commences the table in order to find the chapters of this book called "The Mirror of simple annihilated souls and those who only remain..." (more)
Key Phrases: pleasing fruition, moderate enclosure, loving conjunction, Jesus Christ, Holy Church, Holy Spirit (more...)

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Product Description
We know very little about Marguerite Porete, only that she was a beguine from Hainaut who was burned at the stake as a relapsed heretic in 1310. She might have been a solitary itinerant beguine who expounded her teachings to interested listeners. She wrote The Mirror of Simple Souls in Old French sometime between 1296 and 1306.

The format of the text is a dialogue among allegorical figures who represent the nature of the relation between the soul and God. The fundamental structure of the discourse is grounded in traditional Neoplatonist philosophy, and courtly language is used to express theological abstractions. The Mirror is a theological treatise which analyzes how love in human beings is related to divine love, and how the human soul by means of this relation may experience a lasting union of indistinct ion with God in this life.

This is the first modern English translation of the complete text. The translation is based on a critical edition of the Old French and Latin versions of The Mirror. The introduction sets The Mirror in the maelstrom of political and ecclesiastical tensions and conflicts, and offers an analysis of the French beguine's thought.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (December 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809134276
• ISBN-13: 978-0809134274
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #537,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good edition of Porete, November 15, 2006

By	Greg (Australia) - See all my reviews

Porete to me is one of the most haunting and mysterious figures of the medieval period. As the painting on the cover seems to suggest, when you read Porete you seem to feel as if you are coming across a being who is human yet not quite of this Earth, and there is an ethereal glow of transcendant love in Porete's words.

Porete was one of a series of female mystics in the medieval period known as 'beguines.' Beguines were lay women who either were unable to become nuns, because to join a nunnery usually required the payment of an expensive sum (and only upper class or aristocratic women could afford that in the middle ages) but who still desired the spiritual life. Along with men (beghards) this group produced many interesting mystics.

Porete was charged with heresy and forbidden from circulating her work, the Mirror, by high ranking clerical officials. Porete refused to shut up, and was brought before the inquisition. Unrepentant, like Joan of Arc, she was burned at the stake.

The Mirror was also burned but copies were made and her work was kept and studied, and was not directly connected to her again until the 20th century. Much detailed scholarship has shed a lot of light on this work and on Porete herself.

The Mirror, like many mystical works of the time, describes a process of the union between the human soul and God through love. Porete describes a seven stage process by which the soul of the mystic is 'annihalated' and its will lost in God's infinite being and love. Most controversial, and perhaps what raised the ire of the inquisitors and theologians, was Margaret's argument that after the early stages the mystic was so united with God there was no need for the mystic 'annihalated' in God to take part in the sacramental life of the church, or listen to sermons on things such as heaven and hell. Eventually the soul becomes so united in God distinction seems to be lost, and the mystic passes into the ineffable seventh stage of death which completes perfect union with God and is therefore inexpressible.

The Mirror is a beautiful work of literature and Margaret shows a surprising knowledge of theology, spirituality, and of literature, and herself has considerable abilities as a writer. Like other beguine mystics such as Hadjewich and Metchild, the process of love and uniting to God by annihalating self-will and by a spiritual marriage with the word of God, Jesus, with the soul, seems to be critically important and at many points Margaret borrows the tropes of secular troubadour literature to express her mystical union.

It is quite possible Porete influenced Eckhart and other mystics, and no doubt she had a unique and couragous spirituality. Whether though Christian mysticism can only ever accept the union of God as between two loving but seperate wills, or of complete merging of being, I am not sure, but in my own view Margaret went too far in terms of seeing herself as in indistinct union. Nevertheless, even from afar, we must love and admire this brave woman who is said to have endured the flames in a state of noble equamity.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reliable edition, February 23, 2006

By	Laura S. Miles "Laura Miles" (New Haven, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is virtually the only available Modern English edition of originally Old French 'The Mirror of Simple Souls', so it is fortunate not only that it is part of the Classics of Western Spirituality Series but also that it rises to the exceptional level of scholarly excellence that marks the rest of the series while still presenting an accessible text. Marguerite's text is challenging no matter what language, but the introduction and footnotes will answer most questions of any level. Babinsky's edition is, and will be for some time, the sole point of access to Margeurite's work by students, scholars, the devout and lay alike.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christian Mysticism - Marguerite Porete, April 23, 2008

By	C. J. Adams (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A beautiful book! I love Marguerite's personal relationship and familiarity with God (even though she was burned at the stake for her views)!