As Lent Madness voting resumes for the week, we encounter Hadewijch and Juan Diego, two outsiders in their own unique ways. In case you're wondering about the pronunciation, Hadewijch rhymes with hate-a-witch (if you're either a Wiccan or from Salem, Massachusetts, please don't get offended).
In the only Saturday match-up of Lent Madness 2015, Molly Brant sent Swithun back to the proverbial swamp 58% to 42%. Molly will face the winner of Bede vs. Cuthbert in the Saintly Sixteen.
Yesterday, in case you missed it (and if you did, you should sign up on the home page to receive e-mails every time we post something), we shared some resources to supplement your Lenten journey. We've invited folks to add others in the comment section, not because we don't have all the answers but because we're lazy. So check out what we're calling "Lent beyond the Madness" and feel free to add to the list.
Hadewijch
In the early thirteenth century, new expressions of religion began to appear in what are now the modern-day countries of Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. The devotions of contemplation and ecstatic mysticism began to be publicly practiced by a group of devout women known as the Beguines. Beguines were not nuns, but women who chose to lead lives of poverty and prayerful contemplation without taking formal vows. Their members were from across all socioeconomic classes; some lived alone, and others formed small groups.
Hadewijch was among these devout women. Other than her devotion as a Beguine, almost nothing is known of her life. What we do know has been distilled from her writings—collections of poetry, letters, and visions. Her writings show a proficiency in Latin and French, with a vast knowledge of both the Old and New Testaments and early Church writers, especially Saint Augustine of Hippo.
Her writings tell of a burning love for the Trinity and mystical love for Christ. In fact, her writings are filled with the theme of love, although a much more diverse sense of the word than English translations can capture. Hadewijch used various terms for love, including karitate (love of neighbor), lief (the beloved) and minne (a feminine word of the language of courtly love). Minne is used most often in her writings, as an experience of the soul in a loving, erotic relationship with God.
While almost nothing is known directly about her that can be pinned down as historical fact, her use of the images of courtly love to describe our relationship with God suggests she was nobility. She took common images of her day—love offered to a lady by a knight, the knight facing dangers to win the love of a woman, the elegant dance of honor, expressions of love, the trials faced to win the love and affection of the beloved — and used the tension, seduction, and longing particular to courtly love to express the relationship between the soul and God. Her poetry brought a holy sensuality to the usually dry theological writings of the time, which were also rife with superstition and threats of eternal damnation.
Her use of courtly love and eroticism to speak of our relationship with God did not find support in the traditional church hierarchy or in the Beguine community. From the content of letters and visions, scholars believe Hadewijch was evicted from her community and perhaps imprisoned for her expression of faith and belief. Other letters indicate she lived her last years homeless, serving the sick and dying in hospitals where she could care for those in need, sleep in a corner when possible, and pray in a chapel.
Collect for Hadewijch
Loving God, we thank you this day for the ministry and mystical experiences of your servant Hedewijch. Grant that we might each discover a language of love to speak to you, and to our brothers and sisters in faith. Give us grace to speak of love and out of love daily, to you and to the world, not counting the cost or considering the risks of speaking and loving boldly, knowing that your love perfects our imperfections, and that mercy and grace cover a multitude of shortcomings. Amen.
Juan Diego
Juan Diego is the first Roman Catholic indigenous American saint. Born in 1474 with the name “Cuauhtlatoatzin” (“the talking eagle”), Juan Diego was a member of the Chichimeca people and lived a simple life as a weaver, farmer, and laborer. When he was fifty years old, he and his wife were among the first indigenous people in the former Aztec Empire to accept baptism and convert to Christianity.
According to tradition, on December 9, 1531, Juan Diego rose before dawn to walk fifteen miles to mass. As he passed the hill of Tepeyac, he heard a woman’s voice call him to the top of the hill. There, he saw a beautiful young woman dressed like an Aztec princess. She said she was the Virgin Mary and asked him to tell the Bishop of Tepeyac to build a church on that site in her honor.
The bishop was skeptical of Juan Diego and demanded proof of the Lady’s identity. On December 12, Juan Diego returned to Tepeyac and asked the Virgin Mary for proof. She told him to climb the hill and to pick the flowers that he would find in bloom. He obeyed, and although it was wintertime, he found roses blooming in the frozen soil. He gathered them in his tilma (cloak) and took them to the bishop. When Juan Diego opened his tilma, dozens of roses fell out. An image of Mary, imprinted on the inside of his cloak, became visible. Having received this proof, the bishop ordered that a church be built on Tepeyac in honor of the Virgin and thousands converted to Christianity.
This was the first Marian apparition in the New World. Additionally, Mary spoke to Juan Diego in Nahua, the Aztec mother tongue. The familiar language and comforting words of Our Lady still prompt thousands of converts to declare their faith in Jesus and love for Mary; this devotion can be seen and felt throughout much of Latin America, including roadside shrines and icons in bodegas, restaurants, and households from South Texas to Tierra Del Fuego.
Juan Diego died on May 30, 1548, at the age of seventy-four and was buried in the first chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Pope John Paul II praised Juan Diego for his simple faith and offered him as a model of humility for all Christians. On May 6, 1990, Juan Diego was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the Basilica of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Mexico City.
Collect for Juan Diego
Almighty God, you love the least of us and reveal your glor y and blessings to those simple and seeking souls who desire the warmth and vision only you can provide.We thank you for the life and ministry of Juan Diego, who, inspired by a vision of The Blessed Virgin, helped to spread the story of Jesus’ redeeming love throughout his community and into the New World. For the beauty of roses in winter, for comforting words in our own tongue, and the grace to spread the life-changing message of the Gospel, we thank you. Amen.
Vote!
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186 comments on “Hadewijch vs. Juan Diego”
For many reasons Juan Diego for the halo! I was ordained on May 6, many years later though!!
Having just come from the nursery where I bought Hellebores (i.e. Lenten Roses) for the garden a vote for Juan Diego seems appropriate.
Today I had to go with Hadewijch in honor of my husbands heritage. I also was deeply moved by her story and her willingness to serve the sick and poor. It seems as though she gave up everything to draw closer to God, a lesson we all need to hear. Thank you for her witness.
Such a beautiful story of Juan Diego! Hard choice but I voted for Hadewijch--mystic, feminist, lover, rebel--hardly think she'll take the halo but what an interesting lady, mysterious too since we don't know much about her. This far all my choices have lost
I wish we knew more about Hadewjich. The ones who condemned her for the erotic images in her writings should re-read the Song of Songs.
As a Julian person, I find this an extremely difficult choice. However, the legacy of Juan Diego over the centuries, in the empowerment of the indigenous people of Latin America, remains too powerful. I vote for Juan Diego.
Hadewjich - eviction from her neighborhood; at the bedside of the sick and suffering in her last days - amazing, loving sacrifice. Hadewjich rocks!
A hard choice, but I know what a powerful impact Juan Diego's vision and faith have on my predominantly Latino worshipping community so he gets my vote today.
Roses in winter for the win! Although I feel a little guilt about that. I usually go for the ones who give generously, freely of themselves serving the poor. But... well, it's 5F & falling in Rochester, NY at 4 p.m. Roses in winter for the win!
I was all set to vote for Juan Diego today, but as a volunteer chaplain, Hadewijch calls to me.
I love that our lady of Guadalupe appeared as a native women and spoke in Juan Diego's native language. He gets my vote because of this.
I am a Companion in Anamchara Fellowship, a new monastic order (http//anamcharafellowship.org) and am drawn to Hadewjich's example. She gets my vote!
Burning love of the Trinity & she stayed faithful to her calling. She didn't get much support. I voted for Hadewijch
The decision was not easy, concur that both were winners worthy of respect and awe. The LM experience is what counts, How many had a clue about these exceptional people a day ago? Thank you
I was all set to vote for Hadewijch (as she checks off several boxes for me, so to speak) until I realized who Juan Diego was. I just watched Guadalupe: A Living Image as part of the film component of my Lenten observance. I'll still be second-guessing my choice until the next excruciating vote though...so tomorrow.
Thank you Nancy and Laurie for your moving prayers. Are the prayers collected and published separately? What a wonderful resource for intercessions and personal reflection.
Alas, you can no longer begin the Beguine. The last one died in 2013.
http://www.economist.com/news/obituary/21576632-marcella-pattyn-worlds-last-beguine-died-april-14th-aged-92-marcella-pattyn
Thank you for the link, Bob
I detect a trend of higher votes for Amrrican saints than those from other areas. Are we stuufing the ballot boxes for Americans?
Perhaps men more than women, as well, Swithin the exception. St. Swithin's sounds like a parish in a Miss Marple story, so it may be the lack of gravitas that lost him the round.
There's been a revival of the Beguine movement, with some differences of course, in recent decades: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beguine#Third_wave
I visited Bruge Belgium this past year and we walked thru a Beguine convent garden - the most beautiful, peaceful place in Bruge.....
What a hard choice--as usual! I voted for Juan Diego, mostly because I remember finding the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe when I was about 10. I loved it then, and still do.
I didn't read any of the comments every one posted until I voted. I just went with the Bio's furnished. After reading lot of them, I agree it is a toss up. But I'm not sad that I voted for Juan Diego.
This is my first time to play LentMadness. I'm having so much fun reading posts and comments (oops, should I say I'm having fun during Lent?). I voted for Juan Diego, mostly because he sounds like a real person even if he isn't!
Rhymes with sandwich?!
Hadewijch. I cannot overstate the importance of uplifting this understanding of God as the Beloved. People who have dealt with sexual abuse or exploitation particularly need this relationship to heal those wounds. Not everyone connects to God as Father or Shepherd. Even though some people would rather not acknowledge a God that created us as sexual beings, this image is orthodox, and a long-standing tradition in the church. Teresa of Avila in fact used this semi-erotic language to describe her relationship with God. WE NO LONGER HAVE TERESA TO CHAMPION THIS LOVE OF GOD. LET'S GET HADEWIJCH THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND.
Hard Choice. Juan Diego seems to have had more of an impact, especially here in America. Also, I was born in California, so it made sense.
Have to vote for Hadewijch, here: too radical even for the Beguines, who themselves were too radical for the church authorities, she had the courage and faithfulness to persist in her relationship with God, grounded in all the forms of love that she knew. Although another female "mystic", her education in scripture & languages would qualify her as a theologian as well.
I vote in honor of all the women, today and over the past fifty years and more, who have struggled to authentically live and express and share their faith despite the disapproval of those who don't find it appropriate, let alone legitimate. Hadewijch, pray for us.
I had to vote for Hadewijch, as women rarely get the same trust and respect as men, even amoungst saints. She gave us a a wonderful new perspective of God's love, and that is an important contribution which got my vote.
Not a factor in my vote for her, but was Hadewijch ever actually canonized or otherwise officially recognized as a saint?
I had to vote for the least offensive to my puritan leanings. Crypto-erotic mystic poetry vs Marian apparition. I voted for the poet.