Margerite de Porete

Earlier this week, we talked about French mystics who have been condemned by the Church and burned as a heretic before Joan. And Margerite de Porete caught my eye because similar to Joan she also went through Church's inquisition. Marguerite published her spiritual work “The Mirror of Simple Souls” around 1290. According to the Web, in her writing she states that when in the state of contemplative love of God the soul has no need of Masses or prayers. That statement was clearly belittling the Church’s authority. We can understand why the church felt threaten and took action against Margerite, immediately.  

Therefore her work was quickly condemned by the bishop. During the Inquisition, the questioners focused on her writing and conflated her writings with the heresy of the Free Spirit. According to Virtual Medieval Church and its writing, Free Spirit was believed that it is possible for a human being to attain spiritual perfection in the present life, and that once an individual has attained such a state, he or she may then commit any sin with impunity (http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/medieval/julian/Marguerite.htm).

Her trial records show that Marguerite refused to acknowledge the Church’s authority. Instead she did not answer their questions. Her headstrong is admirable. I really like this part of the trial, it says,” Yet you refused to swear [the oath].  Even though you were questioned by us many times and in many places about this, you always remained contumacious and rebellious about these matters; because of your obvious and notorious contumacy and rebellion” (http://www.uncg.edu/~rebarton/margporete.htm).  Unfortunately her faith did get her killed. She was excommunicated and burned at the stake on June 1, 1310.

 

Sources:

http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/medieval/julian/Marguerite.htm

You can find the trial here http://www.uncg.edu/~rebarton/margporete.htm

 Images: Google