Priscilla's Ramblings

obitoftheday: Obit of the Day: End the Beguines* When Marcella...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:19:14 -0600

Obit of the Day: End the Beguines*

When Marcella Pattyn died on April 14, 2013 she took 800 years of history with her. Ms. Pattyn was a Beguine. A creation of the Middle Ages, beguines were lay women who formed communities that allowed them independence, both socially and economically.

During the Medieval period women of the upper class were given two choices for their adult lives: marriage or religious life. They were to either be under the rule of their husband or the rule of God, serving as a nun. (Women of the lower classes could sometimes live alone and run a business but usually only as widows.)

In the 12th century in Flanders (a region that now is part of Belgium and The Netherlands) lay communities sprang up in cities where widows of the Crusades would congregate but without the rules of a convent or giving up their freedom. They could travel freely on their own. They could marry at any time. Some even lived in homes with servants.

At their peak Beguines were found across northern Europe and could have thousands of members. They would provide services for the poor and needy as well as sell handmade textiles.

To no one’s surprise, the group was quickly considered a threat. Independent women who were without strict supervision? It must be heresy. And in 1311 Pope Clement V banned the movement. (Less than a century earlier in 1233 Pope Gregory IX had given papal backing to the Beguines.)

In order to maintain their existence some of the Beguine orders partnered with monastic orders in order to continue their work with some level of “supervision.” (Random note: There were male communities similar to the Beguines called the Beghards who were also considered heretics but less for their service than for their theology which bordered on anarchism.)

Although the orders persisted for centuries in France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Belgium their numbers dwindled. Belgium at one time had 94 Beguine communities. In 1856 they were down to 20.

In 1941 when Marcella Pattyn, a partially blind 21-year-old, was sent to the beguinage in Ghent there were two. Unable to join convents because of her disability, a wealthy aunt sponsored her entrance into the Beguines. This last small group of Beguines moved to the town of Courtrai and in 1960 there were nine left.

By 2008 Marcella Pattyn was the last of her order. The town of Courtrai celebrated her with chocolates and champagne and had a bronze statue made in her likeness to stand outside the beguinage.

Ms. Pattyn died at the age of 92, taking with her a glimpse into medieval life.

Sources: The Economist, The Telegraph, The Catholic Encyclopedia, The Economist (on the Beguines), and a 1992 paper by Elizabeth Knuth

(Image of Marcella Pattyn and her statue is courtesy of FOCUS-WTV in Belgium.)

* The title of the post is a play on the Cole Porter song, “Begin the Beguine,” written in 1935. The two words are unrelated. There is no known etymology for the order, although the community in Lieges, Belgium was founded by Lambert de Begue. By the time of the Porter song the term “beguine” was commonly used to mean a “close couples’ dance” in the Caribbean. - Wikipedia

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Fri, 17 May 2013 14:08:12 -0600

xbadwolfx:

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:46:58 -0600

xbadwolfx:

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Fri, 17 May 2013 10:44:02 -0600

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Fri, 17 May 2013 10:29:31 -0600

Untitled: poodlepants: I’ve been harping on this subject a lot lately, but I...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:22:26 -0600

Untitled: poodlepants: I’ve been harping on this subject a lot lately, but I...:

poodlepants:

I’ve been harping on this subject a lot lately, but I feel like somebody has to. The fact that Khan has been changed to a white man is quietly being accepted, and the performance lauded. I’ve seen people trying to say JJ did a good thing by taking color out of the equation, and…

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Fri, 17 May 2013 10:16:52 -0600

tyleroakley: buzzfeed: George Takei responds to “traditional”...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:14:17 -0600

tyleroakley:

buzzfeed:

George Takei responds to “traditional” marriage fans.

George Takei is flawfree.

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Fri, 17 May 2013 00:49:26 -0600

buzzfeedceleb: George Takei responds to fans of traditional...

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:49:03 -0600

buzzfeedceleb:

George Takei responds to fans of traditional marriage.

justmeandmyglasses: orlandaspleasure: Elie Saab Magdalena

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:39:24 -0600

justmeandmyglasses:

orlandaspleasure:

Elie Saab

Magdalena

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Thu, 16 May 2013 22:20:04 -0600

dicksplit: first day of kindergarten

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:07:14 -0600

dicksplit:

first day of kindergarten

tragedyseries: New items, including a print of today’s image,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:01:15 -0600

tragedyseries:

New items, including a print of today’s image, are available in the emporium!

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:01:11 -0600

Three(or four…my memory sucks) years ago this piece was my...

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:29 -0600

Three(or four…my memory sucks) years ago this piece was my first orchestral solo and first time as a conductor. Such good times

notsufferingfrominsanity: vladtheimpalainvalhalla: rifa: hipst...

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:49:44 -0600

notsufferingfrominsanity:

vladtheimpalainvalhalla:

rifa:

hipsterinatardis:

Fun fact: Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins decided secretly that they’d play Hook and Smee as a gay couple. When Spielberg, the director, found out, he was furious.

I just think it’s hilarious.

OH MY GOD

well this just made my childhood 1000% better

From what I heard, Spielberg just said something like “This is a kids’ movie” and they half-adjusted their interpretation.

tokenduelist: sulkylass: this one looks like it’s plotting...

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:38:23 -0600

tokenduelist:

sulkylass:

this one looks like it’s plotting something really evil

We kill the Zubatman.

notsufferingfrominsanity: daddyfuckedme: wouldn’t it be cool if jellyfish floated around in air...

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:31:44 -0600

notsufferingfrominsanity:

daddyfuckedme:

wouldn’t it be cool if jellyfish floated around in air instead of water but they didn’t sting you instead they gave you little kisses and rubbed your forehead with their tentacles

at first, I thought, jesus christ what are you on?? but then I realized, yeah, that’d be pretty cool.