Beatrice of Nazareth
Encyclopedia
Blessed Beatrice of Nazareth or in Dutch
Beatrijs van Nazareth (1200 Tienen – 1268) was a Flemish
Cistercian nun. She was the very first prose writer using the Dutch language
, a mystic
, and the author of the notable Dutch prose dissertation known as the Seven Ways of Holy Love. She was also the first prioress of the Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth in Nazareth
near Lier
in Brabant
.
The Seven Ways of Holy Love (Seven Manieren van Heilige Minnen) is a work of early mystic literature that describes seven stages of love, as it is purified and transformed, before it can return to God. It has a simple and balanced prose style.
Beatrice was also known as Blessed
within the Roman Catholic church. She came of a wealthy family, but when her mother died she was sent to become a nun
. At the age of seven she went to live with the Béguines. She afterwards joined the Cistercian nuns at Bloemendaal/Florival
where she was sent to commence the new foundation at Nazareth, Belgium.
She practised very severe austerities
, wearing a girdle of thorns and compressing her body with cords. In her visions, Jesus
is said to have appeared to her and to have pierced her heart with a fiery dart. She died in 1268 and was buried at the convent of Nazareth. Her devotion to the Eucharist
resulted in bleeding and physical collapse.
After Nazareth was abandoned during a time of disturbance, the body of Beatrice was believed to have been translated by angels to Lier
. Her feast day is 29 July. Her biography is recorded by Chrysostomus Henriquez
in Lilia Cistercii, the origins, lives and deeds of the holy virgins of Cîteaux (Douai 1633).
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
Beatrijs van Nazareth (1200 Tienen – 1268) was a Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
Cistercian nun. She was the very first prose writer using the Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, a mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, and the author of the notable Dutch prose dissertation known as the Seven Ways of Holy Love. She was also the first prioress of the Abbey of Our Lady of Nazareth in Nazareth
Nazareth, Belgium
- General information:Nazareth is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Eke and Nazareth proper. On January 1, 2006 Nazareth had a total population of 10,947...
near Lier
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
in Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
.
The Seven Ways of Holy Love (Seven Manieren van Heilige Minnen) is a work of early mystic literature that describes seven stages of love, as it is purified and transformed, before it can return to God. It has a simple and balanced prose style.
Beatrice was also known as Blessed
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
within the Roman Catholic church. She came of a wealthy family, but when her mother died she was sent to become a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
. At the age of seven she went to live with the Béguines. She afterwards joined the Cistercian nuns at Bloemendaal/Florival
Bloemendaal
Bloemendaal is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. According to the Dutch Central Statistical Bureau, Bloemendaal is the wealthiest place in the Netherlands.-Population centres :...
where she was sent to commence the new foundation at Nazareth, Belgium.
She practised very severe austerities
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, wearing a girdle of thorns and compressing her body with cords. In her visions, Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
is said to have appeared to her and to have pierced her heart with a fiery dart. She died in 1268 and was buried at the convent of Nazareth. Her devotion to the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
resulted in bleeding and physical collapse.
After Nazareth was abandoned during a time of disturbance, the body of Beatrice was believed to have been translated by angels to Lier
Lier
Lier may refer to:* Lier, Belgium* Lier, Norway* De Lier, a town in the Netherlands* Li Er, also known as Laozi, a Chinese philosopher- See also :* Liar...
. Her feast day is 29 July. Her biography is recorded by Chrysostomus Henriquez
Crisóstomo Henríquez
Crisóstomo Henríquez was a Cistercian religious and church historian of the Spanish Congregation working in the Low Countries.-Biography:...
in Lilia Cistercii, the origins, lives and deeds of the holy virgins of Cîteaux (Douai 1633).
External links
- Beatrijs of Nazareth
- Beatrice Belgian university web page of Beatrice's life
- Translation of the "Seven Ways of Holy Love" - Translated by Wim van den Dungen.
- Kennis en Minne-mystiek
Further reading
- Beatrice of Nazareth, Seven Ways of Holy Love, as translated by Wim van den Dungen, (1997, 1998, 2006) http://www.sofiatopia.org/equiaeon/7ways.htm
- Chrysostomus HenriquezCrisóstomo HenríquezCrisóstomo Henríquez was a Cistercian religious and church historian of the Spanish Congregation working in the Low Countries.-Biography:...
, Lilia Cistercii, the origins, lives and deeds of the holy virgins of Cîteaux (Douai 1633).