Christina Ebner
Encyclopedia
Sister Christina Ebner, O.P.
, (also Christine), (26 March 1277 – 27 December 1356) was a German Dominican
nun
, writer and mystic
.
, Germany
, the child of the patrician Seyfried Ebner and his wife, Elizabeth Kuhdorf. In 1289, at the age of twelve, she entered the Monastery
of St. John the Baptist in Engelthal
, which was a community of nun
s of the Dominican Order
in the vicinity of Nuremberg. This monastery, founded as a beguinage
some fifty years earlier, was to become, during the early fourteenth century, a much renowned center of spirituality and learning. According to some, it might very well have been the foremost center of mystical life in Germany, if not all of Europe.
Less than a year later after her admission, Christina fell gravely ill. This affliction would reappear up to three times a year for the next decade. Also, later, she frequently suffered from various illnesses. About this time, she began experiencing frequent religious visions, which her confessor
, Friar
Conrad of Füssen
, O.P., encouraged her to write down. So she began writing her first book, Gnadenleben ( The Life of Grace) in 1317. She continued to work on it at least until 1324. In 1338, she began a correspondence with the secular priest Henry of Nördlingen
, who was an enthusiastic propagator of mystic spirituality
and literature. Through him, she started a correspondence with the Blessed Margareta Ebner
, who was also a Dominican nun actively involved in the spiritual movement of the period, and appears to have been related--possibly her niece.
Around 1340, Ebner starting compiling a record of the mystical visions and life experiences of the other nuns in her monastery called the Book of Sisters. She continued writing it until her death. Between 1344 and 1352, she wrote a book of her revelations (Offenbarungen). In it, she deals with historical and political events of the time such as the riots at Nuremberg in 1348; the earthquake of the same year; the outbreak of the Black Death
; the Flagellants' processions of 1349; and the long quarrel between the Holy Roman Emperor
Louis IV and the Holy See
. Christina does not limit herself to the role of a bystander. Instead, she takes a deep interest in the events, develops her own opinions about them and even actively tries to influence their course. By that time, her reputation had spread widely through Northern Europe. In 1350, the Emperor Louis himself came to visit her at the monastery, seeking her guidance and prayers.
In 1351 she was finally visited for the first time by her long time confidant, Master Henry, who spent three weeks as a visitor to the monastery. At that time he gave her a copy of Mechthild of Magdeburg
's mystic work Das fließende Licht der Gottheit (The Flowing Light of the Godhead), which is found reflected in her own later works and in those of the other nuns in the community. A companion work, Von der gnaden Überlast (On the Burden of Grace), presumably written between 1328 and 1346, has also been attributed to Sister Christina, based on a 1451 manuscript.
Christina Ebner died in her monastery at Engelthal on 27 December 1356, in the 67th year of monastic life.
Catholic Encyclopedia
.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, (also Christine), (26 March 1277 – 27 December 1356) was a German Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
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...
, writer and 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:...
.
Biography
Ebner was born in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the child of the patrician Seyfried Ebner and his wife, Elizabeth Kuhdorf. In 1289, at the age of twelve, she entered the Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of St. John the Baptist in Engelthal
Engelthal
Engelthal is a municipality near Nürnberg in the Frankenalb . The municipality has a population of approximately 1100 people. It was established as a cloister around 1250 AD and has retained many of the original cloister buildings...
, which was a community of 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...
s of the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
in the vicinity of Nuremberg. This monastery, founded as a beguinage
Béguinage
A béguinage or begijnhof is a collection of small buildings used by Beguines. These were various lay sisterhoods of the Roman Catholic Church, founded in the 13th century in the Low Countries, comprising religious women who sought to serve God without retiring from the world.-Description:A...
some fifty years earlier, was to become, during the early fourteenth century, a much renowned center of spirituality and learning. According to some, it might very well have been the foremost center of mystical life in Germany, if not all of Europe.
Less than a year later after her admission, Christina fell gravely ill. This affliction would reappear up to three times a year for the next decade. Also, later, she frequently suffered from various illnesses. About this time, she began experiencing frequent religious visions, which her confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
, Friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
Conrad of Füssen
Füssen
Füssen is a town in Bavaria, Germany, in the district of Ostallgäu situated from the Austrian border. It is located on the banks of the Lech river. The River Lech flows into the Forggensee...
, O.P., encouraged her to write down. So she began writing her first book, Gnadenleben ( The Life of Grace) in 1317. She continued to work on it at least until 1324. In 1338, she began a correspondence with the secular priest Henry of Nördlingen
Henry of Nördlingen
Henry of Nördlingen was a German Catholic priest from Bavaria, who lived in the 14th century, his date of death being unknown. He was the spiritual adviser of Margaretha Ebner , the mystic nun of Medingen.-Life:...
, who was an enthusiastic propagator of mystic spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
and literature. Through him, she started a correspondence with the Blessed Margareta Ebner
Margareta Ebner
Blessed Margareta Ebner, O.P., was a German nun who is considered part of the tradition of German mysticism and a visionary...
, who was also a Dominican nun actively involved in the spiritual movement of the period, and appears to have been related--possibly her niece.
Around 1340, Ebner starting compiling a record of the mystical visions and life experiences of the other nuns in her monastery called the Book of Sisters. She continued writing it until her death. Between 1344 and 1352, she wrote a book of her revelations (Offenbarungen). In it, she deals with historical and political events of the time such as the riots at Nuremberg in 1348; the earthquake of the same year; the outbreak of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
; the Flagellants' processions of 1349; and the long quarrel between the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Louis IV and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. Christina does not limit herself to the role of a bystander. Instead, she takes a deep interest in the events, develops her own opinions about them and even actively tries to influence their course. By that time, her reputation had spread widely through Northern Europe. In 1350, the Emperor Louis himself came to visit her at the monastery, seeking her guidance and prayers.
In 1351 she was finally visited for the first time by her long time confidant, Master Henry, who spent three weeks as a visitor to the monastery. At that time he gave her a copy of Mechthild of Magdeburg
Mechthild of Magdeburg
Mechthild of Magdeburg , a Beguine, was a medieval mystic, whose book Das fließende Licht der Gottheit described her visions of God....
's mystic work Das fließende Licht der Gottheit (The Flowing Light of the Godhead), which is found reflected in her own later works and in those of the other nuns in the community. A companion work, Von der gnaden Überlast (On the Burden of Grace), presumably written between 1328 and 1346, has also been attributed to Sister Christina, based on a 1451 manuscript.
Christina Ebner died in her monastery at Engelthal on 27 December 1356, in the 67th year of monastic life.
Works
Literature
This article incorporates text from the public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
.
External links
- Christine Ebner at the Metropolitan State College of DenverMetropolitan State College of DenverThe Metropolitan State College of Denver is a four-year college and now offers certain Graduate programs located in Denver, Colorado, United States. As of 2009, Metro State had the second-largest enrollment of undergraduates of any college in Colorado...
- Monastic Matrix
- Rebecca LR Garber (1996): Medieval German Women Writers (1100-1450)