FEMININE MYSTIC WRITINGS AS WITNESSES OF THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

In a period in which feminist theology asks itself about its origins, the present essay guides us through the works and intuitions of the principal feminine theologians of the Middle Ages: Gertrude, Angela of Foligno, Hildegard of Bingen, Mechtild of Hackeborn, Julian of Norwich, Margaret of Oingt and Clare. On considering their works the present research presents how they have given a great contribution to universal Theology. In the first part the question of theological language is analysed. The essay continues with a series of 'passages' that constitute the centre of their writings: 'From Agape to Eros', 'Conscience: Place of the transformed Eros', 'From the "Word" to the "words"', and 'From the "words" to the "Word"'. The essay concludes with two considerations: how theology comes from experience and the real idea that the medieval women considered in this research had of the mystic.