02/22/2021
Who Were/Are the Beguines?
In the medieval period In Europe, women had basically two options. They could marry, or they could take vows in an enclosed religious community. However, war and the dangers men faced meant that there were many more women than men, and marriage might not be possible. And the number of places available in established religious communities was limited. Not everyone who wished to enter could. There was also a growing sense that women wanted to take on an active ministry in the world, and there was little chance of that while cloistered.
So, a number of women, inspired by their faith, became beguines. Beguines were single women who had made a commitment to God without making solemn vows. Some lived on their own, others lived with one or two others; others lived in a more formalized community in “beguinages.” They worked in the trades, often weaving, and were actively involved in the world around them. Some provided education to local girls; others might provide medicine and nursing to their neighbors.
Unlike the enclosed nuns, they took no vow of poverty and were able to own their own property. They did commit to unmarried chastity, but it was a promise, not a vow. They were free to stop being beguines and marry if they chose. They also were not subject to a vow of obedience, though beguines who lived in community did often agree to a set of rules.
They ran into difficulties with the church, which took a dim view of their independence and eventually banned them. However, the beguines continued. In some places, the rulers of the Lowland countries (Holland and Belgium) deliberately failed to suppress them, a move aided by the fact that as time went on, the beguinages began to look and function more like traditional religious communities.
Scholars have varying opinions as to when the beguine movement ended. I prefer to think that they haven’t ended. The last time I was in Belgium, I visited one beguinage that still had an elderly woman identifying herself as a beguine living there. And in recent years women have rediscovered the beguine movement and taken their own version of beguine promises.
My own promises are fashioned after the beguine promises, but my vow of celibate chastity is a life vow. In the next weeks of Lent I’ll be posting about the beguine promises and other aspects of beguine life. You reflections and reactions are welcome.
