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Mechthild, of Magdeburg

Short Name: Mechthild, of Magdeburg
Full Name: Mechthild, of Magdeburg, ca. 1212- ca. 1282
Birth Year (est.): 1212
Death Year (est.): 1282

Mechthild of Helfta, or Mathilde in modern spelling, was a mystic author who lived in the Cisterian nunnery at Helfta near Eisleben, Germany. She is also known as Mechthild of Hackeborn, her parents' home. She was a younger sister of St. Gerturde of Hackeborn. She is mentioned in Bocaccio's Decameron, VII, 1, and in canto 28 of Dante's Purgatory. Cf. "Liber specialis gratiae" in Revelations Gertrudianae ac Mechtildianae (1877).

Her "Liber specialis gratiae" was popular in England and was translated into English in the fifteenth century. More recently it has been edited by Theresa A. Halligan as The Booke of Gostlye Grace of Mechtild of Hackeborn (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1979).

--Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives


Texts by Mechthild, of Magdeburg (21)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Behold, My bride, how fair My mouth, Mine eyesMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
Dew abundant from the depths divineMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
For Christ, my Lord, my spirit longs, For Christ, my Savior dearMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English3
He laid him down upon the breast of GodMechthild of Hellfde, d. 1277 (Author)English2
I bring unto Thy grace a seven-fold praiseMechthild of Hellfde, d. 1277 (Author)English2
I cannot dance, O LoveMechtilde of Magdeburg (after)2
I rejoice that I cannot but love HimMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
If the world were mine and all its storeMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
It is a wondrous and a lofty roadMechthild of Hellfde, d. 1277 (Author)English2
PrayersMechthild of Magdeburg, 1212-1283 (Author)English1
ReadingsMechthild of Magdeburg, 13th-century Christian mystic (Author)English3
O Jesus Lord, most fair, most passing sweetMechthild of Hellfde, d. 1277 (Author)English2
Sinner, wilt thou be converted?Mechthild of Hellfte (Author)English3
The mind saith to the soulMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
The mouth of the Lord hath spokenMechthild of Hellfde. d. 1277 (Author)English2
Thou hast shone within this soul of mineMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
Thus speaks the Bride whose feet have trodMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
Twixt God and thee but love shall beMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
What dost thou bring me, O my Queen?Mechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
When mine eyes are dim with weepingMechthild, of Magdeburg (Author)English2
Wilt thou, sinner, be converted?Mechthild of Hellfde, d. 1277 (Author)English2

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