Wisdom's Friends

Recent years have seen growing interest in medieval women mystics and visionaries, including the thirteenth century monastic theologian St. Gertrud the Great of Helfta. But focus on their dramatic spiritual experiences sometimes leads to neglect of the equally impressive theological sophistication of their writings. This book offers a groundbreaking interpretation of Gertrud's greatest surviving work, the Herald of God's Loving-Kindness. The Herald combines her spiritual autobiography with her biography and vision stories shared with other nuns. Grimes' work demonstrates Gertrud's lively weaving of her own experiences with Scripture, liturgy, and classic theological works, especially Augustine's Confessions. It validates the important contribution of Gertrud's sister-collaborators to the Herald, sometimes downgraded by scholars. This is an excellent text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in Theology, History, and Women's Studies. It will be of compelling interest not just to medievalists and feminist theologians, but to all who are fascinated by spirituality and the place of women in Christian history and tradition.