i MariaPetyt–ACarmeliteMysticinWartime€¦ · Thisbookisprintedonacid-freepaper. ... 3 Daily...

i

MariaPetyt–ACarmeliteMysticinWartime

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ii

Radboud Studies in Humanities

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VOLUME4

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iii

Maria Petyt

LEIDEN|BOSTON

A Carmelite Mystic in Wartime

Edited by

JosephChalmersElisabethHense

VeronieMeeuwsenEsthervandeVate

iv

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vContentsContents

Contents

Chronological Table vii List of Contributors ixii

Introduction 1Elisabeth Hense, Veronie Meeuwsen and Esther van de Vate

Part 1Maria Petyt in her Context

1 Maria Petyt – A Short Biography 7Esther van de Vate

2 Maria Petyt against the Background of the Political and Religious Situation in Flanders in the Seventeenth Century 22

Esther van de Vate

3 Daily Life at the Hermitage in Mechelen at the Time of Maria Petyt (1657–1677) 53

Michel van Meerbeeck

4 Living as a Spiritual Virgin and Claiming Prophetic Authority: The Parallel Lives of Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon 67

Mirjam de Baar

Part 2The Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War and Its interpretations

5 Some Notes on the History of the Latin Manuscript of the Life of Maria Petyt by Michael of St. Augustine 83

Giovanni Grosso

6 ‘Oh, How Spiritual Directors are Obliged to Remain Silent!’ Michael’s Redaction of the Writings of Maria Petyt: Some Initial Findings 92

Esther van de Vate

vi Contents

7 The Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War and Its Translation in English 119

Veronie Meeuwsen (ed.)

8 Maria Petyt’s Support of the French King 240 Veronie Meeuwsen

9 The Spirituality of Teresa of Avila and the Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War (folios 30r–49v) 252

Elisabeth Hense

10 The Prophetic Spirituality of Maria Petyt in the Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War 266

Anne-Marie Bos

Epilogue 282Joseph Chalmers

Index 289

292

ContentsContents vContents vListofMapandFigures viiListofMapandFigures viiChronologicalTable viiiChronologicalTable viiiListofContributors xListofContributors xMap xiiMap xiiIntroductionHenseetal. 1Introduction 1ElisabethHense 3VeronieMeeuwsen 3EsthervandeVate 3part1 5MariaPetytinHerContext 5∵ 5Chapter1 7MariaPetyt–AShortBibliography 7EsthervandeVate 7Chapter2 22MariaPetytagainstthebackgroundofthepoliticalandreligioussituationinFlandersintheseventeenthcentury 22EsthervandeVate 22Chapter3 53DailyLifeattheHermitageinMechelenattheTimeofMariaPetyt(1657–1677) 53MichelvanMeerbeeck 53Chapter4 67LivingasaSpiritualVirginandClaimingPropheticAuthority:TheParallelLivesofMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignon 67MirjamdeBaar 67part2 81The Latin Manuscript about the Dutch WarandItsInterpretation 81∵ 81Chapter5 83SomeNotesontheHistoryoftheManuscriptoftheLifeofMariaPetytbyMichaelofSt.Augustine 83GiovanniGrosso 83Chapter6 92‘Oh,HowSpiritualDirectorsareObligedtoRemainSilent!’Michael’sRedactionoftheWritingsofMariaPetyt:SomeInitialFindings 92EsthervandeVate 92Chapter7 119TheLatinManuscriptabouttheDutchWarandItsTranslationinEnglish 119VeronieMeeuwsen(ed.) 119Chapter8 240MariaPetyt’sSupportoftheFrenchKing 240VeronieMeeuwsen 240Chapter9 252TheSpiritualityofTeresaofAvilaandtheLatinManuscriptabouttheDutchWar(folios30r–49v) 252ElisabethHense 252Chapter10 266ThePropheticSpiritualityofMariaPetytandtheLatinManuscriptabouttheDutchWar 266Anne-MarieBos 266Epilogue 282JosephChalmers 282Index 289Index 289

viiChronologicalTableChronological Table

Chronological Table

1515-1582 TeresaofAvilalived1545-1563 CouncilofTrent1571-1636 JohnofSt.SamsonlivedAround1600 ReformofTourainestarted1616-1680 AntoinetteBourignonlived1618-1648 ThirtyYears’War1621 MichaelofSt.AugustinebornatBrussels1January1623 MariaPetytbornatHazebroeck1630/1631 Mariacontractedsmallpox1633 InfantaIsabelladied1634-1635 MariawenttoschoolinaconventinSt.-Omer1635 FrancedeclaredwarontheAustrianandSpanishHabsburgsandin

the same year forged an alliance with the Northern Netherlands;theFrenchtemporarilyoccupiedtheterritorybetweenAire-sur-la-LysandSt.-Omer

1636 MarialeftherhomebecauseoftheplagueandstayedforawhilewithheruncleinPoperinge

1637 MichaelenteredtheCarmelites1638-1715 LouisXIVlived1639 MariastayedatLilleatthehouseofapiousfamily1640s Jansenistmovementbegan1641or1642 MariaenteredthemonasteryinGent1643 Marialeftthemonastery:shecouldnotparticipateinthedivineof-

ficeproperlybecauseofherbadeyesight1644? Maria’sfirstprofessionasaCarmelitetertiary1645 Theconstitutionsofthestrictobservanceweredefinitivelyaccept-

edintheBelgiumProvinceO.Carm1646 TheAf-beeldingheofthethirdorderofOurLadyofMountCarmel

ofDanieloftheVirginMaryispublished.1646? MariaaskedMichaelofSt.Augustinetobeherspiritualdirector1647 MariaPetyt’ssecondprofessionasaCarmelitetertiary1648 PeaceofWestphalia1654 LouisXIVcrownedking1October1657 MariawenttotheCluyseatMechelen1658 Mariareceivedherfirstvisions1659 TreatyofthePyrenees;periodofpeacebetweenFranceandSpain

from1659till1667

viii ChronologicalTable

5January1660 ApprovaloftheordinancesattheCluyse1663 AntoinetteBourignonsettledinMechelen1667 AntoinetteBourignonsettledinAmsterdam1667-1668 WarofDevolutionApril1672 LouisXIVdeclaredwarontheRepublicoftheSevenUnitedProv-

incesMay1672 TheFrenchtroopsinvadedtheSouthernNetherlandsDecember1672 WilliamIIIattackedCharleroiforthefirsttime;thisattemptfailed;

in1674and1677hetriedagainJune1673 SiegeofMaastrichtandnavalBattlesofSchooneveldAugust1673 Spainjoinedtheanti-Frenchcoalition,alsoknownastheLeagueof

TheHagueortheQuadrupleAllianceOctober1673 SpaindeclaredwaronFranceAugust1674 AlphonsdeBerghes,archbishopofMechelen,subjectedthehold-

ingofprocessionstoastrictdiscipline1676 The Republic of the United Provinces was completely freed of

Frenchpresence,exceptforMaastrichtJuly-August1676 WilliamIIIbesiegedMaastricht1November1677 MariaPetytdied1677-1680 LatintranslationofMariaPetyt’swritingsAugust1678 TreatyofNijmegen24April1680 DateoftheprefaceoftheCodexPost.III701681 Kort Begryppublished1683/1684 LifeofMariaPetytpublished2February1684 MichaelofSt.Augustinedied

ixListOfContributorsListofContributors

List of Contributors

Mirjam de BaarisProfessorofCulturalHistoryofEarlyModernChristianityattheUniversityofGroningen.Hercurrentresearchfocusesontheperformanceofmaleandfemaleprophets intheDutchRepublic, theircommunicationstrategiesandtheir involvement in international networks of religious dissenters in EarlyModernEurope.Shehaspublishedextensivelyonwomenandreligionintheseventeenthcentury.

Anne-Marie BosO.CarmisaresearcherattheTitusBrandsmaInstitute,Nijmegen.Herpublica-tionsincludeElijah looked and behold: Biblical Spirituality in Pictures (Peeters,2012).

Joseph ChalmersO.Carm, former Prior General of the Carmelite Order, has published sevenbooks on Scriptural themes and prayer. He has also translated a number ofbooksonCarmelitespirituality.AtpresentheistheChiefExecutiveOfficerofSt.Luke Institute,aninternationaltreatmentCentreforpriestsandreligious,inMarylandUSA.

Giovanni GrossoO.CarmearnedadoctorateinPoliticalSciences(Rome,UniversitàdegliStudi“LaSapienza”,1983)and,afterthenormalcurriculumofPhilosophyandTheol-ogy,hegainedadoctorateinChurchHistory(PontificalGregorianUniversity,2007).HeservedasPostulatorGeneralfortheCausesoftheSaintsandDirec-tor of the Historical Archive of the Carmelite Order. In 2015 he was electedPriorProvincialoftheItalianProvinceofCarmelites.

Elisabeth HenseT.O.CarmisAssistantProfessorofSpiritualityatRadboudUniversityNijme-gen.HermainfieldsofresearchareChristianspirituality,interreligiousspiritu-ality, societal spirituality and theories on spirituality. She has publishednumerous studies on Carmelite spirituality, among them studies on John oftheCross,FrancisAmelry,JohnofSaint-Samson,andTitusBrandsma.

x ListOfContributors

Michel van MeerbeeckstudiedhistoryatGhentUniversityandtheologyinLiègewherehewasordai-nedpriest(1986).Intheyear2000heearnedthedegreeofdoctorinhistoryoftheUniversityofLouvain.Histhesiswaspublishedin2006intheLibraryoftheRevued’histoireecclésiastique.AtpresentheisacollaboratorattheCentrefor theStudyofAugustine,AugustinianismandJansenismof theFacultyofTheologyattheUniversityofLouvain.

Veronie MeeuwsenM.A. wasjunior researcheratthechairofSpiritualityatRadboudUniversityNijmegenin2011/2012.Shehaspublished“Kritischespiritualiteit–Vruchtbarerationaliteitinoudeennieuwespiritualiteit”(Eburon,2010).

Esther van de VateM.A.O.CarmisworkingonherdissertationaboutMariaPetytforthedegreeofdoctoratRadboudUniversity,Nijmegen.

xiMap Map

Map

Map Map of Mechelen. ©StadsarchiefMechelen–www.beeldbankmechelen.be.

…And there was a place open in Mechelen, very suitable for her plan;becauseitusedtobeahermitage,whichwasbuiltagainstthewalloftheChurchoftheReverendFathersBrothersofOurLadyatthatplace,andithadasmallwindow,throughwhichonecouldseetheDivineServiceintheChurch.

MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)24

⸪

http://www.beeldbankmechelen.be

xii Map

1IntroductionIntroductionHenseetal.

Introduction

ThewritingsofMariaPetytcanbeconsideredasbelongingtothemostinter-esting autobiographical documents that have been preserved in Carmelitespirituality.Herinterpreterspresentherasa17thcenturyFlemishwomanwhoretreatedfromtheworldandwasdevotedtoalifeofprayerresultingininten-sivemysticalexperiences.

However,thismemoryofMariaPetytwaschallengedin2009,whenEsthervandeVatewasworkingatthearchiveoftheCarmelitepostulatorinRomeandwascomparingtheFlemisheditionofthewritingsofMariaPetytwithacontemporaryLatintranslationofthesewritingsinCodexPostIII70.EsthervandeVatediscoveredasetoffolios–PostIII70,fol.30r-49v–whichpresentanewimageofthisfemalemystic.HereMariaPetytprovesherselftobeveryinterestedanddeeplyengagedinpoliticalaffairs.Sheinwardlyabsorbedher-self in theDutchWarofLouisXIVand intenselyshared inhisvictoriesanddefeats.MariaPetytevenconjoinedherspiritualcredibilitywiththeoutcomeofhismilitaryquarrels,whichsheprophesied.Anotherinterestingaspectofthe newly detected folios is Maria Petyt’s stance towards Jansenism. MariaPetytobviouslythoughtdeeplyaboutthisinternalChristianconflictandtookupaspecificposition.Dealingwiththesethemesthe foliosshowastrongerself-awarenessbyMariaPetyt thanherotherwritings:here,MariaPetytnotonlyrealizesthatshehasalocalsignificance,butinthesetextssheconsidersherselfhavingalsoapoliticalmissionwithinEurope.

TheLatinfoliosabouttheDutchWardonothaveaparallel intheDutcheditionofMariaPetyt’sworksandwereneverreferredtoinearlierliterature.EvenAlbertDeblaerewhodidimportantandprofoundworkonthewritingsofMariaPetytinthe1960sandthereafterandwhodescribedCodexIIIPost70tosomeextent,didnotsayasinglewordaboutthefoliosconcerningtheDutchWar.

InordertodojusticetoMariaPetytandtodiscoverthetraditionoffemalereligious involvement in the 17th century, we have to reshape the image wehaveofMariaPetyt.Wehaveallthemorereasonfordoingthiswhenwerealizethat Maria Petyt’s writings are unequalled in volume and mystical contentwithinthehistoricalcontextoftheFlemishspeaking17thcentury.

ThankstotheCarmeliteInstituteinRomeandRadboudUniversityNijme-gen,VeronieMeeuwsenwasabletodopioneeringworkonthesefoliosinherMaster’sthesisandinacontiguousresearchproject,supervisedbyElisabethHense.BecausethefoliosabouttheDutchWarwerefoundtobesointerestingandcauseustore-interpretthewholelifeandworkofMariaPetyt,Elisabeth

© ElisabethHenseetal.,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_002This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



2 HenseEtAl.

Hense,VeronieMeeuwsenandEsthervandeVatedecidedtoorganiseaninter-national meeting of experts at Radboud University in 2011, entitled “MariaPetyt–ACarmelitemysticinWartime”.ColleaguesfromSwitzerland,Germa-ny,Belgium,Italy,andtheNetherlandsjoinedinanddiscussedwithusvariousaspectsofMariaPetyt’shistoricalcontext(partI)anddifferentperspectivesonthefoliosabouttheDutchWar(partII).

ReferringtothehistoricalcontextofMariaPetyt,EsthervandeVategivesabroadoutlineofthepoliticalandreligiousbackgroundsofMariaPetyt’sfoliosabouttheDutchWarafterhavingpresentedashortbiographyofMariaPetytinwhichshegivesspecialattentiontotheperiodofherlifewhenshestayedatthehermitageinMechelenwhereshewroteabouttheDutchWar.MichelvanMeerbeeckprovidesnewdetailsaboutMariaPetyt’slifeinthehermitagede-duced from the ordinances written by Michael of St. Augustine which vanMeerbeecksucceededinfindingrecently.MirjamdeBaarcomparesthelifeofMariaPetytwiththatofanotherspiritualvirginlivingatthesameplaceandinthesametime–AntoinetteBourignon–bothofthem,withoutknowingeachother,claimingpropheticauthority.

ReferringtothefoliosabouttheDutchWarGiovanniGrossogivesadetaileddescriptionofCodexPostIII70,especiallyoffol.30r-49v.EsthervandeVatesuppliesacriticalanalysisoftheimpactoftheeditingdonebyMichaelofSt.Augustine.EspeciallyregardingMariaPetyt’swritingsabouttheDutchWarweneedtobeawareofhis influence.Folios30r-49vabout theDutchWarhavebeentranscribedbyVeronieMeeuwsenwhoalsogivesanEnglishtranslation,complete with footnotes about the historical and spiritual background. Be-sides this, Veronie Meeuwsen comments on Maria Petyt’s support for theFrenchKingwhichisbasedonMaria’sspecificuseofdiscernmentofspirits.ElisabethHenseshowsthatTeresaofAvila’sspiritualityofThe Interior Castle–mainlythehigherlevelsofcontemplationwithinthe4thtothe7thmansions– ispresent in the foliosabout theDutchWar.Thismeans thatMariaPetytconsideredherengagementintheDutchWaraspartofherspirituallife.Thespecific prophetic dimension of the folios is explained by Anne-Marie Bos,whocomparesittoElijahwhoisanimportantmodelofprophecyinCarmelitespirituality.

ThisstudyisbroughttoaconclusionbyJosephChalmerswhoreflectsonthechangingviewsofthefigureofMariaPetytandhowthesemightimpactonCarmelitespiritualityingeneral.

WecordiallythanktheFacultyofPhilosophy,TheologyandReligiousStud-ies, the International Office and the research group for Culture, Religionand Memory of Radboud University Nijmegen, the Sormani Foundation(Nijmegen), the Titus Brandsma Institute (Nijmegen) and the Institutum

3Introduction

Carmelitanum(Rome)formakingthismeetingofexpertsandthepublicationofitsproceedingspossible.

Elisabeth HenseVeronie MeeuwsenEsther van de Vate

4 HenseEtAl.

5Introduction

part 1

Maria Petyt in Her Context

∵

6 HenseEtAl.

7AShortBiography

Chapter1

Maria Petyt – A Short Biography

Esther van de Vate

ThisbiographicaloverviewoutlinesMaria’sgirlhood,herperiodinGentandher life in the Cluyse.The focus is mainly on the latter. It describes Maria’sspiritualjourney,herburgeoning spiritualauthorityandthelastyearsofherlife.TheconcludingsectionplacesMariaPetyt’sspiritualityinthecontextofhertime.1

Maria’s Youth

MariaPetytwasbornon1January1623,theeldestdaughterofamiddleclassfamily in Hazebrouck, a town in northern France which at that time stillformedpartofthesouthernNetherlands.2Maria’seducation–shedescribesitatlengthinherautobiography3−reflectsthestrongconfessionalidentityoftheearlyseventeenthcenturyCatholicreformation.AtanearlyageshelongedforthereligiouslifeandpledgedeternalfaithfulnesstoJesus.4Fulfillingthisidealprovedtobealongroad,especiallyatamentallevel.Mariawasachildofhertimes,andtheseventeenthcenturywasaturbulentagefraughtwithspiri-tualconfusion,thetollofbitterpoliticalfriction,muchwarfare,aminoriceageandseveralplagueepidemics.5AlthoughmanyoftheseeventsaffectedMaria’syouth, she mentions them only in passing in her autobiography: she spent

1 IwanttothankMarcelleManley(†)forthetranslationofthisarticle.2 AtthetreatyofNijmegenin1678theplaceswhereMariaspentheryouth(Hazebrouck,Ieper,

Menen,Poperinge,Saint-Omer)werecededtoFrance.Staring(1948)containsacompactbutexcellentbiographicsurveyonMaria’syouth.

3 TheautobiographyappearsinPetyt(1683)vol.1,1–195.Thecompletenessoftheinformationstillneedstoberesearched.Theearliestversion–theLatintranslation–contains31chaptersinadditiontothe155ofthesubsequentlypublishedDutchversion:Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt (1683).SeeGiovanniGrosso’scontributiontothisvolume,p.86.SofarmosthistoriographyhasbeenbasedontheDutchversion.

4 Petyt(1683)vol.1,10.5 Lehmann(1999)providesagoodintroductiontothehistoryofthereligiousmentalityofthis

century.

© EsthervandeVate,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_003This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



8 VanDeVate

wholedaysplayingontheice6andwithherbrothersandsistershadtostayelsewherebecauseofanoutbreakoftheplague.7Shedevotesfarmoreatten-tion to themental impactof theseevents,whichcommencedafter shewasscarred(forlife)bysmallpox:‘Ibecamemuchrougherandwilder,andplayfullike other children (…) so gradually I acquired all sorts of bad ways andinclinations.’8

Adetailfromherautobiography–notevenmentionedbyherbiographer9– marked the end of Maria’s ‘wild years’. A Spanish officer billeted in theirhome10caughtMaria’sfancymorethanherparentsdeemedproper.Theyin-tervenedandsentMaria toLille tostaywith ‘deeplydevout,piouspeople’.11ThereMaria’smindcompliedwiththeirdevotionalpiety.HerprayerstoOurLadytogiveheraniceandpleasantbody‘topleasesomeonemoreandtoat-tracttomylove’12,werenotunavailing.WhenthebellschimedonSt.Stephen’sdayMariahadaforetasteofthegloryandblissofheavenlylife.13NonethelessshehadtobetouchedbyherBelovednofewerthanthreetimesbeforeshewasabletowrite:

Look,myBelovedwassooverlygenerousandinlovewithsuchanevil,badandungratefulcreature(…)thatIcouldnotresistitthethirdtime;forheusedastrongerhand,andgrace,thatseemedtooverwhelmme(…)hetouchedmyheartsodeeplythattheworldbecamedisgustingtome.14

Maria returned to Hazebrouck and presented herself to the Regular canon-essesoftheGroenenbrielabbeyinGent,whereshewasaccepted.However,

6 Petyt(1683)vol.1,8.7 Petyt(1683)vol.1,13.8 ‘Ick wiert wat meer woest ende wilt, en speelachtigh ghelijck andere kinderen, (...) soo dat ick

allenskens aen namp veele quaede manieren, ende gheneghentheden.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,8.9 MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681).10 Petyt(1683)vol.1,16.In1635FrancedeclaredwarontheAustrianandSpanishHapsburgs

andinthesameyearformedanalliancewiththenorthernNetherlands.TheresultwasFrench incursions on the southern border of the Southern Netherlands, which Mariamentionsinherautobiography.Thisunrestcontinueduntil1660,albeitwithapeacefulinterludeofafewyears.

11 ‘by seer Godtvruchtigh ende stichtbaer volck.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,16.12 ‘om beter jemant te moghen behaeghen, ende te trecken tot mijne liefde’Petyt(1683)vol.1,17.13 Petyt(1683)vol.1,17.14 ’siet, mijnen Beminden was soo overgoet, ende soo verlieft op een soo boose, quaede ende

ondanckbaere Creature (...) soo dat ick den derden keer daer niet teghen en kost; want hy ghebruyckte een stercker handt, ende gratie, die my scheen te overweldighen; (...) hy hadde het herte soo gheraeckt, dat de werelt my een walghe wiert.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,19.

9AShortBiography

thevicissitudesofwarontheFrenchborder,especiallythefinanciallossesthatherfathersuffered,preventedherfromjoiningatonce.Afterwaitingayearshefinally lefthometoenter.Meanwhileshetrainedherself insolitudeandde-tachment.15

ItseemstomethatIspententiredaysjustpraying,devoutlycontemplat-ing sacred images and reading good books (…) especially Thomas àKempis(ca.1380–1471)andBenedictofCanfield(1562–1610).16

Her Gent Period

MariawasnottostaylongintheGroenenbrielconvent.Somesixmonthsafterhavingreceivedthehabit, shewassentawayonaccountofaneyedisease.Shespent a brief, solitary spell in the small beguinage in Gent, whereafter shemovedinwithaspiritualdaughter17andhermotherinthevicinityofthebe-guinage.Thetwowomenhadthesamespiritualdirector,anunknownCarmel-itewitharathersevereoutlook,probablyofthestrictobservance. UnderhistutelageMaria,thenabouttwentyyearsold,tookhervowsintheCarmeliteThirdOrder.OnthisoccasionshechosethenameMariaofSt.Teresabecauseofherspecialdevotiontothisgreatsaint.AlthoughMariaandherfellowin-mate belonged to the third order, their director trained them in the strictlyregulateddailyscheduleofCarmelitenuns,includingthenumerousdevotion-alexercisesandpenancesofthosetimes.Despiteafewexcesses–herbiogra-pherquestionedthem18–Mariawasnotperturbedbythestrictness.Sheevenwroteaboutit:

These and similar mortifications did me a lot of good. Gradually itbroughtmesuchequanimitythatInolongerconcernedmyselfmuch,if

15 ‘Afgetrockentheyt’isakeyterminMaria’sspiritual moulding. Shepractised seclusionfromthe world, herfellowhumansandherself.

16 ‘My dunkt, dat ick heele daghen anders niet en dede, als bidden, de Heylighen Beelden devotelijck aensien, ende lesen in goede Boecken (...) besonderlijck in Thomas à Kempis ende in Cantvelt.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,21.

17 ’spiritualdaughters’ livedasemi-religious life.Theyobservednoofficialenclosureandtooknovows,oronlyverysimpleones.

18 MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)10.HereferstoPetyt(1683)vol.1,37f.

10 VanDeVate

at all, with outward things but looked for everything within, where Ieventuallyfoundeverything.19

Somethreeyearslaterherspiritualdirectormovedelsewhere.MariaandhercompanionsthenentrustedthemselvestothespiritualguidanceofMichaelofSt.Augustine(1621–1684).Michaelwas25atthetime,aphilosophylectureratthefriars’collegeinGent.Mariacorrespondedwithhimfortherestofherlife.LaterinhiscareerheservedthreetermsasprovincialandplayedamajorroleintheimplementationofthestrictobservanceintheFlemishprovince.20Mi-chaelwaseducatedintheCarmeliteThomistspiritualityofhisday21andusedthistoguidehisdirectorshipofthesecondnovitiateMariaPetytandtheotherspiritualdaughterfollowedintheCarmeliteThirdOrder.22HeinitiatedthemintoaprofoundlyinteriorisedChristologicalspirituality.Themainaimwastobring thepersonalwill intoconformitywithGod’swill.To thatendsensoryforceshadtobepurifiedandspiritualforces–memory,willandintellect–uni-fied. But actual union with God surpasses all these spiritual exercises. Godcommunicateshimself in theground23of thesoulandthusaccomplishesaunionthathumanbeingscannotattainthroughtheirownendeavours.

InthisnewframeworkMaria’soutwardmortification,sodeeplyinculcatedbyherpreviousdirector,movedintothebackgroundandtheyearningforlove featured more prominently. Under Michael’s tutelage Maria devoted herself

19 ‘Dese ende dierghelijcke verstervinghen deden my groote deught; ick quam daer door allenxkens tot sulck een gelijckheyt des ghemoets, dat ick daer naer luttel, oft gheen werck en maeckte van het uytwendigh, maer socht het al inwendigh, ende ick heb’t allenxkens daer al ghevonden.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,51.

20 In1640–theyearMichaelwasprofessed–theBelgianprovinceralliedbehindconstitu-tionsbasedonthereformationofTouraine,inthisarticledenotedbyacurrentterminthattime:strictobservance.ForthereformationinBelgiumupto1649,seePanzer2006;forMichael’sroleinit,seeHoppenbrouwers1949.

21 Thefourmainpremisesofthisframeworkwere:controlofpassionsthatarethesourcesofvice;acquiringvirtuesthatarelacking;unionwithGodbymeansofprayerexercises;and fulfilling the vocation through active participation in the community. (Hoornaert(1996)182).Besidesthistraininginvirtues,discernmentofaffectsfeaturedprominently.(Nativitate(1650)118f.)Michaelalsostronglyemphasisedself-denialandmortification.

22 Mariareferstoitasa‘halfnovitiate’(Petyt(1683)vol.1,52).Acopyofhernotesduringthisnovitiate,Petyt (1647), ispreserved in thearchiveof theDutchprovince.Bothwomenwereprofessed asecondtime underthenewthirdorderrulepublishedin1646:Af-beel-dinghe van de derde orden onser L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli,writtenbyDanieloftheVirginMary.

23 Inthispassage‘grondt’isthepointwhereGodtouchestheessentialityofthesoulwithhisgraces.

11AShortBiography

fullytoherspiritualjourney.Yetduringthissecondnovitiate–notwithstand-ingalleffortstothecontrary–anincreasinglyambivalentattitudeaboutherattemptsatperfectingherselfgrewwithinher.AsyettheBeloveddidnotre-vealhimselfandeventhwartedMaria’sprogress, ‘asif withsomeviolence’.24Mariawasunabletoreachperfectionthroughherownefforts.Shehadtobe-comemorereceptivetodivinereality.25

Life in the Community of Cluyse

AstimewentbyMariaPetytstartedlongingforastricterhermiticlife.Togeth-erwithabeguinefromMechelen,CatharinavanOrsaghen,26sheconceivedofaplantoliveaccordingtothefirstruleofherorder,albeitnotlikethediscalcedCarmelites27 but more in the spirit of saints Euphrasia28 and Euphrosyna,29two (proto-)Carmelite desert saints.This dream of a rigorous, secluded her-miticlifewasrealised.On1October1657MariawenttoMechelenandmovedintotheCluyseadjoiningtheCarmelitemonastery,whereMichaelwaslivingat the time.30 Catharina van Orsaghen followed barely a year later. Michaelformulatedtheirordinances,whichwereapprovedbythepriorgeneralon5January1660.31

Maria’scalltoaheavenlylife–herBelovedtoldher:‘Iwant(…)youtobeentirelycelestialanddivine.’32–wasacrucialfacetofthespirituallifeinthe

24 ‘Ghelijck met eenigh ghewelt.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,57.25 Cf.Blommestijn(1983)6.26 HeretheDutchversionoftheLifeomitspartofthestory;seeDeblaere(1962)330.27 Unlikethediscalced,thestrictobservancerecognisedthemitigationstotheRuleof1432.

The mitigations include tempering the article on remaining in the cell and allowedCarmelitestoeatmeatthreetimesaweek.

28 Euphrasia, born in 387 and of imperial descent, entered an Essene desert convent inThebaidattheageofseven.IntheseventeenthcenturyshewaserroneouslytakentobeaCarmelitesaint.

29 Euphrosyna(c.424)rebelledagainstherfatherwhenshewasmarriedoff.Sheproceededtolivearigorouslifeinthedesert,firstinamalemonastery,theninahermitage.She,too,wasmistakenlyconsideredaCarmelitesaintintheseventeenthcentury.

30 InitiallyMarialivedintheCluysewithherformerhouse-matesfromMechelen,buttheyreturnedtoGhenteighteenmonthslater.

31 Alas,thereislittlearchivalinformationaboutthisconventofspiritualdaughtersandtheeventshavetobereconstructed,mainlyfromMaria’sautobiography.SeeVanMeerbeeck53f.

32 ‘Ick wilde, seyde Hy, dat ge heel hemels ende goddelijck sijt’Petyt(1647)137.ThisquoteisfromaletterfromMichaelsenton31thAugust1681fromThienentosomewomenwhowereadmittedtoprofessionintheCluyse.

12 VanDeVate

Cluyse,33aspiritualitycloselyassociatedwiththestrictobservancedesiretolivein‘internallovingconversationwithGod’.34Thesisters‘oftheholyVirginMaryofMountCarmel,oftheregularlifeoforalprayerandofinnerprayer’35practised the exercise of God’s presence that was current at the time.Theytried to rid themselves of all external images in order to discern God’s‘eenigheyt’(i.e.oneness)intheirownlivesandintheworldaroundthem.36

Some eighteen months after moving to Mechelen Maria dedicated theCluysein1659tothecareofOurLadyandfeltcalledto‘appropriatethisplace,ortheoriginofourformoflife,entirelyandtocallitbyher[Mary’s]name.’37The hermitage sisters entrusted their prayer intentions ‘in, about, with andthroughMary’38toGod.InMaria’scorrespondencewithMichaelaprofoundMarianspirituality emerges.39WheretheimageofOurLadyisreflectedinthesoul,motherlyandcompassionatequalitiesevolve.40Throughthisgrace,com-municatedbyMary,thesoulisfertilizedwithnewlifeandgeneratesthisnewlifeinGod.41

DespitethisMary-formspiritualityand‘detached wayoflife’42conflicts–bothinandaroundtheCluyse–escalated,notleastbecauseofMaria’sleader-ship. She writes about it at length in her autobiography.43 These and latersources44 make it seem doubtful whether the small community could everhaveacquiredsufficientinnercohesiontowithstandthereligiousandtheo-

33 Ordonnantiën,‘VandeNovitienendegeprofestide’.34 Healy(1956)149.35 ‘van de alderheijlighste Maeghet Maria des berghs Carmeli van’t regulier leven van ’t mondt-

gebedt, ende van’t inwendigh gebedt’ Ordonnantiën,exordium.36 More particularly the strict observance focused on aspiratory prayer. However, from

Maria’s lettersweknowthatshewaslittle inclinedtourgent ‘flash’prayers.Herprayerrather fits the definition of essentially aspiratory prayer. See Blommestijn (1987) 231.When the soul is spiritually touched by God it engenders a spiritual arousing to God,beyondallformalprayer.

37 ‘dese plaetse, oft beginsel van onse forme van leven haer heel toe te eyghenen, ende te titeleren met haeren naem.’Petyt(1683)vol.2,314f.

38 ‘inMaria,om,met,endedoorMaria’Petyt(1683)vol.2,343.39 MichaelcollectedMaria’slettersonthissubjectinPetyt(1683)vol.2,306–404.40 Petyt(1683)vol.3,164f.41 Petyt(1683)vol.2,343.42 ‘afghetrocken maniere van leven’Petyt(1683)vol. 1, 102.Ordonnantiën, ‘VandenHandel

metMenschentevlieden’,statestheruleonthispoint.‘Toshundealingswithpeople.’43 Seee.g.Petyt(1683)vol.1,81.87and110.Michaelprovidesinformationnotmentionedin

theLeven,MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)18.44 Seee.g.Michael’sletteron24February1680tohisfriendSeraphinusinRome,fromBrus-

sels.Arch.Gen.Ord.Carmelitarum,IIFlandro-Belgica.

13AShortBiography

logicaltensionsofthelatterhalfoftheseventeenthcentury.Hence,sadly,thecommunitywasnottobelong-lived.45

Maria’s Spiritual Journey in the Cluyse

Maria Petyt initially fared well after her move to the Cluyse. Although herhealthwasshaky,shefeltshebelongedthere.Inoneofherfirstletterswefindaeulogytothenarrow‘eenigheyt’46[oneness]asaplacetoexperienceunionwithGod.Inherownwords,Mariafeltbathedinlightandgrace.47

The luminous start very soon gave way to profound darkness. This darknight,lastingagoodfourorfiveyears,entailedgreatenduranceandstruggle.AllMaria’sregularpracticespalledonher.48Shewaspronetoharmherselfandfeltdoomedforever.49Sheexperiencedthedesolationofthisnightasanop-portunitytopracticevirtues.50Sheevenreferstoitasaspiritualcrucifixion.51TheChrist-likelifethatMichaelhadinitiatedherinduringhernovitiatenowassumedafaceofhisown.52Mariaexperiencedthedreadfulpainofthisnightaspurgatoryandapenanceimposedonherforthesinsofothers.

Maria’sdarknights–thereweremorethanone–probablycontributedtotheemergenceoftheNothinginherwritings.TheconceptionofNothinginhertimewasvoluntaristic–thatis,annihilationasanactivemeanstoperfec-tion–andawidespreadspiritualityinbeguinagesandamongothersemi-reli-gious. Yet comparative studies53 reveal few parallels with the substantiveNothinginMaria’swritings.54ThusMariawasnotmuchconcernedwith‘workexercises’55,hencewithadoctrineofactiveperfection.HerencounterwiththeNothinghappenedinthedynamicsofpracticingthepresenceofGod,anexpe-riencebasedonanevermoreprofoundawarenessofthedivineAll.56Itwasin

45 SeeVanMeerbeeck,p.58.46 Theterm‘eenigheyt’issynonymouswithmonasticcellorhermitage.47 Petyt(1683)vol.1,102.48 Petyt(1683)vol.1,123and130.49 Petyt(1683)vol.1,132.50 Petyt(1683)vol.1,104.51 Petyt(1683)vol.1,117.52 Deblaere(1962)183–196;alsoseeMommaers(2003)97–105.53 AninterestingarticleinthisregardisPorteman(1973).54 Uyttenhove(2004)234.55 ‘Werckelijkcke oeffeninghen’Petyt(1684)vol.4,74f. 56 Herspiritualityhasfeaturesofthe spiritualityofSt.JohnoftheCross thatreachedthe

southernNetherlandsinthe1630s.Cf.Porteman(1973)405.

14 VanDeVate

annihilationthatMariaPetytcametoknowherBeloved.EnteringtheNothingformedpartofthelovestory.Maria’sself-awarenessgrewfromthisrelation-ship.ThusshegraduallygrewbeyondherselfandcameintocontactwiththeAllofGod’spresence.

Growth of her Spiritual Authority

FiveyearsaftertheestablishmentoftheCluysein1662Mariawasafirewithprayerforthepristinus splendor, thefirstlustreofCarmel.Theprayerwasap-pliedtotheausterely disposedBelgianprovince57andgaveMariasomespiri-tualauthorityintheimplementationofthestrictobservanceinthisprovince.Maria’sspiritualmotherhood–whichishowsheexperiencedherprayer–wasnotconfinedtoactingasspokespersonwiththeBeloved,58butentailedpen-ancesandseverepain.Mariawasconfinedtobed59toatoneforsinscommit-ted by her brothers. Her prayer for heretics – who feature copiously in thedocumentontheDutchWar60−iscouchedintermsofherspiritualmother-hood.Michaeldescribesitthus:

Virtuallyallherprayersareaimedatbringingmanysinners,onebyone,tothebosomofChrist,wheretheycanimbibesomemercyandstrength-ening,alleviatinggrace,soshebecomesmothertomanysoulsthatarebornagaininChrist.ShedescribesthesespiritualfertilizationsandbirthsbeautifullyinherLeven.61

Maria’sfirstvisions–amajorfactorinherspiritualauthorityatthetime–an-tedate her spiritual motherhood and date to the year 1658.62They were notapparitionsbutmentalimages.Thefirstsignsofspecialvisionsonlyoccurred

57 Petyt(1683)vol.1,171.58 Petyt(1683)vol.3,156f.59 Petyt(1683)vol.3,149f.60 Rome, Arch. Post. III, 70: Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia Tertiariae ordinis

Bmae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo, fol.30r-49v.61 ‘By-naer alle (…) hare ghebeden, [waren] tot diën eynde; stellende vele Sondaers, een voor

een, aen het herte Christi, om daer uyt te suyghen eenighe bermhertigheydt, en versterck-ende, ende verlichtende gratien: soo dat sy Gheestelycke Moeder wirdt van vele Zielen, die in Christo wirden her-boren. Welcke Gheestelycke bevruchtinghe ende baringhe sy wonderlyck beschryft in haer Leven.’MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)63f.

62 MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)59.

15AShortBiography

roundaboutAscensionDayin1669.63ThenMariasawtheimagesoutsidehermindaswell.Inthesefirsttenyears,whenMariastillexperiencedthevision-ary communications inwardly, she tested these experiences using Teresa ofAvilaasherframeofreference.64AtellingexampleisMaria’sdescriptionsofangelsthatshesenttoassistsoulsindistress.65Sheexperiencedtheirappear-ance as an inward illumination or communication.66 She saw them in theheavenlymirrorofhermind.ThefloweringofMaria’sloveplaywithherBe-loved likewise happened in her mind.67The visions Maria was given in thecourseof thisplayaccompaniedandorientedher inherspiritualphasesasbetrothed,brideandmother.

Deblaere calls Maria’s descriptions of her heavenly experiences ‘master-piecesofpsychologicalobservationandaccuratediscernment’.68Mariamain-tained this cautious approach in 1671 when recording her first propheticvisions.69 Thereafter she increasingly often received communications fromheaven:‘AsoulthusunitedwithGod,whatwillitnotknow?’70Mariaappearstohaveexperiencedgreatdifficultyinthisdevelopment71andonsomepointspreservedsecrecy,asmaybeseeninthedocumentontheDutchWar.72None-thelesshersupernaturalintuitioncontinuedtoevolve,orratheritintensifiedfrom prophetically tinctured visions into ‘bridal love with some executiveauthority’.73Inseveralvisionsshewasgiventhemindofarulingqueenandexercisedheavenlyauthority.

Maria’s Last Years

AllthesedevelopmentstookplacesomeyearsafterthecompletionofMaria’sautobiographyandherspiritualjourneyhastobereconstructedmoreorless

63 Petyt(1683)vol.2,195.64 Cf. Petyt (1683) vol. 1, 282f. Later she saw herself more as a reflection of Catharine of

Genoa.Petyt(1684)vol.4,273f.65 Petyt(1683)vol.3,177.66 Deblaere(1962)108.67 Petyt(1683)vol.2,195.68 Deblaere(1962)115.69 ‘Eenen ziele met Godt soo vereenight, wat sal sy niet weten?’MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)

99.SeeAnne-MarieBos’contributiontothisvolume,p.266–281.70 MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)37.71 Petyt(1683)vol.1,249.72 SeeEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.94.73 ‘Bruydelijcke liefde met eenighe uytwerckende authoriteyt.’Petyt(1683)vol.3,151.

16 VanDeVate

fromexternalsourcesandherletters,inasmuchastheseprovideafairreflec-tionofherspiritualjourney.74Asnotedalready,thedocumentontheDutchwarprovidesanimportantsupplementforhistoricalstudyofherperson.Ma-ria’sprayersfortheFrenchking,forexample,werenotyetknowntohistori-ans.75ThisdocumentalsoprovidesthesoleindicationinMaria’swritingsthatshe adopted an explicitly anti-Jansenist76 stance and was greatly concernedwith theanti-monachisttrendsofherday.77

Inthelastyearsofherlife,too,Mariawasunabletolivetranquillywithhervocation,drivenasshewasbyherdesiretoleadanevenmoresecludedlife.ThealreadymeagrecommunitylifeintheCluysestillevokedresistance.Nev-erthelessapostolicprayergreweverdeeper inhersoul: ‘somethingnewhashappenedtome(…)itseemstomethatIamacquiringanapostolicspirit,bothapostleandhermit.Dearfather,whatdoesyourReverencethink?Canthetwogotogether?’78,shewrotetoherspiritualdirector.

AssheadvancedonherjourneyMariaincreasinglyexperiencedheavenlylife–whoserealitysheyearnedforsopassionatelyandwhichgraduallyun-foldedinhersoul–inadynamicinwhichloveanddeathwenttogether.79ButMariaalsoexperiencedthisadvancetoheavenlylifeinreversemode.Shefre-quentlywritesaboutapainfullovedeaththatpurifiedherenergiesandmadeherreceptivetoGod’sspiritoflove.80However,thisspiritualdeath,howeverpainful,happenedinmutualovertures,intimacybetweenherandherBeloved.HerBelovedwasnolongeranexternalimage.ShereceivedhimastheOtherlivingwithinher.81MariacallsthisexperienceGod-suffering.82Herprayerlife

74 SeeEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.112–116.75 SeeVeronieMeeuwsen’scontributiontothisvolume,p.244f.76 Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.35f.77 In the controversies about Jansenism pro-reform bishops were often regarded as Jan-

senists,whileRomewasseenasanti-Jansenist.Thispolarisationhadmajorimplicationsfor religious in the southern Netherlands, who regularly clashed with the bishops.Roegiers(1996)55.SeealsoEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.42–45,MichelvanMeerbeeck’scontributiontothisvolume,p.56.58andMirjamdeBaar’scon-tributiontothisvolume,p.76f.

78 ‘Daer is my noch wat nieuws aenghecomen (…) my dunckt, dat ick eenen Apostolycken gheest kryghe; Apostolinne ende t’samen Eremytersse; lieven Vader, wat dunckt U-Eerweer-digheyt daer van? zal dit soo wel gaen?’Petyt(1683)vol.3,203.

79 Petyt(1684)vol.4,149f.80 Petyt(1684)vol.4,49.81 Mommaers(2003)104.82 Petyt(1683)vol.3,108f.Maria’sworkreflectsabroadintegrationofFlemishthemesthat

structureherspiritualjourney.Crucialinthisregardaretheplaceanddynamicsofthe

17AShortBiography

movedinstepwiththespiritoflove,whichmovedherprayersfromthegroundofhersoul.

Allthesame,righttotheendMariawastoexperienceherspiritualjourneyalongwithitscounterpoint,thedarknight.Evenonherdeathbedshestillre-ferredtothis,accordingtoMichael:

Where are all my earlier illuminations and divine interventions now?Now only I can do this. Keep my mind united with my Beloved. Sherequested that all her writings, which were full of heavenly teachingsobedientlyrecordedinherLeven,beburnt,forshehadneverreliedonallthese illuminations but solely on God. And she feared they containedhiddenfalsehoods.Butinordertodieinobedienceshelefteverythingtothedecisionofherspiritualdirector.83

Mariadiedin1677on1November,AllSaints’Day.

Maria in Her Own Times

AtthisstageabalancedpictureofMariaPetytinherdayandagecallsforfur-thercomparativestudyofthespiritualityandpositionoffemalereligiousintheseventeenthcentury.84SofarthemaincontributiontoourunderstandingofthesubjecthasbeenthestudyofthemodelofTeresaofAvilaanditsinflu-enceintheseventeenthcentury.Themodelhadagreatimpactonearlymod-ernfemalespirituality.85 Teresashowedmany ‘searching’womenthewaytothemysticalheightsanddepthsofanother‘newworld’thatwasdiscoveredinthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturies.86Thismysticaljourneyhasparallels

encounterwithGod.Theplaceofencounteristhegroundofthesoul.TheretheintellectcanonlybeholdthesupremeGood‘passively’andreceptively.

83 ‘Waer zyn nu alle myne voorgaende verlichtinghen en Goddelycke inwerckinghen? dit kan ick nu alleen doen: myn ghemoet vereenight houden met mynen Beminden. Sy versocht dat-men alle hare schriften die vol Hemelsche onder-wysinghen zyn, en in haer leven, door de ghe-hoorsaemheydt beschreven, soude verbranden, want sy op alle die verlichtinghen niet ghe-steunt hadde; maer op Godt alleen: vreesende dat daer bedrogh mede schuylden. Maer om ghehoorsaem te sterven, liet alles in den wille van haren Gheestelycken Vader.’MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)103.

84 SeeMirjamdeBaar’scontributiontothisvolume,p.77ff.85 Burkepointsoutthatsaintsmodelthemselvesonanearlierexample.Burke(1984)52.See

ElisabethHense’scontributiontothisvolume,p. 252ff.86 C.f.Bilinkoff(2006)116f.

18 VanDeVate

withthechurch’sexpansionarymovementintomissionaryterritory,butittookplacewithintheTridentineconstraintson femalereligious life.87Mariawasindeedafirewithapostolicprayer,butinherlettersshenonethelesssighed:

Oh,ifonlyIwereaman!HowIwouldtraveltheworld,likeanotherSt.FrancisXaviertocarrysoulstomyBeloved.88

TeresaofAvila’sinfluenceextendedbeyondthisfemalequestfora‘newworld’.InherstudyofTeresa’sspiritualdaughters,JodiBilinkhoffconvincinglydem-onstrates that the image ofTeresa also inspired great female creativity. Her‘daughters’notonlyreadherbooks,butalsowrotebooksoftheirown.Anewliterarygenreevolved,comprisingautobiographiesandcollectionsofletters,oftenwrittentospiritualdirectors.89MariaPetyt’swritingsandherfluentstyleunmistakably place her in this creative circle, which played a major role inhanding down female Catholic culture.90 There is an important difference,however.Whereas prayer in theTeresian model of sanctity is marked by ananagogic, ecstatic ‘upward’ movement, Maria’s prayer is characterised by adownwardmovementintothedepthsofthesoul.HerstrivingforunionwithGodassumesadistinctiveforminthe‘eenigheyt’[oneness],inwhichsheen-countersbothGodandtheworldaroundher.InthisrespectMaria’sframeofreference is reminiscent of medieval Flemish mysticism that made a come-back in the seventeenth century. However unique Maria’s spiritual journeymayhavebeen,itssourceandframeworkcanbetracedtotheTridentinere-formsthatcausedarevivalofmedievalandRhinelandmysticism.

EsthervandeVateM.A.O.CarmisworkingonherdissertationaboutMariaPetytatRadboudUniversityNijmegen.

Archives

Boxmeer,NederlandsCarmelitaansInstituut:Petyt,Maria&MichaëlàS.Augustino.1647.Veele Schoone ende seer geestelijcke leeringen bequaem om een Godtsoeckende ende minnende siele tot de opperste volmaecktheyt te stieren door Godts ingeven aan-

87 Monteiro(1996)24–27.SeealsoEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.30–33.88 ‘Och waer ick eenen Man! hoe soude ick de werelt door-lopen, als eenen anderen H. Francis-

cus Xaverius, om mijnen Beminden Zielen aen te brenghen.’Petyt(1683)vol.2,126.89 Bilinkhoff(2005)24.90 Bilinkhoff(2005)110.

19AShortBiography

gedient, door den seer Eerweerdigen pater Michael a S. Augustino provinciael van d’order der Eerw. paters Carmelieten onse Lieve Vrouwe Broeders in de nederlansche provintie; aan alle geestelijcke sielen naementlijck aan de weerdige Moeder Maria a S.ta Theresia alias Petyt. door haer selven aengeteeckent int jaer 1647.(DutchCarmeliteInstitute,Steenstraat39,5831JABoxmeer.TheNetherlands)

Mechelen,Archivumarchiepiscopalia,Oud parochiearchief, St. Servaas, Schaarbeek,kluisvanSt.Servaas, s.n.: Ordonnantien voor de heremitagie der susteren van de Alderheylighste Maget Maria des Berghs Carmeli.AenhundoorGodtsingevenvoorge-schrevendoordenseereerweerdighepaterMichaelaSanctoAugustino,provintiaelderNeder-duytscheprovintiedereerweerdighepaterscarmelitenonselievevrauwe-broedersin’tjaer1660.GeapprobeertdoordenseereerweerdighstenpaterMariusVenturinus,generaelvandevoorseydeorderendeapostolischenvisiterdercarme-liten,opdenvijffdenjanuary1660.(AartsbisschoppelijkArchief,Varkensstraat6,2800Mechelen)

Rome,Arch.Gen.Ord.Carmelitarum,II Flandro-Belgica commune provinciae 1675–1698. (CISA,ViaSforzaPallavicini10,00193Rome;MichaelofSt.Augustine’slettersarestoredinaseparatefolder.)

Rome,Arch.Post.III,70: Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia Tertiariae ordinis Bmae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo,fol.30r-49v.(CuriaGeneralizia,ViaGiovanniLanza138,00184Rome)

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Panzer,S.2006.Observanz und Reform in der Belgischen Karmelitenprovinz 1623–1649: ‘pour parvenir à un parfait retablissement de la discipline reguliere’. Rome:EdizioniCarmelitane.

Petyt,Maria.1683/1684.Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt, vanden derden reghel vande Orden der Broederen van Onse L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli, tot Mechelen overleden den 1. November 1677.4tt.in2voll.Ghent:gedrucktbijdehoirsvanJanvandenKerchove.(Vilvoordephotogr.reprinted[2002])

Porteman,K.1973.Nederlandsemysticiuitde17eeeuwofdemysticivan‘denniet’.InOns geestelijk erf: driemaandelijksch tijdschrift gewijd aan de studie der Nederlandsche vroomheid van af de bekeering tot circa 1750,47,386–407.

Roegiers,J.1996.JansenismeenkatholiekehervormingindeNederlanden.InGeloven in het verleden: studies over het godsdienstig leven in de vroegmoderne tijd, aangeboden

21AShortBiography

aan Michel Cloet, eds. E. Put,M.J.MarinusandH.Storme,43–64,Leuven:UniversitairePersLeuven

Staring,A.1948.EenCarmelitaansekluizenaresMariaPetytaS.Theresia.InCarmel, tijdschrift voor Carmelitaanse geschiedenis en geestelijk leven,4(April),287–305.

Uyttenhove,L.2004.MariaPetyt:eenvergetenmysticauitdezeventiendeeeuw.InNieuw Leven,3,232–239.

22 VanDeVate

Chapter2

Maria Petyt against the Background of the Political and Religious Situation in Flanders in the Seventeenth Century

Esther van de Vate

Ecologicallyandpoliticallyspeaking,theseventeenthcenturywasaturbulentandunstablecentury.1Therewasaminoriceagegoingon.Cropsfailedanddangerousdiseasesliketheplagueandtyphoidfevercausedmanydeaths.Eu-ropewas ravagedbypowerstrugglesandwars.TheThirtyYears’War (1618–1648)calledforthaviciouscircleofviolence,whichintheHabsburgempirealoneclaimedeightmillionlives.2Fortheinhabitantstheconsequencesofthemassacresandsackingswerenearlyincalculable.NotlongafterthePeaceofWestphalia,LouisXIV(1638–1715)wascrownedkingofFrancein1654.Hisex-pansivepowerpoliticsbroughtanewwaveofwarfareoverWesternEurope,whichweareintroducedtointhedocumentontheDutchWar.

Contributionsfromthehistoryofmentalityshowthetollthistookontheseventeenthcenturymind.Peoplebecameanxiousandconfused.3Structuresofinterpretation,certainlyreligiousones,wereputunderpressureandeventswere interpreted on the basis of personal experiences and subjectively ex-

1 IwanttothankSr.RebeccaBraunoscforthetranslationofthisarticle.2 Wilson(2009)4.3 SeeH.LehmannandA.Ch.Trepp.(eds.)Im Zeichen der Krise. Religiosität im Europa des 17.

Jahrhunderts. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 1999. Lehmann summarizes: ‘Die Geschichte der Religiosität im Europa des 17. Jahrhunderts wird deshalb durch zwei Tendenzen bestimmt: Durch die häufig auch mit erheblichem politischem Druck forcierten Versuche der Obrigkeiten, in ihren Territorien religiöse Uniformität zu etablieren, und ebenso durch die nicht minder energischen Versuche weiter Kreise der Bevölkerung, sich ihres Seelenheils zu versichern. Während die Obrigkeiten die Maximen des Merkantilismus umzusetzen suchten, stehende Heere aufbauten und repräsentative Residenzen planten, kurzum: ihre politische Macht auszubauen und zu demonstrieren bestrebt waren, wurden viele ihrer Untertanen von endzeitlichen ängsten umgetrieben. Hier, in diesen endzeitlichen Ängsten und den daraus für die Lebensführung gezo-genen Konsequenzen, hat, wie es scheint, die für das 17. Jahrhundert so virulente religiöse Pluralität ihren »Sitz im Leben«.’Lehmann(1999)12f.




23PoliticalandReligiousSituationinFlanders

plained.4 Although the world of Maria Petyt’s experience fits in seamlesslywiththisdevelopment,5thistransitiondidnottakeplaceunambiguously,ei-therinthemindofMariaPetyt,orinhersurroundings.Fromahistoricalview-pointsuchirregularitiesmakethediscovereddocumentaninterestingsource,whichopensaclearerviewonthediachronyofthisprocess.

InordertosituatethefigureofMariaPetytagainstthebackgroundofhertimes,thischapterfirstsketchesaroughimageoftheprocessofconfessional-izationandthepoliticalandreligioussituationintheSouthernNetherlandsatthetime.AttentionispaidtotheimpactoftheCouncilofTrent,especiallyinFlanders,andtheemergencethereofthespiritualdaughters,whodrewtheirinspirationmainlyfromTeresaofAvila.NexttheTridentinereformoftheCar-meliteOrder(o.carm.)andthefigureofMaria’sspiritualdirector,MichaelofSt.Augustine,aredescribed.Finallyboth,MichaelandMaria,aresituatedinthecontextofJansenismandanti-monachism.Ineachpart,whereapplicable,wewillfocusonthepositionand/orspiritualityofMariaPetyt.

Confessionalization and the Political Situation in the Southern Netherlands

FromahistoricalperspectivethefigureandspiritualityofMariaPetytbecomevisibleagainst thebackgroundof thecatholicreformationor,phrasedmorebroadlyandproperly,theprocessofcatholicconfessionalizationintheseven-teenthcentury.6AftertheviolentpolarizationoftheReformation,attheendofthesixteenthcenturythetheologicalandsocialtensionsbetweenCatholics,LutheransandCalvinistssubsided.7Authorities,bothsecularandecclesiasti-cal, attempted to strengthen their power by creating religious uniformity in

4 Roeck(1999)331.Thisobservationissharedinhistoricalstudiesofspirituality,inwhichaturnisseeninthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturyfromanessentialisticpietyfocusedonunitywithGod,toaspiritualitycenteredonthehumanbeingwhichwasofamorepsychologizingnature.SeeHoppenbrouwers(1996)40andSteggink(1985)42–46.

5 Cf.Deblaere(1962)232f.6 Withinhistoricalresearchaparadigmshiftcanbeseeninthepastdecadesfromtheterms

counterreformation/catholicreformationtothetermconfessionalization.Theseconceptsprovednolongerappropriateforidentifyingthecultural-historicaldevelopmentsinthesix-teenthandseventeenthcentury,ontheonehandbecausetheyplacedtoomuchemphasisonchurchhistory,ontheotherbecausetheantithesisbetweenreformationandcounterreforma-tionwashistoricallyuntenable.SeeforanoverviewofthediscourseReinhard(1995)419-452andBurschel(1999)588f.

7 Panzer(2006)305.

24 VanDeVate

their respective territories.8 This political and religious consolidation wasgreatlypromotedintheSouthernNetherlandsbythegovernorsAlbertofAus-triaandIsabellaofSpain,soninlawanddaughteroftheSpanishkingPhilipII.

ThedeathofArchdukeAlbertandtheresumptionoftheEightyYears’Warin1621broughtaturnaboutinthisperiodofdevelopment.InFlanders,whereinfantaIsabellareignedonaloneuntilherdeathin1633,adejectedandbitterresignation grew.9 Anti-Spanish sentiments impeded relations with Spain.MoreoverFrance,aftercardinalRichelieutookofficeasfirstministerofLouisXIII,becameanincreasinglyimportantpoweronthesceneofbattle.AlthoughRichelieu’s involvement with the Southern Netherlands was initially not di-rect,hedidingreatmeasurefinancethemilitaryinterventionsoftheNorthGermansovereignsagainsttheAustrianHabsburgs,whocouldcountonthesupportoftheHabsburgsinMadrid.10OneyearafterIsabella’sdeaththenewgovernor,cardinal-infanteFerdinandofAustria,deliveredadevastatingdefeattoSweden,theallyof theNorthGermansovereigns.Not longafterwards, in1635,FrancedeclaredwarontheAustrianandSpanishHabsburgsandinthesame year forged an alliance with the Northern Netherlands. French incur-sionsonthesouthernborderofBelgium–Mariamentionstheminherautobi-ography11 – were the result. The peace which was expected of the newgovernorwasnotyetforthcoming.Hediedin1641.Witheverynewgovernorafterhim,SpanishinterestinFlandersdecreased.Flandersturnedouttobenomorethanaconqueredland.

8 Thesecularauthorities,too,hadaninterestintheprocessofconfessionalization:‘Pious and purified individuals in turn made for godly communities, ones that could serve as potent bulwarks against heresy.’Bilinkhoff(2005)93.

9 Houtman-Desmedt(1979)385–395.10 Rooms(2007)21.11 ForthisperiodinthelifeofMariaPetytseeDeblaere(1962)28.Thefirstincursionsofthe

FrenchstateallianceinFlanderswereinMay1635.Roosbroeck(1940)5,50.In1638theFrench temporarily occupied the territory between Aire-sur-la-Lys and St.-Omer. ThesiegeofSt.-OmertookplacefromMay24untilJuly16,1638.Mariamusthavebeen15yearsoldthen.Sherecollects,however,thatshewasabout17atthattime.Petyt(1683)vol.1,24.‘Both in Flanders and by some in the Netherlands the defeat of Atrecht <Aug. 9, 1640> was felt as a heavy blow and as the beginning of the French invasion.’Roosbroeck(1940)5,52.From1638to1642thefrontremainedmobile.Theunrestlasteduntil1659,albeitwithaninter-val of several years. After theTreaty of the Pyrenees was signed there was a period ofpeacebetweenFranceandSpainfrom1659to1667.SeeRooms(2007)24.


War of Devolution

Afterseveralyearsofrelativepeace,attheendofthe’60sthepoliticalhorizonofFlanderswasonceagainseverelydisrupted.AsFrancewassurroundedbyHabsburgterritoryonallsides,LouisXIVhadsethisheartonconqueringtheSpanishNetherlands.AnnexationwouldsecurethenorthernborderofFrance,keepEnglandatadistancebetteranddetertheRepublicoftheSevenUnitedNetherlands.12In1667Frenchtroops,withoutanydeclarationofwar,crossedtheborderoftheSouthernNetherlands.LouisXIVthought,atleastthatwashiscover for this attack, that the supposed rights of inheritance of his Spanishwife,infantaMaria-Theresia,daughteroftherecentlydeceasedPhilipIV,gavehim claim to a part of the Belgian territory, including the city of MechelenwhereMariaPetytlived.13Theso-calledWarofDevolutionwasthenareality.14

AlthoughtheFrencharmiesdidnotreachMechelen,thetalesofwarwillnothavepassedbytheCluysewhereMarialived.ThesistersmusthavehadknowledgeoftheFrenchraidinthehermitageoftheCarmelitesinLiedekerke:

InthemonasteryTermuylen, inLiedekerke,theyactedinaterrifyinglytyrannicalway,dishonoringwomenanddaughtersinsacredplaces,irre-spectiveofpersonsorage.Yes,theyevendisrobedthedaughtersstark-nakedandhungthemfromthebeamsbytheirfeetandwhippedtheminaninfernalwayuntiltheybled.TheCarmelitestheytiedtothetailsoftheirhorsesinamorethanbarbaricmannerandthusdraggedthemfromtheirmonasteryandhermitage.15

12 Sonnino(2009)19.13 Around1640thecitynumberedabout20,000to25,000inhabitants.Marnef(2002)291.

ControloftheregionAntwerp–Brussels–Leuven,withMecheleninthecenter,wasofgreatstrategicimportanceinordertocontroltheSouthernNetherlands.Rooms(2007)45.

14 Thelawofdevolution–whichstillexistedincertainpartsoftheSouthernNetherlands–determinedthatinthecaseoftheinheritanceofchildrenfromdifferentmarriages,theprivatepossessionsweredividedaccordingtotheestatesthathadbeenbroughtin.Eachheircouldlayclaimtotheestateofthemarriageheorshehadbeenbornfrom.Althoughthisclaimdidnotapplytopublicpossessions,LouisXIVseizeduponthelawofdevolu-tionasjustificationforinvadingtheSouthernNetherlands.Rooms(2007)27f.

15 ‘In het clooster ter-Muylen, te Liedekercke, heben sij schrickelijke tyrannie ghedaen, ont-eerende in de heilige plaetsen vrouwen en dochters zonder onderscheit van personen ofte ouderdom, jae, hebben selfs de dochters moedernaeckt ontkleet ende met de voeten om hooghe ghehangen aen de balcken en naer hun vervloeckelijck werk die gegheeselt tot den bloede. De Carmelieten hebben sij op eene meer als barbaersche wijze ghebonden aen de steerten van hunne peerden ende alsoo ghesleept uyt hun clooster ende hermitage.’Fromthe

26 VanDeVate

Thisreportwillhavemadeanimpressiononthesisters,allthemorewhenonerealizesthatthehermitageofLiedekerkeislatermentionedinMariaPetyt’scodicil.16

InMaria’sbiography,andinherwritings,wefindonlyoneindicationthatthepoliticalunrestcameclosertotheinhabitantsoftheCluyse:

On August 19, 1668, she <Maria Petyt> gained knowledge that, if onewantstoasksomethingofGodthroughtheamiableMotherMary,itisverygood(…)togreetherwiththehymnAvemarisstellaetc.,HailMorn-ingstaretc.Bythismeanssheexperiencedmuchhelp,especiallywhentheycametoinspectallthehousesinMecheleninordertoseeifitwasaccommodationsuitable forhousingsoldiersand they tried toburdenherhermitagewiththesame.17

This inspectionof theCluyseperhapshadtodowiththeretreatofSpanishsoldiersfromtheterritorythatSpainhadtoyieldtoFranceafterthetreatyofAachenwassignedonMay2,1668.18

The Dutch War

With the outbreak of the Dutch War in 1672, the political situation in theSouthernNetherlandsworsenedagain.19OnMay18,1672,withoutbeingoffi-

GentGazette,d.d.19September1667,citedfollowingBronselaer[1945]38f.Thisreport,however,isprobablynotfromtheGentGazettebutfromtheGendtschepost-tydinghen,publishedbyMaximiliaanGraetsince1667.

16 Thenameofthishermitageismentioned‘by haere codicille van den 22 meert 1677’.FileMechelenintheNederlandsCarmelitaansInstituut(DutchCarmeliteInstitute)inBox-meer.

17 ‘Den 19. Augusti 1668. kreegh sy kennisse, dat, als-wanneer men iet van Godt wilt versoecken door de minnelycke Moeder Maria, het seer goet is, (...) haer te groeten met den Lof-sangh: Ave maris stella, &c. Weest ghegroet Morghen-sterre, &c. Hier door heeft sy vele behulpsaem-heydt onder-vonden: dat besonderlyck, als-men tot Mechelen alle huysen visiteerden, om te sien, oft daer commoditeyt was, om Soldaten te logeren, ende men hare Kluyse met de selve socht te belasten.’MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)89.Seealsonote37inMichelvanMeer-beeck’scontributiontothisvolume,p.57.

18 With the treaty of Aachen the Netherlands, Sweden and England allied themselvesagainst France, aiming to end the War of Devolution. Spain was forced, among otherthings, to cede the southern part of Flanders, between Dunkerque and Lille (Maria’snativeregion),toFranceagain.Franceconsentedtothearrangementandceasedthewar.

19 SeeVeronieMeeuwsen’scontributiontothisvolume,p.244.


ciallyatwarwithSpain,LouisXIVonceagaininvadedtheSouthernNether-lands,andinitiallymarchedonGentbutthenturnedtowardsthevicinityofBrussels.OnJune4,hisarmyadvancedtowardsMaastrichtwhichhadatthatpointbeenbesiegedbytheFrenchforsometime.Somemonthslater,onAu-gust30,1673,Spainjoinedtheanti-Frenchcoalition,alsoknownastheLeagueofTheHague,anddeclaredwaronFranceonOctober15,1673.20OneyearlaterMichaelofSt.Augustine,Maria’sspiritualdirector,writeswhatthissituationmeansfortheSouthernNetherlands:

Thestateof thecountry isverymiserable,becauseanarmyofat leasteighty thousand armed soldiers which, in common opinion, ought tohavebeenenoughtowagewaragainsttheFrenchanddrivethemawayfromBelgium,now–becauseofwhatprovidenceofGodIdonotknow–withoutbeingchased21byanyone,confusedlyfearfullyandgonewildhassoplunderedourentirecountrythatallthefarmershavetakenflightandthere is, so tospeak,nograin left forseedor foodandthere isnogrowthleftonthefields.22

DuringthiscalamityMariaPetyt–againstpublicopinion–praysforLouisXIVandhisarmies.23Ifonedoesnotwanttobaseoneselfontheexplanationsheherselfgives,namelythesupernaturalactivityinherprayer,onecanfallbackon several other interpretations to explain this prayer. Perhaps Maria – andwithherprobablymanyotherreligious–didnotseethroughtheideologicalapologetics surrounding the kingship of Louis XIV.24 According to his courtprelateJ.-B.Bossuet,LouisXIV,asking,tooktheplaceofGod.ByplacingLouis’

20 ThereasonforthiswasthatCountdeMonterrey,governoroftheSouthernNetherlands,hadenteredintoanagreementwiththeRepubliconthedefenseofimportantcitiessuchasBredaand’s-Hertogenbosch.Rooms(2007)47.

21 Quasiisnottranslated.Itprobablyrefersto‘nemine persequente‘inProverbs28,1(Vul-gata).

22 ‘status patriae miserrimus est, quia exercitus octoginta facile millium armatorum militum debellandis et e Belgio expellendis Gallis, communi iudicio sufficiens, nescio, qua Dei provi-dentia, quasi nemine persequente confusus, territus, dissolutus, totam nostram patriam ita depopulatus est, ut profugis omnibus rusticis ne vel unum, ut sic dicam, granum pro semente vel nutrimento nec pallea in pagis remanserit.’Ceyssens(1968)242.Michaelwrotethislet-teronOctober20,1674.CardinalBonadiedeightdayslateronOctober28,1674.Ceyssens(1968)242.

23 Fol.30v.SeeVeronieMeeuwsen’scontributiontothisvolume,p.244ffandEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolumep.93f.

24 Burke(1992)9.

28 VanDeVate

imageinlinewithfigureslikeClovisandSaintLouis,25Versaillespropagatedasacredkingship.AnotherexplanationcouldbethatinherprayerMariaPetytidentifiedwiththepoliticalinterventionsofanumberofFrenchCarmelites,keyfiguresinthereformofCarmel(o.carm.).26JohnofSt.Samson(1571–1636)wasincontactwithMariadeMedici,themotherofLouisXIII,andLéondeSaintJean(1600–1671)gavetheeulogyatthefuneralofcardinalRichelieuin1642.27

Inanycase,Mariadidnotpraywithoutreflectiononthepoliticalchoicesthatweremade.AbouttheLeagueofTheHagueshewritestoMichaelofSt.Augustine:

ThesesparksandimpressionsseemedtoenlightenmeandtonotifymefromthesideoftheBelovedhowHecomplainedverymuchabouttheinnocent blood, which is unjustly shed by both sides in Holland andabout the injustice done to Him from the side of the Spaniards, whoseemed to use all of their forces and an extreme power to expel Jesusfromhisnewkingdom,and,asfarastheycould,theytriedtopreventthepeacefulpossessionofHisdesiredkingdomandofthecatholicfaiththatbegantobeplantedthereetc.NotthattheSpaniardshaveexpressedthisintention,butbecausetheysupplythehereticswiththeirarmsinordertoexpelthekingofFrance,trustinginsomepromisesmadetothembythatimpiousnation,hopingthattheythemselveswouldoccupyHolland,graduallyandeventuallywouldsubjectthemtotheirpower.28

Here it becomes clear that Maria duly realizes that innocent blood is beingshedonbothsidesinHollandandthatshecannotreconcileherselftothenotveryconfessionalconsiderationsoftheSpanishauthorities.

YetitwasnotherpoliticalconsiderationsthatmadeMaria’sprayerforLou-isXIVsofervent.ThecatholickingdomofherBelovedcamefirstwithMaria.Sheexperiencedhersolitaryprayerinserviceoftheecclesiasticalauthorities:

Sometimesthelove-spiritseemstoflyoverthewholeworldlikeabird,sometimeswiththepagans,Turks,unbelievers,heretics,sometimeswiththegreatsinnersinordertoconvertthemalltoGod,atothertimeswithallthesuperiorsoftheentireHolyChurch,withallthepreachers,confes-

25 LouisIX,KingofFrance(1226–1270)playedanimportantroleinCarmelitetradition.26 Readmoreonp.38f.27 SeeJohnofSt.Samson(1656)96f.andSmet(1982)53.28 Fol.33r.Transcriptionandtranslationcanbefoundonp.142f.


sors,asifIjointhemandworktogetherwiththeminordertoperforminaworthymannertheburdenoftheauthoritiesandtoperformthoseser-vicesaspleasesGodandforthesalvationoftheirsubjects.29

Seventeenth century women were all but forced to develop such visionaryformsofredemptiveministry,regardlessofwhetherthesewerepoliticallybi-ased.Thereasonforthisshouldbesoughtintheimpactofthecatholicrefor-mation.30

The Impact of the Council of Trent

AftertheCouncilofTrent(1545–1563)theapostolateoftheCatholicChurch–inresponsetothesuccessoftheReformation–wasintensifiedanddisciplined.HistoricalresearchintotheeffectsoftheCouncilhasmadeclearthatthisde-velopmentinthedirectionofasacramental,ministerialchurchwasnotone-waytrafficfromabove.WillemFrijhoffevendescribestheconfessionalizationasaprocessofappropriation:

Theprocessofgivingmeaningbymeansofwhichgroupsorindividualsfillinthebearersofsignificanceproffered,imposedordictatedbyotherswiththeirownmeaningandsomakethemacceptable,livable,bearableorhumaneforthemselves.31

Theprincipal instrumentsfortheimplementationoftheTridentinedecreeswerethesermonandtheinstructionofthecatechism.Betterschooledsecularclergy and reforms within the religious orders were to ensure an orthodoxpreachingofthefaithaccordingtotheguidelinesofthechurch.32Inthelivesoffamoussaints,suchasBorromeo,Teresa,Ignatius,PhilipNeriandFrancisdeSales,anasceticalpietywasheldupasanexampleandaclimateofactivism

29 ’somtydts schijnt den minne-gheest, als eenen voghel te door-vlieghen de heele werelt, nu by de Heydensche, Turcken, Ongeloovige, Ketters, nu by groote Sondaers, om die al tot Godt te bekeeren, nu by alle Oversten van heel de H. Kerck, by alle Predicanten, Biecht-vaders, my gelijck by hun voeghende, ende mede-werckende, om den last van overheyt weerdelijck te quyten, ende die diensten wel te volbrenghen naer’t behaeghen Godts, ende tot Saligheyt van hunne Ondersaeten.’Petyt(1683)vol.3,32f.

30 SeeBilinkhof(2005).31 Frijhoff(1997)108(Mytranslation),citedandendorsedbyMarnef(2002)299.32 Jedin(1985)4,588f.

30 VanDeVate

wasencouraged.33Theexampleoftheirstrivingforperfectionwassupportedbyagrowingnumberofspiritualmethods.34Medieval–andsometimesevenearlyChristian35–traditionswere,somewhatforcibly,reassessedandadaptedtothedemandsofthemodernage.36

ThisprocessofmodernizationintheChurchwasnotfavorableforwomen.TheTridentinereformpursuedadifferentavenue forwomenthan formen.WherethemalereligiousidentitycenteredonthemilitarysymbolismoftheJesuits,thefemaleidentitywaslaiddowninthemetaphorofvirginity.37More-over,theChurchharkedbacktomedievalrules.38NotlongaftertheCouncil,intheconstitutionCirca Pastoralis(1566),PopePiusVdeclaredtherequirementofenclosureinthebullPericolosoin1298applicabletoallreligiouswomen.39Thismeantthatonlywomenwholivedacontemplativelifewithinthewallsofthecloisterwereofficiallyacknowledgedasreligious.Otherformsoflife,suchasthatofthetertiaries,provednolongeracceptableinthepope’sview.40Theconsequenceofthiswasthatthesecommunitieswerediscouraged.Theywerechangedintomoreexclusiveandhierarchicallyorganizedformsofcommunallife.41

33 ‘Obwohl die genannten Heiligen große Asketen waren, die alle mehr oder weniger zu persön-licher Religiosität, individueller Glaubensarbeit, Weltverachtung und visionärer Selbsterfahr-ung neigten, läßt sich im keinem Fall beobachten, was Max Weber ‘planlose Weltflucht‘ genannt hat. Im Gegenteil: Ihr innerweltlicher Aktivismus steht außer Frage und rief schon in 17. Jahrhundert Erstaunen hervor, das immer wieder auch in Ablehnung umschlagen konnte, wenn allzu offensichtlich wurde, daß die voluntaristische Dynamik der fünf Akti-visten das vorherrschende religiöse Wertesystem durchbrach, in dem die vita contemplativa noch immer vor der vita activa rangierte.’Burschel(1999)594.

34 Frijhoff(2003)379.35 MariaPetyt,forinstance,revivedanearlyChristianlifemodel.SeeEsthervandeVate’s

contributiontothisvolume,p.11.36 MuchstudyoftherevivalofmedievalspiritualitywasdonebyK.Porteman.SeePorte-

man(1973)400and406.Thattheapologeticnatureofthisrevivalalsochangeditscontentis ascertained in Porteman (1976) 139f. and Mommaers (1984) 749.The term ‘forced’ istakenfromBill-Mrziglod(2013)68f.

37 Strasser(2004)125.38 Rapley(1993)27f.39 Monteiro(1996)24–27.40 Rapley(1993)26andStrasser(2004)75.41 Strasser(2004)119f.


The Tridentine Reform in Flanders

InFlanderstheprocessofconfessionalizationwascharacterizedbyasuccess-fuladaptationtotheguidelinesoftheCouncilofTrent.42ThankstothetactofarchdukesAlbertandIsabellatherecametobeagoodclimateforthecatholicreform.Intheirrighttoappointnewbishopsthearchducalcoupleletthem-selvesbeguidedbythepastoralsuitabilityofcandidatessuchasAntoonTriestandJacobBoonen.43ThisfairwindmadetheSouthernNetherlandsanattrac-tive place to settle for young religious congregations such as the CapuchinsandtheSocietyofJesus.Theolderordersaswell,andtheirreformedversions,such as the Discalced Carmelites and the Recollects, flooded the SouthernNetherlandsinan‘invasion conventuelle’.44Circa1650therewasadisciplinedclericalsystem,whichpropagatedavirtuousandedifyinglife.45

Lifeinthebeguinagesblossomedagain,afterthevicissitudesofthewarsofreligion,at leastnumericallyandinamaterialsense.46ThemeasuresoftheCouncilofTrent,however,werenotwithouteffect.OnMarch22,1588JohannesHauchin,archbishopofMechelen,promulgatedgeneralstatutesforallthebe-guinagesinhisarchdiocese, inwhichhestatedtheimportanceofamorallyvirtuousclimatewithagreaterinwardfocus:

Peoplewhohavetrueconcern for theirholiness labordiligently toseenotonlytheirsinsbutalsothecauses.Itisnotwithoutreasonthattheydothis,becausedifferingcompanyanddisquietingplacesusuallytemptanddiverttheirfollowersorcoolinthemtheardorforGodwhodesiresto take up his abode in quiet hearts, where alone he wants to be andremain.47

42 Lottin(1979)63.43 Cloet(2006)12andVenard(1992)453.44 ‘Die Hauptrolle bei der katholischen Restauration spielte jedoch der Ordensklerus. Während

der ersten 30 Jahre des 17. Jh. waren die Niederlande von Ordensleuten regelrecht überlaufen.’Panzer(2006)44.SeealsoVenard(1992)499.Ontheirpiety,seeAxters(1960)4,69–239.

45 Cloet(2006)14.SeealsoPut(2009)113–119.46 Triest (1998) 42f. and Aerschot (2001) 41. According to estimates as many as one in 20

womenwasabeguine.Aerschot(2001)40.47 ‘Menschen die waerachtige sorge dragen voor hun salicheijdt, doen neersticheijt om te

schouwen niet alleene die sonden, maar oock die oirsaken der selven ende dat niet sonder groote redenen, want ongelyck geselschap ende becommerde plaetsen, verleijden ende ver-stroijen gemeijnelyck hunne aenhangers oft emmers vercoelen in hun die viericheyt tot Godt die sijne woonstede begeert te hebben in geruste herten daer hij alleen wilt wesen ende blij-ven.’Philippen(1918)315.Thestatutescanbe foundinPhilippen(1918)315–328.These

32 VanDeVate

Graduallyagreateruniformitywasimposedonthesewomenandtheirauton-omydisappearedastheycameunderthecontroloftheecclesiasticalhierar-chy.48

Spiritual Daughters

InthefoundationofthecommunityoftertiariesintheCluyse,thereaderisextensively introducedtotheriseof thespiritualdaughters intheSouthernNetherlands,49amovementthatfounditsprecedentintheMedieval‘mulieres religiosae’.50Spiritualdaughters,alsocalledspiritualvirgins,werecatholicun-marriedwomenorwidowswholivedoutsidethecloisterinserviceofGodandtheirneighbours.51Theyoftenlivedtogetherinacommunity.52Thiswasare-markablephenomenon,consideringthedecisionsattheCouncilofTrentonthereligiousformoflifeforwomenasdescribedabove.53Spiritualdaughters,afterall,didnotobserveenclosureandprofessednovowsoronlysimpleones.The apostolic élan of their commitment, however, makes this developmentunderstandable.54BecauseofthisitwaspossibleformanynewcommunitiestoformoutsideofthescopeoftheTridentinerules,despitethefactthattheseruleshadbeenmadestricter.55ThoughMaritMonteirodoesnote:

Allthesametheiropportunitiestodevotethemselvesactivelytochurchand fellow human beings were limited by the social and ecclesiasticalrestrictionsthatappliedtothemembersoftheirsex.(…)Notonlycon-crete utterances on paper point to this, but also their strong Passion

statutesbyHauchinhadgreatinfluenceandalsoservedasamodelforbeguinagesout-sideofthearchdiocese,seeGeybels(2004)66f.andPhilippen(1929)186.

48 Triest(1998)42.49 Monteiro(1994)57.DeVroedespeaksofa‘qualitatively important phenomenon, that one

found both in the countryside and in the cities.’Vroede(1994)71.InthehomeofthePetytfamily,too,aspiritualdaughterhadherabode.SeePetyt(1683)vol.1,9.

50 Conrad(2013)9.ForahistoricaloverviewseeHarline(1995)543f.51 Monteiro(1996)13f.52 Cloet(2006)25f.‘M. de Vroede estimates that approximately eighty such communities were

founded during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, varying in size from less than ten members to more than a hundred. By the end of the eighteenth century the spiritual daugh-ters – although formally they were not religious – represented between 15.5 and 17.5 % of the total number of women religious.’Monteiro(1996)32.Forquotation,seeVroede(1994)118.

53 Monteiro(1996)44ff.54 Monteiro(1996)25.55 Thatanactiveformoflifecouldcontinuetoexistwas,atleastintheSouthernNether-

lands,duetodefenseonthepartofsocietyandthelocalbishops.SeeHarline(1995)550.


devotioncouldbeanindicationthatthecatholicgendercodingofthedayforwomenwasveryaggravatingforthesespiritualvirgins.56

Tertiaries in Carmel

Manyofthesespiritualdaughters–amongthemMariaPetyt–chosetoliveastertiariesunderamonastic rule thathadbeenadaptedto theirstateof life.Despitepublicsupport57they,too,weresubjectedtoastricterlife.IntheOrderof Carmel (o.carm.), the Prior General Theodore Stracci complied with theregulationsthathadbeendrawnuponDecember20,1616bytheCongregationofBishopsandRegularsin1637.InhisOpusculum Regularum et constitutionem pro TertiarisheinstructedthedirectorsoftheThirdOrderonlytoadmitwom-enwho ledanexcellentandtested life,wereat least fortyyearsold,ownedenoughpossessionstoliveon,hadthepermissionofthelocalordinary,werebornofrespectableparentsandhadagoodname.58

DanieloftheVirginMary59,directoroftheThirdOrderinFlanders,rewrotetheThirdOrderRuleofhisprovinceandpublisheditasAf-beeldinghe van de derde orden onser L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli.60He therewritesabout thestateoflifeofthetertiaries:

ForalthoughitistruethatthestateorconditionofsuchpersonsisnottrulythesameasaReligion,itisyetawayoflifethatisverysimilartothatof thereligious,especially if it isconfirmedbyavowofeternalpurity,withoutwhichthatwayoflifedoesnotdeservethenameState,becauseStatemeanssteadfastnessandconstancy,thatistosay,whenonehassosecurelyboundoneselftoGodbyapromisethatitcannotbedissolved.Thishappensbymeansofapromiseofpurityuntodeath.61

56 Monteiro(1994)59.(Mytranslation)57 Seen.55.58 Straccialsoimposedothercriteriaforadmissionnotmentionedhere.Thesecanbefound

in an unpublished document by A. Staring, with the title Derde Orde. Regel III. DutchCarmeliteInstitute,Boxmeer.ForthehistoryanddevelopmentoftheThirdOrderwithintheCarmeliteOrder(o.carm.)inBelgium:Smet(1982)557–560.OntheOpusculum:Smet(1982)537.

59 In his Speculum Carmelitanum (1680) Daniel of the Virgin Mary O. Carm. (1615–1678)mademanyspiritualdocumentsandbiographiesaccessible.

60 DanieloftheVirginMary(1666).SeealsoMichelvanMeerbeeck’scontributiontothisvolume,p.55.

61 ‘Want al is’t sake dat den staet oft conditie van soodanighe persoonen niet oprechtelyck eene Religie en is, nochtans is’t een maniere van leven aen die van de Religieusen seer ghelyck;

34 VanDeVate

Thisstrivingonthepartoftertiariesnottobeleftbehindbythemembersofthe First and Second orders will have been part of a widespread process ofconfessionalization,butwithinthatcontextshouldalsobeseenasaphenom-enontypicaloftheFrenchandtheSouthernNetherlands.62

VariousrulesoftertiariesshowthattheirwayoflifeintheSouthernNether-landswasoftentoagreatdegreeorientedtowardsthemonasticlife,63aswasalsothelifeofMariaPetytandhersistersintheCluyse.64WhenMarialooksback on the first time she made her profession on the ‘derden Reghel vande Heylighe Maghet Maria des Bergh-Carmeli’(ThirdRuleoftheHolyVirginMaryofMountCarmel),shewrites:

AlthoughIprofessedthesimplevowtoobservetheThirdrule,ourfatherconfessorletusobservetheruleofthereligiousregardingthefastdays,abstinence, penitence, silence and so on. We could do that very wellbecausenoonestoodinourway.TheThirdrulewasthennotyetprintedandI feltdrawntoastricter lifethantosimplyobservetheThirdrule,becausetheThirdruleismoregeneralforallsortsofpeople,sothatitcanbeobservedintheworldaswell.65

MariamusthavemadeherfirstprofessionontheThirdOrderruleofthere-form-minded general John Soreth (1451–1471). Soreth initiated the develop-mentof theSecondandThirdOrder inCarmelandwasachampionof theReformofMantua,amovementthatstroveforareturntothecontemplativewayoflifeinCarmel.66

besonderlyck als die bevestight is door belofte van eeuwighe suyverheydt; sonder de welcke die maniere van leven niet wel en verdient den naem van Staet: want Staet beteeckent stant-vastigheydt ende on-veranderlyckheyt, te weten, als-men sy-selven door belofte soo vast aen Godt is verbindende, dat-men ’t niet en kan ont-binden; het welk gheschiedt door belofte van Suyverheydt tot de doodt toe.’DanieloftheVirginMary(1666)preface.OnstateseealsoSchulz(2013)36f.

62 Monteiro(1996)34.63 Monteiro(1996)34.64 SeePetyt(1683)vol.1,52.65 ‘Al dede ick simpelijck belofte van te onderhouden den derden Reghel, nochtans gaf onsen

Biechtvader ons te onderhouden den Reghel van de Religieusen, nopende de vastendaghen, abstinentien, penitentien, stilswyghentheyt, ende soo voorts, wy kosten dat ghevoeghelijck onderhouden, mits niemant hebbende inden wegh: Den derden Reghel en was alsdan noch niet ghedruckt; ende oock ick vondt my wat stricter ghetrocken, als simpelijck den derden Reghel te onderhouden; want den derden Reghel ghemeynder is voor alle soorten van men-schen, om oock in de werelt te konnen onderhouden.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,52.

66 HisThirdOrderrulewaspromulgatedonMarch14,1455,butonlypublishedin1675byPhilipoftheVisitation.ThetextofthisTroisieme Regle des freres et soeurs de Nostre dame


SomeyearslaterMariaPetyt,followingasecond(half-)noviciate,madean-otherprofessionasatertiary,nowontherulefromtheAf-beeldinghe.Herlaterbiographerandspiritualdirector,MichaelofSt.Augustine,givesthefollowingreasonforthis:

IndoubtastowhetherherprofessionontheThirdRuleoftheCarmel-ites,whenshestill livedinGent,hadbeenvalid,sherenewedit inthehandsofthemostreverendfatherGabrieloftheAnnunciation(…)67andwasgivenaconfessor[i.e.MichaelofSt.Augustine]whoinstructedherbetterinpracticingherobligationorcommitment.68

Maria,whoalreadyatherfirstprofessionreceivedthenameMariaofSt.Tere-sa,wasgiventhisnamebecauseofthe‘special attraction I felt towards this Holy Mother.’69

In the Footsteps of Teresa

During this centuryTeresa of Avila (1515–1582) was very popular among the(semi-)religiouswomenoftheSouthernNetherlands.70Inoneofthepopular

Du mont Carmel,was(withsomecorrections)includedinAnalecta Ordinis CarmelitarumVI,vol.III,263–265andinGrosso(2007)272–274.ThecanonicalbeginningoftheThirdOrderisdatedonthebasisofthebullDum attenta,promulgatedbySixtusIVonNovem-ber28, 1476.Monsignani(1715)tom. I,319–346.AboutherprofessiononthisoldThirdOrder rule Maria herself writes somewhat reservedly: ‘The Third rule was then not yet printed.’ ‘Den derden Reghel en was alsdan noch niet ghedruckt.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,52.

67 Omittedinthiscitation:‘Als-doen Prior al-daer, en naer-maels Commissaris Generael door Hoogh en Neder-duytschlandt; waer hy de Reformatie der PP. Lieve-Vrouwe-Broeders heeft in-ghevoert: al was ’t dat hemel en aerde schier tegen hem stelden; en is ghestorven Prior van Weenen, ende Procurator Generael in het Hof des Keysers’. (‘At that time the prior there, and later commissary general for High and Low Germany, where he introduced the reform of the Fathers Brothers-of-Our-Lady, though heaven and earth nearly stood up against him. He died as prior of Vienna and as procurator general in the emperor’s Court’) FromthelatterwecaninferhowsoreasubjectMaria’sprayerforLouisXIVwasinCarmel.Ontheten-sionssurroundingGabrieloftheAnnunciation,readHoppenbrouwers(1949)165f.

68 ‘Twyffelende, oft hare Professie van den derden Reghel der Carmeliten, wettigh geweest hadde, als sy tot Ghent woonden, heeft die vernieuwt, in de handen van den seer Eer-weer-dighen Pater Gabriël ab Annuntiatione (…) ende kreegh eenen Biecht-Vader, die haer beter onderwees in het oeffenen van hare obligatie, ofte verbintenisse.’MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)20.

69 ‘besonderen treck, die ick tot dese Heylighe Moeder ghevoelde.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,52.70 This popularity can be ascertained from, among other things, the many connections

betweentheDiscalcedCarmelandthebeguinages.AnnaofSaintBartholomewkeptin

36 VanDeVate

beguines’liveswereadhowElisabethvanSoetemschoosesTeresaasherpa-tronessatherprofession.71LatershecallsherselfaCarmeliteand–likeMariaPetyt–renouncestheeatingofmeat:‘Not that she made her profession in that Order, but because she tried to observe that rule in everything.’72

Oftenthispopularitywassharedbythecounselorsofthesewomen.Danielof theVirginMary73,whoinhisKonste der Konste74developedamethodofprayer in Teresa’s spirit, included a timetable for beguines in his Af-beeld-inghe.75HisdiscalcedbrotherHermanofSt.NorbertfoundedacommunityofspiritualdaughtersaroundthebeguinageinDendermondein1663,togetherwiththebeguineAnnaPuttemans.Thesemarolles,lateralsocalledmaricolles,livedbyarulecomposedinthespiritofTeresaofAvila.76

OneofTeresa’smeritsfortheChurchisthatsheshiftedtheprayeraposto-lateofwomen–prayingforthesoulsinpurgatory–inthedirectionofprayerforthechurch.77IntheWech der volmaecktheydt (WayofPerfection)shewrites:

WhatdoesitmatterthatIaminpurgatoryuntilthedayofjudgment,ifbymyprayerevenonesoulmaybesaved?Ofhowmuchmore impor-tanceisnottheprofitofsomanysoulsandthegloryoftheLord?Anddonotattendtopainsthatpasswhenyoucandosomegreatermerittotheonewhosufferedsomuchforus.(…)Itistohisgloryandtheprofitofhischurch.78

touchwithMariavanderLinden,beguineinGhent.SeePhilippen(1929)194.Asearlyas1632 a Dutch edition ofTeresa’s Life was presented to abbot Iosephus Geldolphus vanRykel,protectorandbiographerofmanybeguines’lives.SeealsoMirjamdeBaar’scontri-butiontothisvolume,p.72ffandElisabethHense’scontributiontothisvolume,p.252ff.

71 Begga(1712)258.72 ‘Niet dat sy in dit Order professie heeft gedaen, maer om dat sy naer de regel des selfs, in alles

socht te leven.’Begga(1712)261.73 SeeEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.33.74 SeefurtherSmet(1982)445f.75 DanieloftheVirginMary(1666)101–105.76 Quaghebeur(2009)158.IntheSpeculum Carmelitanum wefindwrittenthatHermanofSt.

Norbertwroteabookontheoriginandinstitutionofthemaricolles.DanieloftheVirginMary(1680)tom.IIparsII,1129.WiththisDanielisreferringtoHerman’s Humilis et libera familia Maricolarum sive tractatus explicans initium et finem sive scopum institutionis prae-dictae familiae, Cologne 1678. Regarding the perfection to be strived for by the sisters,Herman in this book refers to his Cibus solidus perfectorum, sive de Proposito et voto seraphico S. Mtris N. Teresiae faciendi semper quidquid intelligeret esse perfectius libri duo,auctoreR.P.F.HermannoaS.Norberto.(p.5)ReadaboutthisinMeulemeester(1913).

77 Weber(2000)124.78 ‘Wat is daer toch aen gheleghen, dat ick tot den dach des oordeels in ’t Vaghevier sitte, indien

door mijn ghebedt alleen een ziele mach saelich worden? hoe veel te meer, importerende het


However much Maria Petyt felt attracted to the figure of this great Spanishsaint,79thereaderofthethirdbookofMaria’sLifewillfindthatthistransitiontoprayingforthechurchhardlytookplaceinherlife.80

InMaria’sreligiousidentificationitismainlytheimageofthe‘eremitical’Teresathatcomestotheforefront.81WhenattheageoffiveTeresaiskeptbyherunclefromconvertingtheMoors,sheandherbrotherfeelattractedtoaradicallysolitarylife:‘When I saw that it was impossible to go because they <the Moors> would kill me on account of God, we determined that we would become hermits.’82Thiseremiticalideal83fitsinentirelywiththepursuitofperfectionofthecatholicreformationandwasstimulatedfromabove:

Theeenicheyt<i.e.hermit’s cell>isthebestmeanstowardsthebestend,because the end that the eenicheyt strives for is the contemplation ofGodorofthedivinethings,Bellarminesays.Thedivinepeoplewhoareenlightenedwitheternallightandignitedbydivinelove,areheldtobeperfect.Itisacompletelyperfectlife,tobeonearthwiththebodyandwith the spirit to abide in heaven: to live among people and be in thecompanyofangels.84

profijt van soo veel zielen, ende de eere des Heeren? ende maeckt gheen werck van pijnen die vergaen, wanneer ghy eenighen meerderen dienst cunt doen aen den ghenen die soo veel voor ons gheleden heeft. (...) het is tot sijnder glorie en profijt sijnder kercken.’Teresa(1634)19f.

79 SeealsoElisabethHense’scontributiontothisvolume,p.256andMirjamdeBaar’scon-tributiontothisvolume,p.73.

80 Maria’s prayer mainly consisted of penance for the souls in purgatory.This is possiblyrelatedtotherevivalofmedievaltraditionsmentionedearlier.

81 Burkepointsouthowsaintsformedthemselvesaccordingtotheexampleofanearliermodel.Burke(1984)52.SeePetyt(1683)vol.1,11.

82 ‘Alsoo ick dan sagh dat onmoghelijck was te gaen daer sy my om Godt souden dooden, soo schickten wy dat wy souden heremijten worden.’Teresa(1632)6.

83 SeealsoAxters(1960)239–245.84 ‘De eenicheyt is den besten middel tot het beste eynde: want het eynde daer de eenigheyt toe

is streckende, is de contemplatie oft de beschouwinghe van Godt oft van goddelijcke dinghen, seght Bellarminus. Die goddelijcke menschen die verlicht zijn met het eeuwich licht, ende onsteken zijn met de goddelijcke liefde, die worden ghehouden voor volmaeckt. Het is een perfect volkomen leven, in der aerden te wesen met het lichaem, ende met den gheest te woonen in den hemel: onder de menschen te leven, ende met de Enghelen te verkeeren.’Gor-cum(1619)prologues.The17thand18thcenturysituationoftheeremiticallifeinFrancewasstudiedanddescribedinSainsaulieu(1973).

38 VanDeVate

InherchoicefortheeremiticallifeMariaPetytdidnotallyherselftotheTere-sian reform, however, but to the strict observance of the original order(o.carm.).

Reforms in the Carmelite Order (o.carm.)

TheTridentinereformoftheCarmeliteOrder(o.carm.)wasusheredinbytheDecreta ad Reparationem et Restaurationem regularis disciplinaebythePriorGeneralHenrySilvio.85 In this reformthecontemplativecharismofCarmelwasnotsomuchcalledintoquestiononitscontentaschallengedregardingthetraditional frameworkof itscommunity lifeandprayer life.86Olderandlessoldspiritualformswerebroughtbacktolifeandintegratedintheoldidealoftheorder.Theaimofitsreformerswasultimatelyareturntothesourcesandtheretentionofitscontemplativelegacy.The‘pristinus splendor’87,theformerradianceofCarmel,hadtoberestored.

Entirelyinlinewiththis,in1659MariaPetytprayedtotheprophetElijah:

…toobtainthatinhisOrderhisfirstspirit,hisfirstdispositionberenewedandengendered,thatistosaythecontinuoussolitude,poverty,continu-ous prayer in purity of spirit, thoroughly and willingly foregoing thesearchfordiversionincreatures.88

The Reform of Touraine

Animportantpointofreferencewithinthisreformmovementwastheprov-inceofTours,especiallythemonasteryofRennes.Thestricterdisciplineintro-duced there was initially called observantia strictior, later also reformatioTuronensis or Rhedonensis (Touraine Reform). At the beginnings of thisreformstoodLouisCharpentierandPeterBehourt.89PhilipThibaultisnamedasachampioninitsimplementation.ThegreatmysticofthisreformwasJohn

85 Panzer(2006)50.86 Plattig[sa]1.87 Panzer(2006)295.88 ‘te verwerven dat in sijne Orden sijnen eersten gheest, sijne eerste instellinghe magh

vernieuwt, ende verweckt worden, te weten, de gheduerighe eensaemheyt, aermoede, ghe-duerigh Ghebedt in puerheyt des gheests, grondigh ende ghewilligh derven van alle ver-maeck-soeckinghen in creatueren.’Petyt(1683)vol.3,148.

89 Smet(1982)36–62.


ofSt.Samson.Hiswork,inwhichmanytracesofRhinelandandFlemishmysti-cismcanbefound,90hadaprofoundspiritualreverberationinCarmel,aswellasintheworksofMariaPetyt.91

Althoughtheseparationbetweentheoriginalorderandthediscalcedwasdefinitiveasof1593,thereformofTouraine–followingtheTeresianreform–orienteditselftowards ‘the descent from our holy Fathers of Mount Carmel.’92Theparallelsbetweenthetworeformswerenotlimitedtothis,however.Cer-tainlyintheinitialstagesPeterBehourtandPhillipThibaultsoughtaconnec-tion with the discalced way of life.93 Many of their practices, such asmortificationandself-denial,devotiontothechildJesus,forfeitingone’sfam-ilynameandtakingthenameofasaintwereadopted.94Nevertheless,theTou-rainereformdidnotchoosethemodelofreformofthediscalcedCarmel.95The Touraine reform recognized the stipulations of the so-called mitigatedRuleof1432.96InthisregulationthestipulationsregardingremaininginthecellweretemperedandtheCarmeliteswerepermittedtoeatmeatthreetimesaweek.

The Observantia Strictior in Belgium

ThisreformoftheobservantiastrictiorhadprofoundeffectsintheCarmelofBelgium.97In1603theprovincewasvisitedbythePriorGeneralHenrySilvio,

90 AlistofbooksreadtotheblindJohnofSt.SamsoncanbefoundinBlommestijn(1987)97–99.

91 Bouchereaux(1950)269f.OnthetiesofthisCarmelitereformmovementwiththesalonofMadameBarbeAcarieandtheFrenchschoolBoagawrites: ‘What were the relations between the protagonists of the Touraine reform and the prominent personalities of ‘Hotel Acarie’? They had personal connections: a) The Carthusian monk Dom Beaucousin, pro-moter of the reform of spiritual life among religious followers, was confessor and spiritual director of Fr. Thibault, who also frequently consulted him about the reform. b) The same Thibault was friends with Pierre de Berulle, with whom he often spoke of questions about the Carmelite nuns. c) While John of St. Samson lived in Paris at the end of the 16th century, he had as director Blanzy, who also visited Madame Acarie, and her spiritual daughters. John of St. Samson read Ruysbroeck and other authors then in fashion.’Boaga[sa]3.

92 ‘De afcomste van onse heylige Vaders vanden bergh Karmel.’Teresa(1650)fifthmansion,chap.1,88.SeealsoPlattig(1995)76.

93 Smet(1982)55.94 Panzer(2006)303.95 Panzer(2006)90f.96 Plattig(1995)35.OntheintegrationseePanzer(2006)313.97 Smet(1982)110.

40 VanDeVate

whoonthisoccasionelucidatedhisdecreementionedabovewhichusheredintheTridentinereforms.98ThereformoftheOrderthatwassetinmotionafterthisvisitationmovedbetweentwopoles:avoidingscandalsamongthepopula-tion99andbuildinguptheprovincealongthelinesoftheTridentinepursuitofreform.100ThedevotiontoOurLady,sotypicalofCarmelitetradition,provedanimportantthemeintheprocessofconfessionalization,whichgainedtheloyaltyofbothbishopsandtheordinarypopulation.101

ThefirstinitiativesofreformweretakenintheCarmelsofGentandValen-ciennes.TheprotagonistswereMartindeHooghe(†1637)andLivinusd’Hondt(†1641).102In1640theBelgianprovinceralliedaroundtheconstitutionsthatthePriorGeneraloftheOrderStraccihadbasedonthereformofTouraine,103butuntil1645–whentheconstitutionsoftheobservantiastrictiorwerede-finitivelyaccepted–therewasatensetimeconcerningthequestionwhetheror not various local stipulations would be included.104 After this period thepursuitofreformoftheobservantiastrictiorincreasinglyfindsitsownform.

98 Panzer(2006)50.Mentionismadeofthisdecreeonp.38.99 ’so schreibt am 3. Juli 1624 Martin de Hooghe (…) ‘Vorsorge zu treffen, daß nicht das Volk (...)

das hier in Nachbarschaft und eingemengt zwischen den Häretikern sitzt, durch die Skan-dale der Ordensleute dem katholischen Glauben entfremdet wird’. Aus der Feder Isabellas lautet dasselbe Argument: ‘Es kann mir nur höchst willkommen sein, daß die Religiosen in diesen Provinzen, die an der Nähe der Häretiker leiden, von allererprobtestem Leben sind.’Panzer (2006) 95f. In Ghent the original order did not yet receive the qualification ofdisciplinaregularisfrombishopTriestevenin1625.Cloet(1992)163.Someofthesescan-dalsaredescribedinPanzer(2006)287f.

100 Panzer(2006)95f.101 Bishop AntoonTriest, bishop of Ghent, wrote in 1649 how with the revival of Marian

devotiontheformergloryofCarmelwasrestoredinhiscity.DanieloftheVirginMary(1680)II,no3553,p.1019.TheMariandevotionwasnotunambiguous.Burschelwrites:‘schon ein kurzer Blick in die einschlägige Forschungsliteratur läßt erennen, daß die nachtri-dentinische Maria in immer stärkerem Maße dazu eitrug, das katholische Kirchenvolk zu disziplinieren, um seine konfessionele Homogenität sicherzustellen was wiederum zur Folge hatte, daß diese Maria nach und nach zu einer Maria wurde, deren Schutz, Trost und Hilfe nicht mehr umsonst zu haben war.’Burschel(1999)590.OnthequestionofhowtheMar-iandevotiongainedtheloyaltyofthepopulationaswell,seenote113.

102 SmetalsomentionsthenameofFrancoisPotel,seeSmet(1982)112f.103 Panzer (2006) 308. ‘Obwohl die belgische Provinz im Dezember 1640 die Konstitutionen

annahm, die General Straccio auf Grundlage der Tourainer Satzungen erstellt hatte, trugen einzelne mit diesen Konstitutionen verbundene Bestimmungen zu einem Konflikt bei, der die Provinz zwischen 1641 und 1644 in die Spaltung trieb. Erst mit deren Überwindung und dem Sieg der ‘reformatio pura’ war die Grundlage geschaffen, um bis zum Jahr 1656 alle Konvente der Provinz der Reform zuzuführen.’Panzer(2006)358.

104 Smet(1982)119–121.


TheinitialidentificationwiththewayoflifeoftheDiscalcedCarmelitesthenfadesintothebackgroundandmakeswayforastrongerappealtotheworkofJohnSoreth.105

TheseweretheyearsinwhichMariaPetytdevelopedherspiritualauthority,supportedinthisbyherspiritualdirectorMichaelofSt.Augustine.Hisinflu-enceontheobservantiastrictiorinBelgiumwasgreat.

Michael of St. Augustine

MichaelofSt.Augustine106–hisnameintheworldwasJanvanBallaert–wasbornonApril15,1621.107Janmusthavebeenadeterminedandself-confidentyoungman.WhenatayoungagehismotheradvisedhimagainstenteringtheoriginalOrderofCarmel–theOrderseemstohavecompletelycollapsedinBelgium108–heansweredher:‘Who knows if it is not up to me to call this most holy family back to its first discipline.’109

Enteringin1637,hereceivedthehabitoftheOrderonOctober13,1639.OnOctober14,1640,theeveofthefeastofSt.Teresa,heprofessedhissolemnvowsandaccordingtohisbiographerhedisplayedthesamefervorasthissaint.110Abouthisvirtuouslifethesamebiographerwrites:‘Do you want to judge how genuine his life was? Read his books that he wrote on the mystical and spiritual life and know with certainty that he lived in such a way.’111

105 Panzer(2006)296.106 AnelaboratebiographicalsketchisgiveninHoppenbrouwers(1949)andDS,t.10,1980,cc.

1187–1191.AbiographyofearlierdateisJacobus(1684)322–331.ThebiographybyTimothyof the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is included in Wessels (1926) VII-XL.AFrenchtranslationcanbefoundinLima(2005)3–28.

107 According to his biographerTimothy, Michael was born in 1622.Timotheus (1926) VII.Michael’scertificateofbaptismandthebaptismalregistersoftheparishofSt.Nicholas,however,givethedateof1621,accordingtoanannotationbyWesselstothispassageandanelaboratefootnoteinHoppenbrouwers(1949)159.

108 Thepointofdeparturedidnotlookverygood,DanieloftheVirginMaryreports:‘In con-uentibus Belgii Obseruantia, & Reformatio à Ven. P. Ioanne Soreth plantata perstiterat feli-citer, & constanter per annos circiter centum (…) At sub annum 1570 per tumultus bellicos & haereticorum rabiem exsiccatus ibi pene fuit vertex Carmeli, periit omnis decor eius.’DanieloftheVirginMary(1662)348,no649.

109 ‘Quis scit, ajebat, an sanctissima haec familia per me non sit ad pristinam disciplinam revo-canda?’Timotheus(1926)IX.

110 Jacobus(1684)326.111 ‘Zyt ghy keurigh hoe oprecht syn leven was? leest syne Boecken, welcke hy van het Mystieck en

Gheestelyck Leven beschreven heeft, en weet voor-seker: dat hij dusdanighlyck heeft gheleeft.’

42 VanDeVate

Intheexecutionofhisadministrativeduties112MichaelattachedgreatvaluetotheobservanceofMariandevotion.Aboutthishisbiographerwrites:

Andinordertoimpressthisdevotiononthepeoples’heartsmoredeeply,hewasthefirsttohavetheportraitofthemiraculousimageofOurLadyofNaplespubliclyplacedinourchurches,bymeansofwhichsomanyanxiousheartsfoundcomfortintheirneed.ThisdevotionwasfosteredeveryWednesdaybysingingtheLitanybeforeit,withagreatgatheringofthepeople.113

ItmusthavebeenthispreferenceforMariandevotionthatmadeMichaelafervent anti-Jansenist.114 The polarization between Jansenists and anti-Jan-senists in the Southern Netherlands has a complex history, however, whichmakesthefanaticaldedicationofMichael–andalsoofMariaPetyt–toanti-Jansenismunderstandable.

Jansenism and Anti-Monachism

AtthebeginningoftheJansenistmovement–inthe1640s,aftertheposthu-mouspublicationofthebookAugustinebythebishopofIeper,CorneliusJan-senius(1585–1638)– JansenismandtheCatholicreformationstillhadmany

Jacobus(1684)326.Omittedis‘Onder al, den Boeck:VandeGrondelooseVerloocheninghesyn-selfs,omGodt enMaria, in Godt enMaria.Syn:GodtvruchtighLevenin Christo.In-leydinghe tot het Landt van Carmelus. Syn: Engels Leven. Syn: Thien-daeghsche Exer-citien,in welcke onse Religieusen hun eens’s jaers moeten vertrecken.’

112 Michaelwasprovincialfrom1656to1659,from1667to1670andfrom1677to1681,assistantprovincialfrom1659to1663,from1674to1677andfrom1681to1684.Moreoverheman-agedtheprovinceasvicarfromAugust16,1672totheendof1673duringtheabsenceoftheprovincial.

113 ‘En om meer in de herten der menschen dese Devotie te prenten, heeft hy den eersten ghewe-est, den welcken publieckelyck, in onse Kercken heeft doen op-rechten, het Portret van ’t Miraculeus Beeldt van Onse Lieve-Vrouwe van Napels, door welcke soo vele benouwde herten, in hunnen noodt, troost hebben vonden: en wiëns Devotie alle Woensdaghen, is vervoordert, door de Litanie, welcke men singht voor ’t selve, met eenen grooten toe-loop des volcks.’Jaco-bus(1684)327.

114 MichaelwasamemberofthesecretSocietyofanti-JansenistsfoundedinNovember1678.SeeVan Michel van Meerbeeck’s contribution to this volume, p. 58 and Esther van deVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.112.Mariandevotionwasaverysensitiveissueinthispolemic.SeeSpiertz(1992)43.


parallelfeatures.115Duringthisperiodthecontroversy,whichbeganasatheo-logicalpolemic,mainlycenteredondogmaticquestionsaboutgrace.Jansen-ismwassuffusedwithapessimisticanthropology.Thehumanbeing’sfreewillwasnotsufficientforobservingGod’scommandments.Thebreakingpointbe-tweenthetwogroupscamewhenJansenistpriestsrefusedtorenouncethefivesummarizingthesesformulatedinthebull‘Cum occasione’(May31,1653).116

Inasubsequentphase,after1660,thefollowersof Jansenismprovedeverlessinterestedindogmaticmatters.Theirattentionwasratherfocusedonthepastoral,spiritualandmoralrenewaloftheChurch.117Inagrowingpolemicwithanti-Jansenism–‘no Jansenism without anti-Jansenism’118,Ceyssensoncesighed–themovementultimatelyhardenedinthedirectionofrigoriststand-pointsandbecameincreasinglydetachedfromitspursuitofdogmaticreforminthe40sand50s.

Thishardeningwasnotanisolatedoccurrence.Aseriousproblemhadaris-enintherelationswithinthechurchduetothehighlydiocesanapproachtothepursuitofreformintheSouthernNetherlands.Therelativelyautonomoussphere of influence that the bishops strove after did not agree with Rome’spursuit of reform, which advocated far more centralized power politics.119Thisconflictbecamecrystallizedintimesofhightension.Thereform-mindedbishops were considered Jansenist,120 while an anti-Jansenist tendency wasascribedtoRome.Thattheescalationoftheconflictwasintheenddominatedby a collision between these spheres of influence becomes apparent whenPope Alexander VII, despite his doctrinal sympathies for anti-Jansenism,neverthelesscondemns45laxist–readanti-Jansenist–theses.121

115 Roegiers(1996)43.116 The five theses (Denzinger 1092–1096) summarize the original doctrine of Jansenism,

based on Jansenius’posthumouslypublishedworkonAugustine.Already in 1641, 1642and1653thebookwasbannedbytheHolyOffice.

117 TheirdemandingprogramrequiredofeveryChristianapursuitofholiness inhisownway,inaccordancewithhis‘state’.SeeRoegiers(1996)45.

118 Roegiers(1996)45citesCeyssens.119 At the Council of Trent a Roman delegation had pushed the point that the bishops

derivedtheirjurisdictionfromthepope.Althoughthisviewwasrejected,elementsofithadfilteredintosomedocuments.SeeRoegiers(1996)55.

120 Michaelwrites:‘episcopi reguntur a jansenistis.’Ceyssens(1968)226.Therewasgoodrea-sonforthis.BishopBoonenhesitatedtopublishthebanonAugustinebyJansenius.

121 Roegiers(1996)56;PropositionesXLVdamnataeinDecretisS.Officii;Erroresdoctrinaemoralislaxioris;prop.1–28,décretVdu24sept.1665;29–45,du18mars1666.Denzinger(2005)no2020.

44 VanDeVate

This controversy between Rome and the bishops had far-reaching conse-quencesforthereligious intheSouthernNetherlands.Theywere labeledasanti-Jansenist,notleastbecausethepopesreliedontheregularclergyfortheirpolicyofcentralism,andbecauseoftheirstancetheyoftencameintoconflictwiththebishops.CeyssensdescribesthisunpalatablepolarizationwithatermheprobablyborrowsfromMichaelofSt.Augustine:anti-monachism.122Asaculmination of this almost endlessly mounting power struggle, Alphons deBerghes, archbishopofMechelen, subjected theholdingofprocessions toastrictdisciplineonAugust29,1674.123Henotonlyreducedthenumber,healsoforbade carrying statues of saints in processions of the Blessed Sacrament.ThisprohibitionhaddrasticconsequencesfortheCarmelites,whoinBrusselsaloneheldroughlyonehundredprocessionsayear.124In1676Romeinitiallytookthesideofthearchbishop.125Becauseofthestrongresistanceonthepartofthereligious,however,thecasewasoncemorepresentedtotheCongrega-tionofRites.Pendingtheirdecisionthepracticefrombefore1674wasmain-tained.This conflict lasted until May 20, 1682, when in his letter, ‘Cum Inter Venerabilem Fratrem’,InnocentXIpronouncedinfavoroftheregulars.126

MariaPetytdidnotlivetoseethispronouncementasshediedin1677.TheJansenistdisagreementandtheproblemssurroundinganti-monachismwereby that time not nearly solved and also affected Michael and indirectly herownperson. In 1673therewasapolemicregardingMichael’s treatiseMarie-vormigh ende Marielijck leven in Maria om Maria.127 In a letter to his friendSeraphinus128Michaelwrites:

122 Ceyssens(1952)20.123 Ceyssens (1968) 222f. See also Smet (1982) 334. Alphons de Berghes (1624–1689) based

himselfonBorromeo’sinstructionsandotherpracticesthatwerecustomaryinItaly.DeBerghes became archbishop of Mechelen in 1671.Thanks to protection by the Spanishkinghewasonlybarelykeptfrombeingunseatedin1679duringananti-Jansenistwitch-huntaimedathisperson.SeeOckeley(2009)125–162.

124 Ceyssens(1974)XXVI,note1.SeealsoOckeley(2009)150.125 Ceyssens(1968)492.126 ThedecreeofInnocentXIcanbefoundinVandeVelde[1829]II,380–38.127 MariaPetyt’svisionsofMaryunderliethistreatiseon‘Mariform’life.Michaeldoesnot

mentionMaria’sname,butstatesashissource: ‘Den geest schynt voorder te leeren ende metter daet te doen ondervinden.’(‘The spirit seems to continue teaching and actively cause to experience.’) However,thespiritspeaksherewiththewordsofMariaPetyt.Wefindpas-sagesfromPetyt(1683)vol.2,cap.CCVIIandcap.CCVIIIinchapters6and7ofthetreatise;cap.CCXVf.wefindinchapter12;cap.CCXIIwefindinchapter13.

128 SeeEsthervandeVate’scontributiontothisvolume,p.93.


ItiswrittentomefromGentthatourtreatiseonMarianlifeinMaryandthroughMaryisverydispleasingtotheJansenists.WhatdoeshismosteminentBonathinkof this?Canapositive testimonynotbeobtainedfromhimabout this? Ibelieve that thatmosteminentLord is imbuedwiththespiritofhisHolyFatherBernardwho,asiswell-known,excelledintheMarianpathasdescribedinthistreatise.MeanwhileitissaidthattheJansenistshavetakenoffenceatthisandhavetakentheopportunityto publish this ultimately biased book.129 It is a strange business thatthese people do want to know about the holy fathers, popes and theentire Church, which they want to reform, but condemn the spirit ofthesaintsandscoffattheirthoughts.130

ThispolemicdidnotleaveMariaunmoved.InthedocumentontheDutchWarwereadhowshe(probably)shortlythereafterwritesthattheJansenistattackonMariandevotionaffectsherpainfully:

The necessity of the Holy Church, that was impressed upon me, waspartlybecauseoftheuproarsandcommotionsetc,whichtheJansenistscaused in the Holy Church, by their doctrines that they proposed as agreat insult, criticism and blasphemy against the Holy Virgin, and themanyerrorsthattheythrustupontheheartsofthefaithful.131

Buthoweverdramaticitwas,thecontroversydidnotleavedeeptracesinherwritings.

129 ThisbookisMonita salutaria Beatae Maria Virginis ad cultores suos indiscretos.ThefirsteditionofthispolemicalwritingwaspublishedinGhentin1673.Thenameoftheauthor,Adam Widenfeldt († 1678), had been omitted but the imprimatur, signed by IgnaceGillemans,aknownJansenist,evokedmuchoppositionfromtheverystart.Hoffer(1938)187ff.

130 ’scribitur mihi gandavo jansenistis multum displicere tractatum nostrum de Vita Mariana in Maria propter Mariam. Quid sentit de illo Eminestissimus Bona? Non posset obtineri ab ipso testimonium bonum de illo? Existimo eum eminentissimum Dominum imbuturum spiritu Sancti. P. Sui. Bernardi, quem in via mariana, qualis in isto tractatu describitur, excelluisse constat. Interim jansenistae dicuntur inde offensi, et accepisse occasionem saltem partialem edendi istum libellum. Est res mira quod isti homines velint sapere supra S.S. Patres, ponti-fices et totam ecclesiam, quam volunt reformare, et improbant spiritum Sanctorum, eorum sententias cavillant.’Mechelen,December22,1673.

131 Fol.35v.

46 VanDeVate

Maria’sprayerfortheChurchandtheoriginalradianceoftheCarmelcon-tinuedforseveraldecadesafterherdeath.Inthe80sAngeloMonsignano,Car-melitePriorGeneral,writesaboutthesistersoftheCluysewho:

…nownumbereightandwhohopebyGod’smercytopersevereinthispractice of hers unto death in order to advance <this practice> all themore diligently and happily on the narrower battleground of the FirstRuleofourOrder.132

In Closing

InherCluyseMariaPetytcertainlydidnotfindtheheavenlylifeshehopedforinherardentdesireforGod.Shedid,however,leavebehindalivingtestimonytohowaanchoresscanbeinvolvedwiththespiritualsearchofhertimes.Itisnotwithoutreasonthatherspiritualdirectorwritesaboutherandmanyoftheothersearchingwomeninthisperiod:

ShowmenewTeresas,newMagdalenes,newGertrudes,newCatharinesofSiena,inpurityofheart,indivinelove,inChristiformity,inconformitywiththewillofGodandatonceGodwillmarvelouslyappearinthese,hissaints.133


132 Seenote11. ‘…nu acht in ’t getal zijn, de welcke in de pratycke der selver door de bermher-tigheyt Godts totter doodt toe hopen te volherden ende om in dese van den eersten Regel van onse Orden engere strijdtbaene te vlijtiger ende te geluckiger te vervoorderen.’AtthesecondapprobationoftheordinancesofSchaarbeek.SeeMichelvanMeerbeeck’scontributiontothisvolume,p.54.Persoons(2009)namesthesistersonp.275–277.Staring(1948)alsomentionsSisterAnnaGoresandSistervanderPoorten,onp.303.

133 ‘Toont my nieuwe Teresien, nieuwe Magdalenen, nieuwe Geertruyden, nieuwe Catharinen van Senen in puerheyt des herten, in goddelijcke liefde, in Christi-vormigheyt, in ghelijck-vormigheyt met den wille Godts, ende terstont zal Godt wonderlijck verschynen in dese sijne Heylighen.’Petyt(1683)preface3r.


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Steggink,OtgerandKeesWaaijman.1985.Spiritualiteit en mystiek.Nijmegen:Gottmer.1985.

Strasser,Ulrike.2004.State of virginity: gender, religion, and politics in an early modern Catholic state.AnnArbor:TheUniversityofMichiganPress.

TeresaofAvila.1634.Den Wech der Volmaectheyt, beschreuen door de H. Moeder Teresa van Jesus, Fondatersse vande Cloosters der ongheschoeyde Carmeliten, tot gebruyck haerder Religieusen, ten versoecke derselver. Ende is seer profijtelijck voor alle Lief-hebbers der volmaecktheyt, ouerghestelt uyt het Spaensch in onse Nederduytsche taele, door P. Rolandvs Overstrativs, Priester der Societeyt Iesu.Antwerpen:byHendrickAertssens.

TeresaofAvila.1650.Beschryvinghe vanhet Casteel oft wooninghe vande ziele, Ghemaeckt door de E. Moeder Terese de Iesvs, fondatersse vande Orden der ongheschoeyde Carmeliten vanden eersten reghel … inde Neder-duytsche ghestelt door den E. P. Willem Spoelbergh, Guardiaen vande Minder broeders tot Mechelen.Antwerpen:byFransoysleChien.

52 VanDeVate

Timothy of the Presentation of the Bl.Virgin Mary. 1926.VitaVen. P. Michaelis aS.Augustino.InGabrieleWessels(ed.)Introductio ad vitam internam et fruitiva praxis vitae mysticae.Rome:CollegioS.Alberti.VII-XL.

Triest,M.1998.Het besloten hof. Begijnen in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden.Leuven:VanHalewyck.1998.

VandeVelde,JeanFrançoisandPierreFrancoisXavierDeRam.[1829].Nova et absoluta collectio synodorum tam provincialium quam dioecesanarum, archiepiscopatus Mechliniensis: accedunt illuc spectantia rei ecclesiasticae monumenta, pleraque in-edita: omnia diligenter recognita ac in sectiones quinque distributa. (SynodiconBelgicum,siveactaomniumecclesiarumBelgii;1,2).Mechliniae:Hanicq.

Venard,Marc.1992.EnFranceetauxPays-Bas.InMarcVenard(ed.).withthecollabora-tionofVivianeBarrie-Curien[etal.].Le temps des confessions (1530–1620/30).Parijs:Desclée.403–474.

Vroede, M. de. 1994. ‘Kwezels’ en ‘zusters’: de geestelijke dochters in de Zuidelijke Nederlanden, 17de en 18de eeuw.Brussel:KoninklijkeAcademievoorWetenschappen,LetterenenSchoneKunstenvanBelgië.

Weber, Alison. 2000. Teresa of Avila and the rhetoric of femininity. Princeton N. J.:PrincetonUniversityPress.

Wilson,Peter.2009.The Thirty Years War: Europe’s Tragedy.HarvardUniversityPress.London:AllenLane.

53DailyLifeattheHermitageinMechelen

Chapter3

Daily Life at the Hermitage in Mechelen at the Time of Maria Petyt (1657–1677)

Michel van Meerbeeck

Introduction

There are many publications about Maria Petyt, particularly in the fields oftheologyandspirituality.1Thisisnotsurprising,becausethecontentsofherwork2areveryintriguing fromthatpointofview,sotheyseemtoattractmostattention.Butbyconfiningoneselftothesefieldsonerunsarealriskofdraw-ing a distorted picture of Maria. Moreover, her work cannot be understoodproperlyifcertainhistoricalelementsareoverlooked.

OnemightwonderwhyhistoricalresearchonMariaPetythashadsuchlim-itedsuccess.Isitbecauseofalackofsources?Anattentivereadingofhervari-ousworksprovidesalotofmaterialforabiography,especiallyifonestudiesthewholecorpus,notonlytheautobiography.Researchsofarhashardlygonebeyondthisinitialstage.Thereisonefortunateexception:thestudyconduct-ed by A. Staring.3 This has still to be considered important along with thelatersignificantworkbyA.Deblaere.4

Thearchivesof thehermitage− filedsystematicallybut,except fora fewcopies, not handed down to us – are among the possible sources.5 The ar-chivesoftheCarmelitesatMechelen,whichwerealreadyadmiredbyA.Sand-erus6duringMaria'slifetime,arestillavailable.However,thedocumentsthatwerepreservedwerenotchroniclesorvisitationreportsbutasurprisingnum-berofnotarialactsandfinancialinformation.NotonlydotheyconfirmwhatwealreadyknowfromMaria’stexts,theyalsomakeitpossibletounderstandthe financialandmaterialbasisof lifeat thehermitage.7Other information

1 Forasubstantialbibliography,seeLowyk(1991)9–12,47–50andPersoons(2009)277–280.2 Petyt(1683).3 Staring(1948).4 Deblaere(1962).5 E.g. Boxmeer, Nederlands Carmelitaans Instituut, Provincia Flandro Belgica, convent of

Mechelen:actsof9September1707.6 Sanderus(1727)238.7 Wehopetogiveanoverviewofthesesourceskeptinseveralarchivesinafurtherstudy.

© MichelvanMeerbeeck,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_005This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



54 VanMeerbeeck

canbedrawnfromthecorrespondenceofMichaelofSt.Augustine,mostofwhichiskeptinthegeneralarchivesoftheCarmeliteOrderinRome.8

In1999bychancewewereabletotracetheordinancesofthehermitageofMechelen,formulatedbyMichaelofSt.Augustine.Wehopetopublishthemsoon.Thisnormativesourcecontainsatreasureofinformationabouttheher-mitage. However, one has to exercise caution: there can be a big differencebetweenthenormandone’sperceptionofthenorm.9

InthislimitedpaperIoutlinedailylifeinthehermitageofMechelen.FirstIsketchthecontextandthenfocusonthesistersinthehermitage.Theirphys-icallifewillbedescribedandthereaftertheirspirituallife.

The Monastery of the Carmelites in Mechelen

ThemonasteryoftheWhiteFriarsofMechelenreacheditszenithintheearlyyearsofitsreform.10Ithadbeendevastatedduringthereligiouswars,butafterthedestructioncameaperiodofrenewal.ThefirstyearsafterMariaPetyt’sar-rivalatMechelensawtherestoration ofthechurch,andshewasawitnesstoallthemessfromtheworkinthechurch.11

Roundabout1655themonasterywasa flourishingcommunitywhichen-gaged in mentoring fraternities, offering spiritual guidance, hearing confes-sions, helping prisoners, nursing the sick, preaching and training the thirdorderinMechelen.Theoriginallistofthe57membersofthecommunityin1654wasfoundrecently.12MichaelofSt.Augustine,13Maria'sspiritualdirector,

8 E.g.Rome,Archivumgeneraleord.carmelitarum,II. Flandro Belgica,conventus Brussel,MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels24February1680. PartsofthisletterwerepublishedbyHoppenbrouwers(1960)403and MottaNavarro(1960)59.IthankEmanueleBoagaO.Carm,generalarchivist(†2013).

9 Ordonnantiën. Untilthepublicationofouroverviewwequotefromtheoriginalfoliosofthisdocument.

10 Theobituariesandthereports(Mechelen,Stadsarchief,CC,31:s.f.)oftheWhiteFriarsofMechelen claim that the convent was reformed in 1652, along with the entire Belgianprovince. But Panzer (2006) 270 mentions the convent ofTienen as the last reformedmonasteryoftheprovince(1656).

11 Petyt(1683)vol.2,173.12 Leuven,KADOC,Provinciaal archief van de Vlaamse Minderbroeders,2.2.291:J.vanMeer-

beek,Register ende specificatie van allen de landen, bemden, bosschen, aerden ende opstal-len der convente vande Patres Carmeliten binnen Mechelen toebehoorende (1653),s.XVII.RecentlyreturnedtotheArchiviumarchiepiscopaliaofMechelen,cf.Laenen(1914)XII.

13 Hoppenbrouwers (1949); Deblaere (1980); Possanzini (1998); Martinez Carretero (1991);Valabek(2008).


initiatedthereformofthemonastery.In1656hebecameprovincialbutstayedinMechelen,wherehewassucceededaspriorbyDanieloftheVirginMary.14Thelatterwroteareflectionontheruleforthethirdorder15andoneforthehermitageofTermuylen.16

Asweknow,theCarmelitesthroughthecenturiesremainednostalgicabouttheirhermiticlife.InMechelenGeorgePeetersgotpermissiontoleadasortofhermitlifeinsidethemonastery.17Inthenewconstitutionsthehermiticlifeinthedesertwashighlyvalued.18Thisstemsfromtherevivalofhermitagesafterthereligiouswars.19

Duringhisvisitationin1652thepriorgeneralencouragedtheestablishmentofahermitageinLiedekerke.AfterDanieloftheVirginMary,MichaelwasalsoinvolvedintheconstructionofTermuylen.20Manybenefactors,includingthemonasteryinMechelen,providedthenecessaryfunds.AnnavanLiebeke,whodonatedanannuityforMaria,foundedandpaidforacell.21InherwillMariaappointedthemonasteryofTermuylenherheirincasetheprojectedhermit-ageofMechelenshouldcometonought.22

The17thcenturywasalsoacenturyofrecordkeeping.TheactsoftheCar-melitemonasterywerecopiedanddeclaredauthentic.Heavybooksstilltestifytotheadministrativereform.23Todayweknowthatthemonasteryownedfour

14 Hoppenbrouwers(1934);Wijnhoven(1966);MelchioraSanctaMaria(1968).15 DanieloftheVirginMary(1646).16 Boxmeer,NederlandsCarmelitaansInstituut,Provincia Flandro-Belgica,convent of Liede-

kerke:Ordo vitae regularis pro conventu eremitico Bmae Virginis Mariae dictae ad Mulam.17 Theattestatio de vita V.P. Gregorii Petri waskeptinthearchiveoftheconvent,cf.Meche-

len,Stadsarchief,Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen, 11, 76. His biography was published in James of the Passion(1681)131–133.

18 Constitutiones (1656)7–13.19 Sainsaulieu(1974).20 Boxmeer,NederlandsCarmelitaansInstituut, Provincia Flandro-Belgica,convent of Liede-

kerke;Bronselaer(1954)34–41.21 Kort begryp van de historie (1753) 41–43. Boxmeer, Nederlands Carmelitaans Instituut,

Flandro-Belgica,convent of Liedekerke:Liber diarius carmeli eremitici S. Josephi in Sylva-likerkana,19–22.Acopyoftheactof6April1652isinBoxmeer,NederlandsCarmelitaansInstituut, Provincia Flandro-Belgica,convent of LiedekerkebuttheminutesofthisactareinGent,RijksarchiefGent,OudNotariaat,1270.

22 Boxmeer, Nederlands Carmelitaans Instituut, Provincia Flandro-Belgica, convent of Me che len:declarationbyF.Engrand,16December1710.

23 Cf.n.7.

56 VanMeerbeeck

housesontheVeemarkt.24Oneofthese,calledSt.Josephhouse,wassoldtopayforthereconstructions.25ThecopyistalsomentionsasmallhousecalledDe Cluyse,whichwaslocatednexttothechurchontheVeemarkt.Thenowlosttitledeeddatedfromthe15thcentury.26

De Cluyse

Thedebateabouttheoriginofthehermitagestartedinthe18thcenturyandstillcontinues.27Whatweknowforcertain is that thebuildingwascalledahermitagebeforeMaria’sarrival.28JanAbroexhadbeenlivingthereformanyyearsandhadextendedhisleasein1649.29Afterhisdeaththepremiseswerevacant and in October 1657 jouffrouw Maria le Petit moved into the house,whichsherentedfor80fl.30ThedateswhentherentalfellduewereBamisse(feastofSt.Bavo,1stOctober)andSt.Jansmisse(feastofSt.JohntheBaptist,24thJune).Somereconstructionworkwasdonein1650,butimmediatelyafterMaria’sdeaththehousewasfullyrenovated. Itadjoinedthechurchandthesisterswereabletofollowtheoffices,probablythroughawindowintheirora-tory.Somescandalmongerstalkedaboutanentrance,throughwhichthefa-therscametovisitthesistersatimproperhours.Thevicar,aJansenist,wantedtoverifythisbutgaveup,havingachievednothing.31OntheothersideoftheCluysewastheSt.Josephhouse.In1659themonasteryboughtbackitsformer

24 Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,6,91.

25 Mechelen,Stadsarchief,Augustijnen,40Bor:actof27February1613.26 Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,

Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen, 1, fol. 168r-169r, cop.; Mechelen, Stadsarchief,Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,6,91.

27 Persoons(2009)260–263.28 Petyt(1683)vol.1,101.29 Mechelen,Archivumarchiepiscopalia,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,20,180.30 ‘Is bewoont bij Jouffrouwe Maria Le Petit ingegaen Bamisse XVIC sevenenvijfftich, annue

LXXX fl.’, Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,5,169.

31 Petyt (1683) vol. 1, 80. In the Latin version, Deblaere (1962) 316, and in Michael of St.Augustine(1681)18,the‘manofquality’isidentifiedastheparishpriest.ChristiandeCort(1611–1669)wasinvolvedwiththemysticAntoinetteBourguignonandtheJansenistsofNordstrand;DeBaar(2004)77–99;Adriaensen(1988)104–116.


property.32Thegoalwasprobablytogivethecommunityanadequatemonas-tery with more space and a private chapel, as prescribed in the ordinances.Duringthoseyearsagreementsaboutseparatingwallswerealsosignedwithotherneighbours.33

Apartfromtheyard,thehermitageincludedcommunalroomslikearefec-tory(rarelyused),akitchen,aconsultingroom,andanoratory,theinteriorofwhichwasaffectinglysimple:analtarwith'thedevotedmotherwithherJesusinherarms',betweencandlesticksandacrucifixofpoorquality.Thecellswerejustaspoorlyfurnished:astrawmattress,whitesheets,pillowandblankets,asmalltableandachair,aswellasaprie-dieu.Acrucifix,anaspersoriumandapictureofOurLadyweretheonlydecorations.Stationery,somebooksaccord-ing to the wishes of the mother superior, a lamp or a candle, a basin and atowelcompletedtheinventory.34

Thehermitagehadaspecialstatute:MariaPetytwasandremainedaspiri-tualdaughterratherthanapropernun,andamemberoftheThirdOrderoftheCarmelites.Shefollowedthefirstrule35andtooknosolemnvowofpover-ty.36Althoughthewomenwerenotlookingforcontactwiththeoutsideworld,therewasnoenclosure.Becauseof theseconditions theworldlyauthoritiesdecided that soldierscouldbequartered in thishouse:afterall, thewomenweredaughtersandnotcloisteredsisters.37Thisstatute,however,wasprovi-sionalandthewomenwerestrivingtohavearealconvent.TheshortofficeofOurLadywouldbereplacedbythelongone,completepovertywouldbeintro-duced, the threesolemnvowswouldbecompulsoryandtherewouldbeanenclosure.38 Canonically Maria Petyt remained secular, to Michael of St.Augustineacloisteredsisterinthemaking.

32 Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen, 2, fol. 36r-37r; Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,5,308.Mechelen,Stadsarchief,Oud archief, geschoeide karmelieten, Q,1,fol.36–1.

33 Contractdated4December1655;Mechelen,Stadsarchief,Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,5,307.

34 Ordonnantiën,fol.3v/4r.35 InMaria’sautobiographyshewrites‘den eersten Reghel van onse Lieve Vrauwe des Berghs

Carmeli, in eenighe maniere verschillende vande onderhoudinghe vande ongheschoeyde Carmelitessen, meer conform aen de onderhoudinghe vande HH. Euphrasia, ende Euphro-sina.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,97.

36 Ordonnantiën,fol.9v.37 Petyt(1683)vol.2,327f.38 Ordonnantiën, fol.7v-8v.

58 VanMeerbeeck

The Hermits of De Cluyse

Thehermitageneverbecameabigcommunity.Therewerealwaysfewerthanadozenmembers.39Tooutsidersitseemedsoasceticandstrict40thatmanycandidateswerescaredoff.Althoughweknowthatsomewomenentered,wealso have records of people leaving the hermitage.The hermitage lasted nolonger than 70 years, with three mothers superior. The last one, FrançoiseEngrand,41knewthefirst,MariaPetyt.Afterherdeathin1724thehermitagewasrentedprivately.42Thesistershadtocombinevariousfunctionsinordertomanagetheirlife.43Themistressofthenoviceshadtimetotakeonadditionalduties. However, Maria Petyt, who provided spiritual guidance, felt over-worked.MichaelconfirmedthisandassistedMariaforawhile.44Butherstresswascausedbytheactualburdenoftheguidance,notbythenumbersofcandi-dates.

Ofsomesistersweknowonlytheirnames,ofotherstheirorigins,theirfi-nancialstatus,theirpersonalities.Ofcourse,weknowMariaPetytbest,butherfellow sister and successor Catharina van Orsaghen has remained fairly un-knowntothisday.45WesupposethatherreputationwasasgoodasMaria's.46Shedreamedalotandhadanti-Jansenistvisions,whichmanyCarmelitesre-spected.47FrançoiseEngrandmadesomeexcellentinvestments.48

39 Persoons(2009)276–277compiledalistof13membersandStaring(1948)302faddssomeothernames. In thequoted letterofMichaelofSt.Augustine,n.8, thehermitagehad8or9members,2servantsand4filiae devotae, withprospectsof3postulants.

40 ‘in rigidissima nostrarum Tertiarum congregatione Mechlinia’,Timothy of the Presenta-tion(1926),VII-XV.

41 ShewasburiedinthechurchoftheCarmelites,likeMariaPetytandCatharinavanOrsa-ghe,Antwerpen,Stadsarchief/Felixarchief,KK(Kerkenenkloosters),1493,72.

42 Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,6,91.

43 Ordonnantiën, fol.10r-12v.44 InalettertoFrançoiseEngrand,quotedbyDeblaere(1979)45.45 Cf.ourcontribution,n.9.46 Mechelen, Stadsarchief, CC, 31, s.f. (The diary notes the death of Catherina but not of

MariaPetyt!);Petyt(1683)vol.2,378f.47 Het leven van de seer Edele Doorluchtighste en H. Begga (1712)485f;Ceyssens(1953)97.All

but one of the approbaters of Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt(1683–1684)weremembersofthesecretanti-Jansenistassociation,Ceyssens(1950)363–367.

48 E.g. Boxmeer, Nederlands Carmelitaans Instituut, Provincia Flandro-Belgica, convent of Mechelen.


SomesisterscamefromfamiliesoftheGreatCouncil,othershadhumblerbackgrounds.MariaPetytwasfromaprosperousmerchantfamily.Catherinawasthedaughterofawealthypharmacist.49ShewasaBeguinebeforesheen-teredthehermitage.SisterHannes,awidow,wasgivenasmallsumofmoneybyMariaPetytinordertobeabletoenterthehermitage.50

Thisgroupprobablyhadthesameclothing, thesamerulesandthesameideal,andtotheoutsideworldthesistersprobablylivedlikeangels.Yetangelshavewingsandwhenflyingsomefeathersare lost.Therewere internalten-sionsinthecommunitylife,howeverrestrictedthislifewas.51

When entering the hermitage, the sisters brought their own possessionswiththem.Thismoneywasmanagedbythemothersuperiorandthepriestwhoactedasspiritualdirector.Theydidnotinvestinlandbutinpensions.52Sometimes they invested in a house. On 14 February 1660 Maria Petyt andCatharinavanOrsaghenwereregisteredinthegeneralledgerofBrabantforahereditarypensionof12fl.perannum.53Laterthismoneywenttothehermit-ageand,in1724,totheCarmelitesofMechelen:thehermitageinTermuylenhadmeanwhilebecomearealcloister.54

The Physical Life

Inthissectionwedescribeatypicaldayinthelivesofthesistersinthehermit-age.Westartwiththeirphysicallife,thelifeofthebody,realisingthatitisin-separablefromtheirspirituallife.

Wehaveaccesstoaverypreciseschedule.55Thesistersprayedtheirnightprayer:theygotupatmidnightandwentbacktotheircellsat1a.m.Theywere

49 Het leven van de seer Edele Doorluchtighste en H. Begga (1712) 480.50 Boxmeer, Nederlands Carmelitaans Instituut, Provincia Flandro-Belgica, convent of

Mechelen:actof9September1707.51 Petyt(1683)vol.2,67–69,156f.52 Ordonnantiën, fol.9r-10r53 Boxmeer, Nederlands Carmelitaans Instituut, Provincia Flandro-Belgica, box 1: act of

14February1660,cf.Mechelen,Stadsarchief,Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,11,fol.36r-37r;Mechelen,Stad-sarchief,Archieven van het rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven,Geschoeide karme-lieten van Mechelen, 5, 113; Mechelen, Stadsarchief, Archieven van het rijksarchief Ant werpen in bewaring gegeven, Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,6,65.

54 Bronselaer(1945)43.55 Ordonnantiën,fol.2r-3r.Thisschedulewouldchangeifthesistersadoptedthestatutesof

acloisteredorder.Thegreatcanonicalofficewouldshiftthereturntothecellto2a.m.

60 VanMeerbeeck

wokenagainat4a.m.Theywenttosleeparound8p.m.56Thustheyhadaboutsevenhours’sleep.MariaPetytwrotethatsometimes,thenightprayerbroughtonacertainweaknesssoshehadtobetakenbacktohercell.57

Immediatelyaftergettingupinthemorningthesistershadtimetoreadandtotidytheirrooms.Theywerealsoexpectedtotaketurnscleaningthehermit-ageonceaweek.58ThedetailedinstructionsconcerningclothingmighthavebeenmeanttoavoidconfusingthesisterswithactualconventsistersliketheCarmelites.Byandlargeonecouldsaythatoutsidethehermitagethesisterslooked likeanyotherspiritualdaughter. Insidethehermitagetherulescon-cerningclothingwereabitmoreflexible.Whenpossibleshoeswerereplacedbyslippers.59

Afterthemorningchoresthesisterswenttotwomassesinthechurch.Until11a.m.theywereallowedtodoworkthatwasnotdistracting.Theirhandworkwassoldorusedforcatechismorliturgicalpurposes.60

At11.30a.m.,afteranexaminationofconscience,eachsisteratehermealinhercell.Thiswasfollowedbysolitaryrecreationinthegarden,eitherreading,writingorsewing.61WelearnedthatMariatranslatedlettersandalsowrotealot.62From1p.m.until5p.m. thesisters remained in theircellswhere theyinterruptedtheirworkperiodicallyforvespersandprayer.63Aftercommunalprayerintheoratorythesisterswentbacktotheircellsforsupper.Thecom-munalnightprayerwasat7.30p.m.;twiceaweekitwasfollowedbyconfes-sion,spiritualinstructionbythemothersuperiorandherindividualguidance.Shehadtovisitherdaughtersintheircellsatleasttwiceaweek.64

Althoughthesistersateintheircellsmostofthetime,onSundaystheyateintherefectory.Atnightitwasusuallybreadandbutterandfruit,andatnoonsoupwithsomebread.Thefruitswereselectedcarefully;meatandfishwereexcluded. Sometimes the sisters ate eggs. Beer regularly accompanied themeal.Winewasnotallowed,exceptincasesofsickness.65Luckilytherewere

56 Ordonnantiën, fol.3r.57 Petyt(1683)vol.2,216.58 Ordonnantiën, fol.4r.59 Ordonnantiën, fol.5r-v.60 Ordonnantiën, fol.5v.61 Ordonnantiën, fol.2v.62 Petyt(1683)vol.1,22;vol.2,232;vol.3,128,204;Petyt(1684)vol.4,238f,249,309.63 When alone in her cell Maria sometimes postponed the minor offices. Petyt (1684)

vol.4,43.64 Ordonnantiën, fol.2v-4r.65 Ordonnantiën, fol.4r-v.


exceptionstothatrule.MariaPetytdiddrinkagobletofwineduringthecarni-val.66Fastingwasverystrict,butfeastswereallowedfromtimetotime.

The Spiritual Life

AllthesephysicalconstraintshavetobeunderstoodinthecontextofMariaPetyt’sstrivingforalifeofintimacywithGod.Ifwearenotawareofthisaim,wecannotunderstandherwritingsorherasceticlife.Toreachhergoaltheac-centwasonsolitude,silenceandprayer.

Solitudewasachievedbyspendinga lotoftimealoneinhercell,amini-mumof refectoryandrecreationtime,andamaximumofsilentprayer.Weshallnotdwellonthissubject.However,therewasonedifficulty:theoutsideworld.InprinciplethesisterswereonlyallowedtogooutatEasterfortheEas-terservice intheparishchurch.67YetMariaPetytmadesomeexceptions,forexample during a jubileeat St. Rumbold’scathedral.68The sisters had togooutinpairs.OntheseoutingsMariapickedupallsortsofnews,withtheresultthatherprayersalwayshadaveryhumancharacterof intercession.69Othersisterswentout,too,forinstanceforshopping,particularlywhentherewasnospecialsisterforthesetasks.70However,therewerealsocontactswiththeout-sideworldinsidethehermitage.Thesetookplaceintheparlour,withanothersistertowitnesstheconversation.71

Thesisters’ordinancesandwritingstestifytoaprofoundwishtoparticipateinthe'greatsilenceoftheCarmelites'.72However,thisinnerattitudehadtogohandinhandwithoutwardsilence.Thiswasnotalwayspossible,andMariacomplainedthathersleepwasdisturbedbythenoisyyouthofMechelen.73

Concerningprayer,wehavetoconfineourselvestoitsoutwardcharacteris-tics.Firstweneedtocommentontheirreading.MariaandhersistersreadthelittleofficeofOurLadybutintheordinancesMichaelofSt.Augustinewritesthatthesistersmayread,whenrecognizedasanenclosedconvent,theordi-narychoralprayer.74Mariadidnothavetostraintoreadtheofficewithherby

66 Petyt(1683)vol.2,186.67 Ordonnantiën, fol.5v,Petyt(1683)vol.2,77.68 Petyt(1683)vol.3,199.69 Petyt(1683)vol.3,139f;Petyt(1684)vol.4,62.70 Ordonnantiën, fol.11v.71 Ordonnantiën, fol.6r.72 Petyt(1683)vol.3,257.73 Petyt(1684)vol.4,239.74 Ordonnantiën, fol.2r.

62 VanMeerbeeck

nowhealedeyes: sheknewtheprayersbyheart.75After thenightoffice thesisterspractisedself-flagellation.

Inchurchthesistersattendedtwomassesandreceivedcommuniondailyafterthefirstmass.76WitnessesnoticedMariaPetyt’sintensedevotionduringthis communion. Others commented on her attitude during the adoration,whereshewouldsometimesstayforhours.77OccasionallyMariahadasuddenimpulsetoreceivecommunionfromanypriestwhohappenedtobeavailableatthatmoment.78Onceortwiceaweekthesisterswenttoconfession.79Onceinawhiletheywereallowedtoconfesstoapriesttheydidnotknow.SpiritualguidancebypriestsotherthanCarmeliteswasnottotallyprohibited,butitwasnotencouragedinordertoavoidgettinglostinallsortsofspiritualities.80InthiswaytheinnerlifeofsomesistersbecamesuchanintenseunionwithGodthatitseemedtomergeintoeternallife.

Whenenteringthehermitagethesisterswereallowedtochoosewheretheywantedtobeburied.81However,thefuneralservicehadtobeheldintheparishchurchfirst.MariaprobablychosetheCarmelitechurch,wheresheremainedburieduntil theFrenchrevolution.Othersisters followedherexample.82Todatenorelicsofthesebodieshavebeenfound.Whowouldthinkwhenclimb-ingthestairstothehugemetropolitanchurchofMechelentodaythatsomeofthesestepsarethegravestonesofthesistersoftheoldhermitage?83

Michel van Meerbeeck (°Antwerp 1954) studied history at Ghent UniversityandcarriedonhisstudiesintheologyinLiègewherehewasordainedpriest(1986). In theyear2000heearnedthedegreeofdoctor inhistoryof theKULEUVENwithathesisaboutErnestRuthd’Ans,secretaryoftheGrandArnauld.Thiswaspublishedin2006intheLibraryoftheRevue d’histoire ecclesiastique.

AtpresentheisacollaboratorattheCenter for the Study of Augustine, Au-gustinianism and Jansenism of the Faculty of theology(KULEUVEN)whereheispreparingastudyofBishopSoanenofSenez’spastoralactivity.

75 Petyt(1683)vol.2,324.76 JustificationinOrdonnantiën, fol.7r.77 TimothyofthePresentation(1729)5,4–7.78 Petyt(1683)vol.3,249.Inthattimeanddistrict,itwascommonforanchoressestoreceive

communionfrequently(everyday).79 Ordonnantiën, fol.7r-v.MariaPetythadmanyconfessors.Petyt(1683)vol.1,200.80 Ordonnantiën, fol.7v.81 Ordonnantiën, fol.8r.82 Antwerpen,Stadsarchief/Felixarchief,KK (Kerkenenkloosters),1493,65–78.83 The gravestones were used for the restoration of the main entrance of St. Rumbold’s

Cathedral.


Archives

Antwerpen,Felixarchief(Stadsarchief),KK (Kerkenenkloosters),1493:[NorbertusaSanctaJuliana],Conventus Mechliniensis, primum fundate in Neckerspoel, deinde translati intra muros Civitatis, nunc sub titulo Sancti Patris Nostri Eliae Prophetae, antiqua & novissima descriptio.

Boxmeer,NederlandsCarmelitaansInstituut,[1] Provincia Flandro-Belgica,s.n.:Box 1, varia;[2] Provincia Flandro-Belgica,s.n.: Conventus Mechelen;[3] Provincia Flandro-Belgica,s.n.:Conventus Liedekerke.

Gent,Rijksarchief,Oud notariaat,1270:NotarisA.VandenBroecke(1652–1655).Leuven, KADOC, Provinciaal archief van de Vlaamse Minderbroeders, 2.2.291: J. van

Meerbeek,Register ende specificatie van allen de landen, bemden, bosschen, aerden ende opstallen der convente vande Patres Carmeliten binnen Mechelen toebehoorende(1653).

Mechelen,Archivumarchiepiscopalia, [1] Oud parochiearchief, St. Servaas, Schaarbeek, kluis van St. Servaas: s.n.:

Ordonnantien voor de heremitagie der susteren van de Alderheylighste Maget Maria des Berghs Carmeli. Aen hundoor Godts ingeven voorgeschreven door den seer eerweerdighe pater Michael a Sancto Augustino, provintiael der Neder-duytsche provintie der eerweerdighe paters carmeliten onse lieve vrauwe-broeders in ’t jaer 1660. Geapprobeert door den seer eerweerdighsten pater Marius Venturinus, generael van de voorseyde order ende apostolischen visiter der carmeliten, op den vijffden january 1660. Untilthepublication,werefertotheoriginalfoliosofthisdocument.

[2] Oud parochiearchief, St. Servaas, Schaarbeek,kluisvanSt.Servaas,s.n.[3] Conventualia, Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,20:cijnsregister.

Mechelen,Stadsarchief,[1] Archieven van het Rijksarchief Antwerpen in bewaring gegeven, Geschoeide karme-

lieten van Mechelen: 1 Copies of acts of the convent,5Manuaelboeck,6Nieuwen registerboeck,11Inventory of the archives.

[2] Augustijnen,40B:actofthealderman(1613).[3] Oud archief,Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen,CC,31:Necrologium Carmeli

Mechliniesis;Ex diario Carmeli Mechliniensis.[4] Oud archief, Geschoeide karmelieten van Mechelen, Q, 1: Brocardus a Sancto

Flugentio,Liber depositi Carmeli Mechliniensis ab anno 1584.Rome,Archivumgeneraleord.Carmelitarum,II Provincia Flandro-Belgica,s.n.: Convent

of Brussel.

* (withoutsignature=s.n.).

64 VanMeerbeeck

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Constitutiones. 1656.Constitutiones strictioris observantiae pro Reformatis in ordine Carmelitarum Appprobatae,& confirmatae ab Urbanae VIII. Cum Articulis ab Innocentio X. adiunctis & approbatis, propriisque locis, ex illius mandato, insertis Ex decreto capituli generalis Romae celebrati anno MDCXLV.Antverpiae,apudJacobMeursium,AnnoMDCLVI.

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Deblaere,A.1962.De mystieke schrijfster Maria Petyt (1623–1677).(Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie voor Taal- en Letterkunde. VIde reeks. Bekroonde werken,vol.87).Gent:SecretariederAcademie.

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HetlevenvandeseerEdeleDoorluchtighsteenH.Begga. [1712].Het leven van de seer Edele Doorluchtighste en H. Begga, hertoginne van Brabant, Stighteresse der Beggynnen. Met een Cort Begryp van de Levens der Salige, Godtvruchtighe en Lof-weerdige Beggyntjens der Vermaerde en Hoog-gepresen Beggijnhoven, by een vergadert door eenen onbekende Dienaer Godts. [1712].T’Antwerpen, By deWeduwe van PetrusJacobs,woonendeindecorteNieuw-straet,inderwittenLeeuw.

Hoppenbrouwers,V.1934.DaniëldelaViergeMarie. InDictionnaire de spiritualite asce-tique et mystique,vol.III.,c.19–20.Paris:Beauchesne.

Hoppenbrouwers, V. 1949. Michael van de Heilige Augustinus. In Carmel, vol. 2,155–173.

Hoppenbrouwers,V.1960.Devotio mariana in Ordine Fratrum B.M.V. De Monte Carmelo a medio saeculi XVI usque ad finem saeculi XIX.Romae:InstitutumCarmelitanum.(CollationesmarialesInstituticarmelitani,vol.1)


JamesofthePassion(JacobusaPassioneDomini).1681.De stralen van de sonne van den H. Vader en Propheet Elias, dese eeuwe verspreydt door Duitsch-landt en Neder-landt. Dat is: De Levens van eenighe Religieusen, van de Orden der Broederen, van de Alder-heylighste Maghet Maria des Berghs Carmeli, die dese 17.de Eeuw met opinie van Heylighheydt, al-daer zijn over-leden. Uyt verscheyde Autheurs in’t kort by-een verga-dert, en met Fyne Platen verciert, door den Eerw. P. F. Jacobus a Passione Domini, Priester in de selve Orden. Aen-nemen de Deughden van de Deughdelijcke, is het alder-salighste leven. Seneca in Epist.TotLuyck,ByHendrickHoyoux,indenH.FranciscusXaverius.

Kortbegrypvandehistorie.[1758]. Kort begryp van de historie, ende oorspronck der ca-pelle, ende kercke van Onse Lieve Vrouwe ter Muylen, gelegen in de baronie van Liede-kercken. Van het miraculeus beeldt der Alder-heylighste maget en Moeder Godts Maria het welck aldaer ge-eert wordt ende van de devotien die aldaer ghepleegt worden mits-gaders eenige devote bemerckingen ende gebeden om de geloovige te verwecken tot de devotie van Maria. Tot Brussel: bij Carolus de Vos, Stadt-drucker, op deKole-Merckt.

Laenen,J.1912–1914.Inventairesommairedesarchivesdel’archevêché.InAnnuaire du clerge de l’archevêche de Malines,vol.16,VII-XVIII,vol.17,VII-XVIII,vol.18,VII-XXII.

Lowyk,A.1991. Nederlandstalige schrijvers in Hazebroek, Westhoek van de Nederlanden in Frankrijk.Poperinge:WerkgroepdeNederlanden.

MartinezCarretero,I. 1991. FigurasdelCarmeloIn Los Carmelitas. Historia de la Orden del Carmen, vol.6. Madrid:BibliotecadeAutoresCristianos.

MelchioraSanctaMaria.1968.Vier eeuwen Discalsen. 1568–1968. Geschiedkundig over-zicht van de Theresiaanse hervorming. Zeldzame drukken, handschriften en voorwer-pen.Gent:Coventofthediscalcedcarmelites.

MichaelofSt.Augustine(MichaelàS.Augustino).1681.Kort Begryp van het Leven van de Weerdighe Moeder Sr. Maria a S. Teresia, (alias) Petyt, Gheestelijcke Dochter, van den Derden Regel van de Orden der Alder-glorieuste Maghet Maria des Berghs Carmeli; over-leden met opinie van Heyligheydt, binnen Mechelen, den I. Novemb. 1677. Getrocken uyt haer Leven, in het langh en breeder beschreven: door den seer Eerw. P. F. Michael a S. Augustino, Provinciael van de Neder-landtsche Provincie der Eerw. PP. Lieve-Vrouwe-Broeders.Men vindt-se te koope, Tot Brussel,byPeeterVandeVelde,opdenhoeckvandeMunte,indenieuweDruckerye.

MottaNavarro,T.1960.Tertii Carmelitici saecularis ordinis historico-iuridica evolutio.Romae:InstitutumCarmelitanum(Textus et studii carmelitana,vol.4).

Panzer,S.2006. Observanz und Reform in der belgischen Karmelitenprovinz. 1623–1649. ‘Pour parvenir à un parfait retablissement de la discipline reguliere’. Roma:EdizioniCarmelitane.(Textus et studia carmelitana,vol.25).

Persoons,E.2009.DerdeordelingenvandekarmelietenordeteMechelen.InHandelingen. Koninklijke Kring voor Oudheidkunde, Letteren en Kunst van Mechelen,vol.113(2009)277–280.

Petyt,Maria.1683–1684.Het Leven van de Weerdighe Moeder Maria a Sta. Teresia, (alias) Petyt, Vanden derden Reghel vande Orden der Broederen van Onse L. Vrouwe desBerghs Carmeli, Tot Mechelen overleden den I. November 1677. Van haer uyt ghehoorsaemheyt, ende goddelijck ingheven beschreven, ende vermeerderinghe, van ’t selve Leven. Uyt

66 VanMeerbeeck

haere schriften ghetrocken, ende by een vergadert door den seer Eerw. P. Michaël a Sancto Augustino, Provinciael vande Paters onse Lieve Vrouwe Broeders des Berghs Carmeli, inde Neder-duytsche Provincie. Vol van volmaeckte deughden, om naer te vol-ghen, van goddelijcke jonsten, verlichtighen, ende bewerckinghen om van te verwon-deren, ende Godt te loven. Van alderleye onderwysinghen tot de volmaecktheyt voor de beghinnende, voortgaende, ende volmaeckte. Godt is wonderlijck in sijne Heylighen. Psalm. 67. 36. Te Ghendt, Gedruckt by de Hoirs van Jan Vanden Kerckhove, op d’Hooghpoorte in’t ghecroont Sweerdt. 4vol.

PossanziniS.1998.La dottrina e la mistica mariana del ven. Michele di S. Augustino, carmelitano.Roma:EdizioniCarmelitane. (Institutumcarmelitanum.Collationesmariales,2)

Sainsaulieu,J.1974.Les ermites français.Paris:Cerf.Sanderus,A.1727.‘ChorographiaSacraCelebris&AntiquiMonasteriiS.PatrisEliae,

OrdinisFratrumbeatissimaeVirginisMariaedeMonteCarmeloMechliniae.’ InSanderus,A.Chorographia Sacra Brabantiae, sive celebruim aliquot in ea provincia abbatiarum, coenobiorum, monasteriorum, ecclesiarum, piarumque fundationum de-scriptio. Ex Monasteriorum Tabulis, e Principium Diplomatibus, suis locis insertis, eruta, et imaginibus aeneis illustrata, tomus secundus.HagaeComitum,ApudChristianumvanLam,Bibliopolam,MDCCXXVII,221–244.

Staring,A.1948.Eencarmelitaansekluizenares.MariaPetytaS.Theresia.InCarmel,vol.1,287–305.

TimothyofthePresentation(TimotheusaPraesentatione).1727–1729.Brandende lam-pen voor het Alderheylighste Sacrament des Autaers ofte de doorluchtige lief-hebbers van dit goddelijck mysterie, tot naervolginge voorgestelt, ende verdeelt op alle de dagen des jaers, met geestelycke Leeringen, seer profytigh voor Predicanten, Priesters, en voor alle Staten van Menschen, maer besonderlijck voor alle Godt-soeckende Zielen: als oock seer aengenaem om te lesen, om de wonderheydt, verscheydentheydt en nieuwigheydt van de Levens ende Exempelen hier in begrepen. Door den Eerweerdigen Pater Timotheus a Presentatione B.V.M., Relighieus van de Orden van Onse Lieuve Vrouwe des Berghs Carmeli, van de Vlaemsche Nederlandsche Provincie.T’Antwerpen,byPetrusJouret,Stadtsdrucker,endevanSijneDoorluchtigheHoogweirdigheydt,opdeMelckMercktindeguldeTralie,5vol.

TimothyofthePresentation(TimotheusaPraesentatione).1926.‘VitaVen.P.MichaelisaS.Augustino.’InMichaelaSanctoAugustino.Introductio ad vitam internam et fruitiva praxis vitae mysticae.Romae:InCollegioS.Alberti,VII-XV.

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67LivingasaSpiritualVirginandClaimingPropheticAuthority

Chapter4

Living as a Spiritual Virgin and Claiming Prophetic Authority: The Parallel Lives of Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon

Mirjam de Baar

Oneofthemostexcitingthingsaboutdoinghistoricalresearchisdiscoveringpreviouslyunknownmanuscripts,particularlywhentheyshedanentirelynewordifferent lighton familiarhistorical figuresandraisenewquestions.ThisappliesinparticulartotheLatinmanuscriptwithautobiographicalwritingsbyMariaPetyt,whichwasrecentlydiscoveredbyEsthervandeVateintheAr-chiveoftheCarmelitesinRome.1

Untilnow,MariaPetythasalwaysbeenregardedonthebasisofherknownautobiographicalwritingsasamysticwhowithdrewfromtheworldtodevoteherself to prayer and meditation. But an entirely different picture seems toemergefromtherecentlydiscoveredLatinmanuscript–apictureofawomanwhotookaverycloseinterestinpoliticalaffairsandadoptedapositionindis-putesinthechurchpoliticsofherday.Thequestionishowtheseseeminglyconflictingself-representationsrelatetooneanotherand,followingonfromthat,howPetyt,asareligiouslyinspiredwoman,triedtoassume–orwasgiven–authority.WasthisaatypicalcaseordoesPetyt’sconductfitintothereper-toiresofreligiousbehaviouroffemalecontemporarieswho,likeher,laidclaimtoarighttospeakonreligiousmatters?Toanswerthesequestions,Ishallsum-monupanotherseventeenth-centuryspiritualvirgin–anothermysticandau-thor of religious and autobiographical writings – whose early life and workhavealotincommonwithMariaPetyt’sbutwhomadecompletelydifferentchoiceslaterinherlife.SheisAntoinetteBourignon.UnlikeMariaPetytshewouldbreakupwiththeRomanCatholicChurchasaninstitutionandcrossthedividinglinebetweenthevariousChristiandenominationsbyfoundinganecumenicalcongregationbeforethetermexisted.2

1 Vita venerabilis matris Mariae a Sta Teresia, Rome,Carm.Archive,PostIII,70,fol.30r-49v,translatedintoEnglishbyVeronieMeeuwsen.Seep.119–239ofthisvolume.

2 OnBourignon’sspiritualleadershipseeesp.deBaar(2004).

© MirjamdeBaar,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_006This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



68 DeBaar

The Self-Narratives of Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon

MariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignonwerecontemporaries:MariaPetytlivedfrom1623to1677,AntoinetteBourignonwasbornin1616anddiedin1680.Bothleft a spiritual autobiography that was published posthumously. Coinciden-tally,theseworkscameoutinthesameyear.Petyt’sHet LevenwaspublishedinGentin1683byJanvandenKerchove,inaneditioneditedbyherspiritualmen-torMichaelofSt.Augustine.3La Vie de Dam.lle Antoinette Bourignon,editedbyherspiritualsonPierrePoiret,waspublishedbytheAmsterdambooksellersPieter Arentsz and Jan Rieuwertsz.4 Anyone who studies the biographies ofMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignoninanysortofdetailmustimmediatelybestruckbythenumberofparallelsintheirself-narratives.

Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon were both born in the southernFlemish (now French) part of the then Southern Netherlands: AntoinetteBourignoninthecityofLille,andMariaPetytfortykilometresawayinHaze-brouck.5ThelanguageboundarybetweentheFlemish-speakingandFrench-speakingregionsofsouthFlandersranpreciselybetweenthetwoplaces.MariaPetytconsequentlygrewupinaFlemish-speakingenvironment,althoughinheryouthshespentsometime inLilleand inSaint-Omer to learnFrench.6Unsurprisingly,herwrittenFlemish is lacedwithFrenchwords.Bourignon’snativetonguewasFrench,althoughshemusthavebeenfamiliarwithFlemishtosomeextent.InherautobiographyshetellsthatwhenshewasachildherparentssenthertoIeperfortenmonthstolearnDutch.7MariaPetytandAn-toinetteBourignonbothdwellontheirchildhoodsatlengthintheirautobiog-raphies,ontheparentalenvironmentinwhichtheygrewupandtheirleaningstowardsalifededicatedtoGod.Putthetwoautobiographiessidebysideandyouseetwolivesthatfollowedmoreorlessidenticalcoursesuntilthemomentthewomenreachedadulthood.Theybothgrewupinawell-to-domerchant’s

3 Het Leven van de Weerdighe Moeder Maria A Sta. Teresia, (alias) Petyt(1683),ed.Merlier(1976).4 La Vie de Damlle. Antoinette Bourignon(1683),translatedintoDutchasHet Leven van Juffr.

Antoinette Bourignon. Ten deelen by haar self, en ten deele by ymant anders van haar kennis(1683).ThisworkincludesPoiret’sbiographyofAntoinetteBourignonandtwoautobiogra-phiesbyherself:La Parole de Dieu, ou Sa Vie Interieure,writtenin1663,andLa Vie Exterieure,writtenin1668.OnPoiret,aformerWalloonminister,seeChevallier(1994).

5 BiographicaldetailsofMariaPetyt’slifearetakenfromMerlier’seditionofHet Leven van deWeerdighe Moeder Maria A Sta. Teresia, (alias) Petyt(1683).BiographicaldetailsofAntoinetteBourignon’slifearetakenfromherownautobiographicalwritings,publishedinLa Vie de Damlle. Antoinette Bourignon (1683).

6 Merliered.(1976)ch.VIII,l.20=Petyt(1683)vol.1,11.7 Bourignon(1668)152–153.


familywheretheylackedfornothinginmaterialterms.BothbecamefamiliaratanearlyagewithafaithpervadedbythespiritoftheCounterReformation.Lille,theprosperoustextilecitywhereBourignongrewupandPetytspentpartofherchildhood,wasabulwarkoftheCounterReformation.

TheCatholicoffensivesetintrainaftertheCouncilofTrentwenthandinhandwithare-landscapingofthepublicdomainandwithallsortsofnewde-votional practices. Between 1588 and 1667 the number of monastic founda-tions in Lille almost tripled. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, theJesuitsandtheCapuchins–thetwogreatmilitantordersoftheCounterRefor-mation–foundednewhousesinthecity.Intheirwakecameotherreligiouscommunities, which likewise focused primarily on prayer, instruction andevangelization.Intheendseventeennewordersestablishedthemselvesinthecity,nofewerthantwelveofthemforwomen.Theriseofalltheseneworderswasaccompaniedbynumerousnewdevotionalpractices,theconstructionofnewStationsoftheCross,arevivaloftheMariancult,countlessprocessionsandarunonrelics,andbymoreintensivereligiousinstruction,strongervisu-alizationofkeyscenesinthelifeofChrist,morepenitentialsermonsandsoforth.8TheexperiencesandimpressionsdescribedinPetyt’sandBourignon’sautobiographiesmakeabundantlycleartheextenttowhichthenewspiritualzealboundupwiththeCounterReformationleftitsmarkontheirviewoffaithandtheirperceptionofrealityintheiryouth.

As they look back over their lives, both Petyt and Bourignon refer to theburningdesire for ‘thewilderness’ they felt inchildhood.9ThestoriesabouttheDesertFathers,whichtheybothknewwell,musthavebeenresponsibleforthisatleastinpart.Theybothengagedinabattlewiththeirparentstobeal-lowedtopursuetheirspiritualidealofalifecutofffromtheworldanddedi-catedtoGod.

In1636AntoinetteBourignonranawayfromhometoescapeamarriageherparentshadarrangedforher.Inherspiritualautobiographywrittenin1663shesaysthatnotlongbeforethisshehadhadavisioninwhichSt.Augustineap-pearedtoherandinstructedhertorestorehisorder.10ForAntoinetteBouri-gnonthiswasthestartofalongspiritualquestthatwouldeventuallybringhertoacritical,independentattitudetowardsthechurchauthorities.Forherownpart,shewouldratherhaveenteredoneof thestrictestneworders, thedis-

8 Lottin(2013).9 Merliered.(1976)ch.VIII,l.1–4=Petyt(1683)vol.1,11.Bourignon(1663)10;Bourignon

(1668)150.10 Bourignon(1663)7–9.InLa Vie Exterieureshedoesnotrefertothisvision.

70 DeBaar

calcedCarmelites,butherfatherrefusedtopaythedowrythatwasdemand-ed.11

MariaPetytdideverythingshecouldtopersuadeherparentsofherdeep-rootedlongingfortheconventlifeandeventuallymanagedtotalkthemintolettinghergoto theAugustinianconventof thecanonessesregular inGentrecommendedbyherconfessor.TheFrenchinvasionofFlanders in1643–44andthelootingitbroughtinitstrainmeantthatMariaPetythadtopostponeherplansforayear.Asaresultofthecrisis,herfatherwasunabletoraisetherequireddowryandthoughtitwastoodangerousforhisdaughtertotravelallthe way to distant Gent.12The same incursion by the French army had per-sonalconsequencesforAntoinetteBourignon,too.Shehadtoleavetheher-mitage outside Lille city walls that she had moved into three years earlierbecauseitwasnotsafetoremainoutsidethecityintimeofwar.13

EventuallybothMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignonsoughtawayoflifeinwhichtheycouldgivetheirownindependentinterpretationoftheiridealofalifedevotedtoGodandcentredonprayerandmeditation.IntheCatholicSouthernNetherlandsofthetime,particularlyinBrabantandFlanders,wom-en’sopportunitiestofindanappropriateformforthiswerelegion.TheycouldenteraregularorderoroptforalifeasaBeguineoraSpiritualDaughter.Moni-als (nuns) took vows for life (poverty, chastity and obedience). Beguines, incontrast,madetemporaryvowsanddidnottakeavowofpovertyatall.Spiri-tualDaughtersgenerallydidnottakevows,butchosetoremainunwedandlivedaslaywomenservingGodoutsidetheconventwalls.14LiketheBeguines,theycouldretaintheirownpossessions.ThewaysoflifeofSpiritualDaughtersrangedfromlivingaloneorwitha fewother likemindedwomen,tocomingtogetherinacommunity.InpracticetheseSpiritualDaughtersoftenaccepteda Rule, and placed themselves under the spiritual authority of their confes-sor.15TheBelgianChurchhistorianM.DeVroede,whodevotedastudytoSpir-itual Daughters in the Southern Netherlands, did not venture to estimatenumbers,butdidsuggestthatintheseventeenth-century,atleast,thiswasasignificantphenomenonencounteredbothinthetownsandcitiesandoutinthecountry.16

11 Bourignon(1663)4–5.12 Merliered.(1976)ch.XIX=Petyt(1683)vol.1,24ff.13 Bourignon(1663)63–65;Bourignon(1668)181.14 Monteiro(1996)29–36.15 OnthefusionofthesedutiesseeRanft(1994).16 DeVroede(1994)(noreferencestoPetyt).


UnlikeMariaPetyt,AntoinetteBourignonneverjoinedareligiousorder.Sheoftenspenttimeincommunitiesofspiritualvirgins,butshenevertookvows.Occasionallyshecameundertheauthorityofaspiritualdirector,butcertainlynotinthesortofformalizedwaythatseemstohavebeenthecasewithMariaPetyt.Thiswouldprobablyhaveledinpracticetoafocusondifferentformsofspirituality,butfundamentallytheywerebothconcernedwithdevelopinganinnerspirituallifethatwouldifpossibleleadtocommunionwithGod.Theymustinparthavedrawnuponthesamespiritualsources.Directandindirectreferencesintheirwritingspointtotheworkof,amongothers,TeresaofAvila,Johnof theCross,ThomasàKempis,FrancisdeSalesandBenedictofCan-field.17

Coincidentally, both Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon ended up inMechelenafteraninterludeinGent.PetythadindeedjoinedtheAugustiniancanonesses,butshehadtoleavetheorderduringhernovitiatebecauseaneyeconditionpreventedherfromtakingpartinMassasachoirnun.AfterastayoffivemonthsattheKlein-BegijnhofinGent,wheresheplacedherselfundertheauthorityofaCarmeliteasanoviceoftheThirdOrder,shemovedinwithan-otherdirecteeofthisCarmelite.Inherautobiographyshedescribesthedevo-tional practices and penances imposed upon her under his strict tutelage.WhenthisCarmeliteleftGent,shechoseMichaelofSt.Augustineasherspiri-tualdirectorand,whenhebecamepriorinMechelen,shefollowedhimafterfive years. In 1657 she and another sister moved into a house known as ‘deCluyse’–thehermitage–neartheCarmelitechurch,andshelivedtherede factoinaccordancewiththefirstruleoftheCarmeliteorderuntilherdeath.18SomeotherlikemindedwomenjoinedMariaPetytinthishouseinMechelentoshareherwayoflife.

In1653AntoinetteBourignonbecamearegentandprincipalofahomeforpoorgirlsinLille,whereshesubmittedtotheRuleofSt.Augustine.Accusa-tionsofsorceryforcedhertoresignfromherpositionin1662,andsheleftLilleto seek justice from higher legal authorities.This took her first to Gent andthentoMechelen.InGentAntoinetteBourignonlivedforawhilewithagroupof spiritual daughters. In 1663, six years after Maria Petyt, Antoinette Bouri-gnonsettledinMechelen.ForthefirstsevenweeksshestayedintheGroot-Begijnhof.AfterthatshefoundaplacewiththeZwartzustersorBlackSisters.

DuringhertimeinMechelen,AntoinetteBourignon’sspiritualquestwouldresultinacompletebreakwiththeRomanCatholicpowerstructures.In1667

17 Deblaere(1962)128–164,174–176;DeBaar(2004)205,207,222.18 ForherdailyprogrammeintheseyearsseethecontributionofMichelvanMeerbeeckto

thisvolume,p.53–66.

72 DeBaar

sheleftherhomelandandsettledinAmsterdam,themulti-confessionalme-tropolis of the Northern Netherlands, with Christiaan de Cort, an OratorianpriestshehadmetinMechelenandwithwhomshehadbecomefriends.Herlife took a completely new course and her self-image and religious messagechangeddramatically.InAmsterdamAntoinetteBourignonbrokethroughtheboundariesofherreligiousenvironment.From1669shemovedintothepublicspherebypublishingherwritingsinFrenchandDutcheditions,lateronalsoinGermanandLatintranslations,soastoreachthewidestpossiblereadership.19Inpartasaconsequence,sheclaimedforherselfanentirelynewroleasaspir-itualleaderforquestingChristians.

ReviewingthebiographiesofMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignon,wecansaythatuntil1667,theyearAntoinettelefttheSouthernNetherlands,thereareremarkablesimilaritiesbetweentheir‘external’lives.Thequestioniswhetherwecanalsodiscernclearparallelsinthewayeachrepresentedherself–and,ifso,fromwhattheseresemblancesderive.

Teresa’s Life as an Exemplar

PeterBurkehaspointedouttheimportanceattachedtomodellingoneselfonauthorizedexamplesintheEarlyModernerawhenitcametoself-representa-tion in autobiographical texts.20 It is likely that Maria Petyt and AntoinetteBourignonchosetodothisbecausetheirautobiographicalwritingsservedaveryspecificpurpose.Ishallcomebacktothisshortly.ThispracticecouldgosomewaytowardsexplainingwhythelifestoriespresentedbyAntoinetteBou-rignonandMariaPetytaresoremarkablysimilar.

PreciselywhenandwhydidMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignoncommitthestoriesoftheirlivestopaper?Withoutknowingwhattheotherwasdoing,theywrotetheirspiritualautobiographiesatmuchthesametime,whiletheywerelivinginthesametown,Mechelen.AccordingtotheBelgianscholarAl-bertDeblaere,whoinvestigatedMariaPetyt’slifeandworkthoroughly,shebe-ganwritingherlifestoryin1662andworkedonitforseveralyears.21BourignonwroteherVie Interieurein1663.BothPetytandBourignonwrotethestoriesoftheirlivesontheinstructionsofareligiousauthorityfigure.InPetyt’scase,itwasherspiritualdirectorandconfessor,MichaelofSt.Augustine.Heorderedhertowrite‘anaccountofherlife’andatthesametimetorecordtheextraor-

19 SeedeBaar(2004),AppendixIII(overview)andAppendixA(enumerativebibliography).20 Burke(1997)17–28.21 Deblaere(1962)31.


dinary‘graceanddivineinfluencesheexperiencedbythemercyofGod’.22HisintentionwastousewhatshewrotetoinvestigatewhetherPetytwasledbythespiritofGodorwhethershemightbemisled.InBourignon’scaseitwastheVicar-GeneralofthedioceseofMechelen,AiméCoriache,whoinstructedherto write her life story. He was not her spiritual director, but Bourignon hadaskedhimforhissupport inher legalproceedingsagainst themagistrate inLilleaftershehadbeendiscreditedtherebecauseofa‘sorceryaffair’.23Cori-achewantedtoknowwhetherBourignonreallywassentbyGod,asshe in-sisted,beforeheagreedtohelpher.Bourignonmusthaverealizedonlytoowellthatthisrequestprovidedherwiththeopportunitytogetherclaimstoauthor-ityvalidated.On6November1663shepresentedhimwithherspiritualautobi-ography,whichboretherevealingtitle,La Parole de Dieu(TheWordofGod).

EarlierstudiesofPetytfocusontheinfluenceofTeresaofAvila,hergreatexemplar,whosenameshetookashersecondreligiousnameduringhertimeattheBeguinecommunityinGent.Deblaere,forinstance,pointstothecor-respondencesinthedescriptionoftheformandsymptomsofthediseasefromwhichPetytsufferedrightdowntospecifictermsandimages,andhegoesontodrawattentiontothecomparabledevelopmentthatPetytandTeresaunder-wentintheirperceptionofChrist.Petytalsotookhercategorizationofvision-aryexperiencesfromTeresa.24

Teresa’sautobiography(Libro de la Vida),whichatthattimewasavailableinnumerous Dutch editions, clearly did more than leave its mark on the sub-stance of Maria Petyt’s spiritual education. The published biography of theSpanishCarmelitenun,whowascanonizedin1622,mustalsohaveservedasamodelandsourceofinspirationwhenMariaPetytcametowritetheaccountofherownlife.Itisremarkable,forinstance,totakejustasmallexample,thatMariaPetytmentionedthepleasureshegotfromreadingstoriesofchivalry–justasTeresaofAvilahaddone.25

Inanarticleonautobiographiesbywomeninseventeenth-centurySpain,theSpanishscholarSonjaHerpoelshowedhowTeresa’sLibro de la Vidacametoserveasamodelfornuns.26ThisexemplaryfunctionofTeresa’sbookseemsnottohavebeenconfinedtotheCarmelitesistersandtheirareaofinfluence.Intermsof its formandcontent,Bourignon’sLa Parole de Dieu likewisehas

22 Merliered.(1976)Introduction,7–8.23 FortheaccusationsofsorceryseedeBaar(2004)74–78.24 Deblaere (1962) 145–52. Cf. the contribution of Elisabeth Hense on the spirituality of

TeresaofAvilaandtheLatinmanuscript,p.252–265.25 Merliered.(1976)ch.XII,l.17–19=Petyt(1683)vol.1,16.Cf.TeresaofAvila(1990)vol.1,13.26 Herpoel(1994)42–57.Cf.Herpoel(1999).

74 DeBaar

similaritiestoTeresa’sspiritualautobiography,Frencheditionsofwhichwerecirculatingintheseventeenthcentury.27

In writing the accountof her life,Teresa of Avila had been influenced inturnbyAugustine’sConfessions,whichisregardedasaparadigmforthegenreofconversionliteratureinWesternChristianity.Atitsheartisthedestructionofold,sinfulhumanityandtheriseofthenewhumanityreborninChrist.InbothMariaPetyt’sandAntoinetteBourignon’sworktherearecountlessdigres-sionsaboutformerlevityandtheworldlycompanyinwhichtheyhadlived.Theycanbedescribedastopoi,butthisdoesnotdetractfromconversion.Inboththeirautobiographieswealsofindthefamiliartopoiofthe‘genre’ofthevocationstory:leavingparents,thespecificmotivation,thechoiceofaparticu-larorderorreligiouscommunity,theoppositionandthepostponementofen-teringanorderorcommunity.Inboth,thesubjectionofone’sownwilltothewillofGoddominatestherestoftheirlivesastheydescribedthem.

Writing and being Written

God and no one else, declared both Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon,determinedwhattheywrote.ItwasGod,theysaid,whocausedthemtowritethroughtheinspirationoftheHolySpirit.Theywereonly instruments.Thisclaimtodivineinspirationdoesnot,however,alterthefactthatwecaniden-tifycountlessplacesintheirtextswherethevoiceofGodstopsandthatoftheauthorherselfbegins.Thisraisesthequestionastowhethertwodifferentcom-ponentsperhapshavetobedistinguishedinthewritingsofMariaPetytandAntoinette Bourignon. I refer here, following the Belgian literary historianKarelPorteman,tothedistinctionbetweenareceptivecomponent–inspira-tion–andanactivecomponent–creativity,writingitself.InhisdiscussionofMaria Petyt’s work, Porteman tellingly summarizes the two components as‘writingandbeingwritten’.28

The term ‘being written’ contains within it the assignment of religiousmeaningpromotedbyfemalemystics.Butinthesamedescriptionwecanalsoidentifyasex-specificcomponentthatPortemandidnotmakeexplicit.Inthatsense,beingwrittenreferstooneofthewaysinwhich,untiltheEarlyModernera,religiousfemalewritersjustifiedtheirinterventioninthedominant,maledebate.WhatMaaikeMeijer,anexpertinculturalstudiesandDutchliterature,hasobservedmoregenerallyaboutwomenwhowriteappliedtothesewomen

27 DeBaar(2004)207.28 Porteman(1997)285.Cf.PortemanandSmits-Veldt(2009)829–832.


aswell.Theyhadtosubscribeto‘aculturalspacewheremeaningsarealreadylaiddowninaparticulardirection’.29LindaAnderson,whodevotedatheoreti-calstudytowomen’sautobiographicalwritings,makesplainwhatthisinter-ventionimplies:‘Itisnecessarytotakeintoaccountthefactthatthewomanwhoattemptstowriteherselfisengagedbythenatureoftheactivityitselfinre-writingthestoriesthatalreadyexistabouther,sincebyseekingtopublicizeherselfsheisviolatinganimportantculturalconstructionofherfemininityaspassiveorhidden.Sheisresistingorchangingwhatisknownabouther’.30

Admittedly Anderson is referring to modern autobiographical writing inwhichreflectionontheselfiskey,whereasAntoinetteBourignon’sandMariaPetyt’s autobiographical writings were primarily concerned with convincingthespiritualauthority,onwhoseinstructionsthelifestorieswerewritten,oftheirauthenticity.Andyet,thepremiseformulatedherebringsusbacktothequestion as to how seventeenth-century semi-religious women like MariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignonhadtowritetoproduceaneffect–anddoitinaperiodwhenthefemininemysticalexperiencewastreatedwithdistrust.Itwasnotfornothingthat,fromtheCounterReformationonwards,femalemys-ticismwaskeptundercontrolbythesystemofspiritual leadership.Forreli-giousfemaleauthorsitconsequentlycamedowntousingtheright‘rhetoricalstrategies’. AlisonWeber, for instance, demonstrates the wayTeresa of Avilaavailedherselfofthe‘strategyofconcession’orthe‘strategyofhumility’.31We-berarguesthatusingrhetoricalstrategiesliketheseallowedTeresatoachievehergoalswithoutdisturbingtheexistingorder.InthecasesofMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignon,theircredibilitystoodorfellbytheextenttowhichtheywereabletopersuadethereaderofthemessagethatGodpouredintotheir‘soul’.Theyhadtofindaconvincingwayofputtingthisinwriting–butthiswasanactofhumancreativitythattheycouldnotlayclaimtoassuch.

RegardlessofwhetherAntoinetteBourignonandMariaPetytwereorwerenotconvincedthattheywere inspiredbyhigherpowersandthat itwasnotthey,butGod,whowieldedtheirpens,puttingthisconvictionintowritingmayhavestrengthenedtheirpropheticidentity.Itcouldatthesametimehavere-inforcedtheirself-confidenceincomingoutwiththedivinetruthsthattheywere to interpret. From the previously unknown Latin manuscript of MariaPetyt’swork,itwould,afterall,appearthat,likeBourignon,shewascreditedwithpropheticgifts.

29 Meijer(1996)38.30 Anderson(1986)59.31 Weber(1990)50–64.

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Prophetic Gifts

MariaPetytcommunicatedherpropheciesinherletterstoMichaelofSt.Au-gustine, whom she explicitly asked to keep secret for as long as she wouldlive.32IntheletterswrittenbetweenNovember1672andJuly1673sheovertlydemonstratedhowsheinwardlyabsorbedherselfinthewarsofLouisXIVem-pathizingwithhisvictoriesanddefeats.33MariaPetytevenlinkedherspiritualcredibility to the outcome of the French king’s military fortunes which sheprophesied.ShealsowrotetoherconfessorhowinherprayersandvisionsshedealtwiththeconflictwithJansenism,whichstruckattheunitytheRomanCatholicChurchintheseyears.

Maria Petyt’s engagement with political and ecclesiastical events may atfirstsightseemodd,but,aswewillseefromAntoinetteBourignon’sexample,alifeofprayerandmeditationdedicatedtoGodandastronginvolvementwiththeworldwerenotmutuallyexclusive.Itisinherentinthepropheticself-im-agethataprophetorprophetesswhoregardshimselforherselfasaninstru-mentchosenbyGodisdriventoconveythemessagetotheoutsideworld.Thefactthatthisoutsideworldwas,incertaincircumstances,extraordinarilyre-ceptive to messages interpreted by female prophets is evidenced by the re-sponse that Antoinette Bourignon provoked between 1663 and 1667 in thecirclesofJansenistorientedclergy.WhileshewasinGentandMechelen,An-toinetteBourignonmetanumberofclericswith Jansenistsympathies.34AswellasAiméCoriache,therewereChristiaandeCort,PierreNoelsandIgnaceGillemans.NoelswasanAugustinianpriest,whohadbeenCornelisJansen’ssecretarywhenhewasBishopofIeper.Bourignonengagedinlongconversa-tionswithhim,aboutdivinegrace,aboutSt.Augustine’sideasonitandabouthisconflictwithPelagius.OnNoels’advice,itseems,shewenttohearsermonsby anti-Jansenists in Mechelen. Thanks to him she must have been able tobuildupaclearideaofthetheologicalcontroversythatwascausingconsider-abledissensionamongtheclergyinMechelen,too.

AntoinetteBourignonalsoconductedintensediscussions,whichshecalled‘conferences’,withherotherclerical friends.Attheseconferencesshespokefreely about ‘the miracles that God had performed in and through her, and

32 English translation of the Latin manuscript, The life of the venerable Maria of SaintTeresa30r.

33 ForMariaPetyt’spreferencefortheFrenchkingseeVeronieMeeuwsen’scontributiontothisvolume,p.240–251.

34 OnBourignon’sinvolvementintheconflictbetweenJansenistsandJesuitsbetween1662and1667seedeBaar(2004)82–94.


thosethatHeintendstodothroughherinthefuture’.TheconsiderationwithwhichherlistenersrespondedtowhatAntoinetteBourignonherselfregardedasherdivinemessagemusthavestrengthenedherimageofherselfasaproph-et.Oneofthem,DeCort,wrotedowntheanswersBourignongavetohisques-tionsabouttheChurch,thecreed,themonasticlifeandthegospelunderthetitleLa Lumiere du Monde–theLightoftheWorld.TheconferenceswithherclericalfriendsinspiredAntoinetteBourignontowriteaseriesoftreatisesondivinegrace,freewill,preachinganddevotions,confession,penitence,theEu-charist, prayer, discernment of spirits and so on. These pieces circulated inmanuscriptformamongherclericalfriends,whocopiedthemfortheirownuse.

ItemergesfromAntoinetteBourignon’scorrespondencethatthecircleofJansenistclericswithwhomshewasintouchfrom1663onwardswerenotsim-ply receptive to her ‘feelings’, but actively encouraged her to express them.TheyevenurgedhertogotoLeuvenandshareherviewofthedownfallanddestructionoftheChurchwiththeacademicsattheuniversitythere.WemayconcludefromthisthatAntoinetteBourignonhadsuccessfullyassimilatedtheideasofher Jansenist-sympathizer friends.At thesametime,asa laypersonandawomansheremainedanoutsider–anoutsider,what’smore,whowasinterestednotsomuchinquestionsofdoctrineas inreligiouspractice.ThefactthatAntoinetteBourignonnonethelesswasaccordedtheologicalauthor-itysuggests,rather,thatshewasabletomakethebestandmostconvincinguseofthe‘roomtospeak’thatopenedupinandthroughtheclashbetweentwoconflictingrepresentationsoffreewillanddivinegrace.Sheevenmanagedtosteerherowncourse.Forinstance,whileshetookafirmpositionagainstpeni-tence purely for fear of punishment (attritio) and emphasized the need fortrue, perfect repentance (contritio), at the same time she rejected the Jan-senists’strictdoctrineofgrace,whichruledthatapersonmightonlyapproachGod in fear. In Antoinette Bourignon’s view everyone could in principle besaved,thankstoaspecialactofgrace,byfollowingChrist’sexampleandturn-ingbacktoGod.35

In Conclusion

WhenIstudiedthehistoriographyonMariaPetytwhileIwaspreparingthiscontribution, it struck me how strongly she was embedded in a diachronicmysticaltraditionthatgoesbackontheonehandtoFlemishpredecessorslike

35 Seee.g.Bourignon(1681)vol.I,ch.2,26–46.

78 DeBaar

RuusbroecandHadewych,andisinspiredontheotherbytheSpanishmysti-cismofTeresaofAvilaandJohnoftheCross.Thisembeddingprocesswas,ofcourse,alreadysetintrainbyPetyt’sspiritualdirector,MichaelofSt.Augus-tine,whoinselectingandpublishingherwritingshadprimarilyanedifyinggoalinview.HepresentedPetyt,asemergesfromhisforewordtothereader,firstandforemostasamodelofvirtuewhodeservedemulation.Atthesametime he endeavoured to silence any criticism of Petyt’s work by contempo-raries by propounding, contextualizing and empowering her bridal mysti-cism.36 It is thanks in part to his intervention that Petyt has come to beregardedaboveallasamysticalwriter.

Ihavedemonstratedinthisarticlethatabroadercontextualandcompara-tiveapproachtoMariaPetytshedslightonnewpatternsandparallelsthatcanbeimportanttoabetterunderstandingofherlifeandwork.NowthatweknowthatthewritingseditedbyMichaelofSt.AugustinedonotcontainPetyt’sfullworksandthat thenewlydiscoveredmanuscript inRomepaintsadifferentpictureofherfromtheonethatemergesfromherworkspublishedinthesev-enteenthcentury, itwouldseemtojustifytheconclusionthat ‘mystic’ istoonarrowaclassification.MariaPetytappears,rather,tohavepresentedherselfas a ‘prophetess’. The example of her contemporary, Antoinette Bourignon,showsthataspiritualvirginfocusedwhollyonGodorChristinseventeenth-centuryMechelencouldcertainlyclaimthatroleforherself.

From the recently discovered manuscript in Rome, it appears that MariaPetyt,too,tookpartinthedisputebetweentheJansenistsandtheJesuits.Un-likeAntoinetteBourignonshesidedwiththeanti-JansenistsbydisqualifyingJansenismasheresy.WassheinasimilarwaylikeBourignonincontactwithanetworkofanti-Jansenist-orientedclerics?Didshe,likeBourignon,engageinso-called conferences, or was she involved in the theological arguments insomeotherway– throughcorrespondence,perhaps?And finally,onecouldwonderwhetherPetytandBourignonmayhaveregardedoneanotherascom-petitors.Giventheparallelsbetweentheirlivesandthesmallcommunityinaseventeenth-centurytownlikeMechelen,onewould,afterall,expectthatatsomepointtheirpathsmusthavecrossed.However,thereisnothingintheirautobiographicalwritingstosuggestthattheywereintoucheitherdirectlyorindirectly. Is itpossible that they ‘cuteachother dead’ in their work,ordidMariaPetytonlycometotheforeafterAntoinetteBourignonhadleftMech-elenin1667?

Itistypicaloffigureswhopresentthemselvesasprophetsorprophetessesthat at a certain point they profess to be God’s sole instrument chosen

36 Deblaere(1962)15–22;Merliered.(1976)Introduction,5–12.


to proclaim His message to the world.37This claim of exclusivity in no wayimpliessingularity,however,asthelargenumberofprophetsandprophetess-eswhomadetheirvoicesheardintheliberalAmsterdamoftheseventeenthcenturytestifies.Whatissurprising,though,isthatintheseventeenth-centurycityofMechelenataroundthesametimetwospiritualvirginsshouldappearonthesceneandpresentthemselvesasprophetesses.Itisnotsomuchthefactthattheywerewomenthatisremarkable.Itwas,afterall,asBourignon’smalefriendsstatedexplicitly,specificallytowomenthatpropheticauthoritycouldbegiveninacertaincontext.38No,thesurprisingthingisthatithastakensomanycenturiesfortheinterventionofasecondreligiousorsemi-religiousfe-maleinadebateonafundamentaltheologicalissueotherwiseconductedbymentocometolight.ThishasopenedupnewpointsofreferenceforfurtherresearchonbothMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignon,whobesidessidingwithopposingChurchpartiesseemedtohavehadmuchincommon.Whethertheyalsosharedsimilarideasone.g.spiritualmotherhoodandon‘thediscern-mentofspirits’remainstobeinvestigated.

Further comparative research into their theological ideas, self-image andself-representationmaynotonlycontributetoabetterunderstandingofbothMaryPetyt’sandAntoinetteBourignon’swritingsbutalsodeepenourinsightintheculturalcontextthatnourishedthesespiritualvirginsandwithinwhichtheycouldmaketheirvoicesheard.

MirjamdeBaarisProfessorofCulturalHistoryofEarlyModernChristianityattheUniversityofGroningen.Hercurrentresearchfocusesontheperformanceof male and female prophets in the Dutch Republic, their communicationstrategiesandtheirinvolvementininternationalnetworksofreligiousdissent-ersinEarlyModernEurope.Shehaspublishedextensivelyonwomenandreli-gionintheseventeenthcentury.mirjam.de.baar@rug.nl

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37 Cf.Watt(2001).38 DeBaar(2004)398–404.

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Nederland gedurende de zeventiende eeuw.Hilversum.Petyt,M.1683/1684.Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt,

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part 2

The Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War and Its Interpretation

∵

82 DeBaar

83theLifeofMariaPetytbyMichaelofSt.Augustine

Chapter5

Some Notes on the History of the Manuscript of the Life of Maria Petyt by Michael of St. Augustine

Giovanni Grosso

Everybookhassomethingunique.Eachsayssomethingabouttheauthorandthecontent,thepublisher,theprinting,thedistributionandthevariousout-lets,thereaders,imaginedorexpected,orunexpectedorunsuspected.Allofthisgoestotellthestoryofthatparticularbook.Afifteentheditiondoesnothavethesamevalueorimportanceasafirstedition;atranslationhasavalueofitsown.Wecouldcontinueinthisvein…butallofthisisseentobeevenmoretrueifthebookinquestionisamanuscript.Inthiscaseithasaunique-nessallofitsown.Amanuscript,evenwhenitisacopyofatext,andnotthefirstcopy, isalwayssomethingunique.Notwopagesarethesame,eventheerrorsaredistinctive;everycopyhasahistoryofitsown.

ThatiswhyitispossibletotellthestoryofthecodexthatcontainstheLifeofthevenerableMariaofSt.TeresaPetyt,inawaythatisanalogoustothewayinwhichwemighttellthestoryofaperson.

Webeginwithitsphysicalappearance.Thecodex,identifiedbythenumber‘Post.III70’,measures175×243mm.Ithas452folios,numberedinpencilintheupperright-handcorner.Thispagenumberingseemstohavebeeninserted,ifnot before, at least in 1950.1 Probably Pius Serracino Inglott, responsible fortheCarmeliteGeneralArchive,decidedtohavethecodexrestored,giventhatitspageswereinpoorconditionasaresultofthepassageoftime,andothercausesespeciallythedamp,andwerenowheldtogetherbypaperglue,con-tainingsyntheticingredients,andcoveredbyplasticfilm.AlbertDeblaereaf-firms that this restoration was made by theVatican Library’s laboratory: ‘ou plutôt, il y a ete sauve de la distruction totale’2.

PerhapsPiusSerracinoInglott,orthegenerallibrarianLeovanWijmen,inthecourseofre-orderingthePostulationArchive,whichhewasdoingatthe

1 Deblaere(1962)15–22Deblaeresaysthathefoundthemanuscript inthearchiveoftheCollegioS.Alberto,Ord.Carm.,ViaSforzaPallaviciniin1951.Atthismomentthenewpagenumberingwasalreadyinserted.

2 Deblaere(1962)3–76:13.Thisarticlewastobecontinued,asaffirmedatitsend,butthefol-lowingpartneverappearedinCarmelus.

© GiovanniGrosso,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_007This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



84 Grosso

sametime,gaveanewnumbertothework.Thenewnumber(PostIII70)re-placedthepreviousnumber(PostIII118),bywhichtheworkisoftenreferredto,eveninrecentstudies.Thismaybebecausethecodexlost,orperhapsneverhad,ontheback,thenewlabelwiththenewnumber.Thisnewnumber,how-ever,istobefoundattheupperright-handcornerofthefirstendpaper.Herethenumber118wascrossedoutwithapenandthenewnumber70wasputin.The new numbering is also confirmed by the inventory made by Leo vanWijmen.

The binding is done with hard cardboard, covered with parchment, withtwoendpapers.Ontheback,incapitallettersthetitleofthecodexisprinted:

VITAVENERABILISMATRISMARIAE

AS.TERESIA

followedbyaflowerwithfourstylisedpetals.Lowerdowntheolderpaperla-belisstilltobefound.Ithasablueoctagonalformonarectangularbase,andtheformernumber.Thenewlabel,unlessitgotdetachedinsomeway,seem-ingly,wasneverattached.

Thecodexwasprobablycompiledforaprintededition,butitdoesnotseemprepared in order to be used for a canonization process.3 The text showsmanydifferenthand-writingsandisacompilationofsevendifferentparts:4

• fol.1r:Designofthetitlepagefortheprintededition.• fol.2r-5r:GeneralPrefacetothewholebookpreparedfortheprinted

edition.

3 ImustthankElisabethHenseandEdeltraudKlueting,whostudiedandanatomizedthecodexandgavememoreessentialinformationforthedescriptionofthecodex.SeeE.Hense&E.Klueting,Maria Petyts Visionen über den Holländischen Krieg.EinigeBemerkungenzuCodexPostIII70imArchivdesPostulatorsO.Carm.zuRom,ViaGiovanniLanza138.In:DerRabedesElija,2013,9–13.

4 E.HenseandE.Kluetingsuggestthattherewerethreemainwritersatthebeginningofthecodex,indicatedasA,B,andC.ThewriterAcopiedfol.2r-5r(Praefatio),30r-33v,38r-41v(DutchWar)and118r-129v(sectionoftheSecondPartoftheVita);writerBwrotethebegin-ningandtheendoftheIndex(fol.6r/vund9r-15v;28r-29v)remainingpartofthehistoryoftheDutchWar(fol.34r-37v;42r-49v)andoftheSecondPartoftheVita(fol.164r-177v,250r-257v,355r-372v,377r-380v,387r-428v,437r-452r);writerCcopiedtheremainingpartoftheIndex(fol.16r-27v),whereasthefragmentoftheIndex(fol.7r-8v)couldbewrittenbyanyoneotherthanthethreewriters.


• fol.6r-29v:Twotablesofcontentsbythreedifferenthands;twofolios(7r-8v)arenotboundwiththeothersandcontainafragmentarylistofchapters56–158ofthatknownastheFirst Part of the Life.ThemainpartoftheTableofContents(fol.6r-v;9r-29v),writtenbytwodifferenthands,showsthe911chaptersoftheSecond Part of the Life,indicatedbychapternumbers,ashortsummaryandthepagenumbers,buttheydonotcorre-spondtotheactualpagination.

• fol.30r-49v:TextofthevisionsreceivedbyMariaofSt.TeresaabouttheDutchWar5,writtenbytwohands.

• fol.50r-117vand200r-216v:First Part of the Lifebythesameonehandandoriginalfoliation(5–89)notcomplete,whilethefirstfourfoliosarelacking.6

• fol.118r-199vand222r-230v:Second Part of the Lifebyvarioushands.Thenumbering1A-20Vonthefol.118r-199visreferredtothepiecesorquater-niones,asonthefol.222thereisthenumber21andfromfol.230rthenumbersindicatethesinglefoliosandnotthesections;chapters51–56arelacking.Thesummariesinthispartdonotreferinfacttothecodexdivision(paginationisdifferent).Perhapstheycouldbewrittenforanoriginaldraftofthiscopyofthemanuscript.

• fol.217r-221vand231r-452r:isacontinuationoftheSecond Part of the Life,writtenbydifferenthands.AlsointhispartthesummariesandpaginationdonotrefertothecodexdivisionintheTableofContents.

Thefol.1rhasatthetop,inthecentre,themonogram,‘M’,abovewhichthereisasmallstylisedcrownandunderneath,anornamentaldesign.Infact,eachofthe foliosof thecodexbeginswiththenameofMaryor themonogram ‘M’,written in different ways, with or without additional ornamentation, in thecentreofthepage,atthetop;thesemonogramshelpinidentifyingthehandofthewriter.

Onfol.1rthefulltitleofthecodexisgivenas:VitaVenerabilisMatrisMarięsS.taTeresia

TertiarięOrdinisB.męVirginisMarięDeMonteCarmelo

MechliniędefunctękalendisnovembrisAnno1677

Abipsamexobedientiaetinstinctudominoconscript[a]

5 ThankstoEsthervandeVateforhersuggestionsaboutthissectionofthebook.6 Infactthispartbeginswiththeendofch.11oftheprintedDutchLeven,Petyt(1683/1684).

86 Grosso

EtAuctariumvitęillius

ExeiusscriptiscollectumetcompositumperR.dumAdm.P.MichaelemaStoAugustino

eiusdemOrdinisProvincialemProvincęFlandroBelgicędictęV.Matrisper31annosdirectoremspiritualem

Therefollowsabiblicalverse:

MirabilisDeusinSanctissuisPs.36

Thencomesadrawingofaheartpiercedbyanarrow,theheartiscrownedandinsidethemonogram‘MR’iswritten7.

Onfol.1rand2rtwosmallstripsofpaperwereattachedatthetopontheleft,eachmeasuringaround50/65×11mm,bearingthefollowinginstruction,‘Titulus generalis pręfigendus initio totius libri’(fol.1r)e‘Pręfatio generalis prę-digendus <sic> toti libro’(fol.2r).

MichaelofSt.Augustine,thespiritualdirectorofthevenerableMarieofSt.TeresaPetyt,wrotetheGeneralPreface(fol.2r-5r)beforethe24thofApril,1680(fol.5r),goingbythedateandsignature(fol.5v).8

Fol.6r-29vcontainthetwoindices.9Infactfol.6rvand9rto29vcarrytheexactandalmostcompleteindexofthecontentofthesecondpartoftheco-dex.Fol.7r-8vcarryinlargeparttheindexofthechapters(fromchap.56totheincompletechap.158)oftheFirstPartoftheLifeofthevenerablewoman,thatis fol.50r to 117v.These two fol.7r-8vare loose,andtheyare inserted incor-rectlybetweenfol.6and9andthereareperhapstwoleafsstillmissing,withthe indication of the initial and final chapters of the autobiography itself,which must have had 186 chapters as Michael himself wrote in the GeneralPreface:‘pro ut hic per 186 capita, deducta sequitur’ (fol.4v,l.35).

As rightly suggested by Rijklof Hofman andVeronie Meeuwsen,10 the fol.from30rto49vwereprobablypaginatedincorrectly;itispossiblethattheco-dexlostitsnumberingandthesectionsatthebeginningweretakenapart,andwhoeverputthembacktogetheragainmightnothaveunderstoodtheoriginalsequence, thatmaybereconstructed inthisway: fol.38r-41v– fol.30r-33v–

7 Thedesignispartiallylostbecausethesheetisdamagedinthelowersection.8 TheprefaceisnotanautographofMichaelofSt.Augustine.9 Wewillindicatethefoliosfollowingthemodernnumberingsysteminpenciland,ifnec-

essaryandpossible,pointingouttheoldnumberingsysteminpenink.10 IwouldliketothankRijcklofHofmanandVeronieMeeuwsenfortheirsuggestion.


fol.42r-49v–fol.34r-37v.Itisnotclearwhytherearethesefewmisplacements(fol.30r-49vand7r-8v)whilealmostthegreatpartofthecodexiscontinuous.Itisdifficulttounderstandwhythesepages,withoutanyoriginalnumbersinpen ink,hasbeenplacedat theverybeginningof thecodexasanaddition,beforethesectionmadeupoffol.50r-117v.

Thissectionofthemanuscript,byasinglehandbutnotbyMichaelhimself,turnsouttobeinthecorrectorder,bothbecausetheyarenumberedinpeninkatthetopright-handcorner11andbecausethechaptersfollowtheorderthatisindicatedinfol.7r-8voftheindex,eveniftheydonotreachthenumberof186chaptersasannouncedinthesummary.Theoriginalnumberingcontinuesatfol.200r-216v(fol.200rhastheoriginalnumber73),whilethefol.72rviscrossedoutwithadiagonalstrokeinpeninkrightthroughit.12Thecontinuouspagina-tionofthesesheetssuggeststhattherewasapreviousmanuscript;13preparingtheentiretextforprintingitwasreorganizedwiththeinsertionofthePrefacetotheSecondPart(fol.118r)andthefirst142chaptersoftheSecondPartoftheLife.

The‘Praefatio in vitam Mariae a Sta. Teresia Tertiaria Ordinis B.mę Mariae de Monte Carmelo’(fol.118r)openstheSecondPartoftheLife.Themanuscriptisnowbydifferenthands.Thissectionbeginswith19quaterniones(foursheets)identifiedbynumbersandletters1A-19Tputatthebottomofthefirstpageuntilfol.193v.Thenthereisasesternio(sixsheets),whichbeginswithawidesheet(fol.194rv,whichhasonlythemonogram‘MR’ontheback)andthenu-meration20Visonfol.195r.ThesequenceisinterruptedbytheinsertionofthechaptersoftheFirstPartoftheLife,aswesawbefore.Chapter50endsatfol.151v,withonlysevenlines;thenfollowsfol.152r(anewquaternio10K)wherechapter57begins.Chapters51–56arelacking.

TheexaminationmadebyE.HenseandE.Kluetingrevealedthat:

11 Thepagenumberingissequentialandgoesfrom7to72.12 Allthefolioshavea‘spy’wordinthebottomright-handcorner,whichrepeatsthefirst

wordofthefollowingpage,whichisveryusefulforcheckingthesequenceofthetextandpossibleinterruptionsordisplacements,which,howeverdonotseemtobethere,exceptinthefirstfewfoliosasweindicatedearlier.The‘spy’wordonthisfol.is‘Maria’whichdoesnothelpusmuch,sinceeveryfol.hasthenameorthemonogramoftheBlessedVirginonit.Theoriginal‘spy’wordoffol.200vwas‘rationalem’erasedandchangedwith‘Maria’,butitdoesnothelpmuchmore.

13 However,itisstrangethatthesechaptersareatranslationofthechapters150–181invol.2oftheDutchLeven.ThissustainstheconclusionthatthereshouldhavebeenapreviousmanuscriptoftheCodex.

88 Grosso

The codex is a compilation from at least two previous manuscripts.MichaeldecidedtolimittheLifeto186chapters,sohehadtoputanew‘Praefatio’atfol.118r.

ThesectionontheDutchWar(fol.30r-49v)doesnotappearinbothindices.WedonotknowwhyMichaelthoughtthispartwassoimportanttobepre-servedifitwasnotintendedforprinting;itispossiblethathefearedreactionfromthereadersashehimselfwroteatfol.30r.

Thepersonwhoboundthecodexwasconsciousthatfol.7r-8vdidnotfol-lowfol.6rv;sohedidnotbindthemwiththerestofthecodex,butleftthemlooseassupplementarysheetsbetweenfol.6vand9r.

Thesequenceofthefoliosispreciseforthepartdestinedtobeprinted(theFirstPartandtheSecondPart).Thesectionnotdestinedtobeprinteddoesnothavesuchanaccuratepagination(thetableofcontentsandthedocumentontheDutchwar).

Havingdescribedthephysicalappearanceofthecodex,wemightlooknowattheratherscantinformationthatwehaveaboutitshistory.

StefanoPossanzini, indiscussingthe literaryproductionofMichaelofSt.Augustine,affirms:‘Finally,in1683,oneyearbeforehisdeath,hepublishedinGenttheLife of the Venerable Maria of St. Teresa, Carmelite Tertiary.Thislife,publishedintwovolumes,inFlemish,wasthentranslatedbyhimintoLatinanduptothepresentdaythemanuscripthasbeenkeptinthearchiveoftheGeneralPostulation.’14

Thisaffirmation,however,needscorrection,onthebasisofthedatethatisattheendoftheprefaceofthesamemanuscript(fol.5r):‘24thofApril,1680’.Whatdowethinkhappened?ValeriusHoppenbrouwersgivesusasuggestiontowardresolvingtheproblemwhenheusessometextstakenfromthecodexinhisworkonMariandevotion inCarmel.Afterabrief introduction toMariaPetyt,hethengavesomeinformationaboutthetimewhenthecodexwaswrit-ten.15Thisiswhathesaid:

MichaelofSt.Augustineaskedhisdirecteeunderobediencetowriteherautobiography. He wanted to publish it along with his own spiritualannotations,buthewasafraidthathemightnothavethefreedomtodosobecausetheBelgianbishopsmightnothavegiventheirpermission.ThereforehesetabouttranslatingtheworkintoLatin,withthehelpofafewofhisconfreres–thesameonesperhapswhohelpedinthecopying

14 Possanzini(1998)32,wherehecitesCosmasdeVilliers(1752)vol.2,446.15 Hoppenbrouwers(1960)403.


ofthematerialinthetext?–andhesentittoRomeinthehopeofgettingaroundthebanonpublication.However, thingsdidnotworkout thatway,becausetheworkwaspublishedinGentbetween1683and1684.16

FromsomeletterssentbyMichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMaryfromBrussels,nowkeptintheGeneralArchiveoftheOrderinRome,17onecouldarguethatMichaelofSt.AugustinehimselfsentthemanuscripttotheGeneralCuria.Infact,thesefewletterscontainsomereferencestotheVita.Thefirstonewasofthe23rdofSeptember1679fromBrussels.Init(lines3–4)MichaelspokeabouthisdesiretofinishtheredactionoftheVita‘venerabilis Matris Mechliniensis’.Hecamebacktothisargumentintheletterofthe7thofOctober,writingthatheintendedtosendthemanuscriptontheoccasionoftheGeneralChapter,asinfacthappened.

Intheletterofthe24thofFebruary1680thereisaparagraphaboutthefo-liosontheDutchWar.Michaelconfessedhisconcernaboutthepoliticalop-portunityofpublishingthememoirsofMariaPetyt’spositionintheconflict.Inthissameletterthereisalsoapostscriptum,inwhichMichaelsuggestedthathewouldallowanothercopyoftheVitatobemadeincasethefirstcopyhadnotbeenwrittenoutinanintelligibleway.Michaelwroteagainonthe9thofMarchof1680.

Threeyearslater,onthe1stofApril1683,MichaelaskedagainthehelpoftheOrdertoobtainsupport fromtheconfessorofthePope.ThemostplausiblereasonwouldseemtobetheonesuggestedbyHoppenbrouwers,namelythathe was afraid of being turned down if he asked the Belgian bishops for theimprimatur.18 At the end of the 17th century the anti-mystical currents andsuspicions regarding the mystics, especially women mystics, were spreadingeverywhere.19

Itseemsverycleartomethatthetranslationwascarriedoutbetween1677and1680,andmorethan likelybeforethe24thofApril, 1680andthecodexprobablyreachedRomeinthatsameyearornot longafterwards.Perhapsitwas occasioned by the General Chapter of June 1680, when Sebastian of St.Paul,asprocuratoroftheProvincial,MichaelofSt.Augustine,togetherwith

16 Petyt(1683/1684).17 Rome, Arch. Gen. Ord. Carmelitarum, I.I. Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae

1675–1698,IIC.O.II4(1).18 Cfr.thearticleofEsthervandeVate,p. 92–118.19 Cfr.thearticleofEsthervandeVate,p. 92–118.

90 Grosso

thetwosocii provinciae,MarkoftheResurrectionandJacobofSaintAntony,cametoRome.20

ItispossiblethatthemanuscriptwasgiventoSeraphinusofJesusandMarywholivedatthattimeinRome.Wedonotknowwhereitwasplaced,whetherinthelibraryoftheStudiumgeneraleinTraspontina,intheGeneralArchive,orelsewhere.21Atacertainpoint(perhapswhentheGeneralArchivewasreorga-nizedinthe1960s?),thecodexendedupamongthedocumentsoftheArchiveoftheGeneralPostulation,fromwhicheverythingelsefollowed.

AsHoppenbrouwersrightlypointsout,itscontentsarestillusefulandnec-essaryforthereconstructionofthehumanaffairsofMariaPetyt,inlinewithamorepreciseanddetailedchronology.ReadingitinconjunctionorinparallelwiththeFlemishversionprintedinGent,mayofferusaseriesofinterestingadditionsandusefulclarificationsregardingtheentireexperienceofthemys-ticfromMechelen,theaccountofwhoselifeisobviouslyfilteredthroughthewritingandreworkingofMichaelofSt.Augustine.Onceagain,itissomewhatdifficulttoseparatethestoriesandtheexperiencesofthesetwo:Marianandmariaformmysticismisprobablytheproductofbothandbothgaveitflesh.

GiovanniGrossoO.Carm,wasborninRome(1958),wherehelivedandstudieduntilhejoinedCarmelin1983.HeisaCarmelitefriarandpriest.Heearnedadoctorate in Political Sciences (Rome, Università degli Studi “La Sapienza”,1983)and,afterthenormalcurriculumofPhilosophyandTheology,hegaineda doctorate in Church History (Pontifical Gregorian University, 2007). Heserved in different ministries in the Italian Province and the Order. He wasuntilrecentlythePostulatorGeneralfortheCausesoftheSaintsandDirectoroftheHistoricalArchiveoftheCarmeliteOrderuntilhiselectionasPriorPro-vincialoftheItalianProvinceoftheCarmelitesin2015.

Bibliography

CosmasDeVilliers.1752.Bibliotheca Carmelitana,2tt.in1vol.Roma:Aurelianis.(ed-izioneanastaticacuratadaG.Wessels,Romae1927).

20 CfrthelettersmentionedaboveandWessels(1934)vol.2,130f.TheGeneralChaptercon-firmedMichaelofSt.AugustineasPriorProvincial:cfr.ibid.,165.

21 CosmasdeVilliers(1752)vol.2,354,wroteaboutthemanuscriptoftheVita Ven. Mariae a Sancta Theresia:‘quam suo in 9. Codice Ms. retinet R. P. Seraphinus Potenza, Carmelitarum Ædituus S. Mariæ Traspontinæ in Urbe’.


Deblaere,A. 1962. De Mystieke Schrijfter Maria Petyt (1623–1677).Gent:SecretariederAcademie.(KoninklijkeVlaamseAcademievoorTaal-enLetterkunde,6).

———.1979.MariaPetyt,écrivainetmystiqueFlamande(1623–1677).InCarmelus26,3–76

Derville,A.MariedeSainteThérèse.In Dict. Spir.,12,1227–1229.Hoppenbrouwers,V.1960.Devotio mariana in Ordine Fratrum B.M.V. de Monte Carmelo

a medio saeculo XVI usque ad finem saeculi XIX.Romae:InstitutumCarmelitanum.Petyt,Maria.1683/1684.Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias)

Petyt, vanden derden reghel vande Orden der Broederen van Onse L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli, tot Mechelen overleden den 1. November 1677.4tt.in2voll.,gedrucktbijdehoirsvanJanvandenKerchove,Ghent(Vilvoordephotogr.reprinted[2002])

Possanzini,S. 1998.La dottrina e la mistica mariana nel Ven. Michele di S. Agostino, Carmelitano.Roma:EdizioniCarmelitane.

Valentino,M.1982.Michele di S. Agostino. La vita mariaforme,Roma:EdizioniMonfortane.Wessels,G.(ed.)1934.Acta Capitulorum Generalium Ordinis Fratrum B. V. Mariae de

Monte Carmelo,vol.2:Ab anno 1598 usque ad annum 1902 (…).Romae:Apudcuriamgeneralem.

92 VanDeVate

Chapter6

‘Oh, How Spiritual Directors are Obliged to Remain Silent!’ Michael’s Redaction of the Writings of Maria Petyt: Some Initial Findings

Esther van de Vate

Introduction

ThecurrentimageofMariaPetyt,fromthepointofviewofhistoriographyandspirituality,wouldhavebeenradicallydifferentwithouttheeditorialworkofherspiritualdirectorMichaelofSt.Augustine(1621–1684).ThediscoveryofadocumentontheDutchWarinaLatintranslation,lyinginthearchivesofthePostulatorinRome1,notonlycausesustorevisethisimage,butalsoraisesthequestionofthechoicesMichaelmighthavemade,andwhy.WereMariaPetyt’slettersasuncontestedashashithertobeensupposed?2

Michael’s Silence Regarding Maria’s Prayers on the Dutch War

On7December1674MariaPetytexpressesherselfsharplyontheobligationofspiritual directors not to divulge to the world what is entrusted to them bytheirdirectees:

Oh,howspiritualdirectorsareobligedtoremainsilentandnottomakementionofthesecretsofthesoulsentrustedtothem.Neitheraretheytospeakabouttheirspiritualprogressfortheencouragementandedifica-

1 Rome,Arch.Post.III,70: Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. TeresiaTertiariae ordinis Bmae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo,fol.30r-49v.Forabibliographicdescriptionofthecodex,seeDeblaere(1979)13,andGrosso’scontributiontothisvolume,p.83–88.IthankDrRijcklofHofmanandVeronieMeeuwsenM.A.forhelpingmewiththetranslationoftheLatinquota-tionsandDrsBerberavandeVateforhelpingmewiththeItalianquotations.

2 Seee.g.Deblaere(1962)19andDeblaere(1979)14,whodidnotquestionMichael’sinfluenceontheeditionofthelettersofMariaPetyt.




93Michael’sRedactionoftheWritingsofMariaPetyt

tionofothersaslongasthese[souls]areliving.Atmost,theymaysaysomethingwithoutnaminganyone,sonobodycanfindoutwhoitis.3

ProbablythiswistfuladmonitionwasmeantforherownspiritualdirectorMi-chaelofSt.Augustine,whoinitiallymadelittlesecretofMaria’sremarkablevisionsduringtheDutchWar,asevidencedbyhisletterstohisfriendSeraphi-nusof JesusandMary,who lived inRome.4 In 1672Seraphinus readseveralpassages inMichael’s lettersaboutthevisionsofN.N.Mechlienensis,whoseidentitywasnosecret:

N.N.fromMechelen,fullofGod,isoftendrivenbyawonderfulimpulsetoprayfortheconversionofHollandandforthesuccessofFranceinthisrespect,andforourorderinBelgiumandforthewholechurch;Godisworkinginherinamiraculousway.5

SeraphinusmightalsohavereadthatMichaelsincerelybelievedintheefficacyofMaria’sprayer.AtleastsoitappearsafewmonthslaterwhenMichaelwrotetohim:

AlreadysometwomonthsagoourN.fromMechelenceasedtobedrivenbyanimpulsetopray,andsincethattimethekingofFrancehasceasedtomeetwithsuccess.6

3 ‘Och hoe zyn de gheestelijcke Vaders verbonden te swyghen, ende gheen mentie te maecken vande secreten der Zielen, die hun bevolen zyn, noch sy en behoorden niet te spreken van hunnen gheestelijcken voortganck tot verweckinghe ende stichtinghe van andere, soo langh als die leven; ten hooghsten moghen sy jet segghen, sonder jemant te noemen, op datmen niet en come te weten, wie het is.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,269;7December1674.

4 SeraphinusofJesusandMary(ca.1612–1688)taughtphilosophyandtheologytohisfellowbrothersandwascalledtoRomein1668,whereheheldvariousposts,includingthatofsec-retarygeneralforGermanyandBelgium.

5 ‘N.N. Mechl. Deo plena, subinde agitur mirabili spiritu orandi pro conversione Hollandiae, et prosperitate Galliae in istum finem; et pro Belgio ordine nostro, et tota Ecclesia; Deus mire in illa operatur.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Mechelen,27May1672,Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.MichaelofSt.Augustine’slettersarestoredinaseparatefolder.

6 ‘N. Nostra Mechliniensis cessat agi spiritu orandi, iam a duobus circiter mensibus; et ab illo tempore cessat etiam Rex Gallliae prosperari.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Mechelen,9September1672,Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.EvenafterherdeathMichaelentrustedhimselftotheprayersofMariaPetyt.InaletterfromMechelenin1681Michaelmentionedherintercessionseveraltimes,including: ‘tam bonum et desideratum succesum capitulo post Deum et Matrem Amabilem

94 VanDeVate

When new developments were imminent Michael readily connected thesewiththeprayerlifeofMariaPetyt.Aweeklaterhewrote:

When she asked the Beloved what would please him and to what sheshoulddedicatehercommunion,sheheard:‘TothekingofFrance.’Andsotheimpulsetoprayforthiskingreturned,andsheaddedthatthekinghadactedbadlywhenhelefthisarmyanddidnotpursuevictory.Andindeed it is said already that the king had given up on the capture ofMaastricht,etceteraandistodescendwithanewarmy.Timewilltell.7

Despite these quoted passages, Michael disclosed in the document on theDutchWarthatMariahadaskedhimtokeepsecrethercelestialknowledgeaboutLouisXIV.8IfweassumeMichael’sintegrityasspiritualdirector,wecan-notbutconcludethatMariacommandedthissilenceonlyinthesecondin-stanceandshewouldnothaveaskedforitunreasonably.Intheaforementionedletterof7December1674MariawritesaboutadarknightinwhichshefoundherselfsincetheSaturdaybeforePalmSunday.Sheblamesthedarknessofthatnightonthevainglorytowhichshesuccumbedinanunguardedmoment:

ItrewardsmemuchbeforeGodthatIhavealwaystriedtopreventany-onefromlearningaboutthegracewhichGodhasgrantedme,becauseIhavealwaysbeenanenemyofsuchrevelations,[preferring]toremainunknown,becauseIratherfearthatthroughhumanweaknessIwouldbebittenbytheinfernalserpentbecauseofsomevainglory,towhichIwasnotnaturallyinclined,andyetthroughcircumstancesIhavesuccumbed.9

adscribo intercessioni V. Matris Mariae à Sta. Teresia.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

7 ‘dum autem illa peteret a Dilecto, pro quo placeret, et offeret suam Communionem audivit, pro Rege Galliae, et sic redijt spiritus orandi pro illo Rege, et addebat eum male fecisse, deserendo suum exercitum, nec prosequendo victoriam; iam autem dicitur ille Rex iterum absolute resolvisse intercipere Traiectum etc. et cum novo exercitu descendere; tempus docebit.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Mechelen,16September1672,Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

8 Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.30r.9 ‘Het verschoont my noch veel by Godt, dat ick altoos soo inde weir gheweest ben, op dat niemant

in kennisse soude komen vande gratien, die my Godt ghegunt heeft, want ick altoos eenen vyant gheweest hebbe van sulcken openbaeringhen, om onbekent te blyven, vreesende, dat ick door menschelijcke kranckheyt ghebeten soude worden van ’t helsch serpent door eenighe eydel glorie, daer ick oock uytter nature niet toe gheneghen en was, ende nochtans door occasie, ben ick’ er inghevallen.’Petyt(1683)vol.1,269;7December1674.Forthedateoftheincident,see268.


ImmediatelyafterthispassagefollowsMaria’s lamentaboutindiscreet spiri-tualdirectors.WhatexactlycausedMariatolashoutsofiercelyagainstspiri-tual directors is not known, but it might be connected with her prayer lifeduringtheDutchWar.

The fact that Maria enjoined this secrecy only for her lifetime poses evenmorequestionsthantheslightlycuriousapproachtowhattranspiredbetweenthespiritualdirectorandhisdirectee.Thelimitationonthecommandedse-crecyraisestheproblemwhytheremarkablelettercollectionaboutLouisXIVwas not included in the Leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt.10whichMichaelofSt.AugustinepublishedsomesixyearsafterMaria’s death in 1677. Nor is this letter collection included in the Latin Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia,11whichhascomedowntous intheRomancodex.Thisomissionisstrange,sinceafterMaria’sdeathMichaelwasfreetorevealhervisionstotheoutsideworld.MichaelprovidesthereaderofthedocumentontheDutchWarwiththefollowingreasonforhisdecision:

howthespiritofprayerandofdivineloveworkedinher[MariaPetyt]and with what fruit I will explain here logically from her writings, butseparatedfromthecontextofherLife,12sothatitwillnotdispleasesomepeopletoomuchand…whetherthesethingscomeforthfromadivinespiritornotIleaveuptootherswhoarecapableofexaminingandweigh-ing such things. I just refer to those things with the same sincerity inwhichtheywerewrittenbyherandentrustedtome.13

10 Someotherletters:Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.32v,ll.10–16isa(notliteral)translationofPetyt(1683)vol.3,94,ll.6–15;Arch.Post.III,70,fol.42r,ll.4–26byPetyt(1683)vol.3,94,l.21-95,l.13;Arch.Post.III,70,fol.42r,l.30-fol.42v,l.16byPetyt(1683)vol.3,95,l.18–96,l.18;Arch.Post.III,70,fol.43r,ll.11–27byPetyt(1683)vol.3,cap.LXVIII,100–101,l.8;Arch.Post.III,70,fol.44r,l.44-fol.44v.,l.20byPetyt(1683)vol.3,13,ll.10–34;Arch.Post.III,70,fol.44v,ll.24-44byPetyt(1683)vol.3,114,ll.5–27.Therearesome‘changes’intheDutchedition,forexample:‘spiritus orandi pro prosperitate armorum Regis Galliae’(fol.42r,l.5)isreplacedby:‘den gheest van bidden […] tot uytroeyinghe der Ketteryen.’(vol.3,94l.22f.).

11 Seen.1.SomeofthelettersrelatingtoR.G.[RexGalliae]arefoundintheIndex(fol.6–29):cap.201,257,269,877and879.Fortherestitisnotpossibletodeterminewhichlettersareconcerned.Somepartsofthecodexaredamaged.

12 HerVita,Rome,Arch.Post.III,70andPetyt(1683).13 ‘qualiter autem spiritus orationis et diuini amoris in ipsa tunc operatus fuerit, et cum quali

fructu, hic consequenter subiiciam ex ipsius scriptis seorsim tamen a contextu reliquae uitae ipsius, ne forte aliquibus displaceant, et nimiae uariorum Criisi exponantur, quae an a diuino spiritu processerint nec ne, aliorum quorum est similia examinare, et ponderare iudi-

96 VanDeVate

PerhapsMichael’s ‘somepeople’referstoMaria’scompatriots.It isnotatalllikelythatMaria’sprayersfortheFrenchkingcouldcountontheirunderstand-ing.OnFebruary24th1680-FlanderswasclaimedinthatyearbyLouisXIVbecauseofhisreunificationpolicy-MichaelwritestoSeraphinusthathedoesnotknowwhattodowithMaria’swritingsontheDutchWar‘becausemostofthemareverymuchinfavouroftheKingofFranceandsomeareagainstSpainand the Emperor, who supported Holland at that time, and are in many re-spectsveryantagonistic.’14MichaeltrustshisfriendwiththeknowledgeofthespiritualinvolvementofMariaPetytalongwithasurprisingpoliticalconsider-ation:

If theFrenchKingwouldknow,hewouldbehappyandhave a strongmotivetotreatthatvenerableMotherwithveneration,whichperhapsintime could happen; if he would occupy the whole of Belgium, then itcouldnotharmhimtoknowit.ThethingsIwriteareentrustedtoYourReverence [i.e. Seraphinus] so this knowledge [of Maria Petyt] can beusedprudently.15

ProbablySeraphinusmightnothavesharedMichael’sconsiderations inthisrespect.WithhisextensivecontactsintheRomancuria16heshouldhavebeenawareofthegrowingtensionsaboutGallicanism.Alreadyon10February1673,while Maria was still sharing her ‘supernatural’ knowledge about the DutchWarwithMichael,LouisXIVforcedtheissuewithhisDroit de Regale,inwhichhelaidclaimtotheregaliaofalldiocesesinFrance.On19March1682−thedaytheclericsoftheFrenchGeneralAssemblyendorsedBossuet’sfourarti-

cio reliquo; referam tamen illa, ea sinceritate, qua ab ipsa scripta sunt, et mihi concredita.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.38r.

14 ‘sed quia pleraque multum sunt in favorem Regis Gall. et aliqua contra Hisp. et Imper. Hol-landis tunc suppetias ferentes, essent forte multis odiosa.’ Michael of St. Augustine toSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels,24February1680.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

15 ‘si Rex Gall. sceret, haberet occasionem gaudii et fortem motivum illam V. Matrem colendi, quod forte cum tempore posset fieri, si totum Belgium occuparet, tunc eum non posset nocere, quod istu sciret haec scribo confidentur R. V. quae illam scientiam prudenter utentur’Michael of St. Augustine to Seraphinus of Jesus and Mary, Brussels, 24 February 1680.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

16 SeraphinushadmanycontactswiththefamousCardinalFrancescoAlbizziwhowasainfluentialmemberoftheRomancuria;seeCeyssens(1974)XL.FormoreinformationonFrancescoAlbizzi,seeMonticone(1960)23–26.


cles17−therelationshipwithRomewasdefinitelyincrisis.AmidsuchtensionsSeraphinusmightnothaveconsidereditappropriatetomakethesewritingsofMariaPetytknown,eithertotheworldortoLouisXIV.

Other Interventions by Michael

TheeditorialdecisiontoomitthelettercollectionontheDutchWarfromtheLeven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia and partly from the VitaVenerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia makesussomewhatsuspiciousofwhatMichaelassertsinhisprefacetotheLeven:

Furthermore Ihaveconsidered itwise toarrange thisextensionof theLife of this venerable mother Maria of St.Teresa [alias Maria Petyt] insuchawaythatIfollowherstyleandsentencesand,asbestIcan,Ialsofollowandkeepherwords.Isimplywantedtoselectfromherwritingsand divide them into treatises and chapters. I wanted to create someorderinthematerial,withoutaddinganythingofmyownexceptrough andsimpleconnectionsandheadingsofchapters.18

Although he claims he does not want to append anything, the omission ofthese letters suggests that Michael might have made less innocent choicesthanthosementionedintheprefacetotheLeven.

MindfulofsucheditorialchoicesthatMichaelmighthavemade,someoth-er problems call for clarification.The main one is what else Michael mighthaveleftoutwheneditingthewritingsofMariaPetyt.Thereareindicationsthathedidsomorethanonce.WhilebothMariaandMichaelwerefiercelyanti-Jansenist,theword‘Jansenism’doesnotoccurintheDutchlettercollec-

17 Thesearticlesarguethattheonlyauthorizationgiventothepopeisonspiritualaffairs;thatintheexerciseofhisspiritualpowerheissubjecttotheauthorityofageneralcoun-cil;andthathemustmaintainwithoutrestrictiontheinstitutions,rulesandcustomsoftheFrenchchurchandtheFrenchempire.Thearticlesalsostatethatthepope’sdecreesarevalid fortheentirechurch,butareonly irreversiblewiththeconsentof thewholechurch.

18 ‘Voorts ick hebbe goedt ghevonden dese vermeerderinge van het Leven van dese weerdighe Moeder MARIA à SANCTA TERESIA soo te schicken, dat ick haeren stel ende sin, jac oock naer vermoghen; haere woorden maecke te volghen ende te houden, ende uyt haere schriften alleenlijck hebbe willen uytsonderen, ende ghelijck door Tractaten ende Capittelen verdeelen, ende in eenighe orden stellen de materien, sonder by naer jet van’t myne by te doen, als een grove, ende simpele Connexie, ende de Titels der Capittelen’Petyt(1683)vol.1,Prologue.

98 VanDeVate

tion.19Also,thereareperiods,especiallyinthelatteryearsofherlife,forwhichfewlettersarefoundintheDutchedition.Whatwentoninthoseyears?Didshewriteless?OrdidMichaelomittheseletters?

We encounter even more editorial problems when we consider all openquestionsaboutthehistoryoftheLatincodex.Itwasobviouslypreparedforpublication.20MichaelholdsoutthisprospectintheKort Begryp,asynopticeditionoftheLevenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia.21HowevertheLatincodexwasneveractuallypublished.DidMichael−orsomeoneelse–decideoncloserscrutinythatpublicationofthisworkwasnolessinappro-priatethanthatofthedocumentontheDutchWar?

InthisarticleIcanonlygiveanoverviewofpossibleobstaclestothereleaseoftheDutchandLatineditions.Thosewithsomeknowledgeoftheturbulenttheologicaldevelopmentsinthe1680swillknowthatMichaelfoundhimselfinaminefieldwithalotofdifficulties.Aresearcherwhoinquiresintothesetu-multuousyearsoftenhastoconcludethatthemostplausibleexplanationisaninterplayofvarious factors.So inthisarticle Iconfinemyself toacoupleofscenariosofwhatmighthavehappened.

Michael’s Troubles during His Work on the Latin Codex

FirstIwillconcentrateonthecancellationofthepublicationoftheLatinco-dex.22AmajorreasoncouldhavebeenthatMichaelfellintodiscreditinthecirclesoftheRomanCuria.IntheseyearsMichaelbecamesuspectbecauseofhisconnectionwiththe‘otherMaria’,aNorbertinesisterfromMechelenwho

19 ProbablythisalsoappliestoArch.Post.III,70.ThetableofcontentscontainsnoreferencetoJansenism.Somecautioniscalledfor,however,becauseasmallsectionofthetableofcontentsisdamaged.

20 Itisevidentonthefrontpage,whereanote isaddedwiththetext:‘Titulus generalis prae-figendus initio totius libri.’SeealsoDeblaere(1962)18f.

21 OnlyonecopyofthesingleeditionoftheKort Begrypin1681istobefoundintheRoyalLibraryofBrussels.However,thefulltextoftheKort BegrypisincorporatedintoJamesofthePassion(1681)243–344.MichaelwritesaboutaLatinVitainKort Begryp:‘soitisworthreadingthatstatement<byMariaPetyt>,writteninherownhand,andextensivelynar-ratedinherLife,describedinLatin,bythereverendfatherMichaelofSt.Augustine,pro-vincialandherspiritualdirector.’31f.

22 IomittheobviouspossibilitythatthepublicationwasstoppedbecauseofMaria’santi-Jansenism.Michaelhadovercomethisproblemalreadybyleavingoutthoseletters.Seen.19.


wasunderhisspiritualdirection.23Besidestheinformationinhisaforemen-tioned letterstohis friendSeraphinus, inwhichshe isusuallyreferredtoas‘ista monialis’, nothing is known about this young sister. In 1680 she was 33yearsoldandwelladvancedinherprayerlife.24Michaeldevelopedaclosere-lationshipwithher,aboutwhichhewrotetoSeraphinus:

Thisgoodnunisobligingtomeineverythingandwehaveagreedthatallprayerintentionswhichareentrustedandrecommendedtoher,aswellasherownpiousintentions,arealsoentrustedtome.Andviceversa,allintentionswhichareentrustedtome,etceteraarealsoforher.Andthus,althoughshe is fromadifferentorder,shehasazeal thatsprings fromholyinspirationandamotherlyaffectionforourorder.Thereforeevenyourreverenceisspeciallyrecommendedtoher.25

Suchintimatespiritualcontactbetweendirectoranddirecteeisstronglyremi-niscentofaletterfromMariaPetyttoMichael,writtenon24June1675.TherewereadhowtheBeloved,atMichael’srequest,joinedMariawithherspiritualdirectorasapartner:

ReverendFather,atyourwishtheBelovedseemstojoinme,unworthyasIam,toyouasaconsortofyourreverence,helpingyourreverenceaccord-ingtothespiritandinthespirit,tolabour,togenerate,etcetera.26

23 The‘otherMaria’alsofeaturesonlysparselyintheliterature.SeeCeyssens(1952)13,n.24:‘De alia poenitente, quae fuit Nobertina, nullam inveni litteraturam.’ However, Hoppen-brouwers(1949)164writesatlengthaboutthisNorbertinesister.

24 On9March1680MichaelwritesfromBrussels:‘spero quod promovebitur ad prelaturam etsi adhuc satis iuvenis, vix 33 annorum’(Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, com-mune provinciae 1675–1698).Inthesameperiod(Brussels,27January1680)hewrotealet-terinwhichhetellsthatthreeyearsearlier,on12November1677(twelvedaysafterMariaPetyt’sdeathon1November1677),hehadreceivedanotefromthis‘otherMaria’withavisionandinstructionsonhowtodealwiththeJansenisttensions;seeCeyssens(1952)66.

25 ‘Ista bona monialis mecum facit in omnibus et convenimus, ut omnes ipsi commissae et com-mendatae, ac eius piae intentiones sint etiam mihi commissae etc. et vicissim omnes mihi commendatae etc. sint ipsius, unde licet sit alterius Ordinis, ex divino instinctu, habet etiam zelum et affectum maternam erga ordinem nostrum; et sic Reverentia Vestra est etiam ipsi specialiter commendata.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brus-sels,9March1680.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

26 ‘Eerweerdighen Vader den Beminden schynt naer uwen wensch, my onweerdighe als een mede-paer tot U-Eerweerdigheyt te voeghen, om naer den gheest, ende inden gheest U-Eerw. te helpen arbeyden, baeren, &c.’Petyt(1683)vol.3,150.

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LikeMariaPetyt,this‘otherMaria’hadgreatinfluenceonMichael.On23Sep-tember1679hewriteshowshediscouragedhimfromgoingtoRome:

Moreover,acertainholysouloftheorderofSt.Norbert,entrustedtomyguidancebyhersuperiors,whomIhavementionedsometimesinmylet-ters to your reverence, advised me against this journey as being notdeiform.WhenItoldherafewmonthsago,beforeshehadaskedGodinherprayerforcounsel,thatIhadtogotoRome,shemadeitclearthatsherejoiced in natural hope that in Rome I could accomplish somethingagainst the Jansenists, about whom she had experienced once in thespiritthattheywerehatedbyGod.ButafterbeingaskedbymetoconsultGodaboutthematter,shesaidthatGoddidn’twantmetoundertakethisjourney because my presence in Rome could achieve nothing andbecauseIwouldbedetainedontheway,etcetera.WhenItoldherthatIwashealthyenoughagainandthattheredidnotseemtobeanyexcuse[formyabsence],shedidnotalterheradvice.WhenIvisitedheraweekago she told me again of her own accord that the Beloved absolutelydidn’twantmetomakethatjourney.[...]Thesamenun,whileprayingforaremedyagainsttheJansenists,hasbeenassuredseveraltimesbyGodofagoodoutcomeinRome.OncewhenItoldherthatthedeputiesfromLouvain had the ear of the pope and that negotiations in Rome weregoingbadly,sheanswered:‘TheBelovedpromisedmeatrulyhappyend-ing.AboutthisIcannotdoubt.Andsee,fromthattimethenegotiationsseemedtogobetter.27

27 ‘Accedit quod quaedam sancta anima, Ordinis Sancti Norberti, a superioribus meae direc-tioni commissa, de quo aliquando mentionem feci in meis ad Reverentiam Vestram litteris, istud iter tamquam non deiforme mihi dissuadeat. Cum huic ab aliquot mensibus dicerem me debere ire Romam antequam in oratione Deum consuluisset, ostendebat se gaudere ex naturali spe, quod Romae aliquid possem efficere contra Jansenistas, quos aliquando in spiritu didicit Deo odibiles; sed cum meo rogatu rem Deo commendasset, dixit mihi ultro quod Dilectus non vellet, ut iter illud assumerem, quod Romae per meam praesentiam nihil posset fieri, et quod in via manerem etc. et cum ei dixissem me iam satis bona frui sanitate, nec videri subesse causam excusationis, reliquit hoc intactum; donec ab octiduo illam iterum visitando, ipsa iterato mihi ultro dixit, Dilectum absolute nolle ut iter arripiam [...] Dicta Monialis orans pro remedio contra Jansenistas aliquoties a Deo habuit assecurationem de bono successu Romae; cui cum aliquando dicerem deputatos Lovanistos habere aurem pon-tificis, et negocium Romae esse in malo statu, illa replicabat; equidem Dilectus mihi promisit bonum successum; de quo non possum dubitare; et ecce ab illo tempore negocium habuit meliorem apparentiam.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brus-sels,23September 1679.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae


Thisunknownsister’snamecropsupregularlyinMichael’sletterstohisfriendinRome,alsoduringimportanttimesintheproductionofboththeDutchtextandtheLatintranslation.On9March1680,shortlybeforetheprefaceoftheLatintextwasdated,Michaelwrotethatthe‘otherMaria’hadreceivedmes-sageswhichweretransmittedbyMariaPetyt:

WithinthreeorfourdaysIhopetoseeher,andthenIwilldiscussitspe-cifically.Shehasexperiencedseveralappearancesofourvenerablemoth-er.28

Unfortunatelythecontentofthesemessagesremainsunknown.ItmighthavereferredtothepublicationoftheLatincodex.

Afterthisnoteheremainedsilentaboutthe‘otherMaria’ forsomeyears,asfaraswecangather fromMichael’scorrespondencewithSeraphinus.Threeyears later, in the spring of 1683, a few months before the last ‘facultas’ and‘approbationes’29 of the Leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresiawereissued,Michaeltoldhisfriendaboutthestartlingdiscoverythathewassuspectintheeyesofthepope’sconfessor.Letterswhichthe‘otherMaria’hadsenttoRomeplayedaroleinthisawkwardsituation.AtthebeginningofthisletterMichaelnarratesaremarkableencounterintheCarmelitemonasteryinBrussels:

TheillustriousMgrInternuncio30senthissecretarytothemonasterytospeaktoreverendfatherprovincialor,ifhewasabsent,tothereverendfatherprior,andsincebothwereoutsidethecityandIwasstayingintheconvent,theportercalledme.MgrSecretaryasked: ‘WheredoesfatherMichaelofSt.Augustinelive,ifnotinGent?(hesaid).TheillustriousMgrInternuncio,headded,wouldliketobeinformedaboutthisfather,abouthisqualitiesandmerits.Then(Isaid):‘ThisfatherdoesnotliveinGent;itisme.31

1675–1698.In1679theLouvainfacultyreceivedacondemnationbypopeInnocentXIof65thesesintheworkofitsmoraltheologians.

28 ‘Post 3.4. dies spero illam invisere et tunc specialius agam; habuit plures apparitiones a Ven. Matre nostra.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels,9March1680.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

29 Petyt(1683)vol.1.afterthePrologue.30 TheinternunciowasSebastiaanAntoniusTanara(1675–1687).31 ‘Ill.mus D. Internuncius misit suum secretarium ad conventum ut loqueretur R. Provinciali,

vel, eo absente, R.P. Priori; et cum uterque esset extra civitatem et ego restarem in conventu, portarius vocavit me. D. Secretarius petibat: ‘Ubi habitet Michael à Sancto Augustino, nonne

102 VanDeVate

AlittlebelowMichaelcontinues:

ThereverendfatherprovincialpresumesthatfromthebeginningIwassuspected,sincetheillustriousgentleman[theInternuncioofBrussels]hasreceivedlettersfromRomeinwhichheisaskedtogatherinforma-tionaboutmebecauseofthelettersofthatsisterfromMechelentoourmost sacred lord, handed over by your reverence [Seraphinus] to thepope’sconfessor,asIbelieve,sotheymaywellseeifthereissomethinginthem[thelettersfromthe‘otherMaria’]thatneedstobebelieved.IhavenodoubtaboutthedivinespiritofthisnunwhosedivinewritingsIhaveedited,asorderedbyGod,insomeform,whichIhavewrittendowninsome70foliaincondensedhandwriting.32Theybreatheanastonishingfamiliaritywiththeheavenlybridegroom.Asaresultofinquiriesintomyperson[...]Iwasmovedtosendhertwoletterswhichshehadsenttohim,translatedintoLatin,alsotoyourreverence.Morethantwomonthsagoshesentmethoseletterswithadescriptionofthevisionrevealedtoher.If you believe that it is advantageous, your reverence could read theselettersaloudtothepope’sfatherconfessororyoucouldgivehimacopy,soitcouldbeusedbythemforthegood.Idonotdoubtthatifthemostsacredlordallowshimtobeinformed,hewillthinkotherwiseaboutthe‘novatores’[theJansenists].33

Gandavi? inquit. Illmus Dominus addet libenter informeretur de illo Patre; de illius qualitati-bus et meritis. Ad quae ego: ille Pater non habitat Gandavi; sed ego sum....’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels,1April1683.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

32 These70folioswithvisionsofthe‘otherMaria’havenotyetbeenfound.33 ’suspicatur R.A.P. Provincialis, uti et ego ab initio fueram suspicatus, quod Ill.mus Dominus

Roma acceperit litteras, ut de me sumeret informationes ratione litterarum istius monialis Mechliniensis ad Sanctissimum Dominum, a Reverentia Vestra Confessario Pontificis, ut puto, traditarum, ut forte videant an aliquid fidei illis habendum etc. Non dubito de divino istis <sic!> monialis spiritu, cuius divina scripta, quasi iussu Dei, in aliquam forman redegi, et exscripsi in 70 circiter foliis chartae presso charactere. Spirant stupendam familiaritatem cum Sponso caelesti [...] Occasione autem informationis factae de mea persona [...] fui motus ut secundas ipsius litteras ad eumdem, latine translatas, ad Reverentiam Vestram transmitterem, quas ipsa mihi misit plusquam a duabus mensibus cum descripsione visionis sibi factae; quas Reverentia Vestra, si iudicet expedire, Patri Confessario Pontificis poterit praelegere vel etiam copiam dare, ut illis uti in bonum. Non dubito, quin si Sanctissimus Dominus sineret se informari, aliter sentiret de novatoribus.’MichaelofSt.Augustine toSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels,1April1683.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Bel-gica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.


Unfortunatelythesetwolettersofthe‘otherMaria’havenotyetbeendiscov-ered.However,thearchivesoftheCarmeliteOrderinRomecontainaletter,inwhichMichaelrevealsthecontentsoftwootherlettersfromthe‘otherMaria’.On28May1683hewrote:

Last week I sent two letters from this nun which, I hope, may make astrong impression by putting matters in a holy light and leading to anactualmovement.Inthoselettersiswrittenamongotherthingsthathisholinessnolongerhastodoubtaboutaviciousevil,etceterabecauseitwillbemanifestedonlybrieflyas,forexample,itismanifestednow.Forthe‘novatores’ofBelgiumtogetherwiththe‘novatores’ofFrance,whiletheyencourageeachotherwiththeirknowledge,applaudtheproposi-tionsagainstthepopeinFrance,alreadyapprovedandregisteredbytheclergyandtheking.34

Soalsothe‘otherMaria’claimedtohavespecialknowledgeaboutpoliticalaf-fairs, likeMariaPetyt inthedocumentontheDutchWar.TheprelateswereunlikelytohaveconsideredthisknowledgefromGod,giventhereactionofthepope’sconfessortotheprevioustwoletterswhichhadbeensenttohim.Mi-chaelwrotethattheconfessorconsidered‘thattheseletterswerewrittenfroma human spirit.’35 Anyway, the bold actions of this young Norbertine sisterraiseddoubtsinRomeregardingherspiritualdirectorandhiseditorialworkforvisionarysisters.ThisawkwardsituationcouldhavebeenanobstacletothepublicationoftheLatincodex.

34 ‘precedenti septimana misi secundas litteras istius monialis, quae utinam, mediante divina aliqua illustratione et efficaci motione, efficaciter afficiant mentem per; in illis inter alia ha be tur, quod sua sanctitas non diu amplius debebit dubitare de malo serpente etc. quia brevi se manifestabit etc. pro ut ex nunc manifestat nam propositionibus contra pontificem in Gallia iam a clero et rege auctoritzatis, et inter arresta regia registratis applaudunt nova-tores Belgii cum novatoribus Galliae confaederati et mutuas intelligentias foventes.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels,28May1683.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

35 ‘Ista monialis istas secundas litteras, prout et sua omnia, reliquit meae dicretioni et arbitrio [...] His scriptis intelligo ex vestris Confessarium primas tandem tradidisse illi ad quem erant, sed quod ille existimet illas litteras ex humano spiritu scriptas etc. Sufficit, quod sint traditae; iam Dei est operari, prout spero operaturum, nisi peccata populi impediant etc. Illa monialis reliquit ista divinae providentiae. Data tamen occasione insinuabo illi quid actum.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels,1April1683.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

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The Problem about the ‘Oratio Quietis’ in the Early 1680s

TheremaybeanotherscenarioexplainingthecancellationofaLatinedition.Duringtheprocesstherecouldhavebeengrowingquestionsaboutthespiri-tualframeworkofMaria’sletters.Workingonthecompositionofthecodex−Michaelmusthaveworkedonitbetween1677andApril1680–hemightnothave foreseen the rapid developments in the Roman Curia during and afterthese years, in which the Curia turned against mysticism and quietism, thevolta antimistica.36

Intheearly1680sapolarizingattitudewasemergingagainstanewformofprayer,theOratio quietisorprayerofquiet.IntheinstructionsoftheHolyOf-ficewefindthefollowingdescriptionofthisprayer:

Theycallitanacquiredcontemplation,aprayerofquiet,withoutform,without images, a mystical silence, a simple gaze, a withdrawal to thecentre,asacreddarkness,amentalexaltation,adeifyingunificationandmoresuchperfectionsonwhichsomebooksdwell,thatpromisethatthesoul will ascend to purely intellectual contemplation, to the essentialapplication37ofthespiritandtothemosteminentlife.38

Althoughitishardlypossibleintheseearlyyearstoreduceanyspiritualmove-menttoawelldefinedcontent,thecontroversyabouttheOratio Quietis crys-tallizedrapidly.39Thereasonforthisanti-mysticalturnwasthepublicationof

36 SeeMalena(2003)116.37 Fortheterm‘application’,see:Dict. Spir. 1:822ff.38 ‘La chiamano contemplatione acquisitata, oratione di quiete senza forma, senza imagini,

silenzio mistico, semplice sguardo, introvertione centrale, tenebre divine, eccesso mentale, unione deifica, et altre tali perfettioni delle quali trattano certi libri, che promettono d’inalzar l’anima sino alla contemplatione puramente intellectuale, alla applicatione essentiale dello spirito e vita sopra eminente.’Rome,ASU,St.St. (ArchiviodellaCongregazioneperlaDot-trinadellaFede,FondoStanzaStorica)Volumideiconsultatoriconventualideiss.apostoliU.F.4.S.O.Fabroconsultore.PropositionescleriGallicani,TalonietLavard.orationesqui-etis1680–1690)fol.370r(PalazzodelSant’Uffizio,PiazzadelSant’Uffizio1100120CittàdelVaticano).FormoreinformationabouttheuseofthetermessentialandeminentintheworkofMariaPetyt,seeDeblaere(1961)1346–1366.

39 EulogioPachowritesaboutthispreliminaryphaseofquietisminDict. Spir.:‘Ceux qui ont le plus contribue à cette evolution peuvent être appeles «prequietistes» à condition que cela n’implique aucune nuance pejoratives, aucun soupçon. Si des deviations se sont produites, plus ou moins nettes, c’est qu’un se sont produites, c’est qu’un sain equilibre interne n’a pas ete maintenu; il faut alors detecter quand et comment elles se manifestent, les dangers qu’elles creent, les exagerations qu’elles suscitent dans la pratique de la vie spirituelle.’Dict. Spir.12,


thefamousGuidaSpirituale byMolinosin1675.AtthetimethisGuidaSpiri-tualewasapopularandwidelyreadbookinRome.Therewasnoproblemuntiltheendofthe1670swhentheJesuitsBell’Uomo(d.1690)andPaoloSegneri(1624–1694)voicedthefirstprotestsagainstthebook.In1678Bell’Uomopub-lished a work entitled Pregio e l’ordine dell’orationi de ordinarie e mistiche inresponsetoMolinos’sthoughtsonprayer.Thiswriting,however,cannotreallybecalledpolemicalintheopinionofDudon,whorecordsonlyslightconcernabouta‘newasceticism’inthiswork.40ThedebateonMolinos’sthoughtsbe-camefiercerinMarch1680,whenthepopularpreacherSegneriinformedhisgeneralthatheplannedtorefuteMolinos’sideasonmeditation.InthesameyearhisConcordia tra la quiete e fatica nell’orazione appeared.41

AtfirstSegneri’seffortstopolariseseemedinvain.On26September1681Cardinal Casanate, assessor of the Holy Office,42 wrote the following com-mentinthemarginofhisMemoria per il libro del Paolo Segnari della Compag-nia di Giesu:

Onthebasisofmoderation,nothingprohibitsthemanufactureofbookswhich attack the prayer of quiet. But for the proper force of the same[prayer][someonemustwrite]circularletterswhichshouldbegiventohim[Segneri],andwhich shouldbecompiledbyaspecialconvocationofthefathercardinals.43

Thisbenevolentreceptionoftheprayerofquietseemedevenmoreconfirmedwhenon26November1681,Segneri’sConcordiawasputontheIndex.44

2:2758.Thecomplexityofthefactsandopinionspreventsaresearchertoformaclearpictureofthedividinglinesbetweenpre-quietismandtheprayerofquiet.Malena(2003,6f.)writesaboutthisproblem:‘Appare perciò necessario cercare di analizzare tale strategia nel suo complesso, per evitare i rischi connessi all’ adozione, come categorie di analisi storica, di quelli che furono capi di repressione inquisitoriale.’

40 Dudon(1921)66.41 Dict. Spir. 12,2:2768.Concordia tra la fatica e la quiete nell’orationeappearedinFlorencein

theautumnof1680.42 Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,MsCasanate310.(Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,ViaS.

Ignazio52,00186Rome)FormoreinformationonCardinalCasanate,seeCeyssens(1978)144–147.

43 ‘Nihil de moderatione prohibic<i> factem librorum e impugnanciu<m> orationi quietis, sed pro recto vi eiusde dandar ei literas circulares formandai per Congreg. particulare DD Cardi-nalium.’Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,MsCasanate310,fol.500v.Thetranscriptionandtranslationofthisremarkaretentative.Someoneelsemighthavewrittenthisnoteinthemargin.

44 Dict. Spir.12,2:2770.

106 VanDeVate

However,theatmospherechangedrapidlyafterthisdate.On12April1682,one of the former assessors of the Holy Office, Cardinal Francesco Albizzi,completedadocumentcalledOratione di Quiete.45Inthistreatisethecardinalrefers to suspect forms of mystical prayer, such as those practised by thebeghards.Inhisrejectionofthisprayerhedidnotadvancesubstantiveargu-ments,butratherstressedthethreatwhichthesemovementsconstitutetotheChurch.Therefore, he believes, all writings on this theme in the vernacularshouldbedestroyedandconfessorsandspiritualdirectors,especiallythoseofnuns, shouldbe instructedthatonlyperfectsoulsmaypractise this formofprayerincompletesolitude.46

CardinalFrancescoAlbizziwasnottheonlycardinalopposingtheprayerofquiet.WefindthesamethoughtsinthenotesofCardinalMaracci,theconfes-sorofPopeInnocentXI,towhomthe‘otherMaria’probablysenthervisions.47Undated but presumably in the same year, his notes circulated in Rome, inwhich far-reachingmeasuresregardingtheprayerofquietareproposed, in-cludingthebanningof

groups,particularlyofwomen,wherecontemplationorrathertheprayerofquietisopenlypractised.Thiswouldcreatedisorderandnoteworthyscandals[...]henceitseemsnecessarytoforbidthesemeetingsastheyarealreadybannedinsomeplaces.48

Cardinal Maracci also sought the prohibition of books on this topic exceptthose with explicit permission from the Holy Office. Previously publishedbooks should be banned until they were purged of errors and suspiciouspassages.49

45 Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,MsCasanate310, fol.87–102.FormoreinformationonFrancescoAlbizzi,seeMonticone(1960)23–26.Seraphinushadmanycontactswithhim;seeCeyssens(1974)XL.

46 Malena(2003)5f.47 Therewasasecondchamberlainofthepope,MgrAgostinoFavoriti,buthepassedaway

in1682.48 ThenotesofCardinalMaracciareentitledErrari principali intorno alla nuova contempla-

tione, ò vero Oratione di Quiete. Rome, Bibliotheca Casanatense, Ms Casanate 310, fol.493–497.Thequotationis foundin fol.497r: ‘les conventicole particolarmente di donne, nelle quali si professa la contemplatione, o uero Oratione di Quiete: e ne nascono disordini, e scandali notabili, [...] unde pare nessario proibire queste adunanze si come gia state proibite in alcuni luoghi.’

49 Dudon(1921)154.CardinalMaracciwrites:‘Per ovviare a i gravi mali, che ponne cagionare i sopradetti errori pare espediente che si proibisca il publicare in avvenire libri, attenenti à


InanundatedInstruzione sull’orazione di quieteinthearchivesoftheHolyOffice these thoughtsaboutquietprayerbywomenareacceptedunequivo-cally.Abouttheactivityofdonniciole(females)whoprayonthelinesofTeresaitsays:

Thismostsublimecontemplationcanbeacquired.Itmayevenbeprac-tisedbyfemales,sotheysay:ifyouhavemadeitsufficientlypartofyour-self, you can reach a habitus of personal knowledge of the beauty ofvirtue and the ugliness of sin; this ability one may acquire within sixmonthsaccordingtoSt.Teresaandwithintwo[months]accordingtoSt.Bonaventure.ButitistruethatSt.Teresaneversaidanythinglikethat.50

ThoseintheRomanCuriawhotookthisInstruzione sull’orazione di quietetoheartwereunlikelytohaveshownmuchappreciationfortheprayersofthesisters in theCluyseofMechelen, foundedbyMariaPetyt.Shedidnotcaremuchforwhatshecalled‘workexercises’butratherstroveforprofoundquietinGod.Shewrites:

SonormallyIusenoothermeanstopreparemyselfforprayerthantryingtoopenmyselfinwardlymoreperfectlyandtomakeanefforttoexpand mymindinGod;themorequietlyandeasilythisisdone,thepurerandclearer theentranceandaccess toGod,andthesooner Icometopro-

Contemplatione in lingua volgare, e senza licenza, approbatione, e diligente revisione del S. Offitio, ò degli’ Ordinari.’Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,MsCasanate310,fol.497r.Thisthought is adopted and even extended in the instructions of Cardinal Casanate: ‘inhi-bendo, ne in posserum tam meditationi, quam contemplationi addicti, verbis aut scriptis invicem se lacessant, neq super modo, et circumstantiis praefacarum orationum questiones moneant, none de praedicta materia libros sue impressos, su manuscriptos quocumque idro-mate in vulgus disfundant, nisi de licentia Sacr. Congregationes Sancti Officii sub poenis arbitrio eiusdem.’Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,MsCasanate310,fol.468r,inInstructio Pro Confessariis et directioribus animarum circa meditationem et contemplationem sive orationem, quam vocant quietis. Rome, Bibliotheca Casanatense, Ms Casanate 310, fol.465–468.

50 ‘Questa elevatissima contemplatione s’insegna, e si fà pratticare perfino alle donniciole, e perche dicono, che per basta per farci habili ad essa haver acquistato un’ habito di propria cognitione della bellezza della Virtù, e della brutezza del vitio, il cui habito al parere de S. Teresa può conseguirsi in sei mesi, e secondo S. Bonaventura in due. Mà il vero s’e, che S. Teresa non hà detto tal cosa.’ Rome, ASU, St.Volumi dei consultatori conventuali deiss.apostoliUV4,fol.370v.

108 VanDeVate

foundquietinGod,ortounionwiththeSpirit,oreventosimplywitness-ingorcontemplatingtheBeloved.51

SuchdescriptionsofhermentalprayerandherfrequentreferencestoTeresacould have led to misinterpretation by the Roman censors.52This might beanotherreasonforthecancellationofthepublicationoftheLatincodex.

Asacounterargumenttothissecondscenarioonecouldpointoutthatthefirst‘official’noteonthebanningofbooksabouttheprayerofquietisdatedalmost two years after the date of signature of the Latin codex. However, itshouldbenotedthatoneaspectofthismountingagitationagainsttheprayerofquietwasalreadydiscussedbyItaliancensorsinthe1670s,namelytheplaceoftheaffectionsinprayerlife.Thisdiscussioncouldalreadyhavecreateddif-ficultiesforthepublicationofthecodex.

Maria’s Approach to the Affections

Maria’s thoughts on feelings were quite different from the aforementionednotesofCardinalMarraciwhereweread:

Furthermore, contemplatives have to flee from, reject and despise thefeelingsofsensorydevotion,thetendernessoftheheart, thetearsandspiritualconsolations,ascontradictorytocontemplation.53

51 ‘Dus ordinairlijck en ghebruycke ick gheenen anderen middel voorbereydinghe tot het gebedt, dan dat ick mijn inwendigh wat volmaeckter trachte te openen, ende den gheest in Godt uyt te spannen; ende hoe dit stilder ende eenvoudigher in sijn werck gaet, hoe den opganck, ende toeganck tot Godt puerder ende klaerder is; ende soo veel te haester kome ick tot een innighe ruste in Godt, oft tot de vereeninge des gheests, oft oock tot een eenvoudigh aenschouwen oft aensien des Beminden.’Petyt(1684)vol.4,158f.

52 TheRomanCuria’ssuspicionof‘(pre-)quietism’inMaria’swritingscouldonlybebasedonafewarguments.Inherlettersonefindsmanypassagesinwhichshewarnsagainstdeliberate emptiness: ‘so I understand at least that a soul has to abstain from its ownoperationifitisinanactualstateofenjoyment,orifitfeelsitselfattractedandinvitedtothis,orifitdiscernsanyentrancetoit,orifGodhasanyotheroperationsinit.’(Soo dan, ick verstaen alleenlijck, dat een Ziele haer van alle eyghen werckinghe ledigh houden moet, als sy is in die dadelijcke ghenietelijcke gesteltenisse, oft als sy haer daer toe aengelockt, ende ghenoeyt gevoelt, oft eenighen inganck daer toe bespeurt, oft oock, als Godt eenighe andere werckinghen in haer heft.)Petyt(1684)vol.4,187.

53 ‘Ancora gl’affetti della devotione sensibile, la tenerezza del cuore, le lagrime, e le consolationi spirituali si devono fuggire e rigettare, anzi disprezzare dai contemplativi, come cose repag-


ForMariathesensoryforcesofthesoulwereofgreatvalueintheprocessofdivineformation,throughwhichtransforminggracecanleadasoulintogodlylife.Inherlettersonthemariaformlife−oneofthekeynotionsofthespiritu-alitywhichmadeMichaelandMariawell-knowninCarmelitehistory−Mariadescribestheimportanceofthesensoryforcesofthesoul:

InawaytheamiableMotherappearstobethelifeofmysoul,andthusthesoulofmysoul.Forthatreasonshe[Mary]bringsforth[…]andgivesbirthtothelifeofthesoulinGodordivinelifeinGodthroughasensoryflowinthesoulofthegenerative,anticipating,strengthening,support-ing,alluring,accommodatingandfollowingorcontinuinggraces,sothatthesoulwillcarryonthedivinelifeinGodwithmorefirmness,fortitude,purity,etcetera.’54

SuchthoughtsaboutasensoryflowofgracemightbeacceptableinaMariantheology,butMariaPetytwasalsofierceanddirectiveaboutthisissueinthefieldofspiritualdirection.Thismighthavecausedtrouble.Inoneofhernote-worthylettersMariainveighsvehementlyagainstspiritualdirectorswhobe-lievethatallnaturalaffectionshavetobedestroyed:

TheBelovedhastaughtmeandcommandedmetowritethatsomearetoblame,whogivegeneralrulesaboutmentalprayertosoulswhichaspiretoperfectioninthepurestsenseandtomentalprayer,andareorderedtoexclude,reject,mortifyandannihilateforeverallsensoryfeelings,suchastender and passionate love, and any cooperation with their sensory forces,[...]SuchteachersdonotunderstandwhatitistostandmentallyunderthefreedirectionoftheHolySpirit,wheretheSpirit isabsolutemasterandlordofthesoul.Heworksbothinthelowerforcesandinthehigher,nowinoneway,theninanother,justashepleases,becausesome-timeshewantstobelovedandservedbyallforcesofthesoul.55

nanti alla contemplatione.’Rome,BibliothecaCasanatense,Ms.Casan.310,fol.494ritem5inErrari principali intorno alla nuova contemplatione, ò vero Oratione di Quiete.

54 ‘De alder-minnelijckste Moeder schijnt op een seker maniere van spreken, te wesen het leven van mijne Ziele, ende aldus te zijn de Ziele van mijne Ziele, om dieswil dat sy […] mijne Ziele voort-brenght, ende baert het leven der Ziele in Godt oft goddelijck leven, door een bevinde-lijck invloeyen der gratien van verweckende, voorkomende, versterckende, aenleydende, aenlockende, mede-gaende, ende naervolghende, oft continuerende gratien, om in het god-delijck leven in Godt, met meerdere vastigheyt, ghestadigheyt, puerheyt, &c. te continueren.’Petyt(1683)vol.2,343.

55 ‘Den Beminden heeft my gheleert, ende bevolen my te schryven, hoe qualijck dat sommighe doen, de welcke willen gheven generaele Reghels aen Zielen, die op het puerste van sin zijn te

110 VanDeVate

WhenMichaelputthedateof24April1680belowtheprefaceoftheVitaVen-erabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia he might not have been aware that theItaliandiscourseonmentalprayerhadalreadybeenfocusingonfeelingsforsometime.Intheearly1670sanItalianeditionofatextbytheFrenchUrsulineMarieBondel’Incarnation(1636–1680)entitledStati d’orazione mentale56wassubmittedtoTommasoMenghini,inquisitorofthedioceseofGubbioandCa-saleMonferrato.57 Initiallyonlyasinglepassagewasrevisedand in1674thedocumentwasapprovedforprinting.However,on18January1676thisbookwascondemnedbytheCongregazionedell’IndiceandputontheIndex.SomemonthslateraninquisitorfromGenovapublishedadecreeoftheCongrega-tionof29April1676,whichclearlystatedthattheInquisitioncondemnsnotmental prayer, which is called of feelings and of quiet, but [condemns] theclaimsofthosewhorejectvocalprayerandotherspiritualexercisesusedintheHolyRomanChurch,andwhoevenclaimthatthosewhopractisetheafore-mentionedprayercanbesureofsalvationanddonotneedforgivenessandalso[claimthat]theycommitmortalsinwhentheyomitthisformofprayer[i.e.vocalprayer].58

AlthoughthesistersofCluysesaidtheirvocalprayers,MariaPetyt’sattitudetowardsaffectiveandsensorydevotioncouldbeassuspecttoacensorasherstrivingforprofoundquietinGod.Thisaspectofherspiritualframework,too,couldhavebeenareasonforthecancellationofthepublication.

ItisnotclearwhichscenarioshouldbeconsideredthereasonwhytheLatincodexwasnotpublished.Probablyitisimpossibletotracetheactualhistory.

trachten tot de volmaecktheyt, ende tot het inwendigh Ghebedt, datse voor altijdt moeten uytsluyten, verwerpen, versterven, ende vernieten alle ghevoelijcke affectien, teere ende drif-tighe liefde, ende het mede-spelen vande ghevoelijcke krachten […] sulcke Onderwysers en verstaen niet wel, wat dat is gheestelijck staen onder een libere bestieringhe vanden H. Gheest; want daer den H. Gheest is absoluut Meester, ende Heer inde Ziel, daer werckt hy soo wel inde onderste krachten, als inde opperste, nu op d’een, nu op d’ander manier, ghelijck ’t hem belieft; want somtijdts wilt hy ghedient, ende bemint worden van alle de krachten der Ziele, ghelijck inde Salighe inden Hemel.’Petyt(1683)vol.3,29.ItisunclearwhetherthislettercanbefoundinRome,Arch.Post.III,70.

56 Malena(2000)304.57 See also http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/tommaso-menghini_(Dizionario-Biograf

ico)/58 ‘non damnat orationem mentalem, quae dicitur degli’ affetti e della quiete, sed asserta illo-

rum, qui reprobant orationes vocales et alia exercitia spiritualia, quibus utitur Sancta Romana Ecclesia, et asserunt, quod utentes praedicta oratione sunt securi de salute, non indigent poenitentia, eandem orationem omittentes peccant mortaliter.’Malena(2000)305,n.90.

http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/tommaso-menghini_(Dizionario-Biografico)/

http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/tommaso-menghini_(Dizionario-Biografico)/


This lastscenario,too,cannotreallybeclarified.Butthereisgoodreasontosuppose an interplay of different factors and to assume that Michael mighthavebeenovercomebytheinexorablewindthatwasblowingintheRomanCuriaduringthoseyears.

The Delay in the Publication of the Dutch Leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt

In1683/1684asingleDutcheditionofMaria’sletterswaspublished.ThisDutchedition appeared more than three years after the date of the Latin preface,namely24April1680.59Besidesthisnoteworthydetail,thereareotherindica-tionsthatthepublicationoftheDutcheditionwasdelayedforsomeyears.Thetitle page of the Kort Begryp (1681) already refers to the forthcoming Levenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia,suggestingthattheLevenmusthavebeenalmostreadytogotopressatthattime.ThisisconfirmedwhenwereadtowardstheendoftheKort Begryp: ‘thesamecanbereadinherLeven,whichhasbeenpreparedforpublicationbyherspiritualdirector,theveryrev-erendfatherMichaelofSt.Augustine,provincialofourDutchprovince.’60An-othersignofadelay isthatonthefrontpageofthefirstvolumeMichael iscalledprovincial,althoughhenolongeroccupiedthatpositionafter1681.AlsoMichaeldatedhis‘protestatie van den autheur’asearlyas10April1681.61

ApartfromthepossibilitythatMichaelofSt.Augustinewaspreventedbyillhealth or pressure of work62 from finalizing the bulky edition of the Levenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, theremaybeotherreasonsforthe delay. Staring states that Michael feared that in Belgium no permissionwouldbegivenforpublication‘giventheJansenisttendenciesofthesecularclergy,especiallythebishops.’63ThisaccordswithaletterMichaelwrotefromBrusselsin1679tohisfriendSeraphinusaboutsendingtheLatinVitaVenerabi-lis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia toRomeforpublication,because(heargues):‘IbelieveIcangetitdonemoreeasilythere,forhereIamstronglyopposedbycriticalcensors.’64However,thisexplanationdoesnotgivethetruecausefor

59 TheLatinprefaceisanalmostliteraltranslationoftheDutchprologue.60 MichaelofSt.Augustine(1681)98.Onthissubject,alsoseeMerlier(1975)29–41.61 Theauthor’sprotestationisfoundinRome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.5r.62 On18November1678MichaelwrotefromMechelenthathedidnothavemuchtimeto

workontheVita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresiabecauseofavisitation.63 Staring(1948)303.64 ‘confido ibi facilius impetrandam quam <sic !> hic a criticis censoribus plurimi me dehortan-

tur.’MichaelofSt.AugustinetoSeraphinusofJesusandMary,Brussels1679.Rome,Arch.Gen.,Prov. Flandro - Belgica, commune provinciae 1675–1698.

112 VanDeVate

thedelayoftheDutchedition.Theapprobationesbyanti-JansenistcensorsatthebeginningoftheLevenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia datefrom1680,whichsuggeststhattheanticipatedproblemoftheJansenistcen-sorswasquicklyresolvedbyMichael.65Henceitcannotbethecauseofthedelaytill1683.66

An Editorial Purge

TofindtherealobstacletothepublicationoftheDutchLevenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta TeresiawehaveinquiredintothespiritualframeworkoftheVitaVenerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. TeresiaandnotedthechangeswhichMichael(orsomeoneelse)introducedinthedocumentinordertogettherightapprobationes.67Thiseditorialrevisionmightgiveusthebestinsightintotheproblemstheeditortriedtoavoid.

65 The publication has no fewer than five approbations, whereas only two were needed.Thesearedated27July1683,3July1683,12July1683,12September1680,and2October1680.(Thefacultasofthegeneralandprovincialaredated7March1682,sq.1July1683.)Apart from censors from his own order (Vincentius of the Nativity and Marius of St.James),wefindthenamesofanti-Jansenistcensors:A.Poelman,NicolausduBoisandDamman.ThenamesofthesecensorsappearonthelistofmembersoftheSecretSociety:Nicolaus du Bois:sacrae theologicae et utriusque iuris licentiatus, regius ac primarius sacrae theologiae professor in academia Lovaniensi, ac colegii regii ibidem praeses; Petrus Dam-man: sacrae theologicae licentiatus canonicus collegiatae Divi Petri [Lovaniensis], apostoli-cus librorum censor, colleggii Dryusiani praeses; Adrianus Poelman: canonicus graduatus et archipresbyter cathedralis Gandensis, sacrae theogicae licentiatus. Ceyssens (1950) 364.Michael himself was a member of this Secret Society of anti-Jansenists founded inNovember 1678.TheSecretSocietyhadagoverningcommitteeatLouvain thatmetatleastonceaweekandgatheredincriminatingmaterialagainsttheJansenistsonbehalfofalargegroupofmembers.

66 Althoughnonetooplausible,thereisyetanotherpossibilitytoexplainthedifficulties.Inthe1680sthebattlebetweentheCarmelitesandtheBollandistswasatitsheight.Rela-tionswereseriouslystrained.Threedaysafterthedateoftheprefaceofthecodex,JamesofthePassionwrote:‘Vix possumus nos cohibere in capitales nostri ordinis hostes, Jesuitas, qui mense Maio Vitam Sancti Angeli explodunt ut fabulosam, nullo vix fundamento nisi stra-mineo. Zelus Dei urget nos ad arma.’Ceyssens(1952)102.Thisfurthercooledrelationsinthe Secret Society, according to Lucianus Ceyssens (1950) vol. 1, 367. How this conflictcouldhaveinfluencedtheassessmentofthe Levenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresiaisnotclear.

67 Ferdinand van der Haeghen writes in his Bibliographie gantoise (Gend 1860): ‘Le pere Michel de S.t Augustin, de ordre des Carmes ( ...) rapporte dans cette biographie un grand nombre de faits d’une authenticite douteuse. Aussi la cour de Rome l’obligea-t-elle de faire un


ThedifferencesbetweentheDutcheditionandtheLatincodexarestrikingevenatfirstglance.Regardingthesequenceandcompilationofthechapters,itisnoteworthythattheDutchcollectiondoesnotparalleltheLatincodex.IntheDutcheditionMichaelomittedabout56chapters.68Duetotheillegibilityof somepartsof thecodex it isdifficult to traceexactlywhichchaptersaremissing.Wehavetorelyonthetableofcontents.69Althoughincomplete,thefollowingmaybestatedaboutwhatmaybeinferredfromthemissingchap-ters.

Firstly,alllettersaboutR.G.[RexGalliae]areomittedbytheeditor.TosomeextentthisalsoappliestothelettersaboutR.H.[RexHispaniae],althoughtheSpanishkingismentionedafewtimesinthelettersontheAmiableMother.70In the table of contents of the Latin codex we find the following chapterswhich are missing in the Dutch edition and in which we read among otherthings:

• Cap.201:‘she[MariaPetyt]ismovedtoprayforallleadersofthechurch,forR.G.,whosewickedlife,andalsoGod’swrathtowardshim,arerevealedtoher.Thiskingisrecommendedtoher,inorderthatshemayprayforhiminthehopeofsavinghissoul.FromtheBelovedsheunderstandsthatarelativeofhis hasbeen liberatedfrompurgatory.’71

• Cap.269:‘ThespiritofprayerinfavourofthearmiesofR.G.isreturningtoherindeepcontemplation,inthespirit,throughthespirit,withoutwords,

retractation.’(vol.2,77)HereferstoCosmasdeVilliers,BibliothecaCarmelitana,2,446.Therewecannotfindanyindicationforthisstatement.Butitcouldberight.Itisstrikingthat intheDutcheditionofMaria’sautobiography31chaptersaremissing.Inthepro-logueoftheLatinVitaMichaelwritesabout186chapters.IntheprologueoftheDutchLevenherefersto155chapters.Thisrequiresfurtherinvestigation.

68 Althoughdifficulttocomparebecauseofthebadconditionofthecodex,inmyopinionthefollowingchaptersorpartsofchaptersaremissing:51,52,54–56,201,232–233,247,257, 269, 308, 366, 410, 421, 443, 444, 466, 476, 478–479, 513, 759, 769–771, 804–811, 814,817–821,828–829,850–851,865,875–884,and907.Ontheotherhand,notallthelettersintheTractaet van verscheyden ghesteltenissen der zielen (Petyt (1683)vol. 1, 196–300)arefoundintheVita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia,northefollowingchaptersfromPetyt(1683)vol.2,cap.19,32,55,192,267;vol.3,cap.149–151,185,214;vol.4,cap.2,8and31.

69 SeeGiovanniGrosso’scontributiontothisvolume,p.85.70 Petyt(1683)vol.2,358–59.71 Cap.201:‘movetur ut oret pro omnibus superioribus ecclesiae; pro R.G. cuius mala vita, et dei

contra illum ira illi revelatur; committitur ei iste R. ut pro illo oret, cum spe lucrandi animam eius; a Dilecto intelligit liberationem cognatae suae e purgatorio.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.13v.Thenameoftherelativehasnotbeendiscovered.

114 VanDeVate

etcetera,and[thespirit]indicatestoheritsdesireintheformofasimpleintuition,whichGodunderstands.’72

• Cap.308:‘Askedtopray,shefeelswhethershe’llbeheard.Shecannotprayforthingsthatarenotdeiform.ShepraysforthekingofSpain.’73

• Cap.877:‘WhilethekingofFrancebesiegesthecityofMaastricht,inGodsheseesthecity,certainthatR.G.willfail[…].’74

• Cap879:‘Besidesotherthings,sheunderstandsinGodthatR.G.willgainhisvictoriesandsheiscommandedimmediatelytoprayforthethingsthatneedtobedonebyGodtosecurethevictorieswhichsheseesinGod.’75

ThesechaptersmayhavebeenomittedbecauseofthestrainedrelationswithFranceorbecauseMaria’ssupernaturalknowledgewasnotconsideredaccord-ingtoGodbythecompetentauthorities.

ApartfromthesechaptersaboutR.G.andR.H.severalotherchaptersaboutMaria’svisionsandpropheticgiftsaremissingfromtheDutchedition,forin-stancethefollowing:

• Cap.805:‘Whensheisnotfollowingherinnerimpulseshefeelsilltreatedanddarkened,shebecomesafraidandshefeelsherselfremovedfromtheBeloved.Shebecomesafraid,askingherselfwhetherthepreviousappear-ancesperhapswerefalse.’76

• Cap.880:‘Godshowsherhowtheprophetsforesawthefutureinthespiritandhowsomesaintsreadthethoughtsofothers,andalsohowwithouttheoperationofherownintellectthispropheticinsightisintheintimate

72 Cap.269:‘redit spiritus orandi in favorem armorum R.G. in intima contemplatione in spiritu per spiritum, sine verbis etc. per simplicem intuitum notificando sua desideria, quae deus intelligit.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.15v.

73 Cap.308:‘Rogata orare, sentit, an sit exaudienda; non potest orare pro rebus non deiformi-bus; orat pro Rege Hispan.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.16v.

74 Cap.877: ‘Rege G. obsidente Traiectum, videt illam civitatem in Deo cum certitudine quod cedet R.G. et […]git illa […]rcipi auxilio angelorum.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.28v.Inthesecondpartweread:‘[…]R.G. et intelligit illam intercipi auxilio angelorum.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.441r.

75 Cap.879:‘independenter a relatione aliorum, in Deo intelligit victorias R.G. inde subito, mon-etur ad orandum, ad gratia agendas Deo pro victoriis quas in Deo videt.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.29r.

76 Cap. 805: ‘non sequens internum tractum acciter corripitur, obtenebratur, auxiatur, et a Dilecto alienatur, auxiatur etiam an praeteritae apparationes non fuerint falsae.’ Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.27r.


groundofhersoul,unitedwithGodinasimplepassiveintuition,whichisgiventoher.’77

• Cap.881:‘Theinnerpropheticintuitionoriginatesfromwithin,freefromanyotherfacultyofthesoul.Itmustbeentirelydivine,forthemindstayspassivewhileoperationoftheintellectconcealsthecompleteground[ofhersoul].’78

• Cap.466:‘shegreetsherspiritualfatherintheheartofMary[...],inwhichheseemstolive.AtMary’sfeastsheexultsintheloveofMary,andforherorderwhichsheseesismorepleasingtoher[Mary]thanother[orders].’79

Theeditoralsovaluedthedisciplineofherspirituallife.WhereMaria’scontactwithherspiritualdirectorwasstrainedsomechaptersweredropped, for in-stance:

• Cap.769:‘shelamentsthatshecannotopenherselftoherspiritualdirectorandsheeschews speakingwithpeople,evenpiouspeople,andsheisdrawntofollow thiswithdrawalandclingtoGodalone.’80

• Cap770:‘TheBelovedweansherfromherspiritualdirector,bywhomshewassupportedhithertowiththeconsentoftheBeloved.’81

• Cap.771:‘TheBelovedhimselfwantstoaccompanyher,sothatshelivesinGodalone.’82

ThusMaria’sideathatshecouldbeguidedbyherBelovedalonewasnotcon-sideredwise,andprobablyforthatreasonitwasleftoutofthecollection.The

77 Cap.880:‘Deus ei ostendit quomodo prophetae in spiritu praeviderint futura, et aliqui sancti cogitationes aliorum, sine operatione propii intellectus ivisio prophetica sit in intimo animae fundo, Deo unito per simplicem passivum intuitum, qui ei datur.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.29r.

78 Cap.881:‘intimus intuitus propheticus est intus expeditus ab omni alia animae potentia, et debet esse totus divinus, ad quem anima habet se passive, propria operatio intellectus totum fundum obnubilaret.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.29r.

79 Cap.466:‘salutat Spiritualem in corde Mariae in quo videtur habitare; in eius festis exultet amore Maria, et erga ordinem suum quem videt illi prae caeteris gratum.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.19v.

80 Cap.769:‘dolet, quod se non possit aperire Patri Spirituali et taedet eam loqui cum homini-bus, etiam piis, et allicitur, ut hanc abstractionem sequatur; ac soli Deo adhereat.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.26r.

81 Cap.770: ‘Dilectus eam ablactat a Spirituali, cui hactenus ex permissu Dilecti innixa est.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.26r.

82 Cap.771: ‘Dilectus solus vult eam dirigere, ut vivat in solo Deo.’Rome,Arch.Post. III,70,fol.26r.

116 VanDeVate

chaptersinwhichherdesiretoliveinseclusiongoestoofararemissingfromthe Levenvande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia:

• Cap.804:‘sheisinvitedtothehighestwithdrawalandmortificationofhersensesmorethaneverbeforeandsheisstimulatedbyGodtoliveinseclusion.’83

• Cap.806:‘sheislefttohernatureandabhorsthehermit’slife,whichissowithdrawn.Sheistestedbythevitalityofhernature,andsheisfright-ened’84

Again,weshallprobablyneverknowwhythepublicationoftheDutcheditionwassuspendedtill1683.However,ifwecombineallprobableobstaclesinthecompleteredactionofthewritingsofMariaPetyt,thispurgeoftheDutchedi-tionmayanticipateorevenbeexecutedontheinstructionsoftheHolyOffice.Thisconclusionmayoverstatetheavailableevidence,unlesssimilarsituationscanbedemonstratedinhistoriography.AtpresentIdonotknowofanysuchcases.

Inanycase,assumingthatMichaelhimself−andnotacensor–wasrespon-sibleforthiseditorialpurgeoftheDutchedition,thetopicsoftheaforemen-tioned letters once more justify the conclusion that Maria’s spirituality wasverysensitiveintheseeventfulyearsoftheanti-mysticalturn.

Conclusion

WhenMaria’sspiritualpathisfurtherinvestigatedafterthispublicationofherlettersontheDutchWar,researchershavetobealerttothechoicesmadeinthe redaction of her work.The recently discovered document on the DutchWar shows that Maria’s spiritual path might have been very different fromwhathashithertobeenascribedtothisfamousFlemishmystic.


83 Cap. 804: ‘invitatur ad summam abstractionem et sensuum mortificationem, plusquam unquam autea, et monetur a Dilecto ut abstracta vivat.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.27r.

84 Cap.806:‘reliquitur sue nature, quae abhorret vitam eremiticam tam abstractam; tentatur naturae vivacitate est, unde augustiatur.’Rome,Arch.Post.III,70,fol.27r.


Archives

Rome,Arch.Gen.Ord.Carmelitarum,II Flandro-Belgica commune provinciae 1675–1698. MichaelofSt.Augustine’slettersarestoredinaseparatefolder.

Rome,Arch.Post.Ord.Carmelitarum,III,70: Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia Tertiariae ordinis Bmae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo,fol.30r-49v.

Bibliography

Ceyssens,L.(withthecollaborationofSylvestredeMunter)1974.Sources relatives à l’histoire du Jansenisme et de l’Antijansenisme des annees 1677–1679. Louvain:Bibliothèque de l’Université, Bureaux de la Revue. (Bibliothèque de la Revued’histoireecclésiastiquefasc.59)

Ceyssens,L.1950.Jansenistica: studiën in verband met de geschiedenis van het Jansenisme. Vol.1. Mechelen:St.Franciscus-Drukkerij.

———. 1952. De Carmelitarum Belgicorum actione antijansenistica iuxta chartasSeraphiniaJesuMaria.InAnalecta Ordinis Carmelitarum 17:3–120.

———.1968.La seconde periode du jansenisme. Vol. 1. Les debuts: sources des annees 1673–1676.Brussels:InstituthistoriquebelgedeRome.

———.1978.GirolamoCasanate(1693–1700).InDizionario Biografico degli Italiani.21:144–47.

Deblaere,A.1962.De mystieke schrijfster Maria Petyt (1623–1677).Gent:SecretariederAcademie.(KoninklijkeVlaamseAcademievoorTaal-enLetterkunde,6)

———.1979.MariaPetyt,écrivainetmystiqueflamande(1623–1677).InCarmelus: com-mentarii ab Instituto Carmelitano26:3–76.

———.2004.Essentiel,superessentiel,suressentiel.InEssays on mystical literature. Essais sur la litterature mystique,ed.RobFaesen,3–31.Leuven:LeuvenUniversityPress/Peeters.(Dict. Spir.4,2:1346–1366)

Dudon,P.1921.Le quietiste espagnol Michel Molinos (1628–1696).Paris:Beauchesne.Haeghen,F.vander.1860.Bibliographie gantoise2,76–77Gand:Eug.Vanderhaegen.Hoppenbrouwers,V.1949.MichaëlvandeHeiligeAugustinus.InCarmel, tijdschrift voor

Carmelitaanse geschiedenis en geestelijk leven2,2:155–173.JamesofthePassion(JacobusaPassioneDomini).1681.Hetwonderlevenvandeweer-

dighemoederSr.MariaaS.Teresia(alias)Petyt.InDe stralen van de sonne van den H. vader en propheet Elias, dese eeuwe verspreydt door Duitsch-landt en Neder-landt,243–344.Luyck:HendrickHoyoux.

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———.2003.L’Eresia dei Perfetti. Inquisizione Romana ed esperienze mistiche nel seicento Italiano.Rome:EdizionidiStoriaeLetteratura.

Merlier,J.1975.HetlevenvanMariaPetyt(1623–1677).Hetprobleemvandeeerstedruk(1681). InOns geestelijk erf: driemaandelijksch tijdschrift gewijd aan de studie der Nederlandsche vroomheid van af de bekeering tot circa 175049,1:29–41.

MichaelofSt.Augustine(MichaelàSAugustino).1681.Kort begryp van het leven vande weerdighe Moeder Sr. Maria a S. Teresia, (alias) Petyt.TotBrussel:byPeetervandeVelde.(photographicreprint:Brussel2002)

Monsignani,E.1718.Bullarium Carmelitanum plures complectens Summorum Pontificum constitutiones ad Ordinem Fratrum Beatissimae, semperque Virginis Dei Genitricis Mariae de Monte Carmelo spectantes.XIII:630–31.Rome:Extyp.G.Plachii.

Monticone,A.1960.Albizzi,Francesco.InDizionario Biografico degli Italiani 2:23–26.Ockeley,J.2009.AartsbisschopAlphonsedeBerghes(1669–1689)enhetaartsbisdom

Mechelen in de woelige tweede helft van de 17de eeuw. In Eigen schoon en de Brabander: orgaan van den geschied- en oudheidkundigen Kring van West-Brabant en van den Gidsenbond der gouw Brussel92,1:125–62.

Petyt,Maria1683/1684. Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias) Petyt, vanden derden reghel vande Orden der Broederen van Onse L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli, tot Mechelen overleden den 1. November 1677.Ghendt,gedrucktbydehoirsvanJanvandenKerchove.(photographicreprint:Vilvoorde[2002])

Staring,A.1948.EenCarmelitaansekluizenaresMariaPetytaS.Theresia.InCarmel, tijdschrift voor Carmelitaanse geschiedenis en geestelijk leven,1,4:287-305.

Villiers,C.de.1927.Bibliotheca Carmelitana(…)additis nova praefatione et supplemento luce exprimendum curavit P. Gabriel Wessels,2.Roma:CollegiumS.Alberti.

119LifeoftheVenerableMariaofSaintTeresa

Chapter7

The Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War and Its Translation in English

Veronie Meeuwsen(ed.)

Transcription of the manuscript

Themanuscriptcouldnotbetranscribedcompletelybecauseitispartlydam-aged.Atthebottomofthefolioswefindlargeblankspacesasaresultofmois-ture,sothatthesepartsofthetextarehardorevenimpossibletoreadandtotranscribe.StillthetextthatremainsisvaluableandprovidesagoodideaofwhatMariaPetythaswrittenaboutherexperiencesduringtheDutchWar.

Thetranscriptionofthetextprovidesthebasisforacriticalreading.Ihavetriedtoprovideatranscriptionthatisasliteralaspossiblefromtheoriginaltext.Pleasekeepinmindthefollowingstylisticguide.ThesummariesofMi-chaelofSt.Augustineareindentedtextsasinthemanuscript.Wherethetextis impossibletoreadthisis indicatedwithdots:….UncertaintiesinthetextIindicatewithsquareparentheses:[].Augmentedtextsongroundsofproba-bilityareindicatedbypointedparentheses:<>.Linenumbersbetweensquarebrackets[]areaddedtomakeiteasiertorefertotheoriginaltext.Linesasintheoriginaltext,areseparatedbyslashes(/).Foliobreakshaveanextradoubleslash(//)indication.Othersignslikeparentheses,underliningsetc.areliteralreproductions of the text in the manuscript.The punctuation is adapted tomodernusage.Abbreviationsarewrittenoutinfull.

Ihavetranscribedallthetextasliterallyaspossible.However,Ihavesomeremarksaboutthetranscriptionofsomeparticularletters.Forthelettersi andu bothasvowelorconsonantthenotationofthemanuscriptisfollowed,whichmakesclearthatthescribedoesnotdifferentiatebetweeni/jandu/v,whichisusualinLatintextsfromthattime.Withcapitalsitistheotherwayaround: I/JandU/V arerespectivelywrittenasJ andV.VitaVenerabilisMatrisMariaeaSanctaTheresiaLifeoftheVenerableMariaofSaintTeresa

© VeronieMeeuwsen(ed.),2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_009This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.

* Specialthankstodr.RijcklofHofmanforhishelpwiththetranscription.



120 VitaVenerabilisMatrisMariaeASanctaTheresia

Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sancta Theresia

Rome, Arch. Carm. Post. III, 70 f.30r-49v

30r

[1] IussuDeisequentiascribitSuoPatriSpiritualisuosecreto,quamdiu/ipsauiuet.Sicautemincipit7Nouembris1672./

SitnomenDominibenedictumexhocnuncetusqueinsaeculum./Quantumpossumpercipereet iudicaredemandatodiuiniAmatorismei,arripuicala-muminmanu,utan-/[5] notemsequentia,cumquasimandato,quoddebe-ant manere secreta et occulta sub meo patre spirituali / solo, nulli alteriquidquamde illisnotificandodirecteuel indirecte,quamdiuegouixero,nemalignus spi- / ritus inde sumat instrumentum, quo me oppugnet temporetentationis./

Post mensem internae derelictionis redit spiritus trahitur ad intimamquietem/ADilectopossidetur,eteumpossidet.Renouaturineaspiritusorandi pro Rege / [10] Galliae, et amor maternus cum confirmationepraeteritorum./

Cessantestatuinternaederelictionisetafflictionis,quemperlitterasdatas16et 17octobris 1672 /ReuerentiaeVestraenotumfeci,quidurauitcirciterper


Life of the venerable Maria of Saint Teresa1

Rome, Carm. Archive, Post. III, 70

30r2

AtthecommandofGod,shewritesthefollowingtoherspiritualfather,bindinghimtosecrecyforaslongasshewouldlive.Soshebeginsonthe7thofNovember1672.

ThenameoftheLordbepraisedfromnowandforevermore.AsfarasIcanperceiveandjudgethemandateofmydivineBeloved,Ihavetakenmypeninhand,tonotethefollowing,withtheinstructionthatitshouldremainsecret,andknowntomyspiritualfatheralone.Itmaynotbedisclosedtoanyoneelse,directlyorindirectly,aslongasIlive3,sothatnoevilspiritmayderivefromitanythingwithwhichtoattackmeinatimeoftrial.

Afteramonthofinnerderelictionthespiritturnsback.Sheisdrawntothemostintimatepeace,sheispossessedbytheBeloved,andshepos-sessesHim.ThespiritofprayingfortheKingofFranceisrenewedinher,aswellashermotherlylovewiththeconfirmationofthepreviousthings.

Whenmystateofinnerderelictionanddesolationended–astatethatIhavemadeknownin lettersof the 16thand17thofOctober toYourReverence,a

1 IthankMiceálO’NeillO.Carm.andJosephChalmersO.Carmfortheirhelpasnativespeakerswith the English translation and also Dr Antoine Jacobs for his support in historicalquestions.

2 Themanuscriptisnotboundintheoriginalsequence.Theoriginalsequenceshouldbeasfollows:Firstpart:f.38r-41v,ahalfsection:concerningtheperiodofMay1672.(38r1-3canbeseenasanintroductiontotheentiretextabouttheDutchWar.ItistheonlyplaceinthetextwhereMariaPetytisdescribedandintroducedwithallhernamesandtitles);Secondpart:f.30r-33v,ahalfsection:concerningtheperiodof7-15November1672;Thirdpart:f.42r-49v,acompletesection,concerningtheperiods:a.21November–17December1672(f.42v-45v3);b.NewexperiencesinFebruary1673(f.45v);c.And28-29June1673(f.45v-49v);Fourthpart:f.34r-37v,ahalfsection:concerning:a.4July1673-15January1674(f.34r-37v);b.Alastmysticalexperienceon24/25August1676(37v).Inthisoriginalsequencethechronologyofthetextiscorrect.Forthiseditionofthetextwehavechosentokeepthetextinthesequenceinwhichithasbeenpreserved.SeealsothearticleofGiovanniGrosso,p.83–91.

3 HereMariaexplicitlyasksMichaeltokeepherletterssecret,foraslongasshelives.SeealsothearticleofEsthervandeVate,92-118.


mensem,euigilauitinmeetresuscitatusestnouusspiritus/quialiquotmen-sibusinmequasidormierat,eteuanuerat,absqueullaoperationeautpercep-tione eiusdem / enim ab eo tempore quo rex Galliae recesserat in patriamsuam./

[15] InprimisDilectusmeintrosumpsit insecumperceptibilietamabiliobumbrationealicuiusluminis/etsplendorissuaediuinitatis,quodlumenil-lustrabatetpenetrabatomnesanimaepotentias./

AliquotdiebusfuitractaadprofundamintimamquieteminDilectoquasiinsomnoamoriscum/euanescentiaomnium,quaenonsuntipse,nihilaliudinmepercipiendoquameiuspraesentiam./

Aliquandoeramquasiabipsopossessa,ipsepossidebatmeetegoposside-bamipsumtunc iterummihi infun-/ [20] debaturspiritusorandiproRegeGalliae, sicut antehac, qui spiritus ualde uiuaciter et efficaciter / incipiebatoperariadeiussuccursum,etassistentiam,etomnespraeteritaeinternaed….icticonesillumi-/nationesamorosaeadillumRegeminclinationes,maternusanimusetceteraiterum……..dabanturcum/nouaconfirmationeueritatis./

Dilectus eam ponit ad latus Regis istius, ut eum iuuet ………….t /[25] benedictionemsuperillumetexercitum.Mirafacitin[structu]…...circaRegem/cuiusintentionemintellegitesseDeiformem./

Percipiebam,quodDilectusmeconstitueretadlatushuiusRegis,etquodDi-lectusmefaceretadillum/inclinari,quasidebuissemcooperaricumistoRege:benedictionemquamiubenteDilectoantehacipsidederam/iteratoimpertie-barsuperipsumetsuperilliusexercitumcumefficacietuiuaciamore/

[30] Abillotemporecontinuosinecessationemihiremanetspiritusorandiproipso.QuidquidDilectusuidetur/desiderare,utfaciametofferamsponteetultro intus in fundodictaturetper spiritum……mandatur /cumuiua fide,firmafiduciaetfortid……..eoblationesquasdebeofacerepr……hauriebam/omnesexDilectoIesumeoDeohomine.Omnes factaecommuniones,quasfacio,sunt…….oipsosola...nt/possitacquirereuirtutem,etgratiam,quapos-sitsuperareinimicossuos./


statethatlastedforaboutamonth–anewspiritawakenedandrekindledinme,thatforafewmonthssotospeakhadbeensleepingandhaddisappearedwithoutanyeffectorperceptionofthesame,namelyrightfromthetimewhentheKingofFrancehadreturnedtohishomeland.4

Inthebeginning,theBeloveddrewmeinwardwithanoticeableandpleas-antdimmingofthelightandwiththeradianceofhisdivinity,alightthatlitupandpenetratedallthepowersofmysoul.

ForsomedaysIwasdrawntoaprofoundandintimatequietintheBelovedasasleepof lovewiththepassingofallthingsthatarenotHim,perceivingnothinginmeotherthanhispresence.

SometimesIwasasifhehadtakenpossessionofme.HepossessedmeandIpossessedhim.ThenagainthespiritofprayerfortheKingofFrancepenetrat-edme,asbefore.Aspiritthatbegantoworkvividlyandpowerfully,forhisas-sistanceandsupport,andallthosepastinner...illuminations,lovingtendenciestowardsthatKing,amotherlyspiritetc.wereagain...givenwithfurtherconfir-mationofthetruth.

TheBelovedplacesheronthesideofthatKing,tohelphim...andtogivehis blessing to him and his army. She marvels at ........ the King whoseintentionsheunderstandstobeGodlike.

IperceivedthattheBelovedputmeonthesideofthisKing,andthattheBe-lovedmademeinclinedtowardshim,asifIhadtocooperatewiththatKing.The blessing, which I on the Beloved’s demand had given him in advance,Iagainbestowedonhimandhisarmywithpowerfulandvibrantlove.

Fromthat timeonthespiritofpraying forhimstayswithmeconstantly,withoutinterruption.WhatevertheBelovedseemstorequiremetodoandtooffervoluntarilyandonmyownaccord,thatisinmydepthcommanded,andbythespirit...entrustedwithlivelyfaith,firmconfidenceandpowerful...ThesacrificesImustmake...IdrewallfrommyBelovedJesus,Godandman.Allcommunionsmade,thosethatImake...forhimalone...,mightobtainapowerandgrace,bywhichhemightovercomehisenemies.

4 At7April1672LouisXIVdeclaredwarontheRepublicoftheSevenUnitedProvincesandquicklymarchedbywayofthePrince-BishopricofLiègeandthePrince-BishopricofMünster.AfterhavingconqueredUtrecht,theFrenchadvanceswerestoppedbydeliberateinundationsalongtheDutchwaterline.AcoupleofweekslaterLouisXIVhandedoverthecommandtoMarshalLuxembourgandlefttheRepublicwith20,000soldiers.


[35] Quippeinteriusintelligoeiusanimidecretumetexpositum,aczelumcir-caHollandiamesseplaneDeiformem/nihilintendendonisihonoremetglo-riam Dei, ac conuersionem animarum et multi eum falso accusent et ….. /nenturquisparguntcontrariaiudicia:uerumaliasuntiudiciaDei,aliahomi-num;ueritassemelpatebitur/quiaDeuseritcumipso,etestcumipso,etui-debimuspotentiamDeiinipsoetcumipso/operari.//

30 v

[1] IntelligitIesumdiligereistumRegemetipsaeumdiligitutfilium,etomnes/eiusmilitesut filios,circaquosmaterneoccupatur,exercitumamando,/Angelosmittendoetc./

VidietintellexiquodilleRexsitaJesuDilectus,etpereumdemamoremetiamamediligitur/[5] uelut..[aharut]filius,quemdiligitIesus;ideoquandoproipsooro,dicoadIesum;Dilecte,adiuua/tuumetmeumfilium,tuauirtutesa-pientiaetamore;etinderesultatulteriordilectio,quaefluit/adomneseiussubditosetmilites,quasiomnesessentmeifilii./

Maternummeumcoretaffectusualdebenecirca illos ferturetoperatur,praesertimcircainfirmos/ .....sosuteoscommendemDilectomeoquatenuseosuelitsanareconfortareetc.utsintaptiet/[10] paratiadproelium;aliusspiritusquasiigneamorisaccensusdatRegietmilitibusanimosnetimeant/hostes suos, ut eos in nomine, et ad amorem Christi generose aggrediantur;ipsisexparteJesu/addicendouictoriam./

SpiritusamorisstabilitersetenetexparteRegisFranciae,cumtotaanima,propensione,et/uideturillumexercitumquasisupercomplecti,etsupercom-prehendere, quasi cum uirtute aliqua distri- / [15] butiua quae prouenitet fluitexmeocordeet intimoamore; spiritusamoris facitetiaminstantiasapud/[Dilectum]utuelutmitteremultitudinemAngelorumineorumsubsi-deumetassistentiam./


ForIunderstandinwardlythedecisionandtheconvictionofhissoul,andthathiszealforHollandisclearlyGodlike,intendingnothingbutthehonourandgloryofGod,andtheconversionof souls.AndIunderstandthatmanypeople falsely accuse him ... and there are those who spread opposite judg-ments.ButthejudgmentsofGodareunlikethoseofhumans.Thetruthwillberevealedonce,thatGodwillbewithhimandiswithhimandwewillseeGod’spowerworkinginhimandwithhim.

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SheunderstandsthatJesuslovestheKingandshealsoloveshimasherchild,andallhissoldiersasherchildren,aboutwhomsheisworriedlikeamother,whileshelovesthearmy,andsendsangelsetc.

IhaveseenandunderstoodthattheKingislovedbyJesusandbythesameloveheisalsolovedbyme...likeachildwhomJesusloves.SowhenIprayforhim,IsaytoJesus:“MyBeloved,helpyourchildandmine,withyourstrength,wis-domandlove.”Andfromthereresultsafurtherlovewhichflowstoallhissub-ordinatesandsoldiers,asifallofthemweremychildren.

Mymotherlyheartandfeelingsaregatheredverystronglyaroundthemandespeciallyaroundtheweak...torecommendthemtomyBeloved,sothathemighthealandcomfortthemetc,inorderforthemtobeequippedandreadyforbattle.Anotherspirit5thatisasitwerekindledbyafireoflovegivestotheKingandhissoldiersthecouragenottofeartheirenemies,sothatinthenameofandfortheloveofChristtheymaygogenerous(whole-heartedly)towardsthem,whileonthepartofJesusvictoryispromisedtothem.

ThespiritofloveremainsfirmlyonthesideoftheKingofFrance,withitsentireheartandaffection,itseemsasitweretosurroundandincludethearmyasaspecialvirtuethatcomesandflowsfrommyheartandmytenderlove.ThespiritoflovealsomakesintercessionstotheBeloved,tosendahostofangelstohelpandsupportthem.

5 Mariadistinguishesdifferentspiritsinhermind.


Excordediuinofugitaliquamuirtutem,quaeexillafluitinadiutoriumRegis / Galliae, quem asserit uere conuersus, et continuatur spiritusorandi pro illo cum / perceptione diuinae maiestatis ad hoc allicientiscumcertitudinebonisuccessus./

[20] Duma2uel3diebusesseminoratione,uidebarexcordediuinofugerediuinam quamdam uirtutem / et gratiam quae ex eodem uidebatur ulteriusfluereinauxiliumRegisFranciae./.......................dicuntRegemGalliaenonesseuere conuersum, et quod ipse suscitet Turcas, ut / inuadat Rege.. .......itoresChristianorum;sienimhocsicesset,quomodoIesuseumtantoueredilige-ret/[Regem]utuide..........................Iesumeumdiligere./

[25] Die.................Nouembris1672.continuaturspiritusorationis,utsupraetcontinuo/ ........................................etuiuacior,cumperceptionesuauisdiui-naemaiestatis intusinme/quaemihi.......................... ..s..entiammeallicit,etconsortat,cumpraemagnafiducia,fideetcertitudine/debonosuccessu./

Hancsuauemmaiestatemuideoetcontinuogestointramesiueinorationesiueextra;nihilme/[30] potestimpedire[quominus]illampercipiam:con-tinuocontempler,eiamoroseadhaereamacfami-/liariteretamicabilitercumilloagametconuerser;namspiritussolutuset liberabomnibusetab/aliisrebus<in>tactussepotestconseruareintusincastroanimae:quasiseorsimabaliisquaesunt/multiplic..................rcorporaliasensualia,etaspiritunonas-sumpta,uelpermissa;namomnes/praedictae..................spiritusamorissuntcondita, et penetrata unitate Dei et consequenter / [35] sine medi …….. estunusetidemSpiritusDeiquifacitomnesistasdiuersasoperationes/

<Co>ntranaturaeinclinationemaDeomouetur,utoretprosuccessu/[Re]gisGalliae,cumassecuratione,quodDeusillifaueat,etquodille/praeualeat,contrariosexercitusreputat,utmuscas:spiritucircum-/plectiturexercitumFrancorum,quomodoidfaciat./

[40] Experio[r]etanimaduerto,quodistaeoperationesfiantinmesuper-naturaliteretiamcontrana-/turalemmeaminclinationem;namsecundum


From the divine heart comes a power, that flows from her to help theKingofFrance,whomshedeclares tobe trulyconverted.Thespiritofprayer for him continues while she perceives that the divine majestyreassuresherofthecertaintyofsuccess.

WhenIwasabout2or3daysinprayer,Isawsomedivinevirtueandgraceflow-ingfromthedivineheart ...whichseemed...tocontinuetoflowtohelptheKingofFrance....saythattheKingofFranceisnottrulyconverted,andthatheencourages theTurks to attack the King ... of the Christians6, if indeed thiswereso,howthencouldJesuslovetheKingastrulyasIseethat...Jesusloveshim.

...November1672thespiritofprayercontinues,asdescribedaboveandim-mediately...andmorevivid,withtheperceptionofthesweetdivinemajestywithinme,that forme ... luresandguidesme ...withverygreatconfidence,faithandcertaintyaboutthegoodresult.

ThissweetmajestyIseeandcarryconstantlywithinmeeitherinprayerorelsewhere.Nothingcanpreventmefromperceivinghim:thatIconstantlycon-templatehimandlovinglyclingtohimandspeakandtalktohimconfiden-tially and as between friends, for the spirit that is unbound and free fromeverything and from all other things can reside in the interior castle of thesoul:7asifheisseparatedfromotherthingsthataremanifold..........corporealand sensual things, and not assumed but permitted by the spirit, for all theforetold...ofthespiritoflovearefoundedandpenetratedbytheunityofGodandsowithout ... .... isoneandthesamespiritofGodthatbringsaboutallthesedifferenteffects.

AgainstthetendencyofhernaturesheismovedbyGodtoprayforthesuc-cessoftheKingofFrance,withtheassurancethatGodisfavourabletohim,andthatheprevails.Sheconsiderstheenemyarmiesasflies:withherspiritshesurroundstheFrencharmy,thewaythespiritdoes.

Iexperienceandperceivethattheseeffectsoccurinmesupernaturallyandevenagainstmynaturalinclination,becausebynatureIammoreinclinedto

6 ItisnotcleartowhichcontactoftheFrenchKingwiththeTurksMariarefershere.ButwehavetoseethisinthelightofthehistoryofthestruggleforpowerinEurope.IntheongoingfightbetweentheHapsburgandtheOttomanempire,FrancebenefitedfromtheoppositionoftheTurksagainsttheHabsburgsandtheSpaniards,whootherwisewouldhavehadtoomuchpowerinEurope.ThisimplicitsupportoftheFrenchthoughwascontrarytotheconflictofreligionsofthewesternChristianWorldagainsttheIslamicWorldoftheOttomans.Butallofthisoccurredmainlyinthelatesixteenthcentury(Lesaffer1999,21).

7 SeethearticleofElisabethHense,253-265.


naturammagisinclinoradiuuandumRegemHispaniarum,/utdesideremetpostulemprosperitateminilliusarmis,quiaipseestnosterRex,etetiamCa-/tholicus.//

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[1] Ideocogito,quodDeusdecreueritRegemGalliaehonorareeteiusregnumampliare,etideomecontrana-/turalemaffectumfaciatpropendere,etstarepropartehuiusRegis,uteumiuuem./Spiritusamorisetorationispergit,utisupradictumest,sedcummaioritranquilitate,etintimitateSpiritus/etiamagitur,etcertificatur,quodDeusseteneatproparteRegisGalliae,etideoipsereportabituictoriasdeini-/[5] micissuis;dehocnonestdubitandum;hocestcertumetfixum;etiamsiexteriorapparentiasealitermanifestet/utpotecumduoueltrespotentesexercitusualidorum,robustorum,etinmilitiaexperto-rummilitum,seseilliopponunt,/namsisuntinmenteetanimomeouelutmultitudomuscarum,sineuirtute,sinefortitudine,sineroborecomparatiue/aduirtutemetpotentiamDei,quiseinclinat,etbeneuolumexhibetergaexer-citumRegisGalliae./Spiritussesedispergitetexpanditsuperhuncexercitum,illumquasicircumprehendendo:nequehocinmeoperatur/[10] meushu-manusSpiritus,sedestSpiritusDeimeoSpirituiunitus,quiidinmeetpermeet mecum operatur; / hoc fit tempore tranquillissimae quietis, et intimaeconiunctionis,seuunionismeispirituscumdiuino,sineuerbis/sinecogitatio-nibus,etferesinealiquaimaginationealicuiusreicorporeae./Haecdispositioestnimisnobilisetnimisintimaquamutadmittat,uelcompatiaturaliquamimaginariamseu/corporeamimaginationemseuspeciemalicuiusreiinDeocognitae aut memoratae ut summum sunt imaginationes / [15] seu speciesintellectuales(utmihiuidetur)quaeibitolerantur;quodsiquidpiam,quan-tumacubiqueparum/demeoibiuellemintermiscere,spiritusillicototalitereuanesceret,etobnubilaretur,acredireminmeamnaturam./


helptheKingofSpain,8soastodesireanddemandtheprosperityofhisarms,becauseheisourKingandheiscatholic.9

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IthereforebelievethatGodhasdecidedtohonourtheKingofFranceandtoexpandhisempire,andthereforehemakesmeinclineagainstmynaturalfeel-ingandstandonthesideofthisKing,tohelphim.Thespiritofloveandprayercontinues,asstatedabove,butwithgreatertranquillityandintheintimacyofthe Spirit it is even said and assured that God is on the side of the King ofFranceandthatthereforehewillbringbackthevictoryoverhisenemies.Thereisnodoubtaboutthis,itisforsure,evenifappearancesmightsuggestother-wise,asitiswhentwoorthreestrongarmiesofmightyandsolidsoldiersexpe-riencedinwarwouldopposehim,becauseinmymindandinmyhearttheyare like a swarm of flies10, without courage, without strength or power thatmightbecomparedwiththestrengthandpowerofGod,whoinclinestowardsandshowskindnesstothearmyoftheKingofFrance.Thespiritspreadsandextendsitselfoverthearmy,asifgoingaroundit,andmyhumanspiritisnotdoingthisinme,butitistheSpiritofGodunitedwithmyspiritthatworksinmeandthroughmeandwithme.Thishappensatatimeofverygreatquietandcalm,ofintimateconnectionorunionofmyspiritwiththedivine,with-outwords,withoutthoughts,andalmostwithoutanyimaginationofanycor-porealthing.ThisdispositionistoonobleandtoointimatetoallowortolerateanyimaginativeorphysicalrepresentationoftheimageofathingknownorrememberedinGod,asifintellectualvisionsorimages(asseemstome)arethehighest,11whicharetoleratedthere,butifIwouldinterminglemyselfinit,nomatterhowmuchandnomatterwhere,thespiritwouldimmediatelyandcompletelyevaporateandwouldbeobscuredandIwouldreturntomynature.

8 I.e.KingCharlesII.9 SheshouldbynaturebemoreinclinedtotheSpanishKing,fortheKingofSpainisalso

theKingoftheSouthernNetherlands,whereshelives,whichisstillpartoftheSpanishkingdom.

10 ThiscomparisonwithfliesalsooccursinMaria’sletters.Thereshespeaksaboutinfernalspiritsandcomparesthemwithflies.ThisimageisknownfromDutchspiritualtradition(seee.g.LutgardeofAywiers)andisusedtoindicateshehasnofearofthem,forfliescaneasilybebeatentodeath. Inhertrust inGodthere isnothingthatcanintimidateher.Eventhoughthesehostilearmiesarestrongandpowerfulinthisworld,againstthepowerofGodtheyarenothing.

11 SeethearticleofElisabethHense,253-265.


Nihilaliuddebeofacerequammanereinunionecumdiuinospiritu,etpatidiuinamistaminoperationem;est /etiamidemspiritus,quioratmodoine-narrabili,proutabaliquotmensibus:quandoautemhaectammanifeste /inmepercipioetexperior,nonhabeorationem,curnonexspectemuictoriosumsuccessumetbonumexituminfa- /[20] uoremGallorum;cumnequemalig-nusspiritus,necnaturataliapossitoperari,hocbenescio. /

Magisconfirmaturdeuictoriososuccessuquamdiumanetunioanimae /cumDeo;etcontracontrariamapparentiamiterumcertificaturde /uic-toriaGallorum. /

Die 12 dicti mensis continuatur in me certitudo ut ante, cum noua continu........eetillumina- /[25] tione.Quandospiritusdecrescitinpuritateetflaces-sitinactualidilectioneetinim........ddilectum /conuersione;tuncetiameua-nescit istud lumen, ista certitudo, et spiritus orandi et ....................... timore /quodomneshae[c]praeuisionesdeuenientinnihilumetabibuntinfumum;quodquadamuoc.....................debam /ettimebam,quiaeratmihirelatumdemagnapotentiaetpotentissimisexercitibus........................ibuscon- /gregaban-tur, ut unanimiter aggrederentur et obruerent Regem Galliae; inde dice-ba...............extraomnemspem /[30] quodipseposseteuadereetinconflictuuictoriamreportare. /

Postquammeamuoluntatemconformassem,etuniuissemuoluntatidilectimei,utcumequanimitateetgaudio /spiritushanchumiliationemsustinerem;subito reuertebatur spiritus et confirmabat omnes praedictas cert............... /[Sceneo]etspiritusnonpoteritcohibere,quiainteriusclamaretuictoriaGallis,uicto......... /quodspiritusplusuelminusestinDeo,proportionaliteretiamestmaioruelminorconue................ /

[35] QuandoeiusspiritusestunitusDeotuncestmaio................... /intel-lectus unitus intellectui diuino uidet sicut ................. / uoluntas est unacumdiuinaundeetiamuult................. /

Quando spiritus humanus est unitus cum Deo, seu cum spiritu diuino tuncre............. /millumest lumennecilluminatioquaemihipraebeat lumen,autcognitionem........... /[40] humanusunitusintellectuidiuinointelligit,cogno-scit,uidetetscit ist................... /praeuidet,etscit;quiatuncanimaestunumcum Deo, et consequenter int................... / cum diuino uoluntas humana esttuncperfecteunitaseu.....umcumdiuin................... /


Ioughttodonothingbuttoremaininunionwiththedivinespiritandtoendurethatdivineoperation. It iseventhesamespirit that ispraying inanindescribableway,forsomanymonthsnow,butwhenIperceiveandexperi-encethesethingssoclearlyinme,Ihavenoreason,nottoexpectthewinningsuccessandthegoodresultinfavouroftheFrench,forneitherabadspiritnorsuchanaturecouldbringaboutthis,whichIknowverywell.

Sheismorecertainaboutthewinningsuccessaslongasshestaysintheunion of her soul with God, and contrary to appearances she is againassuredofthevictoryoftheFrench.

Onthe12thdayofthatmonth12,thecertaintyinmecontinuesasbefore,withnew...andillumination.Whenthespiritdecreasesinpurityandfadesinactiveloveand...theBelovedbyconversion.Theneventhelight,thatcertaintywillfadeandthespiritofprayer...andbyfearthatallthesevisionswouldcometonothingandgoupinsmoke,whatIbysome...andfeared,becauseasIwastoldaboutthegreatpowerandpowerfularmies13 ...thatweregatheredtoattackthe KingofFranceunanimouslyandoverpowerhim, so I said ...beyondallhopethathemightescapeandcarrythevictoryintheconflict.

AfterIhadconformedmyownwillinonenesswiththewillofmyBeloved,soastoendurethishumiliationwithequanimityandjoyofspirit,suddenlythespiritreturnedandconfirmedallthatwassaidbefore…andthespiritwillnotbeabletorestrainit,becausefromwithinthevictoryoftheFrenchcriedout…because thespirit ismoreor less inGod, it isalsoproportionallygreater orless…

When her spirit is united with God, then … is greater … her intellectunitedwiththedivineintellectseeslike…thewillisonewiththedivineandthereforealsowants…

WhenthehumanmindisunitedwithGod,orwiththedivinespirit,then…thereisnolightnorillumination,whichgivesmethelightortheknowledge…the human … united with the divine intellect understands, recognizes, seesandknowsthose…foreseesandknows.BecausethenthesoulisonewithGod,andasaresult…withthedivine…thehumanwillisthenperfectlyunitedor

12 I.e.November1672.13 InSeptember1672theElectorofBrandenburgandtheGermanEmperorraisedarelief

armyof60,000soldiersinHalberstadt.


Ideo uoluntas cum omnibus animae affectibus eo pro[uenue .et.] inclina-tur............... /etamplectatur,namanimatunc............estalitermaneri..[o........pelli...ad...........] //

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[1] necminusquamDeusilla<sc.anima>desideratueluult:adquaecumqueDeusseconuertitadeaetiamanimadebetse /conuertere;quodDeusdiligit,idetiamipsadiligit,aquoDeusseauertit,abeoetiamipsaseauertit,nec /potestaliter,eoquodDeuseampossideat,moueat,regat,etcumipsasituni-tus,ubiipsaestunumesse,unumope- /rari,etunumintelligere,unumuellecumDeo. /

[5] Agiturdiuersismodisorandiproaliis,perinstantias,perurgentemdilec- / tionempersponsalemfiduciamante faciemDei,aliquandoestapudDilectum /inqualitateReginae,quasiaequalisauctoritatis,etmittitArchangelum /MichaelemcumsuisinadiutoriumGallorum. /

[10] Diuersimihiadueniuntmodiorandi,proutantehac;subindecuminstan-tia intima in spiritu, subinde cum urgente et efficaci amore, subinde cumsponsaliamorosaconfidentia. /Etfamiliaritate,quiahaecuideturanimaein-tusdari;aliquandoestquaedamprofundiorintrotractioinspiritu /[ubi]spiri-tus est quasi ante faciem Dei, orans instanter cum amorosa instantia, sednonformandoaliquauerba,utcogi- /tationes.Haecoratiofitinspirituperspi-ritum,absquecooperationealiquarumaliarumpotentiarum;haecoratio /fa-cileduraretadhorassinefatigatione;namsecundumomnemperceptibilitatem,estipse..etspirititusDeiqui /[15] oratinmeetperme. /

Non debet Reuerentiae Vestrae uideri mirum quod dicam spiritum stareantefaciemDei;placeatscirequodinterioramea /sintquasicaelum,inquodeus regnat, et perceptibiliter ac deprehensibiliter habet suam mansionem;tamcerto /acsiipsumoculismeiscorporalibusuiderem,quamquamegohoccaelum(quodinpraesenti,etadhucaliquando /[arias]sesemanifestatcum


…withthedivine…Thereforethewillwithalltheemotionsofthesoul…isinclined…andisembraced,forthesoulthen…isotherwisetostay…

…14

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andthesouldoesnotwantordesireanythinglessthanGod:towhateverGodturns,tothatalsomysouloughttoturn.WhateverGodloves,thesoulalsohastolovethat,fromwhateverGodturnsaway,fromthatalsothesoulturnsaway,norcanthesoulactinanyotherway,becauseGodpossessesit,movesit,leadsitandisunitedwithit,whereitisonebeing,oneworking,oneunderstandingandonewillingwithGod.

She is driven by diverse ways of praying for others, with intercessions,withurgentlove,withtheBride’sconfidencebeforethecountenanceofGod.SometimessheiswiththeBelovedinthequalityofaQueen,aswithanequalauthority,andsendstheArchangelMichaelwithhismentotheaidoftheFrench.

Diversewaysofprayingcametomeasbefore:nowwithanintimateinterces-sioninthespirit,thenwithurgentandstronglove,thenwiththelovingconfi-dentialityofabride,becausetheseseemtobegiventothesoulfromwithin.Sometimesitissomehowdrawnmoredeeplyinto…thespiritislikeasifitwasbeforethecountenanceofGod,prayingearnestlywithlovingintercession,butnotforminganywordslikethoughts.Thisprayercomesupinthespirit,bythespirit,withoutthecooperationofanyotherpowers.15Thisprayereasilylastsforhourswithouttiring,becauseaccordingtoallperceptionitis...selfandthespiritofGod,whopraysinmeandthroughme.

ToyourReverenceitmustnotlookstrangethatIsaythatmyspiritstandsbeforethecountenanceofGod.Itmaypleaseyoutoknowthatmyinnerselfislikeheaven,inwhichGodreigns,andperceptiblyandunderstandablyhashisdwelling,ascertainasifIhadseenhimwithmyeyes,althoughIobscurethisheaven(whichinthepresentandagainatothertimeswillmanifestitselfwith

14 Herethemanuscriptisatmanyplacesunreadable.15 MariaPetytspeaksabouthigherandlowerpowers:potentiae superiores et inferiores.The

lower powers are the sensory and emotional powers, and partly also the imaginarypowers. The higher powers are spiritual powers of the human soul: intellect, will andmemory.


tamdiuinaclaritateetgloria,utiduerbisexplicarenequem)saepiusperrem /[20] rudemactiuitatem,etaliasimperfectionesobnubilem. /

IbiuidetspiritusDeumDilectumsuumquasifacieadfaciem,ibicummeoloquiturquasioreados,cordead /cor,ubipermittiturquasiquiescereetfuge-readcorDeialiquiddiuinum,quodanimanonpotestexplicare /Aliquandospiritusestantehancdiuinamfacieminstarignitaeetardentisscintillaetran-quilleetefficaciter /[eualdes]ead…..[a]moreDei. /

[25] Aliquando[anima]…sesentitapudDilectumsuumplusquaminqua-litatesponsae,sedetiaminqualitateReginae /quasiconstituta…….[uslatus]inhonoroficentia,aequalipotestate,etauctoritateiuxtaipsumu.g.dum /ro-gans[Doler]b....quatenusilliplaceretmittereSanctumArchangelumMichaë-lemadexercitumFrancorum /et ipsu.......equasigeneralemistiusexercituscum multitudine ad huc aliorum Angelorum simul / cum ipso ........andumexercitumaduersariusuidebaturmihiinteriusresponderetantumdebesman-dare /[30] utreginasu.....tis........ /

Intelligit quanti referat Gallos habere uictoriam in <imminenti> con-flictu /inCharleroii,etquomodoHollandiintendantHispanosdecipere…..... /turadorandumutBelgeumcedatGallis. /

....tellexiinspirituquantisitmomentiquodRexGalliaeimminentemconflic-tumlucreturatqueita /[35] ........................[uinoiis]sineiurisdictionisubicere;eo quod ubi mihi significatis ...eo.... / ..................a promotio S.tae Romanae........................num li et multi illud s.......... / ......................... pro ....plausibilia etBona[promessa]quaestatusHollandiaeuidenturfacere /...........................s.....atetibideceptioetdolussubistispromissis;nempestatumacpraeualuerint /....................tatumrecuperanierintsesubtrasentHispanisetcumhisprouinciisfacient / [40] ................egent, sine subiectione uel dependentia ab Hispanisnullissupremumdominum /.................udseregionesmultomagisintecienturHaeresibusetlibertaeReligionis /....................umcertaquodfuerataliquaillu-minatiosupernaturalissicutsuperior,sed /..................actaexrationeetexternaapparentia. /.................diturcormeumnouoigneetreloadorandumDeumutpotius..acumHollandia /[45] ............................................................................................................................................... //

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[1] IterumagiturspirituorandiproRegeGalliaeinspirituperspiritumpassiuese /habendoDeoperseoranteperefficacesinstantias. /


divineclarityandglory,asIcannotexplaininwords),moreoftenbysomerudeactivityandotherimperfections.

TherethespiritseeshisBelovedGodasitwerefacetoface,therehespeaksasitwerewithmymouthtoHismouth,withmyhearttoHisheart,thereheisallowedasitweretorestandtakerefugewithintheheartofGod,somethingdivinewhichthesoulcannotexplain.Sometimesthespiritisbeforethisdivinecountenance likeaburningand fiery flamecalmlyandeffectively… loveofGod.

SometimesthesoulfeelswiththeBelovedmoreinthequalityofaBride,butalsointhequalityofaQueen,asdetermined…tohonour,withequalpowerand authority with him e.g. while asking … that it would please him that IwouldsendtheholyArchangelMichaeltotheFrencharmy…andhim…asageneralofthatarmywiththemultitudeofotherangelstogetherwithhim…thearmyseemedtoanswercontrary…

SheunderstandsofhowmuchimportanceitisthattheFrenchwillhavethevictoryintheimminentconflictinCharleroi,16andhowtheDutch17intendtodeceivetheSpaniards…totheprayingthatBelgiumyieldstotheFrench.

…18

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Againshe isdrivenby thespiritofpraying for theFrenchKing, in thespirit,throughthespirit,restingpassivelywhileGodprayedthroughherwitheffectiveintercessions.

16 ThisisabouttheattackoftheDutcharmysupportedbytheSpaniardsonthepowerbaseoftheFrenchinCharleroiwhichtookplaceinDecember1672.ThispowerbasewasanimportantstrategiclocationoftheFrench,whichtheywantedtokeepatallcostssoastopreservetheconnectionwithFrance.TheFrenchsucceededinretainingCharleroi.OnDecember22thesiegeoftheDutchwaslifted,buttheFrenchwerenotcapableofgettingholdofBelgium.TheyhadtokeepdefendingagainsttheattacksoftheDutchPrince.SeeRooms,2007,46ff.

17 By“theDutch”werefertothepeoplefromtheNorthernNetherlands.18 Inthemanuscripthereabouttenlinesarefollowing,whicharenottranscribed,because

theyweretoodifficulttoreadandinterpret.


Die14Nouembris1672.circauesperasmihiiterumconcedebaturspiritusoran-diproRegeGalliae, /sicutante,n.itautoratiofieretinspirituperspiritum,idestnonpermeampropriamactiuitatem,uel /[5] cooperationem,sedquamDeusoperaturinfundoanimae,animasepassiuehabente;istaoratiofitual-de /uiuaciter,efficaciter,etincessanter,ettamenualdetranquille,simpliciter,etintime(quantum /potuimeminisse).HaecoratiofluebatualdenobiliteretuigoroseexDeo,uelutexsuoscaturigine,seu /origine,etiterumrefluebatinDeum, uelut ad suum finem cum eadem tranquillitate, pace, intimitate / etsineimaginationealicuiusreicorporeae,sineformationeuerborumautsen-sus,nihilaliuddistincte / [10] percipiendonisiDeum,quemaspectebametdiligebamardentianimo,etcumardentibusdesideriisexauditi- /onis;quiar-densanimus,etferuentiadesideriastabantquasiapertaanteDeumcumeffi-cacietferuen- /tiinstantia,continuaquasifluendoinDeummodoinformietintimo,quemaliteruerbisexplicare /nonpossum. /

Dico quod Deum et alias inoperationes illas distincte perciperem et aliosensu id fiebat indistincte et abs- / [15] que intellectuali comprehensione,praeintimitate,abstractioneimaginumseuformarum,etsine /absorptione,inquaspiritusstabat,eteratintrosumptus. /

EiusspiritussubindequasiexpansusantefaciemDeicummagnareue- /rentiaaperitdesideriacoramDeoquasiurgenscorDeiutexaudiatur. /

Aliquandoeratspiritusquasiextremeexpansusseuextensusantediuinamfa-ciemcummagna /[20] uiuacitateamorisetreuerentiadesideriaanimaestantquasiapertacoramDeocumurgenti /etamabiliapplicationeappressioneadcorDei,utexaudiatur iuxtabeneplacitumDeiquodagnoscit /essesituminexaudiriinillis,quaeperdesideriamodosilentiosopropon..ntur;percipit......,quod Deus / in his suis potentiis taliter operetur, et haec desideria ab ipsoproueniant,ethis........ntur,ut /ipsadiuinohocmodoDeumoratperDeum. /

[25] Intelligitetiam,sicutantehacquodDeusillanonintenderitdarenisisicrogat<us>...co...cidetur / ipsemitterespiritumsuuminnos,utoremus,etpostulemusgemitibusinenarrabil<ibus> /

Spiritus ita expansus ante faciem Dei habet diuersas <inoperationes>cogni- /tionisetamorissinecommunicationecumparte....ioresubinde /uideturibiliquefierietc.occultotamenmodoefficiatur.orat. /


OnNovemberthe14th1672aboutthetimeofVespersagainthespiritofpray-ingfortheFrenchKingwasgrantedtomeasbefore,fortheprayerhappenedinthespiritthroughthespirit,whichmeansnotbymyownactivityofcoop-eration,butasifGodworksinthesoilofmysoulwhilethesoulholdsstill.Thisprayeroccursveryvividly,effectivelyandincessantlyandyetquietly,simplyandintimately(asfarasIcouldremember).ThisprayerflowedverynoblyandvigorouslyfromGod,likefromhisspringwater,ororigin,andflowedbacktoGod,liketohisgoalwiththesametranquillity,peaceandintimacyandwith-outthe imaginationofanyothercorporealthing,without formingwordsorsentences, distinguishing nothing but God, to whom I looked up and lovedwithaburningmindandwithburningdesiresofbeingheard.ThisburningmindandthesefierydesiresstoodasitwereopenbeforeGodwithaneffectiveandburningintercession,continuouslyasitwereflowingtoGodinaunformedandintimateway,whichIcannotexplainotherwisewithwords.

Isay,thatIperceivedGodandthoseothersoperationsdistinctlyandthishappened indistinctly with another sense and without intellectual under-standing,ratherwithintimacy,abstractionfromimagesandforms,andwith-outabsorption,inwhichthespiritstoodandwastakenin.

Her spiritas itwerestretchedoutbefore thecountenanceofGodandwithgreatreverenceexpressesherdesiresbeforeGodas if tourgetheheartofGodtohearher.

Sometimesthespiritwasasitwereextremelystretchedoutorextendedbeforethedivinecountenance,andwithagreatvivacityofloveandreverentialde-siresofthesoulstoodasitwereopeninfrontofGodwithanurgentandlovingaffectionurgingtheheartofGod,soastobeheardaccordingtoGod’swill,thatsheacknowledgestobefoundinbeingheardinthesethings,thatareproposedbythedesiresinasilentway.It19understands…,thatGodinhispowersoper-atesinsuchmannerandthatitsdesirescomefromHimandbythese…are…,sothatinthisdivinewayshepraystoGodthroughGod.

Sheunderstandsaswell,asbefore,thatGodhasnotintendedgivingunlessheisasked,…tosendhisspirittous,sothatwemightprayandaskwithinde-scribablesighs.

ThespiritthatisthusstretchedoutbeforethecountenanceofGod,hasdiverseoperationsofthoughtandlovewithoutcommunicationwiththe.....part,immediatelyafterwardssheseemedtomeltthereetc.Inawaythatishidden,sheprays.

19 I.e.thespirit.


[30] QuandospiritusinteriusantefaciemDeistatquasiapertusetexpansus,tamhabetdiuersasoperati- /onescognitionisetdilectionis,quibusseinDeoetperDeumoccupatsubindecum[feruente]etoff..... /teamorequisolummo-dooperaturscintillat,etfluitinpotentiissuperioribuset....[rsiti] /istainope-rationond..stendit ...profunde,utpotentiaeinferiorescumillahabeant..... /cationem nisi quasi de longi parte possent aliquid inuestigare quid fiat ettra....... /[35] inquadamaurora. /

Aliquandouideturspiritusantefaciemdiuinamquasiliquefierieuanes....... /se ipso; subinde uidetur se dimittere in aliquod profundum quasi inaliquo[d]........... /essentialisnihileitatisetindignitatis,quasiindignusapparerecord...... /orationesimpendieteoaudiri. /

[40] Tali modo, in hac dimissione et muto silentio, spiritus se expandituel........ /coramfaciediuina,quasinonaususstareanteillametillam.......... /nostromodoloquendipraemagnareuerentiaueritusillumintuerit.......... //

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[1] …..tan….Occultoquodammodo,quem<nonpo>ssumexprimere,quo-modo spiritus adhuc facit instan- / tias et orat. uerbi gratia pro prosperitateistiusRegis,proconuersionehaereticorumadueramfidemetc.Atque /haecomniaoperaturspiritusperseipsum,perinfluxussupernaturalesetillumina-tionesadiuinospi- /rituactusetdirectus,quaemihinuncpraeterexspectatio-nem, fluide in mentem ueniunt, uti supra / [5] cooperante Dilecto, utReuerentiaVestrameliusadomniapossitattendereetapprehenderediscretio-nesspi- /rituum /

AgiturspirituamorisergaIesumutsponsumetconfidenteraczelose /agitproconuersioneHollandiae,utconstitutailliusmater;et /renouaturineamaternusaffectusergaHollandosconuertendos /

[10] Die 15. dicti mensis Nouembris 1672. post meridiem incipiebat spiritusamoris operari ualde suauiter / et affectuose erga Iesum Dilectum meum eterga Regem Galliae eiusque subditos, primo erga Iesum Dilectum / meum


Whenthespirit internallystandsbeforethecountenanceofGod,as itwereopenandstretchedout,stillithasdiverseoperationsofthoughtandlove,withwhichitoccupiesitselfinGodandthroughGod.Thenwithferventand…love,workingonlyinoneway,sparklesandflowsinthehigherpowersand…thisoperationdoesn’tdescend…deeply,sothatthelowerpowerswiththat...have…unlessasitweretheycouldfromadistantparttracesomethingthathap-pensand…atsomedaybreak.

Sometimesthespiritseemsasitweretomeltbeforethedivinecountenance…itself.Thenitseemstoletitselfslipawayinsomeprofoundplaceasitwerein some … of an essential nothingness and unworthiness, as to appear un-worthy…ofprayersbeingdedicatedandheardbyHim.

Thus,inthisdedicationandmutesilence,thespiritreachesoutor…beforethedivinecountenance,asifnotdaringtostandbeforethatcountenanceandthat…inourwayofspeaking,becauseofagreatreverence,fearingtolookupatHim…

…20

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...somehiddenway,thatIcannotexpress,howthespirityetmakesinterces-sionsandprays,e.g.fortheprosperityofthatKing,fortheconversionofthehereticstothetruefaithetc.Andthespiritoperatesallthesethingsbyitselfthroughsupernaturalinfluencesandilluminationsgivenanddrivenbythedi-vinespirit,thatnowaboveallexpectationscometomymindlikebefore,coop-erating with the Beloved, so that Your Reverence might better apply andemploythediscernmentofthespiritstoallofthis.21

SheisguidedbythespiritoflovetowardsJesusandconfidentiallyandzealouslysheactsfortheconversionofHolland,asifshewereitsmother.AndinheramotherlyfeelingisrenewedfortheconversionoftheDutch.

Onthe15thofNovember1672intheafternoonthespiritoflovebegantoworkverypleasantlyandtenderlytowardsJesusmyBelovedandtowardstheKingofFranceandhissubjects,firsttowardsJesusmyBelovedasifIwerehischosen

20 Here a part of the translation is omitted, because the original text (lines 34-45) is toobadlydamaged,andtranslationofthefewwordsleftwouldnotaddtotheunderstandingofthetext.

21 SeethearticleofVeronieMeeuwsen,240-251andAnne-MarieBos,266-281.


uelutelectaetcarissimaeiussponsacumconfidentia,siccumilloagendi;mul-tiscolloquiisZe- / losietZelotypi,dementatietquasi insanientisamorisdepromouendoeiushonoreetgloriaperconuer- /sionesanimaruminHollan-dia, cum renouatione memoriae, quod Dilectus me antehac fecerit quasi il-lius /[15] matrem;perquodinmerenouabaturmaternumcor;etmaternusamorergaillossicutantehac. /

MultasicoccurrebantpostulandaaDilectomeoadeorumsalutemprocu-randam et assecurandam / etiam erga milites Gallos; hi omnes erant adeosuauesetamabilesinmeamenteetanimo,quasi /omnesfuissentmeigeminifilioli,etegonaturaliseorummater;ideosentiebaminmetenerrimam /cumipsiscompassionemquasi ipsametsensissemeorumincommoda, frigus,pe-nuriametc.sicutnatura[lismater /[20] sentit]..secompatietsentireincom-modadoloresetinediametc.naturaliumfiliorum. /..................multaeamorosaequerimoniae ad Dilectum, quod hi mei filii istas omnes incommoditates /............<in>iurias.....surasinfirmitatesetc.sustinerentamoreipsius,uteumiu-uarentetcon- /.............oregno,quosproptereadeberetconfortarerefocillare,etcalefacereinternadi- /....lla...................to. /

[25] Reditinipsaconfidentia,etanimusquasiReginae,etuttalisagit /cumDilectoetAngelis;etquodTraiectum /noncapietur;posteacessatspiritusorandietmaterneagendi. /

Adueni<unt>..........quaedamconfidentiaetanimusquasiReginaein[uad]an-tis, adhuc efficace et uiu[ace] / qua.. ab aliquot .......... cum tali animo planeconfidenterag[eb]amcummeodilecto,etcumsanctisAngelisquasi /[30] ite-rum illis mandando, ut [unum] regnum Dilecti mei in Hollandia bene con-seruarent et protegerent, ac generose / .....entur contra quoscumque quiDilectum ibidemexsuo throno tentarentextrudereetexsuoregnoexpel- /...............Deu.....infernalesiterumibiponerentinpossesioneuelsaltempermit-terent,utSatan ibihaberet / .................siones iuxtaDilectumper tolerantiamseu permissionem liber[ae] religionis Catholicae ad... / ..............intendunt)quaminiuriamDilectomeoirrogarinonpossumpati. /[35] ...............iethaberecertitudinem,quodDilectusimpiosquiindeipsumexturbareinte- /..................geretperuictoriosumconflictumGallorumetalios qui irent in [Prosidium]Hollan- /................................ /........................ntionem,quodRexFranciaelucrare-turconflictum,etquodciuitasTraiectensis /...................bantabillisnoninterci-perentur. /

[40] .........................espiritusamorisetetiamspiritusorandi,necmihieratampliusposs[ine] /..............rioredispositionemanimi,perquodmihiincede-rat,quod[forte] /..............eramampliusorareuelexercereofficiaanimimater-ni //


andmostbelovedbridefullofconfidence,toactwithHiminthisway,inmanyconversationsofazealous,jealous,foolishandalmostinsanelove,topromotehishonourandglorybytheconversionofthesoulsinHolland,withthere-newalofthememory,thattheBelovedalreadybeforehadmademesotospeakitsmother.Throughthis,mymotherlyheartwasrenewedinme,andamother-lylovetowardsthemasbefore.

Manythingsoccurredtome:thatIhadtoaskmyBelovedtotakecareofandsecuresalvationalsowithregardtotheFrenchsoldiers.Allofthemweresopleasantandbelovedtomymindandtomyheart,asiftheyallweremylittletwinsonsandIwastheirnaturalmother.ThereforeIfeltaverytendercompas-sionforthem,asifImyselffelttheirdiscomforts,theircold,theirhardshipetc.,likeanaturalmothernotices…thatshesympathisesandfeelsthediscomforts,painsandthelackoffoodetc.ofhernaturalsons…manylovingcomplaintstotheBeloved,thatmysonsendurealltheirdiscomforts…injustices…infirmi-tiesetc.outofloveforHim,tohelpHimand…hiskingdom,whomshethere-forehastocomfort,refreshandwarmwithinner…

InhertheconfidencereturnsaswellastheheartofaQueen,andassuchshespeakswiththeBelovedandtheangels.SheasksthatMaastrichtwillnotbecaptured22.Afterwardsthespiritofprayingandofmotherlyactingceases.

SomekindofconfidenceandtheheartofaQueencometome,evenmorepowerfullyandvividly...ofsomany...withsuchaheartIspokequiteconfi-dentlywithmyBelovedand with theholyangels as if toask them again topreserveandprotectthekingdomofmyBelovedinHollandandgenerously...against all thosewhowould try to remove theBeloved fromhis throneandexpelHimfromhiskingdom....

...23

22 ByreasonsofchronologyTrajectumistranslatedasMaastrichtinsteadofUtrecht.From7Novembertill22December1672WilliamIIImarchedfromRoosendaaltoMaastricht.HefreedthecitytemporarilyfromtheFrenchtroops,whohadtakenthecity.

23 Lines23-38areomitted,becausethemanuscripthastoomanygapshere.


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[1] Inintimitatespiritushabetimpressiones,quodDilectus[conquera-tur] de / effusione sanguinis innocentis in Hollandia et de iniuria sibifacta /abHispanis,quiimpediuntRegnumIesuinHollandia. /

Iamabaliquotdiebusfiebantinmeofundoaliquaesubitaeilluminationesetimpressiones,modo /[5] alibiexplicatoubiagebamdealiquibussubtilibusetrapidisscintillisfundoanimaeiniectis(nisierrem). /haescintillaeetimpres-sionesuidebanturmeilluminareetmihiexparteDilecti,notificarequomodo /ipseualdeconquerereturdeinnocentesanguine,quiiniusteabutraqueparteinHollandiaeffunditur, /etdeiniuriasibiirrogataexparteHispanorum,quiuidenturuelleimpendereomnessuasuires, /extremautipotentiaadIesumexpellendumexsuonouoregno,etquantumestinse,conantur /[10] impedi-re pacificam possessionem desiderati regni illius et fidei Catholicae ibidemplantari caeptae etc. / Non quod Hispani habeant expressam illam intentio-nem;sedquiacommodantarmasuaHaereticisadex- /pellendumRegemGal-liae, [nixi] aliquibus promissis ab impia illa natione sibi factis, et sub spe,quod / [ipsimet]Hollandiampaulatimoccupabant,et tandemtotalitersuaesubiicientditioni. /

Verumiuxtaea;quaeegotunculteriusuidebametintelligebam,istaspesuana est et nulla, absque u........ / [15] secuturo effectu. Intelligebam etiamquodpromissahaereticorumetpraesentationesabillisReginaefacta...... /nonsubsistent,etsintplenaedolis,etdeceptionibus.AliquotemporeReginahabe-bit possessionem et <iurisdictionem> / in aliquot eorum ciuitatibus. Seu siDeuspermittat (quodDeusauertat)utRexGalliaeclademaccipiat /etsuc-cumbat,etacceptaeciuitatesuiarmorumipsieripiantur;istapossessioHispa-norum <numquam> / durabit nec etiam unio quam Hollandi et Hispanihabentinterse. /

[20] SedHaereticiasuishostibusliberatietpristinisuiribusrestituti,ali-quosalioshostes............... /utHispanosetReligionemCatholicamexterminent:quocasuettemporeRexGal..... /ReginaHispaniarumetiamfrustrabituromnispeexspectationeetpromississibifact....... /Oquantaminiuriametpraeiudi-ciumindepatenturIesusquaminfinitamalaet.................. /...eni.ent..qualemuindictamclamaretapudDeuminnocensillesanguisexutraquepo....................allorum /[25] t..mc...eeffusus!eoquodutrumqueesseteffusumsinefructu,dequibus...............deberent /spon...ereapudDeum;quippeRexGalliaeusquemodoeffunditillumsanguinisipsotituloexzeloetinter- /....eplantandiibi-demuerametortodoxamfidemetplantabamconseruan......haeceffusiosan-guinisexparte /RegisGalliaeestsanctaetiusta. /


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Intheintimacyofthespiritshehasimpressions,thattheBelovedcom-plainsoftheeffusionofinnocentbloodinHollandandoftheinjusticedonetoHimbytheSpaniards,whotrytopreventthekingdomofJesusinHolland.

Alreadyforsomanydaysnowsomesuddenilluminationsandimpressionsoc-curredinmydepths,inawaythatIexplainedelsewherewhenIspokeaboutsomesubtleandconsumingsparksemergingfromthebottomofmysoul(ifI’mnotmistaken).ThesesparksandimpressionsseemedtoenlightenmeandtonotifymefromthesideoftheBelovedhowHecomplainedverymuchabouttheinnocentblood,whichisunjustlyshedbybothsidesinHollandandabouttheinjusticedonetoHimfromthesideoftheSpaniards,whoseemedtouseallof their forcesandanextremepower toexpel Jesus fromhisnewkingdom,and,asfarastheycould,theytriedtopreventthepeacefulpossessionofHisdesiredkingdomandofthecatholicfaiththatbegantobeplantedthereetc.NotthattheSpaniardshaveexpressedthisintention,butbecausetheysupplythehereticswiththeirarmsinordertoexpeltheKingofFrance,trustinginsomepromisesmadetothembythatimpiousnation,hopingthattheythem-selveswouldoccupyHolland,graduallyandeventuallywouldsubjectthemtotheirpower.

Butbecauseofthosethings,whichIthensawandunderstood,thishopeisvainandworthnothing,without...theeffectwhichwillfollow.Iunderstoodeventhatthepromisesofthehereticsandtheproposalsmadebythemtothequeen24wouldnotlastandthattheyarefulloftricksanddeceptions.Sometimethequeenwillhavepossessionandjurisdictioninsomeoftheircities.Or,ifGodwouldallow(whichGodforbid!)thattheKingofFranceisdefeatedandsuccumbsand thatalso theconqueredcitiesarecapturedby forceofarms,thenthispossessionoftheSpaniardswouldneverlast;neitherwouldtheunitythattheDutchandtheSpaniardshavebetweenthem.

Butthehereticsfreedfromtheirenemiesandrestoredtotheirformerpow-ers,willunitewithsomeotherenemiesinordertoexpeltheSpaniardsandtheCatholicReligion,inwhichcaseandtimetheKingofFrance...thequeenoftheSpaniardswillbealsofrustratedbyallthehope,expectationandpromisesmadetoher...25

24 MariarefersheretoqueenMarianaofAustria,themotherofCharlesII.25 Lines20-35areomitted,becausethemanuscriptistoodifficulttoreadthere.


Deumuaeetuaeillis,quiexliuoreexinuidiaetpropriaquaesitionecom-pluerunt,etpersuase... / [30] ....……. lomeRegis istiuspropositumet inten-tum impediret ciuitates interceptas a ......... / aliquo sensu iterum [tradet] in[man]ushaereticorum. /EtsiGallipraeualeantequidemHispani[sunt]......... /guiniseffusi;neceorumintentioualetapudDeu....... /tassetpraesentationemRegisGalliae.Holland....... /[35] Regesmansistentuniti. /

Et.......licetDilectuspersuamomnipotentemmanumpermitteretu........ /.....num..ominemtemeretequidemHispanimagnaexparte............ /[apudsusta-nem]etinfructu[sla]effusio[omnis]istiusinnocentissangui............... //

33v

[1] tionemetresistentiamistiRegiinlaudabilietdeiformiillointentofactam:nequeeosapudDeumexcusabit /putataipsorumbonaintentioquiadestru-untcertamDeigratiam,etsalutemtotmilliumanimarum,quaecum /habetstabilitatemetlocumpropterincertametpropriaquaesitionemixta[m]glo-riamDeiasepraetensamutexspec- /tatam,quaeestfundatasuperarenam,uelinuento,quemuoluntapprehenderesedquiemanibusauolant /[5] admagnumeorumpaenitereposteaquandoeritserius. /

UtinamConsiliariiReginaehaberentoculumadpromouendaminHollan-diapurametnudamgloriamDei,et /salutemanimarum,namsicutuidebarintelligerediuinumilludlumenimprobabatetculpabatipsorum /conceptuspropositaetconcordiamseupactuminitumcumHollandis. /

Intellegebametiam,quodReginameliusetsatiusfecissetproseetDeogra-tius, si praesentationes Regis / [10] Franciae acceptasset; sic regnum ipsiusmansissetinparte,etplusprofecisset,quamiam(ubiquepostmodum) /etrexcummodicaeffusionesanguinisprosperassetetprogressusfuissetinDeiformisuopropositoetinten- /to;acceditquodsicinterRegesCatholicosmansissetmaiorunio,paxetconcordia;ubiiamapparenter /intereosexorieturcapitaleodium,dissentioetinimicitiainruinamtotiuspatriae /

Explicat., quales fuerint praedictae cognitiones, quae supernaturales,quae /[15] non;timetHispanis;ethaecscribitinuita. /

Nondicoquodhaecomnesfuerintcognitionessupernaturales;sedatempore,quomihicontigerunt /dictaeimpressionesetc.omnespraetactaecognitionesstabilitermanseruntimpressaeinfundomeo,et /quandospiritusinmeope-ratur,renouanturillaeiterumetconfirmantur,utuerae;etmanenttam /...ucetcertomihiinsitae,utnonpossimillasreiicereueldiffiteri. /[20] ........lectas


33v

…andresistancecommittedagainstthisKinginhislaudableandgodlyinten-tion:andtheirputativegoodintentionwillnotexcusethembeforeGod,be-causetheydestroythecertaingraceofGodandthesalvationofsomanysouls,which now has stability and place, because of the glory of God which is tothemuncertainandmixedwithself-interest,presentedbythemasexpected,whichis foundedonsand26,or inthewind,whichtheywanttocatch27butwhichwillflyawayfromtheirhandstotheirgreatregretlaterwhenitwillbetoolate.

O,ifonlytheCounsellorsofthequeenhadaneyetopromotethepureandnakedgloryofGodinHollandandthesalvationofthesouls,becauseasIseemtounderstandthatdivinelightitrejectsanddisapprovesoftheirconceptsandplans,andtheiragreementorpactwiththeDutch.

IunderstoodaswellthatthequeenwouldhaveactedbetterandsatisfyinglytoherselfandmorepleasinglytoGod,ifshehadacceptedtheproposalsoftheKingofFrance.Inthatwayshewouldhavekeptherkingdomandwouldhaveprofitedmorethannow(a littlebit later)andtheKingwouldhavebroughtabout a good end with moderate spilling of blood and he would have beenprogressedinhisgodlikeproposalandintention.Alsotherewouldhavebeenagreaterunity,peaceandconcordbetweenthecatholicKings,whilenowappar-entlybetweenthemaprofoundhatred,discordandenmityisemerging,whichruinstheentireland.

She explains of what kind the aforementioned thoughts were, whichwere supernatural and which were not. She fears the Spaniards andwritesaboutthisunwillingly.

Idonotsaythatallthesethoughtsweresupernatural,butfromthetime,thattheseimpressionscametome,allthoughtsthatIobtainedbeforestayedfirm-ly impressed deep within me, and when the spirit worked in me, then theywere renewed and confirmed as being true. And they remain so ... and cer-tainlyrootedinme,sothatIcouldnotrejectordenythem.

…Shereturns28

26 Cf.Mt.7,26-27.27 Cf.Prov.30,4;Eccl.1,14.28 Atthebottomofthispageiswrittenthecustode(catchword)Redit.Thisisanindication

thatthenextpageshouldbeginwiththiswordRedit.Butthenextpageinthemanuscript


mihi[facietut]illasquerelasdeiniuriisabHispanissibiillatis,etdeistaeffu-sione /......inisinnocentiscuiusHispanisuntcausa;secundumomnemappa-rentiam et quantum / illuminatio supernaturalis in magna tranquilitate etabstractionesine /.............onepotentiaruminferiorum;idfiebatceleriteretue-lociter,sedcumplena /.......titudo......ntioneueritatis;etistacertitudoabillotemporesicmansitaliquandocum /[25] .....aliquo..........itudineamorisprop-teriniuriamquaeDilectomeoetmultisanimabus /........rogatur. /

......u..b[is]intimaeillaeque....iaeDilectialiquidportendunt,etadillasbeneattendere oportet / ..........s....nde [aff]ectus p.............os; nam si haec sint uera,nontamsuauitertrans[ibunt] /.......nius,sinepostaliquodte.......procertoDi-lectusistanonpermittetsictransire,quia /[30] ........[ennis],magnum............isiforteinmeisilluminationibusdecipiar;quod /.............uodemnonpotui..mecohibere,quemhaecannotarim,postquamsaepius /.........mf....inabundantiainterscribendumcumtalipondereetsertim /..........................haereamconster-nata.Tempusdocebit,aquospiritus /..............u.....mihiquodauaritiafefelleritsapientiamHispaniorum. /

[35] ......................................................................................Redit //

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[1] Die4Juliiintellexi,ciuitatemTraiectensemRegiGalliaetraditumeodem /diequomihisignificabatur,Regemaccepisseauxiliametassistentiamasan-ctis /Angelis,n.die30Junii;sitindeDeusbenedictusinsaecula. /

Patitur quasi infernale tormentum pro peccatis Regis Galliae, quod /[5] tormentumutcumquedescribit,etdiupatitursinesolatio. /

UsqueadoctauamJulii,Dilectussecundumomnemapparentiam,meususest,ut satis- / facerem pro delictis Regis Galliae, accepta mea praesentatione adsatisfaciendum / pro illo, et patiendas etiam paenas infernales; quod certoquodammodomihifuit /concessumperinsolitum,etamehactenusnonpro-batumtormentum,quoddebui /[10] sustinereinanimamea,etmihiuideba-tur esse poena infernalis. / Mihi uidebatur, quod sub corde meo quasiaccenderetur ignis, quo cor ineffabili / modo cruciabatur, et tormentabatur;praeterea omnia, quae per sensus, per auditum, / uisum, tactum, et gustumpoterantintrare;Itemperimaginationem,uelalias /potentiassensitiuas,istaomnia, ista abiecta uidebantur tendere ad cor, ad / [15] illud cruciandummodoineffabili. /


34r

Onthe4thofJuly29IunderstoodthatthecityofMaastrichtwasdeliveredtotheKingofFranceonthesamedayonwhichtomeasignwasgiventhattheKinghadacceptedmyhelpandassistancefromtheholyangels,namelyonthe30thofJune.30MayGodbeblessedthereforeineternity.

ShesuffersasitwereinfernaltormentforthesinsoftheKingofFrance,whichshedescribesaswellasshecan,andshesuffersforalongperiodoftimewithoutconsolation.

Aftermyproposaltomakereparationforhimandeventosufferinfernalpen-ances,theBelovedusedmeuntilthe8thofJuly,accordingtoallappearances,tomakereparationforthefaultsoftheKingofFrance.Forsurethatwassome-thingthatwasallowedtohappentomeinsomewaybyanunusualandbymenotyetenduredtorment,whichIhadtoundergoinmysoul,andwhichseemedtometobeaninfernalpunishment.Tomeitseemedthatundermyheartasitwereafirewasignited,throughwhichmyheartwastorturedandtormented.Besidesallofthis,therewasallthatcametomethroughthesenses,throughhearing, through vision, touch and taste. Also through imagination or othersensorypowers,allthesethings,thatIhadrejectedseemedtopressuponmyheart,totortureitinanineffablemanner.

beginswithadifferentword.Thisisanimportantevidencethatthemanuscripthasnotbeenboundintherightsequence.Thenextpageshouldbe42r,whichbeginswiththecustodeRedit,andwhichalsoconnectstothispage33vchronologically.Seefootnote1abouttheoriginalsequenceofthemanuscript.

29 Herebeginsthefourthpartofthedocument.4July1673isintended.TheSiegeofMaas-trichttookplacebetween13Juneand26June1673.

30 On30Junethesurrenderofthecityhadtakenplace.


Insuperomnescreaturaeuidebanturinsurgerecontrame,quasiaDeofuissentad- /hibitae,uelutinstrumentaadmecruciandum;inomnibusrebus,etoccu-rentiis,sen- /tiebamextremamcontrarietatem,etrepugnantiam;parssupe-rior erat quasi - / cooperta, et sepulta in sensualitatibus naturae, et quasisubmersa in mari amari- / [20] tudinis; aliquando prae uehementia paena-rum,eramquasiextrame,etualdeob- / tenebrata in intellectu,etde facto,praenimiadurationepatiebarquaside- /liquia;quippeuiresconsumebanturperpraemagnamillametomnissolatii /expertempassioneminspiritu,etna-turam. /

Postea subinde parum consolabar, et confortabar per aliquem suauem,inti- /[25] mumoccursumetfruitionempraesentiaeDilectimei,sedplerum-queuersorinstatibus /paenalibus,praesertimsentiendonaturalesmeaspas-siones,quaeiterumquasireuiriscunt /imouidenturuiuaciores,quamumquamCpraesertimprouitasadsubitandumChole- /ram.Ac,quamuisenimperDeigratiampassionesillasnonsequar,equidem /illassentiretamuiuas,estmihimagnacrux. /

[30] Agitur uehementibus passionum motibus, quasi sibi relicta, et /tristis usque ad mortem etc tandem cessant penalitates, quas / partimproRegepartimadexercitiumhumilitatissustinuit. /

Passiones,quassentio,suntquasitortores,seucrudeles lictores,adtorquen-dam / animam, eo magis, quod debeam eas comprimere, et earum motibusincessanterresistere, /[35] etquiasentioaliquaapparentiamala,uelinuita,subindetimeo,nesiminmalo /[stratu],quippeistaesensibilitates,etpassio-numuiuacitatessuntualdeperegrinae,et /insolitae,indenescioquidcogitare;an non sit ibi manifest<atio>..ignium defectionis / in uia perfectionis, quaemihipersuadebammeiamsupra…………endisse,etper- /fectioniualdeap-propinquare;aliquandouereor,nealicu…..ittamaliquod /[40] magnumscan-dalum;indequasitimeoameipsa,etmihiipsiplanediffido. /

Passio tristitiae etiam non est minor, nec eam possum diuertere; animamea /estquasitotaperfusa,etpenetratainterno[maerore],tristitia,etpressu-ra;uide<or> /aliquomodoexperiritristitiametpressuram,quamJesussusti-nuit in hortu / quando dicebat, tristis est anima mea usque mortem: oquantoperequa…. //


Besidesallcreaturesseemedtoriseagainstme,asiftheywereusedbyGodasinstrumentstotortureme.InallthesethingsandoccurrencesIfeltanex-tremecontrarietyandcontradiction.Mysuperiorpartwasasitwerecoveredupandburiedinthesensationsofnature,andasitweresubmersedinaseaofbitterness.SometimesbecauseoftheviolenceofthepunishmentsIwasasitwereoutsidemyselfandmyintellectwasdarkenedandinfactbecauseofthelonglastingdurationIsufferedlikeacriminal.Formypowerswere(strengthwas)consumedbythatverygreatsufferinginspiritandnature.

AfterthatsuddenlyIwasconsoledsomewhatandcomfortedbysomepleas-ant intimateencounterandthe joyof thepresenceofmyBeloved.Mostly Iremainedinaharassing(distressing)state,feelingparticularlymynaturalsuf-fering,whichcomesbacktolifeandevenseemstobecomemorevigorousthanever,especiallymakingmefeelasifIwasabouttocontractCholera.Andal-thoughbyGod’sgraceIwillnotcatchthatdisease,itstillisaheavycrossformetofeelthesethingssoinsuchalifelikeway.

Sheisseizedbyviolentmotionsofsuffering,asifshewerelefttoherself,andsaddenedtodeathetc.Finallythepunishmentsstop,punishmentsshehadenduredpartlyfortheKingandpartlyasanexerciseofhumility.

ThepassionsthatIamfeelingarelikethetortureofacruelflogging,totormentmysoul,evenmorebecauseImustsuppressthemandresisttheirmotionsin-cessantly. And because I experience some bad or unwanted appearances, Isuddenlyfeartobeinabadsituation,forthesesensationsandthevividnessofthis suffering are very strange and unusual.Therefore I do not know what Ishouldthink:whetherornotitisamanifestsignofweakeningonthewaytoperfection,ofwhichIhadpersuadedmyselfthatIhadalready...andtrulyap-proachperfection.SometimesIfear,thatsome...somegreatscandal.There-foreIamsomewhatafraidofmyself,anddistrustmyselfcompletely.

Thesufferingofsadnessisnotless,andIcannotturnitaway.Mysoulisasitweretotally invadedandpenetratedwithinnersadness,sorrowanddepres-sion.IseeminsomewaytoexperiencethesorrowanddepressionthatJesusenduredinthegarden,whenhesaid:“mysoulissaddenedtodeath”.31Ohowmuch...

31 Cf.Mt.26,38.


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[1] hi itatus! quam procul absum ab omni uana praesumptione! quidquid /umquamboniinmefuit,hicquasieuanescit,etest,quasinumquamfuisset; /etiamquaeantecedenterscriptasuntdeRegeGalliae,nonpossuntmihiserui-read /aliquodsolatium. /

[5] Die11dictimensistotalitercessauitpassibilisillaetsensibilisdispositio;et /sentiome,sicutantea,planesuauemetmitem,amotibuspassionum,etoppug- /nationibuspartisinferiorisplaneliberam;etlicetlaborioseconarer,non /possemtalesnaturaesensibilitatescausare;uidenturistaiamtransacta /esse in alio homine; cum interna certificatione, quod istos paenales status /[10] sustinuerimexspecialidispositioneetpermissioneDilecti,partim,utsa-tis- /faceremproRegeGalliae,etpartim,utsicmeliusconseruarerhumilita-te. /SicDilectusnouitprudentermecumagere;neuanemeextollamin /eiusdonis; ipsemeponitinmeonihilo,etmefacitexperirimeamimpossibilita-tem /

Postaliquamanimirepugnantiamscribitexobedientiaaliqua /[15] desuainterioridispositione;iussaorarecontraGallosin /Hollandia,agiturdiuinospirituorandiinillorumfauorem. /

Die 6. Januarii 1674, ad honorem et gloriam SSmae Trinitatis. quando qui- /demReuerentiaeVestraedesideriumsit,utaliquascribam,quaeinmeagun-tur,faciam /quodpotero,etscribamea,quaemihioccurunt;sensialiquaminhocanimi /[20] repugnantiam,sediammesentiosuauiusinclinatam,prop-ter spem, quod / per hoc inueniam aliquam occasionem humiliationis, eoquodperomnes / istasnugas,omnesaliaemeaeapparenterperfectiones,etinoperationes /spiritus,etiamparuifient,necapprobabuntur;haecspesmeallicitet /exstimulat,utomnesmeasnugasresoluteedicam. /

[25] CumadrequisitionemsuaeExcellentiae,GubernatorisPatriae,essetin- /dictusgeneralisdiesprecuminomnibushuiusurbisEcclesiis,n.inipsa /uigilianatalitiorum,etprimoacsecundofesto,utattentatumcontraGallos /inHollandiaaduotumsuccederet;conabarunacumaliisiungerepreces /meas,etadintentumorare.Sedspiritusmeusnonuolebatseconforma[re] /[30] nec


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...HowfarawayamIfromeveryvainpresumption!Whatevergoodhaseverbeen inme, thatevaporatesnowas itwereand it isas if ithadneverbeenthere.EvenwhatIhavewrittenbeforeabouttheKingofFrance,cannotservemenowasconsolation.32

Onthe11thofthismonth33thissufferingandsensitivestateceasedinmetotally.AndI feelasbefore,completelypleasantandgentle,completely freefrommotionsofsufferingandattacksofmyinferiorpart.AndalthoughItriedstrenuously, I could not cause such sensitivities of nature. They seemed al-readytohavetransferredtoanotherhumanbeing.WithinnercertaintythatIhadenduredthosetormentingstatesbecauseofaspecialdispositionandper-missionoftheBeloved,partlytomakereparationfortheKingofFrance,andpartlysothatIwouldbekeptingreaterhumility.ThustheBelovedknewhowtoactprudentlywithme,sothatIwouldnotextolmyselfinhisgiftsinvain;heplacedmeinmynothingness,andmademeexperiencemypowerlessness.

After somerepugnance inherheart shewritesoutofobediencesomethingsaboutherinnerstate.Althoughsheiscommandedtoprayagainstthe French in Holland, she is driven by a divine spirit to pray in theirfavour.

Onthe6thofJanuary1674,tothehonourandgloryofthemostholyTrinity.WhenYourReverencewishes,thatIwriteaboutsomeofthethingsthathap-peninme,IwilldowhateverIcanandwillwritethosethingsthatoccurtome.Ihavefeltsomerepugnanceofheartinthis,butIalreadyfeelmorepleasantlyinclined,becauseofthehopethatIwillfindinthissomeoccasionofhumility,becausethroughall thesetrifles,all theseapparentperfectionsofmineandtheworkingsofthespirit,willalsobecomelittle,andtheywillnotbeapproved.Thishopealluresandstimulatesme,toproclaimallmytriflesresolutely.

WhenattherequestofHisExcellency,theGovernorofthecountry34,agen-eraldayofprayerinChurchesofthiscity35wasannounced,totakeplaceonChristmaseve,andonthefirstandsecondfeastday,sothattheattackagainsttheFrench inHollandwouldsucceedasdesired, I triedtounitemyprayerswiththeothersandtoprayaccordingtohisintention.Butmyspiritdidnot

32 N.B.Thisisthefourthpartofthedocument.Mariarefersheretofollowingpassages.33 I.e.July1673.34 I.e.DonJuanDomingoMendezdeHaro,Seealson.78.35 I.e.Mechelen.


cooperari; furiebam interim secundum uoluntatem et spiritum humanum /quodpoteram,utobtemperaremmandatosuperiorum. /

Die30natalitiorum,n.infestoS.Joannis,uidebaturspiritusdiuinusin /meorare,etpostularegemitibusinenarrabilibus,etinmeoperarimodoinsolito /et inexspectato, plane contrario requisitioni et intentioni nostri Principis; /[35] imprimis eram [in]trosumpta seu introtracta in illa extraordinaria etprae- /magnaunionecumDiuinitate,quasietiamabunoautalteroannofrui-ta / fui; Inhacunione, subindeperuiresnonnihildemittebarcumaliquali /meiipsiusperceptione,nonrudi,sedualdesublimi,spirituali,etnobilimodo /nempe in qualitate tenerrimae et amantissimae sponsae, quae permittitur,uel /[40] potiusadiuinospiritutaliteragitur,utcumsuodiuinoDilectocon-fidenter /etfamiliariterconuersetur,etagatderebusipsumconcernentibus: /nontamen //

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[1] NontamenuidebamChristihumanitatem,sederatcomprehensa,etab-scon- /ditasubsummoilloBono,seudiuinaEssentia,quaesemihimanifesta-bat; /etsuifruitionemindulgebat;namnullaespeciesimaginariaeinmetole- /rabantur,sedsolaeintellectuales. /

[5] Tenerrimusillesponsalisamordabatmihiconfidentiampostulandiet /orandiDilectummeum,ut,cumipsinotumesset,perquoseiushonoretglo-ria, /deberetpromoueri,etBonumSanctaeEcclesiae,acsalusanimarumpro-sperari, / et iuuari, siue per exercitum Caesarium, siue per exercitumHispanorum, siue / per exercitum Gallorum, dignaretur benedicere illis, perquos maius / [10] bonum fieret; ac proinde, ut secundum diuinam suamprouidentiam,et /Charissimumbeneplacitumuelletillisauxiliari,etdareuic-toriam. /

Videbarpercipere,quodDeusinclinaretur,etseconuerteretadexercitum /Gallorum,etseabillisauerteret;talimodomihiinsinuando,etspemdando, /quoddaretsuambenedictionem,etmanusauxiliatricesGallis,utsicdiuinae /[15] prouidentiaedispositiofortiretureffectum,nonobstante,quodhumani-tus loquendo / id uideretur esse extra omnem apparentiam et econtra essetsummaappa- /rentia,quodGallisuccumberent,etadinternecionemredige-rentur,propter /potentissimosexercitusImperatorisetRegisHispaniarumil-losaggrediparatos. /


wanttoconformandcooperate.Iexertedmyselfinthemeantimewithallmywillandhumanspirit,asfarasIcould,toobeythecommandofmysuperiors.

Onthe30thofDecember,onthefeastofSt.John,thedivinespiritseemedtoprayinmeandtopostulatewithindescribablesighsandtooperateinmeinanunusualandunexpectedway,clearlycontrarytotherequestandtheinten-tionofourPrince.36FirstlyIwasturnedordrawninwardinthatextraordinaryandverygreatunionwiththeDivinity,asIhadenjoyeditforoneyearoran-other. Inthisunion,suddenlyIwassomewhatbroughtdownbyforceswithsomeperceptionofmyself,notinarude,butinaverysublime,spiritualandnobleway,inthequalityofaverytenderandlovingbride,whoispermittedorbetterwhoissobythedivinespirit,thatsheassociateswithherdivineBelovedconfidentlyandfamiliarly,andspeaksaboutthingsthatconcernHim:

35r

Yet I did not see the humanity of Christ, but that was enclosed and hiddenunderthathighestGood,orthedivineEssence,thatmanifesteditselftomeandthatallowedmetoenjoyit.Fornoimagewastoleratedinme,butonlyintellectualimages.

ThatverytenderbridallovegavemetheconfidencetoaskandpraytomyBeloved, that – while it was known to Him, by whom his honour and gloryshouldbepromotedandthesalvationofsoulsshouldbeadvancedandhelped,whetherbythearmyoftheEmperor37orbythearmyoftheSpaniardsorbythearmyoftheFrench–thatheshouldblessthem,bywhomagreatergoodcouldhappenandthen,accordingtohisdivineprovidenceandhismostbe-lovedwill,thathewouldhelpthemandgrantthemvictory.

IseemedtoperceivethatGodinclinedtowardsandturnedtothearmyoftheFrench,andthatHeturnedawayfromtheothers.InthiswaysuggestingtomeandgivingmehopethatHewouldgivehisblessingandahelpfulhandtothe French, so that in this way the disposition of divine providence wouldstrengthentheeffect,notwithstandingthathumanlyspeakingthisseemedtobebeyondallappearanceandthattothecontraryitwasthemostlikelyout-comethattheFrenchwouldsuccumbandwouldbedestroyedbecauseofthemostpowerfularmiesoftheEmperorandoftheKingoftheSpaniardsthatwerereadytoattackthem.

36 PerhapssherefersheretoDonJohnofAustria,naturalsonofPhilipIV.In1672hestillwastitularGovernoroftheSouthernNetherlands.

37 I.eLeopoldI.


PorroDilectusuidebaturamerequirere,utGallisimpertirereius /[20] be-nedictionem;quodsicipsofactofaciebam,etvidebaraliquomodoimprecari /maledictionemnostroexercitui,nimirumnostrissubtrahendoomnemsapien-tiam, /animos,etuirtutem;idnonfaciebamexmeipsa,seddiuinusspiritusuide- /baturidinme,etpermeoperari,absqueeo,quodidpossemimpedire. /

FamiliariteragitcumAngelisproauxilioGallorum,intellectus /[25] uni-turintellectuidiuino,cumassecurationediuinaeinoperationisproGal-lis. /

IstotemporeetiamagebamualdefamiliaritercumsanctisAngelis,uelut /cumadministratoriis spiritibus Dilecti mei, ipsis committendo omnem curam /conuersandi, amplificandi, et stabiliendi regnum Dilecti mei, et in istum /finem,personaliteraccedendi,et incongressibusauxiliandi illis,quosDilec-tus /[30] adhocelegerat:idfiebatcumtantafiducia,fideetanimilibertate,ut /deueritateillorumneuelsemelpossimdubitare. /

Post quam familiarem cum Angelis conuersationem [e]t communicatio-nem / continuo introsumebar et introtrahebar in praedicta ….ni..ente unio-ne, / non solum in unione mei spiritus cum spiritu Dei, s[ed] ……. Unione /[35] potentiarumsuperiorum,nempeintellectuscumintellectudiuino,me-moriae /cummemoriadiuina,uoluntatiscumuoluntatediuina,hocestali-quid / aliud, quam quod ordinarie nominatur uel dicitur unio cum Deo; adhanc / unionem explicandam, multa occurerent dicenda, quae tempus iamnon permitt.... / Eodem tempore iterum plene certificabar quod omnes illaeinoperatio[nes] //

35v

[1] illuminationes, et modi orandi spiritus etc quae a duobus annis in me /fueruntquoadRegemGalliae,omniaprouenerint,etinmeactasint /adiuinospiritu;proillaueritatebeneuoluissemsustineretotmortes /quothabeoincorporemeomembra. /

[5] Continuatur ineaspiritusorandi totusdiuinus,uidet in /Deo,proquibusDeusuultorari;proEcclesiacontraIansenistas /contraimminen-teshaereses;quomodooret. /

Vlteriusspiritusorandicontinuabaturinmemultishoris,absquede- /ficientiauelflaccescentia,etabsqueeo,quodperaliquidpossemim- /[10] pediri,siue


FurtheritseemedthattheBelovedrequiredfromme,thatIwouldgivehisblessingtotheFrench.IndeedIdidsoandIseemedinsomewaytocurseourownarmy,bywithdrawingallwisdom,courageandvirtuefromthem.Ididnotdothatonmyownaccount,butthedivinespiritseemedtooperatethatinmeandthroughme,withoutmebeingabletopreventit.

ShespeaksinafamiliarwaywiththeangelsforthemtohelptheFrench,herintellectisunitedwiththedivineintellect,withtheassuranceofthedivineworkingfortheFrench.

InthattimeIalsospokeveryfamiliarlywiththeholyangels,asthehelpingspiritsofmyBeloved,committingtothemallmycareabouthandling,amplify-ingandestablishingthekingdomofmyBeloved,andIaskedthemtogotherepersonally, and help them in their confrontations, those whom the Belovedhadchosenforthatpurpose.Thishappenedwithgreatconfidencetrustandfreedomofheart, so that Icouldnoteven foramomentdoubt thetruthofthesethings.

AfterthatfamiliartalkandcommunicationwiththeangelsIwascontinu-ouslydrawnandpulledinwardsintheaforementioned...union,notonlyintheunionofmyspiritwiththespiritofGod,but...theunionofhigherpowers,namelyofmyintellectwiththedivineintellect,ofmymemorywiththedivinememory,ofmywillwiththedivinewill.ThisissomethingdifferentfromwhatisusuallycalledornamedunionwithGod.Toexplainthisunionmanythingsoccurthatmustbesaid,whichtimedoesnotallowanymore...AtthesametimeIwasfullyassuredagainthatallthoseoperations,

35v

illuminationsandwaysofprayingofthespiritetc,whichhavebeeninmefortwoyears inrelationtotheKingofFrance,alloccurredandhavebeenpro-ducedinmebythedivinespirit.ForthattruthIwouldhavewellwantedtosustainasmanydeathsasIhavemembersinmybody.

Thecompletelydivinespiritofprayingcontinuesinher.SheseesinGodthatforwhichGodwantshertopray:theChurch,againsttheJansenists,againstimminentheresies.Sosheprays.

Thespiritofprayingcontinuedinmeformanyhours,withoutinterruptionorrelaxation,andwithoutbeinghinderedbyanything,whetherIwasrecitingthe


cumaliisrecitaremofficium,siuehincindeiremper /domum;namistaoratiofitomninoinspiritu,perspiritum,et,meo /uideri,estplanesupernaturalis;quippeomnespotentiaeuidenturesse /suspensaeasuisnaturalibusoperatio-nibus,quamdiuistaoratio /durat;ipsaesecontinentinquiete,ethabentsepermissiue. /

[15] Istaoratioestinsolitus,efficax,etuiuusadDeumintuitus,etconfor-mis / ad ipsum amoris affectus; ubi anima non loquitur, nec supplicat, necblande / deprecatur, nec aliquid repraesentat, nec expresse commendat ali-quam /remtamquamproculabsentem,seduidetinDeouelutinspeculo,ea, /proquibusDeusuultorari;etDeusconformiteruidetinanima,ea, /[20] quaeipsa postulat, uel postulare uult, absque eo, quod ipsa expresse proponat /quid,autquomodo;totumestconclusumetimplicite,seutacite,com- /pre-hensuministodiuinointuitu,etpariformiamoreDei. /

Verumtamenanimabenescit,inquemfinemspiritustaliteroret /etpostu-let;erattuncproconseruationeetamplificationeSanctae /[25] Ecclesiae;inillointuitu,seuaspectuetdilectioneDeietiamcomitatur /quaedamferuenseturgensinstantia,quaequasicordiuinumuultpenetrare /etideouocoistumaspectumefficacemetuiuum. /

NecessitasSanctaeEcclesiae,quaemihiimprimebatur,partimerat /prop-ter tumultus et commotiones, etc, quas Iansenistae causant in Sancta /[30] Ecclesia, per eorum doctrinas apprehendendo magnam inhonoratio-nem / contumelias,e[t] blasphemiascontraSuamuirginem,etmultoserro-res /quosingerunt<cor>dibusfidelium;partimpropterincursumTurcorum /partimpropterinteritumfideiinHollandiaplantaricaeptae:etiaminhac /pa-tria periclitantis; nam paucis diebus ante, dum accederem ad sacram /[35] communionem,mihiaduinumrepraesentabaturiconomachia,etuiola-tiones /templorum,etsacrarumimaginum,quaeuidebanturexerceriperhae-reticos /etafideapostatasinhisProuinciis. /

Postquamrepraesentationemueniebatinmespiritusorandi,adsumma //


liturgyofthehourswithothers,orIwasgoingtoandfrothroughthehouse.Becausethatprayerwasgiventotallyinthespirit,throughthespiritandis,asitseemstome,clearlysupernatural.Forallpowersseemtobesuspendedintheirnaturaloperations,aslongasthatprayerlasts.Theyfindthemselvesinastateofquietnessanddevotion.

Thatprayerisanuncommon,efficientandvividintuitioninrelationtoGodandcorrespondstotheaffectionoflovethatapersonhasforHim.Therethesouldoesnotspeakorbeg,nordoesitprayblandlyforforgiveness,nordoesitrepresentanything,nordoesitcommendsomethingexpresslythatisfaraway,butitseesinGodasinamirrorthosethingsforwhichGodwantsittopray,justasifGodseesinmysoulthosethingsforwhichitbegsorwantstobeg,withoutthesoulproposingexpresslytoHimwhatandhow.Everythingisincludedandimplicitorconcealed,andcomprehendedinthatdivinelookandinconfor-mitywiththeloveofGod.

Stillthesoulknowswelltowhatpurposethespiritpraysandbegsinsuchaway.ItwasthenforthepreservationandexpansionoftheHolyChurch.ThatlookorsightandloveofGodisaccompaniedbyferventandurgentinterces-sion,whichasitwerewantstopenetratethedivineheart,andthereforeIcallthatsightefficientandvivid.

ThenecessityoftheHolyChurch,thatwasimpresseduponme,waspartlybecauseoftheuproarsandcommotionsetc,whichtheJansenistscausedintheHolyChurch,bytheirdoctrinesthattheyproposedasagreatinsult,criti-cismandblasphemyagainst theHolyVirgin,and themanyerrors that theythrustupontheheartsof thefaithful.38Partlythenecessitycametomebe-causeoftheattackoftheTurks39andpartlybecauseofthedestructionofthefaiththathadbeguntobeplantedinHolland.Eveninthiscountrytherewasadanger.Forsomedaysbefore,whileIwenttoholycommunion,atthewinetheiconoclasmwasrepresentedtome,andtheviolationsofthetemplesandofsacredimages,whichseemedtobedonebyhereticsandapostatesfromthefaithintheseProvinces.

Afterthatrepresentationthespiritofprayingcametome,

38 MariaPetytisaferventopponentofJansenism,whichshesawasahereticalmovement.ShesawJansenismandotherhereticsasagreatdangerfortheunityoftheChurch.ThisisalsothemainreasonwhyshechoosesthesideoftheFrench,becauseshebelievesthattheFrenchwanttobringbackHolland–alsoahereticalcountrybecauseofthedomi-nanceofProtestantismthere–tothetruefaithoftheRomanCatholicChurch.

39 InAugust1672Ottomanforces,invadedUkraine.


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[1] istamala inuertenda,etdeprecanda,peroblationempraetiosi sanguinisChristi / aeterno Patri; eadem oblatio mihi etiam mandabatur in praedictaora- /tione,cumuariisadhucaliisamorisinuentionibus,etamorosisallocuti- /onibusadJesum,etadaeternumPatrem,quaemihiiamclarenonoccurrunt. /

[5] SponsaliteragitcumDilecto,etfamiliaritercumangelis,orans /proecclesia,etmandanscaedereCaesarianosetHispanos, /quosuidetnihileffecturos. /

Quandoeodemtertiofestonatalitiorumsubindetantisperremittebar /abistasupermagnaunione,etponebarindispositione,etstatuamantis- /[10] simaesponsae,etfamiliaris,acconfidentialisconuersationiscumDilecto /meo,utdictumest,tuncmanebameleuatasuprameipsam,sednon /extrameipsam,idest,habebamadhucaliquamperceptionemmeiipsiusin /Deo,etdiscretio-nem,seudistinctumcognitionemeorum,quaeDilectusin /me,etpermeope-rabatur,etmeuolebatoperari,nempeattentissimumillum, /[15] etamorosumaspectumdiuinaepresentiaeipsius,istamorationempro /SanctaEcclesia,etoblationem praetiosi sanguinis Christi, conuersationem / et familiaria collo-quiacumSanctisAngelis,instarregalissponsaecum /aulicisetnobilibussuiregalisSponsi,agendopraecipuederebusconcernen- /tibusprosperitatemetpromotionemregniDilectisui. /

[20] IdcircocumaDilectomeointellexissem,quodHispanietCaesarianiope- /rarenturetagerentcontraipsumeteiushonorem,etgloriametc,dabat /spiritusamorismandatumSanctisAngelis,utistosexercitusprofligarent, /eteneruarent,ipsisauferendouiresetanimos,nepossenteffectuaresuum /in-tentumetpropositum,inpraeiudiciumregniDilectmei,SanctaeEcclesiae. /

[25] Sentiebamquodhocsicfieret;quodnostriPrincipesnihilefficerent,prout / ante Caroloreginum, ab illo tempore apparebat noster exercitus inmente mea / quasi congregatio muscarum, sine potentia, sine uiribus, quiaDeusnoneratcum /illis;Idemiterumrenouabatursubsequentidieprecum,quodn.nostri /PrincipescumomnibusistisorationibusnullumaDeoaccipe-rentauxilium. /

[30] haec scripsit 6. Januarii 1674, quando illa contigerant circa natalitia1673. /


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toturnasidethatgreatestevilandtopraythatitwouldnothappen,bytheof-feringofthepreciousbloodofChrist.Thatsameofferingwasalsodemandedofmeintheaforementionedprayer,withvariousotherexpressionsofloveandlovingutterancestoJesusandtotheeternalFather,thatdonotclearlyoccurtomeanymore.

LikeabrideshespeakswiththeBeloved,andfamiliarlywiththeangels,prayingfortheChurch,andaskingthattheimperialforcesandtheSpan-iardsretreat,whomsheseeswillnotreachanysuccess.

WhenafterwardsonthethirddayofChristmasIwassomewhatreleasedfromthatverygreatunion,andIwasplacedinthedispositionandstateofamostlovingbride,andofafamiliarandconfidentialconversationwiththeBeloved,asitissaid,thenIremainedliftedupabovemyself,butnotoutsidemyself,thatis, Ihadstill someperceptionofmyself inGod,andadiscretionordistinctcomprehensionofthethings,whichtheBelovedoperatesinandthroughmeandwhichhewantsmetooperate.Namelythemostattentiveandlovingsightofhisdivinepresence,thatprayerfortheHolyChurch,andtheofferingofthepreciousbloodofChrist,theconversationandfamiliartalkswiththeholyan-gels,likearoyalbridewiththecourtiersandnoblesofherroyalBridegroom,preferablyspeakingaboutquestionsconcerningtheprosperityandpromotionofthekingdomofherBeloved.

ThereforewhenIhadunderstoodfrommyBeloved,thattheSpaniardsandtheimperialforcesoperatedandactedagainsthimandagainsthishonourandgloryetc,thespiritoflovegavetheordertotheholyangels,thattheyshoulddefeatandenervatethosearmies,takingawaytheirforcesandcourage,sothattheycouldnotcarryouttheirintentionandplanofharmingthekingdomofmyBelovedandtheHolyChurch.

Ifeltthatthishappenedlikethis.Thatourleadersdidnotachieveanything,like it was before Charleroi.40 From that time on our army appeared in mymindlikeaswarmofflieswithoutpower,withoutstrength,becauseGodwasnotwiththem.Thesamethinghappenedagainonthenextdayofprayer,thatourleaderswithalltheirprayerswouldreceivenohelpfromGod.

ShewrotethisonJanuary6th1674,whilethesethingshappenedduringthedaysofChristmasin1673.

40 Seen.16.


ImperatoremetHispanosmalefacereassistendoHollandiscontra /Gal-los,etDeumpuniturumillos,quiGallosimpediueruntinHollandia. /

Reuerentia Vestra mihi asserit, quod Princeps noster tam bene intendat, etquodImperator /sitpiusuir;uerum,utimihiuidetur,ipsinonfaciuntpia[o]pera, sicut Zelosos, et / [35] Catholicos Principes decet, qui deberent armissuisutiad.....emSanctae /Ecclesiae,aderadicationemhaereticorum,etc;cu-iuscontrariumnostrifaciunt,impedi- /endo,quantuminseest,omnempro-fectum et propagationem sacrae nostrae fidei in / Hollandia, nec uolueruntconsentire,utHollandicumRegeGalliaeconcordarent /cumtitulo,etcondi-tionepermittenditemplaCatholicainomnibussuisCiuitatibus; /[40] utidi-citur et uero simile est, ex inuidia et maleuolentia, ne Rex Galliae haberet /honorem,quodinistispartibussanctamEcclesiampromouisset. /Ipsiimpe-diunt,neilleRexgentemillamhaereticametceuertat,etregn............ //

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[1] Jesuibiplantetetstabiliat;etinterimipsiidnonintendunt,cumtamensitin /illorumpotestateiammultasurbeshaereticasproseintercipere,uelapudstatus /praetendere libertatemfideiCatholicae incompensationemsubsidiiHollandis /praestiti;quodiamuixipsispossetrecusari. /

[5] Sciat Reuerentia Vestra, quae seminauerunt nostri, haec et metent;Deusquicordanouit /omnium,retribuetsecundumoperaeorum,etnonse-cundum iudicium hominum, si / Imperator, et noster Princeps unanimitercumRegeGalliaeHollandiamagg- /ressifuissent,uelsaltemsesecontinuis-sent, nullum Hollandis praestando subsidium / spatio medii anni Hollandiafuissetintercepta,etomniacumbonoordineetpace, /[10] ualdeChristianeprocessissent;proutRexGalliaeinprincipioincipiebatcumbono /zelo,pieta-teetlaudabiliregimineinpopulosuo;uerumpraedictinostriPrincip[es] /insupremogradueidederuntoccasionemexacerbationis,etiracundiae;etinde /tammultamalaprouenerunt,etadhucsequenturetiaminhacPatria,pro /utexnuncincipiunt. /

[15] Omnisconspiratiohumananihilualet,quandoDeusnonuultcoope-rari,et(...) /Deusnoncooperabitur,etinsimilibusnonuultcooperaricontra


She says that the Emperor and the Spaniards do evil by assisting theDutchagainsttheFrench,andthatGodwillpunishthem,becausetheyimpedetheFrenchinHolland.

YourReverenceassuresmethatourLeaderconductshimselfwell,andthattheEmperorisadevoutman.Butasitseemstometheydonotdopiousworks,aswouldbefitzealousandcatholicleaders,whoshouldusetheirweaponsto…oftheHolyChurch,totheeradicationofthehereticsetc.Theydothecontrary,impeding,asmuchastheycan,theprogressandtheextensionofourholyfaithinHolland.Theydidnotwanttoconsent that theDutchwouldcometoanagreementwiththeKingofFranceaboutthelegalfoundationandconditiontopermitCatholicchurchesinallitscities.Asitissaidandasittrulyis,thiswasongroundsofenvyandmalevolence,sothattheKingofFrancewouldnothavethehonourofpromotingtheholyChurchintheseregions.TheypreventtheKingfromdestroyingthosehereticpeople,andplantingandestablishingthekingdom

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ofJesusthere.Andinthemeantimetheydonotintendtodothis,althoughyetitisintheirpowertoalreadywinovermanyhereticcitiesforthemselves,asacompensationforthesupportgiventotheDutch.Thatcouldhardlyberefusedtothem.

MayYourReverenceknowthatwhatourpeoplehavesowntheywillalsoharvest41,thatGodwhoknowstheheartsofall,willrecompenseaccordingtotheworksofeachone,andnotaccordingtothejudgementofmen.IftheEm-perorandourleader,unanimouslywiththeKingofFrance,hadattackedHol-land,or iftheyat leasthadrestrainedthemselvesfromsupplyingtheDutchwiththeirsupport, thenHollandwouldhavebeenoccupied in thespaceofhalfayear,andallwouldhavebeenendedingoodorderandpeace,inaChris-tianway,astheKingofFrancebegantodointhebeginningwithzeal,pietyandlaudableruleoverhispeople.Butouraforementionedleadershave,tothehighestdegree,providedtheopportunityforbitternessandrage.Andsomanybadthingshavecomeforthfromthatandmanythingswillfollowalsointhiscountry,likethosebeginningalready.

No human collaboration can achieve anything, if God does not want tocooperate,and…Godwillnotcooperateandinsimilarcasesdoesnotwantto

41 2Kor9,6;Ps.126,5


diuinamsuam /dispositionem,etpromissionem:quippeinspiritusaepeintel-lexi istud uerbum / quando uidebam contrariam apparentiam alicuius bonisuccessusetccontra /RegemGalliae,etinistumfinemindicebanturmultidiesprecum etc, ad / [20] bonum successum sui propositi, et intenti, caelum etterratransibunt,uerba /autemmeanonpraeteribunt. /

Attamenabaliquothactenusmensibus,nonuideo,quodRexGalliaetanto /Deifauores,etbenedictionemmereatur,sicutantehac;quiaDilectus(~~~~~) /nullummihidehocdatsignum,sedexpartehocmecelat /[25] subindemihiaduenitaliquaintimanotitiaseusuauisimpressioinfundoanimae /associataparuoethumilianimo;quodDilectuseoutatur,utinstrumento,qui /perferia-turid,quodsuaMaiestasmihipromisit;secundumquodReuerentiaeVestraescripsi /significaui:etnonobstantequodmultiualdemaleloquantur,etindi-centde /istoRegeGalliae,tamenremanetaliquiddiuinumscintillansinmeofundo, /[30] quodipsecumtemporeadhucfietualdebonus,etDeogratus.

Scripsithaecdie15. /Januarii1674. /

Agiturspirituorandi,neTraiectumoccupeturabhaereticis,etim- /peratAngelis,utsponsaJesu;etinfestoS.Ludouicicogiturorare /prouictoriaGallorum,quaesuccedit;conuentiocumhereticis /[35] prouocatiramDei,quampraedicit. /

Reuerendeetaman....Pater,mihiadhucaliquiduenit inmemoriam,nempequod /spiritusmeuss....peremoueatur,ettrahatur,utefficaciteretamorose /agat,ad[ciuitatem]TraiectensemconseruandamsanctaeEcclesiae,adquod /mihi infunditur uigorosus, et efficax spiritus orandi, iam fere quatuor /[40] septimaniscontinuopertotumdiem,absquerelaxatione. /

Istemodusorandiexerceturmodosingulari;nonessetmihipossibileistumad /talemorationemtractumannihilare,reiicere,ueldimittere;quippesecun-dum / omnem experientiam, ista oratio est plane supernaturalis extra pro-priam /[o]rationem;ideotuncdeprecorSsmamTrinitatemcummirehumili /[45] (am....) //


cooperateagainsthisowndivinedispositionandpromise.ForinthespiritIoftenunderstoodthisword,whenIsawthecontraryappearanceofsuccessetcagainsttheKingofFrance,andforthatpurposemanydaysofprayerwerein-dicatedforthegoodsuccessofhisintentionandplan:“Heavenandearthwillperish,butmywordswillnotpass.”42

Still forsomemonthsnowIdonotseethattheKingofFrancemeritssomuchthefavoursandblessingofGod,asbefore,becausetheBelovedgivesnosigntomeaboutthis,buthekeepsithiddenfromme.Rightafterthatsomeintimateknowledgeorpleasantimpressioncomestomeinthedepthsofmysoul,associatedwithasmallandhumbleheart:thattheBeloveduseshim43asaninstrument,tocompletewhathisMajestyhaspromisedme.AccordingtowhatIhavewrittentoYourReverence,Ihavemadeitclear.Andnotwithstand-ingthatmanyspeakveryillandbadlyaboutthatKingofFrance,yettherere-mainssomedivinesparklinginmyinnerdepths,thatintimehewillbecomeverygoodanddeartoGod.

ShewrotethisonJanuary15th1674.44

Sheis ledbythespirittopray,thatMaastrichtwillnotbeoccupiedbyheretics,andthusshecommandstheangels,asthebrideofJesus.45AndduringthefeastofSt.Louis46sheisforcedtoprayforthevictoryoftheFrench, which succeeds. An agreement with the heretics provokes thewrathofGod,whichshepredicts.

ReverentandmostbelovedFather,tomesomethingelsehascometomymem-ory,namely,thatmyspirit…ismovedandattracted,tospeakpowerfullyandlovingly,topreservethecityofMaastrichtfortheHolyChurch,towhichendavigorousandpowerfulspiritofprayinghasbeeninfusedinme,foralmostfourweekscontinuouslythroughoutthedaywithoutrelaxation.

Thatwayofprayingispractisedinaparticularway:itwasnotpossibleformewhowasdrawntosuchprayertoannihilate,rejectorletitgo.Foraccordingtoallexperience, thatprayer isclearly supernaturalbeyondmyownprayer.ThereforeIthenbegthemostholyTrinitywithamarvellous,humble…

42 Mt.24,3543 I.e.theKingofFrance.44 Inthisdocumenttherearenolettersfromtheperiod15January1674till24August1676.45 In1676MaastrichtwasstilloccupiedbytheFrench.From6Julytill26August1676Wil-

liamIIIbesiegedthecity.ItwasnotuntilthePeaceofNijmegenin1678thatMaastrichtbecameagainpartofTheDutchRepublic.

46 The feastofSt.Louis isonthe25thofAugust, feastofLouis IX,KingofFrance intheperiod1226-1270.


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[1] amorosa,eturgentiinstantia;haecoratiohabetdiuersosmodos,sedpotis-simum /spirituscumhumilidemissione,sesecoramdiuinaMaiestatequasiannihilando, /oratetpostulatgemitibusinenarrabilibus,cummireuiuafide,firma spe / exauditionis, et feruenti dilectione, absque multis uerbis, solummodocumsimplici /[5] repraesentatione,etaspectuadDeum,modoessen-tialiimplorandodiuinam /uirtutem,etomnipotentiam,acsimulministerium,et auxilium sanctorum / Angelorum, aliquando per modum mandantis, seuinstarsponsaemandando /ministrisDilectisui,utistossanctaeEcclesiaeini-micosrepellant,destruant, /profligent;hoctotumfitfiducialiter,cumsponsaliconfidentia,etami- /[10] cabilitate,acunacummagnozelo,etzelotypiaadcurandumetpro- /mouenduminteresseDilecti,proquoiamuniceuiuit. /

AliquandocoramSSmosacramentoinextraordinaria,etinsolitadispo- /si-tione(nescioquomodohocnominabo,uelquibusuerbisexplicabo)est ibi /spiritusquasiexpansus,etattractussuprapropriamsuamoperationem;ubi /[15] diuinusspiritusJesu, istumsuperpurum,extaticum,etsupraseraptumspi- /ritumtenetoccupatum,etineooperatur,utoretetpostulet,quatenus /istaCiuitaspossitremaneresanctaeEcclesiae. /

In festoSanctiLudouiciRegis,die25.Augusti 1676,etdiepraecendenti, /saepius interius mouebar, et mouebar ad orandum, hoc modo, festina, et /[20] exoccupa te, ad orandum, quia iam tempus est; quasi iam aliquis con-flic- /tusuelassultusfuissetpraemanibus,uelinfieri,uelimminuisset:uide-batur / spiritus tam diu in oratione debere perseuerare, quam diu isteconflictus, /seuassultusduraret;etposteaintellexi,quodnosterexercitusami-serit /conflictumcuminternecionemultorummilitum,etuirorumillustrium, /[25] quantumexistimo,eodemtempore,quospiritustaminstanter interiusmoue- /batur,etinstigabaturadorandum. /

ReuerentiaVestraexistimabat,quodsiistaCiuitasfuissetintercepta,cessis-setHispanis, /sedmihiuidebaturplanecontrarium;naminfundomeoerataliudtesti- /monium,quodisterumoressetfalsus:amantissimePater,quidestmirum, / [30] quodDilectuspermittatcladempropartenostra?namquamdiu nostri / adhaerent, et suppetias ferunt isti impiae nationi, prouocant, etattrahunt /superse,etsuperPatriam,irametindignationemDei. /

Iamapluribusannisuidiinspiritu,quodDeusistamunionemetcon- /uen-tionem cum Hollandis mire reprobaret, et odio hab<ere>t, et ideo huic /


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lovingandurgentintercession.Thisprayerhasvariousforms,butpreferablythespiritpraysandbegswithhumblemeekness,asitwereannihilatingitselfbeforethedivineMajesty,withineffablesighs,withamarvellouslyvividfaith,a firmhopeofbeingheard,andwithfervent love,withoutmanywords,butonlywithasimplerepresentationandvisionofGod,inawaythatisessentialtoimplorethedivinevirtueandomnipotenceandatthesametimethesup-portandhelpoftheholyangels,sometimesbywayoforderingandlikeabrideorderingtheservantsofherBeloved,so that theymightdriveaway,destroyanddefeatthoseenemiesoftheholyChurch.Allofthishappensintimatelywiththeconfidenceofabride,andwithfriendlinessandatthesametimewithgreatzealandefforttotakecareofandpromotetheconcernsoftheBeloved,forwhomit47haslivedpre-eminently.

SometimesinthepresenceofthemostBlessedSacramentinanextraordi-naryandexceptionaldisposition(Idon’tknowhowIshouldcallthis,orwithwhichwordsIwillexplainit)therethespiritisinsomewayspreadoutandextendedaboveitsownoperation.TherethedivinespiritofJesusinthatgreatpurity,inecstaticconditionandasonerisenbeyonditself,keepsthespiritoc-cupied,sothatitpraysandbegs,tothatextentthatthecitymightremainwiththeHolyChurchDuringthefeastoftheholyKingLouis,onthe25thofAugust1676andthepreviousday,IwasofteninternallymovedandIwasmovedtoprayinthisway:“Hurry,andcommityourselftopraying,becauseit’stimeal-ready.”Asifalreadysomeconflictorassaultwasimpendingorhappeningorimminent.Itseemedthatmyspiritshouldpersevereforsolonginprayer,aslongasthatconflictorassaultwouldlast.AndafterwardsIunderstood,thatourarmyhadlosttheconflictwiththelossofsomanysoldiersandillustriousmen,asIbelieve,atthesametimethatmyspiritwassoinsistentlyinternallymoved,andwasinstigatedtopray.

YourReverencebelievedthatifthatcityhadbeenoccupied,itwouldgototheSpaniards,butitseemedclearlytometobethecontrary.Forinmydepthstherewassomeindicationthatthatrumourwasfalse.MostbelovedFather,nowonderthattheBelovedallowsoursidetobedefeated!ForhowlongdoourpeopleclingtoandsupportthatimpiousnationanddrawdownuponthemandtheircountrythewrathandindignationofGod.

FormanyyearsIhaveseeninthespirit,thatGodinawonderfulmannerdisapprovesofthatunionandagreementwiththeDutch48,andlooksuponit

47 I.e.thespirit.48 ProbablyMariareferstotheQuadrupleAllianceof1673.


[35] quamquaminnocentesidpraecipuedebeantluere;quomodonegocium /successitcumComiteMonti,cuietiamtantacomminatiofactaest, /quiaipseadistamunionemetconuentionemplurimumcontulit,et /Hollandissuppe-tiasdedit,cumpluribusaliis,quinonimpuneeuadent./faxitDeus,utpunitioipsorumsittantumtemporalis,etanimaeillorum /[40] seruentur. //

37v

[1] Deus ostendit potentiam suam in obsidioneTraiectensi, / ne cedathaereticis,AngeliscoöperantibusproGallis. /

Postea,DominusLucasCommissariusregiusinnostroexercitu,nos /certioresfecit, quod noster exercitus recesserit aTraiecto, et cum / [5] infamia illamCiuitatem deserere debuerit; sit Deus ideo benedictus, / o quam mirabiliterDeusostenditomnipotentiamsuaministaobsidione /etquidpossintilli,quo-rumDeusadiutorest;miradeistisdicuntur, /quaetamenabusiuemagistribu-untur generositati, et subtilitati Gallorum / quam cooperationi, et auxilioomnipotentis. /

[10] Interaliarefertur,quodcuniculianostrisfactiadeuertendafortalitia /Ciuitatis, ante tempus, accenso puluere tormentario, eruperint uersus nos- /trumexercitum,etmagnamineostragemfecerint,plurimosmactando /nullodamnoillatofortalitiisciuitatis,uelGallis,ineruptionibusex /Ciuitateinnos-trosobsidentesmillenioccidebanturinnostroexercitu, /[15] etpauciexGal-lis:Itemfortalitiadedieperexplosionemtormentorum /bellicorumdestructa,restaurabanturdenocte,inassultibus,quibushaeretici /aggrediebanturCiui-tatem,adeamintercipiendam,uidebanturquasiquibus- /daminstrumentisomniumcollaabscindi;itautspargeretur,numquam /similequidfuisseaudi-tum. /

[20] ExistimoSanctosAngeloshicfuisseinopere,etuelutfidelesJesumi-nistros /istainsolita,etmirabiliafuisseoperatosetrestitissetot,et[tam...]hor-rendis /assultibustampotentisexercitus. /


withhatred,therefore,althoughtheyareinnocent,theywillhavetopayforitinparticular.HowtheaffairwiththeCountofMonshassucceeded,towhomalsosuchathreathasbeenmade,becausehehascontributedverymuchtothatunionandagreementandhasgivensupporttotheDutchwithmanyoth-ers,whowillnotgetawayunpunished.MayGodensurethattheirpunishmentwillonlybetemporalandthattheirsoulswillbesaved.

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God shows his power in the occupation of Maastricht, that he doesn’tyieldfortheheretics,whiletheangelscooperateatthesideoftheFrench.

Afterwards,LordLucas49,thecommissioneroftheKinginourarmy,informedusthatourarmyhadwithdrawnfromMaastricht,andshamefullyhadtoleavethecity.50ThereforeGodbeblessed,ohowwonderfullyhasGodshownhisomnipotenceinthatoccupationandwhatcouldtheydo,whosehelperisGod!Miraculous things are said of them, that nevertheless unjustly are ascribedmoreto thegenerosityandattentionof theFrenchthanto thecooperationandhelpoftheAlmighty.

Amongotherthingsitissaidthatthetrenchesthatourpeoplemadetode-stroythefortificationofthecity,haveexploded,becausethegunpowderwasignitedprematurely,tothedetrimentofourarmy,andgreatdestructionwascausedbyit,wherebyverymanywereslaughteredwithoutanydamagedonetothefortificationsofthecityortotheFrench.WiththeoutbreaksfromthecityagainstouroccupiersthousandsofmenwerekilledinourarmyandonlyafewoftheFrench.Likewisethefortificationsthat inthedaytimewerede-stroyedbytheexplosionofthecannonswererestoredatnight.Inassaults,inwhichthehereticsattackedthecityinordertooccupyit,itseemedthatwithsomekindofinstrumentthenecksofallwererippedoff,insuchawaythatitwassaidthatneverhadanythingofthatkindbeenheardbefore.51

I believe that the holy angels were working here, and that as the faithfulservantsofJesustheyoperatedtheseuncommonandmiraculousthingsandresistedsomanyandsohorrendousassaultsfromsuchapowerfularmy.

49 Thefullnameofthiscommissionerisnotretrieved.50 Seen.45.51 ItisnotcleartowhatkindofweaponMariarefershere.Thedescriptionseemstobeof

theguillotine,butthatwasnotinventedbeforetheFrenchRevolutioninthe18thcentury.MorelikelyMariamentionshereaweaponlikeamusketorbayonet,whichwasdevel-opedinthe17thcenturyandcapableofkillingmanypeopleinashortamountoftime.


Iamexperioretuideofuisseuerumid,quodmihiinfinemensisAprilis /inspiritu fuit manifestatum, quomodo Deus sese poneret a parte exercitus /[25] Gallorum; quod ideo Rex Galliae esset futurus uictoriosus in omnibussuis /attentatis;nonobstante,quodnosterexercitusessetfaciletriplonume-rosior /exercituipsius,tamenomnisistamultitudomihiapparebatquasimul-titudo /imbecilliummuscarum,quiubiquesuccumberent. /

Veritasistiusmanifestationis,seuuisionissempermihiremansit,etinhae-sit / [30] sine ulla dubitatione, non obstante quacumque ...... ia apparentia,et /dictishominum....redoReuerentiamVestramadhucme.........umquaedeillistunc /ReuerentiaeVestraedi...........quamcummagnacauti[one]etuere-cundia;quiaReuerntiaVestra /praesefe.............splicetiam,inhibendomihi,neorarem;sedfrustraestinhibitio /humana,quandoDeusiubet,etipsemetiussaoperaturetexequiturin /[35] anima,etcumanima;arcana,dispositiones,etiudiciaDeisuntmirabilia,et /[ing]eniishumanisabscondita,ideoillaoportetuenerari,etadorari.

Haecscrip[sit] /.....Augusti1676 //

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[1] AduertentiacircaeaquaetransactasuntinVenerabiliMatreMaria /aSanctaTheresiatertiariaOrdinisfratrumBeatissimaeVirginisMariademonteCarmelo /temporebelliGalliciinHollandiaanno1672etsequenti-bus. /

Dum Rex Galliae maximo congregato exercitu Hollandiam inuaderet animo(utpiecredere / [5] licet) illamtotaliteroccupandi,etadgremiumSanctaeRomanaeEcclesiaereducendi,ualdefrequen- /terVenerabilishaecmaterMa-riaaSanctaTheresiamirabiliteractaetdirectafuitspirituorandi /probonoetoptatoistiusbellisuccessu;qualiterautemspiritusorationisetdiuiniamoris /inipsatuncoperatusfuerit,etcumqualifructu,hicconsequentersubiiciamexipsius /scriptisseorsimtamenacontextureliquaeuitaeipsius,nefortealiqui-busdisplaceant,et /[10] nimiaeuariorumCriisiexponantur,quaeanadiuinospiritu processerint nec ne, aliorum / quorum est similia examinare, et


YetIexperienceandseethatitwastrue,whatwasshowntomeinthespiritattheendofthemonthofApril,howGodhadplacedhimselfonthesideofthearmyoftheFrench.ThatmeantthereforethattheKingofFrancewouldbevictorious in all his efforts, notwithstanding that our army was easily threetimesasnumerousashisarmy.Neverthelessallthatmultitudeappearedtomeasamultitudeofweakflies,thatwouldsuccumbnomatterwhere.

Thetruthofthatrevelationorvisionhasalwaysstayedwithmeandstuckwithmewithoutanydoubt,notwithstandingsome...appearanceandthetalkofmen...YourReverenceyetme...thataboutthesethingsthenYourRever-ence...thatwithgreatcautionandrespect,becauseYourReverence...prevent-ingmefrompraying.ButhumanpreventingisinvainwhenGodcommandsandwhenHehimselfoperatesandcarriesoutwhathehascommandedinthesoulandwiththesoul.Thesecrets,dispositionsandjudgementsofGodaremiraculousandhiddenforhumanunderstanding.Thatiswhytheyaretobeveneratedandadored.

Shewrotethesethingson...August1676.

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SomeremarksaboutthethingsthathavecometopassintheVenerableMotherMariaofSt.TeresaofthethirdorderofthefriarsoftheblessedVirginMaryofMountCarmel,atthetimeoftheFrenchWarinHollandintheyear1672andinthefollowingyears.52

WhentheKingofFrancehadgatheredaverylargearmyandinvadedHollandwiththeplan(asonemightpiouslybelieve)tooccupy itcompletelyandtoleaditbacktothewomboftheholyRomanChurch,veryfrequentlythismoth-erMariaofSt.Teresawasmiraculouslydrivenandledbythespiritofprayingforthegoodanddesiredsuccessofthatwar.However,howthespiritofprayerandofdivineloveworkedinherandwithwhatfruit,Iwillexplainherelogi-callyfromherwritings,butseparatedfromthecontextofherlife,sothatitwillnotdispleasesomepeopletoomuchand53...andwhetherthesethingscomeforth from a divine spirit or not, I leave it up to others who are capable of

52 Thisisoriginallythebeginningoftheentiretext,whereMichaelintroducesMariaPetytandthelettersthatshehaswrittenabouttheDutchWar.Hebeginsherefirstwithashortintroductioninwhichhepersonallyaddressesthereaders.

53 SeearticleofEsthervandeVate,92-118.


ponderare iudicio reliquo; referam tamen illa, ea / sinceritate, qua ab ipsascriptasunt,etmihiconcredita. /

DilectuseiindicatRegemGalliaesibifacereremgratuminuadendoHol-landiam / promittit uictoriam, et uult ut ipsa eum iuuet, uidetur DeusHispanisminari /[15] quiaiuuanthaereticos;nontamenRegi,quicumsuoRegno,eiuscuraecommittitur. /

Die3.maii 1672suborationeuespertinauidebaturDilectusmihisignificare,quod Rex Galliae / ipsi praestaret rem gratam inuadendo Hollandiam, cuietiamaddicebatuictoriam.Dilectusmandabat /mihi,quoddebuerimipsiopi-tulariperorationes,ethocsensuessecoadiutrix,etcompugnatrixinipsius /exercitu. /

[20] Verum Hispanis uidebantur fieri comminationes, eo quod Dilectomultum displicerent propter assiste.... / et copias auxiliares, quas praestantHollandis,perquasquodammodoconant.....in....di.....neHollan....... /reduca-tur ad fidem Catholicam, sed uidebatur quod displicentia et com...... Dilectinon......esse.... /praecisecontraRegemautReginam,sedcontraaliquoseorumconsiliarios.....inistro....quiaReg...... /nonuidebaturbenederebusinformata;ideocommendabatmihiDilectusutiuidebatur..... / [25] ut inmeamcuramsusciperem iuuenem Regi, et eius regnum, ut illud seruarem illesum......... /qualemfinemspiritusamorisdenouoaccipiebatnouumaccessumzelumetconsapientam /............uthunciuuans......................................... /

(…..) /Die4dictimensisrenouabaturhicspiritus........ /[30] ............ //

38v

[1] Dilectus se ei exhibet laetabundum de instante occupatione Hol-landiae,ostenditei /feruoremnouorumCatholicorumetregnumsuumdicit /etiamesseipsius. /

Dilectuscommuniteretfamiliaritermecumagendoetconuersando,uidebaturinter / [5] alia ostendere magnam laetitiam, gaudium et iucunditatem, eo


examiningandweighingsuchthings.Ijustrefertothosethingswiththesamesincerityinwhichtheywerewrittenbyherandentrustedonme.54

The Beloved informs her that the King of France does something thatpleasesHimbyinvadingHolland.HepromisesthevictoryandwantshertohelpHim.GodseemstothreatentheSpaniards,becausetheyhelptheheretics, yet not the King, whom with his kingdom is entrusted to hercare.

Onthe3rdofMay1672duringVesperstheBelovedseemedtoindicatetome,thattheKingofFrancedidapleasingthingtoHimbyinvadingHolland,andHeevenpromisedhimthevictory.TheBelovedchargedmetohelphimbymyprayersandtobeinthatsenseasahelperandallyinhisarmy.

But the Spaniards seemed to be threatened, because they displeased theBelovedverymuchduetotheassistance ...andauxiliaries,whichtheyhavegiventotheDutch,bywhichtheytriedinsomeway...Holland...wasledbacktothecatholicfaith,butitseemedthatthedispleasureand...oftheBelovednot...was...straightagainsttheKingorQueen55,butagainstsomeoftheiral-lies...because...seemedtobenotwellinformedaboutthings.ThereforetheBelovedcommandedmeasitseemed...thatIshouldtakecareoftheyouthfortheKing56andofhiskingdom,sothatIwouldpreserveit...tosuchapurposethespiritoflovereceivedanewaccess,zealandwisdom...

...Onthe4thdayofthatmonththisspiritwasrenewed...

38v

TheBelovedmanifestshimselftoherrejoicingintheimminentoccupa-tionofHolland;heshowsherthezealofthenewCatholicsandsaysthathiskingdomisalsohers.

The Beloved, commonly and familiarly speaking and interacting with meseemedamongotherthingstoshowmehisgreatjoy,happinessandrejoicing,

54 Fromthebeginningofthisfol.38runtilhereitisMichaelofSt.Augustinewhoaddressesthereaders, fromhereon it isMariaagainwhowritesher letters toMichael.OnlythesummarisingpartsarefromMichael.

55 MariareferstotheKingandQueenofSpain.56 CharlesIIwasbornin1661andsufferedfromphysicalandmentaldisabilities.


quodiamtempusaduenissetquoHollandia /fieretCatholica;sicutaliquis,quiunisuoconfidentirefert,etnotumfacitsuuminstantemhonorem /etgloriam,quamibiadepturusestperlucrum,etconuersionemanimarum,quasiadhocanhelaret,ut /ibiuelutrexconstituaturinplenapossessioneregnisui. /

Ipsemihiproponebatferuoremetsinceritatem,quaibidemnouiCatholici,ipsiseruient,etconfite- /[10] bunturnomensanctumeius:deindeuidebaturmihidicere,regnummeumeritetiamregnumtuum /meushonoreritetiamtuus,meagloriatuagloria. /

Animaturut iuuetExercitumGallorumetanimatadpugnandumpureprofide /etferturergaillosspirituamoris. /

PerhancfamiliaremcumDilectoConuersationemmagisincordemeoaccen-debaturignisdiuini /[15] amoriscumzelosisetferuentibusdesideriisetaffec-tibusadiuuandumexercitumGallorumeosqueexci- /tandosetanimandosadzelotypumzelumpureetsimpliciterpraeliandietpugnandiprofide. /

Hicignisamorisagitetimpellitspiritumamorisinpraedictoexercitu,nuncapudefficiarios,nunc /adgregariosmilitesadeosextimulandos,animandosetconfortandosinamoreChristi,utcorpusanimam /........afferantetexponantad obsequium Jesu; quo sic eum iuuent ponere in solio regni sui, profli- /[20] ......etindedii...endoexpellendo,etdelendoomneseiusinimicos:zelosiaffectusquibusspiritus /amorishicoccupatursuntmagnietsingulares,atta-mencumbonoordine,etbeneregulati. /

DeusuultabipsaorariproRegeGalliaecuiusmalauitaeimanifestatur,et /quantusilliDeussitoffensus;oratproeocumspeexauditionis. /

Feria2Pentecostes1670existensinorationeintelligebamdeumuelleorariproRegeGalliae /[25] ......tosum....pertangebarincordemeoutproilloorarem


becausethetimehadalreadycomethatHollandwouldbecomeCatholic.Likesomeonewhotellsandnotifieshisimminenthonourandglorytoaconfidant,whichHewillacquiretherebythewinningandconvertingofsouls,asifHewasyearningtobeconstitutedasKinginfullpossessionofhiskingdom.57

He put me in mind of the enthusiasm and sincerity with which the newCatholicsthere58wouldservehimandwouldconfessHisholyname.ThenHeseemedtosaytome:“Mykingdomwillbealsoyourkingdomandmyhonourwillbealsoyoursandmygloryyourglory.”

SheisanimatedtohelptheKingoftheFrenchandsheanimatesthemtofightpurelyforfaithandsheisdriventowardsthembythespiritoflove.

BythisfamiliarinteractionwiththeBelovedafireofdivinelovewasignitedmoreinmyheartwithzealousandferventdesiresandaffectionstohelpthearmyoftheFrenchandtoencourageandanimatethemtoazealouszealpure-lyandsimplytofightandbattleforfaith.59

Thisfireofloveleadsandimpelsthespiritofloveintheaforementionedarmy,sometimeswiththeexecutiveofficers,thenagainwiththeordinarysol-diers,tostimulatethemandanimateandcomfortthemintheloveofChrist,sothattheybringbodyandsoul...andexposethemtotheobedienceofJesus,inwhichwaytheyhelptoplaceHimonthethroneofhiskingdom,defeating,...expellinganddestroyingallhisenemies.Thezealousaffectsbywhichthespir-itofloveisoccupiedaregreatandsingular,neverthelessingoodorderandwellregulated.

GodwantshertoprayfortheKingofFrancewhosebadlifeisshowntoher,andhowGodisoffendedbyhim.Shepraysforhimwiththehopeofbeingheard.60

OntheseconddayofPentecost1670whileIwasinprayerIunderstoodthatGodwantedmetoprayfortheKingofFrance...Iam...Iwastouchedinmy

57 ThisseemstobethemainargumentwhyMariaPetytbelievesthattheBelovedchoosesthesideoftheFrench,namelysoastohelpHimrecapturinghisKingdominHolland.

58 I.e.inHolland.59 ExplicitlyMariastatesherethatshewantsthiswartobepurelyfoughtwithmotivesof

faithandnotwithhateorbloodlust.60 HereMichaelinsertsafragmentofaletterwrittenontheseconddayofPentecost,1670.

ThisdayMariaunderstoodthatGodwantedhertoprayforLouisXIV.


etiamcumlacriimisquatenusde- /.....malaetscandalosauitaetperueniat......ueramet....amuitaeemendationemmihi /.......et........quodipsecausat........ /

(…….) //

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[1] animaaDilectocommendatur,utproillaorem,hocsubitoetquasiinin-stantiapprehenditmeumcor /animumetaffectum,instarscintillaeignisinfomite, et manet ibi scintillare, nec extinguitur; quod dum per- / cipio, sumquasicerta,quodistasitmihidata,etpertinebitadme. /

Die4maii1672renouabaturmihimemoria,quodaduobusannisuelcirciterDilectumualdeinstan- /[5] terrogauerimproRegeGalliae,quandotammaleuiuebat,etpostulabamaDilectohancanimam,utillammihi /uelletdonare,quamipsemihietiampromittebat;etdefactomihidabat:atqueintelligebam,quodpraesensipsius /bonuszelusinstarseminisseuscintillae,iamincordeipsiuscaeperitscintillareetoperari. /

Orans Jesum ut benedicat exercitui Gallorum iubetur illi etiam darebenedictionem / ut sponsa et compar Jesu: materno corde est pro illissollicita,etutituradhoc /[10] obsequioAngelorum. /

QuandosemelDilectusmeusualdefamiliaritermecumagebatsicutamantis-simussponsuscumsua /charissimasponsa,multaetmultipliciaadipsumha-bebamalloquia,quaeomniaannotareestmihiimpossibile. /Interaliaipsumorabam,utexercituiGallorumuelletdaresuambenedictionem;etipseuicis-simmihidicebat /Datuetiamillis tuambenedictionem,quiatuesconsorsmea, et uolo tibi iuxta me facere istum honorem: tunc / [15] dicebam cumApostolo Petro; Dilecte in uerbo tuo id faciam et illis benedicebam in huncmodumomnipotentia /patris, sapientia filiietamorspiritussanctisituobi-scumadsuperandosecclesiaehostes,amen. /

Die26maii1672etdiebuspraecedentibus,fruebarsubindeintimatranquil-litate,subindeetiam...... /spirituorandi,cumliberoaccessuetconfidentiaadDilectum quasi materno corde occupata .... / exercitu Regis Galliae, ne ipsisdeficiuntnecessariauelanimiadpersequendum,etprospereexequendumid


hearttoprayforhimevenwithtears,inasfaras...thebadandscandalouslife...wouldcometo...animprovementoflifeforme...andthathecauses...

...

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ThesouliscommandedbytheBelovedtoprayforthosethings.Straightwayandasifatthatinstantmyheartgainedcourageandfeeling,likeasparkinthefireplace,thatremainsshininganddoesnotgoout:WhileIperceivethatIamnearlycertainthatthisisgiventomeandwillaffectme.

Onthe4thofMay1672mymemorywasrenewed,thatforabouttwoorthreeyearsIhaveprayedtotheBelovedveryurgentlyfortheKingofFrance,whenhelivedsobadly,andIcommendedthatsoultomyBeloved,sothathewouldwanttogranttomewhathehimselfpromisedme.Andinfacthegaveittome.AndIunderstoodthattherewasfinezealinhimlikeaseedoraspark,thatal-readybegantoglowandoperateinhisheart.

WhileprayingtoJesusthatHemightblesstheFrencharmysheiscom-mandedtogivethemalsoherblessingasthebrideandequalofJesus.Withamaternalheartsheisconcernedaboutthemandhencesheusestheobedienceoftheangels.

WhenoncemyBelovedspokeveryfamiliarlywithmelikeamostlovingbride-groomwithhisdearestbride,Ihadmanyandvariedconversationswithhim,ofwhichitisimpossibleformetowritethemalldown.AmongotherthingsIprayedtohimthathemightgivethearmyoftheFrenchhisblessing.Andheinturnsaidtome:“Yougivethemyourblessing,becauseyouaremyequal,andIwantyoutobewithmeinmakingthathonour.”ThenIsaidwiththeApostlePeter:“Beloved,onyourwordIwilldothat”.61AndIblessedtheminthisway:“TheomnipotenceoftheFather, thewisdomoftheSonandthe loveoftheHolySpiritbewithyousoastoovercometheenemiesoftheChurch.Amen.”62

Onthe26thofMay1672andthepreviousdays,Ienjoyedthenanintimatetranquillity,thenalso…thespiritofpraying,withfreeaccessandconfidencetotheBeloved,aswithamotherlyheartconcerned…aboutthearmyoftheKingofFrance,sothattheymightnotlackthenecessarythingsorthecouragetopersevereandtobringtoasuccessfulendwhattheyalreadyhadbegunto

61 Cf.Mt.14,28.62 Unknownblessing.


quod / [20] iam aggredi coeperant in Hollandia: ad quod utebar obsequiisSanctorumAngelorumacceptaadhocfiducia, /etcertaconfidentia,etenimspiritusamorismanetadhocstabiliterinclinatus,utproipsissitsollicitus /proillisoretetceoquodidadeoconcernatmaioremDilectimeihonorem,gloriametbeneplacitum........... /salutemplurimamanimarum. /

VidetursibiessegrauidaomnibusanimabusinHollandiaconuertendisquas / [25] quasiaDilectoconcepit,utsit illarummatersicut ipseestPater,quasChristo /parturitmaternoaffectudistribuendoillisdonagra-tiarum. /

PostridieSsmaeTrinitatis1672uidebaturmihi,quodessemquasispiritualiterimpregnataorbusanimabus /inHollandiaadfidemCatholicamconuertendisuidebaturomnesillasincordemeohabereconclusas,etquodhoc /sensuillasutfetusspiritualesaDiuinoamatoremeoconcepissem,etipsemeuelletface-respiritualem..... /[30] matremsicutipseeratearumPater. /

ConfirmatiouidebaturiterumesserenouataquodessemconsorsDilecti,etdefactohaberem.....haer..... /etpraetenerumaffectumergaomnesistasani-mas----------------uteasGro......... /amoriseratualdefluidusamabilis.......etui-gorosusinoperando.....ebanturex........ /...maein......estabanimispraeferrem.................................... / [35] Sentiebam quasi mihi dari confidentiam a Dilecto........perirediuinos.......... /domumfideietaliadonaspiritussanctiprolibitudistribuenda infidelibu........ /decreuerat illuminaredonoet lumine toriae fi-dei;sedilludopusnon......... /amabileminauxilium,seupotiusutipsadigna-retur ista dona distribue.......... / ut sic omni optatum melius sortinentureffectum,utpotecumhoc.......... / [40] cuiegoueluteiusancilla illasanimasadferrem. /

Hocproceditcummireamicabiliconfidentiauiuaspe.......... /[di]gnatiosita.......................................................................... //

39v

[1] ActaspirituamorisconfidenteragitcumDilectouteiusconsorsdeconuersioneanimarum /istarum,utsespontesubdantRegiGalliae,utmittanturoperariiboni,occupaturcirca /illas,utueramater,utpariat,nutriatetc.Dilectoeamadhocanimante. /


attackinHolland.TheretoIusedtheobedienceoftheholyangels,thefaiththatIhadreceiveduptonowandthecertainconfidence,forthespiritofloveremainsstablyinclinedtowardsthis,sothatthereisconcernaboutthemandprayerforthemetc.,becauseitconcernssomuchthegreaterhonouroftheBeloved,hisgloryandpleasure…thesalvationofverymanysouls.

ItseemstoherthatsheispregnantwitheverysoulinHollandinordertoconvertthem,whomsheasitwerehasconceivedoftheBeloved,sothatshe is theirmother likeHe is theirFather,and towhomshehasgivenbirth with a maternal affection while bestowing on them the gifts ofgrace.

ThedayafterthefeastoftheHolyTrinity631672itseemedtomethatIwasasitwerespirituallyimpregnatedsothatImightconvertallparentlesssoulsinHollandtothecatholicfaith,anditseemedthatIhadalloftheminmyheart,andthatwiththisfeelingIhadconceivedthemlikespiritualoffspringofthedivinelover,andthatHewantedtomakemetheirspiritual…motherlikeHewastheirFather.

Theconfirmationseemedtoberenewedagain,thatIwasthecompanionoftheBelovedandthatIinfacthad…andatenderfeelingtowardsallthosesouls…oflovewasveryfluid,loving…andvigorousinoperating…

IfeltlikesomeconfidencewasgiventomebytheBeloved…thedivine…the house of faith and other gifts of the holy spirit to be freely distributedamongtheunbelievers…decreasedtoilluminatewiththegiftandlightof…thevictoryoffaith.Butthatworknot…lovingtothehelp,orbettersothatsheisdeemedworthy todistribute thosegifts…so that theysortout theeffectwishedbyall,aswiththis…towhomIbringthosesoulslikehisservant.Thisproceedswithanextraordinary,lovingconfidence,withvividhope…

39v

After the spirit of love had spoken she speaks confidently with theBelovedashiscompanionabouttheconversionof thosesouls, sothattheyvoluntarilysurrendertotheKingofFrance,sothatgoodworkersaresent. She is concerned about them, like a real mother, to give birth tothem,tofeedthemetc.,whiletheBelovedenlivensherinthis.

63 I.e.the12thofJune1672.


SpiritusamoristuncmiscetcumDilectomultaetsponsaliconfidentiaplenacolloquiauelutcumsuo /[5] consorte,utomnianecessariaordinenturetdis-ponanturproistisapparenterconuersisetconuertendis /animabusuerbigra-tiautcitoconteranturetemolliantur,necmaneantobstinatae,etobduratae,utsefacilius /subiiciantRegiGalliae,nealioquitammultiinsuainfidelitateeterroribusmorianturetc. /

Itemutillicomplaceatmittereidoneosetzelososoperariosinhancsuamuineam,quosdonisspiritussancti /decorareetaptaredigneturutpaucotem-poremultaoperapraestentetcopiososfructusadferant,tunc /[10] nihiluide-turmihirecusari;sedomniaaduotumconcedi,namipsemetDilectusmeusexcitatinmehaec /zelosa,blandientiaseuurgentiadesideria,plenamaternasollicitudineetdilectione,utsiceumamorose /cogamprouideredeomnibusad animas istas spiritualiter pariendas et ad salutem educandas necessariis:ad /hocdatmihiDilectuspersuauemconfidentiamseupotiusipsemeadhocuideturallicereutmaternomeocorde /etergaistasanimasaffectuidemliber-tatem. /

[15] Quandospiritusamorishocpercipit,facitmaternumcorquasidilataricum suaui amicabilitate et amore / easdem quasi supercomprehendendo etsuperamplectendo ac cum aliqua diuina uirtute attractiua (quae / tunc ....iconceditur)easdemsiccongregandoetconcludendoinmeoamantissimocor-de,cumintentionezelo /........siterioillisincubandi,eascalefaciendi,enutrien-di et praeseruandi ab omnibus earum salutem impe- / dientibus uelretardantibuseodemmodosicutgallinacumpullissuis,tunceiusspiritusue-raciter /[20] habetindolemetinclinationesgallinaeergapullossuos. /

AgiturefficacispirituorandiproconuersionepeccatorumetRegeGal-liae,Dilectum /quasiurgendoetcogendoetuideturDilectuscorrespon-dereuotis. /

Spiritusorandiplerumqueestualdeuigorosusetefficaxtamproconuersioneanimarum, quam pro adiutorio / Regis Galliae, spiritus subinde habet quasifortem, et efficacem, attractionem et impulsionem usque in cor diuinum /


ThespiritofloveexchangesthenwiththeBelovedmanyconversationsfullofbridalconfidencelikeasiftohiscompanion,sothatallnecessarythingsareorderedanddisposedforthosewhoareapparentlyconvertedandforthesoulswhomustbeconverted,e.g.thattheymightbequicklyexhaustedandweak-enedandnotremainobstinateandpersistent,thattheymighteasilysubmittotheKingofFranceandthatnotsomanymightdieintheirinfidelityanderrorsetc.64

LikewiseitpleasesHimtosendsuitableandzealousworkerstothisvine-yard,whomhedeemsworthyofdecoratingandhonoringwiththegiftsoftheholy spirit, so that they in no time do many works and bring forth copiousfruits.65Thennothingseemstoberefusedtome,butallisgrantedtomeinac-cordancewithmyprayer.FormyBelovedhimselfarousesinmethesezealous,charmingorurgentdesires,fullofmaternalconcernandlove,sothatIurgethemlovinglytotakecareofallthingsnecessarysoastogivebirthtothosesoulsspirituallyandtonurturethemtotheirsalvation.TothisendtheBelovedgivesmeapleasantconfidenceorratherHeseemstoattractmesothatIgivefreereintomymaternalheartandaffectiontowardsthosesouls.

Whenthespiritof loveperceives thishecausesmymaternalheart tobeextendedwithpleasantfriendshipandlove,embracingandsurroundingthemandbysomedivineattractingpower(whichthen…waspermitted)andgath-eringandenclosingtheminmyverylovingheart,withtheintention,zeal…towatchoverthem,towarmthem,tonourishthemandtoprotectthemagainstallthatmighthinderorretardtheirsalvationlikeahenwithherchicks.Thenofcoursehisspirithastrulythenaturalabilityandinclinationofahentowardsherchickens.66

SheisledbyastrongspiritofprayingfortheconversionofthesinnersandfortheKingofFrance,asitwereurgingandforcingtheBeloved,andtheBelovedseemstoanswerherprayers.

ThespiritofprayingismostlyveryvigorousandstrongbothfortheconversionofsoulsandforthehelpoftheKingofFrance.Thespirithasasitwereastrongandpowerfulattractionandimpulsetothedivineheart.Thishappensthrough

64 ItshouldbenotedthatMariaPetytisnotsomuchprayingagainsttheSpanishsoldiersandagainstthepeopleinHolland,butisinsteadprayingfortheconversionofthosesouls,tobringthembacktowhatsheseesasthetrueCatholicChurch.Sheevenhopesthattheywillnotdiebeforebeingconverted.

65 Cf.Mt.9,37-38;20,1-16;Lc.10,2.66 Cf.Mt.23,37;Lc.13,34.


[25] hocfitperaggressiuum,fortem,uigorosumamorem,quiualdesubtiliteretspiritualiteroperaturinfundoanimae /magisinfususquamipsemetopera-tiuus. /

Estipsemetignisamoris,quituncardetinfundo,ethancattractionemseuappressionemfacitusqueincordiuinum /tuncestinanimapraemagnapro-pinquitasetintimaperceptioseuexperientiadiuinaepraesentiaeintus /inmeabsqueullomedio,quasiapprimendoetc. /

[30] .....ohocsittuncpercipereetexpeririseuintimecomperirelicetali-quis diuinae praesentiae effectus / ..... ut quas, correspondet isti expressionianimaeuotisannuendoacseadanimaminclinando,quasiipsi /.............mplec-tendo, et insinuendo per concordiam mutuorum desideriorum, per conue-nientiamsuam /..............tum. /

.......................liquotempore ............ inabsorptioneetunionecumDeoatta-mensubindeex /

[35] ..........................dilectioneeuigilandoiterumincipitseoccupareinistauigorosaappressiodo- /

...............................liquumadquiescenduminseinpuriasolitudinespiritusettranquilitate / ................................loquando erinttiterius spiritum id locarinotaubiestnecessitasspiri- / ..................................rtumde illa ....xitaduarioseffec-tus /............................................ucaliosinmehabeteffectus,..oquodspecialiuir-tute ac uehementia / [40] .............................................oca procul rer....a uerbigratiaadpraedictumexercitumGallorumuelalio /..................................................animarumspiritus..................................................... /

(………) //

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[1] Hocagitur,uelfitinmenonpermodumnaturaliumcogitationumuelima-ginationum,sedquasispirituseotrans- /portareturperimpulsumamoriseo-dem modo, sicut glans ferreus e tormento bellico propellitur ui ignis etpulueris /tormentariiadlocaremota,etibioperaturmirosetperegrinoseffec-tus,nameodemmodospiritustuncper /uolentiamextraordinariiignisamo-ris,etdiuinaeuirtutisexpellitur,seuemittitur;quaediuinaspirituscomitatur /[5] spirituminoperando,quasiunanimitersimulcumspiritucooperando;etquidquid,tuncspiritusattingituel /ubicumqueapproquinquatibiquasiexitabipsoquaedamuirtusseipsamcommunicando. /

Hancexperientiametdeprehensionemquomodohaecuirtusexeatexspiri-tu,etquomodoipsesesecommunicet,nonpossum /aliterexplicare;nisiquodexperior,quodquasiquaedamuirtusdemeexeat,quocumquetuncspiritusaduenerit uel / quidquod attingerit, quo tempore benedicerem cum Jesu,quando illa mulier ipsum tetigerat, quis me tetigit; quia uirtus / [10] de meexiuit. /


anaggressive,strong,vigorouslove,thatoperatesverysubtlyandspirituallyinthedepthsofmysoul,moreinfusedthanselfoperated.Itisthefireofloveit-self,thatburnstheninthedepthsofmybeing,andcausesthisattractionto-wardsorpressureuponthedivineheart.Thenthereisinthesoulaverygreatproximitytoandintimateperceptionofthedivinepresenceinsideme,with-outanymedium,asitwereimpressedinmeetc.

…thisisthentoperceiveandexperienceorintimatelysense,althoughsomeeffectofthedivinepresence…correspondswiththatexpressionofthesoulthatgrantstheprayersandinclinestothesoul,asitwerehim…andpenetrat-ingthroughtheconcordofmutualdesires,throughhisagreement…

… some time … in the absorption and union with God still immediatelyout…

… by love awakened begins again to occupy itself in that vigorous pres-sure…

…totherestinitselfinpuresolitudeofspiritandtranquility……

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Thisisdoneorhappensinmenotinanaturalwayofthoughtsandimagina-tions,butasifthespiritistransportedtherebyanimpulseofloveinthesamewayasaironbulletisshotoutofacannonbythepoweroffireandgunpowdertofarawayplaces,andtheremiraculousandstrangeeffectsarebroughtabout.Forinthesamewaythespiritthen,bytheviolenceofanextraordinaryfireofloveandofdivinevirtue, ispouredoutandsentforth.Thatdivinespiritac-companiesthespiritinoperating,asitwereunanimouslyworkingatthesametimewiththespirit.Andwhateverthespiritthenaccomplishesorapproaches,there,asitwere,somepowercomesoutofitthatcommunicatesitself.

ThisexperienceandgraspinghowthispowercomesoutofthespiritandhowitcommunicatesitselfIcannotexplainotherwise.ExceptthatIexperi-encethatasitweresomepowercomesoutofme,andwhereverthenthespir-itarrivesorwhateverittouches,atthatsametimeIblessedwithJesus,aswhenthatwomanhadtouchedHim: “Whohas touchedme,becauseapowerhascomeoutofme.”67

67 Cf.Mc.5,30;Lc.8,45-46.


DilectusponitRegemGalliaeineiuscordetamquamfilium;RexHispan-iaequasialienatus /proaliquotempore,eteiusregnumquasiobscura-tumineiusanimo,posteaRexHispaniarum /iterumintromissusineiuscordeambosustuntietquasigeminieiusfilii. /

DilectusintromisitRegemGalliaeincordemeoetspiritusamorisaliquandohabet multa agenda cum illo / [15] uelut cum meo filio, quae confido perChristuminChristoregemisse. /

Rex Hispaniarum circiter duobus mensibus fuit alienatus a meo spirituamoriseteiusregnumaliqualiter /obtenebratuminanimomeo;quodmepa-rummouebat,et sentiebamcompassionemcumillo,quia timebam ...esse /signumalicuiusdisplicentiaedeiuelmalisuccessus,uelfuturaepunitionisre-gnoeiusimminentis.... /[u]erumnecduminunouelinaliosumomninocer-tificata, sed intilenis rex uidetur iterum intromissus .. cor.. mea / [20] [e]tspiritusamorisuideturhosduosregesualdeamicabilitercircumplecti,uteossimula.....et..... /...uicemiuuat;sedquandoetquomodohaecunioinipsisfiatnecdumuideo,necintelligoambosuntaeque /suauesetamabilesinmentemea,quasiduogeminifilii,quisuntmeietadmepertinent. /

Isti modi orandi et operandi sicut cum collusione partis sens....ae suodirectione /spiritussecundumlumendiuinumquofit,utubiqueoccura-tum…diuinaeessentiae /

[25] Omneshimodiorandietoperandispiritusamorisfiuntcumuiuacitateetcooperatiue...entiariisensi /....ruarumetsimulrationalium;attamenillaepo-tentiaenonoperanturplusueluiuaciusquamspirituseorum /[o]bsequioiu-digeat; spiritus manet suprema ...., illas impedendo et dirigendo secundumexigentiamet /[p]lacitum;undeomnesanimaepotentiaemanent[ben]eor-dinatae et regulatae dilita ..ndordinatione ad spiritum / principalem et quospiritussubiectioneergaDeumuelsubnirmiduotionaedirectioneetc.diui-nae ............... / [30] in anima lucentis. / [Ab]iecta, quae tunc animae propo-nuntur uerbi gratia ambo illi reges, illorum regnum exercitu ............. / [s]ensibiliacorporaetinspeciemmultipliciauerumtamen.......ndospiritussicest................... /diuinolumine,tuncstatim... /

(…………) //


TheBelovedplacestheKingofFranceinherheartlikeason.TheKingofSpainseemstobealienatedforsometime,andhiskingdomisasitwereobscuredinhermind.ThentheKingoftheSpaniardsisletintoherheartagain,andbothKingsareliftedupandarelikehertwinsons.

The Beloved sends the King of France into my heart and the spirit of lovesometimeshasmanythingstodowithhimlikewithmyson.ItrustthattheyhavebeensenttotheKingthroughChristandinChrist.TheKingoftheSpan-iardshasbeenabouttwomonthsalienatedfrommyspiritofloveandhisking-domwassomewhatobscuredinmymind.Thatdidmovemealittle,andIfeltcompassionforhim,becauseIfeared…tobeasignofsomedispleasureofGodorofabadoutcomeorfuturepunishmentthatthreatenedhiskingdom…butIamnotyettotallyassuredoftheoneortheother,but…theKingseemstobesentinagain…myheart…andthespiritofloveseemstoembracethosetwoKingsinaveryfriendlyway,sothat…them…andoneanother…helps.ButwhenandhowthisunioninthemwillhappenIdonotseenorunderstand.Bothareequallypleasantandfriendlyinmymind,liketwotwinsons,whoaremineandbelongtome.68

Thosewaysofprayingandoperatinglikewiththecollusionofapart…inhisdirection,thespiritaccordingtothedivinelight,bywhichithappensthateverywhereoccurred…tothedivineessence.

Allthesewaysofprayingandofoperatingofthespiritoflovehappenwithvi-vacityandcooperatively...andatthesametimerational.Neverthelessthosepowersdonotworkmoreormorevividlythanthespiritofthem...Thespiritremainssupreme...,impedingthemanddirectingthemaccordingtothede-mand and the agreement.Therefore all powers of the souls remain well or-deredandregulated...totheprincipalspiritandwithwhichthespiritbythesubjectiontoGodorunder...directionetc.,divine...inthesouloftheonewhoenlightens

...

68 It isclearthatshe longsforsomekindofunionbetweenthetwoKingsofFranceandSpain.Shewantsthembothonthesameside,tostrivetogetherfortheKingdomofGodonearth.


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[1] Accipitspiritumorandiadhucnobilioremadiuinospiritu,quisimulcum /eiusspirituoratmodoinenarrabili. /

Sabbato post festum Sanctissimi Sacramenti, accepi spiritum orandi ualdediuersumapraecedenti;etc. /meoiudicioestmultonobilior,sublimior,etper-fectior,necetiamminusefficax,immopotius /[5] efficacior,eoquoddiuinusspiritusmeospirituiunitus,hancorationemipsemetoperatur,etfereomnia /inme,mecumetpermefaciat. /

Etenimdiuinusspiritusuideturmetuncpossidere,inmeuiuere,etpermeorare modo ineffabili, tunc / uenio in notitiam istius quod ait Apostolus deorationediuinispiritusinnobis,ipsespirituspostulatinnobis/gemitibusine-narrabilibus;perquodApostolusnonuultdicereuelsignificare,quodspiritusgemebunde /[10] oretuelquodilliusgemitussinttammultiplices,utsintin-numerabiles,etineffabiles,seduultdicere,quod /modusorationis,quospiri-tusinnobisorat,sitinenarrabilis. /

Atquehocuerumest,quiaquandomedeprehendebamaspirituDeisicpos-sessam,singularitercoram,directam /etintimecumillounitam,etquoddiui-nusspiritusinhaccummeospirituunioneinciperetorare,raroetc. /numquamanteaprobatomodo,tuncaperteintelligebam,quodhiessentgemitusinenar-rabilesspiritus,de /[15] quibusl<oqui>turApostolus. /

DictusmodusorandifitpereleuationemspiritusantefaciemDei;tunc /spiritus Dei unitus spiritui eius orat pro Rege Galliae quem spirituali /modouidetinDeo,utinspeculo. /

Oqu........illemodusorandi,quidadferam,utdeilloaliquiddicamReuerentiaeVestraefaciamquodpotero /.............tocommittam....taoratiofiebatinaliqua..ertationespiritus,semelsubrecitationeho- /[20] ..................faceramcommu-nionem;uidebaturmihiquodinhaceleuationespiritusstaremante /faciemDei........eriusoperationis,autperceptionisanimae,nisiuisionisseuintuitusDei;hoc /uiuerehocint.....amareetoraremodoineffabili;etspiritusDeimeospirituiunitusidinme /faciebatseillud.......ereamare,orareseuipseaspice-rebat,amabatetorabat. /


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Shereceivesfromthedivinespiritaspiritofprayerthatismorenoble,thatpraystogetherwithherspiritinanineffableway.

OnSaturdayafterthefeastoftheholySacrament69Ireceivedaspiritofpray-ingverydifferentfromthepreviousetc.Inmyopinionitismuchmorenoble,sublime and perfect and not less efficient,on the contrary rather more effi-cient,becausethedivinespirit isunitedwithmyspirit.Hehimselfoperatesthisprayeranddoesalmosteverythinginme,withmeandthroughme.

Andindeedthedivinespiritseemstopossessmethen,andliveinmeandpraythroughmeinanineffableway.ThenIbecomeknownbywhattheApos-tlesaidabouttheprayerofthedivinespiritinus:“Thespirithimselfintercedesinuswithineffablesighs.”70WiththattheApostledoesnotwanttosayorsig-nifythatthespiritprayssighingorthathissighsaresomultiplethattheyareuncountableandineffable,buthewantstosaythatthewayofpraying,withwhichthespiritpraysinus,isineffable.

Andthisistrue,forwhenIfoundmyselfpossessedbythespiritofGod,sin-gularlydirectedtoHimandintimatelyunitedwithhim,andthatthedivinespirit inthatunionwithmyspiritbegantopray, inastrangeetc,andneverbeforeexperiencedway,thenIunderstoodclearlythattheseweretheineffablesighsofthespirit,ofwhichtheApostlespeaks.

TheaforementionedwayofprayinghappensbytheelevationofthespiritbeforethecountenanceofGod.ThenthespiritofGodunitedwithherspiritpraysfortheKingofFrance,whomsheseesinaspiritualwayinGod,likeinamirror.

Ohow...thatwayofpraying,thatIdo,sothatImaysaysomethingabouthimtoYourReverence,anddowhateverIcan...entrust...prayerhappensinsome...ofthespirit,onceundertherecitationoftheHours...Ireceivedcommunion.ItseemedtomethatinthiselevationofthespiritbeforethecountenanceofGod...oftheoperationoroftheperceptionofthesoul,unlessofthevisionorsightofGod.Tolivethat,to...toloveandtoprayinanineffableway.AndthespiritofGodunitedwithmyspiritdidthatinmethathe...tolove,toprayorHesaw,lovedandprayed.

69 ThefeastoftheholysacramentwasontheThursdayafterthefeastoftheholyTrinity.In1672thiswasonJune16,1672.TheSaturdayafterthatwasJune18,1672.

70 Rom.8,26.


........ueroeramad ......abstracta,etabsqueimaginationibusomniumquaesuntextraDeum;egonihilaspi- /[25] .....eramnihilcogni........i..dium,idproquospiritusorabat,eratRexGalliae,proadiutoriaetassistentia / ....ipsiusinsua.......cienereducendiHollandiamadfidemCatholicam;huiusreihabebatspiritus /..........ssima......quam.......tiamquasisinecorpora,uelimaginariare-praesentatione uel cogitatione / ........quod ...... tiua hic non cooperaretur, etconsequenteripsanonhaberetcorpoream /...........ligu..mseurepraesentat....imaginariam istius Regis aut alterius rei; sed intellectus passiuus / [30] ......conuerger.....contemplansetsimulilleintellectuspassiuusuidebatet /quodspiritus ......... in Deo, in nuditate cogitationum seu imaginationum seu /........................cogitationibus ................non possum ... explicare. / ........................mihicaten.......sicutaliqua......eaduntur,etuidenturinspeculo /…………..perhocauisionecontemplationDeimedieturautullatenusim- /[35] ....................repraesentatio Regis et proposie ..........seu interati ipsius erabit omnino /..................erum in diuina essentia ........in speculo manifestatum et reprae- /.................orationem..........gratiasdictoRegiconferri /

..................................................... //

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[1] Videbametpercipiebamquod istaoratiohaberetmagnoseffectus,etuiilliusistiRegiaffluerentmultae /gratiaediuinaauxilia,etdiuinaecooperatio-nes in presequendo et exequendo ipsius proposito et intento; / clare etiamintelligebamquodDeusilliuelletlargiriistasgratias,etdiuinaauxiliasubmini-strareacad /intentionemRegiscooperarimediantetalioratione,etnonaliter,etquodDeusadhocassumeretetelegeret /[5] aliquasparuasethumilesacsimulpurasetDeumsincereamantes,utproillisorentinter /quaspaucasui-debatursuamaiestasmeindignametiamuelleimpendere,audereautemdice-requod /Dilectusmeasoliusoperauelorationeadhocuelituti,uidereturmihiintollerabilispraesumptio,quamquam /internaDilectialloquia,amicabilitas,etexhibitabeneuolentiaaliquidsimileuiderenturtestare;uerum /hocsatiusreiicitur. /

[10] Independenter a relatione aliorum, in Deo intelligit uictorias etprosperitatem / Regis Galliae uarie agitur, ut pro illo oret gratias agatetc. /

Etiamsinullusmihiquidquamdiceretdeuictoriis,quasreportatRexGalliaeinHollandia,nonideo /minusscirem;namhabeodeillisquasispiritualemEcho,etcertamcognitionem,quodfaciatprogressus,et /habeatuictorias,eoquod


...trulyIwasto...abstracted,andwithoutimaginationsofallthingsthatareoutsideofGod.Isawnothing,thoughtnothing...forwhichthespiritprayed,wastheKingofFrance,forthehelpandassistance...ofhiminhis...ofleadingHollandbacktothecatholic faith.Of thiscasethespirithad ... than ...as ifwithoutabodyoranimage,representationorathought...that...thisdoesn’tcooperateandthereforeshehasnocorporeal...norrepresents...imageofthatKingorofsomeotherthing.Butthepassiveintellect...contemplatingandatthesametimethatpassiveintellectsawthatthespirit...inGod,innakednessofthoughtsorimaginationsor...withthoughts...Icannot...explain.71

...

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IsawandperceivedthatthatprayerhadgreateffectsandbyitspowermanygracesflowedtothatKing,alongwithdivinehelpanddivinecooperationincarryingouthisplanandintention.ClearlyIunderstoodthatGodwantedtogranthimthosegracesandprovidehimthedivinehelpandbysuchprayerandnototherwisecooperatewiththeintentionoftheKingandthatGodforthispurposetookandchosesomesmallandhumbleandatthesametimepureandsincerelyGod-lovingwomen,toprayforthem,andamongthesefewHisMajestyseemedtowanttousemeunworthyasIam.ButtodaretosaythattheBelovedonlywantedtousemyworkorprayeralonetothisend,itseemedtomeanintolerablepresumption,althoughtheinternalconversationwiththeBeloved,thefriendlinessandthedemonstratedbenevolenceseemedtoprovesomethingsimilar.Butthisshouldbetterberejected.

IndependentoftheaccountsofotherssheunderstandsinGodthevicto-riesandprosperityoftheKingofFrance.Sheisledtoprayforhim,togivethanksetc.

Evenifnoonehadsaidanythingtomeaboutthevictories,thattheKingofFranceachievesinHolland,thenIwouldnothaveknownitanyless.ForIhaveaboutthemasitwereaspiritualEchoandacertainawareness,thathemakesprogressandhasvictories,becauseIseeinthespiritandfeelthatGodiswithhimandbecausetheBelovedbringsmecertaintyabouttheminsomespiritual

71 Hereshespeaksabouttheintellectualprayerwhichiswithoutherownthoughts,imagesetc.andyetfromtheotherside,i.e.fromthesideoftheBelovedshereceivestheprayerfortheFrenchKing,soitisapassivekindofprayer.


uideaminspiritu,etsentiamquodDeussitcumillo,etquiaDilectusspiritua-li /[15] quodamet intimomodomedeillisreddatcertiorem;sicutidicenteApostolo,ipsespiritustestimonum /redditspirituinostroquodsumusfiliiDei,sicetiamdiuinusspiritus testimoniumperhibetspirituimeo /quod illeRexprospereturetuictoriasreportetdeinimicissuis. /

Aliquandoetiamaliquoddiuinumlumeninspirituresplendensmeexcitatadorandum,uelad......um /actionem,utDeumdeillaprosperitateetsuccessuarmorum, laudem, benedicam et glorific....... / [20] ut Regem Deo commen-dem. /

Duobusueltribusdiebus,postquamdictussciendimodusinmefuisset,Di-lectusmihicon.... /unumalium,utimihiuidetur,sicutiantehacdescripsi,etReuerentiaeVestraetradidi,dealiquauisioneinspiritu. /

Conaturexplicarequomododictaoratiopurefiatinsp[iritu].....spiritus /Deiipsiunitusorat,etDeusseipsumuidet,etamatet ....animafacit /[25] pergratiamquodDeusfacitexnatura. /

Proculdigressasumabeoquodcaeperamdicere,n.quomodoiamsitspiritusorandidiuersusapraecen- /denti,nempequomodohaecoratiofiatomninoinspiritu,sineillacooperationepotentiaruminferiorum /etsensitiuarum,etiamsineperceptioneillarum;naminpraedictoaspectuDeianimaestabstractaaseipsa /etestpurespiritusunitusdiuinospiritui. /

[30] Estmirabileetuixintelligibile,quomododicammeesseunuminDeo,etquomodoinhacunio[ne] /Deumuideam;namnostromodoloquendi,cumeo quod uidemus non sumus unum; est aliquid aliud <quod> / uidemus, etaliquid aliud quocum sumus unum; nam unum est unum, et aspicere so-nat....... /etilludquodaspicitur;uerum….alitersereihabetinhaccontempla-tione...... /spiritusdequaloquor. /

[35] Hoc momento mihi indicit quomodo id sit, et quomodo id possimexplic[are]....... /piciatseipsumcognoscatseipsum,accomplaceatsibiipsidiligatseipsu[m]....... /essentialissimesecumetinseipsounitusetunusest,sicetiam........ /

AnimafactaunusspirituscumDeo............ /estunumesse,unumoperari,intelligere....... //

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[1] EodemmodoDeusdatanimaepergratiamidquodipseestpernaturam,quamdiun.haecuniodurat, /ipsaestunusspirituscumDeo,unumoperari,


andintimateway.LiketheApostlesaid:“The spirit itself bears witness to our spirit, that we are sons of God.”72 Soalsothedivinespiritbearswitnesstomyspirit,thatKingprospersandobtainsvictoriesoverhisenemies.

Sometimesalsosomedivinelightshininginthespiritexcitesmetoprayorto...action,sothatIpraise,blessandglorifyGodforthatprosperityandsuc-cesswithweapons...sothatIentrustthemtothecareofGod.

Twoorthreedaysaftertheaforementionedwayofprayinghadbeeninme,theBeloved...mesomeorother,asitseemstome,likeIhavedescribedbefore,andhavereportedtoYourReverence,aboutsomevisioninthespirit.

Shetries toexplainhowtheaforementionedprayerhappenspurely inthespirit...thespiritofGodunitedwithherpraysandGodseeshimselfandlovesand...thesouldoesbygracewhatGoddoesbynature.

IhavefardepartedfromwhatIbegantosay,thatishowdifferentthisspiritofprayingisfromtheprevious,yeshowthisprayerhappenstotallyinthespirit,withoutthatcooperationofinferiorpowersandsenses,alsowithouttheper-ceptionofthem.ForinthissightofGodthathasbeenmentionedthesoulisabstractedfromitselfandispurelyspiritunitedwiththedivinespirit.

ItisamazingandhardlyintelligiblehowIcansaythatIamoneinGodandhowintheunionIseeGod.Forinourwayofspeakingwearenotonewithwhatwesee.Whatweseeandwhatweareonewitharedifferent.Foroneisone,andbeholdingsounds...andwhatisbeheld.But...different...hasinthiscontemplation....thespiritaboutwhichIspeak.73

ThismomentheshowsmehowthisisandhowImightexplainthis...knowshimselfandpleaseshimselfandloveshimself...veryessentiallywithhimandinhimselfisunitedandone,also...

ThesoulismadeonespiritwithGod...isonebeingandoneoperating,understanding...

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InthesamewayGodgivestothesoulbygracewhatHeisbynature,aslongasthisunionlasts.It isonespiritwithGod,oneoperating,oneunderstanding,

72 Rom.8,16.73 Clearly languageherecannotexpressexactlytheunionwithGodthatMariaPetythas

experienced.


unumintelligere,unumuelle,unumdiligere /ipsanonnouitdifferentiamueldistantionem inter ego et meum, omnia plane unum sunt et in uno quae- /cumquecognoscituelintelligit. /

[5] Quocircaquandoipsaorat,estspiritusDeiquioratinilla;quandoipsacontemplaturetdiligitDeum /estDeusquiseipsuminillacontemplaturetdiligit. /

Hicstatusunionisinsecomprehenditbenealiampuritatem,simplicitatem,intimitatem,etsublimitatem /spiritus,quampraecedens;quandoenimtuncspiritusamorisoperabaturetdirigebatmeasanimaepotentias /tuncmultumcooperabar,licetactaetdirectapergratiam,etperignemamoris;tuncetiammagisperci- /[10] piebammeipsam,uelaliquaalia,licettameninDeo;sednoneramsicplaneunumcumDeo,sicutmodo /habebamcooperationemsi-mulcumgratiaseuspirituDei;atiamuideortotaliteresseunumcumDeo,etin / ipsummutata, spiritusDeihic fere facitomnia ipsum;sinegustaresineexperiri,etsinedistinctione, /potentiaruminferiorumetsuperiorum. /

QuidquidinDeoaspicio,gusto,experior,percipio,idtotumestabsorptuminunitatediuinaeessentiaeipsi... /[15] inhocstatunullomodosumidoneaadexternamlocutionemueloccupationem,sedanimameatenditad /sum-mumtranquillitatem,omnesmeaepotentiaesuntarrestataeetsuspensaeinDeo,etattractaeinsublimi- /tatesp[irit]us,existentesibiinsuocentro,quam-diuhictractus,seustatusunionisdurat;quidquidest /extr....centrum,estmihitaediosumetcausatnauseam. /

Dictaoratiodiuinispiritusfitsineuerbis,sineinstantiis,peraspectumadDeum /[20] haecoratioestefficacioraltera,utraquetamenaDeodatur;neutraestin /hominispotestate. /

Quandohicspiritusorationisinmeoperatur,tunchaecorationonfitloquen-do,uelperuerbanec /cumblandisinstan[tiis]pressionibusetc.sedsolummo-do, cum uno intuitu ad Deum, et cum ardente amoris / affectu; qui tamsu<aui>teretintimeinanimaoperatur,utipsametuixpercipiat;eoquodeiusintuituset /[25] totaattentiosit,adeoarrestata,etfixainDeo:hocdiligere,hocaspicereadDeum,siuehicintuitus,haec /[d]ilectioDei,notificantDeo,quidipsadesideret,etpostulet,u.g.prosperitatemfaelicemprogressum /ar-morum Regis Galliae contra Haereticos in Hollandia, anima scit et intelligithocsicesse, ideoin /hoctranquillointuituanimamultoplusfacit,quamsiformaretexpressauerba;nammihi /uelunusnutussufficit. /

[30] E[xper]ior quod spiritus multo efficacius oret in hoc tranquillo etamoroso aspectu Dei, quam cum multis / <bla>ndis supplicationibus et


onewanting,oneloving.ItdoesnotknowanydifferenceordistancebetweenIandmy,allisclearlyoneandinthatoneitknowsandunderstandsall.

ThereforewhenthesoulpraysitisthespiritofGodthatpraysinit.WhenitcontemplatesandlovesGod,itisGodwhocontemplatesandloveshimselfinthesoul.

This state of union comprehends in itself well another purity, simplicity,intimacyandloftinessofthespirit,morethantheprevious.Forwhenthespir-itofloveoperatedanddirectedthepowersofmysoulthenIcooperatedmuch,althoughIwasledanddirectedbygraceandbythefireof love.ThenalsoIperceivedmyselfmore,orsomethingelse,althoughstillinGod.ButIwasnotsoclearlyonewithGod,asifIhadnowacooperationatthesametimewithgraceandwiththespiritofGod.AndalreadyIseemedtobetotallyonewithGodandchanged intoHim.ThespiritofGodnowmadealmosteverythingHim.Without tasting,withoutexperiencingandwithout thedistinctionbe-tweeninferiorandsuperiorpowers.

Whatever I behold in God, and taste, experience, perceive, that is totallyabsorbedintheunitywiththedivineessenceitself...inthisstateIaminnowaycapableofanyspeakingoroccupationoutsideofHim,butmysoultendstothehighesttranquillity,allmypowersarerestingandresidinginGod,andareattractedtothesublimityofthespirit,beingthereinhiscentre,foraslongasthisattractionorstateofunionlasts.Whateverisoutside...thecentreisformedisgustingandcausesnausea.

Thementionedprayerofthedivinespirithappenswithoutwords,with-outintercessions,butthroughthesightatGod.Thisprayerismoreeffec-tivethanotherprayer,althoughbotharegivenbyGod.Noneofthemiswithinhumanpower.

Whenthisspiritofprayeroperatesinme,thenthisprayerdoesnothappeninspeakingorbywordsorwithsweet intercessionsandpressureetc,butonlywithonebeholdingofGod,andwithaburningfeelingoflove.Thatoperatessosweetlyandintimatelyinmysoul,thatthesoulitselfhardlyperceivesit,be-causeitsgazeandtotalattentionissomuchheldandfixedinGod.Thisloving,thisbeholdingofGod,orthislook,thisloveofGod,notifiestoGod,whatthesouldesiresandbegs,e.g.prosperity,ahappyprogressofweaponsfortheKingof France against the heretics in Holland.The soul knows and understandsthatthisisso,thereforeinthispeacefulsightthesouldoesmuchmorethanifithadformedexpressedwords.Becauseformeonegestureissufficient.

Iexperiencethatthespiritpraysmuchmoreforcefullyinthisquietandlov-ingsightofGod,thanwithmanysweetprayersandintercessions ...still the


instantiis ..tamen siue unum, siue aliud neuter modus orandi est in mea /...........................umuelaliummeumuiri......possumassequi,uelcausareetiamsiad idadhiberemomnem / ............. sedambodebentmihiconcediutrumque........operarispiritusDeisiueeius /........locoquandomihigratiose........eodif-ferenturaccommodare /[35] .....................quendospiritusetilli locumdandosiueunosiuealiomodocumsanctalibertate /.....................usoperaridignatur. /.................................................................. //

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[1] RedititerumspiritusorandiinfauoremRegisGalliae,inspiritu /perspiritum,antefaciemDei,essentialimodonotificand[o]Deo /suadesid-eriaetc. /

Die21Nouembris 1672,post sacramcommunionemrediebat spiritusorandipro / [5] prosperitate armorum Regis Galliae, quando spiritus eleuatur adcontem- /plationemDei,communitermihiaduenitspiritusorandi,modoiamsaepiusdicto, /aliquandodiudurat,aliquandotantumadunummiserere,uelcirciter;potest /nominarispirituspassiuaeorationis,quaesolummodofit inspiritu,perspiritumin /magnasublimitateetdistantiaabomnibushisinferio-ribus. /

[10] Inhocmodoorandinumquamsuntcogitationes,uerba, imaginatio-nes, spe- /ciesaut formaealiquarumrerum,quaseloquipossumus; spiritusoratnon /formandocogitationes;quantumpossumassequi,quandospiritussic statante /diuinamfaciem,etorat, tuncomnes instantiae,desideria,ap-pressiones,affectiones, /etcognitionesanimarum,proquibusorat,suntoccul-teconclusae,etimpercep- /[15] tibiliteroperanturin,etperistumaspectumspiritusDeumintuentis,per /quemaspectumanimaessentialimodoDeono-tificat sua desideria, et Deus / illam intelligit sine cogitationibus, uerbis, uelimaginationibus circa illa, pro / quibus orat; quia spiritus tunc stat apertusanteDeumuelutclarumspe- /culum,etetiamomnia,quaeDeusactualiteroperaturinspiritu,sc.istam /[20] orationem,quaeomniasuntDeonota,quiaactualiterfluuntexDeoinani- /mam,etiterumrefluuntexanimainipsum. /

Tunc tantum est unus simplex intuitus animae, seu spiritus ad Deum, etsecreta /seutacitanotificatiosuorumdesideriorum;quodfitcumtantatran-quillitate / et abstractione in spiritu per spiritum, ut ipsamet uix sciat uel


oneortheother,neitherwayofprayingisinmy...ormyother...IcanfolloworcauseeveniftheretoIappliedall...butbothmustbegrantedtome,eachofboth...operatethespiritofGodorhis...placewhentomegraciously...differtoaccommodate...thespiritandgivingplacetoit inoneorotherwaywithholyliberty...deemsworthytooperate.74

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Again75thespiritofprayingreturnsinfavouroftheKingofFrance,inthespirit,throughthespirit,beforethecountenanceofGod,inanessentialwaynotifyingGodofhisdesires.

Onthe21thofNovember1672afterholycommunionthespiritofprayingfortheprosperityofarmsoftheKingofFrancereturned,whenthespiritwasel-evatedtothecontemplationofGod.IngeneralthespiritofprayingcomestomeinawaythatIhavementionedmoreoften,sometimeslastingforalongtime,sometimesonlyaslongasoneMiserereorthereabout.Thiscanbecalledthe spirit of passive prayer, that happens only in the spirit and through thespiritinagreatlysublimewayanddistancefromalltheseinferiorpowers.

Inthiswayofprayerthereareneverthoughts,words,images,sightsorformsofthings,thatwecandescribe.Thespiritprayswhilenotformingthoughts.AsfarasIcanfathom,whenthespiritstandslikethatbeforethedivinecounte-nanceandprays,thenallintercessions,desires,pressures,feelingsandthoughtsofthesouls,forwhomheprays,areincludedinahiddenwayandworkimper-ceptibly in and through that sight of the spirit that is finding God, throughwhichsightthesoulnotifiesGodinaessentialwayofitsdesires.Godunder-standsitwithoutthoughts,wordsorimagesconcerningthatforwhichitprays.BecausethespiritstandsthenopenbeforeGodlikeaclearmirrorandalsoallthatGodatthemomentoperatesinthespirit,namelythatprayer,allofthatisknowntoGod,becauseitflowsatthesamemomentfromGodintothesoulandreflowsagainfromthesoulintoHim.

ThenthereisonlyonesimplemovementofthesoulorofthespirittoGodandasecretorsilentnotificationofitsdesires.Thathappenswithsuchtran-quillityandabstractioninthespiritandthroughthespirit,thatthesoulself

74 Twowaysofprayingarediscussedhere,bothofwhicharepassivekindsoftheprayer.Theprayerthatshedescribesherewhich iswithoutwords, intercessionsetcseemstobeakindofprayerfromthestateofauniomystica.

75 Herebeginsthethirdpartofthedocument.Itfollowsonfol.33.


postea.....niscatur; /[25] hocintelligitanimaesse,adorareDeuminspirituetueritatesi.......ebus, /imaginationibus,autformis. /

Dictomododicitintelligidumdicitsealiquain.....dere /intelligereetc,sc.istafierisineuerbis,sinespeci[ebus]corporeis; /uidetcreaturasinDeoutunitasdiuinaeessentiae. /

[30] HocmododebetReuerentiaVestraintelligeremultasdifferentesinopera-tiones,quando /faciomentionem,quodaliquasaliasoperationesuideaminDeo,intelligam /inDeoalicuiusreiinDeomeminerimuelaliquasaliasopera-tionesspiritus, /siueorare,siuealiquidaliudpraecipueistudoraretemporeunionis, siue / sublimis contemplationis, nimirum, quod similia semper fi....sine imaginatio- / [35] nibus, sine uerbis, sine cogitationibus, sine ullisspecieb[us]....umcorporearum /quianullaecogitationes;autspeciescorpore-aeetc.pe....spirit...... /namspirituseauidet,eacomprehenditsolummodoin....... /ueritate,etunitate,quaeDeusest;omniaautemquaeinDeo...... /telli-guntur,cognoscuntur,suntDeusinDeo,quiainDeoni........ /[40] etquamuisibisitaliquareminiscentiaautcognitioalicuius ........ /Deo,nonuidetur,neccognosciturutcreatura,sedutunita.... /indiuinaessentia,etutunumcumilla. /

Quidemuerumest,quandoDeusaliquidmanifestat........ /Galliae,eiusintentum,eiusexercitum,eiusprogressum...... /[45] absolutaindistinctio,quaminsolasimplici,informieius /...icio;estaliquadistinctaindistinctioinill....quea...... //

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[1] cognoscunturconclusaetunitaininformiunitatediuinaeessentiae;ideonullaeima- /ginationespossuntincidereinintellectum,utaliquiddistinctedeillisdicamus, /uel formemus;solummodoretineoobscuramcognitionemetconfusammemori- /amaliquorum,quaeReuerentiaeVestraescriptoexplico,quamoptimepossum. /

[5] Haecreuerabenepotestuocarioratiopassiua,adquamdenostronihilpossumus /addere,utillamassequamur,uelutdiutiuscontinuemus;nihilibidemeoest inter- /mixtum,necpotest intermisceri;quandoueroaliquiddemeoaccedit,et si tan- / tumsimplexaduertentia,uel reflexioad illam, ilicointermittitur,uelminuitur /istainoperatio,etanimadeorsumdemittiturinseipsam. /

[10] Aliudest,quandospiritusamorisorat,etconfidenteragitcumDilec-to / tunc enim miscetur aliquid plus de meo, ibi tolerantur actus fidei, spei,


hardlyknowsorafterwards...understandsthatthisis:toadoreGodinspiritandintruthwithout...imagesorforms.

In this way she says to be understood, while she says that she some ...understandsetc,namelythatthishappenswithoutwords,withoutcor-porealimages.SheseescreaturesinGodasaunityofthedivineessence.

InthiswayYourReverencemustunderstandthemanydifferentoperations,whenImakementionofsomeotheroperationsthatIseeinGod,andunder-standinGodandremembersomethinginGodorsomeotheroperationsofthespiritwhetherprayingorsomethingdifferent, inparticularthispraying inatimeofunion,orofextraordinarycontemplation,certainlythatsimilarthingsalwayshappen...withoutimages,withoutwords,withoutthoughts,withoutanysightsofcorporeal ...,becausenothoughtsorcorporealsightsetc ... thespirit...forthespiritseesthem,comprehendsthemonlyin...truthandunity,whichisGod.ButallthatinGod...isunderstood,known,isGodinGod,be-causeinGod...andalthoughthereissomereminiscenceorthoughtofsome...God,isnotseenandnotknownasacreature,butasunited...indivineessence,andasonewithit.

Itiscertainlytrue,whenGodmanifestssomething...ofFrance,hisintention,hisarmy,hisprogress...absoluteconfusion,howinonlysimple,unformed...ofhim......thereissomedistinguishedconfusioninthat...

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Theyareknownconcludedandunitedinanunformedunitywiththedivineessence.Thereforenoimagescanendupintheintellect,sothatwemightsayorformsomethingdistinctaboutthem.Ionlykeepanobscurethoughtandaconfusedmemoryofsomethings,thatIexplaintoYourReverenceinmywrit-ing,aswellasIcan.

Indeedthismightwellbecalledapassiveprayer,towhichwecannotaddanythingofourselvestoattainitortocontinueitanylonger.Nothingofmyselfisintermingledinit,norcanitbeintermingled.Butwhensomethingofmyselfapproached,evenifitwerejustasimpleturnorreactiontoit,thensuddenlythis operation would be interrupted or diminished and the soul would bethrownbackdownonitself.

ItisdifferentwhenthespiritoflovepraysandspeaksconfidentlywiththeBeloved, for then something is mixed of myself, and there acts of faith are


chari- /tatisetc,accogitationesetimaginationessecundumexigentiamistius /orationisetcumDilectoconuersationis:attamenetiamsicomniadiriguntur, /et proueniunt ab influxu diuinae gratiae, cui anima tunc respondet, quaminse- /[15] quitur,etquacumsimuloperatur,secundumquodtractus,motioetinfluxus /gratiaeuideturmanuducere,etdirigere. /

Docetur spiritum amoris sequi modo simpliciori, quasi uno / nutu uelictuoculiadDilectum,adAngeloscumsola /ultroneaebullitioneamo-ris. /

[20] Dixi antecedenter, quod uiderer instructa, quod spiritum amoris par-cius /sequidebeam;nuncdoceor,quomodoliberiuseuminsequiliceatprae-sertim / extra orationem, sed modo tranquilliori, nobiliori et spiritualiori,nempesine /multisdiscursibus,autexpressismultiplicibusuerbis,autallo-quiisadDilec- / tum...adsanctosAngelos,sedsolummodopertranquillamebullitionem / [25] teneri ... [s]uauis amoris, quasi uno nutu, aut amorosooculoadDilectum, /eipropo...do,etnotificandoidquodspiritusamorisdictat,u.g.deauxilio, /deprotectioneetcconcedendaRegiGalliae,uelexercituiillius,dedonisgra- /tiarumimpertiendisanimabusconuertendisetc. /

Operationesetaccessusamorisinteriusultroebullientesadhoc,uelillud /[30] inDeodilectumetc,tantumdebentfieri....asicumbreuibusexcursibus /spiritus,nonseulteriusueluiuaciusextendoueldispergendoextra limites /simplicitatis: ignisamorisbenepotestscintillare incorde, imoetiamflam- /mare,sedtotumcumtranquillitate,quasiquiescendo,eteuanescendoin /fun-do: unde h...ndo aliqua uerba amoris, suaues affectus, uel etiam aliquis /[35] zelusad....ore..Dilecti,uelsalutemanimarumebulliunt,oportetillait /.......uiuaciteractiueab.qu..reflexione,uelaliquastabilideillis /.......e,acsineadditionealiquaexpartenostra. /

....urhabereunionemcumintellectudiuinoinquouidet /......a,quaescriptacombusserat,utiterumscribat:uitem /[40] .....ilecti,utzeleteiusgloriam. /........ris1672,euigilans,etposteaiteruminoratione,uidebar /......unionemcumintellectudiuino;perquammulta,quae /.........erumetcombusseram(utiReuerentiaVestrascit)iterumrenoua- /...........abantur,etuiuaciterinmemoriamreducebantur //


toleratedandofhope,loveetc.andthoughtsandimagesaccordingtothere-quirementsofthisprayerandoftheconversationwiththeBeloved.Neverthe-lessalsointhiswayallisledbyandstemsfromtheinfluenceofdivinegrace,towhichthesoulthenresponds,whichitfollowsandwithwhichitoperatesatthesametimeaccordingtowhichtheneed,themovementandtheinfluenceofgraceseemtoguideandtodirect.

Sheistaughttofollowthespiritofloveinamoresimpleway,aswithawinkoranodtotheBeloved,totheangelswithonlyavoluntaryoutburstoflove.

Ihavesaidbefore,thatIseemedtobeinstructedthatIhadtofollowthespiritoflovemoresparingly.NowIwastaughthowitispermittedtopursueitmorefreelyespeciallyoutsideofprayer,butinamorequiet,nobleandspiritualway,yesevenwithoutmanydispersionsormanyexpressedwordsortalkingtotheBeloved…totheholyangels,butonlybythequietsimmeringofatender…sweetlove,likewithonewinkorwithalovingeyetotheBeloved,tohim…andnotingwhatthespiritoflovedictates,e.g.aboutthehelp,theprotectionetc,whichshouldbeprovidedtotheKingofFranceortohisarmy,aboutthegiftsofgracewhicharegrantedtothesoulswhichshouldbeconvertedetc.

TheoperationsandtendenciesoflovewhichspontaneouslyboilupinsideorwhatislovedinGod,justhavetohappen…withshortdigressionsofthespirit,notextendingorspreadingoutfurtherormorevividlyoutsidethelimitsofsimplicity.Thefireoflovemaywellsparkleintheheart,yesevenflame,butallwithquietness,likerestingandvanishingintothedepths.Hence…somewordsoflove,sweetfeelingsorevensomezealto…oftheBeloved,orthesal-vationofthesoulsboilup,itshouldbethatit…vividly,actively,withoutreflex-ionorsomestable…aboutthem,andwithoutanyadditionfromourside.

…tohaveunionwiththedivineintellectinwhichshesees…whichwritingsshehadburnt,likeshewroteagain:……oftheBeloved,sothatshestrivesforhisglory.…1672,wakingup,andthenagaininprayer,Iseemed…unionwiththedivineintellect.Bythatmany,that…andIhadburned(asYourReverenceknows)againrenewed…andvividlywerebroughtbacktomemory.


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[1] demonstratione,etsuasione,utrursusexscriberem,(sedidadhucparumdiffero, /donecspiritusmemagisurgeat). /

Item mihi significabatur, quod Rex Galliae occupabat Hollandiam; hocmihi /uidebaturomninocertum:Itemcertificabar,omnesoperationes,quasspiritus /[5] amorisaboctouelnouemmensibusetposteainme,etpermeoperatusest /quoadHollandiam,fuerintdiuinae;quispiritusiterumresumitsuasopera- /tiones,sicuttunc;etsentiebammequasifuissemcharissimacon-sorsDilecti /mei,totazelosaproaugendagloriaeius,inlucroanimarumcordihabendo, /primoeasperducendoadueramfidem,deindeipsisprouidendodeomnibus /[10] gratiisadsalutemnecessariisetutilibus. /

Eodemdieanteetpostsacramcommunionemincipiebatspiritusamoris,et /spiritusorationismeualdeefficaciterinuadere,quimihiuidebaturquasiuim /inferre,etmihiuellepraeualere,sedmestatimaccommodabam,etse-quebar, /quoipsemeimpellebat,etubieratimpetusillius,illucgradiebar;ui-debar / [15] interius intelligere; sponsa mea non semper est tempusquiescendi,mein /tranquillitatefruendi,etdormiendisomnumamoris;sedinillisetiam,quae /meihonorisetgloriaesunt,oportetteesse,etoccupari;eui-gilaetsurge,etdis- /poneteadoperandum. /

Statimeramparata,sedintelligebam,quodDilectusmenonuelletextra- /[20] hereexmeasolitudine;quiaillamihiestomninonecessariaaddiuinum /eiuspropositumetintentum;sedsolummodouolebat,utdaremlocumspi- /rituiamoris;eteccestatimomnesmeaepotentiaeinferioresuidebanturse /insolito quodam diuino modo aperire, et expandere, ut quasi apprehende-rent /ethaurirentspiritumdiuinum,eiquelocumpraeberent,quispiritu[s]...[in]cipiebat /[25] inmeoperarihocmodo;spiritusuidebaturquasicircum-plecti....christi- /anismumraradilectione,etpraeteneroaffectu,adsalutem.....,quos /Deuspraelegitadsalutem;proutalibifusiuspraeduxi. /

RenouaturinillateneraffectusergaRegemGalliaeuta /DeoetinDeodilectum,etinstanterproeoorat;undeputat /[30] eumnonessetammalum,utimultieumreputant. /

Quandospiritusamorissicinmeoperatur,tuncrenouaturinmeistetener /amoris affectus, et sensibiliter spiritualis inclinatio erga Regem Galliae, uti /antehac,uelutergaaliquemaDeoetinDeoDilectum[imp]etusspiritus,quo /


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(...)thedemonstrationandpersuasion,togobacktowriting(butIpostponethatstillabit,untilthespiriturgesmemore).

Likewiseitwassignifiedtome,thattheKingofFranceoccupiedHolland.Thatseemedtomecompletelycertain.LikewiseIwasassuredthatalltheop-erations,whichthespiritoflovehadoperatedinmesinceeightorninemonthsago,andafterwardshadoperatedinmeandthroughmewithregardtoHol-land,hadbeendivine.Thatspiritresumedagainhisoperationslikethen.AndIfeltmyselflikeIwasthemostbelovedcompanionofmyBeloved,totallyzeal-oustoincreasehisglory,andtohavetheprofitofsoulsatheart,firstbyleadingthemtothetruefaith,thenbyprovidingthemwithallgracesthatareneces-saryandusefulforsalvation.

Thesamedaybeforeandafterholycommunionthespiritofloveandthespiritofprayerbegantoinvademeveryforcefully,thatseemedasiftobringmestrengthandtowanttoprevailuponme,butIsuddenlyconformedandfollowed,whereheurgedmeandwherehisattackwas,thereIwent.Iseemedtounderstandinside:“Mybride, it isnotalwaystimetorest, toenjoymeinquietnessandsleepthesleepoflove.Butalsointhosethings,thataretomyhonourandglory,thereyoushouldbeandbeoccupied.Bevigilantandarise,andprepareyourselfforwork.”

ImmediatelyIwasready,butIunderstood,thattheBeloveddidnotwanttoextractmefrommysolitude.Becausethatisformeentirelyanecessityforhisdivineplanandintention.ButHeonlywantedthatIgiveplacetothespiritoflove.Andsee,atonceallmyinferiorpowersseemedtoopenthemselvesinanunusualsomewhatdivineway,76andtospreadout,sothattheywouldappre-hendandtakeinthedivinespirit,andgiveplacetoit.Thatspirit...begantooperateinmeinthisway.Thespiritseemedasitweretoembrace...Christian-itywithastrangeloveandverytenderaffection,tothesalvation...whomGodhaselectedforsalvation,asIhavesuggestedelsewhere.

InheratenderaffectiontowardstheKingofFranceisrenewedasiflovedbyGodandinGod,andinstantlyshepraysforhim.Henceshebelievesthatheisnotasbadasmanyregardhimtobe.

Whenthespiritofloveoperatessoinme,thenthattenderfeelingofloveisrenewedinme,andsensiblyIcanfeelaspiritualinclinationtowardstheKingofFrance,likebefore,astowardssomeonewhoisbelovedbyGodandinGod.

76 Seen.15.


erga eum feror, est magnus et rarus, quia ex natura .... non sum inclinata /[35] ergahomines,necsumamatiuahominum(utiReuerntia[Vestra]....mo-tio- /nemgratiae;sentiomequasitutamproipso,n.ineiusfauorem..... /In-stantiae,etamorosaepostulationes,quasspiritusfacitproips..... /Dilectum,apudMatremamabilem,etsanctosAngelos,suntmillaeet..... /quaeomnesaspirituamorisdictanturetpronuntianturperint..... /[40] ebullitionesamo-ris. /

Haecinmedeprehendensnonpossumcrederemala,quaedeistoRege.... /guntur;abaliquotdiebusueniebatmealiquisinuisum,quihunc.... /depinge-battamturpiter,quasifuissetnotoriusscurraetnebul........ /multumuulnera-bat,eteumtotisuiribusdefendebam;quia........ /[45] apparetinanimomeo,quamhominesipsumdiiudicant;............... //

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[1] nequam,ettamimpius,acperuersustraducitur,nonpossemeumadeo /inDeodiligere,necessemadeostabiliterbeneadilluminclinata;secun- /dumnaturamnonhabeoadhocullamrationem,autmotiuum,sedpotius /econ-trario.haecscripsit9Decembris1672. /

[5] PropterdictademalaRegisuitaconaturseabilloauertere /sedinorationediscitplanecontrarium,cuminclinationead /illum,etcertitu-dine,quodDeoplaceat;eterituictoriosus /oratproillocontraaduersa-riosillius. /

Quiapraedictapersonatammultamihireferebatadconfirmationem,quod /10dictusRexessetnequissimaeetperditaeuitae,etideoomnibenedictionein- / dignus, adeoque merito Deo sic disponente, perdidisset conflictum, ethabu- /issetclademmagnam,inpunitionempraeteritaesuae,etadhuc,utdi-cebat /praesentisscandalosaeuitae;idcircoconabarmeabistoRegealienare,omnem / affectum abstrahere, spiritum pro ipso orandi repellere, omnemmeaminte- /[15] rioremexperientiam,ettestificationemabiicere,etdiffiteri;uelutmeram /fraudemetdeceptionem,nonsinesensupraemagnaeafflictio-nis,etinterna /praessura. /

Uerumcummededissemorationi,Dilectusmeiterumfaciebatsentire /etintelligere plane contrarium, cum tali interna certificatione ueritatis, /[20] cum tali confortatione, cum tali illecebra, amore et beneuolo affectu /


Theforceofthespirit,bywhichIambroughttowardshim,isgreatandstrange,becausebynature...Iamnotinclinedtowardsmen,andIamnotaloverofmen(likeYourReverence...)...movementofgrace.IfeellikeIambeingsavedforhim,forinhisfavour...Intercessionsandlovingprayers,whichthespiritdoesforhim...theBeloved,inthepresenceofhislovingMother,andtheholyangelsare thousandand ... thatallaredictatedbythespiritof loveandarepronouncedby...simmeringoflove.

DiscoveringthesethingsinmeIcannotbelievethebadthingsthatare…about thatKing.Sincesomedaysagosomeonecametomeunseen,who…depictedhimsoshamefully,asifhewasanotoriouscriminaland…woundedhimmuchandIdefendedhimwithallmystrengths.Because…appearsinmymind,likemenjudgehim…

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…wicked,andsoimpiousandperverseistransferred,IcouldnotlovehimsomuchinGod,andIwouldnotbesostablywellinclinedtohim.AccordingtonatureIhavenoreasonormotiveforthis,butratherthecontrary.Thesethingsshewroteon9December1672.

BecauseofthethingsthataretoldaboutthebadlifeoftheKingshetriestoturnawayfromhim,butinprayershelearnsclearlythecontrary,withtheinclinationtohimandthecertaintythathepleasesGod,andthathewillbevictorious.Shepraysforhimagainsthisopponents.

Becausetheafore-mentionedpersontoldmesomuchasconfirmation,thattheKingofwhomIamspeakinghadaverywickedandcorrupted life,andtherefore was unworthy of all blessing, and as God had disposed with goodreasonhehadlosttheconflictandhadsufferedagreatdefeataspunishmentofhisformerand,asitissaid,stillpresentlyscandalouslife.ThereforeItriedtoalienatemyselffromthatKing,andtowithdrawallaffectionandtorepelthespiritofprayingforhim,andtorejectanddenyallmyinnerexperienceandproof.Asifitweremerefraudanddeception,notwithoutthefeelingofgreatafflictionandinternalpressure.

ButwhenIhadgivenmyselftoprayer,theBelovedmademefeelagainandunderstandclearlytheopposite,withsuchaninnercertaintyofthetruth,withsuch comfort, with such allurement, love and benevolent affection towards


ergahuncRegem,utproillaueritatebeneuoluissemmori,quodipse /essetaDeodilectus,etquodhaberetuictoriaminHollandia;nam /zelus,etspiritus,quimihiprotuncdenouoiteruminfundebatur,coö- /perab[atu]rsimulcumspirituDei,utexercitumhaereticorum,etetiamnostr- /[25] umex[ercitu]m,quiipsisueneratinsubsidium,delerent,profligarent, ipsorum /roburetpo-tentiameneruarentetc. /

IndictisprecibusaGubernatorePatriaeprosuccessucontra /GallosanteCaroloregium,ipsadicitomnesprecesforeinefficaces /etunamexaudi-endam contra omnes: uidet spiritum Dei ferri / [30] super exercitumGallorum. /

HoctemporequoPatriaeGubernatorcomesdemontereiirequisiuerat, /utin-dicerenturprecescommunes,etomnisclerus,actotiusPatriaeReli- /giosiom-nisque[p]opulusorarentadoptatumsuccessumsuibonipropositi, /etintenti(utidi[ce]bat)quoderat,utcumomnisuoexercituconiunctis /[35] [c]opiishae.......obsideretCaroloregium,etaliasCiuitatesinfauorem /........xisAuriaci;hocegoaudiens,erampraezelofereininternamotione /.......ae,etdicebam,subridendo intra me; orate uos omnes, orate, orate, quam / ......uultis, cumomni uestra oratione nihil obtinebitis; nam latet alicubi / ......humilis animaabsconditainangulo,quaeaDeoaccepitpotestatem /[40] .......bendiomnesorationestammultorum,etimpediendi,neaDeoex- /audiantur,quiabenescit,quodexauditioistarumorationumtenderet,et /.......contraDeihonoremet gloriam, et contra promotionem Sanctae Eccle- / [siae]..... nes orant, ne-scientes,quidorent,n.quisuamintentionemfor- /.....conformabantintentio-nisupradictae. /

[45] ........paruaethumilisanimaeratilluminataetinstructade //

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[1] ueritateetorabatcontrarium,quamalii,actaetimpulsaperin- /stinctumetimpetumspiritussancti,ethuiushumilisetabiectaeanimaeora- /tiofuitexauditacontraomnes,proutposteaexeffectusecutopatuit, /quandonostri


thisKing,thatIwouldhavewantedtodieforthattruth,thathewaslovedbyGodandthathehadthevictoryinHolland.Forthezealandthespirit,thatwaspouredintomethenanew,cooperatedatthesametimewiththespiritofGod,sothattheywoulddestroyanddefeatthearmyofthehereticsandalsoourarmythathadcometohelpthem,andwouldweakentheirstrengthandpoweretc.

IntheprayersthathavebeenmentionedbytheGovernorofthiscountryforsuccessagainsttheFrenchbeforeCharleroi,77shesaysthatallprayerswillbepowerlessandthatonemustbeheardagainstall.SheseesthatthespiritofGodisbroughttorestoverthearmyoftheFrench.

InthistimewhentheGovernorofthiscountry,theCountofMonterrey78re-questedthatcommonprayersbeproclaimedandthatallclergyofthecountryandallpeoplewouldprayforthedesiredsuccessofhisgoodplanandinten-tion(ashesaid),whichwasthathewiththetroopsconnectedwithallhisarmy… would occupy Charleroi and the other cities in favour … of Auriacum.79WhenIheardthisIwasmovedinternallybyzeal…andIsaid,smilinginside:“Prayallofyou,pray,prayasmuchasyou…want,withallyourprayersyouwillobtainnothing.Forsomewhereishidden…ahumblesoullostinacorner,whoreceivesfromGodthepowerto…allprayersofsomany,andtoimpedethattheyareheardbyGod,becauseHeknowswell,thatthehearingoftheseprayerstendsand…againstthehonourandgloryofGodandagainstthepromotionoftheholyChurch…theypray,notknowing,whattheyareprayingfor,namelythathisintention…theyconformedtotheafore-mentionedintention.”

…asmallandhumblesoulwasilluminatedandinstructedabout…

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thetruthandprayedcontrarytotheothers,ledanddrivenbytheincitementandinsistenceoftheholyspirit,andtheprayerofthishumbleandinconsider-ablesoulhasbeenheardagainstall,asafterwardsisprovedbytheeffectthat

77 Seen.16.78 DonJuanDomingoMendezdeHarowasmarriedtothe6thCountessofMonterreyand

usedthetitlesofhiswifeforhimself.79 AuriacumistheLatinwordforOrange.PerhapsMariarefersheretoWilliamIIIthestadt-

holderofHolland.


milites,ethaereticipraeinediaetmiseriadebueruntrece- /[5] derecumma-gnodamnoetinfamia. /

Quidestmirum,quodGalliitapraeualeantetsintadeouictoriosiin /Hol-landia?Deusestcumillis;semeluidiinspiritu,quomodospiritusDei /fereba-tursuperexercitumGallorum,sicutolimspiritusDeiferebatursuperaquas. /

Possessa a spiritu Jesu agitur zelo animarum, cui resistit ut / [10] sus-pecto, quia non sequitur exspectatus effectus in Hollandia / iuxta ali-quorumrelationem,quamaDilectointelligitesse /falsam. /

Uideorpercipere,quodaliquandosimpossessaaspirituJesu,quiinme /pro-ducit sitibunda desideria salutis animarum, qualia Jesus habuit, dum /[15] uiueret,etadhuciaminuitasuagloriosa,hicspiritusmihiheridie16 /Decembris 1672, subitoquasi infundebatur;cuisub initiumnonnihil reluc- /tabar, quasi illum reprobando; cogitans ad quid seruiunt istae operationesspi- /ritusamoris?quidindeprouenit?solummodohabeodesideria,etaffec-tus,sine /ulterioribusaffectibus;proutpatetquoadRegemGalliaeinHollan-dia,ubi /[20] spiritusamorisadeocontinuo,etquidemtamsingularimodooperatus /fuitcumapparentebonosuccessu,etiamistabonaapparentiaqua-siinuertitur, /etomniasusquedequeuertuntur,ettotaliterintricantur. /

Sicmihiabunoautalteroreferebatur,quoduictoriaeRegisGalliaetota- /liter inuerterentur,quod illi iterumaliquotCiuitates inHollandi[aar]mata /[25] manuessentereptae,sedfueruntmendacia. /

Item quando noster exercitus simul cum haereticis Caroloregium obside-bat,et /mihimultadicebanturdeillorumuictoriis,quaeerantfalsa,etomninocontraria, /quiacumconfusionepraeinediaetmiseriacoactisuntsoluereob-sidionem, et / recedere ad sua praesidia; ita ut passim potuerint aduertere,quodmale- /[30] dictioDeifueritsuperillos. /

ItemquandoReuerentiaVestramihiscribebatBoxmera,quodibimultumtimeretur, /quodGallisuccumberent,etcaederentur,eoquodHispanietCae-sarianimagnas /haereticisdarentsuppetias, itauthumanitusloquendo,ab-sque speciali Dei assistentia / Galli undique expellerentur, et haereticipraeualerent,quo....negociumReligi- /[35] onisibiualdemalecederet,Reli-giosi, et Catholici eii...... omnes hae / apparentiae faciebant me multum


followed,whenoursoldiersandtheheretics,becauseofstarvationandmisery,hadtowithdraw,withgreatdamageanddisgrace.

NowonderthattheFrenchprevail,andhavesomuchvictoryinHolland!Godiswiththem.OnceIsawinthespirithowthespiritofGodwasbroughttorestoverthearmyoftheFrenchlikeoncethespiritofGodwasbroughttorestoverthewaters.80

PossessedbythespiritofJesussheisanimatedbyzealforsouls,towhichsheresistsastoasuspectkindofzeal,becausetheexpectedeffectinHol-landdoesn’tfollowaccordingtothestoryofsome.ButoftheBelovedsheunderstandsthatthesestoriesarefalse.

Iseemtoperceive,thatsometimesIampossessedbythespiritofJesus,whoproducesinmethirstydesiresforthesalvationofsouls,suchasJesushadwhileHe lived,andstillnowhas inhisglorious life.Thisspiritwassuddenlyas itwerepouredintomeyesterdayonthe16thofDecember1672.TowhichIre-sistedfromthebeginningsomewhat,asifIrejectedit,thinking:towhatpur-posedothoseoperationsofthespiritofloveserve?Whatcomesforthfromit?Ionlyhavedesiresandfeelings,withoutfurtherfeelings.Likeitappearsinre-gardtotheKingofFranceinHolland,wherethespiritoflovehasoperatedinsuchacontinuousandevensuchaparticularwaywithapparentsuccess,andyetthatgoodappearanceissortofinvertedandallisturnedupsidedownandistotallyconfused.

Thiswayitwastoldtomebytheoneortheother,thatthevictoriesoftheKingofFrancearetotallyinverted,thatsomecitiesinHollandwererecapturedwithanarmedforce,butthosestorieswerelies.

Likewise when our army together with the heretics occupied Charleroimanythingsweresaidtomeabouttheirvictories,whichwerefalse,anden-tirelytheopposite,becausewiththeconfusioninthefaceofstarvationandmiserytheywereforcedtorenouncetheoccupationandwithdrawtotheirgar-risons,sothattheycouldobserveeverywherethatthecurseofGodwouldbeoverthem.

EvensowhenYourReverencewrotemefromBoxmeer,thattherewasgreatfearthattheFrenchwouldsuccumbandfall,becausetheSpaniardsandtheImperialsgavegreatsupporttotheheretics,sothathumanlyspeaking,with-outthespecialassistanceofGod,theFrenchwouldbeexpelledfromevery-whereandthehereticswouldoverpowerthem,…thecaseofreligionwouldyield there very badly, the Religious and Catholics … all these appearances

80 Vg.Gen.1,1.


diffideredeueritateillorum,quimihi /interiusuidebanturreuelata,proaliquotempore,donecDilectusmih[i].... /deistisdaretconfirmationem. /

Deussibicomplacetinoperationibusspiritusamoris,etillas /[40] remu-nerat, etsi effectus sperati non sequantur; quod etiam sanc.. / Gertrudireuelatumest. /

Dumhaesitareminpraedictaambiguitate,etdifferentiadebonospiritupro..... /cessusexpectationimeaecontrarios,uidebaturmihiinteriusresponderi.... /ficari,permitteamoremoperari,dailliplenamagendilibertatem,non.... /[45] iendo,analiquieffectus,seufructussequantur,necne;istaeoperationes.... //

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[1] mihicomplacent,suntmihipergratae,ettibimeritoriae,acfructiferae,eo-dem /modo,acsiomnes illasanimasde factomihi lucrata fuisses,etadmereduxisses. /Exquosequebaturulteriorcognitio,quodDilectusillosaffectus,et fer- /uentiadesideriauellet remunerare,uelut facta,etiamsieffectusnonsemper, / [5] nec in omnibus sequatur; sicuti Concionatores, Confessarii, etaliioperarii in /uineasanctaeEcclesiae,nonfrustranturmeritis,etmercedelaborumsuorum, /quosexentlantadlucrandasanimas,etiamsidefactopau-casDeolucren- /tur;dummodotantumfaciant,quantuminseest,operandoetlaborandocum /sincera,etpuraadDeumintentione,cumzelosoconatu,solummodoactidi- /[10] recti,etimpulsimotiuocharitatisDeietproximiibi,enimsicprocedendohabeat /plenammercedemsuaeperfectaeuoluntatisetdilectionis:hocualdeclarein- /telligebamcummagnaassecurationeetcerti-ficationeueritatis. /

Admaioremcertificationemmihietiamreducebaturinmentemid,quod /Dilectus semel respondebat S. Gertrudi in simili casu suam querimoniam /[15] ipsideponenti,quodnonsemperuideretactuales fructussequentesexhuius- / modi zelosis desideriis, feruentibus amoris affectibus, et similibusamorosis /operationibusspiritusamoris,quosubindeagebatur;ipsienimin-terius dice- / batur; etiamsi ex illis non uidear desideratos pullulare fructus,mihiin /illiscomplaceo,etmeamindehaurioiucunditatem,uidendosicistabona /[20] desideria,etmotionesamorisoperari. /


mademedoubtmuchaboutthetruthofthosethings,thatseemedtobere-vealedtomeinside,forsometime,untiltheBelovedgaveconfirmationaboutthosethings.

Godispleasedwiththeoperationsofthespiritoflove,andHerewardsthem, even though the desired effects do not follow. All this is alsorevealedtotheholyGertrudis.81

WhileIhesitatedintheaforementionedambiguityanddoubtaboutthegoodspiritfor…contrarytomyexpectations,itseemedthatIwasansweredinside…permitlovetooperate,giveitfullfreedomtoact,not…,orsomeeffectsorfruitsfollow,ornot.Thoseoperations…

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pleaseme,arepleasanttomeandmeritorioustoyouandfruitful,inthesamewaylikeyouhavewonallthosesoulsinfactformeandhaveledthembacktome.FromtherefollowedafurtherthoughtthattheBelovedwantedtorewardthoseeffectsandferventdesiresasiftheywereachieved,eventhoughtheef-fectsdidnotfollowalwaysinandinall.JustasthePreachersandConfessorsandotherworkersinthevineyardoftheholyChurchwerenotfrustratedbytheirmeritsandbythewagesfortheirlabors,whichthey…towinsouls,eventhoughinfactfewarewonforGod.Aslongastheydoasmuchastheycan,operatingandlaboringwithasincereandpureintentionforGod,withzealouseffort,onlydriven,directedandmotivatedbyloveforGodandtheirneighborthere,forproceedingsohehasgainedfullwagesforhisperfectwillandlove.Iunderstoodthisveryclearlywithgreatassuranceandcertaintyofthetruth.

Withgreatercertainty itwasbroughtbacktomymindwhat theBelovedhad once responded to St. Gertrudis in a similar case when she placed hercomplaintbeforehim,thatshedidn’talwaysseetheactualfruitsthatfollowedfromherzealousdesiresofthatkind,fromtheferventfeelingsofloveandfromthesimilarlovingoperationsofthespiritoflove,bywhichshewasleddirectly.Foritwassaidtoherinside:eventhoughIseemnottobringforthfruitsfromthosethings,IampleasedinthemanditgivesmedelightwhenIseethatthosegooddesiresandmovementsofloveareoperatedso.

81 I.e.SaintGertrudeofHelfta.


Spiritusamorishabenslibertatemmireineaoperatur,et /subitoabeaexituirtusadomnesmundipartes,inHollandiam, /..dexercitumGallo-rum.etc. /

Statim....[sp]irituiamorisdabamlocum,ipseincipiebatualdeingenioseindu-strie, /[25] etamoroseoperarimodotamsuauifluo,quasiintusetforisdiuinoinfluxu / fuissem possessa; omnia, quae erant intra me, cooperabantur huicamori; /omnes.animaepotentiae,coretanimus,quasidissoluebantur,ape-riebantur;et /inlibertatemafferebantur,modoquodam,quemnescioexplica-re; omnis / sanguis, et corporis uenae etiam uidebantur amori cooperari. /[30] Tunc uidebatur subito et subtiliter uirtus aliqua de me exire, quae in /instantiseseuidebaturdispergere,etperuolareomnesmundipartes,ubi /......aliqua.... itasanimarum,quasDeusuolebatiuuareetaliquagra- /tia .....re. /Hab........ inanimo,quidiuersimodeegebantgratiaDei,spi- /[35] [ritus] .....amicabiliterexcipiebat,sonebat,amplexabaturetc.unum /......quesuomodo,secundumexigentiamnecessitatis,inquaerantconstituti /.....cutiamantissi-mae,suauissimae,etamabilissimaeMatressolentfacere. /

In Polonia, in Hollandia, in exercitum Gallorum etc inueniebat spiritus /amoris abun..., quod ageret, in multis maestis desolatis, derelictis pusillani-mis, /[40] ........us,etmiserabilibusanimabus:haecomniafiebant,cumuelo-citate, etce- / .......... te uolando ulterius de uno ad alium, quasi ab aliquodeductuscum /.........tionepersonarum,inquibusoperarioportebat;namamorestueloxin /[op]erationibus,dumeicumlibertatespirituslicetoperari.

haecscripsit /.......mbri1672. //

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[1] Postmultosmysticosagonesdiuinagratiasuperatos,datlocum /igniamoris,quiincordeetspirituardensaliquandouidetur /sursumtrahereomnesanimasextraDeuminnatura,etin /peccatisuiuentes. /

[5] Die17dictimensis,postdiuersasanimaedispositiones,postmultosago-neset /mortesamoris,quiunodiediuersimodeacciduntetadueniunt,expar-temaligni /spiritus,etpartisinferioris,aquibusspiritusfrequenteroppugnatur,et uariis / insidiis, et laqueis circumuenitur, ut sic in sua pura, intima, et


Thespiritoflovehavingitsfreedomworksinherandsuddenlyastrengthcomesoutofherandspreadstoallpartsoftheworld,toHolland,tothearmyoftheFrenchetc.

Atonce…Igaveplacetothespiritoflove,itbegantooperateveryingeniously,industriouslyandlovinglyinsuchasweetlyflowingway,asifIwaspossessedinsideandoutsidebyadivine influence.All thatwas insidemecooperatedwiththislove.Allpowersofthesoul,heartandmind,weresortofdissolved,wereopenedandbroughttofreedom,inawaythatIcannotexplain.Alltheblood and veins of my body also seemed to cooperate with love.Then sud-denly and subtly some strength seemed to come from me, that seemed tospreadinstantlyandflytoallpartsoftheworld,where…some…ofthesouls,whichGodwantedtohelpandsomegrace…

… in mind, that miss in different ways God’s grace, the spirit … receivedfriendly,sounded,embracedetc.one…inhisway,accordingtotherequire-mentsofnecessity,inwhichwereconstituted…veryloving,sweetandcharm-ingmothersusetoact.

In Poland82, in Holland, in the army of the French etc. the spirit of lovefoundabundantly…,whichacted, inmanysad,desolate,abandoned,pusil-lanimous…andmiserablesouls.Allthesethingshappenedquickly,etcetera…flyingfurtherfromtheonetotheother,asitweredrawndownwith…ofper-sons,inwhomitshouldoperate.Forloveisquickinheroperations,whilesheispermittedtooperatewithfreedomofthespirit.

Thesethingsshewroteon…1672

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Aftermanymysticalstrugglesinwhichshewasovercomebythedivinegrace,shegivesplacetothefireoflovethat,burningintheheartandinherspirit,seemstodrawallsoulsthatliveoutsideGodinnatureandinsin.

Onthe 17thof thatmonthaftervariousdispositionsof thesoul,aftermanystrugglesanddeathsoflove,whichhappenandariseinanyonedayindiffer-entways,fromthepartofanevilspiritandofaninferiorpart,bywhichthespiritisfrequentlyattackedandisalsosurroundedbyvarioustreacheriesandtraps,sothatinthiswayheisdivertedandhinderedinhispure,intimateand

82 ProbablyMariareferstothePolish–OttomanWar(1672–76).


immediata ad / Deum conuersione diuertatur, seu impediatur, ipse spiritusdiuinauirtute,et /[10] gratiaDilectiadiutus,etconfortatustranscenditom-nia,etdatlocum,acage- /ndilibertatemignidiuiniamoris,quiinsolito,nobi-li,spirituali,etsimulsensibili /modo,incordeetspirituaccenditur,etardetcumstabilisursum-flammatione /adEssentiamincreatam,cumtranquillitate,etsimplicitate,ettamenuiuaciter /etefficaciter,nonintime. /

[15] Aliquandononnihilimpetuose,cumsimultaneasecumetsursumat-tractione /omniumanimarum,quaeextraDeumuiuuntinpeccatis,innatura;insensualita- /tibus,etinordinatisadcreaturasaffectionibus:atqueisteimpe-tusamoris,et /zelusanimarumuideturetiamessebeneregulatussecunduminoperationem /diuinispiritus. /

[20] Docetur in dicta dispositione attendere, ut istum ignem amoris /passiuesinatardere,sinepropriaoperatione. /

Uidebarinteriusinstrui,quodinhuiusmodidispositione,solummododebeamatten- /dere,utillumignemamorissinampassiuesursum-flammareetarderequatenus / sic melius in me possit consumere omnem subtilem mixtionem,fu......ntum, /[25] ueladhaesionemadaliquidextraDeum,uelquodDeusnonest,uel .....Deiforme, /etiamaddona,et fauoresDilecti,nealiquiduelmini-mumspiritumaDeo /mediet,uelimpediat. /

Item,quoddebeamaduigilare,utnihilaccedatdepropriaoperatione,uel /aliquidaparteinferioreingestum,utsic ille ignisamoris insuapuritateet /[30] nobilitate conseruetur, et sinatur operare secundum modum actualistractus /Dilecti,cumplenalibertatespiritus,dandoamoriplenum..iirum /

Porroquandoisteignisamorisdenouoinmeaccendituretoperatur,tunc /iterumrenouaturinmespiritussupradictaefaecunditati....animarum,pro- /pensio,eteffusioamorisergaeasdem,quiamorexam[an]tecordemeopro- /[35] fluensestmirabilisetineffabilis. /

Uidetur tunc quod omnia interiora mea, et uiscera nihil sint aliud, nisi /oleumsuauifluumeffusum,seubalsamumdiuinaebenignitatis,clementiae /misericordiae,etdilectionisu.g.adanimasinHollandiauelalibiconuerten- /das, ad desolatos consolandos, ad pusillanimes confortandos, ad miseros /[40] subleuandosinexercituGallorum,adomnesanimandos,etadDeum /perducendosetc,idquecuminsatiabilifameetsiti,utomnesDeopariter /etChristolucrifaciam. /

Spiritus amoris supercomplectitur, et supercomprehendit illos omn[es] /[ta]ntacharitate,amabilitate,zeloetferuore,utpraeteneritudine... //


immediateconversiontoGod.Thespirititselfishelpedandcomfortedbydi-vinestrengthandthegraceoftheBelovedtranscendsallandgivesplaceandfreedomofactingtothefireofdivinelove,thatisignitedinanunusual,noble,spiritual and at the same time sensible way in the heart and the spirit, andburnswithastableupwardflametowardstheuncreatedEssence,withquiet-nessandsimplicityandyetvivaciouslyandforcefully,notintimately.

Sometimessomewhat impetuous,withasimultaneousattractionto itselfandtoonhighofallsoulswhichliveoutsideGodinsin,innature,insensuali-tiesanddisorderedfeelingstowardscreatures.Andthatattackofloveandzealforsoulsseemedtobealsowellregulatedaccordingtotheoperationofthedivinespirit.

Sheistaughtintheaforementioneddispositiontomakesuretoletthatfireofloveburnpassivelywithoutherownoperation.

Iseemedtobeinstructedinside,thatinadispositionofthiskind,IonlyhadtomakesurethatIletthatfireofloveflameupwardspassivelyandburnsothatitcouldbetterconsumeinmeeverysubtlemixture,…orattachmenttoany-thingoutsideGod,orwhatisnotGodof…Godlike,eventogiftsandfavoursoftheBeloved,sothatnotanything,eventhesmallestmightrepelorimpedemyspiritfromGod.

LikewiseImustwatchthatnothingisaddedofmyownoperationorsome-thingappliedbyaninferiorpart,sothatthefireofloveispreservedinitspu-rityandnoblenessandislefttooperatebywayofandtheactualdrawingoftheBeloved,withfullfreedomofthespirit,givingtolovethefull…

Furtherwhenthatspiritof loveis ignitedagaininmeandoperates,thenagainthespiritoftheaforementionedfertilityisrenewedinme…ofthesouls,thepropensityandeffusionoflovetowardsthem.Thatlovewhichflowsfrommylovingheartismiraculousandineffable.

It seems then thatallmy interiorandmyentrailsarenothingbut sweet-flowingoilpouredoutorbalmofdivinegoodness,clemency,mercyandlove,e.g.toconvertsoulsinHollandorelsewhereandtoconsolethosewhoaredes-olate,tocomfortthosewhoarepusillanimous,tosupportthosewhoareintheFrencharmy,toanimateallandtoleadthembacktoGodetc.,andthatwithaninsatiablehungerandthirstsoastowinthemallforGodandforChrist.

Thespiritofloveincludesandembracesthemallwithsomuchlove,friend-liness,zealandenthusiasmthatbyreasonofthetenderness…


45v

[1] feredeficiam,et liquefiam;coragitaturquasicumspiritualiquadamin-qui- /etudine,absquetameninterruptioneinternaepacis,quietis,ettranquil-litatis /animi. /

RenouaturineaspiritusamorisergaRegemGalliae,qui,uti /[5] etRexHisp.,suntilli,utduofilii,sedmagisRexGalliae,pro /quopericlitanteiubeturdiuinitusorare. /

Inmensefebruario1673,renouabaturinmespiritusamoris,etspiritualis /in-clinationis,acunionisergaRegem,etcumRegeGalliae:hiceratpositus /incorde meo, et etiam Rex Hispaniarum, quasi ambo fuissent mei filii: spi- /[10] ritusamorishabebatmultaagendacumRegeGalliae,sednonmultum /attrahebatRegemHispaniarum;uidebaturillumexparterelinquere /inaduer-tenter,uelutfilium,seupuerumdormientem. /

Itemquadamnocteinterhoram12mamet1am,abaliquoquasiexcitabar, /qui mihi dicebat, ora pro Rege Galliae; eodem tempore infundebatur mihi /[15] spiritusorandi;aliquotemporepostincidebaminsomnum;circahoram2am /iterumexcitabar,etdicebatur,utante,oraproRegeGalliae;aliquamdiupost /rursusobdormiebam,etpro3auiceexcitabar,etmihidicebatur,utuide-batur, cum / maiori auctoritate, ora incessanter; unde suspicabar, et collige-bam,quodRex /ueleiusexercitusessetinaliquopericulo. /

[20] Perseuerabaminoratione,circiterusqueadmediumseptimaematuti-nae, quando / uidebar intelligere, quod periculum transiisset, ex his uerbis:iamcessatperi- /culum,etnonpoteramposteaampliusorare;hoceratcircatempus,quoCiuitas /N....nsiseratobsessaaGallis. /

.....rspirituamorisetorationisproRegeGalliae,utDeusillum /[25] domi-numharumProuinciarum,cumspesuccessus;et /uidetS.LudouicumamicabiliterinclinatumadhuncRegem. /

Circa idem tempus semel tenerrimo ferebar amore, et beneuolentia ergahunc /Regem,eoquodcumtantozelosuamuitametcoronamDilectoobtulis-setad /Hollandiamreducendamadfidemcatholicam;multummouebar,utsupplicarem /[30] Dilectomeo,quatenushuncRegisergasezelumetamo-remuelletperaliqui /remunerareet....orare,n.uteicomplaceretistumfacere


45v

(…)Ifallandmelt.Myheartisdrivenasitwerebysomespiritualrestlessness,stillwithoutaninterruptionoftheinnerpeace,quietnessandtranquilityofmymind.

InherthespiritoflovetowardstheKingofFranceisrenewed.HeandtheKingofSpainarelikesonsforher,butparticularlytheKingofFrance,forwhomsheiscommandedtopraywhenheisindanger.

InthemonthFebruary1673thespiritoflovewasrenewedinmealongwiththespiritualinclinationanduniontowardsandwiththeKingofFrance.HewasplacedinmyheartandtheKingoftheSpaniardsalso,asiftheybothweremysons.ThespiritoflovehadmuchtodowiththeKingofFrance,butdidnotsomuchattract theKingof theSpaniards.Heseemedto leavehimmostlyne-glected,likeasleepingsonorboy.

Likewiseonenightbetween12and1o’clock,Iwasawakenedbysomethingthatsaidtome:“PrayfortheKingofFrance”.Inthatsamemomentthespiritofprayingwaspouredintome.SometimelaterIfellasleep.About2o’clockagainIwasawakenedanditwassaidlikebefore:“PrayfortheKingofFrance”.Some-timeafterthatIfellasleepagainandforthethirdtimeIwasawakenedanditwassaidtome,asitseemedwithgreaterauthority:“Prayincessantly”.SoIsus-pectedandfoundthattheKingorhisarmywasinsomedanger.

I persevered in prayer, until about the middle of the seventh hour in themorning,whenIseemedtounderstandthatthedangerhadsubsidedbasedonthesewords:“Alreadythedangerissubsiding”.AndIcouldnotprayafterthat.Thiswasataboutthetimethatthecity83…wasoccupiedbytheFrench.

…bythespiritofloveandofprayerfortheKingofFrance,sothatGod…himlordoftheseProvinces,withthehopeofsuccess.AndsheseesSt.Louis84amicablyinclinedtowardsthisKing.

AboutthesametimeIwasoncemovedbyaverytenderloveandbenevolencetowardsthisKing,becausehehadpresentedhislifeandcrowntotheBelovedwithsuchzealtoleadHollandbacktothecatholicfaith.IwassomovedthatIbeggedmyBeloved,inorderthathemightwishtorewardthiszealandloveoftheKingtowardshimwithsomething…andtopray,namelysothatitmight

83 Unknowncity.84 I.e.LouisIX,KingofFrance(1226-1270).


DominumetRegem /........Prouinci.....,inquemfinemagebar,utaccederemadsacramcommu- /nionem......desideratisuccessus. /

In m.... Augustus 1673, in festo S. Ludouici Regis Franciae, in oratione /[35] ...umtummemini,postsacramcommunionem,percepi inspiritu,quo-modo / ...e sanctus Rex offenderet aliquam amicabilem propensionem huicmo- /dernoRegi;idquodmefaciebatsperarealiquidmagnumsuperillum,etdeillo. /

IntelligitpluresesseproRegeGalliae,quamcontra;iubetur /maledicereaduersariisGallorum;uidetDeumiratumImpera- /[40] torietHispanisobsuppetiasdatasHollandis. /

.....ludtempus,quandoperhancCiuitatemtransibantmultimilites /

......utirentinsubsidiumhaereticorum,multumindecontristaba.... /......ntimpeditur(;)piumetdeiforme.....litumpraedictiRegis..... //

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[1] mihidicebatur interiusconsolataetc,quiapluressuntproRege,quam /contraRegem. /

Aliotempore,quandoobpraedictumfinemadhuctransibantmilites,uide- /batur mihi mandari, ut illis maledicerem, et uerba maledictionis in illos /[5] pronunciarem,aquasuggestionemultumperhorrescebam,etillamreii-cie- /bamquasiamalignospirituprouentientem;uerumquantomagisreiicie-bam /etreprobabam,tantomagisurgebar;ideoadDilectummeumconuersa,di- / cebam maesto et afflicto corde; Dilecte, si tu illis maledicas, ego etiammale- /dico,sedrogo,ut illamaledictiotantumcadatsupercorpora,etnonsuperani- / [10] mas illorum;siccessabatpressura,necurgebaramplius,etmanebamquieta. /

Circaistudtempus,semelmaneeuigilans,sentiebammentemmeamom- /ninoturbatam,eoquodDilectusmeus,seseperimpressionesinanimamea /ostenderetualdeoffensumetiratum,quiaImperatormittebattotcopiasmili- /tuminsubsidiumhaereticorum,etquantuminseerat,uolebatimpedireho-norem /[15] etgloriamChristi,etsalutemtotanimarum. /

Dilectusuidebaturipsiminarialiquasplagas,nonquidemipsiuspersonae,sed / ipsius regno, aliquam illius diuisionem per aliquos eius aduersarios, etquod / Hispania etiam participaret: habebatur etiam adscriptum hoc modo;non sum / certa, quod hae omnes fuerint illuminationes supernaturales; eo


pleaseHimtomakehimlordandKing…Province…towhichpurposeIwasled,sothatImightgotoholycommunion…ofthedesiredsuccess.

InthemonthofAugust1673,onthefeastofSt.LouistheKingofFrance,85inprayer…Irememberedafterholycommunion,Iperceivedinthespirithow…theholyKingexperiencedafriendlypropensitytowardsthismodernKing.Thismademehopeforsomethinggreatforhimandfromhim.

SheunderstandsthattherearemoreinfavouroftheKingthanagainsthim.SheiscommandedtocursetheopponentsoftheFrench.SheseesthatGodisangrywiththeEmperorandwiththeSpaniardsbecauseofthesupporttheyhavegiventotheDutch.

…thattime,whenthroughthiscitywentmanysoldiers…theywenttothehelpoftheheretics,thereforewasmuchsaddened……washindered…piousandGodlike…oftheaforementionedKing…

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wassaidtomeconsoledwithinetc.,becausetherearemoreinfavouroftheKingthanagainsttheKing.

Anothertime,whenbecauseoftheaforementionedpurposesoldiersstillpassed,itseemedthatIwasaskedtocursethemandpronouncecursesagainstthem,bywhichsuggestionIbegantoshivermuchandIrejectedthatasifitcamefromanevilspirit.ButthemoreIrejecteditanddisapprovedofit,themoreIwasurged.ThereforeturnedtowardsmyBeloved,Isaidwithasadandafflictedheart:Beloved,ifyoucursethem,Ialsocursethem,butIask,thatthatcursing fall only over their bodies and not over their souls. So the pressureceasedandIwasnolongerurgedandIremainedquiet.

Aboutthattime,onceawakeningearly,Ifeltmymindtotallydisturbed,be-cause my Beloved showed himself by impressions in my soul very offendedandangry,becausetheEmperorsentsomanymilitarytroopstothehelpoftheheretics,andasmuchashecould,hewantedtoimpedethehonourandgloryofChristandthesalvationofsomanysouls.

TheBelovedseemedtothreatenhimwithsomemisfortunes,notonlytohisownperson,butalsotohisempire,somedivisionofitbysomeofhisoppo-nents,withSpainalsoparticipating.Itwasaddedinthisway.Iamnotcertainthatallthesethingsweresupernaturalilluminations,becausenaturalreason

85 Seen.84.


quodratio / [20] naturalis facilepossit formareargumentumexapparentiisexternis,etde /iudiciis,quaeratiopotestinuestigareetassequidealiquibusrebus,quasuidit, /audiuit,etconsiderauit,u.g.quiaratiofacilepotestiudicare,quodI[mper]ator /etcoperareturcontraDeum,etquodDeusidnonrelinque-retimpunitu[m]. /

Uidet inDeoconflictumduorumexercituum,et[Gall]os /[25] habereuictoriam,etoccupaturosHollandiam. /

Circaidemtempus,cumuacaremoratione,uidebaresseraptainspiritu,etin /Deouidere,et(utdicitur)legere,quodduoexercituscontrainuicemappro- /pinquarent,etinterseconfigerent,etquodGalliinhocconflictureportarent /uictoriam,etquodRexGalliaeoccupabitHollandiam. /

[30] Haec uisio huius rei futurae, in Deo, erat talis, qualis in Prophetis,quando / aliqua futura prouidebant, prout ab anno, uel circiter [quas]i fuitdemonst[ra] / tum,et insinuatum,quomodofuturauideantur,etsciant, ...ut...ntia,quae /proculdissita,utpropinqua;quia....Deoomniapraeteritaetfu-turasunt /praesentia,atqueDeusestnobisproximusetualdeintimepraesens,ergoomnia /[35] quaesuntinDeo,suntetiamhocsensunobisproxima,etintimepraesentia,atque /utsicimmediateuidenturetcognoscunturinDeouelutuitrum,quodasplen- /doresolisabomniparteestpellucidum,etpene-tratumetc. /

IntelligitDeumualdemalecapere,quodReligiosigrauentur /gabellis,etpecuniasillispotiusobfuturas,utisuotemporepatebit. /

[40] Alias,quandoDoministatuumPatriaeReligiosisauferebantsuapriuile-gia et ... / ciebant illos contribuere et soluere uecticalia, sicut saeculares, etquadam /spernebantorationesreligiosorumproprosperitatenostriRegi ... /....in..etpecuniisetc,magisfidendo.... //

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[1] contra ius cogebat illos soluere, quam orationibus etc, mihi per intimasim- / pressiones, et alias perceptiones internas uidebatur significari quod


could easily form an argument from external appearances and from judg-ments,whichreasoncaninvestigateandunderstandfromthethings,thatithasseen,heardandconsidered,e.g.becausereasoncaneasilyjudgethattheEmperoretc.operatesagainstGodandGodcannotleavethatunpunished.

SheseesinGodtheconflictbetweenthetwoarmies,andthattheFrenchwillhavethevictoryandwilloccupyHolland.

Aboutthatsametime,whenIwasdevotedtoprayerIseemedtobeseizedinthespirit,andtoseeinGodand(asitissaid)toread,thatthetwoarmiesdrewnearertoeachotherinbattleandpiercedoneanotherandthattheFrenchinthatconflictbroughtbackthevictoryandthattheKingofFrancewouldoc-cupyHolland.

Thisvisionofthisfutureevent,inGod,wassuchasitwasintheProphets,whentheyforesawsomefuturethings,likeoneyearagoorthereabout,asifithad been demonstrated and insinuated how the future would be, and theyknow…that…whicharefaraway,liketheyarenear.Because…inGodallpastandfuturethingsarepresentandGodisveryneartousandveryintimatelypresent,soallthingsthatareinGodarealsointhissenseveryneartousandintimatelypresent,andlikethat,theyareseenandknownimmediatelyinGodlikeinaglassthatbythesplendorofthesunistransparentandaccessiblefromeachsideetc.

SheunderstandsthatGodtakesitverybadlythattheReligiousareover-burdenedbytaxes,andthatthemoneytheyhandedoverwillratherinitsowntimeinjurethem.

Anothertime,whentheLordsofthestatesoftheCountrytookfromtheReli-gioustheirprivilegesand…themtocontributeandpaytaxeslikeseculars86,andsomewhatrejectedtheprayersofthereligiousfortheprosperityofourKing…in…andmoneyetc,rathertrusting…

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againstthelawforcedthemtopay,whichbyprayersetc,byintimateimpres-sions and other inner perceptions seemed to be signified to me, that the

86 PerhapsMariarefersheretoanordinanceannouncedbyCountdeMonterreyonthe1stofJune1672,seetheDerden placcaet-boeck van Vlaenderen (1685)37.


Dilec- / tus idualdemalecaperet,mihisignificando,quodistapecunia ipsisnon /prodesset,ueladaliquidproficeret,sedpotiusobesset,etnoceret;proutpatebit /[5] suotempore,quandouidebunt,quantambenedictionemetuic-toriam /DeusdabitRegiGalliae,eoquodipsemaioremfiduciamposueritinorationibus /famulorumetfamularumDei,illashumiliteretdesideranterpo-stulando /adsuumpiumintentum;quodilliaDilectoconcessumest,proutabeffectu /satispatet,etmihinotumest,quomodoDeusaliquasanimasmoueat,et / [10] specialiter inoperetur, ut hunc Regem per suas orationes iuuent insuis /armis,etqualemipse indehabeatprosperitatem,etqualesprogressusfaciat / quia magis Deiformiter agit, et Religiosos, ac statum Ecclesiasticummagis /reueretur,quamhinostriDominimodofaciunt. /

Multipliciter, mirabiliter et diuine agitur, et monetur ut / [15] oret proRegeGalliae. /

Egomiserapeccatrixdebui illotemporemultumorareproRegeGalliae, /etadhucdebeomodoorareproprosperosuccessuarmorumipsius /tunctempo-ris spiritus Dei, singulariter in me operabatur quemdam orandi modum /quemhicrefero;spiritusmeusuidebatursursumeleuatusetattractusante /[20] faciemDei,etprocumbebatpronusantepedesdiuinaemaiestatis(nos-tro / humano modo loquendi et intelligendi) nam Deus non habet manus,uel / ped[es], uel aliquam speciem, aut formam, sicut homines, aut aliquidaliud. /

…..utmeliusdicam,meusspirituseratdepressus,etdemersusin /aliqu…..liprofunditate,amictuslumine,seuClaranotitiaessentialis /[25] suaem….tiscoramincomprehensibilimaiestateDei;etunaaccensus /feruente[eta]rden-teamore,absqueformationeuerborum,uelsensus,faciebat /assiduasinstan-tiasadcordiuinum,illudurgendo,quasiDeuspermisissetse /ameospiritusuperari,etamorosecogi;noneramego,quaesicorabam,sed /spiritusDeiinme. /

[30] Aliaeparticularitates istiusorationis iammihinonoccurrunt,quia /iamcirciteraoctomensibusistacontigerunt. /

Aliquando…..istaoratioperuehementemetuigorosamappressionem /seuimp……itatadcordiuinum,noncumpropriaactiuitate,uel /perpro…..nem,sedadhocactus, seudiuinaminoperationem / [35] ..…..atiens;et ideo talisoratiomenumquamfatigabat,etiamsidurasset /integrisdiebus /

ObtristianunciadeuictoriaHollandorumcontraGallos,totadeso- /lata,quasisinespeetcspiriturapiturinDeo,ettotodieintime /spirituetcor-poreroboratafruiturferculisexmensasanctorum. /


Belovedtookitverybadly,indicatingtomethatthatmoneywouldnotbenefitthem,orbeofanyuse,butwouldratherinitstimeinjurethem,asintimewillbeclear,whentheywillseewhatblessingandvictoryGodwillgivetotheKingofFrance,becausehehasplacedmoreconfidenceintheprayersofthemaleandfemaleservantsofGod,askingthemhumblyandearnestlyforthispiousintention.ThatisgrantedtohimbytheBeloved,asisclearenoughfromtheeffectanditisknowntomehowGodmovessomesoulsandespeciallyoper-atesinsuchawaythatwiththeirprayertheyhelpthisKingwithhisweaponsandwiththekindofprosperityhehasfromthatandthekindofprogresshemakes,becauseheactsinamoreGodlikewayandrespectstheReligiousandthestateoftheChurchmorethanourpeopledoatthemoment.

Inmanyways,miraculouslyanddivinelysheisledandadmonishedtoprayfortheKingofFrance.

Ipoorsinnerhadtoprayat thattimemuchfortheKingofFranceandstillImustpraysofortheprosperoussuccessofhisweapons.ThenatthetimethespiritofGodoperatedinaparticularwayinmewithsomemannerofprayingthat I refer to here. My spirit seemed to be elevated upwards and attractedbeforethecountenanceofGodandkneltdownlowbeforethefeetofthedi-vinemajesty(inourhumanwayofspeakingandunderstanding),forGodhasnohandsorfeetoranyappearanceorformlikehumans,oranythingelse.

... that I rather say, my spirit was depressed and sunk in some ... depth,clothedwithlightorwithaclearknowledgeofhisessential...inthepresenceoftheincomprehensiblemajestyofGod.Andatthesametimeignitedbyaferventandburninglove,withouttheformationofwordsorsenses,myspiritmadeconstantintercessionstothedivineheart,urgingthat,asifGodhadper-mittedthathecouldbelovinglycoaxedandovercomebymyspirit.ItwasnotI,whoprayedlikethis,butthespiritofGodinme.

Other details of that prayer do not occur to me anymore, because thosethingshappenedalreadyabouteightmonthsago.

Sometime...thatprayerbyasevereandvigorouspressureorimpact...onthedivineheart,notthroughitsownactivity,orby... ,butledtothisor...adivineoperation...andthereforesuchprayerdoesn’teverfatigueme,evenifitshouldlastforwholedays.

Because of the sad reports about the victory of the Dutch against theFrench,totallydesolate,asitwerewithouthopeetc,sheissweptupinGodandtheentireday intimatelystrengthened inspiritandbodysheenjoysthedishesfromthetableofthesaints.


[40] …… uigilia purificationis D. uirginis 1673, quando Reuerentia Vestramihireferebat/……tatristiaetmalanunciadeHollandia,quomodohaereticicumCaesar-/…..intercepissentCiuitatemmonasteriensem,Groeningametc,et om... /……….lans crudeliter mactassent, uel pessime tractassent ………./……………..//

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[1] absqueullaspe,quodGallioccuparentHollandiamiuxtaquodmihiuide-batur /promissum;eoquodhumanitusloquendo,hociamuidereturesseextraomnem /apparentiampropterpotentemtriumexercituumresistentiam. /

IpsofestoD.Uirginis,incipiendoaborationematutina,eratmeusspiritus /[5] introsumptusinDeo,ettotoillodiemanebatualdeintimetractuscum /actuali quiete in Deo; totum illum diem transigebam in continua oratione /quietis,etintrotractionis,facilequinquehorisconsequenter,absqueullafa- /tigatione corporis aut animae, econtrario corpus et anima per illam oratio-nem /quasinutriebantur,etconfortabantur,magisquamaliquisexopiparo /[10] conuiuio; eo quod mihi apponerentur aliqua fercula de mensa sancto-rum, /quae ferculauerbisexprimerenequeo; fruebaretiamnutritiuaquieteet /nutritiuoamore,cumexiguaperceptionedispositioniscorporalis. /

Intimius introtracta fruitur praesentia Dilecti, qui eam amplexatur / etconsolatur, assecurans sparsa nuncia esse falsa, et Regem Galliae /[15] triumphaturum in Hollandia, in quem finem accipit spiritumorandi. /

Ante et post sacram communionem, aliquo tempore adhuc profundius in- /troducebar,et introtrahebar;ubipraetenere,ualde intime,suauiteretproxi-me / fruebar praesentia Dilecti, modo singulari, qui me ualde amicabiliteruide- /baturtractare,amoroseamplexarietdulciterconsolari,dedolore,af-flic- /[20] tione,etuulnereamoris,quopridiepropterpraedictanunciafue-ramsau- /ciataetangustiata. /

Dilectusmihidicebat(tamensinestrepituuerborum)perinstinctum,seu /notificationem ualde intimam, et occultum, sponsa mea, sis c[ertifica]ta /


...ontheeveofthepurificationoftheVirginofGod167387,whenYourRever-encereferred tome ... sadandbadreportsaboutHolland,howthehereticswiththeimperial...havetakenthecityofMünster,Groningen88etc,andall...haveslaughteredcruellyorhavetreatedverybadly...

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withoutanyhope that theFrenchmightoccupyHollandaccording towhatseemedtobepromisedtome.Becausehumanlyspeaking,thisseemedtobealready beyond all appearance because of the powerful resistance of threearmies.89

OnthesamefeastoftheVirginofGod,beginningwithmorningprayer,myspiritwasdrawnintoGodandtheentiredayitremainedveryintimatelycen-tred with quietude in God. I passed that entire day in continuous prayer ofquietandinwardness,easilyfivehoursconsecutively,withoutanytirednessofbodyorsoul,onthecontrary,bodyandsoulwereasitwerenurturedthroughthatprayerandcomforted,morethansomeonemightbebyasumptuousban-quet.Becausesomedisheswereplacedbeforemefromthetableofthesaints,whichdishesIcannotdescribeinwords.Ienjoyedalsothenutritiousquiet-nessandnutritiouslove,withonlyasmallperceptionofmycorporealdisposi-tion.

MoreintimatelydrawninwardssheenjoysthepresenceoftheBeloved,whoembracesandconsolesher,reassuringherthatthereportsthathavebeenspreadarefalseandthattheKingofFrancewilltriumphinHolland,forwhichpurposeshereceivesthespiritofpraying.

Before and after holy communion, I was still for some time led deeper anddrawninwards.There,verytenderly,intimatelyandamicably,heembracedmelovinglyandconsoledmepleasantlyforthepain,theafflictionandthewoundof love,bywhichIhadbeenwoundedandfrightenedbecauseof theafore-mentionedreports.

TheBelovedsaidtome(stillwithoutthesoundofwords)byanintuitionoraveryintimateandhiddennotification:“Mybride,beassured,yoursonthe

87 2ndFebruary88 TheBishopofMünsterbesiegedthecityfrom21Julytill17August1672.89 ProbablyMariareferstothearmiesoftheGermanEmperor,theSpanishandtheElector

ofBrandenburg.


filius tuus Rex Galliae triumphabit in Hollandia; et mihi uideb...., quod /[25] malanunciasuperius relatanonessentuera,praesertimde .....temo- /nasteriensi; habebam omnino aliam cognitionem, et melius ...e testimo- /nium,cummagnasecuritateetpace. /

Aliquotdiebuspostea,ReuerentiaVestramihirursusconfirmabatpraedictanuncia /utpotenonmeliusinformata;quaredepositameaopinione,diffide-bamprae- /[30] tactaeinternaetestificationi,accognitioni;sedaccedensadorationem,iterum /continuabarsicutante,quodistanonessentuera. /

Die quinta eiusdem mensis, sub oratione uespertiua mi..... bito aborieba-tur / insolitum magnum lumen, et diuina claritas, quae me ......i unde ........ /...lustrabat,etcircumfulgebat,acmeponebatin.......,et /[35] assecuratione,quodRexGalliaetriumpharet inHollandia ....omnibus, /qui illiresistebant;adueniebatmihietiamspiritusorandiprofaelicip[ro-] /gressu,etilliusassi-stentiacumuehementiardorediuiniamoris. /

Spiritusorabatualdeefficaciteretferuentercummagnareuerentia, /amo-re, et humilitate inclinatus, et prostratus coram diuina maiestate, una /[40] etiamagebarspirituDeumlaudanteetbenedicente,eoquodtammira-bi.... /uelrercumhocRegecooperariadpromotionemS.Ecclesiaeetsalutem[ani-] /marum. /

Sicibamcubitum;maneeuigilans,sentiebamcorualdeaccensu.... /...nsindiuinoamore,modomirabiliori,quamumquam. //

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[1] Possidetur a spiritu Dei, qui eius spiritui unitus incipit miro et /supernaturalimodocumeooccupariinfauoremRegisGalliaein /eiusexercitu,dispergenssesupertotumexercitum. /

Secundumomnemapparentiametexperientiam,possidebartuncaspiritu /[5] Dei,quodfiebatquasipersuauemetsimulpotentemsuperationemet /absolutamintrosumptionemmeispiritusinspirituDei,spiritumesicuolunta-rio /possesso;incipiebatspiritusDeiinillo,etcumillomirabilitercooperari, /modo raro, numquam antea probato, et supernaturali, n. pro assistentia et /adiutorioRegisGalliaeineiusexercitu,adconfortandosmilitesetc,inquem /[10] finemdistinctepercipiebam,quoddiuinusspirituscummeoconiunctuset / unitus (nam hi duo tunc tantum erant unus spiritus, et unum esse sine


KingofFrancewilltriumphinHolland.”Anditseemedtome...thatthebadreportswhichweregivenbefore,werenottrue,especiallyabout...ofMünster.Ihadatotallydifferentknowledgeandrather...testimony,withgreatcertaintyandpeace.

Some days later,Your Reverence confirmed the previously mentioned re-portsformeagain,althoughtheywerenotbetterinformed.Thatiswhy,afterhavinglaidasidemyopinion,Idoubtedthepreviouslyexperiencedinnertes-timonyandcognition.Butgoingintoprayer,againitcontinuedinmelikebe-fore,thatthosethingswerenottrue.

Onthefifthdayofthesamemonth,90duringVesperssuddenlytheuncom-mongreatlightandthedivineclaritydisappearedfromme,that...me...fromthere...enlightenedandshonearoundmeandplacedmein...andtheassur-ance, that theKing ofFrancewould triumph inHolland ... all, whoresistedhim.Alsothespiritofprayingforthefortunateprogressandassistanceofhimcametomewithanintenseglowofdivinelove.

TheSpiritprayedveryfervently,veryeffectivelyandwithgreatrespect,loveandhumilitybowingandprostratinghimselfbeforethedivinemajesty.AtthesametimeIwasalsoledbythespiritthatpraisedandblessedGod,becausesomiraculously ... to cooperate with this King for the promotion of the holyChurchandforthesalvationofsouls.

SoIwenttosleep.Earlyinthemorningawakening,Ifeltmyheartaflame...indivinelove,inamoremiraculouswaythanever.

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SheispossessedbyaspiritofGod,thatunitedwithherspiritbeginsinawonderfulandsupernaturalwaytobeoccupiedinfavouroftheKingofFrancewithhisarmy,spreadingthemselvesovertheentirearmy.

AccordingtoallappearanceandexperienceIwaspossessedthenbyaspiritofGod.ThishappenedasbyasweetandatthesametimepowerfulovercomingandtotaldrawingofmyspiritintothespiritofGod,afterthespirithadpos-sessedmesovoluntarily.ThespiritofGodbegantocooperateinhimandwithhimmiraculouslyinastrangeandsupernaturalway,neverbeforetested,com-ingnamelytotheassistanceoftheKingofFranceinhisarmy,tocomfortthesoldiersetc.,towhichpurposeIperceiveddistinctlythatthedivinespiritcon-nectedandunitedwithmine(forthesetwowerethenonlyonespiritandone

90 I.e.February1673.


dif- /ferentiaueldistinctione)seinclinaret,etdispergeretsuperistumexerci-tum, /ipsiscommunicando,inipsosinfluendo,eteffundendoaliquiddiuinum,quantum /existimo,fortitudinem,sapientiam,etdilectionem. /

[15] Intelligebam,aliquodattentatum,uelconflictumessepraemanibus,et,ut /mihiuidebatur,defactoesseinfieri,eoquodDeusmecum,etegocumDeo /tunctamefficacitercooperaremurmultiplicibusmodis,cumtamuiuaper- /ceptioneetcertitudine,quodillaeoperationesspiritusessentdiuinae,etquod /DeusessetcumistoRege,etconsequenter,quodinsuisattentatis,assul-tibus,con- /[20] flictibusobtineretuictoriam,utproistaueritatebenepermi-sissemmecomburi. /

SperatperomniaprosperumsuccessumistiusRegis,quiaspiritus /mireproeoorat,etdiuinamuirtutemillietexercituicommunicat, /acaDeoiubeturillisbenedicere,etaduersariismaledicere. /

Ista...perceptibilisdiuinispiritusmeospirituiunitiinclinatioadillumexerci-tum /[25] faciebatmemagna,bonaattentata,etuictoriassperare,eomagis,quodspiritustunctam /singulari[m]odoinmeoret,etexDeoetexmetamdiuinauirtusexeat,eteffluatin /Gallos;..fien..iproptermultiplicesbenedic-tiones,quasperinternamdirectionemspiritus /illisfrequenterimpertior,ap-precor,etillisaDilectoetiamultroconcedipostulo, /econtramaledictionessecundumcorpusimprecoraduersariisillorum,Deumdepre- /[30] cando,utab illis auferat potestatem, sapientiam, animos et fortitudinem, neque ego /sum,quaesicoro,etpostulo,sedspiritusDeiinme,perme,eoquodaduersariiRegis Galliae / agant contra Deum; nam Dilectus commendauit, et donauitmihiHollandiam. /

DuranteeiusaDeopossessionereditdispositioReginaemandantis /cumpotes[ta]tesibiaDilectoconcessa;tuncmandatAngelis,ut /[35] iuuentDilectumponereinregnosuo,etiuuentRegemGalliae /qui..............separatos. /

Quando eram in supradicta possessione, seu possessa a diuino spiritu, mihiiterumad- /ueniebatilleanimus,seuanimaedispositioquasiReginaeman-dantis, cum potestate, et / autoritate mihi a Dilecto infusa et concessa, imocumsuaui,etamicabiliquasi /[40] adhoccoactione,itautnonuidereraliterposse,praeuehementia spiritus,praeex- /uberantiaardentisdiuiniamoris,praespiritualiebrietateetc,quaetuncinmein- /ueniuntur. /


beingwithoutdifferenceordistinction)inclinedandspreadhimselfoverthatarmy,communicatingtothem,flowingintothemandpouringoutoverthem,asIbelieve,somedivineforce,wisdomandlove.

Iunderstoodthatsomeattackorconflictwaspendingand,asitseemedtome,thatinfactwashappening,becauseGodwithmeandIwithGodcooper-atedthensostronglyinmultipleways,withsuchavividperceptionandcer-taintythatthoseoperationsofthespiritweredivineandGodwaswiththatKing and consequently that he would obtain victory in the attacks, assaultsandconflicts,sothatforthattruthIallowedmyselffullytobeconsumed.

ThroughoutallshehopesfortheprosperoussuccessofthatKing,becausethespiritpraysmiraculously forhimandextendsdivinepowertohimandhisarmy,andbyGodsheiscommandedtoblessthemandtocursetheiropponents.

That...perceptibleinclinationofthedivinespiritunitedwithmyspirittothatarmymademehopegreatly,forgoodattacksandvictories,themorebecausethespiritprayedtheninsuchaparticularwayinme,andfromGodandfromme went out a divine power that flowed into the French. ... because of themanyblessings,whichIthroughinnerdirectionofthespirit frequentlygivethemandprayforthemandaskfromtheBelovedthatthosearealsograntedtothem,and,onthecontrary,Iprayformaledictionforthebodyfortheirop-ponents,askingofGodthatfromthemallmight,wisdom,courageandstrengthbetaken,anditisnotIwhoisprayinglikethat,butthespiritofGodinme,throughme,becausetheopponentsoftheKingofFranceactagainstGod.FortheBelovedhasentrustedandgivenHollandtome.

WhileshewaspossessedbyGodthedispositionofacommandingqueenreturnedwithpowerthatwasgrantedtoherbytheBeloved.ThenshecommandstheAngelsthattheyhelptoplacetheBelovedinhiskingdomandhelptheKingofFrance,who...ready.

WhenIwasintheabove-mentionedpossession,orpossessedbyadivinespirit,again that spiritordispositionof thesoulcametomeasofacommandingqueen,withmightandauthorityinfusedandgrantedtomebytheBeloved,yesevenwithasweetandfriendlysortofcoercion,sothatIseemednottobeabletodoanythingelse,becauseoftheheavinessofthespirit,becauseoftheexu-beranceof theburningdivine love,becauseof thespiritual inebriationetc.,whichwerefoundtheninme.


Quotemporecumsingularianimiconfidentia,etlibertate,agocumsanctisAngelis / ... mandando, ut fortiter agant, generose cooperentur, interceptasCiuitates custo- / [45] ...nt, attentata et conceptus aduersariorum detegant,euertantetc,etomnia / .....disponant,proutresexigit,etestnecessarium,utDilectus meus ibidem perfec- / .......stituatur, et stabiliatur in regno suo; ipsiAngeliexhibebantseadinto... /.......zelosos,etpromptosetc,mihipromitten-tesprosperitatem,etprogr[essum] /........umRegisGa[lliae] //

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[1] Dilectus dignetur mihi ignoscere, si in his errem, et de defectu sinceraehumilitatis, /etdeuanapraesumptionesimculpabilis,audendosimiliacrede-re,eteloqui;ali- /quandosimilequiduelsolumcogitando,erubescopraeue-recundia,ethumiliatione, /nempe,quandoistainoperatiotransiit;sedspirituredeunte,et iterumoperante, / [5] ista formido,eterrorissuspicio,acuere-cundiaeuanescit,quasiomniaessentbene. /

IubeturaDilectoannotare,quodAngeliapparuerint,utiuuenes /accinctiin corporali specie, et intelligit multa mala nuncia contra / Gallos essefalsa. /

Antecedenterspontedefui,etomisiscribere,quodmodoexparteDilectimei,uidetur /[10] mandari,utscribam;quiaeramnonnihilambiguadeueritate,animaginatio,etsoler- /tianaturalisibinontantispercollusisset;uerumhodieuidebaralitercertificari, /nempe,quodSanctiAngeliseseexhibuerintpromp-tosadparendummeismandatis /praetactis,etuiderimillosinspecieIuue-num,quasiaccinctosaditer:haesuntprimae /uices,quibuseosuidiinspeciehumana,etsiccumillisegi;istauisionondiudurabat, /[15] utmihiuidetur,nonultraduoPaternoster. /

Posteaperdiuersosintellexi,quomodopluramalanunciaessentmendacia,et /econtraGallifereoccupauerintunamintegramProuinciaminHollandia:sum /certa,quodSanctiAngeliipsispraestentmagnamassistentiam,etmul-tumauxilientur /sedansituerusrumordemagnaillauictoria,nonscio,namdeillainspiritu /[20] nihilpercipio.

haecinFebruario1673. /

ConstituiturquasiReginamandansalatereDilecti,etmandat /angelis,utassistantRegiGalliae,eteiusexercituiinHollandia. /


Inthattimewithaparticularself-confidenceandfreedom,Ispeakwiththeholy angels ... ordering that they act forcefully, cooperate generously, watchovertheconqueredcities...uncoverandoverthrowattacksandplansoftheopponents,anddisposeall...insofarasitisrequiredandnecessary,sothatmyBelovedatthesameplace...andisestablishedinhiskingdom.Thoseangelsofferedthemselves to ... zealousandreadyetc,promisingmetheprosperityandprogress...oftheKingofFrance.

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May the Beloved deign to forgive me, if I am mistaken in these things andwouldbeguiltyoftheweaknessofsincerehumilityandofvainpresumption,daringtobelievesuchthingsandtospeakthemout.SometimewhenIonlyeventhinksomething,Iblushwithshameandhumiliation,namelywhenthisoperationhaspassed.Butwhilethespiritreturns,thesuspicionoferrorandshamevanishes,asifallweregood.

SheiscommandedbytheBelovedtonotethattheangelshaveappearedlikeyoungmenwithaphysicalappearanceandsheunderstandsthatthemanybadreportsagainsttheFrencharefalse.

Previously Ihaveofmyownaccord failedandneglectedtowritewhatnowseemstobedemandedofmefromthesideoftheBelovedthatIwrite.Iwassomewhatambivalentaboutthetruth,duetoimaginationandnaturalingenu-ityjoiningtogether.ButtodayIseemedotherwisetobereassured,namelythattheholyangelshadofferedthemselvesreadytoobeymypreviouslymentionedordersandIsawthemintheformofyoungmen,asitweregirdedforajourney.ThesewerethefirsttimesthatIhaveseentheminahumanformandsoIhavespokenwiththem.Thatvisiondidn’tlastlongasitseemedtome,notlongerthantwoOurFathers.

ThenofdifferentpeopleIhaveunderstoodhowtheverymanybadreportsweremendaciousandthattheFrenchonthecontraryhadoccupiedonecom-pleteprovinceinHolland.Iamcertainthattheholyangelshavegiventhemgreatassistanceandhavemuchhelped,but if that rumourabout thatgreatvictorywastrueIdon’tknow,foraboutthatIperceivenothinginthespirit.

ThesethingsshewroteinFebruary1673.

SheisplacedlikeacommandingqueenatthesideoftheBelovedandcommandstheangelstoassisttheKingofFranceandhisarmyinHol-land.


Quando diuinus spiritus me assumebat, infundebat spiritui meo diuinamquamdam /uirtutem,etaliascumipsosimilitudines,etsicsimulinunum,ui-debaturdiuinus /[25] spiritusetmeusspiritusobumbrareRegemGalliae,etipsiinfunderealiquam /diuinamuirtutem,etaliadona,eumquesubsuocom-prehensoassumere. /

UidebariterumconstitutainistoanimoetdispositioneReginaemandan-tis; / cumperceptione,pro temporeualdemodico,circiter uniusmedii Aue,quodaDilecto... /uarerinspiritu,etponereriuxtaeiuslatus,proutinanterio-ribusscriptishabetur. /[30] IndeiterumincipiebammandaresanctisAngelis,ut Regi eiusque militibus / auxiliarentur, et praestarent assistentiam in pro-mouendisnegociisinHollandiam,ad /honoremetgloriamDilectimei,etadsalutemanimarum:oqualemconfidentiam, /quantamspirituslibertatemex-periturtuncanimameainhocnegocioassumendo, /etprosequendo,quasiadmepertinente,etmihicommisso!alie...etamenmagna /[35] perfundoruere-cundia,etprofundedemergor innihilomeocumadnihilatione /etstupore,quodDeustalitermeimeminisci,acinmesicoperaridignetur,quaeipsi /sumadeoinfidelisinmultis,etsumomniumindignissima. /

Haec dona nihil faciunt, nisi me deprimere, et profundius descendere inabyssum /uilitatisetnihileitatismeae;atquesicprofundusdescensusiterumcausatmaiorem /[40] eleuationeminDeo;quantoaltius,tantodemissius,etquodemissius,eoaltius; /tuncetiammihiinmemoriamreducebanturmultaealterioresgratiae,utidictu /est,cumsecuritateetcertificationeueritatisilla-rum. /

Dilectus ostendit se iratum Regi Galliae ob peccata dissimulata, et ... /minatur subtrahere manum auxiliutricem in Hollandia, quem i..... /[45] conaturplacare,sedipserenuit:acuideturcessarefauorcaelipr..... /

.......1673etaliquotdiebuspraecedentibus,habuiinspiritumulta..... //

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[1] impressiones, et alias perceptiones, quomodo Dilectus ostenderet malecontentum /etiratumcontraRegemGalliae,eoquodinsuissubditistolerassetetdissi- /mulassetmultamala,etgrauiapeccata,nec impediuisset,necpu-niuesset; / intelligebamquod inhis secutus fuissethumanassuaspassiones,neglectoet /[5] sepositoluminegratiae,sibiaDeoconcesso,utilludsequendo,


Whenthedivinespirittookmeup,hepouredsomedivinepowerintomyspir-itandothersimilarthingswiththat,andsoatoneandthesametimethedi-vinespiritandmyspiritseemedtoovershadowtheKingofFranceandtopourdivinepowerintohimalongwithothergifts,andtotakehimintheirprotec-tion.

I seemed to be placed again in that mind and that disposition of a com-mandingqueen,withtheperceptionforaverylimitedtime,aboutoneandahalfAveMarias,thatIwas…bytheBelovedinthespiritandwasplacedathisside,asitismaintainedinpreviouswritings.AfterthatIbeganagaintoordertheholyangelstohelptheKingandhissoldiersandprovidehimwithassis-tance in promoting his business in Holland, to the honour and glory of myBelovedandforthesalvationofsouls.Owhatconfidenceandhowmuchfree-domofspiritmysoulisthenexperiencingintakingupthisbusinessandpro-ceedingwithit,asifitis-pertainingtomeandentrustedonme!…stillIamplungedingreatdisgraceanddeeplysunkinmynothingnesswithannihila-tionandstupor,thatGoddeignstoremembermesoandworkinmeinthisway,whoamsounfaithfultohiminmanythingsandmostunworthyofall.

These gifts do nothing but dishearten me and lower me deeper into theabyssofmyunworthinessandnothingness.AndsothedeepdescentcausesagainagreaterelevationinGod.Howmuchhigherthatmuchdeeperandhowmuchdeeper,thatmuchhigher.Thenalsomanydeepergraceswerebroughtbacktomymemory,asitistosay,withcertaintyandcertificationofthetruthofthosethings.

TheBelovedshowshimselfangrywiththeKingofFrancebecauseofhisconcealedsinsand…threatenstowithdrawhishelpinghandinHolland,which…triestoappease,butherefused.Andthefavourofheavenseemstoceasefor…

…1673andsomepreviousdays,Ihavehadinthespiritmany…

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Impressionandotherperceptions,howtheBelovedshowedhimselfunhappyandangrywiththeKingofFrance,becausehehadtoleratedandconcealedmanyseriousandweightysinsamonghis subjectsandhadnot impededorpunishedthem.Iunderstoodthathehadfollowedhishumanpassions,whilethelightofgrace,thatGodhadgrantedhim,wasneglectedandsetaside,sothatifhehadfollowedthatlight,hewouldhavepreservedamonghispeople


in populo suo ser- / uaret sanctum quemdam uehendi modum, secundumexemplamS.LudouiciRegisGalliae. /

UidebaturDilectusuellesubtraheremanumauxiliatriceminprosequendisuic- /toriisinHollandia,quasiRexseillamanuauxiliatriceindignumredde-ret. /

IdsummoperesentiebampraeteneritudineaffectusinamoreDilecticonfi-de- /[10] randoinhoceiusinteresseetc;magnopereoccupabar,etmetotamimpendeba.. /utDilectumsuperhocplacarem,etistiRegipropitiumredde-remperactuscontri- /tionis,perorationes,pergemitus,etintimaslamenta-tionesnomineistius /Regis,quatenusDilectusipsihancnoxamdimitteret,eteumdignareturassu- /mere,sicutprius;sedDilectusuideturseexhiberequasiimplacabilem,quasi /[15] renueretexaudire,sedspiritusorandiecontranoncessatillumdeprecari. /

CircahoctempusamisitilleRexconflictuminmaricontrahaereticos,etsi /deeonihilscirem,dumpraedictainmetransibant,nisialiquotemporepost,quando /illudreferriaudiebam;dequononmirabar,necturbabar,quianihilminus /exspectabam,attentiscomminationibusDilecti. /

[20] Adhucaliquotiesproipsooraui,magisexpropriomeospirituquamaliter, /ide..quesineefficacia,sineaccessu,sineconfidentia,etsineexauditio-ne;uidebar /pulsareadforesuniussurdi,etquasicortinaaliquafuissetinter-posita, ne / uiderem, uel perciperem aliquid boni, uel aliquid pro ipsofauorabileapudDi- /lectum;omnisbonaapparentia,etprosperitas,acfauorcaeliuidebaturinuersus /[25] etauersus;inquodebebammeuoluntarieresi-gnare, totum diuinae dispositioni / committere, et annihilare in uoluntateDei. /

AgiturmirospirituorandiproRegeGalliae,etDilectusfacit /eamproillopati,sicutaliasproillofecitorare. /

......aliquamualdepenalemdispositionem,iterumpercepispiritumDeiinme /[30] ...ari,ettuncetiamincipiebatillespiritusinmeorareproRegeGalliae,supra /[om]nemmodum,etintellectum,sineuerbisetsinecogitationibus. /

Hic orandi modus est plane absconditus, et paucis notus; anima nihil ibiaddi... /....suo,sedsolum....titur,etsinitspiritumDeiinseorare;tantummododebetattend[ere] /uteumnoninte....et,aliquiddesuomiscendo;sedseinsanctootio,acintranquil- /[35] litate..........illidarelibertatemagendi. /


some holy way of acting according to the example of St. Louis, the King ofFrance.

TheBelovedseemedtowanttowithdrawthehelpinghandhegaveintheprecedingvictoriesinHolland,asiftheKinghadshownhimselfunworthyofthathelpinghand.

IfeltthisaboveallbecauseofthetendernessoftheaffectionintheloveoftheBelovedtrustinginthisinterestofhisetc.,IwasveryoccupiedandfeltthatitalldependedonmetoappeasetheBelovedoverthis,andtogivethefavourbacktothatKingbyactsofcontrition,byprayers,sighsandintimatelamenta-tionsinthenameofthatKing,inorderthattheBelovedwouldletgothistrans-gressionofhisandwoulddeigntotakehimup,likebefore.ButtheBelovedseemedtoholdhimself implacableas ifherefusedtohear,butthespiritofprayingontheotherhanddidnotceasetopraytohim.

AboutthistimethatKinglostthebattleatseaagainsttheheretics,91thoughIknewnothingaboutthat,whiletheabove-mentionedthingsweregoingoninme,exceptsometimeafter,whenIheardthereport.AboutthatIdidnotwon-dernorwasIdisturbed,becauseIexpectednothingless,afterIhadheardofthethreatstotheBeloved.

StillseveraltimesIhaveprayedforhim,morefrommyownspiritthanoth-erwise…withoutforce,withoutaccess,withoutconfidenceandwithoutbeingheard.Iseemedtoknockonthedoorofsomeonewhoisdeaf,andasifsomecurtainhadbeenplacedbetweenus,sothatIcouldnotseeorperceiveany-thinggoodoranythingfavourableforhimintheBeloved.Everygoodappear-anceandprosperityandfavourofheavenseemedtobeinvertedandturnedawayandsoIhadtoresignvoluntarilyandcommitmyselftotallytothedivinedispositionandbecomenothinginthefaceofthewillofGod.

SheisledbyawonderfulspiritofprayingfortheKingofFrance,andtheBelovedmakeshersufferforhim,likehehasmadeothersprayforhim.

…someverypainfuldisposition,IhaveperceivedagainthespiritofGodinme…andthenalsothatspiritbegantoprayinmefortheKingofFrance,beyondeverywayandintellect,withoutwordsandwithoutthoughts.

Thiswayofprayingisobviouslyhiddenandknowntofew.Thesoul...therenothing…butonly…andletthespiritofGodprayinit.Itonlyhastotakecarethatit…himnot…andsomethingofitselfintermingling.Butitselfinholyrestandinquietness…givingtohimthefreedomtoact.

91 MariarefersheretothenavalBattlesofSchooneveldon7Juneand14June1673.


Quando hoc sic fit, tunc anima a spiritu Dei possidetur; spiritus superioranimae /.....diuinamilluminationeminstructusseparatseaspirituinferiore,etuni- /tocumspiritudiuino,etitaorantsimulinuno;haecoratioeratproRegeGalliae /seddurabatmodicotempore. /

[40] Maneeuigilans,inueniebammedenuoininterioriafflictione,pressu-ris, an- / [gu]stiis etc quasi perfusam, post aliquantulum temporis incidebatmihiquidam /[inst]inctuscumillecebrosacognitione,sicutipraeteritoannoproistoRegeorasti,ita /....proillodebespati,amequasirequirendobenees-semparataproillo /.....sustinere,adquodmestatimpraesentabam,meoffe-rendoadomneD... /.....neplacitam,etiamadtolerandospoenas...afflictionesinfer...... /

........................................................................... //

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[1] AgiturspirituorandiproRegeGalliae,quasicogendoDilectum, /uteumiuuet,cumfiduciaexauditionis. /

Abillotemporeuidebaturmihiinteriusaccresceresuauiorquaedamconfiden-tia, /etfiducia,postulandiaDilectoassistentiametauxiliumproistoRege,utposset /[5] suisaduersariisresistere,etpraeualere. /

Anteetpostsacramcommunionem,cumessemspiritualiterDeounita,idest / tota inspiritu,etabstractaabomnisensu, inpuraunitate,etnuditate,incipiebat /spirituspremere,eturgereDilectum,imoquasicogendoaggredi,ut uellet exten- / dere potentem manum suam ad iuuandum istum Regem,quatenus promissio a / [10] Dilecto mihi facta plenum sortiretur effectum;spiritusdicebat:Dilectemi, /tudebesidfacere,etmihiuidebatur,quodnonamplius tergiuersaretur, uel / abnueret, et ex parte ad meam postulationemauscultaret, dando quasi confiden- / tiam perseuerandi in oratione, et in fa-ciendisinstantiis;exquosequiturpraedulcis /fiduciainstantisuictoriae. /

[15] Agiturspirituorandi,etpenitendiproRegeGalliae,utplacetDilec-tum, /cumimpressione,quodconuerteturasuispeccatis. /

Die28 Junii 1673,post sacramcommunionemsentiebam aliquam confiden-tiam, /etfiduciamaddeprecandumproDelictisRegis,etDilectumillipropi-tiandum;Item /agebarspiritupaenitentiae,contritionis,etconfessioniseiusnomineDilectifaciendae, /[20] instarmatrisprosuofilio,cumpraesentatione


Whenthishappensinthisway,thenthesoulispossessedbythespiritofGod.Thesuperiorspiritofthesoul…instructedbyadivineillumination,sepa-ratesitselffromtheinferiorspiritandisunitedwiththedivinespirit,andsotheypraytogetherinone.ThisprayerwasfortheKingofFrance,butlastedashorttime.

AwakeningearlyIfoundmyselfanewininneraffliction,pressures,anxietiesetc,asitwereovershadowed,afteralittletimesomeintuitionfellonmewithaseductivethought:“LikeyouprayedthepreviousyearforthatKing,so…youmustsufferforhim”,requiringofmeasitwere thatIbereadytosustainhim…,towhichIpresentedmyselfatonce,offeringmyselftoall…pleasing,alsototoleratepunishments…afflictions…

…

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SheisledbythespiritofprayingfortheKingofFrance,asitwereforcingtheBelovedtohelphim,withthebeliefofbeingheard.

Fromthattimeonsomesweeterconfidenceandfaithseemedtogrowwithin,toaskoftheBelovedassistanceandhelpforthatKing,sothathecouldresistandovercomehisopponents.

Beforeandafterholycommunion,whenIwasspirituallyunitedwithGod,thatiscompletelyinthespiritandabstractedfromeverysenseinpureunityandnakedness,thespiritbegantopressandurgetheBeloved,yesalmosttoapproachhimforcefully,sothathewouldextendhismightyhandtohelpthatKing,andsothatthepromisemadetomebytheBelovedwouldhavefullef-fect.Thespiritsaid:“MyBeloved,youmustdothat.”Anditseemedtomethathenolongerturnedhisbackonmeordeniedit,andfromhissidelistenedtomyrequest,givingasitwereconfidencetopersevereinprayerandinmakingintercessions.Fromthiscameaverysweetfaithintheimpendingvictory.

AsitpleasestheBeloved,sheisledbythespiritofprayingandofdoingpenancefortheKingofFrance,withtheimpressionthatheisconvertedfromhissins.

On the 28th of June 1673 after holy communion I felt some confidence andfaithtoaskforgivenessfortheoffensesoftheKing,andtomakereparationtotheBelovedforhim.LikewiseIwasledbythespiritofpenance,contritionandconfessionmadeinthenameoftheBeloved,likeamotherforherson,with


proipsosatisfaciendiutpoteinterius /ultroadhocmota,mereetpureexzelopromouendi commune sanctae Ecclesiae bonum; / Item mihi infundebaturspiritus offerendi passionem, uulnera, et sanguinem Jesu / ad placandumDeum,sicutmatersoletagerecausamfiliiapudPatrem,etdelinquentem /fi-liumoffensoPatristudetreconciliare:fitetiammihiquaedamquasiimpressio,quod /[25] illeRexdeueneritadagnitionem,contritionem,confessionem,etsuiipsiushumiliationem. /

Quandohaecsunttransactae,etiterumponorinpaupertate,etcarenti.....omnium /perceptibilium,etsensibiliumdonorumDei,intenebris,indolori-bus, [pr]essuris, et / angustiis, in parte inferiore; tunc excidunt mihi omnespraeteritaeoperationes.... /sicdeistoRegescriptae,omniamihituncuertun-turindubia,quodforte..... /[30] proueniantexnaturalisolertia,uelabaliquoperegrinospiritu;eomagis,qu......... /posteamequasisentioalienamabistoRege, et cum aliquali auersione ab illo, a ..... / ulla teneritudine affectus, uelamorisergailluminclinatione,quaesolummo[do]...... /tamdiudurat,quamdiuillaoperatioamorisetcinmeest. /

Abaliaparteetiammihiincidit,quodDilectusmeampraesentationem,et /[35] animi promptitudinem ad satisfaciendum pro illo, ratum habu[er]it etacceptauerit /et in istumfinemmeconstituat in tampaenalianimaestatu;cumt...isuspensione /omnissensibilitatis,gustus,solatiietc.secundumpari-emsuperioremetinferior[em]... /etrelinquarintotalietomnimodaderelic-tione,ualdedura,sensibili,eomagis... /quiaDilectopermittente,parsinferiortuncestadeosensibilis,ettamtenera... /[40] aliquidsustinendum;itautuelminimacontrarietasalicubiinaliquare,uel /inaliquoobuiasitquasiuulnusincordemeo. /

Angustiaeetiametpressuraesunttamsensibiles,utmihialiquandosudoreru.... /etexrepossimrespirare,praemaerore,nonsciendo,quare;quidsitdeueritate.... /Dilecto;uerumLumenhaecdispositiouideturmihiualdeperegri-na, quod sine .... / [45] ten........ sensibilis, usque ad ....criimas; uidetur mihiquodtuncsimposita.... /.................................................................................... //

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[1] LumenfideiadmeexercenduminpraesentiaDei,estplanespiritualisetasen- /sibusabstractum. /


thewillingnesstogivesatisfactionforhim,asifIwasvoluntarilymovedtothisinside,merelyandpurelyoutofzealtopromotethecommongoodoftheholyChurch. Likewise the spirit of offering the passion was poured into me, thewoundsandthebloodofJesustoappeaseGod,likeamotherusestopleadthecase of her son with the Father, and seeks to reconcile her wrongdoing sonwiththeoffendedfather.IthappensalsotomeasifIalsogotsomeimpression,thattheKinghadcometoacknowledgement,contritionandconfessionofhissinsandsomehumiliationofhimself.

Whenthesethingsaredone,andIamplacedagaininpovertyandthemiss-ing…ofallperceptibleandsensiblegiftsofGod,indarkness,inpains,inpres-suresandanxieties,inaninferiorpart,thenallthepreviousoperationsfailme…sowrittenaboutthatKing,allisturnedintodoubtforme,thatstrongly…comeforthfromanaturalingenuityorsomestrangespirit.Themore…after-wardsIfeltsortofalienatedfromthatKing,andwithsomekindofaversiontowardshim,by…sometendernessoffeelingorinclinationoflovetowardshim,whichonly…lastsaslongasthatoperationofloveetc.isinme.

Ontheothersideitalsooccurredtome,thattheBelovedhadapprovedandacceptedmywillingnessandthereadinessofmymindtogivesatisfactionforhim,andtothatpurposehehadplacedmeinsuchapainfulstateofsoul,withthe…suspensionofallsensibility,tasteandsolaceetc.justliketheupperandlowerwall92…andIwasleftintotalandcompleteabandonment,veryhard,sensible,themore…becausewhiletheBelovedpermitsit,myinferiorpartisthensosensibleandsotender…tosustainsomething,sothateventheleastcontrariety, anywhere, or in anything, or in any matter comes to me like awoundinmyheart.

Icouldfeeltheanxietiesandpressuressomuch,thatsometimesIbrokeoutinsweat…andIcouldjustgaspoutofsadness,notknowingwhy.Whatisthetruth…intheBeloved.ButtheLightseemsinthisdispositionverystrangetome,becausewithout…sensitive,tothepointoftears…itseemstomethatIamplacedthen…

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ThelightoffaiththatmustbeshoneonmeinthepresenceofGod,isclearlyspiritualandabstractedfromthesenses.

92 SeearticleofElisabethHense,252-265.


Ostenditur ei in spiritu malum imminens isti Regi, et exercitui illius, /qualiDeusillisuelletmaledicere,quodipsaconaturdeprecari,acintel-ligit / [5] DeumistiRegiplacatum,eteumadiuturumadnouasuicto-rias. /

Die29Junii,festoSsApostolorumPetrietPauli1673habuiinspiritualiquas /tristesrepraesentationesdeRegeGalliae,uidebaturcapitiilliusettotiexerci-tui / imminere ingens malum, perinde acsi quaedam maledictio super eumfuisset /comminata,namDeus,imototumcaelumuidebaturfaciemsuamabilloauertere, /[10] undemultumturbabar,consternabaretcontristabar;con-fugiebamadpassionem, /aduulneraetsanguinemChristi,utpossemcommi-natum,etmihiostensummalum /deprecari. /

Postaliquidtempusapparebatinmeointerioriquoddamdiuinumbonum,seu /diuinamaiestas,etaccipiebamquasiconfidentiam,etillecebramadeam-demado- /[15] randam;spiritusmeusprouoluebatseantepedeshuiusmaie-statis, pronus super / faciem suam in terra (nostro modo loquendi) etincipiebamcummagnahumilitate /etamore,longotemporeexorare,suppli-care,etpostulareremissionemprohoc /Rege,cumintimisgemitibusinenar-rabilibus, Deo demonstrando omnia mala / quae ex illa maledictione etcprouenirent;ItemutDeusdignareturipsiusmisereri /[20] etoculomisericor-diaerespicereadomnemeffusionemtamcopiosisanguinisinnocentis /quemuidebam profundendum, casu quo commitrata maledictio fuisset sortitasuum /plenumeffectum;etutDeusuelletmisereri totanimarum,quaeperhoc aeternalit.... / perirent; ut saltem uellet exaudire praetiosum sanguinemUnigenitisuifiliietc. /

Qui[b]usperactis,percipiebampaceminterDeumetistumRegemessefac-tam,et /[25] RegemesseDeoreconciliatum;perdiuinamquamdamirradia-tionemseuillumi- /nationeminfundoanimaemeae,procertocognoscebam,quodRexdeincepsiterum /haberetuictorias;nonobstante,quodiamaliquotemporepassusfuissetcladem, /multosmilitesamisisset,etuidereturesseex-trahumanamspem,etapparentiam /.....ampliusobtinendiuictorias. /

[30] Fertur spiritu amoris erga Regem, et exercitum ante Traiectum,quam /ciuitatemclareuidetinDeo,cumassecuratione,quodRexillamintercipiet /ministerioAngelorum,quorumauxilioposteaintelligiteaminterceptam. /

RediebatmihiteneritudoamorisetmaternusaffectusergaistumRegem,sicu-ti anno / praeterito ; spiritu amoris iterum aderam Regi, et eius exercitui in


ToherisshowninthespirittheevilthatthreatensthatKingandhisarmy,withwhichGodwantedtocursethem,becauseshetriestoaskfortheirforgivenessandsheunderstandsthatGodisappeasedconcerningthatKingandthathewillhelphimwithnewvictories.

Onthe29thofJuneonthefeasttheholyApostlesPeterandPaul1673IhadinthespiritsomesadrepresentationsabouttheKingofFrance.Itseemedthatsomehugeevilhungoverhimandhisentirearmy,asifsomecursewasthreat-eninghim,forGod,yeseventhewholeofheavenseemedtoturnawayhisfacefromhim,thereforeIwasveryconfused,dismayedandgrieved.Itookmyref-ugeinthepassion,thewoundsandthebloodofChrist,sothatIcouldavertthethreatandtheevilthatwasshowntome.

Aftersometimeinsidemethereappearedsomedivinegoodordivinemaj-esty,andIreceivedasitwereaconfidenceandincitementtoadorethatsamething.Myspirithurriedtothefeetofthismajesty,flatonitsfaceontheground(inourwayofspeaking)andIbeganwithgreathumilityandlovetoprayforalongtimeandtobegandaskremissionforthatKing,withintimateandinef-fablesighs,demonstratingtoGodalltheevilthatwouldresultfromthatcurse.LikewisethatGodwoulddeigntorememberhimandlookbackwithhismer-cifuleyetoallthespillingofsomuchinnocentblood,whichIsawthatwouldbeshed,inwhichcasethethreatenedcursewouldhavehaditsfulleffect.AndthatGodwantedtohavemercyonsomanysouls,whobythiseternally…per-ish.ThatheatleastwouldhearthepreciousbloodofhisonlybegottenSonetc.

After these things had been completed I perceived that peace had beenmadebetweenGodandthatKingandthattheKingwasreconciledwithGod.Through some divine irradiation of illumination in the depths of my soul,Iknewforcertain,thattheKingimmediatelyagainhadlostmanysoldiersandit seemed to be beyond all human hope and appearance … to obtain morevictories.

SheisanimatedbythespiritoflovetowardstheKingandthearmybeforeMaastricht,whichcitysheseesclearly inGod,withtheassurancethattheKingwilloccupyitwiththeministryoftheangels,bywhosehelpsheunderstandslaterthatthatcityisoccupied.93

ThetendernessofloveandmaternalaffectiontowardsthatKingreturnedtome,likeinthepreviousyear.WiththespiritofloveIstoodagainwiththeKing

93 Seen.29.


conflictuante /[35] ciuitatemTraiectensem,adeosinuandos,nondubitans,quineamoccuparent. /

EodemdiepostmeridiemuidebaminDeo,uelutinspeculo,quodCiuitasillabreui /traderetur;Deusostendebatmihiistamciuitateminsecumtalicla-ritate,sicutaliquid /uideturinspeculo,cumplenacertitudine,quodRexillaminterciperet. /

Sequenti die, ultimomensis,manehorasexta,cumessem inuiaad tem-plum, mihi / [40] subito oboriebatur aliquod extraordinarium lumen diui-numinsupremitatespiritus /permodumstantisfulguriscorruscantis,quoddurabatcirciteradunumAue /Maria,etsicdisparebat. /

Inhoclumine,etperhoclumenintelligebametpercipiebamSanctosAnge-los /....isseinadiutoriumetassistentiamRegis,cumpraemagnacertificatione /[45] [uer]itatis,etassecuratione,quoddeincepsiterumhaberetbonumsuc-cessum //.....olaetabar,etlaudabamDeimisericordiam. //


andwithhisarmyintheconflictbeforethecityofMaastricht,withtheinvad-ingtroops,notdoubtingthattheywouldoccupyit.

OnthatsamedayintheafternoonIsawinGodasinamirror,thatthecitywouldbesoondelivered.Godshowedmethatcityinhimwithsuchclarity,likesomethingthatisseeninamirror,withfullcertainty,thattheKingwouldoc-cupyit.

Thenextday,thelastofthemonth,earlyinthesixthhour,whenIwasonmywaytothechurch,suddenlysomeextraordinarylightaroseinthesublimityofthespiritintheformofastandingboltoflightning,whichlastedaboutoneAveMaria,anddisappearedjustlikethat.

InthislightandthroughthislightIunderstoodandperceivedthattheholyangels…tothehelpandassistanceoftheKing,withaverygreatcertaintyofthe truth and assurance, that he would immediately enjoy good success …IwaspleasedandpraisedthemercyofGod.

240 Meeuwsen

© VeronieMeeuwsen,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_010This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.

Chapter8

Maria Petyt’s Support of the French King

Veronie Meeuwsen

Introduction

AnewtextbyMariaPetyt,whichhasnotbeeneditedbeforeandhasthereforeremainedunknownsofar,providesanopportunitytoscrutinizeherspiritual-ityanew.ThetextconsistsofacollectionoflettersthatMariawrotetoMichaelofSt.Augustine.AllofthemdealwiththeperiodoftheDutchWarandMaria’sexperienceofit.Thelettersarewellworthstudying,becausetheymakeitclearthatalthoughMariaPetyt livedasecluded life, shewascertainlyconcernedwiththeworldoutsideherhermitage.

ThisarticleexaminestheinsightthatthenewtextbyMariaPetytaffordsintoherspirituality,focusingmorespecificallyonhersupportoftheFrenchkingandthediscernmentofspirits inthiscontext.ThetexttellshowMariadevelopedapreferencefortheFrenchkingandhowsheprayedforhimfromherhermitage.Shespeaksaboutsendingangelstohimandhisarmytoassistthem,andhowshewasconcernedabouthimlikeamother.SheseemedtobeadvocatinghiscausesothatMichaelwouldalsosidewiththeFrench.Regard-ingherbeliefthatitwasGodwhosenthertohelptheFrench,wehavetoaskwhatrolethediscernmentofspiritsplayedinthis.Thisspiritualpracticewasanimportantpartofherreligiouslife.InwhatfollowsI lookatMaria’sowncriteriaofthediscernmentofspiritsandhowsheappliedtheminherchoicesregardingtheDutchWarsoastoseehowitworkedandwhetheritfailedorsucceeded.

Discernment of Spirits

FirstIbrieflydescribewhatthediscernmentofspiritsmeanttoMariaPetyt:howdidshemakeherchoicesandhowdidshediscernwhatstemmedfromGod and what did not? The term ‘discernment of spirits’ indicates judgingwhich spirit directs the impulses of the soul: the good spirit of God, theevil spiritofSatanor thehumanspirit itself.This isnecessary todeterminewhetherthecauseofagivenimpulseisgood,evilorshouldbeseenasneutral.Sometimes such discernment is made possible by a special gift of intuitive



241MariaPetyt’sSupportoftheFrenchKing

perception,butmostlyitalsorequiresreflectiononargumentsandemotions,aswellas thedirectionofothers.Themost famousexample is theSpiritual ExercisesbyIgnatiusofLoyola,wherewefindrulesforthediscernmentofspir-its.1

MariaPetytlearnedmuchaboutthediscernmentofspiritsfromherspiri-tualfatherMichaelofSt.Augustine.Hetaughtherto‘conformcompletelytotheHolyHumanityofChrist,withallthatconcernshisexternalperson,likehishumble,mild,meeklovingness,hiswayofspeaking,allhisvirtuesandwaysofacting’.2TodosoitisessentialtolearntoletgoofallpersonalactivitysoastogrowinpurefaithinGod’spresenceandinlovinginclinationtowardshim.Youmustletgoofallofyourownsensoryexpectationsandimagesaswellasyourthoughts.3ItisimportanttodiscriminatebetweenyourownactivityandGod’sactivityinyou.InthisregardMariafrequentlyusedtheword‘deiform’,refer-ringtoconformitywithGod’swilland lettinggoofyourown.But theword‘Godlike’ can also indicate that the form of the essence or activity is deter-minedbydivineinfluence.4

Importantcriteriaofdiscernmentarementionedinchapter54ofMaria’sautobiography.5Thekeycriterionistermed‘holyfreedom’.Spiritualdiscern-menthastoprovidethisfreedomforthesoultobeabletogrowinloveoftheBeloved.6Thereareothercriteriamentionedinthischapterofherautobiogra-phy.MariasaysthatthedivinespiritgrantsthesoulthepowerofdiscernmentsoastomoderateallheractivitieswhicharefocusedonGod.7Althoughitis

1 Cf.Baers(2003)68;DS(1990),vol.3,1311–1330.2 Merlier(1976)ch.41=Petyt(1683)vol.1,54.‘Hy leyde my voor, dat ick moest sien my heel

ghelijck-vormigh te maecken aen de H. Menscheyt CHRISTI, soo veel als sijnen uytwendighen Persoon aengaet, ghelijck aen sijne ootmoedighe, soete, sachtmoedighe, ende minnelijcke minne, ende conversatie, ende soo voorts in alle sijne andere deughden, ende manieren van doen.’AllEnglishtranslationsoftheLifeinthisarticlearemyown.

3 Merlier(1976)ch.42=Petyt(1683)vol.1,55.4 Deblaere(1962)394.5 MariafinishedwritingherautobiographyfouryearsbeforetheDutchWar.Soitprovides

uswithagoodframetoanalysethechangesinherthoughtsaboutdiscernment.6 Merlier(1976)ch.54=Petyt(1683)vol.1,71.‘(…)het welcke involghende, wiert ick terstont

ghewaer een beantwoorden vande Goddelijcke gratie, in mijn inwendigh, met een vermeer-deren vanden inwendighen peys ende vrede der zielen, ende een soetere toeneyghinghe der liefde tot den Beminden, ende soo voorts; want andersints de heylighe liberteyt des gheests soude daer door te seer ghehindert gheweest hebben.’

7 Merlier(1976)ch.54=Petyt(1683)vol.1,71.‘Het is eyghen aenden Goddelijcken Gheest, al waer hy werckt, oft de ziele jevers toe drijft, ’t zy tot penitentie, vasten, abstinentie, waecken ende bidden, oft jet anders, daer altijdt maete in te stellen; hy gheeft haer een onderscheyt, ende discretie, om het lichaem niet te bederven, oft te seer te matteren, op dat het bequaem

242 Meeuwsen

truethatMariahadthetypicallydualisticapproachtohumanityofherday,inwhich thebodywasconsideredof littlevalueandmindandspiritwereall-important,sheusesinthisstageofher lifemoderationasacriterionofdis-cernment. Moderation is necessary so that the body will not be excessivelyconfusedorfatigued.AthirdcriterionMariawritesaboutinchapter54,isthedistinction between exhortations and movements induced by a good spiritandthosethatcomefromanevilspirit.Marialooksatthe‘fruits’ofthespirit.Whatcomesfromthegoodspirit,thespiritofGod,isaccompaniedby‘mild-ness,peaceofmindandsoul,innerquiet,humility,resignation,subservience,loveandcaution.(...).Anythingthatdoesnothavethesevirtuesissuspect.’8

Theroleofthespiritualguideisnolessimportant.Mariasubmittedallherexperiencestohimandexpectedhimtohelpherdiscernwhatcamefromher-selfandfromthe ‘Fiend’andwhatcamefromGod.Mariausuallyhadgreatconfidence in Michael’s discernment.9 Hence she set great store by obedi-ence,whichentailedrelinquishingherownwillandlearningtocurbherim-pulses.ThroughsuchblinddocilityandobediencetoherspiritualfathershebelievedshewoulddrawclosertofollowingGod’swill.InthissenseshesawherspiritualguideasarepresentativeofGod.ShebelievedthatinthewordsoftheguideGodhimselfwasspeakingtoher,admonishingandleadingher.10

InherautobiographythesewerethethingsMariaPetytheldontowhenshehadtodecidewhattochoose.Theprimeconsiderationwasthatallcriteriaofdiscernmenthadtoleadto‘holyfreedom’ofthesoulsoitwouldbefreefromallthatkeepsitfromdoingGod’swill.Thedivinespiritcouldberecognizedbyitsmoderation,wherebythebodywouldnotbeundulyconfusedorfatigued.Itwas also accompanied by experiences of inner peace, humility, resignation,loveandthelike.Finally,obediencetoherspiritualguidewasamajorsupport,especiallyintimesofcrisis.

zy, om den gheest te volghen ende te dienen.’AlthoughMariamentionsmoderationasacriterionofdiscernment,thisseemstobesomewhatarbitrary,dictatedperhapsbyherspiritualdirector.InpracticethiswasnotoneofMariaPetyt’schiefcriteria.

8 Merlier (1976) ch. 54 = Petyt (1683) vol. 1, 71. ‘Syne aendryvinghen ende beweghinghen komen altoos aen met eenighe soetigheyt, ende stilligheyt des ghemoets, met inwendighen peys ende vrede der ziele, met een sekere inwendighe ruste ende ghetuyghenisse, dat sulcke dryvinghen, inghevinghen ende beweginghen voort-komen vanden goeden gheest, verghesel-schapt met een ootmoedighe, vredighe gelatentheyt ende onderworpentheyt aen ’t goet-duncken, ende wille van de ghene, die haer regeren. Als het anders is, soo is het suspect.’

9 Althoughherconfidence inMichaelwasgreat,Mariaalsohadmomentsofdoubtandlackoffaithinhim,e.g.Petyt(1683)vol.1,248.

10 Cf.Merlier(1976)ch.78,109=Petyt(1683)vol.1,99,139.


WewillkeepthesecriteriainmindwhenwelookatherexperiencesandchoicesatthetimeoftheDutchWar.11

Historical Background to the Dutch War

LetmeexplainthehistoricalbackgroundtohertextabouttheDutchWar.ThiswarwasapoliticalandmilitaryconflictbetweenFranceandtheRepublicoftheSevenUnitedProvinces,thecurrentNetherlands.In1672theFrenchkingLouisXIVattackedtheRepublic.AftertheEightyYears’War,whichendedin1648, the Northern Provinces were an internationally recognized sovereignstatenamedtheRepublicoftheSevenUnitedProvinces.TheSouthernNeth-erlands,whichwasmainlyCatholicandstillunderSpanishrule,wasnolongerclaimedbytheSevenProvinces,soitwasfinallyatpeacewithSpain.

AtthattimeFrancerosetodominanceinEurope.TheyoungFrenchkingLouisXIVhadambitiousplans.HeregardedhimselfasanabsolutemonarchaccountabletoGodalone.Hestrived,moreover,foruniversalauthorityinEu-rope.AtthattimetheDutchRepublicwasalsooneofthesuperpowers,mainlybecause of its mercantile and shipping interests. It was affluent, while allneighbouringcountriesexperiencedfinancialtroubles.Asaresultofthisdif-ferencetheywerevery interested in thestrategicpowerbaseof theNether-lands.12

In1667LouisXIVattackedtheSpanishNetherlands.HewasmarriedtotheSpanishprincessMariaTeresaandonthestrengthofadowrystipulationhethoughthecouldclaimpartsoftheSpanishNetherlands.InashorttimeheconqueredsomemajorcitiesandborderareasintheSpanishNetherlands.Inthisso-calledWarofDevolutionitbecameclearhowweaktheSpanisharmyintheSouthernNetherlandshadbecome.TheSevenProvinceswereconcernedaboutthegrowingpowerofFrance,sotheymadeapactwithSwedenandEng-land,theTripleAlliance.ThisputastoptoLouisXIV’sadvance.Hewithdrewandkepttheconqueredareas,butrenouncedhisrighttotheSpanishNether-lands.

In1672LouisXIVwantedtoconquertheRepublic.WiththesupportoftheEnglish,aswellastheElectorateofCologneandthePrince-BishopricofMün-sterontheRhine,heinvadedtheSevenProvinces,whereupontheDutchWarbegan.13InitiallytheDutchweresurprisedbytheFrenchinvasionandUtrecht

11 SeealsoElisabethHense’sandAnne-MarieBos’contributionstothisvolume,p.252–265and266–281.

12 Dreiskämper(1998)26–40;Rooms(2007)30–69;Janssens(2006)40–46.13 Ibidem.

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wasconqueredwithlittleeffort.WhiletheFrenchbelievedvictorywasinthebag,thePrinceofOrange,WilliamIII,madeastrategicmovebyfloodingthecountryside with deliberate inundations along the Dutch water line. Thatstopped further French advances. In the meantime, in December 1672, theprinceattackedCharleroi,animportantstrategicbaseoftheFrench.Thisat-temptfailed,butin1674and1677hetriedagain.TheseattackswereaheavyblowtotheFrenchdefence,whichwantedtopreservethebaseatCharleroiatanyprice.14

Spaindidnotwanttointerveneinthisconflict,butithadtoomanycom-mon interests with the Netherlands. Even before the French invasion therewere agreements that Spain would assist the Netherlands in the defence ofimportantplaces. InMay1673LouisXIVagainattackedtheSpanishNether-lands and wreaked havoc. Officially the Spaniards did not declare war onFranceuntilOctober1673.In1674thewarmovedmainlyfromtheRepublictotheterritoryoftheSpanishNetherlands.ThisshiftingofthebattlefieldmeantasuccessfortheDutch,becausenowtheSpanishNetherlandscouldserveasabufferbetweenFranceandtheRepublic;fortheSpaniardsitwasafailure,be-causetheirinterferencehadledtowarwithFranceontheirownterritory.By1676theRepublicoftheUnitedProvinceswascompletelyfreedofFrenchpres-ence,exceptforthecityofMaastricht,butFrenchtroopsoccupiedlargepartsoftheSpanishNetherlandsandtheSpanisharmieswerehardlycapableofre-sisting them. In that yearpeacenegotiations started.But theSpaniardsandWilliamIIIwerenotyetwillingtoacceptthepeace;theyfirstwantedtoreducethepoweroftheFrenchking.Theconflictcontinuedin1677andtheFrencharmiesgainednewvictoriesintheSpanishNetherlands.Afteralltheexhaust-ingbattlesandsiegespeacebetweenFranceandtheRepublicoftheUnitedProvinces was eventually declared on 10 August 1678. On 17 September 1678FranceandSpainalsoreachedagreementonwhichareasandplaceswouldhenceforthbelongtoFranceandwhichwouldformpartoftheSpanishNeth-erlands.AlthoughthewarhadstartedbetweentheFrenchandtheRepublic,theSpaniardsweretheeventuallosers,becauselargepartsoftheformerSpan-ishNetherlandswereclaimedbytheFrench.

Choice to Side with the French

From1672onwardsMariaPetyt’sletterstoMichaelofSt.AugustinebegantomentionexperiencesrelatingtotheDutchWarinherprayersandvisions.In

14 Rooms(2007)44–46.


theseexperiencesandvisionsthe‘spiritofprayer’madeitcleartoherthat shehadtochoosethesideoftheFrenchking.‘IperceivedthattheBelovedputmeonthesideofthisking,andthattheBelovedmademeinclinedtowardshim,asifIhadtocooperatewiththatking’(30r).HermaintaskwastoprayfortheFrench king and his army. She was convinced that her prayer directly influ-encedthecourseofthewar.

ThequestioniswhatdroveMariatochoosethesideoftheFrench.Shesays:‘Iunderstandinwardlythedecisionandtheconvictionofhissoul,15andthathiszealforHollandisclearlyGodlike,intendingnothingbutthehonourandgloryofGod,andtheconversionofsouls’(30r).MariaPetytcallstheintentionsoftheFrenchking‘Godlike’.Toherthiswasanimportantcriterionofthedis-cernmentofspirits.WhenspeakingabouttheFrenchkingasGodlikeshewassignifyingthatheactedinaccordancewithGod’swillorthathisactivitiesweredeterminedbydivineinfluence.ForherthiswasthecardinalreasontochoosethesideoftheFrench,forshebasedallherchoicesonwhethershewouldbeactingandlivinginaccordancewithGod’swill.WheninhereyestheFrenchkingseemedtoliveandactinaccordancewiththewillofGod,shecouldnotbutsupporthimifshewastoobeyGod.Thequestionremains:howdidsheknowthattheintentionoftheFrenchkingwasGodlike?Thisagaincalledfordiscernmentofspiritstodecidewhethertheknowledgederivedfromherownthoughtsandimagesor fromagood,divinespirit.Mariabelievedtheking’sintentionstobeGodlikebecauseaccordingtoherhewasnotstrivingforhisownhonourorgainbutforthehonourandgloryofGodandfortheconversionoferringDutchsouls.

Dutch Heretics

MorethanonceMariasays that theFrenchkingstartedthewar inorder toconverttheHollandersandtoplanttheCatholicfaithinHolland.Forthisrea-sonsheprayedferventlyforthesuccessoftheFrench,foritwasherdeepestdesirethattheHollanderswouldbebroughtbacktothe‘true’faithoftheCath-olicChurch:

…itseemedtomethatIwasasitwerespirituallyimpregnatedsothatImightconvertallparentlesssoulsinHollandtotheCatholicfaith’(39r).ThiswishtoconverttheHollandersstemmedfromherconvictionthatthe Hollanders had rejected God and that God longed to return to

15 I.e.thesoulofthekingofFrance.

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Holland and establish his kingdom there. As Maria put it, her Belovedwas joyful ‘because the time had already come that Holland wouldbecomeCatholic.(…),asifHewasyearningtobeconstitutedaskinginfullpossessionofhiskingdom(38v).

MariaspeaksabouthereticsinHolland.WemustinterpretthesewordsinthecontextofthedominanceofProtestantisminHolland.AftertheEightyYears’WartheProtestantshadnotonlyemergedfromSpanishoppression,butProt-estantism had also become the dominant religion. In most places CatholicgatheringswereforbiddenandCatholicswerenolongerallowedtoholdpublicadministrativepositions.16

WhenMariaspeaksabouthereticsinHollandwhoshouldbebroughtbacktothetruefaith,sheisreferringtoProtestantswhohadananti-Catholicpolicy.MariawasconvincedthatinattackingHollandtheFrenchking’sintentionwastobringthecountrybacktotheCatholicfaith.ShebelievedthattheCatholicChurchwasincrisis.ThiswasaresultnotonlyoftheProtestants’separationfrom the Catholic mother church, but also of all kinds of new movementswithin the Catholic Church in the time of the Counter- Reformation. MariasawagreatdangerinthemovementofthesocalledJansenists:

The necessity of the Holy Church, that was impressed upon me, waspartlybecauseoftheuproarsandcommotions,etcwhichtheJansenistscaused in the Holy Church by their doctrines that they proposed as agreat insult, criticism and blasphemy against the Holy Virgin, and themanyerrorsthattheythrustupontheheartsofthefaithful…(35v).

MariasawtheFrenchkingassomeonewhowasalsoopposedtotheJansenists.JansenismwasamovementintheCounter-ReformationstartedbyCorneliusJansenfromLeuven,whosetheological ideasaboutfreewill, justificationbyfaithanddivinegracewerebasedonthedoctrinesofAugustine.IntheSpanishNetherlandsandinFranceJansenismhadbecomeverypopular.LouisXIVwasanavowedopponentofthemovement.17MariaPetytalsoconsideredJansen-ismtobeahereticalmovement.TheriseofJansenismandProtestantisminHollandarementionedinthesamebreathasathreattotheCatholicfaith,andinheropinion theFrenchkingwasGod’s instrument toputa stop to thesedevelopments.

16 NotethattheseparationbetweenCatholicsandProtestantswasnotequallystrictevery-where,e.g.inMaastrichtwhereCatholicsandProtestantscoexistedinrelativepeace.

17 Maland(198)310–313.


Two Royal Children

The fact that both the French and the Spanish king were Catholics posed aproblemforMariaPetyt:whichofthetwoshouldshechoose,sincebothem-bracedthe‘true’Catholicfaith?Ittroubledherthattherewasenmitybetweenthe two kings, who should be fighting together like brothers for God’s goodcause.Shefeltaspecialbondwithbothkings,asiftheywerehersons.Never-thelessherpreferencelaywiththeFrenchking,towhomshewasled,assheputit,bythespiritoflove:

InthemonthofFebruary1673thespiritoflovewasrenewedinmealongwiththespiritualinclinationtoanduniontowardsandwiththekingofFrance.HewasplacedinmyheartandthekingoftheSpaniardsalso,asifbothweremysons.ThespiritoflovehadmuchtodowiththekingofFrance,butdidnotsomuchattractthekingoftheSpaniards.Heseemedtoleavehimmostlyneglected,likeasleepingsonorboy(45v).

ThispreferencefortheFrenchkingthat,accordingtoMariaherself,derivedfromthespiritoflove,isexplainedbyMaria’sperceptionofthetwokings’mo-tivesinthewar.TheSpanishkinghadenteredthewartohelptheHollanders,sohewasanallyoftheheretics.TheFrenchking,ontheotherhand,attackedtheHollandersandaccordingtoMariahedidsoinordertore-establishtheCatholicfaithinHolland.TheSpaniards,whohadonlyacenturybeforeforci-bly imposedCatholicismonHollandandhadstrictlyprohibitedProtestant-ism,werenowcomingtohelptheseheretics.TheonlythingMariacouldwishforthisSpanishking,whowasstilllikeasontoher,wasthathewouldgetbackontotherightpathandfightonthesideoftheFrenchkingsoastoexpandGod’skingdomonearth.

The Bad Life of Louis XIV

NotonlywasMariawrestlingwiththequestionofhowtochoosebetweentwoCatholickings,butalsowithproblemsraisedbyLouisXIV’slifestyle.Manybadthings were said about him and Maria was confronted with such rumours.ThesenegativereportsconfusedherandmadeherdoubtfulaboutthegoodthingssheexperiencedinhervisionsregardingtheFrenchking.

Morethanonceshesighedandsaidthathumanjudgmentsmeantnothingtoher,becauseshewassomuchswayedbyGod’sjudgmentofthisking.StillshecouldnotdenythattherewasalotofevilintheFrenchking’slife.Shewas

248 Meeuwsen

notonlyinformedaboutthisbythepeoplearoundher,butalsogottoknowitinprayer.Shelearned ‘howtheBelovedshowedhimselfunhappyandangrywiththekingofFrance’(48v).

ThisbroughtMariatotheconclusionthatsheshouldtaketheking’ssinsonherselfandmakereparationforthem,sothathecouldcontinuehiseffortsinthewar.Thiswasaspecial request,and itwasgranted toher.Mariaexperi-encedthatshehadtosufferandinthatwaycouldmakereparationforthesinsoftheFrenchking.

Praying out of Obedience

MariaPetytmentionsseveraltimesthatshewascommandedbyhersuperiorstoprayforSpanishsuccessinthiswar,thatistoprayagainsttheFrench.Shetriedhardtoobeytheseorders,butagainandagainexperiencedinherprayersthatshecouldnot.Eventuallyshenolongertried,butwascertain,assheputit,thattheprayersofsomanyreligiouswereuselesswhenitwasnotwhatGodwanted:

Prayallofyou,pray,prayasmuchasyou…want,withallyourprayersyouwillobtainnothing.Forsomewhereishidden…ahumblesoullostinacorner,whoreceivesfromGodthepowerto … allprayersofsomany,andtoimpedethattheyareheardbyGod,becauseHeknowswell,thatthehearingoftheseprayerstendsand…againstthehonourandgloryofGodandagainstthepromotionoftheholyChurch(43v).

Shenolongerdoubtedthatshewasontherightside−thesideoftheFrenchking−andthatallwhowereprayingforsomethingdifferentwereonafalsetrail.Shefoundthiscertainty,asnotedbefore,intheinnerknowledgethatshereceivedinprayerthattheFrenchkingwasactinginaccordancewiththewillofGod.

MichaelalsowantedtoconvinceMariaoftheevilsoftheFrenchkingandthatsheshouldratherprayfortheSpaniards.FromheranswerstoMichaelitbecomesclearthathewantedtoconvinceherofthegoodintentionsoftheleadersofthecountryandoftheGermansandSpaniards.Forexample:‘YourReverenceassuresmethatourLeaderconductshimselfwell,andthattheEm-perorisadevoutman’(36r).Somewhatpedanticallysheanswers:


YourReverencebelievedthatifthatcity18hadbeenoccupied,itwouldgototheSpaniards,butitseemedclearlytometobethecontrary.Forinmydepths there was some indication that that rumour was false. MostbelovedFather,nowonderthattheBelovedallowsoursidetobedefeated!ForhowlongdoourpeopleclingtoandsupportthatimpiousnationanddrawdownuponthemandtheircountrythewrathandindignationofGod (...) May God ensure that their punishment will only be temporalandthattheirsoulswillbesaved(37r).

HereitisclearthatMariainherturntriedtoconvinceMichaelthatshewasrightandthattheFrenchking’sactionsweregoodandGodlike.

ThereseemstobeasharpcontrastbetweenobediencetoMichael,whichaccording toMaria’sbiographywasofgreat importance toher,and the factthatnowshecouldnolongerobeyhim.However,itmustbesaidthatbasicallyshehadalwaystriedtooverrideherownexperiencesofprayerinregardtotheFrenchkingsoas to remainobedient,butagainandagainher prayerscon-firmedtheGodlikenessoftheFrenchkingandthatGodwantedhertoprayforhim and not for his opponents, so she could no longer remain obedient towhomever.ObediencetoMichaelhadalwaysbeenanimportantsupport,butitbecameclearthatthisobediencehaditslimits,forobediencetoGodortowhateverGod’sspiritaskedofhersurpassedobediencetoanyhumanbeing.

Discernment of Spirits Revised?

Let us review all this in the context of the discernment of spirits. What ischanged? MariamadeaclearchoiceinfavouroftheFrenchonthebasisofherexperiencesinprayer.Shebelievedthatitwasadivinespiritthatinspiredandencouraged her consistently to pray for the French. One can recognize anddiscernthatdivinespiritnotonlybytheholyfreedomofthespirit,butalsoaccordingtothecriteriaofmoderation,innerpeace,humility,resignation,et-cetera,andofobediencetoherspiritualguide.

Themoderationofthespirit−thatis,thatthebodyisnotconfusedandfa-tiguedtoomuch−seemstobelackinginthecaseofMaria’ssufferingforthesinsoftheFrenchking.Thispenancewasaccompaniedbyseverespiritualandphysicalpain,whichseemstocontradictthecriterionofmoderation.More-over,Maria’sexperienceswereconfusingtoher,becausetheywerecontrarytoeverythingthatshewastoldinherenvironment.Neverthelessthisconfusion

18 I.e.probablyMaastricht.

250 Meeuwsen

wasnotlasting,forthespiritgavehersuchstrongconfirmationthatintheendshehadcompleteinnerconfidenceandcertainty.

Thiscertaintybringsustothenextsetofcriteria:thatofinnerpeace,humil-ity,resignation,etcetera.Thesetermscropupconstantlyinhertexts.Herex-periences were intense and had a deep impact, but they were alwaysaccompaniedbyafireoflove,deepinnercertainty,vividness,powerandthelike,whichaccordedwiththiscriterionofthediscernmentofspirits.

Obediencetothespiritualguideseemstobethemostdifficultcriterioninthiscontext.MariacouldnotremainobedienttoMichaelandothersuperiorsanymore,forthiswascountertotheinnercertaintygiventoherinprayer.Shetriedhard tobedocileandobedientandwaswilling togiveupallherowncertainties,buttherewasapowerwhichwasstronger.IntheendMariawasconvincedthatshedidnotobtainthiscertaintyfromherselfbutfromthespir-itofGod.ObediencetoGodwasobviouslymoreimportantthanobediencetoahumanbeing,evenifitwasthespiritualguideinwhomshehadsuchgreattrust.

ButintheendMaria’skeycriterionwastheholyfreedomofthespirit,liber-ated from all human and worldly desires and inclinations. It becomes clearthatMariareallywasfreedfromthesethings,becauseshedidnotfollowherownwillandinitiativeinprayingforthe

Frenchking.ShewaswillingtoobeyhersuperiorswhoaskedhertoprayfortheSpaniards,butintheend,whenshekeptfeelingthattheBelovedwantedhertoprayfortheFrench,sheobeyedthatimpulse.AsMichaelleftthejudg-menttoothers,IalsoleaveittootherstojudgewhetherMariaPetytfollowedadivinespiritorwasledbyhumanorevilimpulses.ButIamsurethatshewassincereinseekingtodowhatGodwantedofher.

VeronieMeeuwsenM.A.was junior researcherat thechairofSpiritualityatRadboudUniversityNijmegenin2011/2012.

Bibliography

Baers,Joris(etal.).2003.Encyclopedie van de mystiek: fundamenten, tradities, perspec-tieven.Kampen:Kok.

Deblaere,Albert.1962.De mystieke schrijfster Maria Petyt (1623–1677).Gent:SecretariederAcademie.(VlaamseAcademievoorTaal-enLetterkunde,6).

DictionnairedeSpiritualité(DS).1990.Paris:Beauchesne.Dreiskämper,Petra.1998.‘Redeloos, radeloos, reddeloos’, De geschiedenis van het rampjaar

1672.Hilversum:Verloren.


Janssens,Paul(ed.).2006.België in de 17de eeuw, De Spaanse Nederlanden en het prins-bisdom Luik, Band I en II.Gent:Snoeck.

Maland,David.1983.Europe in the seventeenth century.Hampshire:MacmillanEducation.Petyt,Maria.1683/1684.Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias)

Petyt, vanden derden reghel vande Orden der Broederen van Onse L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli, tot Mechelen overleden den 1. November 1677.4tt.in2voll.Ghent:gedrucktbijdehoirsvanJanvandenKerchove.(Vilvoordephotogr.reprinted[2002]).

Rooms,Etienne.2007.Lodewijk XIV en de Lage Landen.Leuven:Davidsfonds.

252 Hense

Chapter9

The Spirituality of Teresa of Avila and the Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War (folios 30r–49v)

Elisabeth Hense

Introduction

ThespiritualityofTeresaofAvilapermeatesMariaPetyt’swritingstosuchanextentthatwecannotfullyunderstandherautobiographyandletterswithoutknowingTeresa’smainworks.1Teresa’slegacyseemstobethekeynotonlytoMaria’sDutchwritingsbutalsototheLatinmanuscriptabouttheDutchWar(1672–1678).

Theintimaterelationbetweenthespiritualityofthetwowomenmanifest-edintheLatinmanuscriptabouttheDutchWarcanbedemonstratedbyfo-cusingonmentalprayer,whichbothwomenconsideredtheprincipalformoftheirspirituallife.2FirstIwillcommentonmentalprayerinThe Interior Cas-tle(orThe Mansions)ofTeresaofAvila.3ThenIwillshowthatMariaPetythadanaturalaffinitywithmentalprayerfromheryouthonwards,butdidnotre-allyunderstandituntilshebeganreadingTeresa’sworksandwasprogressingon the spiritual path. Next I will identify the levels of mental prayer in theLatin manuscript about the DutchWar, which prove to be the supernaturallevelscorrespondingwiththefourthtoseventhmansionsofThe Interior Cas-tle.IwillconcludewithanevaluationofMaria’svisionsandexperiencesrelat-ingtotheFrenchkingandhisarmyinthecontextoftheseheightenedlevelsofmentalprayer.

Therearrangementoffolios30rto49voftheLatinmanuscriptabouttheDutch War – whether intentionally or accidentally4 – joins together those

1 Cf.Deblaere(1962)145–52.DeblaerewritesextensivelyabouttheinfluenceofTeresa’slifeonMariaPetyt.HedetectedparallelsbetweenTeresa’sandMaria’sChrist-centredmysticism,theirexperiencesofillnessandtheirdevotiontoSt.Joseph.HeconsidersTeresa’sconceptofvisionsasrecordedinThe Interior Castle tohaveinfluencedMaria.

2 DeblaeredoesnotmentionTeresa’sinfluenceonMariaPetytinrespectofmentalprayer.3 The Interior CastlewasfirsttranslatedintoDutchbytheFranciscanWillemSpoelberchin1608

(BrusselsandAntwerp).AfterthatyearTeresa’sworksbecamewidespreadinDutchspeakingareas.

4 SeeGiovanniGrosso’scontributiontothisvolume,p.83–91.

© ElisabethHense,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_011This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



253TheSpiritualityofTeresaofAvila

partsofthemanuscriptthatrelatecloselytothesupernaturallevelsofmentalprayerdescribed in The Interior Castle (folios30r-37v),whereas the foliosofminor interest concerning these supernatural levels (folios 38r-49v) can beseenasasecondpartofthemanuscriptabouttheDutchWar.

Mental Prayer in The Interior Castle

The Interior Castleisdividedintosevenmansions(alsocalleddwellingplaces),eachrepresentingacertainlevelofmentalprayerthatbringsthesoulstepbystepclosertoGod.

Theentrancetothecastletakestheformofactiveprayer,characterizedbyconsciousstrivingtostayinGod’spresence.5WhenthesoulstartstopractisethiskindofprayershealsostartsrealizingherowninnerbeautygiventoherbythegraceofGoddespiteherhumanshortcomings,sinsandpuniness.Pro-ceedingtothesecondandthirdmansions,thesoulseekstoadvancethroughmeditation on God’s works, empathizing with God’s love for creation, andthroughhumbledailyattentiontothedivinepresence.Shenowhastoperse-vereinprayer–evenintimesofmentalaridityortemptation,whenSatantriestoblockherpathanddissuadeher.Thesoul’sdesiretodocharitableworksisgrowingandsoisheraversiontosinning.Bygentlyacquiringthehabitofrec-ollectionandremaininginastateofsurrendertoGodthesoulfinallymanagestoentertheothermansions.

The fourth to seventh mansions are considered mystical.6 From now on-wardsthesoulhastoceaseherownactivityandgraduallyletGodtakeover.SheexperiencesdivinedelightsflowingdirectlyfromGod,leavingherpeace-ful,calmandfilledwithsweetness.7Shecomestoknowtheprayerofquiet,duringwhichshesurrendersherself intoGod’shands.8 In the fifthmansionthe soul is immersed in the prayer of divine union.9 In this kind of prayer,unionwithGod’swillismuchmoreimportantthantemporaryecstaticunion.10The two kinds of union induce such powerful perceptions that she cannotdoubt them.11 The comparison with a silkworm developing into a butterfly

5 Ch.I.FortheEnglishtranslation,seeKavanaugh&Rodriguez(1980)261–452.6 IV-VII.7 IV,2–3.8 IV,3.ForthecontroversyabouttheprayerofquietinMaria’stime,seeEsthervandeVate’s

contributiontothisvolume,p.92–118.9 IV.10 V,3.3.11 V,1.9.

254 Hense

conveysthetransformingpoweroftheprayerofunion.12ThisiswhereTeresatalksaboutspiritualbetrothalforthefirsttime.13Inthesixthmansionthesoulspendsmoreandmoretimewithherbeloved,butatthesametimeisexposedtomanyoutsideafflictions.14Sheagainundergoesseveretemptationsandin-nerstruggleandshepinesawaywithferventdesireforGod.Sheunderstandshowtodiscernhisfavours(trances,ecstasies,raptures,flightsofthespirit,ju-bilation, visions) from the effects of fantasy and imagination.15 The soulachievesfullclarityinprayerandspiritualmarriagewithGodintheseventhmansion.16 Here God and the soul become absorbed in each other’s affairs.Theycannotbeseparatedanymore–theyareindistinguishable,oneandthesame.17

Maria’s Natural Affinity with Teresa

In her autobiography Maria Petyt tells us that she first discovered mentalprayer when she was twelve. Mental prayer was easy and delightful for theyoung girl: she enjoyed spending her time absorbed in God’s presence.Thesweetnessoftheseexperiencessometimeslastedtwohours.

OurBelovedLordthengavemethegiftofmentalprayer,andasIhavecome to understand now, more than mental prayer, sometimes evensupernaturalprayer.Iseemedtobedrawnintogreatdevotionandexalta-tionofthespirit,Idon’tknowhoworwhere.Sometimesthislastedtwohours. Icontinuedthissortofprayer forsucha longtimewithoutanyeffortorlabourandasfarasIcanrememberwithasweetandflaminglove.18

12 V,2.7.13 V,4.3.14 VI,1.15 VI,2–10.FordiscernmentofspiritsinMaria’sworks,seeVeronieMeeuwsen’scontribution

tothisvolume,p.240–251.16 VII.17 VII,2.4.18 WedonotknowwhetherMariatookthepracticeofmentalprayerdirectlyfromthewrit-

ingsofTeresaorwhetheritcametoherviaherspiritualenvironment.Cf.Merlier(1976)ch.IX=Petyt(1683)vol.1,12.:‘Onsen Lieven Heer gaf my van alsdan de gratie van het ver-standelijck Ghebedt, ende soo my nu dunckt, meer als verstandelijck Ghebedt, oock somtyts tot het overnatuerlijck Ghebedt, soo dat ick scheen opghetrocken te zijn in een groote aendachtigheyt ende verheventheyt des geests, ick en weet niet, hoe, oft waer, somtyts twee


InTeresa’sandMaria’sterminologymentalprayercanbenatural–thisrelatestothefirstmansionofThe Interior Castlewherethesoulisactivelyacquiringthehabitofprayer–anditcanbesupernatural–thisrelatestolatermansionsofThe Interior CastlewhereGodpoursprayerintothesoulwhilesheremainspassive. It was the sweetness of this passively received divine gift that theyounggirlwasoftenallowedtoenjoyforlengthyperiods.

Maria discovered another taste of this divine gift in her early twenties,shortlyafterleavingthecloisteroftheAugustiniannuns.Inthisperioduncer-taintyaboutherfuturetroubledherandnowsheexperiencedmentalprayerasaguidingpowerthatcouldbalanceherandorienthertowardsherintimatelifewithGoddespitemanyoutwardanxieties.Sheoftensatinachurchandgainedasenseofsecurity,assistanceandsupportduringmentalprayer.Sheclearlyunderstoodwhatshouldbethegoalofherlifeandwroteavividaccountofitforherspiritualfather,19buthedidnotrecognizeMaria’sinwardstate.NeitherdidMaria,forshedidnotyetunderstandthewritingsofTeresaofAvilatoowell.

In that prayer my Beloved gave me such clear insight into the kind ofprayerandinwardexercisethatIshouldpractiseandintothepaththathewantedmetotakethatIwroteawholepageaboutit.ButthecontentofthisinsightandinstructionwassoperfectandutterlypurethatIamatthismomentnotyetabletoexperienceitfully.TheBelovedinstilledinmethegoaltowhichhecalledme.ButIcouldn’tunderstandthecontentasIunderstanditnow.Ishallhavetoworkallthedaysofmylifetoprop-erly experience the instructions that my Beloved gave me inwardly onthatday.20

uren lanck gheduerende. Ick continueerde in dese soorte van Ghebedt soo langhen tydt sonder eenighe moeyte, oft aerbeyt, soo veel, als my ghedenckt met een soete, opvlammende liefde.’

19 ACarmelitefather,cousinofafriendofMariaPetyt,whosenamewedonotknow.Cf.Merlier(1976)ch.XXIII-XXIV=Petyt(1683)vol.1,31ff.

20 Het leven van Maria Petyt,ch.XXVI=Petyt(1683)vol.1,36.:‘Mijnen Beminden gaf my in dat Ghebedt soo klaer te kennen de maniere van Ghebedt, ende inwendighe oeffeninge, die ick moest houden, ende door wat wegh, dat hy my leyden wilde, dat ick’er wel een heel bladt papier vol van schreef; maer het inhout van dese kennisse ende inlichtinghe was van een soo groote volmaecktheyt,ende uytterste puerheyt, dat ick teghenwoordigh de selve noch niet volkomelijck beleeft en hebbe; den Beminden gaf my in, het eynde, daer hy my toe riep, maer ick en verstondt het inhout niet, ghelijck ick nu dat verstaen, want my dunckt, dat ick mijn leven daghen werckx ghenoegh hebben zal, om die leeringhe volmaecktelijck te beleven, die den Beminden my inwendigh alsdan heeft ghegheven.’

256 Hense

AlthoughMariahadexperiencedmentalprayerfromhertwelfthyearonwardsandsheenjoyedthesweetnessandstrengthofthatprayer,shedidnotfullyfathomitatthetime.Sheperceivedthebeneficialeffectsofmentalprayer,butdidnotreallygraspwhat itwasabout.Shemighthaveformedabetter ideasomemonthslater,whenshementionedTeresainherdiaryforthefirsttime.21TeresawasashiningexampletotheyoungwomanandMariawantedtothrowherselfstraightintothespiritualpaththatTeresahadtaken.Maybenowshestartedtocomprehendmentalprayerasapowerfulmeansforherspirituallife.

Duringtheyearsthatfollowedshegrewinmentalprayerand–asweshallsee–mighthaveexperienceditsfullnessinhertwilightyears,whenshewasconcernedabouttheFrenchking’swarinHolland.

AgainstthebackgroundofherownexperiencesofmentalprayeritisnotsurprisingthatMariafeltanintensespiritualkinshipwithTeresaandthatsheaddedTeresa’snametoherownwhenshetookvowsintheThirdOrderoftheCarmelites:thenceforthshecalledherselfMariaofSt.Teresa.

Levels of Mental Prayer in the Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War

Maria’s chronicle of 7 November 1672 speaks about the prayer of quiet thatMariaenjoyedwhenherinnerengagementwiththeFrenchkinghadbeengo-ingonfortwoyears.

For some days I was drawn to a profound and intimate quiet in theBelovedasasleepoflovewiththepassingofallthingsthatarenotHim,perceivingnothinginmeotherthanhispresence.22

Sheremainedforsomedaysinthisprayer,23heldindivinelove‘withanotice-ableandpleasantdarkeningofthelightandwiththeradianceofhisdivinity,a

21 Merlier (1976) ch. XXXVI = Petyt (1683) vol. 1, 49: ‘(…) my docht, dat in Godt my gheene dinghen onmoghelijck en waeren, ja oock niet moeyelijck, soo dat ick altemet hoorende spreken ofte lesen vande groote heyligheyt van de Heylighe TERESIA, seyde met onnoosel-heyt, ick hope oock Heyligh te worden, om dieswille dat ick in my soo stercken wille ghevoelde, om my ten uyttersten te laeten kosten, gheen moeyte, oft aerbeyt aensiende, om de deught te beherten, ende te vervolghen; t’saemen oock een hope op Godt, dat sijne gratie my noyt en soude ontbreken, ghelijckse aen de Heylighen noyt ontbroken en heeft.’.

22 30r.23 Cf.1Thess.5:17:‘(...)praycontinually’.Duringthisprolongedprayersheremainedableto

functioninallnecessaryactivities,asshesaidelsewhere(seee.g.35v).TeresawroteaboutthesameexperienceinVII,1.8.


lightthatbrightenedandpenetratedallthepowersofmysoul’.24DuringtheprayerofquietMariadidnoteliminateherpoliticalcommitment.Onthecon-trary, she found herself encouraged in her solidarity with the French king:‘Then again the spirit of prayer for the king of France penetrated me (...) Aspiritthatbegantoworkvividlyandpowerfullyinhisassistanceandsupport.’25

The prayer of quiet belongs to the fourth mansion of The Interior Castle, describedbyTeresaasfollows:‘Itisarecollectionthat(…)seemstometobesupernatural.(…)Theysaythatthesoulentersintoitselfand,atothertimes,thatitrisesaboveitself.’26

Teresaconsideredtheprayerofquiettobethebeginningofmysticalorsu-pernaturalprayer.At the threshold to thiskindofprayer thesoulno longerexertshumaneffortbutsurrendersherselftotallyintoGod’shands.

Whenhismajestydesirestheintellecttostopheoccupiesit(…)andgivesitalightsofarabovewhatwecanattainthatitremainsabsorbed.Then,withoutknowinghow,theintellectismuchbetterinstructedthanitwasthroughallthesoul’seffortsnottomakeuseofit.27

This means, asTeresa put it, that the soul no longer needs to construct the‘manyaqueducts’28toconnectwithGod,whoisherspiritualwellspring.IntheprayerofquietthewaterflowsreadilyfromGoddirectlyintothesoul.29Evenifthesoulwantstoremainactiveandwork,shecannot.

MariaPetytreferstothedivinespringmostexplicitlyin32r:

This prayer flowed very nobly and vigorously from God, like from hisspringwater,ororigin,andflowedbacktoGod,liketohisgoalwiththesame tranquillity, peace and intimacy and without the imagination ofanyothercorporeal thing,without formingwordsorsentences,distin-guishingnothingbutGod,towhomIlookedupandlovedwithaburningmindandwithburningdesiresofbeingheard.ThisburningmindandthesefierydesiresstoodasitwereopenbeforeGodwithaneffectiveandburningintercession.

24 30r.25 30r.26 IV,3.1–2.27 IV,3.6.28 IV,2.3.29 Cf.IV,3.8–9.

258 Hense

InMaria’scase,beingabsorbedintheprayerofquietwhileremainingengagedwith the French king implies that she saw her political commitment to theFrenchkingflowingdirectlyfromGodintohersoul–hersoulremainingqui-escent,receptivetothedivineinspiration.

Somemonthslater30Mariawentbeyondtheprayerofquiet.Shenowen-teredwhatTeresacalledtheprayerofunion.Thisprayeristypicalofthefifthmansion,characterizedbyTeresaasverydeep,soundspiritualsleep.

Thereisnoneedheretouseanytechniquetosuspendthemind,sinceallthefacultiesareasleepinthisstate–andtrulyasleep–tothethingsoftheworldandtoourselves.Asamatteroffact,duringthetimethattheunionlaststhesoulisleftasthoughwithoutitssenses,forithasnopowertothinkevenifitwantsto.Inloving,ifitdoeslove,itdoesn’tunderstandhoworwhatitisitlovesorwhatitwouldwant.Insum,itislikeonewhoineveryrespecthasdiedtotheworldsoasto livemorecompletely inGod.31

Duringtheshortperiodoftheprayerofunionthedevilcannotmisleadthesoulwithcorporealorimaginaryvisions.32Withoutseeinganythingwithei-therherbodilyeyesortheeyesofthesoulthepersonuniteswithGodsointi-matelythatshesensesthedivinepresencesimply inaso-calledintellectualvision.Followingthespiritualtradition,Teresaunderstoodintellectualvisiontobeapowerful,suresenseofconnectednessandonenesswithGod–afeelingthatcannotbedoubted.33InThe Interior Castlethisfeelingalreadyoccursinthefifthmansion,althoughTeresadoesnotdescribetheintellectualvisionun-tilthesixthmansion.

WhenMariaimmersedherselfintheprayerofunionherinnerengagementwiththeFrenchkingpersisted,althoughherenvironmentwascriticalofit.ButMaria feltserene,becausesheunderstoodherexperiencestoarise fromtheprayerofunion:

Myhumanspiritisnotdoingthisinme,butitistheSpiritofGodunitedwithmyspiritthatworksinmeandthroughmeandwithme.Thishap-pensata timeofverygreatquietandcalm,of intimateconnectionorunionofmyspiritwiththedivine,withoutwords,withoutthoughts,and

30 Cf.31r.Themanuscriptdoesnotgiveanexactdate.31 V,1.432 V,1.533 VI,8.2


almostwithoutanyimaginationofanycorporealthing.Thisdispositionistoonobleandtoointimatetoallowortolerateanyimaginativeorphys-icalrepresentationoftheimageofathingknownorrememberedinGod,asifintellectualvisionsorimages(asseemstome)arethehighest,whicharetoleratedthere,butifIwouldinterminglemyselfinit,nomatterhowmuchandnomatterwhere,thespiritwouldimmediatelyandcompletelyevaporateandwouldbeobscuredandIwouldreturntomynature.34

Thesewordsexplicitly indicatethattherecanbenodoubtaboutthedivinecharacterofherexperiencesandthattheyshouldbeunderstoodasmanifesta-tionsoftheprayerofunion.WhileabsorbedinthiskindofprayerMariafeltstrongdivinesupportforherinnersolidaritywiththeFrenchkingandshefeltsurethatGodwouldgranthimvictory‘evenifappearancesmightsuggestoth-erwise,aswhentwoorthreestrongarmiesofmightyandstalwartsoldiersex-periencedinwarweretoopposehim.’35

AccordingtoTeresathesoulshouldmergeherwillwiththewillofGoddur-ingthisstateofunionandshouldratetheconformitytoGod’swillfarmorehighlythantheecstaticfeelingscausedbythisunion.36Ecstaticfeelingsaretemporary,whiletheunionofthehumanandthedivinewillmaylastforever.ThusbyfocusingontheconformityofherwilltothewillofGodMariaempha-sizedthestabilityandreliabilityofherrelationshipwithGod.

TowhateverGodturns,tothatalsomysouloughttoturn.WhateverGodloves,thesoulalsohastolovethat,fromwhateverGodturnsaway,fromthat also the soul turns away, nor can the soul act in any other way,becauseGodpossessesit,movesit,leadsitandisunitedwithit,whereitisonebeing,oneworking,oneunderstandingandonewillingwithGod.37

HencethistrustworthyuniformityofGod’swillandMaria’sformsthebasisofherprayerfortheFrenchkingbutthisdoesnotmeanthateverythingremainsdelightful.AsTeresaindicatedinthesixthmansionofThe Interior Castle,theremightstillbealotofturmoilanddoubtevenafterexperiencingtheprayerofunion.Teresareferstosevereillnesswhichistobeanticipatedinthisperiod.Fromherownexperiencethisseemedagreater trial thanallotherexternaltribulationsthatshesuffered.

34 31r.35 31r.36 V,1.12;V,2.12;V,4.5.37 31v.

260 Hense

TheLordiswontalsotosendit(thesoul)theseverestillnesses.Thisisamuchgreatertrial,especiallywhenthepainsareacute.Forinsomeway,ifthesepainsaresevere,thetrialis,itseemstome,thegreatestonearth–Imeanthegreatestexteriortrial,howevermanytheotherpains.Isay‘ifthepainsaresevere’,becausetheythenafflictthesoulinteriorlyandexte-riorlyinsuchawaythatitdoesn’tknowwhattodowithitself.38

KnowingthatMariastructuredherchroniclesaccordingtothehigherman-sionsofThe Interior Castle,wearenotsurprisedtofindaparallelwiththisstateoftroubleandcorporealandinnerpaininMaria’sdiary.InthebeginningofJuly167339sheenteredaperiodofextremeenduranceofsomesortofacutepain.

Aftermyproposaltomakereparationforhimandeventosufferinfernalpenances, the Beloved used me until the 8th of July, according to allappearances,tomakereparationforthefaultsofthekingofFrance.Forsurethatwassomethingthatwasallowedtohappentomeinsomewaybyanunusualandbymenotyetenduredtorment,whichIhadtoundergoinmysoul,andwhichseemedtometobeaninfernalpunishment.Tomeitseemedthatundermyheartasitwereafirewasignited,throughwhichmyheartwastorturedandtormented.Besidesallof this, therewasallthat came to me through the senses, through hearing, through vision,touchandtaste.Alsothroughimaginationorothersensorypowers,allthesethings,thatIhadrejectedseemedtopressuponmyheart,totor-tureitinanineffablemanner.(...).SometimesbecauseoftheviolenceofthepunishmentsIwasas itwereoutsidemyselfandmyintellectwasdarkenedandinfactbecauseofthelonglastingdurationIsufferedlikeacriminal.Formypowerswere(strengthwas)consumedbythatverygreatsufferinginspiritandnature.(...).MostlyIremainedinaharassing(distressing)state,feelingparticu-larlymynaturalsuffering,whichcomesbackto lifeandevenseemstobecomemorevigorousthanever,especiallymakingmefeelas if IwasabouttocontractCholera.AndalthoughbyGod’sgraceIwillnotcatchthatdisease,itstillisaheavycrossformetofeelthesethingssoinsuchalifelikeway.40

38 VI,1.6.39 Theyearismissinginthemanuscript,butisprobably1673.40 34r.


AgainfollowingTeresa’sunderstandingoftheseexperiences,Mariainterpret-edcorporealandspiritualpainasdivinepunishmentforsin–inMaria’scasethesinsoftheFrenchking–andasapurificationofthesoul–inMaria’scaseinordertodeepenherhumility.41TeresaandMariabothmentionedthattheyfacedheavyoppositioninthatstateandthattheirenvironmentseemedtobeenragedwiththem.42Bothtalkaboutaperiodofreconsideringallearlierspir-itualexperiencesandbeingboileddowntonothingness.43

FinallythereisaresumptionoflovingunionwithGod.HereTeresaspokeaboutspiritualmarriage,astateinwhichthesoulconsidersGod’saffairstobeherownand‘thathewouldtakecareofwhatwashers’.44On30December1673Mariaagainreportedherexperienceofbeingdrawntoherbridegroomanddealingwithhisaffairsinthisstate:

IwasturnedordrawninwardinthatextraordinaryandverygreatunionwiththeDivinity,asIhadenjoyeditforoneyearoranother.Inthisunion,suddenlyIwassomewhatbroughtdownbyforceswithsomeperceptionofmyself,notinarude,butinaverysublime,spiritualandnobleway,inthequalityofaverytenderandlovingbride,whoispermittedorbetterwhoissobythedivinespirit,thatsheassociateswithherdivineBelovedconfidentlyandfamiliarly,andspeaksaboutthingsthatconcernHim.45

InMaria’scasetheaffairsofherbelovedconcernedtheblessingoftheFrenchkingandthestruggleagainsttheheretics,whetherProtestantsorJansenists.46InthisstateitseemedtoMariathatherbelovedunderstoodherwithoutanywordsandsheunderstoodhim:

Therethesouldoesnotspeakorbeg,nordoesitprayblandlyforforgive-ness, nor does it represent anything, nor does it commend somethingexpresslythatisfaraway,butitseesinGodasinamirrorthosethingsforwhichGodwantsittopray,justasifGodseesinmysoulthosethingsforwhich itbegsorwants tobeg,without thesoulproposingexpressly toHimwhatandhow.Everythingisincludedandimplicitorconcealed,and

41 34r.42 VI,1.3and34r.43 VI,1.11and34r-34v.44 VII,2.145 34v.46 35r.

262 Hense

comprehended in that divine look and in conformity with the love ofGod.47

Asistypicaloftheseventhmansion,Mariaassociatedthisprayerwithafreshaffirmationoftruth.

AtthesametimeIwasfullyassuredagainthatallthoseoperations,illu-minationsandwaysofprayingofthespiritetc,whichhavebeeninmefortwoyearsinrelationtothekingofFrance,alloccurredandhavebeenproduced in me by the divine spirit. For that truth I would have wellwantedtosustainasmanydeathsasIhavemembersinmybody.48

Thenumerousparallelswith the fourth toseventhmansionsofThe Interior CastleandtheLatinmanuscriptabouttheDutchWararereallyextraordinary.NotonlyarethesehigherlevelsofmentalprayerrepresentedinMaria’swrit-ings;shealsotakesoveraseriesofliterarymotifsfromThe Interior Castle,suchas the motif that it is God who wants the soul to write about her innerexperiences,49thatthesoulislikeasecondheavenforGod,50thateverythinghastobediscernedtimeandagain,51andthattherecanbenodoubtabouttheseinnerperceptions.52MariaevenexplicitlyreferredtoThe Interior CastletoindicatethatshefeltlikeTeresaaboutherintimatefriendshipwiththedi-vinemajestywhograntedhertherichnessofherinnerlife:

ThissweetmajestyIseeandcarryconstantlywithinmeeitherinprayerorelsewhere.Nothingcanpreventmefromperceivinghim:thatIcon-stantlycontemplatehimandlovinglyclingtohimandspeakandtalktohimconfidentiallyandasbetweenfriends,forthespiritthatisunboundandfreefromeverythingandfromallotherthingscanresideintheinte-rior castle of the soul: as if he is separated from other things that aremanifold..........corporealandsensualthings.53

All theseparallelswith The Interior Castle seemtobehighlypertinent foraproperunderstandingofMaria’sinnersolidaritywiththeFrenchking.Inother

47 35v.48 35r-35v.49 I,1.1;I,27;30r.50 VII,1.3;31v.51 IV,1.4;VI,2.6;VI,3.4;32v.52 V,1.9;VI,3.12;31r;33v;35r.53 30v.


words:Maria’spoliticalengagementwasauthorizedthroughthesupernaturalstagesofmentalprayerwhichsheexperienced.NaturallyshesidedwiththeSpanishking,asshesaid, ‘becausebynatureIammoreinclinedtohelpthekingofSpain,soastodesireanddemandtheprosperityofhisarms,becauseheisourkingandheisCatholic’.54ButinthewaragainstHollandshehad–inasupernaturalway–toidentifywiththeFrenchking,whomsheconsideredtooperatebydivinemandate.

Evaluation of Maria’s Visions and Experiences regarding the French King

Maria’schroniclesabouttheFrenchkingprobablystartedin1670,andbecamemoreextensivein1672atthebeginningofthewaragainstHolland.55Afterthatsheempathizedintenselywithhisupsanddownsduringthiswar,becauseshebelievedthatGodhimselfhadinitiatedherspiritualengagementwithhim.SotimeandagainshesawherselfalongsidetheFrenchking,blessinghim:

IperceivedthattheBelovedputmeonthesideofthisking,andthattheBelovedmademeinclinedtowardshim,asifIhadtocooperatewiththatking.Theblessing,which Ion theBeloved’sdemandhadgivenhim inadvance,Iagainbestowedonhimandhisarmywithpowerfulandvibrantlove.56

OftensheinwardlysawtheFrenchkingasthechildofGodandherownchild.SheevensawalltheFrenchsoldiersasherchildren,inneedofherprayerstostrengthenandanimatethem.

I have seen and understood that the king is loved by Jesus and by thesameloveheisalsolovedbyme...likeachildwhomJesusloves.SowhenIprayforhim,IsaytoJesus:“MyBeloved,helpyourchildandmine,withyour strength,wisdomand love.”And fromthere resultsa further lovewhichflowstoallhissubordinatesandsoldiers,asifallofthemweremychildren.57

54 30v.55 ThisistheearliestdatethatcanbefoundintheLatinmanuscriptabouttheDutchwar.

See38v.56 30r.Seealso35r,39r,47v,etc.57 30v.

264 Hense

ByconsideringpoliticalaffairswhileabsorbedinmentalprayerMariaclearlyshowedthatforherdivineloveisnotrestrictedtoinnerfeelingsbutmayhaveoutwardconsequences.Butwhatconsequencescouldacontemplativewomanlivinginstrictseclusionevoke?Mariathoughtthatherprayermighthavecon-sequencesfornothinglessthantheoutcomeoftheFrenchking’swaragainstHolland.Inthissenseherprayercouldbeseenasapoliticalact.

Maria’sprimarypoliticalobjectivewastheconversionofhereticsandthereunification of the Church. She thought that this could be accomplishedthroughthemilitaryinterventionoftheFrenchking.Inaccordancewithherpoliticalobjective,herevaluationofthepoliticalsituationandherdivinein-spirationMariasawanoutwardkeyrolefortheFrenchkinginthisbattleandaninwardkeyroleforherself(andsomeofhercompanions).

ClearlyIunderstoodthatGodwantedtogranthim[thekingofFrance]thosegracesandprovidehimthedivinehelpandbysuchprayerandnototherwisecooperatewiththeintentionofthekingandthatGodforthispurposetookandchosesomesmallandhumbleandatthesametimepureandsincerelyGod-lovingwomen,toprayforthem,andamongthesefewHisMajestyseemedtowanttousemeunworthyasIam.58

AlthoughtheFrenchkingwascriticizedbymanypeopleinMaria’senviron-mentbecauseofsomeofhispoliticalandstrategicactionswhichseemedtojeopardizechurchunity,Mariastuckbyhim.59Neithercouldhernaturalsoli-daritywiththeSpanishkingandthedemandsofhersuperiorstoprayforhimlureherawayfromtheFrenchcamp.60MariawassurethatitwasGod’swillthatsheshouldsympathizewithLouisXIV.She felt thatGodwantedher toexpressherloveforthiskingandtomakeiteffectivethroughprayer.ShedidnotevenrenouncetheFrenchkingbecauseofhismoralshortcomings.61Rath-ershewasreadytosuffervicariouslyforhimandherselfenduredivinepunish-mentforhissins.

WhydidMariaadoptthisattitude?InthemidstofalldilemmasMariaan-ticipatedthatchurchunitycouldbeaccomplishedonlythroughthevictoryoftheFrenchking.Itwasherlongingforthereunificationofthechurchthatin-spiredhertosidewiththeFrenchkingasthestrongestpartyinthiswar.How-ever, Maria must have felt some ambiguity about the French king, whose

58 41r.59 30r,30v,43r,43v.60 31r,32r,34v,43vetc.61 34r.


ambitionsdidnotreadilycoincidewithherlongings.Attimesshedissociatedherselffromthewar,butneverthelesssheremainedtrustfulthatGodwouldultimatelygivethedivineblessingindependentlyofthecourseofthebattles.Eventually Maria understood that it was enough to persevere in loving Godandallherfellows–Catholicorotherwise–andthateverythingelseshouldbelefttoGod.62

I gave place to the spirit of love, it began to operate very ingeniously,industriouslyandlovinglyinsuchasweetlyflowingway,asifIwaspos-sessedinsideandoutsidebyadivineinfluence.Allthatwasinsidemecooperatedwiththislove.Allpowersofthesoul,heartandmind,weresortofdissolved,wereopenedandbroughttofreedom,inawaythatIcannotexplain.63

Finally Maria’s real objective was to realize the divine goodness, kindness, compassion and love for all people. She was not exhilarated by a feeling ofconquest.Rathershewasseekingtoincorporateeverybodyintotheholycom-munityofthechurch.

Elisabeth Hense TO.Carm, Ph.D (2001), Radboud University Nijmegen (TheNetherlands), isAssistantProfessorofSpiritualityatthatuniversity.Shehaspublishedandeditedmanymonographs,translationsandarticlesonspiritual-ity, including Present-Day Spiritualities – Contrasts and Overlaps (Brill,2014)[email protected]

Bibliography

Deblaere, A. 1962. De mystieke schrijfster Maria Petyt. Gent: Koninklijke VlaamseAcademievoorTaal-enLetterkunde.

Kavanaugh,K.&Rodriguez,O.1980.The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila.Washington:WashingtonInstituteofCarmeliteStudies.

Merlier,J.R.A.ed.1976. Het Leven van Maria Petyt(1623–1677).Zutphen:Thieme&Cie.Petyt,Maria.1683/1684.Het leven vande weerdighe moeder Maria a S.ta Teresia, (alias)

Petyt, vanden derden reghel vande Orden der Broederen van Onse L. Vrouwe des berghs Carmeli, tot Mechelen overleden den 1. November 1677.4tt.in2voll.Ghent:gedrucktbijdehoirsvanJanvandenKerchove.(Vilvoordephotogr.reprinted[2002]).

62 44rand44v.63 44v.

266 Bos

Chapter10

The Prophetic Spirituality of Maria Petyt and the Latin Manuscript about the Dutch War

Anne-Marie Bos

Introduction

AsMichaelofSt.AugustinearrangedallMariaPetyt’stextsaccordingtotheircontent(autobiographicnotes,textsaboutJesus,aboutMary,abouttheEucha-rist,etc),inthismanuscripthecollectedthosetextsinwhichMariaPetyttreatstheFranco-Dutchwar.1Shewrotethesetextsduringthelastfiveyearsofherlife.

Whatstrikesmeinreadingthisparticularcollectionoftextsarethemanyassociationswithpropheticspirituality.SinceMariaPetytwasaCarmeliteTer-tiarywithaCarmelitespiritualdirector(Michael),itisunderstandablethattheprophetictraditionmightresonateinherwritings.TheCarmeliteOrderorigi-natedinthetraditionofmen(andwomen)whowishedtoleadalifelikethatofthebiblicalprophetElijah,thesolitaryonepar excellenceandtheprototypeofallhermits.ThefirstCarmelitesonMountCarmelwereeagertowalk,liter-ally,inthefootstepsofElijah.Fromthattimeon,ElijahhasbeenconsideredtobeatthecoreofCarmelitespirituality.2

InthisarticleIwillreadthetextsofMariaPetyt3inthemanuscriptfromthepropheticperspective.Whatcanthemanuscript inquestionteachusaboutthe prophetic dimension of Maria’s religious life? For the theoretical back-groundofprophetismIwilluse thebiblical studiesofKeesWaaijman4andIwilllookatitsdistinctivecharacteristics.Afirstcharacteristicoftheprophet-icdimension is that it is initiatedbytheWordofGod(The Beloved Speaks).Second, prophets see from the point of view of God’s future (Perceiving the Future).Third, in biblical tradition, prophets play a role with respect to

1 SeeGiovanniGrosso’scontributiontothisvolume,p.83ff.2 Seeforinstance:Boaga(1990).3 WejusthavetheLatinmanuscriptprovidedbyMichaelofSt.Augustine(anditsEnglish

translationbyVeronieMeeuwsen).UnfortunatelywedonothavetheoriginalDutchtextsofMariaPetyt.

4 Waaijman(1985)14–21;Waaijman(2002)196–200.

© Anne-MarieBos,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_012This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



267ThePropheticSpiritualityofMariaPetyt

kingship(Related to Kings).Fourth,thepropheticwordcanturnouttobeei-therpositiveornegative(Divine Judgement).Finally,biblicalprophetsviewedthemselvesasbelongingtoatradition(Prophetic Tradition).

The Beloved Speaks

The first text (in theoriginal sequence) recalls theoriginandcoreofMariaPetyt’spositioninrelationtotheFranco-DutchWar:

Onthe3rdofMay1672duringVesperstheBelovedseemedtoindicatetome,thattheKingofFrancedidapleasingthingtoHimbyinvadingHol-land,andHeevenpromisedhimthevictory.TheBelovedchargedmetohelphimbymyprayersandtobeinthatsenseasahelperandallyinhisarmy(38r).

ThetextstartswithadatejustafterthebeginningoftheFranco-DutchwarinApril1672.Mariarecallsthatitwasduringliturgy(vespers)thattheBeloved(Jesus,God)seemedtoindicatetoherthatHewaspleasedwiththeinvasionofHollandbythekingofFrance,andthatHepromisedherthatthiskingwouldtriumph. The Beloved entrusts Maria with the task of helping the king, bymeansofprayer.

Itistypicalforpropheticspirituality(asweexplicitlyfindinScripture),thatitresultsfromtheWordofGod.Godspeaksdirectlytotheprophet.Itis‘adia-logiceventofcontact’.5‘Thefirststepandalsothefinalsourceofapropheticact was a moment of deep personal contact with God’ (persönlicher Gott-ergriffenheit).6TheWordofGod‘happens’totheprophet,‘occurs’tohimandthishasanimmediateeffectonhim.

InthetextofMariaPetytthisdivineword(address)ispervasive.IfMariaPetythasapropheticgift(itistooearlytosayso,butifso)itoriginatesinhermysticalexperiences:shetastestheBeloved.Shehasnochoice,sincehermys-ticalexperiencescompelhertoactpersonally.AsJeremiahsaid:‘IfIsay,‘Iwillnot mention him, or speak any more in his name’, then within me there issomethinglikeaburningfireshutupinmybones;Iamwearywithholdingitin,andIcannot.’(Jer20:9).Thisisacorecharacterofprophecy.7

5 Waaijman(1985)15–16.6 Fohrer(1969)239.7 Waaijman(1985)16.

268 Bos

Intheintroductorylinesofthetext,citedabove,MariaPetyttestifiesthatshereceivesmessagesfrom‘theBeloved’.MariaPetytspeaksa lotabouttheBeloved. She explicitly mentions ‘Jesus my Beloved’ (32v) and the ‘BelovedGod’(31v),butinmostinstancessheusesthename‘theBeloved’withoutfur-therdesignations.Itdemonstratesthedivineunitythatsheperceives:theOneGod(Cf.John10:30:‘TheFatherandIareone.’).Also,bypersistentlyusingthename‘theBeloved’,MariaPetytaffirmsthatsheisrelationallyconnectedtothedivinereality,andthatthisrelationalconnectionisaconnectionoflove.Thisspecificname,‘theBeloved’(whichisawidelyusednameinmysticaltexts),revealsthatMariaPetythasbeentouchedbyGod,andthatherheartstringsaretugged.

Aswasmentionedabove,the‘dialogicaleventofcontact’betweenGodandtheprophetistheheartofprophecy.MariaPetytbeautifullydescribeshowshedesiresGodandthathersoulcannotdootherwise:

…andthesouldoesnotwantordesireanythinglessthanGod:towhat-everGodturns,tothatalsomysouloughttoturn.WhateverGodloves,thesoulalsohastolove,fromwhateverGodturnsaway,fromthatalsothesoulturnsaway,norcanthesoulactinanyotherway,becauseGodpossessesit,movesit,leadsitandisunitedwithit,whereitisonebeing,oneworking,oneunderstandingandonewillingwithGod.(31v)

MariaPetytperceivesacloseandopenconnectionbetweenhersoulandGod.ThesouldesirestobeguidedbyGod,tofollowGod.Itcannotdesire,turn,loveoractotherwise,becauseitisfullyunitedwithGodwhogovernsthesoul.Thisimmediate connection between God and the human soul is the source ofprophecy.AsthebiblicalprophetAmossays:‘Thelionhasroared;whowillnotfear?TheLordGodhasspoken;whocanbutprophesy?’(Am3:8).

HearingtheWordofGodisacombinationofbeingaddressedandhearingcontent.Aboutthefirstaspect,beingaddressed,MariaPetytshowsnodoubt.Shedescribesexactly thiscloseandopenconnectionbetweenGodandhersoul.Aboutthesecondaspect,thecontent,MariaPetytissomewhatreserved.ShetestifiesthattheBeloved‘seemedtoindicatetome’,andthatHe‘seemedtoshowme’.AlthoughMichaelofSt.Augustineismoreoutspokeninhiscom-ments(theheadings)aboutthetruthofherperceptions,Mariaoftenarticu-latesherownperceptionswithsomerestraint:‘Ifelt’,‘itseemed’,‘Iperceived’.Herwording,herstyleofwriting(asfaraswecanconcludefromthetransla-tions)showsthatsheisveryneartoherowninnerself:sheisawareofthefactthatsheinterpretsherperceptionsandsearchesforunderstanding.Remark-ablytransparent,shearticulatesthisrestraint.However,itdoesnotpreventher


fromactingaccordingtowhatsheperceivesandunderstands.Throughoutthetexts,moreandmoresheseemstotrustherperceptionsastrulythevisionoftheBeloved,especiallybecauseofitscontinuousconfirmationinherprayers.

Inthismanuscript,MariaPetytalsowritesaboutherreflectionsonhowsheshouldappreciatethemessagesaboutthewarthatpeoplebringher(41r).Shestruggleswiththefactthatherinnerperceptionsdonotcorrespondtowhatshehearsfromthepeople(30v).Thedifferencesbetweenthesemessagesandher own understanding cause her to have serious doubts about the truth.WhentheBelovedgivesher‘confirmationaboutthosethings’,alldoubtisgone(43v-44r).Lateron,however, (February, 1673),whenMariaPetyt receives re-portsaboutthesinsofthekingofFranceandmessagesthatheislosingthebattleinHolland,asareaction,shetriestoalienateherselffromthatkingandto reject as false all her former inner feelings in favour of him. However, inprayershereceivesnewclarityoftheBeloved,whichmakeshercertainoftheopposite stance and revives her zeal again (46v-47r). This critical reflection(whichisanaspectofdiscernment)8canneverbebroughttoanend.MariaPetytbeautifullyshowsthatthesecriticalreflectionsarefundamentallypartofthedivine-humanrelationalprocess:shekeepssearching,not-knowing,will-ingtohear,questioningherself,beinginsecure.Butalso,againandagain,Ma-ria Petyt discerns in favour of her inner knowledge – what she perceives ascoming from her Beloved. When ‘the Beloved speaks’, it overrules all othervoices.

Perceiving the Future

Intheopeningsentencesofthetext,citedabove,MariaPetytmentionsthattheBelovedhaspromisedthekingofFrancethevictory.Thismightbeaques-tionofforeseeing,thatofthevariouspossibleoutcomesofthepresentinva-sion, his victory is the one that is expected. About one year later, when thebattlescontinued–armyagainstarmy–MariaPetytperceives‘thattheFrenchinthatconflictbroughtbackthevictoryandthatthekingofFrancewouldoc-cupyHolland’(46r).Sheevaluatesitasapropheticvision:

Thisvisionofthisfutureevent,inGod,wassuchasitwasintheProphets,whentheyforesawsomefuturethings,likeoneyearagoorthereabout,as

8 Waaijman (2002) 492–500. See also Veronie Meeuwsen’s contribution to this volume.p.240ff.

270 Bos

if ithadbeendemonstratedandinsinuatedhowthefuturewouldbe...(46r).

Maria Petyt refers to a second prophetic characteristic: providence. Her de-scriptioncorrespondstoabroadunderstandingofwhatthispropheticgiftim-plies.However,astudyofbiblicalprophetismgivesanotherunderstandingofit.9Prophetssee fromthevantagepointofGod’s future.This is theworkofGod:theLordtearshisprophetawayfromthe‘now’andplaceshiminthefu-turefromthevantagepointofwhichtheprophetlooksbackatthepresent.‘Aprophetseesasalreadyhavinghappened(propheticperfect)aneventthatisamerepossibilityinthepresent.’10

WecanreadabeautifulexampleofthisbiblicalpropheticdimensionintheopeningpagesofMariaPetyt’stext(originalsequence).Thistextisfromthe4thofMay1672,justatthebeginningofthewar:

TheBeloved,commonlyandfamiliarlyspeakingandinteractingwithme,seemed among other things to show me his great joy, happiness andrejoicing,becausethetimehadalreadycomethatHollandwouldbecomeCatholic(38r).

Hereweseethepropheticperfect:‘thetimehadalreadycome’.Thisistheper-spectivethatMariaPetytwillkeepinmindduringthewarthathasjuststarted:thatitwillpleaseGodthattheDutchRepublichasbecomeRoman-CatholicinsteadofadheringtotheReformedChurch.Thisperspective isaffirmedinherprayersinwhichsheperceivesthewordoftheBeloved.Shecherishesthisperspective.TheoverwhelmingjoyoftheBelovedhasthrilledher.Shecannotletitgo;shehastoremainloyaltothisperspective,thispossiblefuture.Sheisseduced.

ThepropheticperspectiveMariaPetytperceivesguidesherandshecher-ishesit.However,shedoesnotpindowntheBelovedwithit!God’sfutureisstillopen.EvenwhenMariaPetytreceivesfromdifferentpeoplereportsthatareinfavourofthekingofFrance(newsthatwouldbeinagreementwithhercherishedperspective)shedoesnotfollowthosereportsbecausetheyarenotconfirmedforherinherprayerinthespirit(48r).

9 Waaijman(1985)16.10 Waaijman(1985)16.


Inhermysticalexperiences,thepropheticperspective–thatHollandwillbeCatholic–isnourished.11Thisperspectivederivesfromtheseexperiences,butitisinterestingthatitisalsoconnectedtothecontextoftheseexperiences:Catholic liturgy.MariaPetytoftentestifiesthattheBelovedspeakstoherorshowshersomethingduringliturgyorattimesthatareconnectedtoliturgy:‘beforeandafterholycommunion’(43r;47r;49r),afterholycommunion(42r;45v;49r), ‘whileIwenttoholycommunion’(35v),onorafter ‘thefeastof…’(39r–HolyTrinity;40v–BlessedSacrament;45v–St.LouisKingofFrance12;47r-v–PurificationoftheVirgin;49v–theHolyApostlesPeterandPaul;34v–HolyTrinity,Christmas,St.John13;37r–St.Louis), ‘sometimesinthepres-enceofthemostBlessedSacrament’(37r),and‘duringvespers’,or‘atthetimeof vespers’ (38r; 32r; 47r). From this perspective, it is no wonder that MariaPetytissozealousfortheprimacyoftheCatholicChurchabovetheReformedChurch:allhervisionsseemtobeconnectedwiththeliturgy,oftenconnectedto the Eucharist. Maria Petyt, who perceived in her inner self a close unionwithGod,wouldhavebeenaffectedemotionally,intellectually,andspirituallyby the suppression of the Catholic faith. Theologically, her main objectionagainsttheReformedtraditionisthatthey ‘destroythecertaingraceofGodandthesalvationofsomanysouls’(33v).Throughoutthetextthisseemstobeheronlyinterest,itplaysanactiveroleinherreflections.

Thepropheticperspective–perceivedfromthevantagepointofGod’sfu-ture–isindissolublyconnectedtoherownviewpoint.Thissolidconnectioncanbeexplainedasaresultofaprocessof‘transformation’.Inthemanuscript,Maria Petyt not only describes her experiences of being immediately ad-dressedbytheBeloved,shealsodescribeshowshereceivesandinterpretsthewords,images,visions,andthoughtsthatshereceivesinthiscontact.InhertextswecanreadinwhatwayherunderstandingofwhathappensinthewarisformedanddictatedbythiscontactwithherBeloved.Sheisawarethatsheisstandinginthemidstofatension.Shechoosesajourneyofresistanceagainstherprivatenature.Shecannotneglectthatthespiritguidesherintoanareathatshewouldneverhavechosenforherself.(30v-31r).

11 In1672,alsotheCatholicswholivedintheRepublic(about40%ofthepopulation)andtheCatholicsintheSouthernNetherlandshopedthattheRepublicwouldbecomeCatho-licagain.Somealsohadvisionsinthisdirection.See:Frijhoff(2002).

12 InWesternEurope,theFrenchking–morethanotheranointedkings–wasconsideredtorepresenttheBiblicalKings.See:Bloch(1973).ManykingsofFrancewerecalledLouis,buttheonlycanonisedkingwasLouisIX(1214–1270).

13 ProbablySaintJohntheApostleandEvangelistismeanthere.

272 Bos

MariaPetytexplicitlypresentsherexperiencesasaprocessoftransforma-tion:‘Ioughttodonothingbuttoremaininunionwiththedivinespiritandtoendurethatdivineoperation’(31r).Thisprocessoftransformationtakesplaceinherinnersoulandhasitseffectonheractions.

An example of this transformation is that Maria Petyt sees herself as amotherinthiswar:‘theBeloved(...)mademesotospeakitsmother’(32v;cf.39r;30r;30v;43r;49r).SheistransformedbytheBelovedwhoplantsinheralovingheart.MariaPetyttestifiesthatboththekingofFranceandthekingofSpain ‘weremysons’ (45v).This imageofherselfas theirmothershowsherexperienceofbeingindissolublyconnectedtobothofthem,withamotherlyheart.Forinstance,shefeelsthatshehastoaskforgivenessfortheoffensesoftheking,andthatshehastocompensatetheBeloved(hisfather)forhim:‘likeamotherusestopleadthecaseofhersonwiththeFather,andseekstorecon-cileherwrongdoingsonwiththeoffendedfather’(49r).Thinkingaboutbothkings,hermotherlyheartspeaks.Andhermotherlyfeelingsarenotrestrictedtothosekings;hermotherlyheartalsogoesouttotheFrenchsoldiersintheirbattleforthegloryofGodandtheconversionofthesoulsinHolland(32v).

Related to Kings

Inherprayers,MariaPetytisprimarilyconcernedwiththeleadersintheFran-co-Dutchwar(especiallywiththeCatholickings)andevenseesherselfasanallyinthearmy.Thisisalsooneofthecharacteristicsofpropheticspirituality,thattheyarerelatedtokings.14TheprophetsofIsraelconsistentlyplayedanaccompanyingrolewithrespecttokingship.InScripturewefindmanyexam-plesofcooperationbetweenkingsandprophets,butitcomestoaconflictbe-tweenthemwhenthekingbreakstherelationwithGod.15Notjustprophetism,alsokingshipisrootedinamysticaltransformationbyGod.16ThatisalsowhatMariaPetytrecognisesandappreciatesinthekingofFrance:

I was once moved by a very tender love and benevolence towards thisKing,becausehehadpresentedhis lifeandcrowntotheBelovedwithsuchzealtoleadHollandbacktotheCatholicfaith(45v).

14 Waaijman(2002)199.15 Waaijman(2002)199.16 Waaijman(1985)21.


Towardstheotherking,thekingofSpain,MariaPetytisprimarilycritical:Sheperceives that theBeloved isunhappyandangrywith thisking,becausehetoleratesandconcealsmanyseriousandweightysinsamonghispeople.Hefollowshishumanpassions,whileheneglectsdivinegrace.AccordingtoMariaPetyt,hewoulddowelltotaketheexampleofthekingofFrance(48v).

As ordered by the Beloved, Maria Petyt assists the king of France by herprayers.Repeatedly,shetestifiesthatherprayerhasgreateffects.Bythepowerofherprayer, ‘manygracesflowedtothatking’.Hereceives ‘divinehelpanddivinecooperationincarryingouthisplanandintention’(41r).ThepowerofprayeriswellknowninScripture.Asthe17thCenturyCarmeliteDanieloftheVirginMaryexplainsinKonste der Konsten:17

OurHolyFathertheProphetElijahwasamortalmansimilartous.Andhehasprayedthatitwouldnotrain(topunishthegreatandawfulsinsofthepeopleofIsrael)anditdidnotrainforthreeyearsandsixmonths.Thenheprayedagain,andheavenhasgivenrainandtheearthfruits.Byprayer, Joshuahashalted thesununtilhehadconqueredhisenemies.Isaiahhasturnedthesunbackwards.TheabovementionedprophetEli-jahraised–byprayer–achildfromdeath.ThesametheHolyApostlesdid,andmanyothers,who–bymeansoftheirprayer–raisedthedeadtolife,gavehealthtothesickanddidmanyothermiraculousworks.18

InherprayerMariaPetytsupportstheFrenchintheirattackagainsttheDutch.Forheritis‘nowonderthattheFrenchprevail,andhavesomuchvictoryinHolland!Godiswiththem’(44r).Thepowerofherprayer,itseffect,dependsonGod.ThatGodiswiththeFrench,MariaPetythasalsoseeninavision:

OnceIsawinthespirithowthespiritofGodwasbroughttorestoverthearmyoftheFrenchlikeoncethespiritofGodwasbroughttorestoverthewaters(44r).

This vision of Maria Petyt reminds me of the vision of the Carmelite sisterAnnaofSaintBartholomew.Shehadavisionwhenshewaspraying,andinherprayerrecommendedtoGodtheCarmelitefriarswhohadgatheredinapro-vincialchapter.Shedidthiswithspecialzeal.TheLordshowedher,soshetes-tifies, the monastery of the gathering, with above it a shining cloud. In themidstofthatcloud,sheperceived‘OurHolyFatherElijah’,whohadspreadhis

17 DanieloftheVirginMary(1669)3f.18 Cf.1Kings17:1;18:42;Josh10:12;Isa.13:10;1Kings17:20–22.

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Figure10.1 Abraham van Diepenbeeck, VisionofAnnaofSt.Bartholomew.


mantleovertheroomofthechapter‘likeafathercovershischildrenwiththeshadowofhismantleandtakescareofthem’.Afterthechapterthenewlycho-senprovincialstatedthat:

WhenwewentintochapteritseemedlikewewereallunitedwithGod.ThismadeusallhavethesameopinionandmadeusallinflamedbytheloveofGod.19

AdepictionofthisvisionismadebyacontemporaryofMariaPetyt,thewellknown artist Abraham van Diepenbeeck (1596 ’s-Hertogenbosch – 1675Antwerp).20Inaseriesof41copperengravingsofthelifeofElijah,VanDiepen-beeckalsomadeacopperengravingthatreferstothisvisionofBlessedAnna(Figure10.1).21InthefrontweseeSisterAnnafromtherear.Diepenbeeckletsusstandbehindherandtoseewhatshesees:ElijahspreadingouthismantleovertheCarmelitechapter.

Divine Judgement

Thefourthcharacteristicofpropheticspiritualitythatshedslightontheman-uscriptunderdiscussionisthatthepropheticwordcanturnouttobeeitherpositiveornegative.22ThewordoftheBelovedasMariaPetytperceivesitisprimarily positive for the king of France and his army, and negative for theSpaniardsand thearmyof theEmperor.Moreover, it isnegative for theRe-formedChurchofHolland.

InScripture,anegativepropheticwordisnourishedbytheconvictionthatonlythroughdestructionisanewbeginningpossible.ThismightexplainhowMariacanspeakabout‘moderatespillingofblood’(33v)andthatshecansay:

nowonderthattheBelovedallowsoursidetobedefeated!ForhowlongdoourpeopleclingtoandsupportthatimpiousnationanddrawdownuponthemandtheircountrythewrathandindignationofGod(37r).

NotwithoutreasonshereferstoScripture: ‘thatwhatourpeoplehavesowntheywillalsoharvest’(Gal6:7–8),and‘Godwhoknowstheheartsofall,will

19 AnneofSt.Bartholomew(1669)62–63.20 ZoegevonManteuffel(1913)243.21 DanieloftheVirginMary(1680)114.Cf.Kotschner(1985)76–77.22 Waaijman(2002)198.

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recompense according to the works of each one, and not according to thejudgementofmen’(Cf.Prov24:12;Luke16:15)(36v).Aswassaidbefore,itisaprocess of inner discernment that Maria Petyt is writing about. At one mo-ment,whenitseemstoherthatsheisaskedtocursetheSpanishsoldiersandthesoldiersoftheEmperor,sherejectsitasifitcomesfromanevilspirit.How-ever,thepressureshefeelsissevere.ThereforesheturnstowardsherBelovedandsays:

Beloved,ifyoucursethem,Ialsocursethem,butIask,thatthatcursingfallonlyovertheirbodiesandnotovertheirsouls(46r).

Atanothermomentsheprays likewise for thepeopleofHolland: ‘MayGodensurethattheirpunishmentwillonlybetemporalandthattheirsoulswillbesaved’ (37r).ToMariaPetyt thesenegativepropheticwordsareunavoidablestepsinthedirectionofGod’sfuture.

Prophetsarecountervoiceswhichcontinueto‘underminetheself-delusionof power’.23 Maria Petyt claims to see and understand what has real power.Forinstance,althoughtheunitybetweenHollandandtheSpaniardsseemstobestrong,MariaPetytunderstandsthatthisunitywillneverpersist:itis‘vain’,‘worthnothing’,‘fulloftricksanddeceptions’(33r).

Also,iftwoorthreestrongarmieswouldopposethekingofFrance,inhermindandheartthesearmiesare‘likeaswarmofflies’.ForwhensheconsidersthestrengthandpowerofGod(whoisinfavourofthekingofFrance),thosetwoorthreestrongarmiesappeartobewithoutanystrengthorcourage(31r).Inherfinalnotes(August1676)sherepeatsthisself-delusionofpowerwhenshestatesthat‘allthatmultitudeappearedtomeasamultitudeofweakflies,thatwouldsuccumbnomatterwhere.’(37v).

Abiblicalexampleofthisunderminingoftheself-delusionofpowerwecanfindinthestoryofElijahatMountCarmel(1Kings18:20–40).ElijahbattlesthepoweroftheprophetsofBaalandtheirinfluenceonthepeopleandkingAhab.Inthisbattle,theprophetsofBaalareexposedaspowerlessprophets.There-sultofthisunmaskingisthatElijahordersthattheyhavetobekilled(1Kings18:40).ThatisaverseinScripturethatmanypeoplestumbleover.

ItisinterestingtolookatadepictionofthisversemadebyAbrahamvanDiepenbeeck(Figure10.2).Althoughnotmanyartistshavetakenupthechal-lengeofpresentingthisverse,VanDiepenbeeckdid.24InthisrepresentationofthelifeofElijah,heshowshiminthemidstofthekilling.

23 Waaijman(2002)213.24 DanielaVirgineMaria(1680)70.Cf.Kotschner(1985)32–33.


Figure10.2 Abraham van Diepenbeeck, ThekillingoftheprophetsofBaal(1Kings18:40).

278 Bos

Looking at this specific engraving, our attention is immediately drawn tothe faces of the prophets of Baal who are lying on the ground.The pictureshowsswordsandlances,usedbymendressedinmilitaryuniforms.Weseetheintentiontokillandweseetheresults:woundedorunconsciousorper-hapsdeadpeople,facesgrimacedfrompainandterror,someseemtocallformercy.Remarkably,weseehardlyanyblood(thefigureinthefronthasaspray-ingshoulderwoundandonefigureshowsascratchedcheek).Atthecentre,weseetheprophetElijah,dressedinaCarmelitehabit.Hepointsatthesoldierinthefrontwhoissteppingonthefertility(thevitalparts)ofoneoftheprophetsofBaal.

ElijahseemstobestoictowardsthesufferingoftheprophetsofBaal.How-ever,whenwelookattheclose-up(Figure10.3),wecanseethatElijah’sfaceisnotstoical:hisupperlipislifted(insteadofaso-calledstiffupperlip)–Elijahshowsemotions.Alsohiseye-browsseemtofrown.

Elijah’sfaceissurroundedbytheaureole,withakindofemptyspaceinbe-tween.Lookingatthisface,theworldaroundthefaceseemstohavethesig-nificanceofavision–asymbolicrepresentation:Elijah–asinapropheticsight–looksatwhathappens:theprophetsofBaalarestrippedoftheirpower,oftheirfertility.Thisisanimageoftheself-delusionofpower.

OftentheWordofGodismostuncomfortable.Firstofallitisuncomfort-ablefortheprophetbutalsofortheaudienceoftheprophet.TheWordofGodconfrontsasinthewordsElijahspoketoKingAhab(1Kings17:1;18:18;21:17–26)confrontingthekingwithhisacts.ItisnotwithoutreasonthatElijahfledassoonashespoketoAhab(1Kings17:1–2),andthathemostlyremainsinsoli-tude, coming down, showing himself to the king, only as the word of Godspeakstohim.

Figure10.3 Abraham van Diepenbeeck, ThekillingoftheprophetsofBaal(1Kings18:40) – detail.

Figure10.3


AcleardifferencebetweenMariaPetytandthebiblicalprophetsseemstobethatMariadidnotspeakout.Unlikethebiblicalprophets,shedidnottellthepeoplewhatwaswrong.Thecore-businessofthislayCarmelite,whohaswithdrawnintoahermitage,isherprayer.Butisthisdifferencereallycrucial?Itdependsontheperceptionofprayer.ForMariaPetytherprayerwaswithoutanydoubtinfluencingandchangingtheworld(41r;30r;43v;etc.).

MariaPetyttestifiesthatsheneverreceivedadivinecommandtogophysi-callytotheking.Hercallistohelphimbyprayer(43r;cf38r).SheknowsthattheWordoftheBelovedthatsheperceiveswillnotbewelcomeinhercountry.Sheexplicitlyasksforthesewritingstobekeptsecretaslongasshelives.Theyweremeanttobeknowntoherspiritualfather(Michael)alone.Thereasonforitisthatshefearsatimeoftrialinwhichshecanbeattacked(30r).Herfearisnotwithoutreason.Shewritesandbaresherinnerthoughtsthatdonotcor-respondwiththethoughtofthattime.Onthecontrary,theyarecompletelyoppositethegeneralopinion.BywritingdowntheseinnerthoughtsabouttheinvasionofthekingofFrance,shemakesherselfvulnerable.Whatshereallyseemstofearisthatitmightinfluenceherinnerconversation:thespiritwouldbe‘obscured’(31r).

Prophetic Tradition

Wehaveconsideredthemanuscriptfromtheperspectiveoffouraspectsthatcharacterize prophetic spirituality: that prophecy originates in the Word ofGod,thattheprophetseesthingsfromthevantagepointofGod’sfuture,thattheprophetisconcernedwithkingsandthattheprophetannouncesadivinejudgement.

Myquestionwas:WhatcanthismanuscriptteachusaboutthepropheticdimensionofMaria’sreligiouslife?Themaincontribution,inmyopinion,isthatMariaPetyttriestodescribewhatisbehindthebiblicalexpression‘TheLordsaid’.InScripture,wehearverylittleabouttheprocessesofdiscernmentthatprophetshavetoendure.MariaPetytrepeatedlytriestoputwordsonit.InthisperspectiveitisinterestingthatMariaPetytalsorecapturesanexpressionthatisattheheartofElijah’sprophecy:standinginfrontoftheLord(1Kings17:1).MariaPetytexperiencesthisinherinnerself:

There the spirit sees his Beloved God as it were face to face, there hespeaks as it were with my mouth to His mouth, with my heart to Hisheart, there he is allowed as it were to rest and take refuge within theheartofGod,somethingdivinewhichthesoulcannotexplain(31v).

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ThemanuscriptshowsmoreremarkablesimilaritiestoElijah.Forinstanceheruseoftheword‘zeal’,recallingElijah’sfamouswords:‘Ihavebeenzealouswithmuchzeal for theLord’ (1Kings 19:10.14).Likewise,MariaPetyt findszeal inherselfandsheencouragesthekingsandtheirsoldiersalsotohavezealfortheCatholicfaith(38v).Anothersimilarityisthatshewritesthatherprayerisop-posedtotheprayerofalargenumberofpeople.MariaPetytisconvincedthatherprayerwillbemoreeffectivethantheirs,forthepowerofherprayerstemsfromherBeloved.ItremindsusofthestoryofElijahonMountCarmel,whenhewasaloneagainstfourhundredprophetsofBaalandthatonlyhisprayerwasanswered(43v).AlsoMariaPetyt’ssufferingofsadness,hostility,bitternessand darkness (34r) is known in the Elijan tradition (1 Kings 19:4.10). Finally,whenMariaPetytdescribeshowprayernourisheshermorethanasumptuousbanquetwould(47r),sheusesabiblicalimageofdivinefeeding.ItremindsusofElijah,whoreceivedasconeandajarofwaterthatgavehimtheremarkablestrengthtowalkforfortydaysandfortynights.(1Kings19:6–8).Theseassocia-tionsbetweenthestoryofElijahandthewritingsofMariaPetytrevealthatshemightwellhaveexperiencedherselfstandingintheprophetictradition.

WhatthismanuscriptcanteachusaboutpropheticspiritualityishowitisrootedintheinnerlifeinwhichGodspeaksandtransformstheprophettothecore.InScripturethefocusofthetextsseemstobeprimarilyrestrictedtothecontentoftheWordofGod.Mariagivesustheopportunitytohearexplicitlyabouttheinnerprocessesthatliebeneaththepropheticaction.

Dr Anne-Marie Bos O.Carm is a researcher at theTitus Brandsma Institute,Nijmegen.HerpublicationsincludeElijah looked and behold: Biblical Spiritual-ity in Pictures (Peeters,2012).

Bibliography

AnneofSt.Bartholomew.1669.Das Leben und Schriften der Lobwürdigen Mutter Annae à S. Bartholomaeo.Cologne:W.Friessem.

Boaga,E.1990.Nello spirito e nella virtù di Elia: Antologia di documenti e sussidi.Rome:CommissioneInternationaleCarmelitanaperlostudiodelCarismaeSpiritualità.

Bloch,M.1973.The royal touch: sacred monarchy and scrofula in England and France(transl.JohnEdward).London:Routledge&KeganPaul.

DanieloftheVirginMary(DanielaVirgineMaria).1669.Konste der konsten. Ghebedt. Oft Maniere om wel te bidden besonderlijck ghetrocken uyt de Schriften van de H.Moeder Teresa de Jesu.Antwerp:BydeweduwevanI.Cnobbaert.


———.1680.Speculum Carmelitanum, sive Historia Eleani Ordinis Fratrum Beatissimae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo.Antwerp: TypisMichaelisKnobbari,subsignoS.Petri.

Fohrer,G.1969.Geschichte der israelischen Religion.Berlin:WalterdeGruyter&Co.Frijhoff,W.2002.‘CatholicexpectationforthefutureatthetimeoftheDutchRepublic’,

in: idem. 2002. Embodied belief. Ten essays on religious culture in Dutch history.Hilversum:Verloren,153–179.

Kotschner,J.1985.Elija: von seinem Kult in Bild und Wort.Bamberg:J.KotschnerO.Carm.Waaijman,K.1985.De profeet Elia.Nijmegen:B.Gottmer.———.2002.Spirituality: Forms, Foundations, Methods.Leuven:Peeters.ZoegevonManteuffel,K.1913.Diepenbeeck,Abraham(Jansz.)van.Allgemeines Lexicon

der Bildende Künstler 9:243–45.Leipzig:VerlagvonE.A.Seemann.

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Epilogue

Joseph Chalmers

Thisbookisanexcellentcollectionofcontributionsonthelifeandexperienceof Maria Petyt and provides some fascinating new insights into this littleknown but important figure in Carmelite history and spirituality.The sevenspecialistsprovidemanynewdetailsaboutthelifeofMariaPetytandherspir-itual involvement in the Dutch War. The Latin manuscript of her writingswhichsheentrustedtothecareofherspiritualdirector,MichaelofSt.Augus-tine, is published for the first time along with a translation. Unfortunatelytherearesomemissingpartsandindecipherablewordsbutthesenseisclear.Other contributions describe some interesting parallels with and influencesonthelifeandwritingsofMariaPetyt.OveralloneisstruckbythenewlightshedonMariaPetytinthesedescriptionsandinterpretations.Itseemsworth-whiletohighlightsomeofthesenewelementsandtogiveanindicationre-gardingpossiblefurtherresearch.

Her Life and Her Prayer

MariaPetytisanimportantfigureinthehistoryofCarmelitespirituality.ShelivedaprofoundlifeofprayerasacommittedlaywomanandlayCarmelite.ShehadayearningforunionwithherBeloved(Jesus)fromanearlyageandtodedicateherselftohiminthereligiouslife,althoughitishearteningtonotethatshealsohadthenormalfeelingsofmostyoungwomen.Shecouldveryeasilyhavefollowedthepathtomarriageandfamilybutcircumstancesshapedthedirectionofherlife.AdiseaseoftheeyemeantthatshecouldnotcontinueintheabbeyofthecanonessesshehadenteredbutthisdisappointmentdidnotdeflectherfromherdedicationtoGod.Sheplacedherselfunderanun-knownCarmelitewhohadratherstrictviews.ThenMichaelofSt.Augustinecameonthesceneandheseemedtosuithermoreasherspiritbegantounfoldandsoarunderhisdirection.HerbodilymortificationsbegantotakeabackseatandwhatcametotheforewasherdesiretobeinunionwithGod.HerdevotiontoMary,themotherofJesus,wasprofound,andshesoughttoreflectinherownsoultheimageofOurLadybymeansofwhichmotherlyandcom-passionatequalitieswouldshineout.

© JosephChalmers,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_013This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



283Epilogue

MichaelofSt.Augustine,whoishimselfanimportantfigure,forhisinflu-enceonthespreadoftheCarmelite‘strictobservance’,whicheventuallyim-pactedthewholeOrderdowntomoderntimes,aswellashisunderstandingofthe‘mariaform’shapeoftheCarmelitelife,wasMariaPetyt’sspiritualdirectorformanyyears.Ithaslongbeenwonderedwhoinfluencedwhomandinwhatdirection.Thisbookpointsusinacertaindirectionalthoughmoreworkre-mains tobedone in thisarea.1 InEsthervandeVate’schapteronMichael’sredactionofthewritingsofMariaPetyt,shepointsoutthat‘thecurrentimageofMariaPetyt,fromthepointofviewofhistoriographyandspirituality,wouldhavebeenradicallydifferentwithouttheeditorialworkofherspiritualdirec-torMichaelofSt.Augustine’.

It is the hitherto undiscovered manuscript on the Dutch War which hascausedarevision inthe imageofMariaPetytandherrelationshipwithMi-chaelofSt.Augustine.WediscoverforthefirsttimeheroppositiontoJansen-ismandherpoliticalinvolvementthroughaprofoundprayerlife.WediscoveralsohersenseofherselfasaprophetandweseecertainareaswheresheandMichaelofSt.Augustinemaynothavebeenintotalagreement.Thereisampleroomforfurtherreflectionontherelationshipbetweenthetwoandhoweachimpactedtheother’srelationshipwithGod.Thisbookprovidesasolidbaseforfurtherreflection.

Mariaexperiencedgreatdarknessattimeswhenherspiritualexerciseslosttheirattractionandshefeltdrawntothe ‘Nothing’.Althoughthesametermcanbefoundincontemporarywritings,itseemsclearthatMariacarriedittoanother level, which had little to do with external penances but instead re-flectedaprofoundlovestorybetweenMariaandtheBeloved.Herexperienceof darkness, when better understood through more profound research, willhaveaneffectonsanjuaniststudiesinthatshebearswitnesstotheprofoundlypositive reasons for the dark night.2 She believed that the darkness of thenightwasanopportunitytopracticevirtue.Theexperience,thoughintenselypainful,waspositiveinthatitwassufferingborneforotherstoexpiatetheirsins.Theinfluenceofherexperienceofthenightonherconceptofthe‘Noth-ing’couldcontributegreatlytothestudyofthepositiveaspectsoftheexperi-enceofdarknessonthespiritualjourney.

ThesestudiesonMariaPetyt’slifeofprayerparticularlyduringtheDutchWarbringaboutashift inher imagealsoregardingtheinfluenceofwomenspiritualwritersandthinkersintheSouthernNetherlandsofthe17thcentury.

1 Cf.Possanzini(1998)158–170.Possanzinigivesagooddescriptionofthespiritualrelationshipbetweenthetwo.

2 Cf.Deblaere(1962)169ff.

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ThebiographicalarticlewrittenbyEsthervandeVate,whichfocusesonthelatterhalfofMariaPetyt’slife,givesalotofattentiontoherapostolicandvi-sionaryprayerwithinthecontextofthestrictobservanceoftheFlemishCar-meliteProvince.

Apreviewofalargerhistoricalstudyonarchivaldataconcerningthecom-munitylifeofMariaPetytisofferedbyMichelvanMeerbeeck.InhisarticleaboutdailylifeinMaria’shermitage,theCluyse,thereaderisinformedabouttheorderofthedayandthemainstructuresinthislittlecommunityoftertia-ries.Theauthorderiveshisinformationfromthehithertounknownordinanc-esandotherfinancialandnotarialsourceswhichaddnewknowledgetothestudyofthehistoricalbackgroundofher life.Thesedataarealsoimportantregardingthetensionsthatemergedwithinandaroundtheyoungcommunity.

The Manuscript

ThepostulatoroftheCarmeliteOrder,GiovanniGrosso,givesadetailedde-scriptionofthemanuscriptcalledVita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia Tertiariae ordinis Bmae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo,3which isofgreatvalueforthehistoricalresearchonthespiritualityandlifeofMariaPetyt.Thehistoryofthismanuscriptcouldprovideuswithimportantinformationaboutthe problems Michael of St. Augustine might have faced during the editingprocessofherwritings.Grossoconcludesthatfurtherresearchonthemanu-script, particularly when it is studied in conjunction or in parallel with theFlemish version, may offer interesting new information and useful clarifica-tionsregardingtheexperienceofMariaPetyt.

InEsthervandeVate’schapteraboutMichaelofSt.Augustine'seditingofthewritingsofMariaPetyt,shehasfoundsomeinterestingexternalreferencesinthecorrespondenceofMichaelofSt.Augustine,whichmadeherreconsiderhisrole.InresponsetothequestionsaboutwhytheLatinmanuscriptwasnev-er published and why the publication of the Dutch edition was delayed forseveralyears,somescenariosareoutlined.VandeVatealsoexaminedtowhatextent the Roman anti-mystical turn could have influenced the edition ofMaria’swritings.Sheconcludesthatinthe1680sthereceptionofMariaPetyt’sspirituality could have been far more sensitive than has been assumed tillnow.

3 Rome,Arch.Post.III.70.(CuriaGeneralizia,ViaGiovanniLanza138,00184Rome)

285Epilogue

The Dutch War

MariePetytexercisedaspiritualmotherhoodinregardtotheCarmelitesoftheBelgianProvinceandthenmorewidelyfor‘sinners’,especiallythoseinvolvedintheDutchwar,whoplaysuchaprominentpartinherownuneditedwrit-ings.Thisisacompletelynewelementinherspiritualphysiognomyandonethat isparticularlystudied inthisbook.AsVeronieMeeuwsenwrites inherchapter,thisnewlydiscoveredtext‘providesanopportunitytoscrutinizeherspiritualityanew’.WehavemadeabeginninginthisbookbutnodoubtfutureresearchersandauthorswillalsoreflectonMariaPetyt’spoliticalinvolvementandhowthisaffectedhermysticalrelationshipwithJesusorindeedhowtherelationshipshapedheroutlookonherworldanditsproblems.

Maria was convinced that God was directing her to side with the FrenchkingparticularlyinhiswarintheNetherlands.Shewasalsoparticularlycon-cernedwiththeproblemofJansenismanditseffectontheChurch.VeronieMeeuwsendescribestheprocessofdiscernmentofspiritsfollowedbyMariaPetyttodecidewhethersomeimpulsewasfromGodornot.MeeuwsenshowswhichcriteriaofdiscernmentareusedbyMariaPetytandthatalthoughMariahadgreatconfidenceinthedirectionofMichaelofSt.Augustine,whomshesawasarepresentativeofGod,shebelievedthatinthecaseoftheDutchwarshewasdirectedbytheBelovedhimself.

Maria’sroleintheDutchwarswastoprayfortheFrenchkingandhisarmies.ShebelievedthatheactedaccordingtoGod’swillandherwholefocuswastodoGod’swillinherownlife.InHollandtheProtestantshadtheupperhandand oppressed Catholics so she believed it was Louis XIV’s intention to winbackHollandforChristandhisChurch.ShealsosawJansenismasadangeroushereticalmovementthatwasthreateningtheCatholicChurchintheregion.She believed that the French king was opposed to the heretical ideas. TheSpanishkingwasalsoaCatholicand,accordingtoMaria,shouldhavebeenfightingonthesamesideasLouis.ShelookeduponbothkingsashersonsbutfavouredtheFrenchkingasshebelievedthathewasdoingGod’swill.ShewasawareoftheFrenchking’sscandalouslifeandsheaskedtotakehissinsuponherselfsothathemightfocusonaccomplishinghistaskgivenhimbyGod.

ObediencecametobeaproblemforherthoughshealwaysthoughthighlyofthisvirtuebutwhenherpoliticalleadersdemandedthatallreligiousintheareaprayforthesuccessoftheSpanishking,shecouldnotobeyforshewasconvinced that the French king was in the right. Furthermore she was con-vinced that all the prayers of the other religious would not prevail over herpoorprayerssinceGodclearlydesiredthevictoryoftheFrenchking.Sheevenclashedwithandrefusedto followherdirector,MichaelofSt.Augustine, to

286 Chalmers

whomshehadpledgedobedience,becauseshetrustedherowninnerexperi-ence.

Parallels and Influences

Esther van de Vate has an important chapter on the political and religiousbackdroptoMariaPetyt’slife.The17thcenturywasaveryviolentandunstabletimeinEurope.ThePeaceofWestphaliain1648,whichputanendtotheThir-tyYearsWar,unfortunatelydidnotensurepeaceforlong,andsowereadofthewarfareinthedocumentontheDutchWar.ThenewlydiscovereddocumentfromMariaPetytdoesshowhowherpersonalexperienceswereshapedbythelargerhistoricalcontext.

VandeVateteasesouttheimplicationsoftheprocessofconfessionalizationandtheimpactoftheCouncilofTrent,particularlyontheCarmeliteOrder.ThespiritualityoftheOrderhadaprofoundimpactonMaria’sspiritualdevel-opment.MariatoohadaprofoundimpactonthespiritualityoftheOrder,par-ticularlyonthedevelopmentofthereform“strictiorobservantia”.VandeVatealsoshowshowtheredemptiveprayerstyleofMariaPetytwasunderstandablegiventheCatholiccultureinwhichshehadbeenbroughtup.Shealsolivedduringtheanti-JanseniststruggleandshewasaffectedbytheJansenistviewofOurLadywhichsheconsideredtobeblasphemous.

ThechapterbyMirjamdeBaaronthecomparisonbetweenMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignonshowsMaria’stranslationofherinnerexperienceintoexternalactionwasnotcompletelysingular.DeBaarpointsoutthattheirlivesuntiladulthoodfollowedmoreorlessidenticalpathsalthoughBourignonend-edupbyleavingtheCatholicChurch.Itseemsthattheydidnotknoweachother,yettheywrotetheirspiritualautobiographiesatmuchthesametime,whiletheywerelivinginthesametown,Mechelen.

ItisclearthatTeresaofAvila,andparticularlythebookofherLife,whichwaswidelyavailabletoMariaandAntoinette,hadadirectinfluenceonPetytatleast,aswasshowninthestudiesofAlbertDeblaere,TeresaalsoseemstoinfluencethewritingofBourignon.AnotherinfluenceonbothisAugustine’sConfessions,whichdeBaarnotes‘isregardedasaparadigmforthegenreofconversionliteratureinwesternChristianity.’

BothMariaPetytandAntoinetteBourignonclaimeddivineinspirationfortheirwritings.However,womenwhoclaimedanysortofspiritualexperience,particularlyinthe17thcentury,weresubjecttomistrustandcontrolinamaledominatedculture.Theyhadtohaverecoursetocertain‘strategies’inordertobeacceptable.InthecaseofMariaPetyt,herworkswerepublishedposthu-

287Epilogue

mouslybyherspiritualdirector,MichaelofSt.Augustine.Indoingsoheeditedandcontextualizedthemanditisprincipallyduetothispresentationthatshehascomedowntousasamystic.Howeverthediscoveryofthehithertoun-knownmanuscriptshowsusanothersideofMariaPetyt.She,likeAntoinetteBourignon,understoodherselftobeaprophet,eventhoughshedidnotwantMichaeltopublishherpropheciesaslongasshewasliving.

DeBaarsuggestssomeinterestingdirectionsforafuturecomparativestudyof Maria Petyt and Antoinette Bourignon in regard to the cultural contextwhichnourishedtheirspiritualideasaswellastheideasthemselves.Despitethe fact thattheytookupopposingpositionsonthequestionof Jansenism,theydidhaveagreatdealincommon.Neverdotheyrefertoeachotherintheirknownwritingsbutitwouldbefascinatingtodiscoveriftheirpathscrossedatanypointorwhethertheyknewofeachother.

ElisabethHensepointsout inherchapteronthespiritualityofTeresaofAvilaandthemanuscriptofMariaPetytabouttheDutchWarthatthespiritu-alityofTeresa‘permeatesMariaPetyt’swritingstosuchanextentthatwecan-notfullyunderstandherautobiographyandletterswithoutknowingTeresa’smainworks.Teresa’slegacyseemstobethekeynotonlytoMaria’sDutchwrit-ingsbutalsototheLatinmanuscriptabouttheDutchWar.’

BasingherselfonThe Interior Castle,HenseshowsthatMariaPetytfilteredherexperiencesthroughthesamelevelsofmentalprayerasthoseexplainedbyTeresa.InfactitwasonlywhenMariastudiedthewritingsofTeresathatshebegantounderstandandhaveconfidenceinherownexperience.Fromtheageoftwelve,Maria‘enjoyedspendinghertimeabsorbedinGod’spresence’.Oftentheexperiencewouldlastfortwohourswithoutfatigueandfilledwithasweetlove.

MariafeltanintensekinshipwithTeresaofAvilaandtookhernameasherpatronesswhenshecommittedherselftotheThirdOrderoftheCarmelites.ElisabethHensetracesanumberofparallelsinthemanuscriptontheDutchWarwiththelatermansionsofThe Interior Castle.Amorelengthystudyofthisaspect is called for and I am sure would produce some fascinating findingsbothfortheunderstandingofMariaPetytaswellasforthereceptionandin-fluenceofTeresa’swritings.

Anne-Marie Bos examines the recently discovered manuscript of MariaPetytfromthepointofviewofthepropheticvocation.Sheassumesthatherformation in Carmelite spirituality, mediated by Michael of St. Augustine,sinceit is impregnatedwiththespiritoftheProphetElijah,hadaprofoundimpactonMaria’sself-understanding.Propheticprayerwasrootedinherinnerlifeand initiatedathoroughgoingtransformationprocess.ClearlyMariadidnotspeakoutpubliclyliketheprophetsofold.Insteadherprayerwasfocused

288 Chalmers

onthedesirethatGod’swillbeaccomplishedduringtheDutchWar.Sheclear-lybelievedthatherprayerwasinfluencingandchangingtheworld.

Future Directions

This book is a profound beginning of a study which will surely take us in anumberofdirectionsinthefuture.Thenewinformationgainedontheperson-alityandspirituallifeofMariaPetytishighlysignificantforunderstandingthisfigurewhoisgainingevermorerespectasanimportantexemplarofthespiritofCarmel.MariaPetyt’sexperiencehassomethingtosayaboutthehistoryoftheplaceofwomenintheChurchandtheirimpactonthemajorquestionsoftheirday.Herrelationship,ifany,withAntoinetteBourignon,andthespiritualcurrentsoftheirday,inparticularProtestantismandJansenism,needstobestudiedingreaterdepthandwouldsurelyproducesomeinterestingfindings.TheimpactoftheProphetElijahonCarmelitespiritualityinshapingitspro-pheticself-understandinghasbeentakenastepforwardbythediscoveryofthemanuscriptwhichrevealstheinvolvementofthisCarmelitewomaninthepoliticalaffairsofherday,evenifonlyfromafar,throughherprofoundprayer.Finally,aswecelebratethe500thanniversaryofTeresa’sbirth,wecanseeinthefigureofMariaPetytanotherexampleofhowtheCarmeliteOrderinallitsmanifestationstookintoitselftheteachingandexperienceofthesaint.

Fr. Joseph Chalmers, former Prior General of the Carmelite Order, has pub-lished7booksonScripturalthemesandprayer.Hehasalsotranslatedanum-ber of books on Carmelite spirituality. At present he is the Chief ExecutiveOfficerofSt.Luke Institute,aninternationaltreatmentCentreforpriestsandreligious,inMarylandUSA.

Bibliography

Deblaere,A.1962. De mystieke schrijfster Maria Petyt (1623–1677). Gent:SecretariederAcademie.(VlaamseAcademievoorTaal-enLetterkunde,6).

Possanzini,S.1998.La dottrina e la mistica mariana nel ven.Michele di S.Augustino, car-melitano. Roma:EdizioniCarmelitane.

Rome,Arch.Post.Ord.Carmelitarum,III,70: Vita Venerabilis Matris Mariae a Sta. Teresia Tertiariae ordinis Bmae Virginis Mariae de Monte Carmelo,fol.30r-49v.

289Index

Herpoel,S.73,73nHoffer,P.45nHofman,R.86,86n,92nHoornaert,P.10nHoppenbrouwers,V.23n,35n,41n,54,54n,

55n,88,88n,89,90,99nHoutman-Desmedt,H.24n

Janssens,P.252nJedin,H.29n

Kavanaugh,K.253nKlueting,E.84n,87Kotschner,J.275n,276nLehmann,H.7n,22nLesaffer,R.127nLima,G.R.41nLottin,A.31n,69n

Maland,D.246nMalena,A.104n,105n,110nMarnef,G.25n,29nMartinezCarretero,I.54nMeijer,M.74,75nMeerbeeck,M.van2,11n,13n,26n,33n,42n,

54n,71n,284Meulemeester,M.36nMeeuwsen,V.1,2,16n,26n,27n,76n,86,

86n,92n,139n,254n,266n,269n,285MelchioraSanctaMaria55nMerlier,J.R.A.68n,69n,70n,73n,78n,111n,

241n,242n,254n,255n,256nMommaers,P.13n,16n,30nMonteiro,M.18n,30n,32,32n,33n,34n,70nMonticone,A.96n,106nMottaNavarro,T.54n

Ockeley,J.44n

Pacho,E.104nPanzer,S.23n,31n,38n,39n,40n,54nPersoons,E.56n,58nPhilippen,L.J.M.31n,32n,36nPlattig,M.38n,39n

Index

Index

Modern Authors

Adriaensen,L.56nAerschot,S.31nAnderson,L.75,75nAxters,S.31n,37n

Baar,M.de2,16n,17n,36n,37n,56n,67n,71n,72n,73n,74n,76n,79n,286,287

Baers,J.241nBilinkoff,J.17n,18,18n,24n,29nBill-Mrziglod,M.30nBloch,M.271nBlommestijn,H.11n,12n,39nBoaga,E.39,54,266Bos,A.2,15n,139n,243n,287Bouchereaux,S.M.39nBronselaer,M.26n,59nBurke,P.17n,27n,37n,72,72nBurschel,P.23n,30n,40n

Ceyssens,L.27n,43,44,44n,58n,96n,99n,105n,106n,112n

Chalmers,J.2,121nChevallier,M.68nCloet,M.31n,32n,40nConrad,A.32n

Deblaere,A.1,11n,13n,15,15n,23n,24n,53,53n,54n,56n,58n,71n,72,72n,73,73n,78n,83,83n,92n,98n,104n,241n,252n,283n,286

Denzinger,H.43nDreiskämper,P.243nDudon,P.105n,106n

Fohrer,G.267nFrijhoff,W.29,29n,30n,271n

Grosso,G.2,7n,92n,113n,121n,252n,284

Haeghen,F.vander112nHarline,C.32nHense,E.1,2,17n,36n,37n,73n,84n,87,

127n,129n,235n,243n,287

© JosephChalmersetal.,2015 | doi10.1163/9789004291874_014This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial3.0Unported(CC-BY-NC3.0)License.



290 Index

Names and Personalities

Acarie,Berbe39nAlbertofAustria24,31Albizzi,Francesco96n,106,106nAlbroex,Jan56AnnaofSt.Bartholomew35n,273,274,275,

275nArentsz,Pieter68Augustine43n,69,74,246,286

Ballaert,Janvan,seeMichaelofSt.AugustineBeaucousin,Richard39nBegga36n,58n,59nBehourt,Peter38,39Bellarmine,Robert37,37nBell’Uomo,Gottardo105BenedictofCanfield9,71Berghes,Alphonsde44,44nBernardofClairvaux45,45nBerulle,Pierrede39nBlanzy,Thomas39nBois,Nicolausdu112nBona,Giovanni27,45,45nBonaventura107,107nBoonen,Jacob31,43nBorromeo,Carlo29,44nBossuet,Jaques-Bénigne27Bourignon,Antoinette2,56n,67,67n,68,

68n,69,69n,70,70n,71,72,73,74,75,76,76n,77,77n,78,286,287,288

Casanate,Girolamo105,105n,107nCarmelitefather,firstDirectorofMariaPetyt

9,71,255nCatharineofGenoa15nCatharineofSiena46CharlesII(SpanishKing)44n,113,114,114n,

128,129,129n,152,153,170,171,171n,182,183,183n,212,213,216,217,247,263,264,273,285

Charpentier,Louis38Clovis28Coriache,Aimé73,76Cort,Christiande56,72,76,77CountofMons166,167

Porteman,K.13n,30n,74,74nPossanzini,S.54n,88,88n,283nPut,E.31n

Quaghebeur,T.36n

Ranft,P.70nRapley,E.30nReinhard,W.23nRodriguez,O.253nRoeck,B.23nRoegiers,J.43nRooms,E.24n,25n,135n,243n,244nRoosbroeck,R.24n

Sainsaulieu,J.37n,55nSchulz,S.34nSmet,J.28n,33n,36n,38n,39n,40nSmits-Veldt,M.B.74nSonnino,P.25nSpiertz,M.G.42nStaring,A.7,33n,53,53n,58n,111,111nSteggink,O.23nStrasser,U.30n

Trepp,A.Ch.7n,22nTriest,M.31n,32n

Uyttenhove,L.13n

Valabek,R.54nVate,E.vande1,2,15n,16n,18n,27n,30n,

36n,42n,44n,67,85n,89n,121n,169n,253n,283,284,286

Velde,J.F.44nVenard,M.31nVroede,M.de32n,70,70n

Waaijman,K.266,266n,267n,269n,270n,272n,275n,276n

Watt,D.79nWeber,A.36n,75,75nWessels,G.41n,90nWijnhoven,D.55nWilson,P.22n

ZoegevonManteuffel,K.275n

291Index

JohnofSt.Samson28,28n,39,39nJohnoftheCross13,71,77

Kerckhove,JanVanden68

LéondeSt.Jean28LeopoldI(Emperor)35n,131n,152,153,153n,

160,161,214,215,216,217,221n,248,276Liebeke,Annavan55Linden,Mariavander36nLordLucas166,167LouisIX28,28n,163n,164,165,212,213,213n,

214,215,230,231,271LouisXIII24,28LouisXIV(FrenchKing)1,2,25,27,28,35n,

76,76n,94,94n,95,95n,96,96n,113,114,114n,120,121,122,123,123n,124,125,126,127,127n,128,129,130,131,134,135,136,137,138,140,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,154,155,160,161,162,163,163n,168,169,170,171,172,173,173n,174,175,176,177,178,179,182,183,183n,184,185,186,187,187n,188,189,190,191,192,193,194,195,196,197,198,199,200,201,202,203,204,205,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219,220,221,222,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230,231,232,233,234,235,236,237,238,239,240,243,244,245,245n,246,247,248,249,250,252,256,257,258,259,260,261,262,263,264,267,269,270,272,273,275,276,279,285

LutgardeofAywiers129n

Maracci,Louis106,106n,108MarcusàNativitate10nMariadeMedici28MarianaofAustria(SpanishQueenConsort)

143,143n,144,145,170,171,171nMariaTeresa(SpanishPrincess)25,243MarieBondel’Incarnation110MariusofSt.James112nMarkoftheResurrection90MarshalLuxembourg,seeMontmorency-

Bouteville,FrançoisHenrideMendezdeHaro,JuanDomingo(Countof

Monterrey)27n,150,151,151n,202,203,203n,217n,248

Menghini,Tommaso110

CountofMonterrey,seeMendezdeHaro,JuanDomingo

Damman,Petrus112nDanieloftheVirginMary10,33,33n,34n,

36,36n,40n,41n,55,55n,273,273n,275n,276n

d’Hondt,Livinus40Diepenbeeck,Abrahamvan275,276

ElectorofBrandenburg,seeFrederickWilliam

Elijah2,38,266,273,274,275,276,278,279,280,287,288

Emperor,seeLeopoldIEngrand,Françoise58,58nEuphrasia11,11n,57Euphrosyna11,11n,57

Favoriti,Agostino106nFerdinandofAustria24FrancisdeSales29,71FrancisXavier18,18nFrederickWilliam(ElectorofBrandenburg)

131n,221nFrenchKing,seeLouisXIV

GabrieloftheAnnunciation35,35nGeldolphus,Iosephus36nGertudeofHelfta46,206,207Gillemans,Ignace45n,76Gorcum,Ianvan37nGores,Anna46Graet,Maximiliaan26

Hadewijch77Hauchin,Johannes31,32HermanofSt.Norbert36,36nHooghe,Martinde40,40n

IgnatiusofLoyola29,241InnocentXI44n,106IsabellaofSpain24,31,40n

JacobofSt.Antony90JamesofthePassion41n,42n,55,112nJansen,Cornelius42,43n,246JohnofAustria152,153,153n,160,161

292 Index

SebastianofSt.Paul89Segneri,Paolo105SeraphinusofJesusandMary12n,44,54,89,

90,90n,93,93n,94n,96,96n,97,99,99n,100n,101,101n,102,102n,103n,106n,111,111n

SerracinoInglott,Pius83Silvio,Henry38,39SisterHannes59SisterMaria98,99,99n,100,100n,101,102,

102n,103,103nSistervanderPoorten46SixtusIV35nSoetems,Elisabethvan36Soreth,John34,41,41nSpanishKing,seeCharlesIISpanishPrincess,seeMariaTeresaSpanishQueenConsort,seeMarianaof

AustriaSpoelberch,Willem252nStracci,Theodore33,33n,40,40n

Tanara,SebastiaanAntonius101,101n,102,102n

TeresaofAvila2,17,18,23,29,35,36,36n,37,37n,38,39,39n,41,46,71,72,73,73n,74,75,78,107,107n,108,252,252n,254n,255,256,257,258,259,261,262,286,287,288

Thibault,Philip38,39,39nThomasàKempis9,71TimothyofthePresentation41n,58n,62nTriest,Antoon31,40n

Villiers,Cosmasde90,113nVincentiusoftheNativity112n

Widenfeldt,Adam45nWijmen,Leovan83WilliamIII(PrinceofOrange)135n,141n,

163n,244

MichaelofSt.Augustine(JanvanBallaert)2,8,9n,10,10n,11,12,12n,13,14n,15n,17n,23,27,27n,28,35,35n,41,41n,42,42n,43n,44,44n,54,54n,56n,57,58,58n,68,71,72,76,78,83,86,86n,87,88,89,90,90n,92,92n,93,93n,94,94n,95,96,96n,97,98,98n,99,99n,100,100n,101,101n,102,102n,103,103n,104,109,110,111,111n,112,112n,113,113n,116,119,169n,171n,173n,240,241,242,242n,244,248,249,250,266,266n,268,279,282,283,284,285,287

Molinos,Miguelde105Monsignani,Eliseo35nMonsignani,Angelo46Montmorency-Bouteville,FrançoisHenride

(MarshalLuxembourg)123n

Neri,Philip29Noels,Pierre76

Orsaghen,Catharinavan11,58,58n,59

Peeters,George55,55nPelagius76Petyt,MariapassimPhilipII24PhilipIV25PhilipoftheVisitation34nPiusV30Poelman,Adrianus112nPoiret,Pierre68,68nPotel,François40nPrince-BishopricofMünster243PrinceofOrange,seeWilliamIIIPuttemans,Anna36

Richelieu24,28Rieuwertsz,Jan68Ruusbroec77,39n

Sanderus,Antonius53,53n

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