Marguerite d'Oingt
Encyclopedia
Marguerite d'Oingt was a French
Carthusian
nun and celebrated mystic. She was also among the earliest identified women writers of France.
in Beaujolais
, who became extinct in 1382 for want of male heirs. She joined the Carthusian Order as a nun, and in 1288 became the fourth prioress of Poletains Charterhouse, near Mionnay
in the Dombes
, founded in 1238 by Marguerite de Bâgé for nuns who wished to live according to the custom of the Carthusians as far as was then thought possible for women. Marguerite d'Oingt was also a well-known mystic of her day, contemporary with Philippe le Bel and Pope Clement V
.
, Marguerite is one of the first women poetesses in France of whom any record survives. She habitually wrote in Latin
, of which her knowledge was comparable with that of the (male) clerics of the age. Her first work, in Latin, was Pagina meditationum ("Meditations") of 1286.
She also wrote two long texts in Franco-Provençal
, the first surviving works in that language: Li Via seiti Biatrix, virgina de Ornaciu, the vita
of Blessed Beatrice of Ornacieux, also a Carthusian nun; and Speculum ("The Mirror").
Pope Benedict XVI
discussed Marguerite's spirituality and quoted from her writings at the general audience of 3 November 2010.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
nun and celebrated mystic. She was also among the earliest identified women writers of France.
Life
Marguerite was born into the locally powerful family of the seigneurs of OingtOingt
Oingt is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-References:*...
in Beaujolais
Beaujolais
Beaujolais is a French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée wine generally made of the Gamay grape which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which make up only 1% of its production, are made mostly with Chardonnay grapes...
, who became extinct in 1382 for want of male heirs. She joined the Carthusian Order as a nun, and in 1288 became the fourth prioress of Poletains Charterhouse, near Mionnay
Mionnay
Mionnay is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.-Population:...
in the Dombes
Dombes
The Dombes is an area in South-Eastern France, once an independent municipality, formerly part of the province of Burgundy, and now a district comprised in the département of Ain, and bounded W. by the Saône River, by the Rhône, E. by the Ain and N...
, founded in 1238 by Marguerite de Bâgé for nuns who wished to live according to the custom of the Carthusians as far as was then thought possible for women. Marguerite d'Oingt was also a well-known mystic of her day, contemporary with Philippe le Bel and Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V
Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got was Pope from 1305 to his death...
.
Works
Along with Marie de FranceMarie de France
Marie de France was a medieval poet who was probably born in France and lived in England during the late 12th century. She lived and wrote at an undisclosed court, but was almost certainly at least known about at the royal court of King Henry II of England...
, Marguerite is one of the first women poetesses in France of whom any record survives. She habitually wrote in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, of which her knowledge was comparable with that of the (male) clerics of the age. Her first work, in Latin, was Pagina meditationum ("Meditations") of 1286.
She also wrote two long texts in Franco-Provençal
Franco-Provençal language
Franco-Provençal , Arpitan, or Romand is a Romance language with several distinct dialects that form a linguistic sub-group separate from Langue d'Oïl and Langue d'Oc. The name Franco-Provençal was given to the language by G.I...
, the first surviving works in that language: Li Via seiti Biatrix, virgina de Ornaciu, the vita
Vita
Vita or VITA may refer to:Things:*Vita , a brief biography, often that of a saint * Vita , a character in the anime series, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's* A curriculum vitae...
of Blessed Beatrice of Ornacieux, also a Carthusian nun; and Speculum ("The Mirror").
Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
discussed Marguerite's spirituality and quoted from her writings at the general audience of 3 November 2010.
Sources
- Bouvier, Abbé C. (ed.), 1982: La Bienheureuse Béatrix d'Ornacieux, religieuse de Parménie (2nd edn). Montsûrs: Résiac.
- Duraffour, A., Gardette, P. and Durdilly, P. (eds.), 1965: Les Œuvres de Marguerite d'Oingt. Paris, Les Belles Lettres. BNF : notice n° FRBNF33090080
- Guigue M.-C., 1908: Essai sur les causes de la dépopulation de la Dombes et l’origine de ses étangs. Lyon: H. Georg.
- Philipon, E. (ed.), 1877: Œuvres de Marguerite d’Oyngt, prieure de Poleteins, publiées d’après le manuscrit unique de la Bibliothèque de Grenoble with introduction by M.-C. Guigue. Lyon: N. Scheuring. BNF: notice no FRBNF31047406