IV. Guglielma and her Familiga: In response to the possibility of the Guglielmites “spiritual dreams” being crystalized into heresy through the inquisition, Barbara Newman writes:
But certain tenets and practices appear to have been shared by all: a reverence for Guglielma as a uniquely Spirit-filled person, even physical embodiment of the Spirit; an interest in gender complementarity; a belief in the priestly capabilities of women; an inclusive ecclesiology embracing the ultimate salvation of Jews, Saracens and pagans; a fascination with such “charismatic” phenomena as visions and prophecies; and vivid hopes for a utopian future.
The Guglielmites saw Guglielma as a charismatic holy woman who embodied personal characteristic that they …show more content…
As previously stated, Guglielma was able to attract followers to her side who were part of rival families and families that would continue to be rivals after her death. Yet, her followers set aside these differences and embraced each other as her children and came together as a familiga. This ability to unite families, heightened by their understanding of her as a healer and exceptional holy women, fostered a belief within Guglielma’s followers that they were interacting with the divine through a sort of imitatio Christi. Barbara Newman eloquently noted, “In an age aflame with the ideal of “apostolic” or “evangelical” life, Guglielma came to embody her followers’ desire, not only for a living saint, but for visible palpable witness to the Incarnation.” Indeed, Guglielma’s followers, enflamed with Joachite desires, saw in her someone who could unite the Church, a Church they saw as fractured and divided. Guglielma’s reputation as a healer, the healer of the ill and a healer of familial relationships imbued Guglielma, in the eyes of her followers, a particular holiness that turned their fantasies and desires into a possible reality. In fact, it was a reality that was not fully formed until the …show more content…
Guglielma was a holy woman, a charismatic teacher and healer who inspired deep devotion and loyalty in her followers. She did not believe that she was the Holy Spirit incarnate and lived the rest of her life in Milan. The Guglielmites, however, believed that she was the Holy Spirit incarnate. Or, at the very least, the very attributes that made her such a holy women manifested into a belief that she was someone special and in whose image the divisions of the Church could be healed. More importantly, the idea of the familiga that Guglielma wished to instill in her followers fostered, alongside her healing attributes and Joachite influence, fostered a belief that the holy women for whom they took their name could bring about salvation to Jews, Saracens and all those outside of the fold. These Guglielmite beliefs, whether real or fantasy, crystalized through the inquisition of 1300. In the end, three Guglielmites were handed over to the secular arm to be burnt as heretics. Guglielma’s body was exhumed and her bones were burnt to ash along with any and all relics, books and images the inquisitors could find that bared her image. This little episode of heresy was no
But certain tenets and practices appear to have been shared by all: a reverence for Guglielma as a uniquely Spirit-filled person, even physical embodiment of the Spirit; an interest in gender complementarity; a belief in the priestly capabilities of women; an inclusive ecclesiology embracing the ultimate salvation of Jews, Saracens and pagans; a fascination with such “charismatic” phenomena as visions and prophecies; and vivid hopes for a utopian future.
The Guglielmites saw Guglielma as a charismatic holy woman who embodied personal characteristic that they …show more content…
As previously stated, Guglielma was able to attract followers to her side who were part of rival families and families that would continue to be rivals after her death. Yet, her followers set aside these differences and embraced each other as her children and came together as a familiga. This ability to unite families, heightened by their understanding of her as a healer and exceptional holy women, fostered a belief within Guglielma’s followers that they were interacting with the divine through a sort of imitatio Christi. Barbara Newman eloquently noted, “In an age aflame with the ideal of “apostolic” or “evangelical” life, Guglielma came to embody her followers’ desire, not only for a living saint, but for visible palpable witness to the Incarnation.” Indeed, Guglielma’s followers, enflamed with Joachite desires, saw in her someone who could unite the Church, a Church they saw as fractured and divided. Guglielma’s reputation as a healer, the healer of the ill and a healer of familial relationships imbued Guglielma, in the eyes of her followers, a particular holiness that turned their fantasies and desires into a possible reality. In fact, it was a reality that was not fully formed until the …show more content…
Guglielma was a holy woman, a charismatic teacher and healer who inspired deep devotion and loyalty in her followers. She did not believe that she was the Holy Spirit incarnate and lived the rest of her life in Milan. The Guglielmites, however, believed that she was the Holy Spirit incarnate. Or, at the very least, the very attributes that made her such a holy women manifested into a belief that she was someone special and in whose image the divisions of the Church could be healed. More importantly, the idea of the familiga that Guglielma wished to instill in her followers fostered, alongside her healing attributes and Joachite influence, fostered a belief that the holy women for whom they took their name could bring about salvation to Jews, Saracens and all those outside of the fold. These Guglielmite beliefs, whether real or fantasy, crystalized through the inquisition of 1300. In the end, three Guglielmites were handed over to the secular arm to be burnt as heretics. Guglielma’s body was exhumed and her bones were burnt to ash along with any and all relics, books and images the inquisitors could find that bared her image. This little episode of heresy was no