The Life Of Blessed Beatrice Of Nazareth

Little is known of the early life of the Flemish Cistercian nun, Blessed Beatrice of Nazareth. Beatrice of Nazareth was born in the year 1200 in the town of Tienen, Belgium (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.). She was the youngest of six children (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.). De Ganck (1991, xiii) concludes that Beatrice is of middle class, “well-to-do, but not wealthy as has sometimes been asserted.”

Beatrice’s spiritual life began very early in her life, just after her mother died. Her father sent her away in the nearby town of Zoutleeuw (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.). This community was populated by Beguines, members of a Dutch Catholic sisterhood. This meant that Beatrice grew up in a life of religion and prayer, as she was taken in by the community and loved the Beguines more than her parents (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.). It was at this stage of her life, she showed a desire to enter a monastery (Lindemann Ph.D n.d.).

Beatrice was then taken to a Cistercian monastery in Florival, and at the age of ten she became an oblate at the monastery (Straeten 2001). Beatrice grew up dedicated to a religious life and showed her faith in the Lord through little acts of service. She was sent to La Remee where she learnt how to write manuscripts, in particular choir books (Straeten 2001). It is through these actions, Blessed Beatrice wrote choir books for the use for the glory of God.

Beatrice met Ida of Nivelles at La Remee, a woman who assisted Beatrice in developing her own spiritual life (Straeten 2001). Around Christmas 1216, Ida announced she had received a message from the holy spirit that Beatrice would be lifted up by the Lord and chosen as his faithful spouse (Straeten 2001). However even though she waited, it didn’t happen. Instead it was later in January 1217 t...

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...e public their devotion to religion and Christianity (Budzinski et al n.d.). Knights would individually place engravings and pictured on the plate of armour as well as military tools (Budzinski et al n.d.). Stamps of religious icons would be held in helmets, shield and a horse’s saddle (Budzinski et al n.d.). These symbols would correspond with a particular reverence to a religion (Budzinski et al n.d.). These items stayed with the soldiers to revitalise the morals and confidence of the warrior’s military efforts (Budzinski et al n.d.). These symbols were also a physical reminder that God was consistently supporting their efforts, providing protection and reassuring a victory (Budzinski et al n.d.).

Religion was very influential for Knights in the Middle Ages. It was a source for hope, strength and survival and affected the way in which the Knights lived their lives.