Mechthild of Hackeborn: The Book of Special Grace

Mechthild's Book consists of visions and revelations about liturgical feasts, saints, and the Blessed Virgin, along with many other revelations experienced by the mystical nun as recounted to her sisters--especially her close friend, St. Gertrude the Great. These visions reveal the deeply communal, optimistic spirituality of the Helfta nuns, which revolved around their sacramental and liturgical life and asserted strong, durable bonds between the living and the dead. Because of the work's considerable length, this translation is selective, focusing especially on passages devoted to the Sacred Heart (the chief contribution of Helfta to the broader tradition of Catholic spirituality), the friendship of Mechthild and Gertrude, and the nature of life in community. Included are an introduction and notes. +