The Benguin movement was closely tied to the Franciscan movement. The label referred to a religious group of women that were recognizable in that they wore dark cloaks with no shoes, and reportedly were often seen praying in a different posture than the other church members.  Marguerite Porete was a dedicated Benguin from Northern France… Continue reading →

The Beguines were lay religious women in the 12th and 13th centuries. They were devoted to living apostolic lives according to the scriptures, vowing to stay chaste and often live in voluntary poverty. The movement began in the Low Countries and quickly spread throughout Europe. Originally, like many of the heresies in the medieval period,… Continue reading →