This study presents in English the rich monastic legacy of religious women by gathering the life stories of outstanding medieval women monastics. Written by 18 contemporary Benedictine women authors from 13 religious communities in the United States, England and Australia, this work tells of the surprisingly varied accomplishments of medieval foresisters. Originating with Scholastica of Nursia (6th century) and concluding with Gertrude More of Cambrai (17th century), this book present accounts of the multi-talented nuns and canonnesses who helped Christianize Europe across 12 centuries. The focus in this volume is primarily on the Anglo-Saxon, Austrian and Germanic monastic women. Each chapter provides a brief biographical interpretation of a particular woman monastic, a synopsis of her spirituality, and a summary of her significance for the contemporary Church, society and the world.
The women monastics include: St Scholastica of Nursia, St Hilda of Whitby, St Fredeswide of Oxford, St Erentrude of Nonnberg, St Walburga of Eichstett, St Leoba of Bischofsheim, St Thecla of Kitzingen, St Irmengard of Chiemsee, Hrotsvit of Ganderscheim, the Holy Hildegard of Bingen, St Elisabeth of Schnau, Herrad of Hohenbourg, St Lutgard of Aywires, Mechtild of Magdeburg, St Mechtild of Hackeborn, St Gertrud the Great of Helfta and Gertrude More of Cambrai.