The Research On The Beguine Movement In Medieval Europe

The Beguine movement was a religious movement that was originated by the secular women in the Medieval Europe. It emerged at the end of 12th century and the early of 13th century , the pope Gregoryâ…¨'s allocution (A.D.1233) marked its rising, after 1310 Margret Porete document and the Council of Vienne (1311-1312) the Beguine movement received the suppression and persecution. However, the Beguine movement didn't decline rapidly. Its tenacious vitality lead to its continuous and prosperous expansion till the end of 14th century when the Church and secular society increased the suppression. After that, the Beguine movement declined gradually and ended basically in16th century.The Beguine movement swept almost the whole Europe mainland and its main influence territory was in western Europe. Its members desired to live in the life which is close to the apostolic life marked by poverty and chastity. They regarded poverty, chastity and offer as their philosophy, hoped through the momasticism of the self-torture, poverty, public service to carry forward the Christian spirit well. But they did not observe poverty, chastity, obedience as monastic vows; did not escape away the secular society, did not give up the social identity and status in secular society. Beguines'momasticism combined the religious life with secular life perfectly. This monastic pattern had semi-religious and semi-secular feature, which created another path for women in Middle Ages. It helped them express their religious sentiment and meet their wish to practice.The Beguine movement appeared with particular religious background and social environment. At first, the monastic pattern of Beguines met the needs of both the Church and secular society, so both the two sides agreed with the Beguine movement. However, with the development of the Beguine movement, when members of Beguine invaded the areas such as sermon and preaching, which was prohibited by the Church, which was reagared as challenge to the authority of the Church, the attitude of Church's on the Beguine movement shifted. Because Beguine movement involved with conflicts in the interior of the Church, the Beguine movement had gradually become the victim that the priest Group vented their dissatisfaction to the dervish Group, which was condemned strongly. In addition, secular society also questioned the Beguine movement because it provoked traditional social inherent position of women. Under the joint suppression of the Church and secular society, the Beguine movement gradually declined, and disappeared from the historical stage.