The Community of St Anne’s visit to the Exhibition of Medieval Women.

The 10th of February several Sisters from the community of St Anne’s London had the opportunity to visit the British Library in London to admire the Exhibition of Medieval Women explained in their own words. Medieval women’s voices evoke a world in which they lived active and varied lives. Their testimonies speak of diver’s experience, revealing female impact and influence across private, public and spiritual realms, and bringing alive experiences that still resonate today. This exhibition focuses on Europe from roughly 1100 to 1500 a period in which these strong cultural interconnections across continents. While most medieval sources from the period were written by and about men, testimonies offer remarkable insight into their contributions to medieval social and economic life, culture and politics, their skilful management of households and convents, and the vibrancy of female religious culture.

Medieval women’s words illumine their everyday lives and personal worlds. Surviving voices offer glimpses into women’s family and domestic life, revealing the joys and friendship and motherhood, the complex management of households, property and the pleasure of falling in love. Their experiences also speak about the power of the female body, and the skills of medical Practitioners in society in which healthcare provision was generally informal and domestic.

 

Women’s testimonies reveal divers contributions to medieval economy, culture and politics. Medieval women carried out important work as labourers, businesswomen and artisans. As authors, they produced popular and influential works, poetry, philosophical and moral stories, history – writing and instructional manuals. Royal and aristocratic women often took on political roles, using their position to gain power in a male-dominated world.

 

Surviving accounts show that religion could be a significant source of power for medieval women. Some women dedicated their lives to God by joining a convent and becoming a nuns…, whilst others led a religious life in society. A number of women became renowned as influential religious leaders. Their words speak of the intensity of their devotion, their sophisticated spirituality, the skilful management of their convents, and the richness of female religious culture.

This exhibition enabled the Little Sisters to deepen their knowledge of the Medieval Women. The information was interesting and certainly increased our appreciation of many women who used their talents to help others to maintain a happy existence, living a life full of love and commitment.