- What are your first impressions of the Book of Margery Kempe
- Does it have any resonances with the spiritual journey as we understand it today?
- Who do you think ‘wrote’ her text and what does the nothing of authorship mean in this context?
- In what ways do you relate to Margery?
- To what extent has Margery’s account been altered by time and shaped by later significance?
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Online Book Group: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8)
SESSION RECORDINGS AVAILABLE
This book group has now concluded, but you can still watch the session recordings to read and reflect on the text in your own time.
Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8) describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed business woman and lustful young wife to devout and chaste pilgrim.
Kempe vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome, Jerusalem and Canterbury.
In her life and boisterous devotion, Kempe antagonized many of those around her; yet she garnered friends and supporters who helped record her experiences. Her book opens a window on to the medieval world, and provides a fascinating portrait of one woman’s life, aspirations, spiritual doubts, and prayers.
We joined Canon Emma online via Zoom, to reflect and discuss this extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother and mystic.
Together, over ten weeks, we read and discussed the complete text - focussing on specific chapters each week.
We have been reading the Oxford World’s Classic version, translated by the Birkbeck scholar Anthony Bale.
We hope you enjoy reading this engaging and colourful work by a forceful and deeply spiritual lady of the fourteenth century.
For future suggestions of spiritual books for the group to read please email Canon Emma at [email protected]
Each week Canon Emma began with a brief introduction followed by discussion and then concluding with prayer.
Week One - 10 September
Conversion of Life: Proem plus Chapters 1 - 9
Week Two - 17 September
A Visit to Canterbury and Julian of Norwich: Chapters 10 - 20
Week Three - 24 September
On pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Chapters 21 - 30
Week Four - 1 October
Margery in Rome: Chapters 31 - 40
Week Five - 8 October
Margery causes a stir: Chapters 41 - 50
Week Six - 22 October
Trials and Tribulations: Chapters 51 - 58
Week Seven - 5 November
The Gift of Tears and revelations: Chapters 59 - 69
Week Eight - 12 November
Margery’s Ministry of Prayer: Chapters 70 - 78
Week Nine - 19 November
Contemplating the Life of Christ: Chapters 79 - 89
Week Ten - 26 November
The Second Book: Chapters 1 - 10, plus Conclusion
Online Book Group: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8)
Session Recordings
These recordings include Canon Emma's introductions for each session, and 'questions to ponder'.
Questions to ponder on (Proem & Chapters 1-9):
Questions to ponder on (A Visit to Canterbury and Julian of Norwich: Chapters 10 - 20):
- What are your first impressions of chapters 10 to 19 of The Book of Margery Kempe?
- Why do you think Margery concentrates so much on telling us about her relationship with her husband?
- In what ways is Margery a prophet?
- How do you relate to Margery?
- What do you make of Margery’s conversations with Christ?
- Why do you think Margery needs to tell her story over and over again?
Questions to ponder on (On pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Chapters 21 - 30):
- How do you feel about Margery praying to be released from the responsibility of a child?
- What do you think Margery means by the term ‘feelings’?
- What do you make of Margery’s private means and independence in relation to today?
- Would have liked to have been a fellow traveller with Margery to Jerusalem?
- In what ways do you relate to Margery?
- Are the accounts of her travels real or fabricated?
Questions to ponder on (Margery in Rome: Chapters 31 - 40):
- What do you make of Margery's pilgrimage to Rome?
- Have you ever been on a pilgrimage, in what ways was it similar or different?
- Why do you think Margery is more concerned in telling us about the people she meets, rather than the pilgrimage sites?
- In what ways do you relate to Margery?
- How do you understand Margery's experience of her spiritual marriage'?
- Is Margery trying to be like Bridget?
Questions to ponder on (Margery causes a stir: Chapters 41 - 50):
- What do you make of Margery wearing white clothes?
- What strikes you about this section we have read this week?
- In what ways is Margery a holy person?
- Have you ever had spiritual doubts like Margery?
- What do you make of Margery asking for signs to reveal God’s will?
- What do you wear and how much do your clothes represent your inner life?
Questions to ponder on (Trials and Tribulations: Chapters 51 - 58):
- What do you make of Margery's trials and tribulations?
- In what ways could Margery be accused of being a Lollard?
- Why do you think Margery is so concerned with telling us about these incidents of trial and defense?
- To what extent do you relate to Margery's defense her faith?
- Have you ever had to defend yourself in such a situation?
- To what extent is Margery presenting herself as a Christ-like figure?
- What do these chapters reveal of life in the fifteenth century?
Questions to ponder on (The Gift of Tears and revelations: Chapters 59 - 69):
- What do you make of Margery’s weeping and sobbing, are they a gift from God or hysteria?
- Have you ever had a time when tears have been a part of your spiritual journey?
- Would Margery’s behaviour be tolerated today and if not, why?
- What do you make of the intercessory nature of Margery’s tears?
- In what ways does Margery’s story inspire you?
- What difference, if any, does a tradition in weeping make to our reading of this text?
- When are tears precious and a gift from God?
Questions to ponder on (Margery’s Ministry of Prayer: Chapters 70 - 78):
- What do you think Margery’s ministry is?
- How does Margery relate to other people and they to her, how has this changed through the book?
- What does Margery’s book tell us about what life was like in fifteenth century England?
- In what ways do you relate to Margery?
- How do you understand Margery’s intercessory role?
- If you were asked to articulate your ‘ministry or mission’ what would you say?
Questions to ponder on (Contemplating the Life of Christ: Chapters 79 - 89):
- What do you make of Margery's visions?
- To what extent are Margery's visions given, or based upon, devotional culture and practices of the time?
- What have you learnt about medieval life in this section?
- How do you meditate, and what does the role of the imagination have in your spiritual life?
Looking back on this first book of Margery Kempe:
- What have you most enjoyed?
- What has surprised you?
- What will live with you?
- What have you found difficult?
- What has it said to you about your spiritual life?
Reflect for a moment, about what it has been like reading a fourteenth-century text.
Questions to ponder on (The Second Book: Chapters 1 - 10, plus Conclusion):
- What do you make of Book II?
- What difference would it have made if Margery written her own book, and it not being written for her?
- Is Margery a mystic?
- How do you feel about Margery at the end of the book, do you think it is different to what you felt at the beginning?
- What do you admire about Margery and what annoys you?
Looking back on this book group:
- What have you enjoyed about it?
- What will live with you?
- How has it helped or hindered in your own spiritual life?
- What has surprised you?
What has it been like reading a 14th century text?
Online Book Group: The Book of Margery Kempe (c.1436-8)
Supporting Resource
Following on from the series 'Julian of Norwich: a medieval take on lockdown and how to survive it', Canon Emma Pennington released 6-part series 'The English Mystics: their relevance for us today' in June 2021.
This series focused on the unique group of devotional writers at the end of the fourteenth century called The English Mystics. Each wrote from a different background and perspective but all spoke to a burgeoning lay audience about the life of faith and prayer.
It outlined who they are as a group and what their individual lives and writings have to say to us today which can be surprising relevant and rewarding.
The English Mystics - Episode Five: Margery Kemp
Watch this episode from Canon Emma's 6-part series, released in June 2021
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