We continue our march through the Saintly Sixteen this week as Lent Madness rolls on! In this round of Quirks and Quotes we'll continue to get to know our merry band of saintly souls in ever deeper ways. Don't forget, you can always return to the first round to refresh your memory of the basic bios by clicking the Bracket Tab.
Today it's Odo of Cluny taking on Mechtild of Magdeburg. To get here, Odo snuck past Theodore the Studite while Mechtild trounced Isaac the Syrian. Also, if you're in the market for a baby name, or need to suggest one to your daughter-in-law, we think "Odo" or "Mechtild" will soon wind up on the most popular list. Get ahead of the curve!
Whoever wins today will join Stephen and Florence Nightingale (who made it past Henry Beard Delany on Friday 53% to 47%) in the Elate Eight. Onward!
Odo of Cluny
Odo of Cluny, renowned for his reformation of the monasteries, was a man of deep prayer himself, and often spent days in dedicated prayer, especially at the Tomb of St. Martin. Like St. Francis, Golden Halo Winner in 2015, Odo encountered humans and animals intent on disrupting his prayer life. The animals proved much easier to deal with.
“From the sides of the road the foxes came out, at first following behind and watching him, and then throwing themselves in his way. But when they saw that they could not turn the eager youth from the straight path that he was pursuing, snarling and rushing at him with gaping mouths, they threatened to seize him by the throat. He neither fled nor resisted, but with legs together and shoulders hunched defended himself only with his shoulders and arms…[and] he guarded only his throat from their mortal wounds. Then suddenly a wolf came running swiftly and freed him from their attacks, and from thenceforth showed itself tame and acted as his companion.”
John of Salerno, the writer of this account argues if we find this difficult to believe, we should remember the life of St. Paul, whose grave was prepared by lions; blessed Ammon, whose monastic cell was guarded by dragons; or Florentius, who convinced a bear to guard his lambs. So Odo having a wolf as a prayer companion is not odd. At all.
During meals, the monks would read. When the reading ended, the meal was done and the monks were to resume their daily duties of prayer. Odo, after eating, would gather up the crumbs that had fallen from his plate, not wanting any food to be wasted. The abbot ended the reading with Odo holding a handful of crumbs. “He did not know what to do, for when the reading stopped he did not dare to death them, nor yet to leave them lest they should be lost. He therefore closed his hand on them thinking it would be best to keep them to offer to the abbot.” When they left their post-meal chapel, Odo prostrated himself at the abbot’s feet to offer the little pile of crumbs. But on opening his hand, Odo discovered the crumbs had transformed into a heap of pearls. The community was amazed and we read they immediately used the pearls to decorate a chalice.
Odo is also the inventor (or one of them) of attributing letters of the alphabet to musical notes. He’s also credited with identifying the note b-flat. Several hymns composed and attributed to Odo survive. A visitor to Cluny heralded the monks as a choir whose chants were dazzling prayers for the salvation of all souls. One of his hymns, composed for the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene, captures the dazzling love of an encounter with Christ:
She sees Jesus rising
victorious from the grave
and earns that first joy
-- Laurie Brock
Mechtild of Magdeburg
Mechthild of Magdeburg received her first Holy Spirit vision at the age of twelve. Was this a quirk or something normal in the thirteenth century? It’s hard to know and evidence of other quirky behaviors is long lost to history.
As an educated young woman she shared her visions through her writings:
“The love of God has moved my pen,
My book is not from the mind of men.”
She wrote on loose pages she believed were a gift from God. Friar Henry of Halle collected her writings dividing them into a series of books called The Flowing Light of the Godhead.
As her works were collected she said, “I was warned by some that my book might give much offence, and that it would be burnt as evil teaching. And I turned to my Beloved, as was my wont, and said to Him that if it were so, He had Himself misled me, for it was He who commanded me to write it. Then did He reveal Himself to my sorrowful heart, as if He held the book in His right hand, and said, ‘My beloved one, do not be sorrowful. The truth can be burnt by no man. He who would take it out of My Hand must be stronger than I.”
Mechthilde wrote in flowery Middle Low German; unusual since most wisdom literature during this period was written in Latin. She noted “of Latin I know nothing… And now, Lord, I will commend these writings to Thy tender mercy; and with a heart that sighs, and with eyes that weep, and with a downcast spirit, I pray that they never may be read by a Pharisee, and I pray also that Thy children may so receive them into their hearts, as Thou, O Lord, hast of Thy truth given out of Thy store to me.”
Like most members of the Beguine community where she lived, her time was spent tending those in need. She wrote of caring for the sick “to comfort them with the lovely words of God, and to refresh them also in a gentle way with earthly things, for God is very rich. It is needful also to bestow much care on the cleanliness of the sick-room, and it is a good thing to be merry and to laugh with them, but in a godly manner.”
While she was dedicated to serving others, her most joyful time was spent in prayer, “Prayer has a marvelous power, it makes the bitter heart sweet, and the sorrowful heart glad, and the poor rich, and the foolish wise, and the fearful bold, and the sick strong, and the blind to see, and the cold to burn.”
[poll id="189"]
Mechtild of Magdeburg—Unknown Artist, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
170 comments on “Odo of Cluny vs. Mechtild of Magdeburg”
The wolf theme would make great coffee cup kitsch.
My father-in-law is suffering from Alzheimer's. He does not know who his sons are, let alone who I am. But one of his caregivers could get him to laugh and even dance, and we catch a glimpse of the Dad we knew before. Mechthild, for such care of the sick.
Very amazing to bring the "light". To one such as your father-in-law. These individuals seem to be locked in dark cells and cannot reach out from that place as their communication tools have left them. They are not, however, as one might think, actually separated, but the experience of the isolation is what is devastating to their confidence and self perception, most of what comes from the externally imposed reactions of "normal" folks. Have faith, continue to build up their self perception, let them know you know that they are still, inwardly, cognitive, emotional, and loving beings.
Here, here!
That was very touching, Ruth. God bless your father-in-law, his sons, and you. And the caregiver who brought you a glimpse of the Dad you knew before.
Tough choice! After much consideration, I went with Mechthild. The b-flat was attractive, but the poetry composed for the sick won me over.
As a Pentecostal, Mechtild had me at "received her first Holy Spirit vision at age 12"!
love those mystics, as well as the pentecostal /charismatic brethern amongst us to keep the mystery and mystical alive and well.
I voted for Mechtild of Magdeburg. It seems that saints are creatures of God in whom the miraculous forms a core of their living and perceptions. Odo seems much more like a normal human. All this talk about foxes attacking him, foxes are, well foxy, not vicious creatures and do not normally run in packs. He is more of a human struggler with questioning, helped by the spirit and his intellectual capabilities to do what is expected of the gifted. Mechtild, however, saw this inner light and lived, much as though she were blind even before her blindness. I want to read her stories now. Odo lived his life, had his effect, which is appreciated.
Peg, I love Chants with Wolves! And I enjoyed singing Diana's words out loud to one of my favorite hymn tunes, Leoni. I'm impressed with this community's wit and creativity. But that hasn't made the choice easier. I still can't decide between the animal lover who gave us musical notation and the woman who brought laughter and cleanliness into the sickroom.
How do a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington know who is "worthy of care?" Along with Sofie I voted for Odo, the reformer, musician, and lover of animals.
The bread crumb story is also included in Legenda Monastica - not sure it has anything to do with Odo, but voted for him anyway.
That story immediately brought to my mind the line "...we are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table..." so my vote today is for Odo.
Spirit animal vs mystic visions. Doesn't seem much difference exists. And for those who wonder what we would do without B-flat, we would still have A-sharp, as my limited musical vocabulary tells it.
Musician/reformer vs. writer/nurse/mystic
with enormous gratitude for both
I vote for Mechtild
Well, I'm going with Odo this time. I'd forgotten about his wolf... and then B-flat and this lovely lyric:
She sees Jesus rising
victorious from the grave
and earns that first joy
Shocked to see this huge lead by Mechtild. She didn't turn bread into pearls. Don't get her at all.
I'm dealing with a 14 pound terror of a dog who in recent times, probably because of surgery, pursues , snarls and rushes at me for reasons of his own. Working at getting him to return to his "friendly wolf" stage. So it was Odo for me today--that and the b-flat thing.
I guess I was mistaken when I wrote earlier that Odo's miracle stories would turn people off. Even though he's losing, people love the fox/wolf story!
Mechtild seems like a great gal. Odo - awesome that he discovered? Invented? B flat. It's hard to weigh the magical stories that accompany the medieval saints. Monastic reformer or prolific writer, visionary, pioneering female scholar?
I voted Mechtild.
Voted Vernacular writing so Mechtild.
This was a particularly tough one for me as both seem so very worthy.
Was going to vote for Odo for Trekkies-Deep Space 9 character, but since I prayed so much yesterday, the Comment on Prayer swings it in Mechtild's favor.
Yes, Joanne, I've been waiting for someone to make the connection with Odo of DSN! That Odo was the spiritual center of the series, wonderful character played by master actor Rene Auberjonois. I've often wondered if the series ' writers knew of Odo of Cluny. Happy Lent Madness...
Saint Mechtild all the way!
Friend of a domesticated wolf (aka dog), not a waster of food (whose hands are oyster-like), and singer and composer of monastic chants - Odo has my vote today!
Maechtild is a solid contender, though, and I'll be happy to vote for her in future rounds if she wins..
I'm aware that I often vote as much for the celebrity bloggers as I do for the saints themselves. Both Beth and Laurie did a great job today.
Odo of Cluny for his generosity to the poor, his humility, and his courage.
Generosity: Even though his monastery was poor, Odo gave money to all beggars. When a poor person gave the monastery a gift, Odo would insist on paying the donor for the gift, and his payment would be more than the gift's worth.
Humility and courage: Whenever another monk would accuse Odo of a fault -- which apparently happened pretty often since many of his fellow monks were jealous of him -- Odo would throw himself at his accuser's feet and beg forgiveness. One time Odo's abbot became angry at him for bringing to the monastery a young noblewoman who wanted to become a nun rather than get married (her father's wish). Odo's reply to the abbot (thanks, Wikipedia): "Oh lord and father, ever from the moment that thou didst deign to receive me, a sinner, I have seen that thy sole care was the saving of souls. Other abbots may study to gain materials things and please men. Thou, relying on mercy and virtue, seek'st through the salvation of souls to please God alone. I wished to follow thy example in saving this virgin to the glory of thy name. For although in the end her tears overcame me, yet I was not unmindful of thy reproach, but I had rather suffer the flagellation of my holy father than be held guilty for her soul. And would that I could free all the women bound in the chains of the flesh who live in this province, and thou flagellate me for each in thy pious manner."
Odo, because who doesn't want a wolf for a prayer partner? But it wasn't an easy choice.
I strongly suspect the "Pharisees" she refers to would be church authorities whose behaviour she calls out in other of her writings and with whom she could be described as having an uneasy relationship. The church of the time claimed the exclusive right to interpret Scripture and it was especially forbidden for women to exercise any sort of general preaching or teaching ministry. Some like Mechtild got away with it by having their writings vetted by a sympathetic male authority and/or by associating with cloistered orders so the church could keep an eye on them. I love her story and her willingness to call it as she sees it, from the love of God to rascally human behaviour.
But gosh, Laurie Brock. Swarming foxes and bread pearls. You're making this a hard choice!
Had to go with Odo, not because I am a devout Deep Space Nine Fan, but because he named the B flat.
B Flat is the key that most bagpipes play in!
Ooo I'm happy Mechtild won! My daughter-in-law did recently give birth to a beautiful little girl, but I discovered St. Mechtild too late for her to give the child that name; I know she would have jumped at the chance to do so! I was charmed by Odo's crumb tale, tempted to vote for him although I sispected tales about him just might be a bit of baloney, but Mechtild was a writer as I am, and she worked with the sick, and I was a health care worker for years; not on the scale of excellence she was of course, but I truly feel a bond with her. On ward Mechtild!
Begin the Beguine! I am hopeful to see that music show up in the kitsch round. Prayer seems to be the commonality for both saints today (indeed, all the saints). Mechtild would appeal to Virginia Woolf, as she seems to be an early-ish example of a woman who found a room of her own, and paper to write on. I can understand the glee of believing sheets of paper were gifts from God. I hate to turn away from Odo's little foxes, which remind me of the Song of Songs. Those little foxes get around! but they seem to make spiritual experiences better. Though Mechtild has no little foxes, she still manages, like Rumi, to get to the Beloved. She wrote in the vernacular, and she had concern and compassion for the sick. I wish I could turn bread crumbs into pearls, but so far I lack that gift. I cannot see myself offering bread crumbs to the abbot, but I can see myself happily and faithfully writing every day and growing in spiritual grace and strength through that practice. She was an educated woman, something to celebrate. And the quill and ink well amid the medieval wall tapestries are pretty cool.
If anyone wants to see Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell dance to "Begin the Beguine," here is the YouTube url. Alas, I cannot figure out how to embed the video directly into the textbox, though I have seen that done. Nothing says "Lent" like tap dancing en manège:
https://youtu.be/nZPndC-F5SE
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37XhIuqsWVk&w=560&h=315%5D
Sorry, everybody. I was trying to embed the video.
This is getting harder and harder,as it does every year. Both deserve to move forward to the Eight!! Still contemplating my vote because I have been singing in a choir most of my life and have also championed women's rights my entire adult life. This is really tough!
Had to go for Odo as I'm a fan of Franciscan piety, and clearly Odo's wolf and the wolf of Gubbio were kissin' cousins. Francis, like Mechtild,wrote in the vernacular, and the tale of the handful of crumbs that became a handful of pearls illustrates the Christian experience of being made precious (which we always were, are, and will be) by the agency of our Savior. And then there's his contributions to music, the art that reveals what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like.
Where is Oliver!?!?
Last week someone (can't remember who) theorized that Oliver and his family may be away on a Spring Break trip. Actually, none of our younger commenters have been posting lately, so I bet it is Spring Break that has caused their disappearance.
Thanks, good call. I hope our younger commenters return soon! I love the diversity in this group, especially the honest insight of the youth!