Mechthild's

poetic

texts

reveal

a

depth

of

theological

insight

that

situates

her

firmly

within

the

Christian

narrative

and

liturgical

tradition.

the

most

important

question

of

all

remains

unanswered:

For

Mechthild,

why

does

union

with

the

Godhead,

the

only

One

who

is

able

to

comfort

and complete

the

soul,

produce

wounding

and

pain?

Certainly,

room

must

be

made

for

the

emphasis

of

medieval

scholasticism

upon

God

as

Wholly

Other

and

the

Aristotelian

notion

of

pain

as

the

aspect

of

bodily

existence

that

is

most

intimately

human.33

But,

for

many,

especially

fe... See more

When

the

consumption

of

Christ's

body

in

the

Mass

brings

literal

nourishment

from,

and

intimacy

with

the

divine,

then

it

is

appropriate

to

understand

that

the

experience

of

pain

in

imitation

of

Christ

brings

pleasure

and

intimacy,

as

well.