The Book of Margery Kempe Events Quotes

And often while she was kept with such holy speeches and conversation, she would so weep and sob that many men were greatly astonished, for they little knew how at home our Lord was in her soul. (I...

Then it was noised about in the town of N. that neither man nor beast would serve the said creature, and some said she was accursed; some said God openly took vengeance on her; some said one thing...

Sometimes she wept very abundantly and violently out of desire for the bliss of heaven, and because she was being kept from it for so long. (I.7.54)

[...] she was greatly despised and reproved because she wept so much [...] and so much so that her husband went away from her as if he had not known her. (I.13.62-63)

And then this lady sent her daughter, and others of her household with her, to the anchorite who was principal confessor to this creature, in order that he should give her up, or else he would lose...

These feelings and others like them, many more than can be written, both of living and dying, of some to be saved, of some to be damned, were great pain and punishment to this creature. She would r...

And all the time her maidservant left her alone and prepared the company's food and washed their clothes, and to her mistress, whom she had promised to serve, she would in no way attend. (I.27.102)

And then the Father took her by the hand [spiritually] in her soul, before the Son and the Holy Ghost, and the Mother of Jesus, and all the twelve apostles, and St. Katherine and St. Margaret and m...

"And I have often told you, daughter, that thinking, weeping and high contemplation is the best life on earth. You shall have more merit in heaven for one year of thinking in your mind than for a h...

Then she suffered shame and abuse for wearing her white clothes, and because she cried so loud when our Lord put her in mind of his Passion. (I.44.142)

The Steward, seeing her boldness in that she was not afraid of any imprisonment, struggled with her, making filthy signs and giving her indecent looks, through which he frightened her so much that...

And so, as she went along with the said men, she told them good stories, until one of the Duke's men who had arrested her said to her, "I rather regret that I met with you, for it seems to me that...

"Ah, blissful Lord, I would rather suffer all the cutting words that people might say about me, and all clerics to preach against me for your love [...] than this pain that I have." (I.56.176)

Then she was charged by her confessor that she should not go where he preached, but when he preached in one church she should go into another. She felt so much sorrow that she did not know what she...

Notwithstanding the grace that he showed for her, still, when the dangers were past, some people slandered her because she cried, and some said that our Lady never cried [...] Then she fled from pe...

She thought that all her joy was gone. She saw her Lord ascend up into heaven, yet she could not do without him on earth [...] Such holy thoughts and holy desires caused her to weep, and people did...

Then she saw his mother falling down in a swoon before her son, saying to him, 'Alas, my dear son, how shall I suffer this sorrow, and have no joy in all this world but you alone?" (I.79.228)

And then, when she was barren in this way, she could find no joy or comfort in food or drink, or chat, but was always glum of face and manner until God would send tears to her again, and then she w...

She thought it was hard on her to take such trouble upon herself, and excused herself to our Lord in her mind, saying, "Lord, you know I have no leave from my confessor, and I am bound to obedience...

When they were outside the towns, her companions took off their clothes, and, sitting about naked, picked themselves for vermin [...] This creature was afraid to take off her clothes as her fellows...