The Beguines.: Women in search of sanctity within freedom

The beguinal movement has mainly been a movement of women, known under the name of beguines. Somebody even suggests that for its character of independence from male authority, it may represent the first feminist movement. Why then has the term “beguine” now become synonymous of bigotry or hypocrisy?
The great spiritual richness that arose from the beguinal movement has influenced the theological treatises of famous authors, such as Master Eckhart or Ruysbroeck the Admirable, but the writings of the beguines are almost nonexistent? Why? And how come that we have practically no reference of their caring mission in the books of medical history, while they have been the first nurses in Europe?
These and other questions will partially find an answer in this work, whose aim is to disseminate and rehabilitate a long, fertile and spiritually rich history of women passionately seeking sanctity within freedom.