Gli apocrifi mariani nella letteratura mistica femminile. Secoli XII-XIV

This paper focuses on the apocryphal story of the Nativity in the writings of Elisabeth of Schönau (1128-1164), Mechtild of Magdeburg (1208-1283), Mechtild of Hackeborn (1241-1299), Gertrude of Helfta (1256-1301), Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) and Birgitta of Sweden (1303-1373). While Catherine of Siena is not much interested in developing this theme, the group of northern women mystics devote to it a much wider space, often describing in detail a series of familiar and earthly elements related to the maternity routine. The taste for narration and vivid depiction of the Nativity scene reaches its peak with Birgitta of Sweden, who went and visit the Holy Land, where she was shown the miraculous birth of Christ.