Gertrude van der Oosten

Delft14

Gertrude van der Oosten (also known as Gertrude of Delft) was a 14th-century Dutch Beguine and mystic who is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. She was born in Voorburcht, near Delft, in the County of Holland, around the year 1320 and died in Delft on January 6, 1358. Gertrude is known for her deep spiritual life, mystical experiences, and the stigmata she reportedly bore.

Life

Gertrude was a member of the Beguines, a movement of women who sought to serve God without retiring from the world into a convent. The Beguines lived in semi-monastic communities known as beguinages, dedicating their lives to prayer, care for the sick, and other works of mercy. Gertrude joined a beguinage in Delft, where she lived a life of prayer and asceticism.

Her life was marked by extraordinary mystical experiences. She reported visions of Jesus Christ and claimed to have received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, which made her an object of veneration and suspicion in her community. Despite the skepticism of some, her life and the miracles attributed to her after her death led to a local cult developing around her memory.

Veneration

Gertrude van der Oosten is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, although she has not been formally canonized. Her feast day is celebrated on January 6th. In Delft, her life and contributions to the spiritual heritage of the city are remembered and honored.

Legacy

Gertrude's legacy lies in her embodiment of the Beguine movement's ideals and her intense mystical spirituality. Her life is a testament to the diverse ways medieval women found to express their devotion and contribute to their communities outside the formal structures of the church. She remains an important figure in the history of Dutch spirituality and a symbol of the rich mystical tradition within Christianity.