Mysticism of Passion, Penance & Divine Darkness - Angela of Foligno 

Consider Supporting Esoterica! Patreon - www.patreon.com/esotericachannel Paypal Donation - www.paypal.me/esotericachannel Merch - ru-vid.com/show-UCoydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQstore

Making out with the corpse of the unrisen Christ in the tomb is some serious Goth girl cred.

Always a treat when Dr. Sledge talks about medieval women’s mysticism

"Abyssated - Oh Unknown Nothingness" Man this channel is amazing for death metal song titles

Everyone knocks on religion in the Middle Ages-certainly not without some very good reasons...but man. Their mystics were truly next level.

I'm practically furious I'd never heard of this woman before. This so throughly vibes with the representation of suffering i was taught as a child that pushed me away from the church. Just hiding her fullness to further whitewash what they taught...

As a Third Order Franciscan myself, I thank you for making this video. Most of us Tertiaries are far from Angela's commitment to Christ. This is comparable to the lives of St Clare of Assisi and St Theresa Lisieux.

I really do not mean to sound cynical (I promise I am not cynical about mystical experience), but is anyone else getting the sort of sado-masochistic sexual vibe from this woman's writings and experiences. I know that a part of many mystical practices aims at transforming physical lust into spiritual states, but this takes it to a whole new level--pretty extreme. Thoughts?

In the future people will be doing esoterica videos of Dr. Sledge's Esoterica videos.

So good! I LOVE the idea of the 4 women evangelists. Filing that away for a painting idea down the road.

One does not need to engage in extreme self-hating behavior in order to experience the ecstasies of the Mystic Saints.

I LOVE learning about the female mystics of the Middle Ages. It’s remarkable how women have been washed from the Christian tradition, when research into the historical Jesus shows women were a prominent part of his ministry. Often taking equal footing with the men. Female evangelists were part of Christianity before “Christianity” existed. Which makes the female mystics of the Middle Ages more closely tied to the origin of the largest religion in the West than the majority of it’s male leadership over the last 2000 years. Yet, it’s only through academic conversations through channels like yours that Christians are even made aware of their contributions. Which are fascinating in theirselves, but even more so when understanding the status and deference their teachings were given at the time. It’s also fascinating (and troubling) that the time prior to a male-dominated Renaissance is referred to as the “dark ages.” When it’s clear how many boundary pushing contributions to literature, art, and spiritual cannon existed in the centuries before. Many of which happened to come from women. Thank you for your dedication to scholarship and sharing these amazing stories on your channel.

I’d love to see a video about Julian of Norwich. No judgement if you have to reuse some pictures of Medieval nuns.

My mom just got me your mug for my birthday, I'm so happy!!

Have you made a video about Benedetta Carlini? Would love to hear your take on her story.

Shaming the academic knowledge hoarders was a highlight of a great video.

Wow... this is near disturbingly beautiful. It nearly brought me to tears when you talked about washing leppers... what a human being. I can't believe I'd never heard of this saint... beautiful.

One of my professors is writing about mysticism and intimacy with Christ in the 15th century right now, this was fascinating both as background and in its own right!

It’s amazing how much light emanates from ‘the dark ages.’

I went to Catholic School through high school and I'm learning about Catholic mystics on this channel that I never heard about before. I really appreciate the educational content on here. Also so many of the videos on this channel fight the idea that the Middle Ages were a time of only dogmatic elites and superstitious peasants. There were brilliant, radical thinkers during this time. And "Brother A" sounds like a secret agent's assistant.

Great Video!! didn’t know how much people really scarified for the divine

Angela's descriptions really capture the absolute chokehold intrusive thoughts can have on someone suffering with OCD.

Dear Dr. Sledge, it always blows my mind all the love and passion you put in your work. I truly love being your patreon, please keep producing these marvellous pieces.

Compelling story-telling. I was captured by this - thank you, Justin! More on women mystics would be great.

When Dr Sledge said "courtly love," I heard Courtney Love (as in Hole) 😂 🎶 🤘

I know I'm projecting here, but as an autistic person; Angela approaching a place of importance that was possibly over-full of nice smells and singing, then feeling compelled to vocalize? Sounds like stimming before we had the words for anything near the subject. And believe me, if your only positive experiences with stimming come from church, it can be hard to break the correlation

As fascinated as I am by the unflinching commitment to her beliefs, I very much dislike the idea of someone drinking bathwater with pieces of putrid human flesh in it, regardless of context. But I guess undergoing extreme unpleasant experiences was sort of the point of it.

If I had a TARDIS I'd do nothing else but visit female medieval mystics.

Ultimately you've been showing your deeply franciscan inclinations, doctor ;) I like that. Is there any chance for a video on the mysticism of Blessed Heinrich Seuse? (not franciscan but equally interesting).

I can’t believe that, since I grew up Catholic, that I’d never hear of Angel of Fellinia until now. But I can clearly understand now, since most, if not all of her accounts are either redacted or mistranslated either on purpose or on accident, since she was a woman, and men were the ones who could translate any religious texts. A lot of her recounts are very poetic: “The earth is pregnant;” which is one of my favorite lines from her.

I'm terrified of this woman. How can one person do such things? I'd like to buy the CoWS book, but I'm afraid it would just sit on my shelf tormenting me with how inadequate I am.

Boy that’s some Warhammer level madness

Shana Tova, dude.

Yo new drop from our favorite alchemist

I remember reading about her in Inner Experience by Bataille and being utterly captivated by her experience. Thank you for this!

Fascinating topic, I always thought if someone was actually touched by God, they would be in hell after the touch had ended, to be separated from God.

Angela of Foligno!! 👀 🕳 🌠 My goodness!! Medieval mysticism is no-holds'barred breathtaking, I'm gobsmacked! The badassness of Esoterica truly lives up to the channel's name! It's practically Esoterica obscura! 🕳 👀 🌠!

She is a signal woman, like Mary of Egypt, proving that no one is beyond God's reach; that even non virgins and worldly evil people can be placed in a profound mystical state regardless of the number of their faults. And that the Infinite does so lavishly freely as He wills and decides. Simone de Beauvoir wrote of her negatively, but I smell envy: Angela is a chosen soul. She in her utter helplessness has no other decision but to allow the divine activity pulsate in her; she advanced in the spirit faster than those who entered convents. Her works seem like it was written by someone who has been in the monastic discipline for a long time, but her life said otherwise: she had children and was worldly even at 40. We could only pray for us for the same benefits. A Blessed woman, a radical sign of her time; God never discriminates! Anna Maria Taigi is also one nearer to ours.

I have a strong stomach. I dont get grossed out, but that story with the lepers....ugh that got me. Needed a minute and a sip of water. But great video! I'd heard of Angela but was not familiar with her story.

This is a wonderful channel! Fascinating video, as usual.

I guess we are continuously chasing to grasp that fish like in your logo. Some harder than others. Thanks for another great video. 🙏

Thanks to you i recognized and bought Hermetic Mysteries by Mary Anne Atwood at Half priced books on a whim and it has become my guide for the past year. I am so grateful for your education.

You are a great storyteller

im catholic and im gonna have my confirmation soon. im looking for some female saints and patrons to choose for myself. shes my number 1 as for now ❤

Very powerful episode - excellent job!

Stigmata is such an amazing phenomenon

Angela of Foligo's Cry. Sound atheist reply: "Love Unknown Why? Why? Why?

I'm frankly flabbergasted you got through that without using the word "masochism" once.

Very intense and shocking.

Wait…It’s not a neck?

Wow it's so refreshing to hear someone giving such honest information like saying "listen she wrote in umbrian dialect and it was translateted in Latin, which she found would at best give her intentions, and then it was translated from there again" etc. - I feel like every ancient text/book should have such a beautiful honest intro.

Wow. This was amazing. Her account offers a mirror to middle ages and beyond. You have shed a light into something that most of the cushy modern people can never dream of grasping. Not that they would even want to, sadly. I also love how once again the church took a rational position while acknowledging that this woman could be onto something. Thank you.

Leper soup?

My penance today is hearing the description of the leper scene, just after I take the last bite of my sandwich 🤮

The rarest of rarities-the elusive feminine jouissance! :0

Exceedingly bizarre....

Happy Rosh Hashanah!!! Dr. Sledge. Your videos on Medieval mysticism, are gems.

Talk about finding what you love and let it kill you.

There is no Light without Darkness

wonderful introduction story about her! but she sounds like a VAMPIRE

Harrowing. "...harrow up thy soul..." - Hamlet. I wonder what the study of it was in the context of the culture and times. It's one thing to reach into antiquity (if I'm using that term accurately) and wonder. How did this move the milieu, or I guess the historical obscuring shows that it was moved on from...

Still no 'Angela of Foligno' shot glasses in the merch store Dr. ......Ill keep checking, thanks!

Do you think she murdered her family like maybe with poison

Very insightful video, as usual, Dr Sledge. Keep up the exceptional work 👏

It is my hope that someday in the future, someone as brilliant as you will be reading my books and trying to figure out what the hell, I was talking about. You Rock.

Thanks so much for this! I had certainly encountered Angela of Foligno in my previous studies, but had never gone into too much depth with her; my focus was more on Marguerite Porete, Meister Eckhart, and a few others. This is an excellent appetizer for studying her further! McGinn is awesome, and one of the highlights of my time during my M.A. in Religious Studies was when he was an endowed lecturer in my program at Gonzaga (this was in '99, if I am not mistaken), where he gave a presentation on apocalypticism (which he was just beginning to do major work on at the time), but we also had a sort of graduate "ask me anything" session with him one day, and of course I asked him several things about mysticism and particular mystics (like Marguerite!). I have two of the volumes of his work on mysticism (including the one you referenced here!) on my shelves next to the "Marguerite Section" and various other Christian mystics and works on Christian mysticism. An amazing scholar, and a damn nice guy! :)

SAINT ANGELA!!! Lets goo I'm legit emotional over this! I want to thank you so much for sharing the deep mystical tradition of the catholics. So over looked so moving and beautiful. As a catholic who also loves exploring the ideas displayed on this channel, I thank you for not having Catholic fever. Love you so much doc.

Abyssating. I learned a new word from you! Thanks!

I haven't commented on here and years, but after THAT fascinating picture of someone's spiritual journey... Damn, I got it so ridiculously good. Thank you for real sizing my suffering. I'll pass on the bathwater and decomposing flesh.😅

she is the saint Urebetino is obsessed with the Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco my book club just discussed it last saturday

One cannot know GOD or divine light of the soul without the darkness. RISE✨UNITE✨SHINE✨

I feel like this story inspired the French horror movie Martyrs. It has the same enlightenment through physical torment theme, though decidedly not self-imposed. I'll have to rewatch it to see if there are any direct references to Angela.

Angela of Foligno and Bataille was the greatest crossover episode of all time

Brother you have outdone yourself with this one. I was captivated for 27 minutes, and added her complete works to my library. Well done Dr. !!

Her descriptions of losing herself- abyssating- into God, with God, etc, sound very much like a form of ego death to my ears. Perhaps that is a feature of the experience of touching the divine on a deep level?

Are you a wizard? 🪄

Divine darkness! My favorite current esoteric subject obsession; thank you doctor Sledge! Please cover more mysticism of darkness and nothingness, but thank you for this!!!

Algormancy!

Thanks!

Brilliant stuff. Many thanks!

Possibly you missed it calling. The Poet in you perked out here. This Lecture was POETRY

Rudolf Steiner would draw a good analogy to the stages of Christian Initiation regarding Stigmata and then one can compare that to Angelina's Initiation all of which has to do with being fully conscious and not in any trance or bodily mutilation. Can one quicken these processes ? Yes as some do with drugs . But is that the path of Christianity? I doubt it. after all of her suffering, what can we all use, that is called inspired wisdom? I hear a bit of Origen in that even the devil will be saved out of God's love .

, not in a life time would’ve imagined an Aghori could be christian! Specially a woman. Never thought the christian rabbit hole went to that direction. But something about it clicks with the notion that Jesus went to learnt stuff in the East

do you have classes?

Interesting I actually relate to this woman, in my own understanding, I’ve also been asking god to not abandon me please do not abandon, the things I get I can’t honestly put into words and I too should hold my tongue, but I’ve felt or tasted the abandonment of god it relate it to something like being in the freezing cold but knowing there’s no warmth to be found so you don’t go looking for it! Because you know it’s not there, as if no pleasure nothing can replace it a complete loneliness with no solution, which one won’t feel until they’re judged and this is hell not even demons or devils can replace that feeling even if they wanted, but while alive they can make you feel as though they could, I feel the suffering of the world and I pray and I cry and I cry and it pours out like a river unto god and I shake and at times it has felt as if my mouth opens and this suffering pours out and sets the world on fire , and a great hate for sin and suffering and a love for all things , and it’s like angels come and touch me I feel it immediately and it’s just lifted from me and great wisdom is placed there and a peace come over me , it’s almost completely therapeutic….. And I had this dream that seemed like it lasted all night and god showed me how all is one but they said something they made me understand completely but I can’t relay that message, but it is a great love for all things as one and how that fits ….. And this love is the cornerstone of all things that destroys pride or things of this nature. I’m not worldly I just don’t care about worldly things, like it’s just nonexistent within me, I only stand for love, and goodness and light. Though I’ve been lost and my innocents stolen as a child , and I dived headfirst into darkness but it never fully corrupted me, I was a virgin for 30 years because I just don’t think or feel like normal people, I have no friends I don’t like humanity, but I love them lol For awhile I denied this stuff, or thought maybe it’s crazy , but this thing that happened to me as a child actually intervened with reality….. I’m sorry I can’t write very well and I just have no care to because whatever I know is between god and the angels, it’s just in my head and soul. I’m sorry for bothering you , I know I write to much , honestly I can’t even explain half of this stuff in any coherent form , but it is a lot like peace and suffering all at once, I was like I’m not a saint or anything I’m not even good I’m probably an idiot? So why but if I try to ignore it or deny it , it just shows me stuff, like the feeling of abandonment, or signs stuff! And honestly it’s kinda scary to be honest lol , I have no desire for money or power , just simple a little family, love and god and work , your debt of suffering is paid through hard work or it can be, I get annoyed at myself, people also call me arrogantly pious lol Well I don’t know what to do lol , but then it’s like I’m literally sining if I’m like nah I’m not doing that sorry so I just go slow, it’s quite exhausting actually. Sometimes I just have to step away from it , but then I feel god displeased so I keep going lol , because it’s like oh rather me leave then ? No god please stay ok I am light and goodness and love for all things as one , they say when you’re with god you’re at peace this isn’t always so lol. I don’t know sorry for talking I just want to tell someone who may understand or grasp this stuff and I asked god question and now I am here and they’re answered, that’s crazy ! Lol I feel completely insane like this woman lol just wow well ok , this is why like her I feel like just holding my tongue, not telling anyone, this is probably going to be the last time I even talk about it . It weighs on you , and I haven’t completed my steps yet I am in the process. Am I just stupid? Well then I would be a nonbeliever wouldn’t I.

I consider this type of worship and connection the true meaning of "Left Hand" path. I used to think St Theresa in India an example, but this is a good one too.

What would Lacan have to say about this one?

I LOVE ESOTERICA I LOVE ESOTERICA LETS GO ESOTERICA

It remembers me the experience of Saint Teresa Avilla, she had thesse strange almost divine, almost demoniac, almost torture, almost erotic visions with gods, which was transformed in something totally diferent than what she depicts in her memories, that beautiful statue with a great angel with an arrow does not look anything to her visions.

THANK YOU excellent as usual.

HAHAHA! I love when you swallowed the word "Brill" instead of saying it XD

Horomones can put you into impending doom. I spent an entire day and night between life and death. I was having an acute episide of something else, a medication reaction, Lymphedema masked by sweating and my horomones were also off. Boy was the Veil really open that day. I am a Seer already and I'm in chronic pain. A ton of it.

Today is the day I took a look into Esoterica. I hope to return here with some inspired content.

The intro to this was it your own dialogue? Because if so you something’s you say are down right poetic and lyrical. The beginning explaining her trance the way you put it was chilling

The account of this woman is morbidly, extremely fascinating. This is the first of me hearing it and I don't think I've heard a medieval or religious account quite like it. If you don't mind the relatively mundane comparisons, I feel some of the imagery and details in her life story are absolutely like something you would see or read about in a Soulsborne game, or hear in black/death metal lyrics.

L'shanah tova. :)

The divine darkness does fascinate, abyssate and abacinate me. Thanks Doc.

I’m a big fan of Fulton Sheen. One sermon he had on the demonic he mentioned possessed people stripping their clothes off when in the presence of a holy relic.. whether that’s true or not is interesting that Angela’s impulse was to strip in front of the cross. I’m sure to bare her whole self as she gave her life to Him. Great content: subscribed! ❤

Thank you for the wonderful presentation and introducing me to a new dark mystic.

Excellent, so well described, fascinating faith bordering on madness.