ABSTRACT
Hildegard of Bingen received at least one visit and three letters from her younger contemporary, Elisabeth of Schonau, a gifted and tormented Benedictine mystic who also lived in the Rhineland. As a young girl of twelve Elisabeth had entered the Benedictine double monastery of Schonau in the diocese of Trier, not far from Cologne and the Rhine. Given to acute depressions and nervous crises, even a wish for death, Elisabeth spoke of her mind being clouded with shadows, sadness, and depression. Ekbert's prologue to his sister’s visions declares his reverence for her as a handmaid of God. Elisabeth experienced visions of saints, conversed with the Blessed Virgin, and suffered the taunts of devils, animal shapes, and small boys in the garb of clerics. Elisabeth’s contributions to the Ursula legend are of incalculable importance in validating the legend and guaranteeing its wide circulation.
