© 2024 Romualdo Soler González
© 2024 Urantia Association of Spain
¶ The kiss of God (Prado Pérez de Madrid)
Recently, I discovered the fascinating history of the Beguine movement through the series “The Beguines”, an Atresmedia production that captivated me from the first episode. Before watching this series, I was completely unaware of the existence of these communities of women who, between the 13th and 16th centuries, challenged the social and religious norms of their time by living independently, dedicating themselves both to spiritual contemplation and to practical activities such as teaching, caring for the sick, and crafts.
The series, set in the 16th century, led me to investigate more about this movement, and that is how I came across the book The Kiss of God by Prado Pérez from Madrid. This work delves into the life of the Beguines and explores their challenges, their achievements and the intense spirituality that characterized these women. The book is a window into a world of faith and resistance, and I highly recommend it to those who wish to learn more about this little-explored part of European history in general and Spanish history in particular.
What struck me most about the Beguines is how their search for an authentic spiritual life, free from the constraints of the time, resonates with some of the principles I have found in The Urantia Book. Although in very different contexts, they both share common points that are worth highlighting:
- Spiritual autonomy: Like the Beguines, The Urantia Book promotes a direct and personal relationship with God, free of institutional intermediaries. The Beguines sought to live their spirituality outside the strict control of the Church, and in The Urantia Book the personal and intimate relationship with the Universal Father is emphasized.
- Selfless Service: Beguines engaged in community service, caring for the sick, and educating the young, actions that reflect the ideal of loving, selfless service promoted in The Urantia Book. This book teaches that true divine love is manifested through service to others, a principle that Beguines embodied in their daily lives.
- Search for Truth: Both the Beguines and the readers of The Urantia Book share a deep search for truth and spiritual knowledge. The Beguines challenged established norms in their quest for a more authentic life, while The Urantia Book invites its readers to independently seek truth and experience a living relationship with the cosmos and its Creator.
For anyone interested in meeting the author, Prado Pérez from Madrid, here is an interview that was done precisely for the publication of this beautiful book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATLHxqZPBd0
¶ References
- Index of the magazine “Luz y Vida” of the Association of Spain
- This article from the magazine “Luz y Vida Online”