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Miracles and Visions in Devotio Moderna Biographies
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2016
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Sister Liesbeth of Heenvliet (d. 1450) was a scion of a high ranking noble family in the county of Holland. Her parents had named her after Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, from whom they were descended. Liesbeth was born blind. Her mother did not dare to inform the child’s father, Johan of Heenvliet. Instead, she appealed to God and His Mother. Contrary to what she should have done, she did not vow her daughter to God’s service. Despite her mother’s laxity, Liesbeth’s eyes healed completely. She grew into a beautiful and most intelligent girl – a further sign that God and the Virgin had extended their mercy to her.
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References
1 Cited after the manuscript Deventer, Stads- en Atheneumbibliotheek, MS 101 E 26, commonly known as DV, fol. 260r: ‘Sij began seer getrect toe worden van bijnen onsen leven heren toe dienen’. I am grateful to Wybren Scheepsma for allowing me to work with his transcription. Furthermore, thanks are due to Thomas Head, Koen Goudriaan, Sabrina Corbellini, Arjo Vanderjagt and Hildo van Engen.
2 The account of Liesbeth’s entry into the convent is paraphrased after DV, fols 266V-278V.
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