Antoinette Bourignon

BOURIGNON, Antoinette. b. Lille, France, 13 January 1616; d. Franeker, the Netherlands, 30 October 1680. She early demonstrated an enthusiasm for religion: she refused the husband chosen for her by her father and devoted her life to a mystical and spiritual life. She had a vision that she was chosen to restore the church to a primitive Christianity, and she was engaged for much of her life in controversy with established religion. She later lived in Ghent and in Amsterdam, where her voluminous Works (Toutes les Oeuvres de Mlle Bourignon) were published in 19 volumes (1686).  She had a considerable following in several countries, notably in Scotland, where her writings were translated by the...