Heloise and liturgical experience at the Paraclete

Abstract

This article considers Heloise's activity as abbess of the Paraclete, examining what contribution she may have made to its liturgical practice. It relates the testimony of Peter the Venerable and Hugh Metel to Heloise as inspirational leader and author to what we can learn about her from Abelard's preface to the Paraclete Hymnal. In particular, attention is directed to the understanding of Mary Magdalen at the Paraclete by both Abelard and Heloise. This suggests, I argue that ‘Epithalamica’ and the Easter plays are part of Heloise's literary output, and that she exercised a major influence on Abelard.