In an effort to help fill the lacuna regarding the role of women in mission history, this article focuses on women of mission within the context of the “evangelical awakening” and the early Franciscan movement in the Late Middle Ages. Clare of Assisi provided leadership and vision in founding the “Poor Clares.” Mary of Oignies is an outstanding figure of the Beguines—a new model of mission for women in Europe. Elizabeth of Hungary came out of the popular penitential movement as a precursor of the development of the Third Order. The article concludes by exploring the missiological implications and further questions for us today.
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