 That is, although they promised not to marry "as long as they lived as Beguines," to quote one of the early Rules, they were free to leave at any time.Beguines were part of a larger spiritual revival movement of the 13th century that stressed imitation of Christ's life through voluntary poverty, care of the poor and sick, and religious devotion.The term "Beguine" (; ) is of uncertain origin and may have been pejorative.