“The Cruelest of All Mothers”: Marie de l'Incarnation, Motherhood, and Christian Discipleship
Mary Dunn
In 1631, Marie de l’Incarnation entered the Ursuline monastery in Tours, France, leaving behind her eleven-year-old son Claude to pursue religious life. This article examines role Marie’s abandonment of played relationship between mother and as reflected own writings Claude’s biography his mother. understood a sacrifice wrought imitation Christ, obedience God Gospel, empathy with Mary. A close reading writings, however, reveals that remained troubled by suspicion decision had been deeply misguided. Dunn suggests unconventional abandon was fostered an insidious theological tradition marginalizing devaluing—even actively maligning—biological motherhood incompatible Christian discipleship.
Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion