Women have always been part of the Dominican Order, interested,

Catherine of Siena with Christ

active,  participating as much as they could in its mission. At Prouilhe, near Toulouse, the first convent of women was established in 1206. This convent, which served as a base for the preaching work, was called the "Praedicatio Jesu Christi", the "Preaching of Jesus Christ".  Within it were women who shared the same enthusiasm for the proclamation of God's word as did Dominic and the other men…

 

Diana..

In Bologna, it was the noblewoman, Diana of Andalò who sought out Dominic and to whom he explained the nature and task of the Order. She was set on fire by his zeal. and before long, her hands placed in his, she made profession. Her example was followed by many other women in Bologna and elsewhere…

Mechtilde, a mystic and a writer..

From the thirteenth century, we hear of Helen and Margaret who belonged to the royal family of Hungary; Mechtilde of Magdeburg who wrote many books about her prayer experiences which enjoyed great popularity after her death; and Agnes of Montepulciano who helped many people during her life and at whose tomb Catherine of Siena loved to pray…

Women of the fourteenth century who lived within the enclosure of their monasteries and who contributed greatly to the growth of mysticism in the Rhineland were Christine Ebner, Margaret Ebner, Adelaide Langmann and Elizabeth Stagel. It is thanks to these and others that many of the sermons of Meister Eckhart, John Tauler and Henry Suso were written down and preserved…

From South America..