Helena Ekblom

Helena Sophia Ekblom, known as Predikare-Lena (Preacher-Lena) and Vita jungfrun (The White Maiden), (24 June 1790 – 1859) was a Swedish writer and preacher.^[1]^[2]

Life and career

Helena Ekblom was born in Östergötland. Her father worked as a sailor. At the age of nine, she claimed to have had a religious revelation. In 1806, she began her activity as a travelling preacher. As she was always dressed in white during her sermons, she was called The White Maiden. In 1808, she was placed in the Vadstena mental asylum. During her stay at the institution, she wrote a book about her revelations, which was published in several editions until 1920.

In 1828, she was released from the asylum and continued her activity as a travelling preacher. She was eventually housed by a farmer. During her old age, she became confused. She died by freezing to death in the snow during winter.

Works

Den andeliga striden, wälment författad af Jungfru Helena Sophia Ekblom (The spiritual battle, written in wellmeaning by Maiden Helena Sophia Ekblom)

In fiction

Helena Ekblom is the subject of a novel: Predikare-Lena ('Preacher-Lena') by Tore Zetterholm, (1974).

References

Notes

↑ Hallberg, Johanna. "Helena Sofia Ekblom" (in Swedish). Vanersborg School. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
↑ Ryan, Jerry. "Lena Ekblom: the folly of the Beatitudes." Cross Currents Spring 1998: 89+ (7 pages). Vol.48, Issue 1. GALE|A20627195. Retrieved 19 October 2012. Abstract: "Helena Jakobsdotter Ekblom preached with all simplicity and truthfulness and, as expected, was punished for it. She spread the virtues of being poor and meek, which was the very essence of Christ's Beatitudes, and how the kingdom of God would reward them with a fruitful life in the hereafter. The authorities at that time, however, denounced her preachings as subversive because her messages conveyed the implication that the rich and the powerful are bound to suffer and be punished."

Nathan Odenvik: Vita jungfrun, en svensk martyr under 1800-talet: Helena Sofia Ekbloms liv och verksamhet ['The White Maiden, a Swedish martyr during the 19th-century: The life and work of Helena Sofia Ekblom'] Med bilaga: Helena Ekbloms uppenbarelser, återgivna från originaltrycket. (1949)
Kyrkohistoriskt Personlexikon (Dictionary of Church History)
Olsson, Lars-Erik: Vita jungfrun - och andra gestalter från 1800-talets svenska kyrkohistoria ['The White Maiden - and other figures of the History of the 19th-century Swedish Church'] (2009). Libris

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[van-1] Hallberg, Johanna. "Helena Sofia Ekblom" (in Swedish). Vanersborg School. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2012.

[2] Ryan, Jerry. "Lena Ekblom: the folly of the Beatitudes." Cross Currents Spring 1998: 89+ (7 pages). Vol.48, Issue 1. GALE|A20627195. Retrieved 19 October 2012. Abstract: "Helena Jakobsdotter Ekblom preached with all simplicity and truthfulness and, as expected, was punished for it. She spread the virtues of being poor and meek, which was the very essence of Christ's Beatitudes, and how the kingdom of God would reward them with a fruitful life in the hereafter. The authorities at that time, however, denounced her preachings as subversive because her messages conveyed the implication that the rich and the powerful are bound to suffer and be punished."