2. The Power of Presence

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Divine grace as experienced by medieval mystics Margery Kempe and Joan of Arc. Francine Stock attempts to pin down the alluring yet elusive quality of charisma. After the early apostolic era, the Church hierarchy preferred to channel divine communication through its own bishops, but Medieval Europe features a surprising number of women mystics who - risking charges of heresy - claimed that they experienced direct interaction with God. Francine Stock learns about the extraordinary story of the Norfolk housewife Margery Kempe, who wept her way across Europe to Jerusalem. She compares her story with that of the more public-spirited Joan of Arc, whose divine calling led to her military defence of France. The charismatic presence of both is evoked by historians Anthony Beale - who calls Margery Kempe a "contemporary Kardashian" - and Helen Castor, author of a new biography of Joan of Arc. Meanwhile, the quality of presence in charismatic individuals is anatomised by film and stage actor, Kenneth Branagh. With readings by Simon Russell Beale. Producer: Beaty Rubens First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2015.