The Founders of the New Devotion
Thomas à Kempis
About this book
Lives of Gerard Groote, Florentius Radewin, and the Devotio Moderna.
- 139 Chapters
- 99,460 words
- ≈ 765 min
- English
Table of Contents
1Of the origin and interpretation of Gerard's name2Of the origin and interpretation of Gerard's name3Of his rapid progress at the University of Paris4Of his rapid progress at the University of Paris5How his conversion was revealed to a hermit in Cologne6How his conversion was revealed to a hermit in Cologne7How be was drawn to God by the Carthusian8How be was drawn to God by the Carthusian9by the hook of Christ to be drawn thereby the sooner from the whirlpools of the Sea. He10Of his change of garb and character11Of his change of garb and character12How he separated himself from fellowship with worldlings13How he separated himself from fellowship with worldlings14Of his abstinence, and the shirt of hair which be wore15Of his abstinence, and the shirt of hair which be wore16A certain devout sister, whom Gerard had converted, told me certain things: how that17How, by the advice of the Monks, he began to preach the word of God18How, by the advice of the Monks, he began to preach the word of God19for chastity remained virgin, and some who had taken the vow of continency gathered to-20Of his labours, and his patience toward his enemies21Of his labours, and his patience toward his enemies22than with the wise of the world, because the innocent and the needy for the most part give23Of his journey to the parts about Brabant24Of his journey to the parts about Brabant25God also revealed to Gerard the death of this most beloved father, which revelation he26Of his austerity in food and clothing27Of his austerity in food and clothing28honesty and good report, and lest aught that might cause suspicion should be observed, he29doublet, how old they were, to which he replied: "This thicker garment which I wear outside,30Of his devoutness in prayer and in hearing Holy things31Of his devoutness in prayer and in hearing Holy things32that saying of the Psalmist: "My eyes to Thee have prevented the morning that I might33Of his great love of reading the Holy Scriptures34Of his great love of reading the Holy Scriptures35(3) He was not only assiduous in reading the sacred books, but also wrote carefully, and36the follies of magical practice." Moreover a faithful pupil of Gerard, who was also a devout37Of the abundant fruit which he bore in the conversion of men38Of the abundant fruit which he bore in the conversion of men39abundance the oil of mercy which he had received from God. But he put on bowels of mercy40Of the devout communities and monasteries which arose through him41Of the devout communities and monasteries which arose through him42Saxony, for God prospered them, and the sweet savour of their good reputation reached43Of his happy death and burial44Of his happy death and burial45Thus with kindly words did he comfort his disciples in their bitter grief, promising that46"Most gladly do I hear these things, and feel that as it were a new spirit of devotion is47Of the noble eulogy passed upon Gerard by a Cantor at Paris48Of the noble eulogy passed upon Gerard by a Cantor at Paris49Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering the true Gospel in his preaching50Of his public profession of faith, and of his delivering the true Gospel in his preaching51may be assured that I have any knowledge or discernment, having regard to my bodily52Likewise whatever I shall begin, I will begin it in the name of the Lord, and in the matter53be praised and glorified for them and in them; so that the knowledge of natural laws may54must ever be ordered for the Glory of God; that is, that one must pray continually: wherefore55appear before the civil magistrates or the secular judge in Deventer save in the case of sim-56them; (l) lest through ignorance of the law thou pervert piety into disobedience. (2) That57bear relation to the posture of the body. When thou art afar off or canst not see, prostrate58tion is hard to know, yet do thou thus reflect upon it by considering how much thou wouldst59some most urgent cause compel. During and after manual work one should by no means60long as needier persons than I may be found, for what I would not do myself, that will I not61Of the humility of Christ which Florentius studied to imitate62Of the humility of Christ which Florentius studied to imitate63Of the interpretation of the name Florentius and its three glorious meanings64Of the interpretation of the name Florentius and its three glorious meanings65was not small, so that one may justly say of them that thereby "the flowers have appeared66Of the interpretation of his father's name Radewin67Of the interpretation of his father's name Radewin68Of his native land, and bow be went to study at Prague69Of his native land, and bow be went to study at Prague70danger was at an end. This whole matter he ascribed to a miracle wrought on his behalf by71Of his honourable character in the world72Of his honourable character in the world73Of his conversion through the preaching of Master Gerard74Of his conversion through the preaching of Master Gerard75How he despised the life of the world and joined himself to Master Gerard76How he despised the life of the world and joined himself to Master Gerard77How Florentius himself, now fully converted, did convert many others78How Florentius himself, now fully converted, did convert many others79Of the burdens that he bore, and the wrongs that he suffered80Of his promotion to the priesthood and the abasement of his humility81Of his promotion to the priesthood and the abasement of his humility82to the holy office: "Would that I could offer before the Judgement Seat of God the pen of83How seldom be went out, and of his instructive demeanour as he stood in the Choir84How seldom be went out, and of his instructive demeanour as he stood in the Choir85(3) Once on a time it happened when I was standing near him in the Choir that he86Of the simplicity of his garb87Of the simplicity of his garb88weariness and a burden to me." Hearing this, and blushing somewhat, the other stood more89Of his humble service among the Brothers90Of his humble service among the Brothers91suffered him not to take solid food. I myself, unworthy as I am, often made ready his table92How he laboured with his hands for the common good93How he laboured with his hands for the common good94himself upon higher matters, and often to abstain from his own personal affairs or from95Of his compassion toward the poor, the sick, and the friendless96Of his compassion toward the poor, the sick, and the friendless97more kindly than usual to such outcasts, knowing that this was more pleasing to the Creator,98Of his feeding the poor, and washing beggars99Of his feeding the poor, and washing beggars100Prophet Esias: "Deal thy bread to the hungry and bring the needy and the harbourless into101Of his abstinence and the infirmities which came upon him by reason of his austerity102Of his abstinence and the infirmities which came upon him by reason of his austerity103How he often recovered by the aid of the prayers of the devout104How he often recovered by the aid of the prayers of the devout105How upon an Easter Even he was healed by a Vision of Angels106How upon an Easter Even he was healed by a Vision of Angels107Of one who fell into a well and was drawn out unhurt108Of one who fell into a well and was drawn out unhurt109Of the vision of the Rood which appeared over his house110Of the vision of the Rood which appeared over his house111Who knoweth all hidden things thought good to show above that house which He had112Of his patience, gentleness, and love toward all men113Of his patience, gentleness, and love toward all men114them behind a chest, saying, "Is this all of which they have to write? Good were it if they115Of his devout exhortation to spiritual prayer116Of his devout exhortation to spiritual prayer117things yield but little edification to devout minds, but rather are often an hindrance to118Of his effectual preaching and his knowledge of the Scriptures119Of his effectual preaching and his knowledge of the Scriptures120light of divine radiance that whether he was reading the Old or New Testament some mystic121How he set a guard upon his tongue and avoided oaths122How he set a guard upon his tongue and avoided oaths123Of three temptations that are full of peril to the devout124Of three temptations that are full of peril to the devout125(4) The third temptation is when one that is already a Clerk and learned doth aspire to126Of his sending forth the Brothers to gather fruit in divers places127Of his sending forth the Brothers to gather fruit in divers places128Hugo, called the Goldsmith, and his priests; in Amsterdam Gisebert Dow, the founder of129Of his happy passing from this world and his burial in the Church130Of his happy passing from this world and his burial in the Church131and for the salvation of souls, bidding that each one of them should have recourse to him,132Of a vision which was seen after his death, and of the great glory which he attained.133Of a vision which was seen after his death, and of the great glory which he attained.134Of the first Congregation of Clerks in Deventer135Of the first Congregation of Clerks in Deventer136heart, and prostrating the body lifted up their pure hands and the eyes of their soul to137Concerning John Gronde138Concerning John Gronde139at meat he would not deny the Word of Salvation to those who sought him, but while he