Misplaced Pages

#564435

57-692: He was a member of the Modern Devotion , a spiritual movement during the late medieval period, and a follower of Geert Groote and Florens Radewyns , the founders of the Brethren of the Common Life . Thomas was born in Kempen in the Rhineland. His surname at birth was Hemerken (or Hammerlein ), meaning the family's profession, "little hammer", Latinized into "Malleolus". His father, Johann,

114-523: A Biblical scene (to participate in the life of Jesus), significantly influenced the approaches to Christian meditation in the 16th century and thereafter. These methods persist in meditations such as the Spiritual Exercises , which the Jesuits continue to practice. Devotio Moderna arose at the same time as Christian Humanism , a meshing of Renaissance Humanism and Christianity , and

171-490: A contributing factor for Lutheranism and Calvinism . It was also a significant influence upon Erasmus , who was brought up in this tradition. Zwolle Zwolle ( Dutch: [ˈzʋɔlə] ) is a city and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands . It is the capital of the province of Overijssel and the province's second-largest municipality, after Enschede , and has

228-566: A dispute over toll collection on the IJssel River. Zwolle initially aligned with the Duke of Gelre, Charles of Egmont, but eventually returned to the Bishop of Utrecht. During this period of political unrest, Duke Charles of Gelre was captured when he entered Zwolle. Ultimately, he was allowed to depart under the condition that Zwolle would retain its independence. The name Blauwvingers stems from

285-561: A little book A monument was dedicated to his memory in the presence of the archbishop of Utrecht in St Michael's Church, Zwolle , on 11 November 1897. In 1964, this church closed, causing his shrine to be moved to a new St Michael's Church outside the centre of Zwolle. In 2005, this church also closed and his shrine was moved to the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Hemelopneming kerk ( Assumption of Mary church) in

342-636: A methodical format, as well as self-projection into a Biblical scene, e.g. starting a conversation with Christ in Calvary . Also influenced by the Devotio Moderna were Ludovico Barbo , Lawrence Giustiniani and the Canons Regular of San Giorgio in Alga . However, the methods of "methodical prayer" taught by the Devotio Moderna and the techniques used for "self projection" into the imagery of

399-663: A population of 132.441 as of December 2023. Zwolle borders the province of Gelderland and lies on the eastern side of the River IJssel . Archaeological findings indicate that the area surrounding Zwolle has been inhabited for a long time. A woodhenge that was found in the Zwolle-Zuid suburb in 1993 was dated to the Bronze Age period. During the Roman era, the area was inhabited by Salian Franks . The modern city

456-524: A priest, however, until almost a decade later. He became a prolific copyist and writer. Thomas received Holy Orders in 1413 and was made sub-prior of the monastery in 1429. His first tenure of office as subprior was interrupted by the exile of the community from Agnetenberg in 1429. A dispute had arisen in connection with an appointment to the vacant See of Utrecht. Pope Martin V rejected the nomination of Bishop-elect Rudolf van Diepholt , and imposed an interdict. The Canons remained in exile in observance of

513-467: Is a hub in the national highway network, and gateway to northern Netherlands. This is reflected in the high traffic volumes in and around the city. The A28 serves Zwolle with 4 exits, and runs from Utrecht to Groningen . It is being widened to 8 lanes across the IJssel River and 6 lanes from Zwolle to Meppel in 2010 and 2011. The motorway initially opened between 1964 and 1970. Another motorway,

570-630: Is a legend that he was denied canonization some 200 years after his death by the Catholic Church due to the presence of scratch marks on the interior of his coffin lid, which supposedly disqualifies him from sainthood as it would mean he did not peacefully embrace death. However, there is scant evidence to support that he was buried alive or the idea that the Church would have denied him sainthood if they did discover he died in this manner. Kempis's 1441 autograph manuscript of The Imitation of Christ

627-686: Is available in the Bibliothèque Royale in Brussels (shelfmark: MS 5455-61). He also wrote the biographies of New Devotion members—Gerard Groote, Floris Radewijns, Jan van de Gronde, and Jan Brinckerinck. His important works include a series of sermons to the novices of St. Augustine Monastery, including Prayers and Meditations on the Life of Christ , Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ , Of True Compunction of Heart , Soliloquy of

SECTION 10

#1732797632565

684-610: Is one of the tallest and most famous church towers in the Netherlands. The modernized town hall was originally built in 1448. Mention should also be made of the Sassenpoort (one of the old city gates), the city walls, the Mosterdmakerstoren ( mustard makers' tower ) (the complex where local mustard used to be made), a guild-house (1571), the former provincial government offices, a Dominican monastery, and on

741-400: Is related to German mysticism and other movements which promoted an intense personal relationship with God . Practitioners of the Devotio Moderna emphasized the individual's inner life and promoted meditation according to certain strictures. With the ideals of Christian Humanism, Devotio Moderna recommended a more individual attitude towards belief and religion . It is regarded sometimes as

798-556: Is written in Latin. By the late 15th century the advent of the printing press increased the reach of the movement; The Imitation of Christ was printed in several languages by the end of the century. The spiritual life of the Devotio Moderna followers was marked by focus on inner devotions and frequent short periods of meditation, especially before each new activity. The writings of the Devotio Moderna followers such as Gerard of Zutphen and Jan Mombaer , as well as Groote introduced

855-527: The A50 , interchanges with A28 just west of the city, offering a route for southbound traffic to Apeldoorn and Eindhoven . The N35 highway starts in Zwolle, where it forms the eastern section of the ring road of Zwolle, it runs as a non-motorway to Almelo and continues to Enschede as A35 motorway . The ringroad is mainly a 4-lane road, with numerous traffic lights. It forms a full ring, and also exists out of

912-591: The Catholic Church , as well as later Reformed communities. The manuals for methodical prayer and meditation by Florens Radewyns and Zutphen had significant influence within Europe for over a century. The concept of immersing and projecting oneself into a Biblical scene about the life of Jesus was developed by Ludolph of Saxony in his Vita Christi in 1374 and became popular among the Devotio Moderna community. The methods of methodical prayer as taught by

969-568: The Devotio Moderna , though, seems to have lessened the force of many of these criticisms. The movement was especially prominent in cities in the Low Countries during the 14th and 15th centuries. Alongside its immediate impact, however, it was the writings of authors associated with the movement (who were most commonly based in the monasteries associated with Windesheim), that gave the Devotio Moderna its wider European influence at

1026-577: The Low Countries and Germany in the 15th century, but came to an end with the Protestant Reformation . It is most known today through its influence on Thomas à Kempis , the author of The Imitation of Christ , a book which has proved highly influential for centuries. This movement largely believed in austerity for Christians at every level, from clergy to layman, and many followers of Devotio Moderna frowned upon such things as church-led celebrations of certain events. The origins of

1083-531: The N337 highway that runs to Deventer . Other sections of the ring road are not numbered. Parts of the ring road were widened to six lanes in 2010. Other numbered highways running from Zwolle are N331 to Hasselt , N758 to Nieuwleusen , N340 to Ommen and N764 to Kampen . Due to nearby rivers, there are several major bridges in and around Zwolle. The most important bridge is the IJssel Bridge where

1140-526: The Zwarte Water River, including two 4-lane bridges, a 2-lane bridge, and a bus/bicycle bridge. There is also a bridge across the Vecht , which carries A28 motorway. Another local bridge is adjacent to this bridge. A third bridge carries rail traffic to Leeuwarden and Groningen . Numerous local bridges exist around the historic city center. The first train in Zwolle arrived on 6 June 1864. Today

1197-454: The church bells to neighbouring city Kampen . To make sure that Kampen would not make too much profit from the deal, the local authorities asked a high price for the church bells. Kampen accepted, yet after the arrival of the bells it became clear, they were too damaged to be played. In revenge, Kampen paid in copper coins of four duiten (the equivalent of two-and-a-half cents ). Zwolle distrusted Kampen and wanted to be sure they truly paid

SECTION 20

#1732797632565

1254-459: The "Sisters of the Common Life", were freer in structure than the beguines and kept no private property. The women who lived in these houses remained, also, under the jurisdiction of city authorities and parish priests. Their way of life therefore sat somewhere between ordinary Christian existence 'in the world', and the formation of an ecclesiastically recognised religious order. From this point, several different loose forms of community emerged. On

1311-453: The A28 motorway runs across. It was completed in 1970 and carries over 125.000 vehicles per day. Adjacent to this bridge is the older IJssel Bridge, which opened in 1930 and was destroyed twice during World War II . A third IJssel Bridge is the railway bridge (called Hanze boog) which carries the railway line from Zwolle to Amersfoort , and from 2012, to Lelystad . There are several bridges across

1368-512: The Augustinian convent in which Thomas à Kempis spent the greatest part of his life and died (in 1471). At least as early as 1911, Zwolle had a considerable trade by river, a large fish market, and the most important cattle market in the Netherlands after Rotterdam . The more important industries comprised cotton manufactures, iron works, boat-building, dyeing and bleaching, tanning, rope-making, and salt-making. In World War II , Zwolle

1425-523: The Brethren provided pastoral care and spiritual counsel to the sister houses, and at least some of the Brethren engaged in preaching. Groote's message of reform had also been aimed at clerics and priests, some of whom had joined the Brethren. In addition, though, under the leadership of Radewyns, in 1387 some members of the Deventer house set up a new community at Windesheim , near Zwolle , and adopted

1482-568: The Common Life, outlines the concepts of Modern Devotion, based on personal connection to God and the active showing of love towards Him (e.g., in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar or during mass ). It influenced a number of Saints such as Thérèse of Lisieux and Ignatius of Loyola . Though the members of Devotio Moderna also wrote in their native language, which was IJssellands , a written language which stood in between Middle Dutch and Middle Low German , The Imitation of Christ

1539-482: The Devotio Moderna entered Spain and were known in the early 16th century, and influenced the approaches to Christian meditation . Garcias de Cisneros the abbot of the abbey of Montserrat was influenced by the Devotio Moderna and his book Ejercitatorio de la vida spiritual , i.e. "exercises for the spiritual life" became one of the primary sources for the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola . Ignatius used both of these techniques in his Spiritual exercises:

1596-805: The Melkmarkt, two museums; the Stedelijk Museum Zwolle of antiquities and natural history, and the Vrouwenhuis . Museum de Fundatie , the fine art museum of the province of Overijssel, is hosted in the former Justice Hall on Blijmarkt Square. In the western part of the city, west of the railway station, there is a quarter of Art Nouveau buildings, concentrated mostly on Koningin Wilhelminastraat, Prinses Julianastraat, and Prins Hendrikstraat. These three-store living houses were built in 1900s by various Dutch architects. Eleven of

1653-470: The Sisters of the Common Life, and may eventually have become Third Order Franciscans or Augustinian nuns. Among male followers, the movement was given impetus after Groote's death in 1384 by Florens Radewyns (who had become a priest based on Groote's advice). He gathered like-minded laity and clergy into houses of communal living, eventually known as the Brethren of the Common Life , which numbered 41 by

1710-572: The Soul , Garden of Roses , Valley of Lilies , and a Life of St. Lidwina of Schiedam. The following quotes are attributed to him: And when he is out of sight, quickly also is he out of mind. Without the Way, there is no going, Without the Truth, there is no knowing, Without the Life, there is no living. If thou wilt receive profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and seek not at any time

1767-578: The bishop of Utrecht granted Zwolle city rights . Zwolle became a member of the Hanseatic league in 1294, and in 1361 joined the war between the Hanseatic League and Valdemar IV of Denmark . In the 1370 Treaty of Stralsund that ended the war, Zwolle was awarded a vitte , a trade colony, in Scania , then part of Denmark . Zwolle's golden age came in the 15th century. Between 1402 and 1450,

Thomas à Kempis - Misplaced Pages Continue

1824-553: The buildings are protected by the Dutch government ( rijksmonumenten ). The Broerenkerk church was part of the Dominican monastery founded in 1465. The monastery was closed in 1580 and the monks were expelled. From 1640 until 1982 the church was used for Protestant services. After a restoration in 1983–1988 it has been used for cultural events and it is now a bookstore. Zwolle is home to several universities and colleges: Zwolle

1881-406: The centre of Zwolle. Devotio Moderna Devotio Moderna ( Latin ; lit., Modern Devotion ) was a movement for religious reform, calling for apostolic renewal through the rediscovery of genuine pious practices such as humility, obedience, simplicity of life, and integration into the community. It began in the late 14th century, largely through the work of Gerard Groote , and flourished in

1938-595: The city has rail connections in eight directions (viz. Kampen , Leeuwarden , Groningen , Emmen , Enschede , Arnhem / Nijmegen , Lelystad / Amsterdam , and Amersfoort ). The rail connection with Amsterdam via Lelystad – the Hanzelijn – is operational since December 2012. The second station, Zwolle Stadshagen , was opened on 15 December 2019. Zwolle is located on or near three rivers ( Zwarte Water , Vecht , and IJssel ), several canals (the now disused Willemsvaart, Nieuwe Vecht and Overijssels Kanaal and

1995-482: The city's Gross Regional Product multiplied by about six. In July 1324 and October 1361, regional noblemen set fire to Zwolle. In the 1324 fire, only nine buildings escaped the flames. Zwolle was also, with Deventer , one of the centers of the Brethren of the Common Life , a monastic movement. 5 km (3 mi) from Zwolle, on a slight eminence called the Agnietenberg, (hill of St Agnes), once stood

2052-510: The conversion of some of the houses of Brothers to this new form of religious life. By the end of the 15th century, there were almost 100 houses (84 of them male) in the Chapter of Windesheim. The movement faced opposition from clergy and laity at times, both during its early years under Groote's leadership and under Radewyns' later expansion. Much of this suspicion was similar to that directed at other new forms of religious devotion developed in

2109-400: The early 16th century. The majority of members in these communities were priests or candidates for the priesthood (clerics); the few lay brothers, the familiares , usually carried out the menial tasks of cooking, cleaning and tailoring. These communities did not take vows, but led an austere life of penance, prayer, spiritual reading and work, most often the copying of manuscripts. In addition,

2166-632: The entire country. In 2023, Tewelde Goitom , an Eritrean convicted in Ethiopia of migrant smuggling, kidnapping in Sinai and human trafficking appeared at a pretrial hearing in Zwolle, which made international headlines. Citizens of Zwolle are colloquially known as Blauwvingers (Bluefingers). According to legend, this dates back to 1682, when the St ;Michael's church tower collapsed. The authorities were strapped for cash and saw no option but to sell

2223-460: The entire price. After the rigorous counting of this vast amount of money, their fingers had turned blue from the counting of money. In reality, the name Blauwvinger stems from 1521, when the governors of Zwolle broke the oath of loyalty they made to the Duke of Gelre. The name Blauwvinger refers to the raised fingers, with which the governors had promised their loyalty to the Duke at his inauguration. At that time, Zwolle and Kampen were embroiled in

2280-569: The fact that the residents committed perjury twice, first to the bishop and then to the duke. Besides the Grote of Sint Michaëlskerk (St. Michael's church), the latter which houses a majestic Baroque organ built by Arp Schnitger , there are several other historic monuments in Zwolle. The Roman Catholic Onze Lieve Vrouwe ten Hemelopneming - basilica (Our Lady of the Assumption) dates back to 1399. The church tower, called Peperbus (pepperpot),

2337-451: The fame of being learned. At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done. For man proposes, but God disposes If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him. O quam cito transit gloria mundi , Oh how quickly the glory of the world passes away! In angello cum libello [with slight variations] In a little corner with

Thomas à Kempis - Misplaced Pages Continue

2394-591: The frequent floodings of the rivers. Zwolle was established on that incline. A document mentions the existence of a parish church dedicated to St Michael . That church, the Grote of Sint Michaëlskerk (St. Michael's church), was renovated in the first half of the 15th century and exists to this day. The church contains a richly carved pulpit , the work of Adam Straes van Weilborch (about 1620), some good carving, and an exquisite Baroque organ from 1721 designed by master organ builder Arp Schnitger and completed by his sons Franz Caspar and Johann Georg. On 31 August 1230,

2451-426: The habit and rule of St Augustine. Although living a cloistered life under vows, the new community kept many of the practices and spiritual values of the teaching of Groote and Radewyns. From 1395, a monastic union was set up around Windesheim; this new confederation grew quickly, and was joined both by older Augustinian communities (including, famously, Groenendaal in 1413), as well as new foundations, and sometimes

2508-614: The houses of the Brethren, including the founding homes of Deventer and Zwolle, had disappeared by 1600. In Roman Catholic areas, some of the brother houses and houses of the Windesheim Congregation survived until they fell victim to the secularisations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The most important members of the Windesheim Congregation in Germany, St. Marienwolde in Frenswegen, held out until 1809 when

2565-542: The interdict until the question was settled in 1432. During this time, Thomas was sent to Arnhem to care for his ailing brother, where he remained until his brother died in November 1432. Otherwise, Thomas spent his time between devotional exercises in writing and in copying manuscripts. He copied the Bible no fewer than four times, one of the copies being preserved at Darmstadt , Germany, in five volumes. In its teachings he

2622-472: The movement likely stem from the Congregation of Windesheim , though it has so far proved elusive to locate the precise origin of the movement. Broadly, it may be seen to rise out of widespread dissatisfaction with the Church (both in terms of the structure of the church and the personal lives of the clergy) in 14th-century Europe. Geert Groote (1340–1384) was among many in being highly dissatisfied with

2679-471: The nearby city of Zwolle to visit his brother again, after Johann had become the prior of the Monastery of Mount St. Agnes there. This community was one of the Canons Regular of the Congregation of Windesheim , founded by disciples of Groote in order to provide a way of life more in keeping with the norms of monastic life of the period. Thomas himself entered Mount St. Agnes in 1406. He was not ordained

2736-445: The one hand, various types of life for the female Devout were formed. Especially from the 1390s under the leadership of John Brinckerinck, one of Grote's early converts, the Sisters of the Common Life spread across the Netherlands and into Germany (with eventually about 25 houses in the former and about 60 houses in the latter). There were also many homes (mostly small and needy) inspired by the movement that were never formally attached to

2793-493: The period, such as beguine and beghard movements. Also, the strong resemblance to the monastic life of the daily routine among the Brethren provoked accusations from the mendicant orders that the Brethren and Sisters of the Common Life were starting a new mendicant order, in violation of the Fourth Lateran Council 's prohibition of new orders in 1215, and without taking vows. The simplicity and devotion of

2850-493: The state of the Church and what he perceived as the gradual loss of monastic traditions and the lack of moral values among the clergy. He sought to rediscover certain pious practices. Devotio Moderna began as a lay movement; around 1374, Groote turned his parental house in Deventer into a hostel for poor women who wished to serve God. Though similar to beguine houses, this hostel, and later communities of what came to be called

2907-403: The state officially dissolved it. The last canon, Gerhard Tobbe, left Frenswegen in 1815. Four cornerstones of the Brethren of the Common Life and its associated devotio moderna were: There was a widely followed movement within the Devotio Moderna traditions that frowned upon pilgrimages. The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418), often attributed to Thomas à Kempis (d. 1471), a Brother of

SECTION 50

#1732797632565

2964-564: The time, and its great subsequent influence. In the early 15th century, even before the Protestant Revolution, Devotio Moderna was fading due to many Christians wanting more "pomp and ceremony in processions". In the wake of the Protestant Reformation, the institutions of the Devotio Moderna declined rapidly. In Protestant territories, both the brother houses and the monasteries were dissolved. Most of

3021-501: The tradition of "methodical prayer" which arranged exercises day by day and week by week. Groote's On four Kinds of Matter for Meditation included mental imagery, as well as methodical approaches as an element of meditation. Centuries earlier, Hugh of Saint Victor and Guigo II had produced structured methods for Christian meditation , but their approaches were less systematic. The methodical approach of Devotio Moderna towards prayer and meditation found significant following within

3078-488: Was a blacksmith and his mother, Gertrud, was a schoolmistress. In his writings he signed himself "Thomas Kempensis" or "Thomas Kempis". In 1392, Thomas followed his brother, Johann, to Deventer in the Netherlands in order to attend the noted Latin school there. While attending this school, Thomas encountered the Brethren of the Common Life , followers of Gerard Groote 's Modern Devotion . He attended school in Deventer from 1392 to 1399. After leaving school, Thomas went to

3135-471: Was founded around 800 CE by Frisian merchants and troops of Charlemagne . Previous spellings of its name include the identically pronounced Suolle , which means "hill" (cf. the English cognate verb "to swell"). This refers to an incline in the landscape between the four rivers surrounding the city, IJssel , Vecht , Aa and Zwarte Water . The hill was the only piece of land that would remain dry during

3192-519: Was single-handedly liberated from the Germans by French-Canadian soldier Léo Major . He was made an honorary citizen of Zwolle on 14 April 2005, the 60th anniversary of his liberating of the city. He also has a street named after him, Leo Majorlaan. In 2004, Zwolle's De Librije restaurant was honored with 3 stars by Michelin Guide ; as of 2018, it is one of only three restaurants so honored in

3249-639: Was widely read and his works abound with biblical quotations, especially from the New Testament . As subprior he was charged with instructing novices, and in that capacity wrote four booklets between 1418 and 1427, later collected and named after the title of the first chapter of the first booklet: The Imitation of Christ . Thomas More said it was one of the three books everybody ought to own. Thirteen translations of The Imitation of Christ and three paraphrases in English seem to have been published between 1500 and 1700. Thomas died near Zwolle in 1471. There

#564435