The Founders of the New Devotion

being the lives of gerard groote, florentius radewin and their followers

by

THOMAS À KEMPIS

translated into english by j. p. arthur

LONDON

KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., Ltd.

Dryden House, Gerrard Street, W.

1905

The appearance of à Kempis’s “Lives of Gerard Groote and his Followers,” in an English garb, should be hailed by Catholics with satisfaction. The translation bas been very carefully revised by the Prior of Downside, Fr. Leo Almond, O.S.B., and naught will be found in it but what is edifying. I trust that the book will have a wide circulation, Presenting, as it does, one of the brightest Pages in the history of an age in which there is much that is sombre.

X George Ambrose Burton,

Bishop of Clifton.

November 7th, 1904.

to

E. H. P.

Ὧδε ὑπομονὴ τῶν ἁγίων ἐστιν·

ὧδε οἱ τηροῦντες τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ θεοῦ

καὶ τὴν πίστιν Ἰησοῦ

Preface

CONSIDERING the wide fame of Thomas à Kempis as the reputed author of “The Imitation of Christ” it is surprising that no English translation of the “Lives of Gerard Groote and his followers” has been published hitherto. The Brotherhood of the Common Life to which à Kempis belonged owed its foundation to Groote and his pupil Florentius, and since that Brotherhood is referred to by the author himself as “The New Devotion,” and Groote is called “Nostrae devotionis fundator,” I have thought myself justified in giving to this translation the title which it bears, although the editio princeps gives no general title to the Lives.

The version here presented does not claim to be savagely literal, but I hope that I have not misrepresented the author in any material point, and that the translation faithfully renders the meaning of the original Latin. In any case I have not intentionally distorted or omitted a single phrase.

An introductory chapter has been added, giving a brief and imperfect résumé of the conditions under which Groote and his followers lived, together with certain notes dealing with matters to which the text refers.

My cordial thanks are due to several friends who have assisted me, especially to the Rev. S. H. Gem, for many valuable suggestions and references, and to M. P. S. Allen for similar help. I am happy in having this opportunity of expressing my gratitude to the Very Reverend Leo Almond, Prior of Downside Abbey, who has been good enough to read my manuscript and to give me much information on technical points.

Contents

Preface

Introduction

The Life of the Reverend Master Gerard the Great the Great commonly called Groote

chap.

Preface: The Preface to the life of the venerable Master Gerard the Great, commonly called “Groote”

I. Of the origin and interpretation of Gerard’s name

II. Of his rapid progress at the University of Paris

III. How his conversion was revealed to a hermit in Cologne

IV. How he was drawn to God by the Carthusian

V. Of his change of garb and character

VI. How he separated himself from fellowship with worldlings

VII....