Thomas a Kempis presents a robust call to profound spiritual transformation
In the heart of Zwolle, Netherlands, lies Mount St Agnes (Sint Agnietenberg), a historical site that holds significant importance in the annals of European spirituality. It was here that Thomas à Kempis, a key figure in the Devotio Moderna movement, penned his renowned work, "The Imitation of Christ."
The Devotio Moderna, a major renewal movement in the Netherlands and the Rhineland during the 14th and 15th centuries, aimed to return to New Testament Christianity and a lifestyle based on simply imitating Christ. This movement, spearheaded by Geert Groote and developed by the Brethren of the Common Life, elevated Zwolle and Deventer to become the intellectual axis of Northern Europe in the late Middle Ages.
Thomas à Kempis, born around 1380 in Kempen, close to the German-Dutch border, studied at the Latin School in Deventer. He spent most of his life at the monastery on Mount St Agnes, where he wrote his masterpiece, "The Imitation of Christ." This book, now widely recognized as a compilation of teachings, conversations, advice, and sayings within the Devotio Moderna movement, not necessarily originally Thomas a Kempis' own, has had a profound influence on European spirituality and culture.
"Without the Way, there is no going; Without the Truth, there is no knowing; Without the Life, there is no living," and "At the Day of Judgement we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done," are just a few examples of the teachings from "The Imitation of Christ." The book, which has been widely read and translated into over fifty languages, became the second most widely circulated Christian devotional book after the Bible itself, influencing both laypeople and clergy with its emphasis on humility, the inner life, and steadfast following of Christ's example.
The Brethren, followers of the Devotio Moderna movement, ran schools in the old quarter of Zwolle, teaching up to a thousand pupils from near and far. One of these pioneer educationalists was Johannes Cele, who developed the school model known as the 'gymnasium' or 'college.' Innovations such as setting pupils in classes according to age, holding examinations, and older pupils mentoring the younger ones, were groundbreaking at the time.
However, the former monastery where Thomas a Kempis spent most of his life, located on Mount St Agnes in Zwolle, is now mostly a pile of bricks and tiles. A small shrine where Thomas a Kempis' original grave was located has been expanded into a large cemetery on the mountainside.
The cultural and spiritual legacy of Thomas à Kempis and the Devotio Moderna extends far beyond the borders of Zwolle. Notable readers of "The Imitation of Christ" include Ignatius Loyola, John Wesley, Dag Hammerskjold, and Bill Clinton. The movement challenged purely institutional and ritualistic expressions of faith, helping nurture a more intimate, heartfelt spirituality that influenced later Catholic reform movements and Christian spirituality in general.
The Schuman Centre for European Studies, directed by Jeff Fountain, published an article about Thomas a Kempis in the Evangelical Focus's Window on Europe section. The article, first published on the author's blog, Weekly Word, serves as a testament to the enduring relevance of Thomas à Kempis and the Devotio Moderna movement in shaping European spirituality and culture.
References: [1] The Catholic Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Thomas a Kempis. Retrieved from https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14733a.htm [2] New Catholic Encyclopedia. (1967). Devotio Moderna. Retrieved from https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04706b.htm [3] The Imitation of Christ. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.html [4] The Catholic Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Geert Groote. Retrieved from https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06353b.htm [5] The Catholic Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Quietism. Retrieved from https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12763b.htm
In the cultural and intellectual milieu of Northern Europe during the late Middle Ages, the Devotio Moderna movement, with its emphasis on education and self-development, transformed Zwolle and Deventer into a hub of intellectual activity. Thomas a Kempis, a key figure within this movement, honed his knowledge at schools run by the Brethren in the old quarter of Zwolle, contributing to this tradition of education-and-self-development.
