Ruysbroeck Part 7

Scully, Dom Vincent.-_A Mediaeval Mystic_ (London, 1910).

A biographical account, founded on Pomerius, with a short a.n.a.lysis of Ruysbroeck's works. Popular and uncritical.

Vreese, Dr. W. L. de.-_Jean de Ruysbroeck_ (_Biographie Nationale de Belgique_, vol. xx.) (Brussels, 1907).

An important and authoritative article with a.n.a.lysis of all Ruysbroeck's works and full bibliography.

--_Bijdragen tot de Kennis van het Leven en de Werken van Jan van Ruusbroec_ (Gent, 1896).

Contains Gerard Naghel's sketch of Ruysbroeck's life, with other useful material.

--_De Handschriften van Jan van Ruusbroec's Werken._ 2 vols. (Gent, 1900).

An important and scholarly study of the ma.n.u.script sources by the greatest living authority.

Notices of Ruysbroeck will be found in the following works:-

Auger, A.-_etude sur les Mystiques des Pays Bas au Moyen Age_ (_Academie Royale de Belgique_, vol. xlvi., 1892).

Fleming, W. K.-_Mysticism in Christianity_ (London, 1913).

Inge, Very Rev. W. R., D.D., Dean of St. Paul's.-_Christian Mysticism_ (London, 1899).

Jones, Dr. Rufus M.-_Studies in Mystical Religion_ (London, 1909).

Applications of his doctrine to the spiritual life in:-

Baker, Venerable Augustin.-_Holy Wisdom; or Directions for the Prayer of Contemplation_ (London, 1908).

Blosius, F. V.-_Book of Spiritual Instruction_ (London, 1900); _A Mirror for Monks_ (London, 1901); _Comfort for the Faint-hearted_ (London, 1903); _Sanctuary of the Faithful Soul_ (London, 1905).

Denis the Carthusian.-_Opera Omnia_ (Monstrolii, 1896), in progress.

Petersen, Gerlac.-_The Fiery Soliloquy with G.o.d_ (London, 1872).

Poulain, Aug., S.J.-_The Graces of Interior Prayer_ (London, 1910).

Underhill, E.-_Mysticism_, 5th ed. (London, 1914).

Influences

Much light is thrown on Ruysbroeck's doctrine by a study of the authors who influenced him; especially:

St. Augustine; Migne, _P.L._, xxvii.-xlvii.; Eng. Trans., edited by M.

Dods (Edinburgh, 1876).

Dionysius the Areopagite; Migne, _P.G._, iii., iv.; Eng. Trans., by Parker (Oxford, 1897).

Hugh and Richard of St. Victor; Migne, _P.L._, clxxv.-clxxvii. and cxcvi.

St. Bernard; Migne, _P.L._, clx.x.xii.-clx.x.xv.; Eng. Trans., by Eales (London, 1889-96).

St. Thomas Aquinas; _Opera_ (Romae, 1882-1906); Eng. Trans., by the Dominican Fathers (in progress).

St. Bonaventura; _Opera_ (Paris, 1864-71).

Meister Eckhart; _Schriften und Predigten_ (Leipzig, 1903).

Suso; _Schriften_, ed. Denifle (Munich, 1876). Eng. Trans., _Life_, ed.

by W. R. Inge (London, 1913); _Book of Eternal Wisdom_ (London, 1910).

Tauler, _Predigten_ (Prague, 1872); Eng. Trans., _Twenty-five Sermons_, trans. by Winkworth (London, 1906); _The Inner Way_, edited by A. W.

Hutton (London, 1909).

Footnotes

[1]The _Vita_ of Pomerius is printed in the _a.n.a.lecta Bollandiana_, vol.

iv. pp. 257 ff.

[2]_The Book of Supreme Truth_, cap. iv.

[3]_The Twelve Beguines_, cap. vii.

[4]_Vita_, cap. xv.

[5]De Vreese has identified 160 Flemish and 46 Latin MSS. of Ruysbroeck.

[6]_The Spiritual Marriage_, lib. ii. cap. x.x.xvii.

[7]_The Twelve Beguines_, cap. xiv.

[8]_The Spiritual Marriage_, lib. ii. cap. x.x.xvii.

[9]_Op. cit._, _ibid._

[10]_The Seven Degrees of Love_, cap. xiv.

[11]_The Kingdom of G.o.d's Lovers_, cap. xxix.

[12]_The Mirror of Eternal Salvation_, cap. viii.