This article is about the medieval mystical group. For the documentary about evangelicals by Alexandra Pelosi, see Friends of God (film).
The Friends of God (German: Gottesfreunde; or gotesvriunde) was a medieval mystical group of both ecclesiastical and lay persons[1] within the Catholic Church (though it nearly became a separate sect) and a center of German mysticism. It was founded between 1339 and 1343 during the Avignon Papacy of the Western Schism, a time of great turmoil for the Catholic Church. The Friends of God were originally centered in Basel, Switzerland and were also fairly important in Strasbourg and Cologne. Some late-nineteenth century writers made large claims for the movement, seeing it both as influential in fourteenth-century mysticism and as a precursor of the Protestant Reformation. Modern studies of the movement have emphasised the derivative and often second-rate character of its mystical literature, and its limited impact on medieval literature in Germany.[2] Some of the movement's ideas still prefigured the Protestant reformation.[3]
The name "Friends of God" may have been influenced by various sources. A number of biblical passages use the term (e.g. Judges 8.22, James 2.23, Exodus 33.11, Psalm 138.17, Wisdom 7.27, Lk 12.4, John 15.15) The concept of friendship with God had also been applied by various medieval authors, and particularly among Meister Eckhart and his followers.[2]
HistoryEdit
The movement grew out of the preaching and teaching of Meister Eckhart, and especially his Dominican spiritual heirs, the preacher John Tauler and the writer Henry Suso. An influence on the Friends of God, although remaining in the background, was the secular priest Henry of Nördlingen,[4] from the Bavarian Oberland, who met Tauler and Suso in Basel in 1339. Henry had a great deal of interaction with other Bavarian and German mystics[5] and introduced the Friends of God to The Flowing Light of the Deity by Mechthild of Magdeburg.
The group achieved a nascent institutional form in 1367 when wealthy layman Rulman Merswin purchased and restored a derelict monastery in Strasbourg known as the grünenwörth ('Green Isle').[6] Grünenwörth served as a refuge for study for the Friends of God and as a “school of prophets” which produced a number of mystical texts.[7] Merswin is suspected of being the anonymous author The Friend of God from the Oberland.[8]
The Friends of God, as led by Tauler and Suso, sought a mystical path in line with established Catholic doctrine, following Thomas Aquinas. Rulman Merswin, under the guidance of The Friend of God from the Oberland, wanted to purify the Church. This stress on reform brought The Friends of God into conflict with the Church and not long after Merswin’s death in 1382, they were condemned.[1]
After Merswin's death, some sources claim that Nicholas of Basel became the leader. He was eventually burned at the stake with two of his followers for heresy at Vienna around 1395.[9] The relationship of Nicholas of Basel to the Friends of God is unclear as he was condemned as a Beghard.[10]
Another prominent member, Martin of Mainz, a follower of Nicholas of Basel, was also burned for heresy in 1393.[10]
BeliefsEdit
Many leaders of the group were executed for heresy because they criticized the corruption of Catholicsm, they believed that there will soon be judgement from God on the church. The group was a democratic lay movement, and they held holiness, love, piety and devotion as important.[11] The movement was a mysticist movement and they held great importance in rescuing other peoples' souls.[12]
^ abLeff, Gordon. Heresy in the Later Middle Ages: The Relation of Heterodoxy to Dissent, c. 1250 – c. 1450, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1967 (reprinted by Sandpiper Book, 1999), p. 383
^"Friends of God | religious group | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
^"Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume VI: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1294-1517 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library". www.ccel.org. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
Works citedEdit
McGinn, Bernard (2005). The Harvest of Mysticism in Medieval Germany (The Presence of God Volume 4). The Crossroad Publishing Company.
Further readingEdit
Rufus M. Jones, Studies in Mystical Religion, Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, no date (originally published London: Macmillan, 1909)
Gordon Leff, Heresy in the Later Middle Ages: The Relation of Heterodoxy to Dissent, c. 1250 – c. 1450, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1967 (reprinted by Sandpiper Book, 1999)
External linksEdit
"The Friends of God" (Schaff - CCEL)
October 20, 2023
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This article is about the medieval mystical group For the documentary about evangelicals by Alexandra Pelosi see Friends of God film The Friends of God German Gottesfreunde or gotesvriunde was a medieval mystical group of both ecclesiastical and lay persons 1 within the Catholic Church though it nearly became a separate sect and a center of German mysticism It was founded between 1339 and 1343 during the Avignon Papacy of the Western Schism a time of great turmoil for the Catholic Church The Friends of God were originally centered in Basel Switzerland and were also fairly important in Strasbourg and Cologne Some late nineteenth century writers made large claims for the movement seeing it both as influential in fourteenth century mysticism and as a precursor of the Protestant Reformation Modern studies of the movement have emphasised the derivative and often second rate character of its mystical literature and its limited impact on medieval literature in Germany 2 Some of the movement s ideas still prefigured the Protestant reformation 3 Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Beliefs 4 Texts 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Works cited 7 Further reading 8 External linksName EditThe name Friends of God may have been influenced by various sources A number of biblical passages use the term e g Judges 8 22 James 2 23 Exodus 33 11 Psalm 138 17 Wisdom 7 27 Lk 12 4 John 15 15 The concept of friendship with God had also been applied by various medieval authors and particularly among Meister Eckhart and his followers 2 History EditThe movement grew out of the preaching and teaching of Meister Eckhart and especially his Dominican spiritual heirs the preacher John Tauler and the writer Henry Suso An influence on the Friends of God although remaining in the background was the secular priest Henry of Nordlingen 4 from the Bavarian Oberland who met Tauler and Suso in Basel in 1339 Henry had a great deal of interaction with other Bavarian and German mystics 5 and introduced the Friends of God to The Flowing Light of the Deity by Mechthild of Magdeburg The group achieved a nascent institutional form in 1367 when wealthy layman Rulman Merswin purchased and restored a derelict monastery in Strasbourg known as the grunenworth Green Isle 6 Grunenworth served as a refuge for study for the Friends of God and as a school of prophets which produced a number of mystical texts 7 Merswin is suspected of being the anonymous author The Friend of God from the Oberland 8 The Friends of God as led by Tauler and Suso sought a mystical path in line with established Catholic doctrine following Thomas Aquinas Rulman Merswin under the guidance of The Friend of God from the Oberland wanted to purify the Church This stress on reform brought The Friends of God into conflict with the Church and not long after Merswin s death in 1382 they were condemned 1 After Merswin s death some sources claim that Nicholas of Basel became the leader He was eventually burned at the stake with two of his followers for heresy at Vienna around 1395 9 The relationship of Nicholas of Basel to the Friends of God is unclear as he was condemned as a Beghard 10 Another prominent member Martin of Mainz a follower of Nicholas of Basel was also burned for heresy in 1393 10 Beliefs EditMany leaders of the group were executed for heresy because they criticized the corruption of Catholicsm they believed that there will soon be judgement from God on the church The group was a democratic lay movement and they held holiness love piety and devotion as important 11 The movement was a mysticist movement and they held great importance in rescuing other peoples souls 12 Texts EditA number of mystical texts are associated with The Friends of God most notably the Theologia Germanica and the Book of the Nine Rocks Many of the works were attributed to The Friend of God from the Oberland although probably written by Rulman Merswin himself 7 nbsp Christianity portalSee also EditMargaretha Ebner The Friend of God from the Oberland Theologia GermanicaReferences Edit a b Walsh Reginald Friends of God The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 6 New York Robert Appleton Company 1909 6 December 2017 a b McGinn 2005 p 408 Friends of God religious group Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2021 12 19 Dictionary of German Biography Volume 8 Walther Killy et al eds K G Saur Verlag Gmbh amp Co Reprint 2011 ed Edition p 493 Catholic Encyclopedia McGinn 2005 p 417 a b Jones Rufus M Studies in Mystical Religion Eugene OR Wipf and Stock no date pp 247 252 originally published London Macmillan 1909 Weeks Andrew German Mysticism From Hildegard of Bingen to Ludwig Wittgenstein SUNY Press 1993 p 94 ISBN 9780791414194 Nicholas of Basel BrillOnLine a b Leff Gordon Heresy in the Later Middle Ages The Relation of Heterodoxy to Dissent c 1250 c 1450 Manchester Manchester University Press 1967 reprinted by Sandpiper Book 1999 p 383 Friends of God religious group Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 2021 12 13 Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church Volume VI The Middle Ages A D 1294 1517 Christian Classics Ethereal Library www ccel org Retrieved 2021 12 28 Works cited Edit McGinn Bernard 2005 The Harvest of Mysticism in Medieval Germany The Presence of God Volume 4 The Crossroad Publishing Company Further reading EditRufus M Jones Studies in Mystical Religion Eugene OR Wipf and Stock no date originally published London Macmillan 1909 Gordon Leff Heresy in the Later Middle Ages The Relation of Heterodoxy to Dissent c 1250 c 1450 Manchester Manchester University Press 1967 reprinted by Sandpiper Book 1999 External links Edit The Friends of God Schaff CCEL Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Friends of God amp oldid 1177022350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
