What do you think?
Rate this book
The Spiritual Espousals: Translated From the Dutch, With an Introduction
Explore a medieval mystic’s path to divine unity and the care it takes to read him rightly.
This introduction situates Jan van Ruysbroek in his time, explaining how his writings teach a contemplative life focused on seeking God Himself, not His creatures. It also clears up common misreadings, showing how later debates about his work arose and how scholars have approached his thought with care and caution.
The pages guide readers through the historical context, the author’s life and aims, and the tricky reception of his most famous work. It highlights how translation choices have shaped understanding, and why a fuller portrait of Ruysbroek is essential to grasp the deeper message of the Espousals. You’ll see how biographers and editors contributed to both the esteem and controversy surrounding a figure who remains influential for readers of mysticism and church history. What Ruysbroek chose to emphasize about interior practice and ascent toward God How the book’s reception and translations affected later interpretations Why understanding the writer’s times matters for reading the Espousals How this edition frames the life, humility, and spiritual aims behind the text Ideal for readers of Christian mysticism, medieval theology, and library editions that illuminate how a translator’s choices influence meaning. This edition is a helpful companion for anyone seeking to understand the spiritual aims behind the Espousals and the historical debates around Ruysbroek’s teachings.
This introduction situates Jan van Ruysbroek in his time, explaining how his writings teach a contemplative life focused on seeking God Himself, not His creatures. It also clears up common misreadings, showing how later debates about his work arose and how scholars have approached his thought with care and caution.
The pages guide readers through the historical context, the author’s life and aims, and the tricky reception of his most famous work. It highlights how translation choices have shaped understanding, and why a fuller portrait of Ruysbroek is essential to grasp the deeper message of the Espousals. You’ll see how biographers and editors contributed to both the esteem and controversy surrounding a figure who remains influential for readers of mysticism and church history. What Ruysbroek chose to emphasize about interior practice and ascent toward God How the book’s reception and translations affected later interpretations Why understanding the writer’s times matters for reading the Espousals How this edition frames the life, humility, and spiritual aims behind the text Ideal for readers of Christian mysticism, medieval theology, and library editions that illuminate how a translator’s choices influence meaning. This edition is a helpful companion for anyone seeking to understand the spiritual aims behind the Espousals and the historical debates around Ruysbroek’s teachings.
198 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1343
About the author
Jan van Ruusbroec
115 books17 followersJan (Johannes) van Ruusbroec of Ruysbroeck, ook "de Wonderbare" genoemd wordt beschouwd als een van de grootste mystici van de zuidelijke Nederlanden. Zijn werk, oorspronkelijk geschreven in het Middelnederlands, werd algauw vertaald in het Latijn.
Zijn studies aan de kapittelschool in Brussel werden bekostigd door zijn oom Jan Hinckaert, een rijke priester en kapelaan van de Sint-Goedelekerk te Brussel. Vanaf 1317 was hij op zijn beurt gedurende vijfentwintig jaar kapelaan van Sint-Goedele. Over deze episode uit zijn leven is verder slechts weinig gekend.
Rond 1339 besloten zijn oom, hijzelf en een jonge kanunnik, Vrank van Coudenberg, zich terug te trekken en in afzondering te gaan leven. Vanaf 1343 betrokken ze de kluis van Groenendaal en in 1350 stichtten ze een klooster van reguliere kanunniken (Augustijnen). Alhoewel hij geen overste van het klooster was en in geleerdheid moest onderdoen voor magister Vrank werd hij toch de centrale figuur van de gemeenschap door zijn uitzonderlijk mystieke roeping. Zijn reputatie groeide en vele machtige en belangrijke figuren kwamen hem in Groenendaal opzoeken. Na zijn dood kreeg hij de bijnaam 'admirabilis' ("de wonderbare"), en hij wordt momenteel tot één van de grootste mystici uit de wereldliteratuur gerekend. In 1908 werd hij zalig verklaard door Paus Pius X.
Jan (Johannes) van Ruusbroec of Ruysbroeck, also known as the "Blessed" is considered one of the greatest mystics of the southern Netherlands. His work, originally written in Middle Dutch, was soon translated into Latin.
His studies at the collegiate school in Brussels were paid for by his uncle Jan Hinckaert, a wealthy priest and chaplain of St. Goedele Church in Brussels. From 1317 on he was also chaplain of St. Goedele for twenty-five years. We know very little about this episode in his life.
Around 1339 he decided, together with his uncle and a young canon, Vrank (Francis) van Coudenberg, to withdraw and to live in seclusion. From 1343 they moved into the hermitage of Groenendaal and in 1350 they founded a convent of canons regular. Although he was not the leader of the monastery and was inferior to master van Coudenberg in scholarship, he nevertheless became the central figure of the community through his extraordinary mystical vocation. His reputation grew and many powerful and important people came to see him in Groenendaal . After his death , he was nicknamed "admirabilis", and he is now considered one of the greatest mystics of the world literature. He was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1908.
Zijn studies aan de kapittelschool in Brussel werden bekostigd door zijn oom Jan Hinckaert, een rijke priester en kapelaan van de Sint-Goedelekerk te Brussel. Vanaf 1317 was hij op zijn beurt gedurende vijfentwintig jaar kapelaan van Sint-Goedele. Over deze episode uit zijn leven is verder slechts weinig gekend.
Rond 1339 besloten zijn oom, hijzelf en een jonge kanunnik, Vrank van Coudenberg, zich terug te trekken en in afzondering te gaan leven. Vanaf 1343 betrokken ze de kluis van Groenendaal en in 1350 stichtten ze een klooster van reguliere kanunniken (Augustijnen). Alhoewel hij geen overste van het klooster was en in geleerdheid moest onderdoen voor magister Vrank werd hij toch de centrale figuur van de gemeenschap door zijn uitzonderlijk mystieke roeping. Zijn reputatie groeide en vele machtige en belangrijke figuren kwamen hem in Groenendaal opzoeken. Na zijn dood kreeg hij de bijnaam 'admirabilis' ("de wonderbare"), en hij wordt momenteel tot één van de grootste mystici uit de wereldliteratuur gerekend. In 1908 werd hij zalig verklaard door Paus Pius X.
Jan (Johannes) van Ruusbroec of Ruysbroeck, also known as the "Blessed" is considered one of the greatest mystics of the southern Netherlands. His work, originally written in Middle Dutch, was soon translated into Latin.
His studies at the collegiate school in Brussels were paid for by his uncle Jan Hinckaert, a wealthy priest and chaplain of St. Goedele Church in Brussels. From 1317 on he was also chaplain of St. Goedele for twenty-five years. We know very little about this episode in his life.
Around 1339 he decided, together with his uncle and a young canon, Vrank (Francis) van Coudenberg, to withdraw and to live in seclusion. From 1343 they moved into the hermitage of Groenendaal and in 1350 they founded a convent of canons regular. Although he was not the leader of the monastery and was inferior to master van Coudenberg in scholarship, he nevertheless became the central figure of the community through his extraordinary mystical vocation. His reputation grew and many powerful and important people came to see him in Groenendaal . After his death , he was nicknamed "admirabilis", and he is now considered one of the greatest mystics of the world literature. He was beatified by Pope Pius X in 1908.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 17, 2025
Ur so fucking humanist baby😩
February 8, 2015
't zal allemaal best intellectueel zijn, maar voor mij iets te zware kost.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews