Directory of Brethren of the Common Life Resources

Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Christianity > Church History > The Reformation > Pre-Reformation > Brethren of the Common Life

Around 1350 the Brethren of the Common Life, founded by Gerhard Groote, made an attempt to reform the church. Their teachings were called Devotio Moderna (The New Devotion.) This group founded schools, from which came many men who did much to promote learning and piety. Luther attended one of their schools in Magdeburg for one year. Three other pupils who attended were John of Wessel, Erasmus and Thomas a Kempis.

Resources in This Category

• Brethren of the Common Life

  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04166b.htm
  A Catholic Encyclopedia article.

• Devotio Moderna: The Brethren of the Common Life

  http://www.eldrbarry.net/heidel/bcl.htm
  Description of the movement and its teachings.

• Florens Radewyns

  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12631b.htm
  A co-founder, with Groote, of the movement.

• Johann Wessel (Wessel Harmenss Gansfort)

  http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc12/Page_311.html
  Four pages on Wessel in the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge.

• John Wessel Goesport (Gansfort)

  http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15590a.htm
  Catholic Encyclopedia article on this member of the Brethren of the Common Life.

• Thomas a Kempis

  http://prayerfoundation.org/favoritemonks/favorite_monks_thomas_a_kempis.htm
  A short description of his connection with the Brethren of the Common Life.

 

Home > Society > Religion and Spirituality > Christianity > Church History > The Reformation > Pre-Reformation > Brethren of the Common Life

 

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