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{{Short description|German mystic}} |
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{{Christian mysticism}} |
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==Life== |
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He was originally a successful merchant in [[Strasbourg]]. In [[1347]], he retired from business to join the [[Friends of God]] as one of mystic [[Johannes Tauler]]'s disciples. |
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Born into an important family in [[Strasbourg]], at the time a free city of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], Rulman Merswin became a banker and amassed a large fortune. Always “a man of watchful conscience and of great fear of God,” he gave up business at age 40, “took leave of the world,” and devoted himself to God as a layman, after the manner of the [[Third Order of Saint Francis|Franciscan Tertiaries]], or the [[Waldensians]]. Embarking on his new spiritual life, Merswin was moved to keep his money “to use for God,” a decision which precipitated an experience of ecstasy; he felt himself float off the ground and fly around the garden. |
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Although married to Gertrude of Bietenheim, Merswin resolved to remain celibate. This led to struggles against evil temptation, which he tried to quell through extreme ascetic practices. On the advice of [[Johannes Tauler]], his confessor, Merswin gave up self-mortification. He then fell into severe depression, convinced he was destined for eternal [[damnation]] in the fires of [[Hell]]; however, he persevered and found, “the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit.” He heard voices and often fell into states of ecstasy. ''In The Story of the First Four Years of a New Life'' (which his secretary, Nikolaus von Löwen, claimed was found in a locked cabinet after Merswin's death), Merswin recounts a meeting with a mysterious [[The Friend of God from the Oberland|Friend of God from the Oberland]], a confessor, prophet and teacher, to whom Merswin submitted himself completely. |
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In 1367, he purchased an old cloister on an island near [[Strasbourg]], and called it "''das grüne Wört''" ("''the green island''"). The house served as a refuge for study for the [[Friends of God]]. In [[1371]], it was put under the care of the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of St. John]]. |
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Johannes Tauler brought Merswin into the [[Friends of God]], a lay religious society with a mystical focus. |
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Merswin is generally considered the author of many writings attributed to the "[[Friend of God from the Oberland]]." |
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In 1367, Merswin purchased an old cloister on an island near Strasbourg to serve as a refuge for study for the Friends of God and as a “school of prophets.” The house, which he called "das grüne Wört" or Grünenwörth ("the green island"), produced a number of mystical texts, such as the [[Book of the Nine Rocks]]. Many of the works were attributed to The Friend of God from the Oberland, although probably written by Merswin himself.<ref>[[Rufus M. Jones]], ''Studies in Mystical Religion'', Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, no date pp. 247-252 (originally published London: Macmillan, 1909)</ref> In 1371, Grünenwörth was put under the care of the Knights of St. John. |
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The Friends of God, as led by Tauler and [[Henry 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.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06306a.htm ''Catholic Encyclopedia'', The Friends of God</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Christianity}} |
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* [[Christian Mysticism]] |
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* [[Theologia Germanica]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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* [http://www.gnostic.org/underhill/mysticism1_0-the-3.html a text containing some biographical information]. |
* [http://www.gnostic.org/underhill/mysticism1_0-the-3.html a text containing some biographical information]. |
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* [https://www.angelfire.com/ok3/apologia/fog.html The Friends of God] |
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* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06306a.htm Entry on "Friends of God"] in the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06306a.htm Entry on "Friends of God"] in the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |
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* [ |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110122235118/http://ileverte.moncelon.fr/ Rulman Merswin] (in French) |
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* http://wn.rsarchive.org/Books/GA007/English/GA007_About.html |
* http://wn.rsarchive.org/Books/GA007/English/GA007_About.html |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{religion-stub}} |
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[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]] |
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[[Category:1382 deaths]] |
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[[Category:14th-century Christian mystics]] |
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[[Category:Roman Catholic mystics]] |
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{{Christianity-bio-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 05:30, 9 July 2024
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Rulman Merswin (c. 1307 – 1382) was a German mystic, leader for a time of the Friends of God.
Life
[edit]Born into an important family in Strasbourg, at the time a free city of the Holy Roman Empire, Rulman Merswin became a banker and amassed a large fortune. Always “a man of watchful conscience and of great fear of God,” he gave up business at age 40, “took leave of the world,” and devoted himself to God as a layman, after the manner of the Franciscan Tertiaries, or the Waldensians. Embarking on his new spiritual life, Merswin was moved to keep his money “to use for God,” a decision which precipitated an experience of ecstasy; he felt himself float off the ground and fly around the garden.
Although married to Gertrude of Bietenheim, Merswin resolved to remain celibate. This led to struggles against evil temptation, which he tried to quell through extreme ascetic practices. On the advice of Johannes Tauler, his confessor, Merswin gave up self-mortification. He then fell into severe depression, convinced he was destined for eternal damnation in the fires of Hell; however, he persevered and found, “the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit.” He heard voices and often fell into states of ecstasy. In The Story of the First Four Years of a New Life (which his secretary, Nikolaus von Löwen, claimed was found in a locked cabinet after Merswin's death), Merswin recounts a meeting with a mysterious Friend of God from the Oberland, a confessor, prophet and teacher, to whom Merswin submitted himself completely.
Johannes Tauler brought Merswin into the Friends of God, a lay religious society with a mystical focus.
In 1367, Merswin purchased an old cloister on an island near Strasbourg to serve as a refuge for study for the Friends of God and as a “school of prophets.” The house, which he called "das grüne Wört" or Grünenwörth ("the green island"), produced a number of mystical texts, such as the Book of the Nine Rocks. Many of the works were attributed to The Friend of God from the Oberland, although probably written by Merswin himself.[1] In 1371, Grünenwörth was put under the care of the Knights of St. John.
The Friends of God, as led by Tauler and Henry 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.[2]
See also
[edit]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Rufus M. Jones, Studies in Mystical Religion, Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, no date pp. 247-252 (originally published London: Macmillan, 1909)
- ^ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06306a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia, The Friends of God
External links
[edit]- a text containing some biographical information.
- The Friends of God
- Entry on "Friends of God" in the Catholic Encyclopedia
- Rulman Merswin (in French)
- http://wn.rsarchive.org/Books/GA007/English/GA007_About.html
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