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 THOMAS

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THOMAS

fact that Thomas was not clothed as a novice until 1406, at which date the cloister was just completed, nor ordained priest until 1413, the year after the church was consecrated. The point is worth noting, as some writers in their eagerness to discredit the claims of a Kempis to the authorship of the "Imita- tion" have actually fastened upon the length of this period of probation to insinuate that he was a dullard or worse. Thomas was himself, to within a few months of his death, the chronicler of Agnetenberg. The story which he tells of the early struggles of the priory on the Mount, its steady progress, and eventual prosperity is full of charm and edification ("The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes", London, 1906). These records reveal to us the sim- plicity and holiness of his religious brethren. He was twice elected subprior, and once he was made proc- urator. The reason assigned by an ancient biog- rapher for the latter appointment is one that does honour both to Thomas and his brethren, his love for the poor. However, we can scarcely imagine the author of the "Imitation" a good business manager, and after a time his preference for retirement, literary work, and contemplation prevailed with the Canons to relieve him of the burden. The experience thus gained he made use of in a spiritual treatise, "De fideli dispensatore".

His first tenure of office as subprior was interrupted by the exile of the community from Agnetenberg (1429), occasioned by the unpopular observance by the Canons of Windcsheim of an interdict laid upon the country by Martin V. A dispute had arisen in connexion with an appointment to the vacant See of Utrecht and an interdict was upon the land. The Canons remained in exile until the question was set- tled (1432). The community of Mount St. Agnes had dwelt meanwhile in a canonry of Lunenkerk, which they reformed and affiliated to Windesheim. More than a year of this trying period Thomjis spent with his brother John in the convent of Bethany, near Amheim, where he had been sent to assist and comfort his brother, who was ailing. He remained until his death (November, 1432). We find record of his elec- tion as subprior again in 1448, and doubtless he re- mained in office until age and infirmity procured hiin release. It was part of the subprior's duties to train the young religious, and to this fact no doubt w'e owe most of his minor treatises, in particular his "Sermons to the Novices Regular" (tr. London, 1907). We also know from early biographers that Thomas frequently preached in the church attached to the priory. Two similar series of these sermons are extant (tr. " Prayers and Meditations on the Life of Christ" and "The Incarnation and Life of Our Lord", London, 1904, 1907). They treat of a Kempis's favourite subjects, the mystery of our Redemption, and the love of Jesus Christ as shown in His words and works, but especially in the sufferings of His Passion. In person Thomas is described as a man of middle height, dark com- plexion and vivid colouring, with a broad forehead and piercing eyes; kind and affable towards all, especially the sorrowful and afflicted; constantly engaged in his favourite occupations of reading, writing, or prayer; in time of recreation for the most part silent and recollected, finding it difficult even to express an opinion on matters of mundane interest, but pouring out a ready torrent of eloquence when the conversation turned on God or the concerns of the soul. At such times often he would excuse himself, "My brethren," he would say, "I must go: Someone is waiting to converse with me in my cell. " A possi- bly authentic portrait, preserved at Gertruidenberg, bears as his motto the words: "In omnibvis requiem qua>sivi et nusquam inveni nisi in een Hoecken met een Boecken" (Everywhere I have sought rest and found it nowhere, save in little nooks with little books). He was laid to rest in the eastern cloister in

a spot carefully noted by the oontinuator of his chronicle. Two centuries after the Reformation, during which the priory was destroyed, the holy re- mains were transferred to Zwolle and enclosed in a handsome reliquary by Maximilian Hendrik, Prince- Bishop of Cologne. At present they are enshrined in St. Michael's Church, Zwolle, in a magnificent monument erected in 1897 by subscriptions from all over the world and inscribed; "Honori, non memori» Thomae Kempensis, cujus nonien perennius quam monumentum" (To the honoiu- not to the memory of Thomas a Kempis, whose name is more enduring than an}' monument). It is interesting to recall that the same Ma.ximilian Hendrik, who showed such zeal in preserving and honouring the relics of a Kempis, was also eager to see the cause of his beatification intro- duced, and began to collect the necessary documents; but little more than a beginning was made when he died (1688) and since that date no further steps have been taken.

A few words on Thomas's claim, once disputed but now hardly so, to the authorship of the "Imitation of Christ". The book was first issued anonymously (1418) and was soon accorded a wide welcome, copied by different scribes, and attributed to various spiritual writers, among others St. Bernard, St. Bonaventure, Henry de Kalkar, Innocent III, Jean Charlier de Gerson, and John a Kempis. In 1441 Thomas com- pleted and signed his name to a codex still extant (Royal Library, Brussels, 58.5.5-61), containing the four books of the "Imitation" and nine minor trea- tises. Then for two hundred years no serious attempt was made to dispossess a Kempis of his title; but early in the seventeenth century a fierce and prolonged con- troversy was commenced with the object of establish- ing the claim either of Jean Charlier de Gerson, Chancellor of Paris, or of his Italian variant, Giovanni Gersen, alleged Benedictine Abbot of Vercelli. At one period an Englishman, Walter Hilton, Canon Regular of Thurgarton, the author of the "Scale (Ladder) of Perfection", was brought forwa''d, but his claim was not long maintained. Incredible as it may sound, the very existence of Giovanni Gersen of Vercelli is yet to be proved. Of Jean Charlier de Gerson the following facts have been established and they may be found demonstrated at length in such works as Cruise, "Thomas a Kempis", and Kettle- well, "The Author.ship of the De Imitatione Christi". Not a single contemporary witness is found in Gersen's favour; not a single manuscript during his life or for thirty years after fiis death ascribes the work to him ; internal evidence, style, matter, etc. are in every respect unfavourable. On the other hand we find the title of a Kempis proved by the following: several contemporary witnesses of unimpeachable authority, including members of his own order, name Thomas as the author; contemporary MSS., including one auto- graph codex, bear his name; internal evidence is wholly favourable. Sir Francis Cruise summarizes this last item under three headings: (1) identity of style, including peculiarities common to the "Imita- tion" and other undisputed works of a Kempis, viz.: barbarisms, Italianized words, Dutch idioms, .sys- tematic rhythmical punctuation, and the word rfci'ofiw as used primarily of associates of the new devotion; (2) The "Imitation" breathes the whole spirit of the Windesheim school of mysticism; (3) it is impreg- nated throughout with the Scri))! urcs and the WTitinga of the Fathers, especially St. .\ugustine and Bernard, all favourite founts of inspiration for a Kempis and his fellow {^uions of Windesheim. The "Imitation" itself, the best known and the first in order of merit of his original writings, comprises in bulk about one- tenth of the works of a Kempis, Many were originally instructions for the novices and jtmior Canons of whom, as subprior, Thomius had charge; others are spiritual treatises of wider ai)plication and some of