late 13th century–1473

Rhineland Mysticism and the 'New Devotion' (Devotio Moderna)

The Dominican Meister Eckhart taught Neoplatonic contemplation of the ineffable God and spoke of a "divine spark" in the soul. He was charged with heresy in 1326 and posthumously condemned by the pope in 1329. His teaching, however, was popularized by his disciples Johannes Tauler and Henry Suso. Tauler nursed the sick during the Black Death.

The Flemish Jan van Ruusbroec and Geert Groote built on this the "modern devotion" (devotio moderna). It meant imitation of Christ's life, frequent communion, and practical holiness without elaborate speculation. Groote founded the Brethren of the Common Life. Its schools at Deventer and Windesheim educated many reformers, including Erasmus of Rotterdam.

The movement's best-known fruit was the treatise "The Imitation of Christ". It is attributed to Thomas à Kempis, who entered the Windesheim community in 1399 and died in 1471. By 1427 its four books already circulated separately. The first printed edition of all four (1473) spawned countless reprints.