Companion to John of Ruusbroec

John Arblaster is a research associate in theology at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven). His research focuses on the doctrine of deification in the Latin West, with a particular emphasis on authors from the late medieval Low Countries.Rob Faesen (PhD, University of Antwerp, 1997) is professor of theology at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) and of arts at the University of Antwerp. He has published extensively on Ruusbroec and the Middle Dutch mystical tradition.

“The articles in A Companion to John of Ruusbroec are solid, lucid, and rooted in Ruusbroec’s writings and the relevant secondary literature. They address satisfactorily the central questions associated with his life, mysticism, manuscript tradition, influence, and historiography. Moreover, enhancing and providing further clarification … are numerous maps and illustrations (several of which are in color), including maps of fourteenth-century Brussels and Ruusbroec’s world in the Brabant, and images of manuscript versions of his works as well as printed editions. Indeed, the Companion is a superlative collection of articles and could certainly now be considered the starting point for native English speakers – and really anyone – interested in John of Ruusbroec.”Andrew J.G. Drenas, University of Massachusetts-Lowell. In: Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 45, No. 1 (2015), pp. 148-150.“the present volume is a welcome contribution to the work of this important late medieval mystic.”John T. Slotemaker, Fairfield University. In: Religious Studies Review, Vol. 42, No. 4 (December 2016), p. 302.

• List of ContributorsList of Maps and IllustrationsIntroductionJohn Arblaster & Rob FaesenMysticism in the Low Countries Before RuusbroecJohn Arblaster & Rob FaesenJohn of Ruusbroec’s Life and WorksJohn Arblaster & Rob FaesenRuusbroec in Edition: Manuscript and PrintGuido de Baere Ruusbroec the AuthorHilde Noë Essential Themes in Ruusbroec’s MysticismBernard McGinnRuusbroec as a Theologian: The Holy SpiritLieve UyttenhoveRuusbroec, Jordaens, and Herp on the Common Life: The Transformation of a Spiritual IdealRik Van NieuwenhoveRuusbroec in Latin: Impulses and ImpedimentsKees SchepersRuusbroec’s Influence Until c.1800Jos AndriessenOverview of Ruusbroec ResearchLoet SwartAppendices (Middle Dutch texts related to Ruusbroec translated by John Arblaster):Appendix One: Pseudo-HadewijchAppendix Two: Two Poems attributed to RuusbroecAppendix Three: The Prologue by Brother Gerard of Saintes Appendix Four: The Epilogue by the ‘Descendant’ (Nacomelinc)Appendix Five: The Eulogy of John of Ruusbroec by Jan van LeeuwenBibliographyIndex