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Jan Van Ruusbroec was a Flemish mystic, theologian, and religious writer who is most renowned for his spiritual works. Born in the town of Groenendaal, near Brussels, Belgium, Ruusbroec was the son of a parish priest and grew up in an environment of faith and devotion to God.
He was educated at the University of Paris and later became a canon regular at the Augustinian monastery in Groenendaal, where he eventually became the prior. As a theologian, Ruusbroec was heavily influenced by the works of Meister Eckhart and was in turn an influence on his contemporaries, including the English mystic Julian of Norwich.
His spiritual works focused on the contemplative life, drawing a distinction between the active and contemplative life and emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that incorporated both. He also wrote treatises on the nature of the Church and the sacraments and was an advocate of ecumenical dialogue.
Ruusbroec’s works were widely circulated in Europe during the 14th century and he is credited with helping to spread the ideas of mysticism throughout the continent. His works were eventually translated into German, Dutch, and English, and he is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Christian mysticism. Ruusbroec died in 1381 and was buried in the Augustinian monastery in Groenendaal.
D. Ioannis Rusbrochii summi atque sanctiss. viri, quem insignis quidam theologus alterum Dionysium Areopagitam appelat, Opera omnia: nunc demùm post annos fermè ducentos è Brabantiae Germanico idiomate reditta Latinè per F. Laurentium Surium, Carthusiae Coloniensis alumnum. Coloniae, ex officina Haeredum Ioannis Quentel, 1552; In-2 : a8 *b6 a-z4 aa-zz4 aaa-zzz4
❡ Contemporary limp vellum cover, with some handwriting, fragments of a medieval manuscript inside, Annotation (ex libris) on title page ➤
