ESCHIUS (VAN EESCH), NIKOLAUS. — An ascetic-mystical theologian and representative of the practical GERANO (v.) Groot, born at Oosterwijk in Brabant in 1507, died at Diest (Belgium) on 19 July 1578. He studied at the school of the Brethren of the Common Life at Hertogenbusch and at the University of Louvain. Ordained a priest in 1530, he went to Cologne as tutor in the household of H. Herli and devoted himself successfully to the education of youth.
Among others, his pupils included L. Surio (v.) and S. Pietro Canisio, who was greatly influenced by him and expressed his high esteem for him (Confessionum, I, ed. Braunsberger, Freiburg im Br. 1896, pp. 17–18).
E.’s frail health prevented him from taking the Carthusian habit, and he had to be content with receiving hospitality in a house of the Order. In 1539 he was appointed director of the Beguinage of S. Caterina at Diest, of which he may be considered the second founder; Cardinal Granvella appointed him archpriest of that deanery.
He wrote works of ascetic and mystical theology, addressed particularly to persons living in the world who wished to pursue a higher ideal of Christian life: Coronem Phalestium in laudem D. Dionysii Carthusiani, in Dionysii II. contra Alchovanum (Cologne 1533); Die grote evangelische Perle (Antwerp 1544), Latin edition: Margarita evangelica (Cologne 1545); Corte end heyligen regel' von leven (Latin edition: Isagoge seu Introductio in vitam universam, Antwerp 1563, with the Templum animae); Exercitia theologiae mysticae (ibid. 1563); Exercitia spiritualia, quae compendio hominem in Deum transformare quaent, auth. D. N. Eschio magnae apud Brabantes existimationis et pietatis vitro (Rome 1612). He translated from G. Taulero: Exercitia de vita et passione Salvatoris (Cologne 1548, Antwerp 1551, 1565); the edition contains in an appendix: Adiuncta sunt fere eiusdem argumenti alia quaedam exercitia prorsus divina, auth. D. N. Eschio. In Italian translation: Meditazioni pie et dicore di N. Giovanni Taulero sopra la Vita et Passione di Giess Christo. Tradutti in vulgare fiorentino dal rev.mo mons. Alessandro Stracci, gentilhomo fiorentino, e vescovo di Volterra. Appresso alcuni eserciti non men cattolici che dotti di M. Nicolò Eschio, tradutti per lo medesimo (Florence 1572).