Gerard of Sterngassen

GERARD OF STERNGASSEN. - Dominican mystic of the 14th century. Brother of John of Sterngassen (v.), G. was a lector in theology and a man trusted by many people, as his quality of executor of wills proves. Although a confrere of Eckhart at Cologne, he did not undergo the influence of the latter's doctrine, but adhered to the school and the texts of St. Thomas.

He left a sermon preached to the Antonites of Cologne, preserved in the Life of the saints of Hermann of Fritzlar, published by F. Pfeiffer in Deutsche Mystiker, I, Leipzig 1845, pp. 60-63, and as his principal work the Medela animae languentii, whose text, somewhat reduced, M. Grabmann has described in the Munich codex Clm. 13587, comparing it with the two parts preserved in codices of Trier, namely part 1 (Pratum animae) in cod. 589 of the Municipal Library of Trier and part 2 (Medela) in codex 126 of the Major Seminary of Trier.

In part 1 G. treats of the vices, bringing examples from the lives of the Desert Fathers and descriptions of the conflict of vices and virtues; he does not keep silent about the conditions of his contemporaries; after the mention of the vicious he depicts the eschatological states. Part 2 is devoted to the doctrine of the Christian virtues, preceded by the exposition of the question on Grace and merit, all in close dependence on St. Thomas. With care G. explains charity as friendship with God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of contemplation is found in the chapter on the beatitudes. The explanation of the contemplative life is fuller than in St. Thomas, enlivened by examples, and more theological than psychological.

Angelo Wala