HERMANN of FRITZLAR. – An ascetic writer of the fourteenth century, probably a layman, who composed in German the little book Blume der Beschauung und der göttlichen Übungen.
It is a “hasty compilation,” according to H. Deniffe (Archiv für Literatur und Kirchengeschichte des Mittelalters, II, p. 530, note). J. W. Preger (Geschichte der deutschen Mystik im Mittelalter, II, Leipzig 1881, pp. 426–34) provides its text. H. of F. mentions this work of his in the collection of lives of saints in the form of sermons, composed from 1343 to 1349 and published by F. Pfeiffer (Deutsche Mystiker des 14. Jahrhunderts, I, there 1845, pp. 1–258). In the sermons, the author speaks in the first person of journeys to Rome, Salerno, Amalfi, Bari, and other places; he recounts Italian popular customs. Apart from Giselher of Slatheim, whose contribution was overestimated by Preger, the sermons are to be attributed to several authors. Their dependence on the Passionali is also evident, and perhaps on Italian sermons. The doctrine of the birth of the divine Word in the soul is alluded to there.
BBL.: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, s. V. VIII, p. 118 ff.; XXXI, p. 551 ff.; Kar. Schrödl., s. V. in Kirchenlexikon, V, col. 1809 ff.; F. Wilhelm, Deutsche Legenden u. Legendare, Leipzig 1907, pp. 146–74; G. Liechenheim, Studien zum Heiligenleben H. u. P., Halle 1916. Ignazio Backes