PETERS, GERLACH

PETERS, Gerlach. — One of the most notable authors of the *Devotio moderna*; b. at Deventer in 1378, he entered as a canon regular of St Augustine at Windesheim, where he d. in 1411.

Apart from two letters in the "thiois" dialect dealing with spiritual life, P. wrote two Latin treatises, the *Breviioguium* and the *Soliloquium ignitum* (Latin ed. by J. Stange, Cologne 1849). The latter especially enjoyed great renown and was translated into various European languages. From it there emanates a spiritual doctrine which, resting on a solid ascetic foundation, takes on a lofty mystical flight; in it one recognizes the disciple of Ruysbroeck, who nonetheless truly lived what he wrote. P. died in a reputation for holiness after enduring great physical sufferings.

Bibl.: Vita in J. Busch, *Chronicon Windeshemense*, ed. K. Grube, Halle 1886, pp. 156-64; L. Reypens, *Le sommet de la contemplation mystique chez G. P.*, in *Revue d’ascétique et de mystique*, 5 (1924), pp. 33-43. Bernardo Spaapen