WEYNSEN (WENSSEN, WENTZEN), MATTHIAS. – Flemish Franciscan, “learned theologian, famous preacher and ascetic” (Dirks), died, apparently, in 1547.
He was guardian of his Order’s convent in Antwerp and provincial four times; in this capacity, in 1529, he separated the Dutch Franciscans from the province of Cologne. In 1542 he was General Commissary of the Order. He published several spiritual booklets by his confrères, including the well-known Fasciculus myrrhae.
BIBL.: S. Dirks, Hist. litter... des Frères Mineurs, Antwerp 1885, pp. 34–37; P. Schlaher, Gesch. der hühnischen Franziskaner-Ordensprovinz, Regensburg 1909, passim; F. Van den Borne, Collect. Franc. Neerlandica, II, Herzogenbuchsee 1931, pp. 176–94 (extensive bibliography); W. Schmitz, Het aandeel der Minderbroeders in onze Middeleeuwse literatuur, Utrecht 1936, p. 108. Alberto Ampe