WINDESHEIM

WINDESHEIM. – Zwolle (v.), where the Congregation of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine, known as that of W., arose.

The great reforming movement of the end of the fourteenth century, known by the name of Devotio moderna (v.), became established as an institution in the organization of the Sisters Brothers of the Common Life (v.), as well as in the Congregation of the Canons Regular of W. These three ascetic organizations go back to the spiritual Groote (v.), though for different reasons. Groote thou-

connected with some order or congregation already established. RADEWIJNS, FLORENTIUS (v.), a faithful friend, had gathered around 1581 in his home at Deventer a group of «devout» persons, recruited particularly from among the student youth of Deventer and elsewhere; under the guidance of Radewijns and Groote they devoted themselves to the interior life and to the apostolate, while illuminating and copying books. The leaders of the future Congregation of W. were formed there, among them J. Vos (v.) of Heusden, J. Brinkerink, and later also Thomas à Kempis. Around 1386 the «devout» Berthold ten Hove had bequeathed a property situated at W.; the premises were arranged to house a community, and Radewijns sent his best «devout» followers there so that they might begin the regular religious life. The bishop of Utrecht, Floris van Wevelinkhoven, permitted them to make their religious profession as Canons Regular of St. Augustine. At Radewijns’s behest, they underwent a kind of novitiate in the convent of this Order at Eemsteyn (near Dordrecht), which had been organized GROENENDAEL (« VALLE VERDE ») (v.), Godfried van Wevel, author of the Treatise on the twelve virtues, long attributed to Ruusbroec; on 17 September 1387 the first solemn profession of the six first «devout» followers took place at W. Radewijns, who was present, appointed J. Vos the first prior and transferred all jurisdiction to him, while continuing to support the young foundation. The Congregation of W. had an independent existence, but maintained close relations with the Brothers of the Common Life, despite some friction between the two tendencies.

The new institution soon spread to other localities, Zwolle (v.), to form in 1394 or 1395 the «Capitulum Congregationis Canonicorum Windesheimense», to which 82 houses were affiliated in 1464. Under the inspiration of Groote as interpreted by Radewijns, the Congregation, following the Rule of St. Augustine, developed its own spirituality, elaborated by its first priors (J. Vos, Dirk Herxen, etc.) and by several other masters. It is marked by a somewhat rigoristic asceticism, with a monastic outlook. Around 1400 J. Brinkerink established, alongside the houses of the Sisters of the Common Life (the first of which had been founded in 1382 by Groote himself), female monasteries parallel to the twofold branch of the «devout» followers. In 1400 the first monastery of Augustinian Canonesses Regular was founded at Diepenveen, under the obedience of the Chapter of W. This Congregation soon had several affiliated houses in Holland and Belgium.

Finally, several houses (male and female) of Franciscan Tertiaries were established, in which Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life associated under the Rule of St. Francis, while retaining the otherwise tenuous connection with the Brothers who assumed their spiritual direction. In 1464 more than 100 houses of Tertiaries depended on the Brothers. In the second half of the 15th century, which marked a general decline of the Church and saw many Orders make efforts at reform, religious of W. were often invited to bring reform to other Orders or Congregations, even in France and Germany (v. STANDONCK, etc). The Congregation of W., which had an extensive network of affiliated houses in Germany and the Netherlands (including Groenendaal,

intended, toward the end of his life, to give a more organically canonical form to the groups of men and women who, animated by his spirit, had formed in various localities of Holland. His desire, if he had one, to subject them to the Rule of St. Augustine was not realized before his premature death, while many isolated «devout» persons or groups had

Korsendonck, St. Martin of Leuven), maintained throughout this period an admirable fervor and zeal, despite certain deficiencies. Around 1500 a certain relaxation of religious life became apparent, largely explained by the general factors of disintegration: economic, social, political, moral, and religious hardships. The Protestant «Reformation» deeply shook the Congregation of W., which had already reacted in 1522 with vigorous measures to contain the contagion. It lost its houses in northern Holland and Germany, conquered by Protestantism. The courageous efforts of the general Chapters or of individuals such as J. Latomus in 1578 were unable to stem the decline, especially in the last quarter of the 16th century. The decree of Gregory XIII in 1573 provided an important program of reforms, but, for lack of effective means of implementation, it could not restore the Order’s prosperity. Only in the 17th century did it regain new momentum (preaching, schools, etc.). The 18th century was a long agony for the once-glorious Congregation of W. It disappeared under the blows of the French Revolution, and in 1802 its last house was closed.