Gerard Zerbolt van Zutphen (1367-1398) belongs to the early 'Modern Devotion'. This is what the 'renewed innocence' movement, which arose around 1375 in Deventer, was inspired by Geert Grote and Florens Radewijns. They developed a reform program that focused on the spiritual transformation of man. Gerard Zerbolt played a prominent role as a brother of the common life. He led an intensive book production, worked for ecclesiastical recognition of the brotherhood and mastered her charisma. He wrote two leading manuals for the spiritual way. More than Grote and Radewijns, Gerard Zerbolt laid the foundation for an own spirituality of the Modern Devotion. The spiritualibus ascensionibus had not yet been translated into modern Dutch. The Middle Dutch translation already bore the title Spiritual Ascensions. This book describes the way of man who wants to return from the resemblance with his Creator to the original parable. Against the vices that can infuse people, Gerard Zerbolt places the virtues as counter forces. His writings contain all the elements to help us as people of our time to achieve a new image of humanity and a new vision of society. |