Heinrich von Ahaus

Heinrich von Ahaus (also Henry of Schöppingen, Latin Henricus de Scopingen ) (* around 1371 in Schöppingen, † February 14, 1439 in Münster) was a follower of the Modern Devotion. He was instrumental in the transfer of the Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life from the Netherlands to Germany today, especially by low- Germany, contributed.

Family

His birth year was 1369-1371. He was an illegitimate son of the heiress and thus not Edelherren Ludolf von Ahaus and those coming from Schöppingen mother Hedwig. His aunt Jutta von Ahaus was abbess in Vreden. A half sister was Margarethe von Ahaus, abbess in Freckenhorst. Another half sister, Agnes of Ahaus, was abbess in Nottuln.

Life

He belonged to no later than 1396 on the spiritual level and was probably ordained a priest for 25 years. Maybe he had at that time already a position as Vicar (not to be confused with canons ) at St. Paulus held. Detectable in this position, he was only since 1422. Well by his aunt Jutta he came up with the Modern Devotion in contact. He lived in 1400 for one year in Frater house in Deventer. Henry was probably no longer in contact with Radewyns Florentius, who died in the same year. Life in the community has deeply impressed him, and he saw in it a revival of the early Christian community.

He returned in 1401 to Munster back. There he met a group of clergy and laity who thought and a small community had formed. She also had contact to Deventer, where they asked for advice. The rector of Deventer traveled for the purpose by Münster and was accompanied by Heinrich von Ahaus. He was involved in Münster to establish similar forms of common life, which he had met in the Netherlands. After two or more priests should live together with other clergy and laity in humility and chastity, help each other and accommodate religious people as guests.

In the following years, the community was able to extend their possessions and bring it to a modest prosperity. Heinrich von Ahaus donated to the community in 1409 the house ter Wyck that became the seat of the Community. In 1409 he was called as rector of the institution. He exercised until his death, although he was temporarily absent this position.

In 1416/17 he was also the founder of the home for Weidenbach in Cologne. At times, he has also directed this. Heinrich von Ahaus traveled in 1418 to the Council of Constance. There he defended along with other success with the life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life against criticism especially from the Dominicans. Especially Matthias Grabow distinguished himself as an opponent. This put together in poverty and chastity without religious rules as sinful dar. succeeded Heinrich von Ahaus and his colleagues to reach a condemnation of the theses of Grabow. To ensure that no official church recognition of life was still connected, but the suspicion of heresy could be eliminated.

Heinrich von Ahaus returned back to Münster in 1424 and again took over the direct management of local Brother house. In 1427 he was involved in the establishment of sister Marie Brink house in Coesfeld. He was, among others, also participated in the founding of the Frater house in Wesel and the sister houses in Borken and Wesel. He may not realize all of its founding goals and objectives, but he often also met with considerable resistance by clergy and laity.

Heinrich von Ahaus laid emphasis on equipping the communities with spiritual books. Only those brothers should be included that could also read. In substantiated by the Frater houses there were scriptoria, wrote-off the books in high quality. His example was followed by other clerics who contributed to spiritual renewal in Lower Germany. The network of relationships to Heinrich von Ahaus also included many lay mostly from the middle class, but extended into the high nobility into it.

Heinrich von Ahaus sought the union of the houses in a fraternity ( Confederatio ). Such a connection was between the Frater houses in Münster and Cologne in 1425 to pass. It was in 1431 at the instigation of Heinrich von Ahaus Münstersche the colloquium as a loose association of brothers and sister houses east of the Rhine forth. These included the brothers houses in Münster, Cologne and Herford and the sister houses in Schüttorf, Borken, Coesfeld and Wesel. Other facilities were added later. Each year there was a meeting of the colloquium to approve start-ups. It also houses various visitations were adopted and advise on the management of the houses. The houses went under his influence a balance between sticking to the original independence and a certain approximation to the religious life, without giving up the basic principles. A merger of all houses in Germany, however, did not succeed at that time.

Heinrich von Ahaus was described as " een heerlie prediker ". As a preacher, he was guided by the founder of the Modern Devotion Geert Groote and related in his sermons dialogic elements. However, an important theologian and spiritual writer, he was not.

For a long time Heinrich von Ahaus as the founder of the lifestyle of the Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life in Germany. In the mid-15th century called him John Bush as " magnus et reformator illustrator Westphaliae. " Recent research has so far this picture into perspective, as it had been before him Westphalian connections to the Dutch Modern Devotion. Nevertheless, its importance for the spread of the movement remains undisputed.