John Twenge

John Twenge ( John of Bridlington ), called (* 1320 in Thwing at Bridlington in today's East Riding of Yorkshire, † 1379 in Bridlington ) was prior of the Augustinerpriorats in Bridlington, who was known for his mystical- ecstatic experiences. He was in 1401 by Boniface IX. canonized and is the last Englishman, the befell this honor before the Reformation. His feast day is 21 October.

Life

Already in his early youth, John worked with the writings of Richard Rolle (1300-1349), the great English mystic. At the age of 14 years, John put the religious profession in Bridlingtoner Augustinerpriorat, which he left two years later for a two-year study in Oxford. Returned to Bridlington, he was first Precentor, then chaplain and later cellarer. As in 1360, the Prior died, he was chosen as his successor, but he refused it so that the community another brother chose as successor, but a year later died of the plague. Then John saw it as his duty to not again to oppose the office, and as he was in 1362 elected Prior.

From his work as Prior little has survived. Writings are not received from him and in public life, he did not participate. In a time in which the rules of monastic life were increasingly disregarded and abbots or priors led a comparatively stately living in separate living quarters, John was limited to a simple way of life, were in obedience and prayer in the foreground. He took as prior true no special privileges, but also underwent no exaggerated asceticism. He slept with the other brothers in the dormitory in the bed that had once been assigned to him as a novice, and ate the same food as his brothers. When he was asked why he has not joined a stricter order, he replied that all the rules approved by the Church to perfection lead and that he had not yet been able to abide by its own rule in its basic features. Here he largely followed the teachings of the work Incendium Amoris of the hermit and mystic Richard Rolle, who in his asceticism turned away from medieval exaggerations and sought a balanced way. As another model John served in particular the Gospel of John. In 1379 he died of the plague.

Canonization

John enjoyed an excellent reputation, who remained alive after his death. Following the failure to reach a canonization of the Englishman Robert Grosseteste, John and Robert Dalderby Winchelsey saw Alexander Neville, the then Archbishop of York, a new opportunity for an English saint and initiated from 1386 the process of canonization. The first records of John's life and his miracles go back to Margery Kempe, which this particular John's confessor, William Sleightholm questioned. The canonization took place in 1401 by Boniface IX. Following the miter was in 1409 the Prior of Bridlington granted the privilege of wearing.

Reception

In honor of John built a shrine to his bones behind the high altar in the priory. A special meaning reached the memory of John, as Henry V at October 25, 1415 attributed the victory at the Battle of Agincourt on the assistance of posts originating from Yorkshire saints John of Beverley and John of Bridlington. In the Augustinian Abbey Dale John was shown in a still produced during the 15th century stained glass window, which was later adopted by the destruction of the abbey church of Morley.

In the resulting few decades after his death text The Vision of William of Stranton John leads the protagonist through the purgatory of St. Patrick and serves as a speaker who laments the numerous sins of the clergy in the Church and the Order.