- Florens Radewyns
Florens Radewyns (or latinized Florentius Radwyn) was the co-founder of the
Brethren of the Common Life .Florfens was born at
Leyderdam , near Utrecht, about 1350. He passed a brilliant university course, took his M.A. degree atPrague . Returning home, he was installed canon of St. Peter's, Utrecht. For some little time he led a life of pleasure, until converted by a sermon ofGerard Groote . Thereupon he resigned hiscanonry , placed himself unreservedly under Groote's direction, at his instance was ordained a priest, and accepted a poorbenefice at Deventer, where Groote resided. There he powerfully seconded his friend's apostolate, especially among the poor clerical scholars of Deventer, and at his suggestion and in his house the first community of the Brethren of the Common Life was formed. It was also from his house that the six brethren who established theCongregation of Windesheim went forth in 1386, and among them John, the elder brother ofThomas à Kempis . Thomas himself was under the immediate care and guidance of Radewyns from his thirteenth to his twenty-first year. He wrote a loving and edifying sketch of his master, wherein he describes Florens as a man learned in the Scriptures and all sacred science, exceedingly devout, humble, simple, zealous, charitable and excessively mortified. His austerities enfeebled his health, possibly hastened his end; he died atDeventer on25 March 1400 . He was commonly regarded among the brethren as a saint. Hisskull , with that of Groote, is still preserved in the Catholic church (Broedern Kerk) of Deventer. Of his correspondence remains only one letter, preserved by à Kempis, who also gives us a collection of his notable sayings.ource
*Catholic|Florens Radewyns [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12631b.htm]
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