Friends of God facts for kids

The Friends of God (also known as Gottesfreunde in German) was a special group of people in the Middle Ages. They included both church leaders and regular people. This group focused on mysticism, which is a way of trying to connect with God through deep spiritual experiences.

The Friends of God started between 1339 and 1343. This was a difficult time for the Catholic Church, known as the Western Schism, when there were multiple popes. The group began in Basel, Switzerland, and was also important in cities like Strasbourg and Cologne. While some people in the past thought they were very important and even helped start the Protestant Reformation, modern studies suggest their writings were not always original. Still, some of their ideas did hint at future changes in the church.

What's in a Name?

The name "Friends of God" comes from different places. You can find this phrase in several parts of the Bible. Also, many medieval writers, especially Meister Eckhart and his followers, used the idea of being friends with God.

A Look at Their History

The Friends of God movement grew from the teachings of Meister Eckhart. His spiritual students, like the preacher John Tauler and the writer Henry Suso, were very important to the group. Another person who influenced them was Henry of Nördlingen. He met Tauler and Suso in Basel in 1339 and introduced them to an important mystical book called The Flowing Light of the Deity.

The group became more organized around 1367. A rich man named Rulman Merswin bought and fixed up an old monastery in Strasbourg called grünenwörth (which means 'Green Isle'). This place became a quiet retreat where the Friends of God could study. It was also a "school" where many mystical texts were created. People believe Merswin might have written some of these texts himself, using the pen name The Friend of God from the Oberland.

Leaders like Tauler and Suso wanted to follow a spiritual path that fit with the Catholic Church's teachings. However, Rulman Merswin, guided by The Friend of God from the Oberland, wanted to make the Church purer. This desire for change caused problems with the Church. Not long after Merswin passed away in 1382, the Friends of God were criticized by church leaders.

After Merswin's death, some say Nicholas of Basel became the leader. He and two of his followers were later executed around 1395 in Vienna for disagreeing with church teachings. It's not fully clear how closely Nicholas of Basel was connected to the Friends of God, as he was also linked to another group called the Beghards. Another member, Martin of Mainz, also faced execution in 1393 for similar reasons.

What They Believed

Many leaders of the Friends of God faced severe punishment because they spoke out against what they saw as problems in the Catholic Church. They believed that God would soon judge the church. This group was open to everyone, not just church officials. They valued holiness, love, devotion, and helping others find their spiritual path. As a mystical movement, they believed it was very important to help save people's souls.

Their Writings

Several important mystical books are connected to the Friends of God. The most famous ones are the Theologia Germanica and the Book of the Nine Rocks. Many of these works were said to be written by The Friend of God from the Oberland, but it's likely that Rulman Merswin wrote them himself.

See also

• Margaretha Ebner
• The Friend of God from the Oberland
• Theologia Germanica