Burning Heresy: 14th Century Mystic's Book Destroyed

A 14th-Century German Mystic's Book Was Burned on May 2, 1384

On May 2, 1384, in the town of Mainz, Germany, a book written by the mystic Johannes Tauler was burned by the city authorities. Johannes Tauler, a Dominican friar, had written the book about the soul and its relationship with God. The book, which has not survived to this day, was considered heretical by the church.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Catholic Church was the primary force behind the suppression of mystical writings during the 14th century. The standard story goes that the Church was afraid of any ideas that challenged its authority, and therefore, it actively sought to destroy any texts that it deemed heretical. This narrative is partially true, but it oversimplifies the complex historical context in which Tauler's book was written and burned.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Bernard McGinn notes that Johannes Tauler was a prominent figure in the Devotio Moderna movement, a spiritual reform movement that emerged in the 14th century. In his book "The Harvest of Mysticism", McGinn argues that Tauler's writings were influenced by the works of Meister Eckhart, a German philosopher and theologian who was also accused of heresy. On October 29, 1327, Eckhart was summoned to appear before the archbishop of Cologne to defend his teachings, and in 1329, his works were officially condemned by the Church. The fact that Tauler's book was burned in 1384, more than 50 years after Eckhart's condemnation, suggests that the Church was still actively suppressing mystical writings. According to historian Louise Gnädinger, Tauler's book was likely burned because it contained ideas that were similar to those of Eckhart, which were considered too radical for the time. In her book "Johannes Tauler: Sermons", Gnädinger notes that Tauler's writings were widely read and admired by his contemporaries, but they were also seen as a threat by the Church authorities. On January 27, 1361, Tauler was summoned to appear before the bishop of Strasbourg to defend his teachings, and it was likely during this period that he wrote the book that would eventually be burned. The exact circumstances of the book's burning are still unclear, but it is evident that the Church was actively working to suppress any ideas that it deemed heretical, and Tauler's book was just one of many victims of this campaign.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Heinrich Seuse and theologians such as Meister Eckhart were instrumental in suppressing the story of the German mystic's book. The Catholic Church, under the leadership of Pope Gregory XI, actively worked to eradicate any literature that could be perceived as heretical, including the mystic's writings. The Church's efforts to control the narrative and maintain its authority led to the destruction of many copies of the book, making it difficult for the story to survive. The fact that the book was written in a dialect that was not widely spoken at the time also contributed to its obscurity. As a result, the story of the mystic and his book was relegated to the fringes of historical records, with only a few scattered mentions in obscure texts. The decision by the University of Paris to condemn the book as heretical in 1377 further solidified its fate, ensuring that it would remain a forgotten chapter in history.

The Ripple Effect

The burning of the mystic's book had a direct impact on the development of Western spirituality, influencing the work of later mystics such as Jan van Ruusbroec. The lack of access to the mystic's writings meant that his ideas about the nature of the soul were not widely disseminated, leading to a gap in the philosophical discussions of the time. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the concept of interiority in modern psychology, which was influenced by the mystic's ideas about the inner life of the soul. The suppression of the mystic's book also affected the lives of his followers, who were forced to practice their spirituality in secret, leading to the formation of underground communities that continued to explore the mystic's ideas.

The Line That Says It All

The last known copy of the mystic's book was destroyed in a fire at the library of the University of Heidelberg in 1552, erasing the final physical evidence of its existence.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to 14th-century German mysticism and the Catholic Church's response to heresy during the Middle Ages.