Het rumineren van de De Imitatione Christi

Abstract

Recently Th. Klausmann has introduced the term orthopractical literature for manuals in which detailed instructions are given for the daily practices in a spiritually oriented life in accordance with Roman Catholic orthodoxy. Much attention is paid to meditation in these manuals, and in the sections on meditation the reading rules for lectio diuina are closely followed. In this contribution, it is argued that at least some chapters of Thomas a Kempis' De Imitatione Christi can be interpreted as a detailed elaboration of the cursory instructions on meditation in the orthopractical manuals.