Devotio Moderna (Latin; lit., Modern Devotion) was a movement for religious reform that called for apostolic renewal through the rediscovery of genuine pious practices such as humility, obedience, simplicity of life, and integration into the community. It began in the late 14th century, largely through the work of Gerard Groote, and flourished in the Low Countries and Germany in the 15th century but came to an end with the Protestant Reformation.
Origins
thumb|270px|Modern photo of Windesheim
1300s
The origins of the movement likely stem from the Congregation of Windesheim, but it has so far proved elusive to locate its precise origin. The simplicity and devotion of the Devotio Moderna, though, seems to have lessened the force of many of these criticisms.
The movement was especially prominent in cities in the Low Countries during the 14th and the 15th centuries. Alongside its immediate impact, however, it was the writings of authors associated with the movement, who were most commonly based in the monasteries associated with Windesheim, which gave Devotio Moderna its wider European influence at the time, and its great subsequent influence.
Decline
In the early 16th century, even before the Protestant Reformation, Devotio Moderna was fading because Christians wanted more "pomp and ceremony in processions".
Teachings
Four cornerstones of the Brethren of the Common Life and its associated devotio moderna were:
- contempt of the world and of self (),
- imitation of the lowly life of Christ (),
- good-will (), and
- the grace of devoutness (.)
Contempt of the world and of self
A widely followed movement within the Devotio Moderna traditions frowned upon pilgrimages. The Imitation of Christ is written in Latin.
By the late 15th century, the advent of the printing press increased the reach of the movement; The Imitation of Christ was printed in several languages by the end of the century.
Techniques for prayer
The spiritual life of the movement's followers was marked by focus on inner devotions and frequent short periods of meditation, especially before each new activity.
Centuries earlier, Hugh of Saint Victor and Guigo II had produced structured methods for Christian meditation, but their approaches were less systematic. The methodical approach of Devotio Moderna towards prayer and meditation found significant following within the Catholic Church, as well as later Reformed communities. The manuals for methodical prayer and meditation by Florens Radewyns and Zutphen had significant influence within Europe for over a century.
The concept of immersing and projecting oneself into a Biblical scene about the life of Jesus was developed by Ludolph of Saxony in his Vita Christi in 1374 and became popular among the Devotio Moderna community. The methods of methodical prayer as taught by the Devotio Moderna entered Spain and were known in the early 16th century, and influenced the approaches to Christian meditation.
Garcias de Cisneros, the abbot of the Abbey of Montserrat, was influenced by the Devotio Moderna and his book Ejercitatorio de la vida spiritual ("Exercises for the Spiritual Life") became one of the primary sources for the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius used both techniques in his spiritual exercises: a methodical format, as well as self-projection into a Biblical scene such as by starting a conversation with Christ in Calvary.
However, the methods of "methodical prayer" taught by Devotio Moderna and the techniques used for "self projection" into the imagery of a Biblical scene (to participate in the life of Jesus) significantly influenced the approaches to Christian meditation in the 16th century and thereafter. Those methods persist in meditations such as the Spiritual Exercises, which the Jesuits continue to practice.