The Life of Denis the Carthusian, of Blessed Memory
By Theodoric Loer
Vicar of the Cologne Charterhouse
Chapter 1
Denis is commended for his dedication to learning, the fruitfulness of his natural abilities, and his astonishing memory. He burns with desire for Carthusian piety. He devotes himself to theological studies in Cologne. Praise for the writings of Denis.
DenisDionysius in Latin; also translated as Denys. was a son of the Carthusian Order—a man renowned for his great holiness, sublime contemplation, prolific knowledge, remarkable intelligence, singular memory, and incomparable piety. He flourished around the year 1450 A.D., both profitable to mankind and beloved by God. He was from the village of Ryckel in the Liège diocese of the Hesbaye,Born in 1402, modern-day Eastern Belgium. about two and a half milesLiterally 20 stades. from the town of Sint-Truiden. He had quite respectable parents, not of the lowest class according to the prosperity of the times, whose ancestral lineage gave him the surname "Leuwis." Furthermore, it is recounted that as a young boy he was instructed in scholarship outside the home. There was in him, however, an incredible desire for learning, even to such an extent that at night on many occasions (as he admits in the book On the Benefits and Generosity of God),Article 26. having been awoken by the brightness of the moon, cosidering it as daytime, he would have gotten up and left for school if he would not have found the doors of the building bolted shut. He was also gifted with a remarkable memory, so that whatever he had read once, he could recall without difficulty. From his great natural ability, as well as constant attention to his studies, it shortly came to pass that he became so educated as to be counted among the most excellent of philosophers, to the astonishment of many.
Yet because he had grown into a young man of good natural quality—not only in knowledge, but also in piety—he had intended from an early age to submit his innocent neck to the yoke of the Lord. For he desired to leave the world behind so he would not be entangled in its snares. Burning with a desire for the Carthusian desert, he did not know what he should do or how he should obtain it. For he had not yet reached twenty years old, the age required by that Order for admission. But remaining in the secular world, navigating through its stormy waters with moral purity, seemed impossible. Therefore, with his love of the Carthusian Order growing daily, he decided to try and gain admittance to two Carthusian monasteries even though he was too young—to see whether he might earn their fellowship and a share in their customs. So he hastened to the Charterhouse of St. John the Baptist in ZelemModern-day Belgian Limburg. near Diest; and he departed from there to Roermond,Modern-day Dutch Limburg. which is a town of Gelderland. In both he offered his petitions, but the Fathers of both charterhouses postponed admission rather than denied it, because of his age. So Denis, with the desire that had begun in his soul frustrated at that time, did not abandon it, but delayed it until a more opportune time.
So he began to consider what he should do in the meantime, and how he should safely place himself in the world to grow more suited for Carthusian solitude. And it came to his mind that after the frequent celebration of those exercises of that Order which move the soul towards God, nothing would be sweeter or more desirable to him than knowledge of the Scriptures. Therefore, without delay, he immediately brought himself to Cologne, where he knew there was German University of great renown. There, he zealously applied himself to his Theological studies in order to become most educated. How greatly he succeeded is attested to by his book On Being and Essence,This work which Denis wrote before becoming a monk has not yet been discovered. which he wrote immediately after attaining the rank of "master." And it is also attested to by his other books, regularly praised by the educated, which he wrote afterwards in the Carthusian Order—most especially those on the Old and New Testaments, and other various and nearly countless works. Indeed, in the Church of God, there is no one held equal who has toiled with so much writing, who has produced so many books filled with both knowledge and piety. Though the Abbot of SponheimJohannes Trithemius (1462-1516). would give preference to Augustine alone, whom we would as well if it were a contest of knowledge and piety in writing, it is nevertheless most certain from his own book surveying ecclesiastical writersLiber de scriptoribus ecclesiasticis, 1494. that no one has written as much as Denis the Carthusian. From which I conclude that the Abbot of Sponheim had not seen all the works of Denis. For the number is truly so great that even if the world swore it were possible, I would not have believed that so many books in such a great number of volumes could be produced by the same author, unless I had directly witnessed in each one of them both the quality and manner of expression (likewise the handwriting and the style) of Denis alone. For he himself composed his own books—rereading them, correcting them, and illuminating the headings. All of which are most notable, as they bear witness to his unique handwriting and style. Indeed, we leave this fact undisputed.
For this reason, I never heard of anyone who saw the work of this man without astonishment and did not feel as I do: that one man could not have written so many books, that he could not have had that much time, that it could not have been done without an extraordinary miracle. What is more (to speak truthfully), it seems just as incredible that anyone, even one free from all other labor, should be able to read them all. For even if I pass over his other occupations which delayed his writing, he certainly resided in the Carthusian Order, from whose divine Office (which is quite lengthy) he was never absent, and in which he served as Procurator and Prior for a considerable time. And taken from the monastery by the Lord Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa, a papal legate, he served the business of the Church for some time. In addition, he was singularly dedicated to prayer and contemplation. Furthermore, he was almost constantly engaged in reading and study (which is abundantly clear from his books). Besides these things, countless people from all over Germany would come to him for advice, so much so that he was hardly ever prevented from giving them counsel or writing them letters. Finally, it must be added that his monastery did not always have the books he required for his work, which meant excessive effort was needed for him to get them from elsewhere.
A diligent and unbiased reader will certainly find something to marvel at among his many books. For he is full of such knowledge, such plentiful variety, bursting with holiness—such that no one is above him. You will clearly see that nothing escaped him which was evident to others. Furthermore, he accomplishes much that is pleasing and desirable which you would not expect or seek out. Yet everywhere in his works he goes back to Scripture, not allowing any occasion for self-promotion in which he might wander from his purpose. And praise should be added to Denis as his books contain nothing fake, nothing arrogant, nothing foreign to pious morals. But in fact, as I have said, his knowledge is as clear as it is abundant—to the point where nothing remains to be desired in his books, except perhaps a more elegant style and expressions. Yet even in this he might be excused as he naturally wrote in his own age for people of his own era, at a time when the Latin language, especially the more polished kind, was neither in use nor valued by the educated. For if he had happened upon our times and had teachers well versed in Latin literature when he himself was most wanting it, it is hard to believe he would have been second to anyone, even among more polished writers. But I pray that those who read this do not believe that I want to praise Denis to the disparagement of others, or to place him above those he should not be placed above. Each has an enduring excellence which is not outdone by others. In the same way, it should be granted that our Denis might himself excel in some particular way which is lacking in others. Both the Carthusian Order and the entire catholic Church, O reader, should credit this man and his learning to the University of Cologne, in which he began his studies. He left there so great that even in the midst of the Carthusian desert, he afterwards became known to the entire world, celebrated by both the educated and the pious. For when the Supreme Pontiff EugenePope Eugene IV, ruled from 1431-1447. saw a certain book of his that was presented to him, he is reported to have said: "Mother Church should rejoice in having so great a son."
Chapter 2
Denis becomes a monk of Roermond. He was remarkably devoted, humble, and self-restrained.
Translation in Progress
