The Mystical Theology of Jan van Leeuwen, the "Good Cook" of Groenendaal in Context

This project proposes to conduct the first comprehensive research into Jan van Leeuwen (c. 13001378), the cook at the priory of Groenendaal. He is the only known medieval layperson of the peasant class to have written treatises of mystical theology. He was also the first disciple of Jan van Ruusbroec, who is generally recognised as one of the greatest mystical authors in the Christian tradition. Van Leeuwen was an influential author in the centuries following his death, especially in the Devotio Moderna, but his works were then gradually forgotten. Following the renewed interest in mystical literature in the nineteenth century, authors such as Ruusbroec and Hadewijch became highly regarded and were studied often, but Jan van Leeuwen was not considered a good author in terms of either form or content, and he was generally neglected. He was also problematized due to his condemnation and ad hominem attack on Meister Eckhart. In recent years, several publications have called for new and comprehensive research into this enigmatic figure, most of whose works are still completely unknown. And that is precisely what this research proposes to do. Each of Jan van Leeuwen’s treatises will first be studied from a text-immanent approach, and will then be analysed in their immediate historical-theological milieu. This will offer us invaluable insight not only into van Leeuwen himself, but also into the so-called “Theology of Groenendaal” and “School of Ruusbroec”.