Wycliffite Spirituality

This new volume in the Classics of Western Spirituality series is a collection of modern English translations of Wycliffite texts and heresy trial records dating from the late medieval period in England that disclose that, far from practicing a wholly negative Christianity, Wycliffites were as keenly interested in the spiritual life as many of their contemporaries. While Wycliffite spirituality, like that of many a persecuted Christian group, placed high value on the confession of faith and readiness to endure persecution or even martyrdom, they did not think of themselves as heretics who had rejected Christianity. Indeed, they engaged closely with contemporary pastoral and spiritual movements, and their attempts to provide an alternative spirituality were better developed and more coherent than scholarship has yet acknowledged.

Highlights:

* This collection remedies the serious need for an accessible and affordable volume of primary source materials in modern English on Wyclif and Wycliffism. * The mainstream historiography of Wycliffism has to a very great extent ignored the positive spirituality that Wycliffite dissenters associated with their faith. This will be the first collection to showcase Wycliffites’ spiritual writings. * This collection includes modern English translations of some materials presently available only in manuscripts in British libraries.E58