Cornelis Columbanus Vrancx


Cornelis Columbanus Vrancx was a Flemish writer of prose, poetic refrains and spotlighted against the Reformed. He was the 60th abbot of St Peter's Abbey in Ghent from 1597 and wrote thirty-seven concise works. Cornelis Columbanus Vrancx is seen as the forerunner of the Flemish poet Adriaan Poirters.

Life

Originally from Dendermonde in the County of Flanders, Vrancx studied theology at Leuven University, graduating in 1560, and in 1569 was appointed to a canonry of St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent. After the Calvinist takeover of the city in 1578, Vrancx remained in Ghent despite the clergy of the cathedral being declared banished. He was caught and expelled in 1579, and his books and devotional objects were burnt on the market square. Vrancx travelled to Tournai, where he met refugee Benedictines from Ghent and in 1583 he was clothed as a member of their community. The community returned to Ghent in 1584, and Vrancx was professed as a monk in the abbey of St Peter. He was appointed prior in 1590, and elected abbot in 1597. He died in Ghent on 15 August 1615.
Vrancx was a renowned preacher and a prolific author of devotional and satirical verse and prose, with over 30 titles to his name. Most of these were printed by Gauthier Manilius. His most popular work, Den Troost der Sielen, includes five folk tales about spirits returned from purgatory.

Works

Het Hoochweerdich testament Christi Den troost der sielen int vaghevier
  • Die gheestelijcke Maria. .
  • Malleus Calvinistarum. .
  • Een gheestelick paesch-ey. .
  • Den Spieghel: oft Pracktijke van het Kersten gheloove. .
  • Een gheestelic nieu jaer. .
  • Eenen zeer schoonen gheestelicken Mey. .
  • Der leecken soutere, van hondert en vijftich gheestelicke vraghen en andtwoorden. .
  • Dat levende ende levenmakende hemelsch-broodt, Jesus Christus. .
  • Der catholijcken hemelschen, levenden en levenmakenden wijn. .
  • De costelicke maeltijdt, ende het seer groot avondtmael. .
  • Den troost der sieken oft Bereydinghe totter doot. .
  • Den spieghel oft practijcke der charitaten. Dat is der liefden Gods. .
  • Den Troost der Sielen. .
  • Een zeer schoon hoeyken vant hoochweerdich heyligh sacrament. .
  • Den tweeden cout der nichten, inhoudende veel schoone mirakelen van Maria ghebenedijdt. .
  • De siel-zorghe, dat is: Een tsamen-sprake tusschen Christus en ons lichaem. .Den Souter Der Kinderen, Van Hondert En Vijftich Gheestelicke Vraghen Ende Andt-Woorden
  • Den spieghel van oodmoedicheyt. .
  • D'alder costelickste Testament van onsen zalichmaker ghebenedijt. .
  • Van eenen zeer machtighen coopman, die alle jaere inden vastene voor Paesschen is over commende. .
  • Die verluchtinghe en verclaringhe van des coopmans eyghen rock. .
  • Van een recht ende volmaeckt gheloove in God. .
  • Een schoon devoot miss-boecxken. .
  • Ons heeren rock, van onsen zalichmaker ghebenedijd. .