Inner Light, Eternal Darkness:The Mysticism of Mathijs Wijer (1520/21–1560)

Mathijs Wijer was a sixteenth-century mystic once known for his dissident views. While he may have been forgotten in recent times, centuries ago he held a place among other dissenters and was recognized for his mystical beliefs and teachings. In the survey works of Gottfried Arnold and Pierre Poiret, Mathijs Wijer was compared to the Spanish mystic and poet John of the Cross (1542–1591). This comparison suggests that Wijer’s mystical ideas and writings were considered significant enough to be mentioned alongside other prominent mystics of his time. However, as time passed, Wijer’s recognition diminished, leading to his eventual obscurity in modern times. Wijer was born in Grave, Brabant, but later settled in Wesel, where he preached to a group of like-minded individuals and wrote letters to his family and friends. His main sources of inspiration were the works of medieval mystics: the sermons of Tauler, the Imitatio Christi presumably written by Thomas a Kempis, and the Theologia Deutsch. These works shaped his mystical beliefs and teachings. One interesting aspect of Wijer’s mysticism is the influence of Reformation themes. This article examines how Wijer incorporated some of these themes into his mysticism, blending traditional mystical ideas with the ideas of contemporaries. It also provides a brief overview of the publication of his work up until the beginning of the nineteenth century.