The Brotherhood of the Common Life was one of those monastic communities which grew up in a natural and healthy way from small beginnings to meet a real need. It was founded by Gerrard Groot, who was born at Deventer in and who after considerable success in the paths of learning, abandoned all thought of worldly advancement, in order more closely to serve God and his fellow-men. He was not, however, the only founder. Florentius Redewyn, who had been a Canon of the Cathedral of Utrecht, and possessed of considerable wealth, had been moved by Groot's simple and impressive teaching, and abandoned his preferments in order to join his friend. Together they formed a small band of earnest men at Deventer, who devoted themselves to help others by directing them in their studies, and by making copies of the Bible, and of the Breviary and Missal and of the writings of the saints, which was a charitable work at that time' when printing had not yet been invented. These bound them selves together at first to live a common life of good will. They were intent upon being in the world but not of the world, and, as a matter of fact, they commended themselves and their teachings to others by their simple and sensible un worldliness. They encouraged one another, and helped those whom they could reach - to conquer self, to subdue and purify passion, to mortify self-will, and to live a simple, devout, but busy life, keeping God always before them. Idleness they dis countenanced. They made copies of the Bible and other books. They tilled the ground and worked at useful handicrafts, and those of them who were ordained gave themselves to preaching and other clerical duties.

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