Gerlac, Peterssen

Gerlac, Peterssen (Lat. Gerlacus Petri), a Dutch ascetic writer, was born at Deventer, in Overyssel, in 1377. While very young he entered the house of the regular canons of Windesheim, near Deventer, where he took his vows, and although offered higher positions, he refused all except that of sacristan.

He died in 1411. He distinguished himself by his piety, his life being one of prayer and meditation. A work was published some time after his death entitled, Alter Thomas de Kempis (Cologne, 1616), and under the title of Gerlaci Soliloquia Divina, in a collection entitled, Sacra Orationis Theologia, of Pierre Poiret. John de Gorcurm translated it into Flemish, and published it at Bois-le-Duc in 1613 and 1621. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.