Kempis, John A

Kempis, John a a German monk, brother of Thomas a Kempis (q.v.), was born at; Kempen, near Cologne, in 1365. About 1380 he came to Deventer, and was admitted by Gerard Groot among the Brethren of the Common Life. He became successively one of the first members of the Canons Regular of Windesheim in 1386; prior of the Convent of Mariabrunn, near Amhelm, in 1392; and of the new Convent of Mount St.Agnoes near Zwoll, in 1399. Here he remained nine years, during which he caused the buildings, etc., of the convent to be finished. He subsequently directed four other establishments of his order, and died at Bethany, near Arnheim, Nov. 4,11.32. It was John a Kempis who drew up the rules of the chapter of Windesheim, the central establishment of his order. Gerson pronounced his eulogy in the Council of Constance. See Buschius, Chronicon Windesenense; Rosweide, Vlta Joh. a Kempis (Appendix ad Thomae a Kempis Chronicon Montis S. Agnetis) Mooren, Nachrichten uber Thom. a Kempis, p. 134.-Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gener. 27:542. (J. N. P.)