Surius, Laurentius

Surius, Laurentius a Carthusian monk, was the child of Lutheran, or, as others say, of Romish parents. He was born at Lubeck in 1522, and educated at Frankfort-on-the- Oder and at Cologne. At the latter place he became acquainted with Canisius (q.v.), and joined the Roman Catholic Church. In 1542 he entered the Carthusian Order and devoted himself to monastic asceticism and literary labor. He displayed both zeal for Romanism and hatred for the Reformation, whose leaders he charged with having borrowed their doctrines from Mohammed. Besides translating various mystical writings by Tauler, Ruysbroeck, Suso, etc. Surius composed a Commentarius Breis Rerum in Orbe Gestcarum ab Anno 1500 (Lov. 1566). This book was designed to oppose the famous Protestant work by Sleidsap (q.v.), but was devoid of only particular value; but it was, nevertheless, carried forward by Isselt and others to 1673. Additional works by Surius are, Homiliae sive Conciones Preestantissimorum E ccl. Doctorun, etc. (Col. 1569-76). (Concilia 'Omnnia, etc. (ibid. 1567): — and Vita Sanictorum ab Aloysio Lipomanno olisn Conscriptae (ibid, 1570-76, 6 vols. fol.), which was repeatedly reprinted, the best edition being that of Cologne, 1618. A seventh vol. was added after the death of Surius by the Carthuhsian Jacob Mosander. Surius died May 23,1578. See Biog, Universelle, tom. 44 (Par. 1826); and Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.