Mysticism and sexuality 47 the use of language drawn from sexual love physical descriptions of the beauty of the lover, as well as images of longing and meeting, of burning and swooning, of kisses, embraces, and even of intercourse have been so widespread in the history of christian mysticism that any. University of chicago divinity school and je and lillian. The author assembles and interprets archival materials, advancing a preliminary assessment of the significance of mysticism for the development of lonergans intellectual project. Mcginn has lectured on and written extensively about the history of apocalyptic thought and recently has focused his attention on the fields of spirituality and mysticism. The mcginns begin with the various practices mystics use for finding god. Bernard mcginn is the naomi shenstone donnelley professor emeritus at the divinity school of the university of chicago, where he taught for thirtyfour years before retiring in 2003. Mysticism in the reformation, part i of volume 6 of the presence of god series, is the first full account of the role of the mystical element of christianity in the reformers who broke with rome in the period 15001650. This is a fantastic reference book for those seriously interested in christian mysticism. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The naomi shenstone donnelly professor emeritus of historical theology and history of christianity at the university of chicago, mcginn holds a ph. Serious church scholars and students of church history and mysticism will make this volume an essential part of their library. From the early third century there is evidence that christians were interpreting this passage, and indeed the entire song, in the light of the text in ephesians 5. Bernard mcginn author of the essential writings of. The essential writings of christian mysticism bernard mcginn.
Conversation on mysticism with bernard mcginn mystique. T his opening verse from the song of songs, with its enigmatic address who is speaking to whom. Gregory the great through the 12 century the presence of god v. Lonergan assigns priority to a mysticism of transforming union as the existential prin.
Mysticism and sexuality 47 the use of language drawn from sexual love physical descriptions of the beauty of the lover, as well as images of longing and meeting, of burning and swooning, of kisses, embraces, and even of intercourse have been so widespread in the. Bernard mcginn born 1937 is an american roman catholic theologian, religious historian, and scholar of spirituality. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the catholic and eastern orthodox traditions. Through mysticism men are drawn toward satan and his program under the guise of spirituality. Mysticism refers to the experience of god, whereas spirituality is the whole process of growth from inauthenticity into full relationship with god. Description of the book essential writings of christian mysticism. In the words of mcginn, its more than a matter of unusual sensations, but essentially comprises new ways of knowing and loving based on states of. Mysticism in the reformation 15001650 the presence of. It is the 7th installment in the presence of god series.
A specialist in medieval mysticism, mcginn is widely regarded as the. Each section offers insight into the mystics teachings and how we can apply that wisdom in our own lives today. Steven chase is professor of spirituality at the institute for the study of contemporary spirituality, oblate school of theology. Rational mysticism, which encompasses both rationalism and mysticism, is a term used by scholars, researchers, and other intellectuals, some of whom engage in studies of how altered states of consciousness or transcendence such as trance, visions, and prayer occur.
Stace walter terence stace is the most frequently quoted expert when defining mysticism. There is no doubt about the fact, however, that inner selfdevelopment is a slow and gradual process, but ultimately worth all the effort it takes to achieve it. Mysticism, properly understood within the christian tradition, is essentially talk of experience, a journey towards god, not just the moment of what is often called mystical union. First published in 1911, mysticism remains the classic in its field.
Bernard mcginn is one is of the greatest living authorities on catholic historical theology. Practical mysticism by edward lee the rosicrucian order. From gregory the great through the 12 century the presence of god. Praise for the essential writings of christian mysticism no one is better equipped than bernard mcginn to provide a thorough and balanced guide to this vast literature.
The essential writings of christian mysticism modern library. Five years ago, bernard mcginn substantially changed my understanding of marguerite poretes mystifying book, the mirror of simple. Penguin books, for quotations from the upanishads, translated by juan mascaro, and the. Men and women in the new mysticism 120050 by bernard mcginn. Mysticism in the worlds religions this book is both universal in its scope and discriminating in its approach, and may be recommended unreservedly to any serious enquirer. Mysticism in the reformation, 15001650, part 1 reading. Although some modern protestant theologians tried to distance the reformation from any contact with mysticism, recent scholarship, by both protestants and catholics, has shown. Wildcard searching if you want to search for multiple variations of a word, you can substitute a special symbol called a wildcard for one or more letters. The attributes and means by which christian mysticism is studied and practiced are varied and range from ecstatic visions of the souls mystical union with god to simple prayerful. It is the color of saffron and when burned gives off an odour indicative of its great mystic strength. Bernard mcginn is the naomi shenstone donnelly professor emeritus at the divinity school of the.
This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from the vast corpus of christian mystical literature by the renowned theologian and historian bernard mcginn, presents nearly one hundred selections, from the writings of origen of alexandria in the third century to the work of twentiethcentury mystics such as thomas merton. Bernard mcginn, the naomi shenstone donnelley professor emeritus at the university of chicago divinity school, is widely regarded as the preeminent scholar of mysticism in the western christian tradition. In practical mysticism author edward lee answers typical questions that have been asked of correspondents, instructors, and official representatives of the rosicrucian order, amorc, over his thirty years of employment at the. Mysticism in the reformation 15001650 will be valuable to students of mysticism and the history of christianity, as well as those working more generally within this milieu. His writing is clear and flows well while his inclusion of such a diversity of material demonstrates his phenomenal my wife and i just finished a conversation wherein we both commented that we think bernard mcginn is a phenomenal guy. He has also written extensively on jewish mysticism, the history of. He has written and translated books in areas of medieval mysticism, contemplative studies, and spirituality, interreligious dialogue, ecology, and a theological commentary on the book of job dr chase is an active spiritual director and is editor of the academic. He specializes in the history of christian spirituality and mysticism and is completing a fivevolume history of christian mysticism in the. The flowering of mysticism by bernard mcginn july 01. Mysticism and spirituality page 211 mysticism and spirituality mysticism and spirituality are similar but not identical terms.
Bernard mcginns indispensable volume mysticism in the reformation 1500 1650 advances his survey of western mysticism by surmounting misleading distinctions between catholic and protestant, medieval and postmedieval mystical currents and reintegrating his overall theme in intellectual history. Mysticism in the twentieth century compiled and written by the venerable s. Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within christianity. Thus they use the available symbols of their culturalreligious milieu to describe their experience. As oconnell notes, merton, thanks to his linguistic skills. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The complete mystical works of meister eckhart i translated and edited by m. Mcginn is a former president of the medieval academy of america and has written extensively on medieval theology, especially on the history of apocalypticism and spirituality.
The essential writings of christian mysticism modern library classics. Mcginn offers helpful introductions to each thematic section, author and entry, as well as a brief critical bibliography on mysticism. They are captured by lies under the guise of truth. Origins to the fifth centrury, the first volume in a fourvolume series, was greeted with immediate and. Drawn from the monastic tradition francis kline, ocso mw an introduction to christian mysticism. This is the best available account of the symbolical crucible from which christian mysticism sprang. His current longrange project is a sevenvolume history of christian mysticism in the west called the presence of god.
Buy the flowering of mysticism by bernard mcginn july 01, 1998 by bernard mcginn isbn. In this new book, bernard and patricia mcginn draw from the series to take a closer, personal look at the mystical vision of 12 great spiritual masters living before the reformation. This is mcginns holy wisdom lecture given february 11, 2007. Additionally, mcginns work will be of relevance to those interested in complicating simplistic bifurcations of the history of catholic and protestant religiosity.
Bernard mcginns the presence of god series is one of the most respected histories of christian mysticism in print today. Initiation into the monastic tradition 3 thomas merton. Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, the essential. Mysticism in the golden age of spain 15001650 provides the single most thorough history of the influence of spain on christian mysticism during the reformation. The essential writings of christian mysticism 2006 just seems to reinforce this. Phrase searching you can use double quotes to search for a series of words in a particular order. For more on this sermon treatise, see bernard mcginn. The varieties of vernacular mysticism 501550 crossroad. Much more than a history of western christian mysticism, this volume calls for and supplies a major revaluation of theology in the late medieval christian church. The point of each chapter or lesson in mystical science is its practice point. The practice point of the fifth lesson for in stance is not the acknowledgment of the vicarious jesus, but the self recognition that he practiced and urged all mankind to practice, that each one might do some. From pope gregory the great in the fifth century to the death of richard of st.
The venture of mysticism in the new millennium semantic scholar. We might begin by noting that in the early 1960s a wide. This is the third volume in bernard mcginns projected fivevolume work entitled the presence of god. This is an anthology which deserves to be read not only by those who study christian history and theology, but by believers who long to deepen their own lives of prayer and. And so in this spirit of discovering workable answers to ageold. Mysticism is a major element of the mystery of iniquity. Let him kiss me with the kisses of the rnouth, for your breasts are better than wine. Denys turner, professor of religion at yale divinity school, mcginns the varieties of vernacular mysticism is an astonishing achievement. For example, world war ii with quotes will give more precise results than world war ii without quotes. He is best known for his comprehensive series on mysticism, the presence of god. A specialist in medieval mysticism, mcginn is widely regarded as the preeminent scholar of mysticism in the western christian tradition. An important book that will profit even those suspicious of mysticism. These include sacred texts, the contemplative life, and prayer.
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