The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism (Modern Library Classics)

McGinnn presents a topically arranged selection of 17 hundred years of writing about Christian Mysticism. The broad topics start with Foundation of Mystical practice with highlights including Bernard of Clairvaux's sermon of the Song of Songs ("I feel that the Kind has not one bedroom only, but many", an Life of Mary of Oignies by James of Vitry ("at times she would rest sweetly with the Lord in a pleasant and blessed salience for thirty-five days, during this time taking no bodily food, and being unable to say anything but "I want the Body of Lord Jesus Christ". ". Throughout are introduced strong prayer elements as the Way of the Pilgrim ("Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner") and negative ("stripping away') dimensions as John of the Cross "Upon a Dark night. The longest section is on aspects of mystical consciousness. Some remarkable sections there include Mechthild of Magdeburg on the Trinity ("I am an overflowing spring that no one can block"), and Julian of Norwich's love (`he also showed a little thing, the size of a hazel-nut in the palm on my hand. ... it is all that is made. ... It lasts and will last for ever because God loves it". The anonymous 14th century "beat upon that thick cloud of unknowing with the dart of your loving desire". There are some remarkable manifestations of the mystic life as St. Francis's stigmata, or Benedict seeing the bishop of Capua carried to heaven in a fiery sphere on angels. Perhaps my favorite quite is Meister Eckhart "The eye in which I see God is the same eye in which God sees me." Perhaps the chapter on distress and dereliction may be the most puzzling, but consoling. The final section on implications of mysticism discusses the "dialectical relationship between the mystical and institution", between the orthodox and the edge of heresy, even Meister Eckhart was condemned. A result of contact with God, is a transformed life, and the final chapter discusses relation of contemplation and action. If your enemy is hungry. feed him Romans 12:20. The final election is Thomas Merton who in his last decade became involved in many public debates Throughout the book, McGinn's concise writing introduces both the concepts as well as brief biographical material about the author. McGinn provides a wide selection of text, and picks the best English translation available, and if not is available, translates it himself. He does not stick to accepted Roman Catholic texts, and there are examples of Quietism, the Lutheran Johann Arndnt, Hesychast tradition in the Christian East, the poet William Blake ("to see the world in a grain of sand"), and the Quaker George Fox. Although writing about mystics is difficult, what we cannot know we can grasp, this book provides a good introduction.

I like it because it provides the historical basis for our understanding of the Bible and how to develop a more Christlike life as these early believers lived. It will introduce you to names and places and fill your spiritual appetite with good knowledge.

At last! I've been teaching college courses on philosophy & mysticism for years, and I've always been frustrated by the absence of a good anthology of Christian mysticism. So I've either had to order armfuls of primary texts or settle for mediocre anthologies. But Bernard McGinn, who knows more about Christian mysticism than anyone else, has saved me (and others!). This wonderful collection of Christian mysticism is logically arranged, judiciously selected, and expertly commented on. How wonderful! Selections are from ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary mystics, and from western as well as orthodox traditions. Fathers of the Desert, the Beguines, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton, Hugh of St. Victor, Symeon, Macarius, Eckhart, John of the Cross, Bernard of Clairvaux: these and many other Christian mystics are excerpted in sections that cover topics such as Biblical Interpretation, Asceticism and Purgation, Inner and Outer Practices, Trinity, Christ, Vision, Deification, and Love and Knowledge. McGinn even concludes with a section that focuses on the social/moral relevance of Christian mysticism, which would be nicely complemented by a reading of Dorothee Soelle's The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance. McGinn's book is bound to be the definitive collection for years to come. Highly, highly recommended--and highly welcome.

I commend the research and thoroughness and authenticity of this volume, I questian the relevance and period language of some of the passages. Frankly some of it reads as inconsequential to a seeker of truth.

I’ve ordered several books on the saints and none of them were what I was looking for until this one. It was recommended by a theologian friend and it has not disappointed! It’s so easy to read, relatable, and enjoyable. It is filled with excerpts of the teachings of many different saints over a wide range of dates. Highly recommend!

This book is a delight. I am not very far into it. It is full of useful, beautiful, delightful tidbits of insight from the saints of all ages. The excerpts are insightful. They are long enough to be useful for meditative pondering, but short enough to make it feasible to read and reflect on one per day. I feel that it has been a beautiful way to meet many of the saints I had not known of, fathers and mothers of the faith.

Good service, perfect condition. Wonderful contents to be recommended to anyone interested in prayer and the richness of the Christian tradition in meditation and contemplative prayer.

It seems as if this is a reduced facsimile of the original publication. The margins are very tight and the text so small that it's not only hard to read but also daunting to approach. The text itself is hard enough without the publisher making it even harder for the sake of economics. It's a shame. But I'm glad to have it all the same.

Envoi conforme et soigné

It's chronologically arranged so you can follow mystical Christian thinking from Origin right up to Thomas Merton. Each of the selections are excellent choices, but not too extensive, so the book covers a lot of material but is not tedious to get through.

This book made me feel humbled and awed by the breadth and depth of mystical thinkers from the earliest followers of Jesus Christ, to Thomas Merton of the 20th century. I so appreciate Bernard McGinn's careful and orderly compilation, and his own scholarly translation work in several works within, as well as his thoughtful introductions throughout the book.