Books about Christian/Catholic Mysticism

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christofirst said:
Your query is posted in the Traditional Catholicism forum, and the responses here do indeed represent many of the classics; great milestones of Christian mysticism.

Of the three books you proposed, I have read Carl McColman’s Big Book of Christian Mysticism, and I can recommend it (in fact, I have: I’m the CGS who reviewed it on Amazon).

However, the whole matter can be rather subjective. I might really connect with a particular author’s style and point of view, as I do with McColman, yet find another author dry or unapproachable, despite rave reviews by others. For many traditional Catholics, a blurb from progressive Fr. Richard Rohr will automatically place the recommended book on a personal forbidden index. You must decide for yourself.

Speaking from my own experience, I must admit that I began studying the mystical way hoping it might be a kind of shortcut to grace and union with God. I wanted to avoid some of the drudgery, the discipline, and the hard work of following Christ. What I have learned of course, and McColman’s book makes this very plain, is that there is no getting around the need for discipline and a committed daily practice, whatever form your prayer takes.

Not sure if this helps at all, but God bless your good intention all the same.
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Great points … 👍

Interestingly the book that I recommend is by a person who seems mainly active in the Catholic Charismatic tradition…Though I try not to label people in any particular genre.

What you say about deciding for oneself is dead on point. That is why I like a book like "Fulfillment. It gives a good taste of a number of different saints styles and approaches. This can be very useful for targeting those saints and aspects that are particularly attractive and useful.

In so far as your comment about looking for a short-cut…This was something that attracted me too…Not necessarily looking for an “easy path” but rather one that “cut through” a lot of what I thought of as confusing “underbrush”.
Once one gets passed much of this and down to the core, the underbrush is less confusing and takes on an order that one did not see previously. At least that has been my experience.

That said - the one true shortcut seems to me to be summed up in St Therese’s “Little Way of Love”…Do small things with great love…For me - this speaks to the core of the core…

Sorry if this is a bit off topic…Just rambling I guess…😊

Peace
James
 
TimothyH said:
The Sun at Midnight by Bernardo Olivera OCSO.

bks0.books.google.com/books?id=VL2wCc3V4ekC&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&edge=curl&imgtk=AFLRE728EtWUOR1JBJfOdKRWv59CKafzUg6V2BigKfjLag_UVqBDDVQC09Out8FaOxHTaXCvpj2fJ9n6AMrEwoSdsbQI0Jye0EBbM7ScfwBxKvft3jQJ2Hzugrqphu6XaFxNctUojyhh

One of the best books I have ever read on mysticism.

-Tim-
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Thank you for your recommendation 🙂
christofirst said:
Your query is posted in the Traditional Catholicism forum, and the responses here do indeed represent many of the classics; great milestones of Christian mysticism.

Of the three books you proposed, I have read Carl McColman’s Big Book of Christian Mysticism, and I can recommend it (in fact, I have: I’m the CGS who reviewed it on Amazon).

However, the whole matter can be rather subjective. I might really connect with a particular author’s style and point of view, as I do with McColman, yet find another author dry or unapproachable, despite rave reviews by others. For many traditional Catholics, a blurb from progressive Fr. Richard Rohr will automatically place the recommended book on a personal forbidden index. You must decide for yourself.

Speaking from my own experience, I must admit that I began studying the mystical way hoping it might be a kind of shortcut to grace and union with God. I wanted to avoid some of the drudgery, the discipline, and the hard work of following Christ. What I have learned of course, and McColman’s book makes this very plain, is that there is no getting around the need for discipline and a committed daily practice, whatever form your prayer takes.

Not sure if this helps at all, but God bless your good intention all the same.
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Excellent advice, and thanks for your recommendations! As you say, many books will contain the same or at least similar information, though it can be an author’s style which makes or breaks a person’s interest in it. I am a student and an academic at heart, and so am used to reading dry and “intellectual” etc. writing styles (in fact, I almost always enjoy them!).

This also informed my original intention. I simply want to learn about the great tradition of Christian Mysticism, as even at my very vague level of understanding I feel as though it is a form and expression and practice of faith which resonants quite profoundly with me. And by learning about it, and the wonderful mystics of the past, I would be able to incorporate it into my daily life 🙂

Thank you very much for your response!
JRKH said:
Great points … 👍

Interestingly the book that I recommend is by a person who seems mainly active in the Catholic Charismatic tradition…Though I try not to label people in any particular genre.

What you say about deciding for oneself is dead on point. That is why I like a book like "Fulfillment. It gives a good taste of a number of different saints styles and approaches. This can be very useful for targeting those saints and aspects that are particularly attractive and useful.

In so far as your comment about looking for a short-cut…This was something that attracted me too…Not necessarily looking for an “easy path” but rather one that “cut through” a lot of what I thought of as confusing “underbrush”.
Once one gets passed much of this and down to the core, the underbrush is less confusing and takes on an order that one did not see previously. At least that has been my experience.

That said - the one true shortcut seems to me to be summed up in St Therese’s “Little Way of Love”…Do small things with great love…For me - this speaks to the core of the core…

Sorry if this is a bit off topic…Just rambling I guess…😊

Peace
James
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👍 Thanks once again 🙂

Regards
Matt
 
JRKH said:
Great points … 👍

Interestingly the book that I recommend is by a person who seems mainly active in the Catholic Charismatic tradition…Though I try not to label people in any particular genre.

What you say about deciding for oneself is dead on point. That is why I like a book like "Fulfillment. It gives a good taste of a number of different saints styles and approaches. This can be very useful for targeting those saints and aspects that are particularly attractive and useful.

In so far as your comment about looking for a short-cut…This was something that attracted me too…Not necessarily looking for an “easy path” but rather one that “cut through” a lot of what I thought of as confusing “underbrush”.
Once one gets passed much of this and down to the core, the underbrush is less confusing and takes on an order that one did not see previously. At least that has been my experience.

That said - the one true shortcut seems to me to be summed up in St Therese’s “Little Way of Love”…Do small things with great love…For me - this speaks to the core of the core…

Sorry if this is a bit off topic…Just rambling I guess…😊

Peace
James
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Not off topic at all. I always appreciate your posts. Every time I see your recommendation for “The Fulfillment…” at the end of your post, I then glance over at it resting on my bookshelf. I started it a few years back, then set it aside (bookmark still at page 113, waiting).

How I receive a book or connect with an author will depend a lot on the circumstances of my life at any given point. As I recall, when I started Martin’s book it was a very stressful time for me with work and family. I am thinking it might be time to take it up again. Thanks for reminding me.🙂
 
christofirst said:
Not off topic at all. I always appreciate your posts. Every time I see your recommendation for “The Fulfillment…” at the end of your post, I then glance over at it resting on my bookshelf. I started it a few years back, then set it aside (bookmark still at page 113, waiting).

How I receive a book or connect with an author will depend a lot on the circumstances of my life at any given point. As I recall, when I started Martin’s book it was a very stressful time for me with work and family. I am thinking it might be time to take it up again. Thanks for reminding me.🙂
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You are absolutely correct in saying that circumstances…timing…is crucial for these things.

When i first got the book I devoured it with the intention of then reading it a second time more slowly and carefully…Well - - - Like you - - - It sits there with a book mark in it. I still pick it up from time to time and it is always a comfort and help…but I never have managed to finish that second read through…:blushing:

That said…through reading the book I found myself very attracted to St Catherine of Sienna and her dialogues. So I go that book…and promptly stalled again…
But both books are nearby and I know that when the time is right, the Spirit will guide me to them once again.

Peace
James
 
Matt90 said:
Thank you for your recommendation 🙂

Excellent advice, and thanks for your recommendations! As you say, many books will contain the same or at least similar information, though it can be an author’s style which makes or breaks a person’s interest in it. I am a student and an academic at heart, and so am used to reading dry and “intellectual” etc. writing styles (in fact, I almost always enjoy them!).

This also informed my original intention. I simply want to learn about the great tradition of Christian Mysticism, as even at my very vague level of understanding I feel as though it is a form and expression and practice of faith which resonants quite profoundly with me. And by learning about it, and the wonderful mystics of the past, I would be able to incorporate it into my daily life 🙂

Thank you very much for your response!

👍 Thanks once again 🙂

Regards
Matt
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I sometimes struggle with older, archaic writing, and some of the classic mystical authors of centuries past veil their ideas so completely with flowery prose that I often miss the point! Contemporary books like McColman’s give a good, if somewhat concise overview of the topic of mysticism - including current trends and ideas - but if you are able to understand and connect with the “giants”, like the great Carmelites mentioned above, I’m sure this would be preferable. God bless you.

I will have to look into “The Sun at Midnight” by Olivero myself, too. Thanks.
 
I like ‘The Three Conversions of the Spiritual Life’, by Fr Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP. It is a brief (100 pages approx) synopsis of the ‘triplex via’ and the transitions between the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages described by the Doctors of the Church. I think it is very important today to stress the importance of vice, virtue, affection, passion, in the ascetical and mystical life these days, since they often seem to be forgotten.

If this whets the appetite for the triplex via, one could try ‘Fire Within’ by Fr Dubay, Fr Garrigou’s ‘Three Ages of the Interior Life’ christianperfection.info/, or Fr Tanquerey’s ‘The Spiritual Life: a Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology’. The first is a treatment of St Teresa and St John of the Cross in the context of the teaching on prayer and the universal call to contemplation in the Gospel and the teachings of the Council and the Liturgy, whilst the second two treat systematically of the history of mystical theology, beginning with grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then proceeding to consider prayer, vice, virtue, and union with God through the path of the triple way.
Blessed reading, praying, living!
 
Since youre wanting an overview type of book, you might try Sayings of the Desert Fathers, by Thomas Merton. Its not Catholic mysticism as a whole, but it covers the mysticism of the early desert monks in an overall way.
 
Matt90 said:
Hello all!

I am interested in your recommendations on some good, thorough books about a history of Christian (though preferably with a Catholic focus) mysticism

I have come across these:

The Big Book of Christian Mysticism: The Essential Guide to Contemplative Spirituality

Growing into God: A Beginner’s Guide to Christian Mysticism

The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism

Can anybody comment on any of these? The first two seem to be a broad history on the topic while the third is an anthology of “essential” writings. I appreciate that all of them address Christian mysticism, so there will no doubt be a discussion of non-Catholic mystics etc.

Hopefully this is in the right place, thank you in advance! 😃

Regards
Matt
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Are you interested in reading the Mystics or in Mystical Theology. They’re not the same.
 
KevJohn said:
I like ‘The Three Conversions of the Spiritual Life’, by Fr Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP. It is a brief (100 pages approx) synopsis of the ‘triplex via’ and the transitions between the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages described by the Doctors of the Church. I think it is very important today to stress the importance of vice, virtue, affection, passion, in the ascetical and mystical life these days, since they often seem to be forgotten.

If this whets the appetite for the triplex via, one could try ‘Fire Within’ by Fr Dubay, Fr Garrigou’s ‘Three Ages of the Interior Life’ christianperfection.info/, or Fr Tanquerey’s ‘The Spiritual Life: a Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology’. The first is a treatment of St Teresa and St John of the Cross in the context of the teaching on prayer and the universal call to contemplation in the Gospel and the teachings of the Council and the Liturgy, whilst the second two treat systematically of the history of mystical theology, beginning with grace and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, then proceeding to consider prayer, vice, virtue, and union with God through the path of the triple way.
Blessed reading, praying, living!
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This sounds extremely interesting, thanks for the suggestions 😃
McCall1981 said:
Since youre wanting an overview type of book, you might try Sayings of the Desert Fathers, by Thomas Merton. Its not Catholic mysticism as a whole, but it covers the mysticism of the early desert monks in an overall way.
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My sister gave me a copy of this, and it is actually the one that has peaked my interest in the whole topic and resulted in me starting this thread 🙂 Thanks!
JReducation said:
Are you interested in reading the Mystics or in Mystical Theology. They’re not the same.
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Ah, well, this is difficult for me to answer, because I am not that familiar with this topic as I said, so I’m not too sure about the difference between the two. I guess I am interested in a sort of history of Christian Mysticism, and possibly information in terms of the process of prayer and practices, and then eventually read key writings of mystics themselves. But I thought that if I went with the broadest information possible first, this would help me have a deeper understanding when it came to reading individual writings.

I have a feeling I’m not using the terminology 100% correctly haha, so if you need clarification be sure to let me know 🙂

Regards
Matt
 
Matt90 said:
This sounds extremely interesting, thanks for the suggestions 😃

My sister gave me a copy of this, and it is actually the one that has peaked my interest in the whole topic and resulted in me starting this thread 🙂 Thanks!

Ah, well, this is difficult for me to answer, because I am not that familiar with this topic as I said, so I’m not too sure about the difference between the two. I guess I am interested in a sort of history of Christian Mysticism, and possibly information in terms of the process of prayer and practices, and then eventually read key writings of mystics themselves. But I thought that if I went with the broadest information possible first, this would help me have a deeper understanding when it came to reading individual writings.

I have a feeling I’m not using the terminology 100% correctly haha, so if you need clarification be sure to let me know 🙂

Regards
Matt
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Mystical Theology is the study of mysticism. What we do in this area of theology is to analyze the writings so as to ensure that they are in keeping with the faith of the Church. The first thing that one learns is how to analyze them. There is a method for doing so. One does not just open up St. Catherine or St. Teresa and start reading. That’s not the study of mysticism. That’s spiritual reading.

For example, I received my degree in Mystical Theology. We opened up St. Catherine (let’s say) and the fist thing one says to oneself is, “What is this person saying?” One needs to know history, language and literature.

The next question is, “Does this statement coincide with revelation?” You need to be very knowledgeable of dogmatic and moral theology.

Then follows the all important question. “Is this rational?” One needs to know something about abnormal psychology and a great deal about mystery. Faith is going to show us whether this is a rational statement or not. But we have to ascertain that the mystical writer is not having delusions.

If one really wants to get into a serious study of mystical theology, it takes about seven years after college. You would want to read about the following:

Sacred Scripture and the spiritual life
Spirituality in the early Church
Monasticism in the East
Monasticism in the West
Benedictine monasticism
Medieval spirituality
Dionysian spirituality and Devotio Moderna
Post-Tridentine spirituality
Modern spirituality
Methods of moral theology
Methodology of apologetics
Western liturgy and spirituality
Eastern liturgy and spirtuality
Sacraments and sprituality
Human development and spirituality
Psychology and the transcendent

These are the subjects that I make our novices read.

If one wants to learn about it in broad strokes, there are some very good writers who give us summaries of the above in very concise books. Some that I truly enjoy are:

Evelyn Underhill
Benedict Groeschel
Lagrange
Thomas Dubay
Jordan Aumann
Robin Mass
Thomas Merton
Bonaventure’s Itinerarium
 
JReducation said:
Mystical Theology is the study of mysticism. What we do in this area of theology is to analyze the writings so as to ensure that they are in keeping with the faith of the Church. The first thing that one learns is how to analyze them. There is a method for doing so. One does not just open up St. Catherine or St. Teresa and start reading. That’s not the study of mysticism. That’s spiritual reading.

For example, I received my degree in Mystical Theology. We opened up St. Catherine (let’s say) and the fist thing one says to oneself is, “What is this person saying?” One needs to know history, language and literature.

The next question is, “Does this statement coincide with revelation?” You need to be very knowledgeable of dogmatic and moral theology.

Then follows the all important question. “Is this rational?” One needs to know something about abnormal psychology and a great deal about mystery. Faith is going to show us whether this is a rational statement or not. But we have to ascertain that the mystical writer is not having delusions.

If one really wants to get into a serious study of mystical theology, it takes about seven years after college. You would want to read about the following:

Sacred Scripture and the spiritual life
Spirituality in the early Church
Monasticism in the East
Monasticism in the West
Benedictine monasticism
Medieval spirituality
Dionysian spirituality and Devotio Moderna
Post-Tridentine spirituality
Modern spirituality
Methods of moral theology
Methodology of apologetics
Western liturgy and spirituality
Eastern liturgy and spirtuality
Sacraments and sprituality
Human development and spirituality
Psychology and the transcendent

These are the subjects that I make our novices read.

If one wants to learn about it in broad strokes, there are some very good writers who give us summaries of the above in very concise books. Some that I truly enjoy are:

Evelyn Underhill
Benedict Groeschel
Lagrange
Thomas Dubay
Jordan Aumann
Robin Mass
Thomas Merton
Bonaventure’s Itinerarium
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Thank you for clarifying that! And thank you very much for that list of topics and authors, you’ve been extremely helpful 🙂

Regards
Matt
 
William Law is gold but be is a protestant mystic, good all the same.
 
JReducation said:
If one wants to learn about it in broad strokes, there are some very good writers who give us summaries of the above in very concise books. Some that I truly enjoy are:

Evelyn Underhill
Benedict Groeschel
Lagrange
Thomas Dubay
Jordan Aumann
Robin Mass
Thomas Merton
Bonaventure’s Itinerarium
Click to expand...
Father Dubay has a page at Ignatius. There they have posted excerpts from some of his books for anyone who wants a taste.

ignatiusinsight.com/authors/thomas_dubay.asp

EWTN also has some audio.

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=840549426

His book Happy are you Poor was transformative for me. I had never heard such things stated in the way Father Dubay stated them, and it is no exaggeratino to say that this book radically challenged everything I had ever thought about material goods.

I’ve come to appreciate radical challenge. Sometimes I get entrenched in my thoughts and beliefs, and I have learned not to be afraid of people or ideas that challeng my worldview. Father Dubay seems to do that to me for some reason.

I orderd his book “Prayer Primer” just now. 🙂

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Father Dubay has a page at Ignatius. There they have posted excerpts from some of his books for anyone who wants a taste.

ignatiusinsight.com/authors/thomas_dubay.asp

EWTN also has some audio.

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=840549426

His book Happy are you Poor was transformative for me. I had never heard such things stated in the way Father Dubay stated them, and it is no exaggeratino to say that this book radically challenged everything I had ever thought about material goods.

I’ve come to appreciate radical challenge. Sometimes I get entrenched in my thoughts and beliefs, and I have learned not to be afraid of people or ideas that challeng my worldview. Father Dubay seems to do that to me for some reason.

I orderd his book “Prayer Primer” just now. 🙂

-Tim-
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Fathers Dubay, Aumann and Groeschel were among my teachers in graduate school. They’re awesome. Fr. Dubay taught us out of his manuscript for The Fire Within, before it was published. He was a very holy man and a very gentle person.
 
TimothyH said:
Father Dubay has a page at Ignatius. There they have posted excerpts from some of his books for anyone who wants a taste.

ignatiusinsight.com/authors/thomas_dubay.asp

EWTN also has some audio.

ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/seriessearchprog.asp?seriesID=840549426

His book Happy are you Poor was transformative for me. I had never heard such things stated in the way Father Dubay stated them, and it is no exaggeratino to say that this book radically challenged everything I had ever thought about material goods.

I’ve come to appreciate radical challenge. Sometimes I get entrenched in my thoughts and beliefs, and I have learned not to be afraid of people or ideas that challeng my worldview. Father Dubay seems to do that to me for some reason.

I orderd his book “Prayer Primer” just now. 🙂

-Tim-
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Thanks for this recommendation, Father Dubay looks awesome! And I have a tendency to agree with you, an intellectual challenge can often be a very positive thing 🙂
GreatergoodGod said:
William Law is gold but be is a protestant mystic, good all the same.
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Thank you 🙂

Regards
Matt
 
I need to second the recommendation of “Happy are you poor”. Tim suggested it based on my love of Gospel Poverty, and I loved the book. Cannot recommend it highly enough.

Seriously, give it a try.
 
JReducation said:
Fathers Dubay, Aumann and Groeschel were among my teachers in graduate school. They’re awesome. Fr. Dubay taught us out of his manuscript for The Fire Within, before it was published. He was a very holy man and a very gentle person.
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Thank you for making us your ministry Brother. Your words have made me a more virtuous person.

-Tim-
 
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