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

by Carl McColman

  Author of The Journal of George Fox.

  Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (ca. 1610-1691)

  Author of The Practice of the Presence of God.

  Henry Vaughan (1622-1695)

  Visionary poet whose Collected Poems are available in several editions.

  Francois Fenelon (1651-1715)

  Author of Christian Perfection.

  Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon (1648-1717)

  Also known as Madame Guyon; author of Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ.

  Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675-1751)

  Author of Abandonment to Divine Providence.

  Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

  Remembered chiefly for his controversial sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," but his masterpiece, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, suggests that he was a true mystic.

  William Law (1686-1761)

  Author of A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life.

  John Woolman (1720-1772)

  Remembered for The Journal ofJohnWoolman.

  John Wesley (1703-1791)

  Author of A Plain Account of Christian Perfection.

  Nicholas Kallivourtzis (ca. 1749-1809)

  Also known as Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain or Nicodemus the Hagiorite; compiler of The Philokalia.

  William Blake (1757-1827)

  Visionary poet and author of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

  William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

  Visionary poet whose works included "Intimations of Immortality" and "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey."

  Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874)

  Author of The Way of Holiness and Entire Devotion to God.

  Matthias Joseph Scheeben (1835-1888)

  Author of The Mysteries of Christianity.

  The Way of a Pilgrim (mid nineteenth century)

  Author unknown.

  Coventry Patmore (1823-1896)

  Author of The Rod, The Root and the Flower.

  Therese de Lisieux (1873-1897)

  Author of The Story of a Soul.

  Maria Gemma Umberta Pia Galgani (1878-1903)

  Whose autobiographical writings have been published in English as The Voices of Gemma Galgani.

  Charles Eugene de Foucauld (1858-1916)

  Author of The Spiritual Autobiography of Charles de Foueauld.

  Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938)

  Author of Divine Mercy in My Soul: The Diary of Saint Faustina.

  Thomas R. Kelly (1893-1941)

  Author of A Testament of Devotion.

  Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941)

  Author of numerous works, including Mysticism: A Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness and Practical Mysticism.

  Theresa-Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942)

  Also known as Edith Stein; author of The Science of the Cross.

  SimoneWeil (1909-1943)

  Author of Waiting for God.

  Rufus Jones (1863-1948)

  Author of The Flowering of Mysticism.

  William Ralph Inge (1860-1954)

  Author of Christian Mysticism.

  Caryll Houselander (1901-1954)

  Author of The Reed of God.

  PierreTeilhard de Chardin (1881-1955)

  Author of Hymn of the Universe (which includes his luminous essay "The Mass on the World") and The Divine Milieu.

  John Baillie (1886-1960)

  Author of A Diary of Private Prayer and The Sense of the Presence of God.

  Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961)

  Author of Markings.

  A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

  Author of The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy.

  C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)

  Refused to call himself a mystic but wrote luminous mystical fiction, such as The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Till We Have Faces.

  Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange (1877-1964)

  Author of Christian Perfection and Contemplation.

  Adrienne von Speyr (1902-1967)

  Author of Light and Images: Elements of Contemplation.

  Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

  Author of many works, including New Seeds of Contemplation and The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation.

  NiTuosheng (1903-1972)

  Also known as Watchman Nee; author of The Normal Christian Life.

  Henri Le Saux (1910-1973)

  Also known as Swami Abhishiktananda; author of Prayer.

  Karl Rahner (1904-1984)

  Author of many works, including Encounters with Silence.

  Anthony de Mello (1931-1987)

  Author of Sadhana: A Way to God.

  George F. MacLeod (1895-1991)

  Author of The Whole Earth Shall Cry Glory.

  Bede Griffiths (1906-1993)

  Author of Return to the Center and A New Vision of Reality.

  Matta El-Meskeen (1919-2006)

  Also known as Matthew the Poor; author of The Communion of Love.

  Raimon Panikkar (b. 1918)

  Author of The Experience of God: Icons of the Mystery and Christophany: The Fullness of Man.

  Thomas Keating (b. 1923)

  Author of Intimacy with God.

  Jean Borella (b. 1930)

  Author of The Sense of the Supernatural.

  Richard Rohr (b. 1943)

  Author of Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer and The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See.

  Cynthia Bourgeault (b. 1947)

  Author of Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening.

  APPENDIX B

  A Contemplative Reading List

  You don't have to read a lot of books to explore the mysteries. But it sure helps if you do. The Christian tradition has been blessed with numerous contemplatives and mystics who have written about their experiences and their life stories, and left advice and direction for those of us who follow in their footsteps.

  The following list is meant only to get you started on your own journey of contemplative reading. I've tried to balance this list to include both the writings of the great mystics and more contemporary books of spiritual guidance and instruction. I make no apologies for how subjective the list is; it features authors and works that I myself have found useful or inspiring.

  The books are presented in the reading order I think you may find most useful, but of course, if you are drawn to a particular book at the bottom of the list, by all means follow your intuition and read that one first. Meanwhile, for further ideas on books that may be of help to you as you continue your exploration of Christian mysticism, please consult my bibliography.

  As you read these books, remember to approach them in the spirit of lectio divina. Read them slowly and with an open heart, not only savoring the wisdom they contain, but also taking time to ponder the often challenging or paradoxical insights they give into the nature of God and the dynamics of the spiritual life. There is more to being a contemplative than learning how to read meditatively. But as you embrace the prayerful rhythm of lectio divina, your journey into the world of mystical wisdom will be so much the richer for it.

  This list is hardly exhaustive, and probably anyone with more than a passing knowledge of Christian mysticism and spirituality will howl with indignation over the many worthy books I did not include. My purpose is simply to whet your appetite. There are enough interesting and provocative writings by the great mystics and about their wisdom to fill a lifetime of study. Even in my relatively short list, you will find many different styles of writing and approaches to mysticism. Some are academic; some are informal; some emphasize the experiential side of mysticism; some focus on the values and teachings that undergird such experience. Only by exploring the literature for yourself can you discern which authors and writings speak most richly to you. Take the time to explore. But remember: as good as it is to read about prayer, it is even better to set aside the book and give God your undivided attention.

  The Holy Bible. Not only is t
he Bible the text par excellence for lectio divina, it is also the single most important document for Christian mysticism. Reading the Bible can be challenging in our time, particularly because of its images of God as angry or vengeful, or the passages on gender relations that come across as sexist or demeaning to women. But for those who are willing to wrestle with the text, the Bible contains luminous passages of mystical insight. Start with the Gospel of John, then move on to Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, the first Letter of John, the Psalms, and the Song of Songs. And don't stop there; shimmering glimpses of mystical insight can be found throughout this essential book. I strongly suggest that you avoid historical translations like the King James and the Douay-Rheims versions; newer translations are easier to read and generally more accurate. The New Jerusalem Bible and the New Revised Standard Version are both excellent, respected translations, worthy for both Bible study and for use in lectio.

  C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Jesus told us to become like little children. With that in mind, here is a superb introduction to the mystical life under the charming guise of a children's book. Not only is this installment from C. S. Lewis's beloved Narnia books a delight to read, it is also a masterful integration of an ancient Celtic myth (the immram, or the wondrous sea voyage that leads to paradise) with the key elements of the Christian mystical journey. All the important dimensions of the contemplative life are here: conversion, repentance and growth in holiness, the embrace of silence, the encounter with darkness, and finally, the glorious union with God in light.

  Bernard McGinn, The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism. Numerous anthologies of writings by the great mystics have been published over the years, but this one towers over them all. It includes lengthy selections from the writings of the mystics arranged topically, as well as insightful introductions and commentaries on the various selections.

  Harvey Egan, An Anthology of Christian Mysticism. An excellent complement to McGinn's Essential Writings, this anthology presents the writings of the greatest mystics in chronological, rather than topical, order, allowing you to get a feel for how mystical literature has evolved over the past 2,000 years.

  Cynthia Bourgeault, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening. The centering prayer movement began in a Trappist monastery, so its earliest proponents (Basil Pennington, Thomas Keating, and William Meninger) were all Trappists. But centering prayer soon spread widely, crossing denominational lines as people from all walks of life embraced this simple approach to silent prayer. As a leading "second-generation" teacher of centering prayer, Anglican priest Cynthia Bourgeault brings to this book a keen insight, not only of centering prayer itself, but also of the dynamics of inner growth and healing that can occur as part of a sustained contemplative practice.

  Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer. This is a general introduction to the beauty of contemplative spirituality, in which Rohr poetically explores how contemplation fosters new ways of seeing and thinking and understanding. His message, that contemplation transforms us from ordinary consciousness (which is dualistic, competitive, and oppositional) to unitive consciousness (a holistic recognition of God's grace and presence in all things), falls squarely in the heart of mystical wisdom.

  Julian of Norwich, Revelation of Love. In my opinion, this is the single most important written record of Christian mystical experience (at least so far). On the surface, it is the tale of a devout woman who experienced visions while suffering from illness; but as Julian shares the details of her visions, a powerful theology of divine love and transforming grace emerges that supports her central conviction that, in Christ, "all shall be well."

  Thomas Merton, The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation. In the 1940s, Merton wrote a short book called What is Contemplation? which he revised and expanded in the 1950s.That manuscript was revised yet again shortly before he died in 1968. Now published as The Inner Experience, it offers an in-depth look at Merton's understanding of contemplation, and how average men and women (i.e., those who are not called to monastic life) can embrace the path of contemplation in our day.

  Evelyn Underhill, Practical Mysticism. Many of Underhill's books on mysticism and Christian spirituality are scholarly in tone, but this short book presents her understanding of how Christian mysticism can be applied to ordinary life in the modern world. A century after its publication, it feels a bit dated, but nevertheless contains keen insight on how mysticism can transform the spirituality of anyone, no matter how "practical" he may be.

  Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing and The Book of Privy Counseling. These two manuals on contemplative spirituality were originally written in the fourteenth century. The Cloud of Unknowing affirms the primacy of love over mental ability in the mystical life, and served as a direct inspiration for the centering prayer movement that emerged in the late twentieth century. The Book of Privy Counseling offers additional instruction for the serious student of silent prayer.

  Mary Margaret Funk, Thoughts Matter: The Practice of the Spiritual Life. A Benedictine nun explores the wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, particularly the teachings of Evagrius and John Cassian, to reveal how their insights about meditation and managing the unruly nature of the mind remain relevant even today.

  Anonymous, The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way. These nineteenth-century Russian novels provide an accessible explanation of the spirituality of the Prayer of the Heart the Eastern Orthodox practice of repeating the Jesus Prayer continually, thereby cultivating an ongoing awareness of Christ's presence.

  Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. This is a slender volume of collected papers by and about a seventeenth-century Carmelite friar which captures his simple spirituality of intentionally and continually choosing awareness of God's presence moment by moment throughout the day.

  John Ruusbroec, The Spiritual Espousals and Other Works. Evelyn Underhill considered Ruusbroec her favorite mystic, and it's easy to see why. His spirituality is deeply Trinitarian, and his understanding of the mystical summit of union with God that nevertheless does not erase the distinction between creator and creature makes him one of the most articulate Christian mystics. The Spiritual Espousals is generally regarded as his masterpiece. Three minor works are included in the Classics of Western Spirituality edition.49

  Teresa of Avila, Collected Works, Volumes 1 and 2. The first two volumes of Teresa's collected works include three mystical classics: her autobiography, one of the finest statements of personal spiritual experience; The Way of Perfection, her commentary on prayer and particularly on the Lord's Prayer; and The Interior Castle, a survey of the mystical life built around the metaphor of the soul as a castle fashioned out of a glittering diamond, in whose center God reigns. As we travel through the rooms or "mansions" of the castle, we are called to grow in virtue and holiness.

  Benedicta Ward (translator), The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks. Most of the early Christian hermits and monks who retreated into the deserts of Egypt and Syria to surrender their lives to prayer did not write about their experiences, but tales of their teachings were eventually collected and anthologized. Today, the sayings of the desert read like parables and sometimes even riddles, offering insight into lives where everything was held secondary to the quest for God.

  Meister Eckhart, Selected Writings. One of the most celebrated, but also most controversial, of Christian mystics, Eckhart, a thirteenth-century Dominican theologian, wrote scholarly works but also preached in both Latin and his native German about the experience of union with God that is available to the ardent contemplative. The Penguin Books anthology of his writings includes three treatises, along with a selection of sermons.

  Pseudo-Dionysius, The Complete Works. The Classics of Western Spirituality has published a one-volume edition of all the known writings by the elusive and mysterious sixth-century theologian who calls himself Dionysius the Areopagite, a minor figure in the NewTestament. Eviden
ce in his writings shows that he isn't really Dionysius, but an anonymous figure who lived and wrote sometime around the year 500 CE. What this author has to say is just as mysterious (and controversial) as his identity. He expresses his understanding of God, the angels, and even the church using language and concepts that are clearly influenced by pagan Greek philosophy. Pseudo-Dionysius has had an enormous impact on the mystical tradition as a whole, influencing figures as diverse as Thomas Aquinas, the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, and lesser-known mystics like John Scotus Eriugena. This anthology includes his four major works: The Celestial Hierarchy, his enormously influential treatise on the nature of heaven; The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, in which he explores the mystical nature of church organization; The Divine Names; and The Mystical Theology, profound, seminal works of apophatic (imageless) theology.

  Therese of Lisieux, The Story of a Soul. Immensely popular when published, this autobiography of a nineteenth-century French nun who died of tuberculosis while still in her twenties has become a modern classic. Therese promotes what she calls "the little way" of serving God in humble and ordinary ways, acknowledging that the spiritual life is not just for martyrs or others who are heroic in their stature, but also for even the most down-to-earth people in the lowliest of circumstances who nevertheless have much to offer to God and their neighbors.

  John of the Cross, Collected Works. One of the greatest of Christian mystics, John of the Cross was a world-class Spanish poet and a gifted writer with a keen understanding of the psychology of the inner life. His collected works include his four major mystical treatises: The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night of the Soul, Living Flame of Love, and the Spiritual Canticle.

  Anthony Bloom, Beginning to Pray. Most of the books on this list are concerned primarily with contemplation, but this book takes us back to the basics of prayer in its most down-toearth form (even including recited or memorized prayer). Written by an orthodox archbishop, this introductory work offers gentle encouragement and insight into practical questions (and common obstacles) for anyone wishing to foster a greater sense of intimacy and connection with God.

  Hildegard of Bingen, Selected Writings. A twelth-century nun who has become celebrated in our time because of her beautiful music, Hildegard was also a visionary who wrote of her mystical experiences and corresponded with some of the leading figures of her day, including Bernard of Clairvaux.