Christian Mystics
108 Seers, Saints, and Sages
- Prayer & Spiritual Formation
- Publisher: Broadleaf Books (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2021
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Publisher's Description
Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages celebrates the many types of mystics, visionaries, wisdom keepers, and non-dualists whose spiritual insight and perceptive teachings have illuminated the Christian tradition for the past two thousand years. Looking at 108 mystics from Biblical times to the present day, this user-friendly guide shows how the spiritual masters of the western tradition provide a variety of paths into the transforming heart of God. Everyone needs teachers and companions to guide and nurture us in developing rich interior lives -- as we seek to respond to the beatifying, deifying love of God. The mystics, whose legacy includes sublime poetry, fascinating autobiographies, and potentially life-changing teachings, can help anyone find greater love, purpose, and a deeper sense of God's presence. But the mystics are not a uniform bunch, which is why this book is such an essential guide to their lives, wisdom, and essential teachings. Carl McColman, author of The Big Book of Christian Mysticism, organizes the mystics into nine categories: visionaries, confessors, lovers, poets, saints, heretics, wisdom keepers, soul-friends, and unitives. By profiling twelve examples of great mystics and spiritual teachers in each category, the book can help you to learn more about the mystics, and identify those whose writings will be most valuable to you as you pursue your own adventure of falling ever more deeply in love with God. All of the most famous Christian mystics are profiled here: figures like Teresa of Ávila, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Thomas Merton, and anonymous masters like the authors of classics like The Cloud of Unknowing or The Way of a Pilgrim. But the book also will introduce you to many lesser known (but truly wonderful) mystical geniuses, such as Beatrice of Nazareth, Gregory of Narek, and Coventry Patmore. Nor does the book shy away from living (or recently living) mystics: visionaries such as Howard Thurman, Sara Grant, Kenneth Leech, and Bruno Barnhart are all included. This informative volume will appeal to those who buy religious reference books and anyone interested in Christian mysticism or western spirituality. But it's more than just a history book or an encyclopedia: Christian Mystics: 108 Seers, Saints and Sages is a curated celebration of western spiritual wisdom, making it accessible for all seekers today.
Endorsements (13)
“Carl McColman offers an inspiring introduction to a broad range of 108 Western Christian mystics, helpfully divided into nine different kinds of mystics. The book is written in lucid, nonacademic language that allows it to be accessible to a wide range of people.”
“I used to carry around Evelyn Underhill's classic, Mysticism. My copy of Bernard McGinn's anthology is marked on every page. But now, Carl McColman's Christian Mystics will be my go-to guide.”
“How blessed we are to have this book! I have begun my morning sit lately by reading here from another ancestor in the ways of faith, hope, and love. Carl McColman not only broadens our notion of mysticism, but in rather simple format, also deepens it, and thus invites every Christian on the same beloved path.”
Fr. Richard Rohr
“speed-dating” introduction to the world of Christian mystics. It's of real value both for beginners and for more experienced readers, who may have overlooked some of the great mystics of the past.”
“A treasure trove of the Christian mystics—seers, saints and sages—presented in all their rich diversity diversity and offered as mentors to guide the contemporary Christian toward an encounter with the presence of God.”
“A great gift of a distillation of 108 wise and worthy guides on the mystical way, each entry offering a spark for further exploration.”
“We live to feel alive. We need to know love and joy. And I feel this book could help safeguard—and encourage—many tender, precious unfurling wings.”
“Christian Mystics is a delightful spiritual banquet, a real feast, giving us a taste of the many mystics throughout time who can serve as our teachers and companions.”
“Carl McColman's wise and gentle primer has introduced me to many mystics I've never heard of, as well as renewed my acquaintance with some favorites like Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, and Richard Rohr. This book brings mystics down to earth even while bringing readers that much closer to heaven. I will be turning to it many times in the coming years.”
“Drawing together an array of colorful visionaries and sublime poets, this book is an elegant guide to the essence of those awakened souls who transcend religiosity while simultaneously opening our hearts to the love of their Master, Christ.”
“The genius of this book lies in its ability to introduce the reader to the heart of the mystics through tiny, sparkling jewels of their writings.”
“With exceptional clarity Carl McColman snaps together words which lead us into the breadth, diversity, and depth of the Christian contemplative tradition. This book makes clear the fundamental distinction between mysticism and extraordinary phenomena. For this, I, for one, offer a deep bow of gratitude.”
“Christianity is a vast sea of wisdom, and yet most of us are content only to skim the surface. Carl McColman's introduction to the Christian mystics invites us to dive deep and discover a Christianity most of us have never even imagined.”
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