Early Christian Mystics: The Divine Vision of Spiritual Masters

by Bernard McGinn, Patricia Ferris McGinn

Bernard McGinn's The Presence of God series is one of the most respected histories of Christian mysticism in print today. 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. What were the deep insights of these early mystics? How can we apply their wisdom to our lives today? Chapters include Hildegard of Bingen on cosmic vision, John Cassian on prayer and purity of heart, and Bernard of Clairvaux on spousal love.

Genres: Religion, Mysticism, Christianity, Spirituality, Theology, History

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2003

About the author

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. He has also written extensively on Jewish mysticism, the history of apocalyptic thought, and medieval Christianity.

A cum laude graduate of St. Joseph's Seminary and College in Yonkers, NY, he earned a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1963 and a PhD in history from Brandeis University in 1970. After teaching theology for a year at The Catholic University of America, he joined the Chicago faculty in 1969 as an instructor in theology and the history of Christianity and was appointed a full professor nine years later. Dr. McGinn was named to the Donnelley chair in 1992. He retired in 2003.

The recent recipient of a Mellon Foundation Emeritus Grant, he also has held a Fulbright-Hays Research Fellowship, an American Association of Theological Schools research award, two research fellowships for work at the Institute for Advanced Study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, a research fellowship at the Institute for Ecumenical and Culture Research at St. John's University, and a Lily Foundation Senior Research Fellowship.

Dr. McGinn has delivered invited lectures at some one hundred colleges and universities in North America, Europe, and Israel. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Medieval Academy of America.  Past-president of the International Society for the Promotion of Eriugenean Studies, the American Society of Church History, and the American Catholic Historical Association, he is member of the board of The Eckhart Society. He served as editor-in-chief of the Paulist Press series Classics of Western Spirituality and currently serves as a member of the editorial boards of Cistercian Publications, The Encyclopedia of World Spirituality, The Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan, and Spiritus.

Reviews

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A survey - but a surprisingly in-depth survey - of Chritsian mystics through the centuries, beginning with Origen and going through to William of St Thierry. I was especially interested in their takes on Hildegard von Bingen and Richard of St. Victor, and this book has spurred my appetite for more Victorine mysticism.

[Ci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the lives and main themes of 12 mystics of early christianity, which is upto 1200. These mystics are Origen, Evagrius Ponticus, John Cassian, Gregory the Great, Hildegard of Bingen, Richard of St. Victor, Gregory of Nyssa, Augustine of Hippo, Dionysius, John the Scot, Bernard of Clairvaux, and William of St. Thierry.
It is a useful and lucid summary of their lives and works for introduction and references purpose. I plan to read it again along with McGinn's other books.

[Jon Clendenin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for those seeking

Great read for those seeking to learn more about early Christian mystics. The author includes a brief biography plus summary of each mystics teachings and writings. Would highly recommend.

[Cesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Interesting but some times difficult to digest.

[Richard Pütz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to use in reading/discussion groups. Easy to read for non academics and insightful to the thinking of the mystic

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really nice introduction to twelve foundational Christian mystics. Unlike some other introductions, this book included helpful source material and unpacked key theological themes. Also helpful are the "suggestions for further reading," which conclude each chapter.

[Daniel Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indepth look at twelve major christian mystic written by the greatest christian mystic historian!

[John Medendorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, brief introduction to twelve of the most influential Christian mystics in history.

[Margo]

Very insightful and encompassing, very academic