Explore the fascinating history of Christian mysticism from the early days of the Church until today featuring Dr. Carlos Eire, T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University.
Interesting to hear you talking for once about someone whom I know very well from Laurentin's biography etc.; a quite extraordinary figure. This is growing into a marvelous series by the way.
Some of the most remarkable accounts of this kind of thing are those of the demonic persecution suffered by the Curé d'Ars; I find it hard to wrap my mind around all of this.
It is always pure enjoyment for me to listen to your conversations. I find them inspiring and helping me to go deeper in my Catholic faith with its all implications. Thank you
In addition to St. Gemma Galgani's writings, I highly recommend The Life of St. Gemma Galgani, by her spiritual director, (from 1900 - 1903), the Venerable Fr. Germanus (Germano di S. Stanislao) , which includes key information and context that St. Gemma does not mention. Like many saints, she did not want to write about herself, but did so out of obedience to her confessor. While Monsignor John Volpi was her confessor throughout her life, he admittedly did not have the expertise in Christian mysticism that Fr. Germanus had. Both clergymen tested Gemma often and for the last three years of St. Gemma's life, Volpi, who was at times out of his depth, deferred to Germanus. Fr. Germanus was a scholar, historian and archaeologist. He also conducted research on sacred history and was well qualified to handle this remarkable case. From the Introduction by Fr. Abbot Aidan Gasquet, O.S.B.: "AT THE Beatification of Blessed Gabriel of the Addolorata in 1908, to many of us who had the privilege of being at the function in St. Peter’s, the most interesting figure among those present was certainly the Passionist, Father Germanus. Not only had the result of the process for canonization depended in great measure upon the zeal, work and prudence of this holy priest, but he had also given us an account of the Saint’s wonderful and saintly life. "The same Padre Germano di S. Stanislao, ... is also the author of the Life of the Servant of God, Gemma Galgani, which is here translated for the benefit of English readers. Gemma had the advantage of having as her chief director in the spiritual life this saintly Passionist Father, evidently so well-skilled in the science of the Saints. It is fortunate indeed that he was spared to complete the Life of this holy soul, for no one could have given the particulars so fully, or with such authority, or have won the confidence of the reader to credit the marvels he has to relate as the author who writes with such transparent honesty, calm common sense and perfect knowledge." While the book is chuck full of insights, of note are Chapter 7, "1899: The Servant of God Receives the Stigmata," Chapter 8 "1900: St. Gemma Participates in all the Sufferings of the Passion," and Chapter 19 "Attacks by the Devil." Fr. Germanus's account from Chapter 19: "Once I was assisting her when she was ill and in danger of death, and as I sat down in a corner of the room to say my office I presently heard and saw passing me a large dark-colored and furious-looking cat. After rushing round the room it jumped upon the end of the iron bedstead, directly in front of the sick girl, and there crouched with savage looks. I felt my blood curdle at the sight, while Gemma remained quite calm. Dissembling my trouble I said to her: 'What is the matter now?' And she: 'Don’t be afraid, Father, it is that vile demon who wants to annoy me. But don’t fear, as he will not do you any harm.' I approached her trembling, with holy water, and sprinkled her bed. The demon vanished, leaving her in perfect serenity as if nothing had happened." * Ven. Fr. Germanus Of St. Stanislaus. The Life of St. Gemma Galgani (with Supplemental Reading: A Brief Life of Christ) [Illustrated] . TAN Books. Kindle Edition.
I have listened to a few of these podcasts and it's hard to hear about Christian mysticism from a Catholic mindset seeing what the Catholics did to the Cathars and Marguette Porette. True mystics that were tortured and burned alive. Nothing mystical about the money and power driven Catholic church
I would like to know the similarities between mysticism, NDE's, astral projection, and sleep paralysis. I'm a Christian and have suffered from sleep paralysis for 16 years. It was every night, and the smells, noises, and physicality of them were very real. It ranged from aliens to bigfoot, with witches, demons, and even Satan one time. I had left my body multiple times, not by choice. I saw places that came to be real places later. It stopped about 5 years ago. About a year ago, religious mystical experiences started. I do feel there is a connection between all of these different out of body activities.
One of my favorite podcasts to listen to while I am in the car. Love the narrators. Love the wisdom. Just miss the weekly talks. Too much time between the episodes now. But still grateful for what your time and service.
Her words "Mysticism is a purely spiritual activity" led me to think Life is a purely spiritual activity which would tie in with "Practical Mysticism".
Did you know that St John of the Cross did a very creative drawing of Jesus on the Cross. Historically, it appears later as a painting by another Spaniard, Salvador Dali.
Sadly the ‘church’ never believe the miracles given by god. They doubt chastise hide and look upon them as a burden a labor (whether personal jealousy pride arrogance and judge). The complete opposite of which they should know and teach
Hello Alberto and Dr. Eire, Thank you so much for the Christian Mysticism Podcast. I am very thankful for your time, work and generosity of your knowledge. Do you recommend a particular edition of The Imitation of Christ? There are some with a modern translation and translations with annotations. I also want to thank you so much for sharing how you first came to have this book. "When I left Cuba without my parents you were only allowed to take two changes of clothing; one coat, one hat and one book. Nothing else. So of course my parents picked out a book for me and my brother. We both got the same book. We each got our own copy. The Imitation of Christ. I was 11 years old. My brother was 14.........I outgrew all my clothes. I outgrew my hat. The only thing I had left that physically connected me with my parents was this book......" Carlos Eire Thank you Dr. Eire and Alberto. From: Lorraine
An old joke comes to mind: if electric chairs were around during the time of Jesus, Christians would be running around with electric s=chairs around their necks. My take on everything along the lines:Consider the consequences of your moral decision.
Meister Eckhart seems to have a methodology: “ understand this truly that remaining quite still leaving memory will, and reason behind for as long at a time as possible is the best thing you can do . Flee as well, the activities of the senses and imagination, especially all that you have in mind. Bring all your powers to silence, that God may look into himself.“. ❤
Thank you so much to help us get to know her! I think one of the reasons is that usually the order has to pay the person who does the studies on a person for the sanctification process. And it may be that they didn’t want to be in the spotlight. Another way would be to have a student for his PHD in order to make the research and then they can use this for the sanctification process. I would suggest to get in contact with the Vatican and the monastery and to find one of your students who can speak French and English to study her in depth ion order to start first the beatification process and then the sanctification process. That’s what would be needed. I‘m quite sure that Pope Francis would approve and especially Cardinal Sarah as well!
As a musician and artist I have to correct something: talent might be initially important but if you don’t work on your art it‘s nothing. There are totally gifted people who are very easily outshone by those who have lesser or hardly any talent but have the right teachers and put in the work. The big „talented“ artists and musicians are so great because they put in the 10 - 15 years of daily hard work to work on their mastery. If you would listen to them when they just started most of them wouldn’t be considered talented. So, please: it‘s not just a gift. The work you need to put in and the perseverance is what you need to become a master and receive the gift. It’s quite like the spiritual way: You have to go through the time of purgation where you need to understand and get to know yourself and the art. And you are distressed because it doesn’t work like you wanted. Then you need to let go of your own ideas and let yourself guide by the process and your teacher. Then with the time: you become better and better and then you start to become an artist. So you need to put the work of prayer to get to God and you need to put the work of your art to become an artist or musician.
Thank you very much! I think the divinisation the mystics talk about is meant to be even more than the state of Adam and Eve. Because, just think logically: We receive Christa body and blood in every holy mass. What else is it as the nourishment of divinisation. We digest Him, even physically. So the goal of God by this is very obvious: he wants us to become more and more like He is, even physically. The important thing here is though: we cannot become divine without HIM! Adam and Eve wanted to be like God but without HIM. So that is the big scandal and Fall. But God wants us to be in His image and likeness. That means He wants us divine but WITH HIM, not without HIM. Love is always a relationship. So this is so important to always be and enjoy and do everything with Him and in His presence. And that is soooo wonderful!
I think it would be interesting to hear also about Johannes Klimakos and the Spiritual ladder, About Mary of Egypt and Zosimas, about Johannes Chrysostomos and so on. That would be great!
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I think one of the reasons he might not have given concrete instructions and taught mainly an inner detachment is that most people at that time in Germany were already poor. How should you tell someone to fast, deprive from sleep or give what you have if you fasting is already your daily condition as well as poverty, hard work and so on. So, probably what was mainly missing was to inoculate them to offer all this to God and live it in knowing that God is present everywhere. And of course there were ordinary people in all different circumstances. So there was probably no one fits all advice, especially when you are not a monk or nun that can take time for extended amount of prayers. So if your daily life is already full you need a personal approach according to your circumstances.
Thank you very much! That’s really interesting. As I’m a voice teacher and actress I work a lot with breathing, words, letting go and divestment. And it’s now about 1 1/2 years that I realised the proximity of the art of singing, especially the breath support with the trinity. It’s not so easy to understand if you never really experienced a good breath support. But when you have developed it, it is like the word “person” becomes “flesh” in you. It feels like the sound goes through you and at the same time you breath out and at the same time you have a sense of “slurping” the breath and sound. So for me I now understand the trinity in a way like singing and speaking with good breath support: The father is like the body who gives the support for the breath to flow as is necessary in order to let the word and sound get out resonating in all your resonances that are in your body and mind. So: that’s why only the Holy Spirit could be the “father” of Jesus as Jesus, the son, is the word. And you cannot say a word or make a sound without the breath. And the breath of God is the Holy Spirit. So with this knowledge of my profession I think I understand at least a certain direction where she might want to go. The breath (Holy Spirit) flows freely through the body (Father) in and out. And on the breath the word (Jesus) is formed and send out (if not you wouldn’t hear anything). And by sending it out the word touches your ear thanks to the breath that is surrounding you. So the the word comes back to you and by this you have a new communication going on in yourself and with yourself. At least that would be my interpretation.
Oh! Yes! Sin is non existence. As God is Existence itself and as we separated us from God we separated us from existence. So, as sin is always a separate act from God it is non existent. But we do experience sin - the follow ups due to our non existence through the separation from God. Only in Jesus we can exist as only He exists as He is existence itself.
She is my patron Saint for this year (2024). And I have to admit that it makes perfect sense. I still have to read her works. The thing that I realized through my own conversion is that purgatory is in the flame of love that burns in you. When you see how much Jesus loves you and how much he suffered for you and that he would do it again and again for you, that burns in your soul and you want to become a saint. So I can very much understand that St. Catherine of Genua interpreted her fever of the last years as her purgatory from within on this earth. And: yes, the purgatory is surely the justice of God. If he is just we also have to get a little part to suffer for what we did wrong. And I really have to say: I wish everyone who hurt me a really profound conversion and a good purgatory. Like this it’s the only way they understand how hurtful they were. And I wish the same for those who I love a lot. I want them to become as saintly as possible because that is the greatest joy. Nevertheless we have to undergo the purgatory. So I think it muss geht be better to undergo it in phases now. As we still get some relief and oases. In the purgatory after death we will have to go through it without oases.
41:17 I like to think of Moses as a metaphor of now. The parting of the waves is symbolic of two bodies of water that can swallow armies. Past and future rule those realms. The causeway is a timeless cause that brings our senses back to what we're doing in the moment.
21:02 I can see imperfection as forming it's own kind of perfection in nature. The unity of nature is only realised from the multiplicity of species, flora and fauna. Right down to individual, time sensitive imperfections that granulate to a perfect ecosystem.
I don't agree that St. Gregory of Nyssa is the father of mysticism. Origen is a great mystic who lived fro the end of The second century to the Middle of the third century.
Thanks so much for writing. You're right in pointing to Origen as a father of Christian mysticism. His influence is undeniable, especially due to his take on the interpretation of biblical texts, and the fact that the highest of his multiple interpretative levels -- the spiritual -- requires the gift of mystical insight. As for Gregory of Nyssa being the sole owner of this title: I didn't say this was my opinion, but simply mentioned that this title is given to him by some historians and theologians. I've always been somewhat skeptical about such titles and the criteria on which they are based. The same thing applies to Augustine being "the prince of mystics", etc. I only mention these titles on our podcasts because I think it is important to know how any mystic's influence has been interpreted. It adds context. Peace and all the best, Carlos
St. Maria Anna de Jesus Torres of Our Lady of Good Success intead out of her love and empathy suffered 5 years in Hell (while continuing her daily duties in the convent) in behalf of their cruel Mother Superior who Jesus said will suffer greatly in Hell after her death.
