Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and Meditations

Thanks to this book, I got introduced with Julian and Hildegard’s teachings. Some of the quotes of these beautiful beings made me take rather long breaks and try to digest these profound teachings..I also loved the interpretations of Matthew as they helped me go deeper..God showed me in my palm a little thing round as a ball about the size of a hazelnut. I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and asked myself: “What is this thing?” And I was answered: “It is everything that is created.” I wondered how it could survive since it seemed so little it could suddenly disintegrate into nothing. The answer came: “It endures and ever will endure, because God loves it.” And so everything has being because of God’s love. — Julian of Norwich

Christian Mystics: 365 Readings and MeditationsBy Matthew Fox"Relation is the essence of everything that exists." Meister EckhartThere are times when it isn't vitally important what is said, but who said it.I fully expected to see in the volume the likes of Thomas Aquinas, Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart and other mystics, including Thomas Berry. Who I didn't expect to meet in these pages was William Everson, at one time Brother Antonius.The first time I met him in print was as a Beat author, akin to Jack Kerouac (first-thought, best thought, a true mystical insight!). At that time Everson was being published by Black Sparrow Press, infamous for carrying the horny corpus of Charles Bukowski, who shocked me out of my almost monastic Catholic idealism which I held in my head, but which my other member wildly rejected.It's been a few decades but I've come to what Everson calls "the bridge between the sacred and the profane...the problem of greater consciousness." Matthew Fox's comments and provocative questions on the mystics are consice and precise. He asks the reader is he or she "senses this division between the sacred and profane in your life and your spirituality? Who do you know who bridges that divide? Have you done so yourself?"As a devotional volume of 365 readings and meditations Christian Mystics is something of an advanced placement course on the subject. It doesn't fall into the "I'm OK, You're OK" sort of placating booklets that you find in the nave at so many churches, nor is it a guilt-producing set of testimonies that wear you down day by day to a set of total submission.As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I would encourage every person to obtain a copy of this book if only as an antidote for the many vapid, non-challenging spiritual devotionals we see today. In this regard, Fox quotes Clarissa Pinkola Estes as saying, "Negative complexes are banished or transformed--your dreams will guide you the last part of the way--by putting your foot down..."The wise thing to do would be to put down your foot and pick up Christian Mystics!

I have always felt that Aquinas simply handed on rationalistic, Aristotelian definitions about God, with little or noreference to Revelation. His work became the highly approved and promoted Scholastic Theology of the Institutional Catholic Church.It's wording of all-knowing, all-powerful, etc was woven in Catechisms, etc., yet it was not truly helpful for an experientialspirituality. I was seldom, if ever, moved by the "unmoved, mover". Hard to fall in love with the all-too-bigness of it all.In this book, however, Fox gave me access to writings of Aquinas that I did not even know existed.Aquinas reportedly had a mystical vision at the end of his life, after which, despite the pleading of his friends,he did not write another word. It was told that on his death bed he waved his hands at shelves filled with his speculativetheological, philosophical writings and said, "It is all straw." I would doubt that he intended his sweep of hand to includethe mystical insights Fox gives us in these pages. Like so much in this book, Fox, as always, gives us fundamental, deeplyradical (rooted) stuff necessary for the kind of transformational experience, after which "nothing is the same." And better yet,it is connected with the very Kingdom of the "here and now" - not the "there and then". Reading this book has been an energizerwhich for me is a sure sign of Spirit inspiration. Thank you Matthew for another amazing grace gift to us all.Fr. Gene Barrette

Loved reading this book.

I like having the thoughts of outstanding people at hand, to push me to a great depth. Here's one for every day of the year. The text doesn't allow quick jumps to the desired places. Reader has to scroll through a lot.

I always appreciate Matthew Fox and liked the way this was laid out in a series of meditations or thoughts based on great writers over 365 entries. It is flexible and could be used daily or in any particular format by individuals or groups. Excellent material.

If you are open and looking to see God in more than just a fundamental, legalistic way and are wanting to see God in a more Spiritual way and are open to seeing God in all of creation and not just one way, I recommend this read. I have been reading daily but sometimes the insight is just to good to now read more than one a day!

Nice read

A fascinating read.

A good daily read for a progressive Christian. A nice thought before bed.

Interesting mixture of mystics from the ages that has stimulated me to look closer at some of their lives Fox has added a commentary after each quote Some times his eagerness to explain short-circuits the time I would have spent contemplating the quote I have been reading Rumi as preparation before meditating for a while now Recently picked up this book by Fox and it has gradually become like slipping into an old pair of slippers All paths led to God but this Western one outlined by the author more readily speaks to the core of my being

I was disappointed in this book. found it hard to read and keep interested.seemed too formal for any practical application...And I love the Christian mystics.

A wonderful collection of reflections on comments of Christina mystics across a Millennia. Matthew Fox's book is a very manageable introduction to the thinking of the mystics and a great source for inspiration.