Enhanced by notes by a noted theological scholar, a selected bibliography, and biographical sketches, a definitive compilation of writings by some of history's leading Christian mystics features nearly one hundred selections representing more than sixty writers ranging from the third-century Origen of Alexandria to the twentieth century's Thomas Merton. Original. 10,000 first printing. Preface xi Introduction xiii Bernard McGinn PART ONE FOUNDATIONS OF MYSTICAL PRACTICE Biblical Interpretation Introduction 3(3) Origen, Commentary on the Song of Songs 6(7) Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses 13(8) Augustine of Hippo, Sermon on Psalm 41 (Vulgate) 21(6) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs 23 27(8) Meister Eckhart, Sermon 2 35(6) Madame Guyon, Commentary on the Song of Songs 41(6) Asceticism and Purgation Introduction 47(2) Athanasius of Alexandria, The Life of St. Antony 49(6) Evagrius Ponticus, Praktikos 55(5) James of Vitry, The Life of Mary of Oignies 60(6) Catherine of Genoa, Purgation and Purgatory 66(6) John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel 72(7) Prayer, Liturgy, and Sacraments Introduction 79(2) Origen, Prayer 81(5) Ephrem the Syrian, Armenian Hymn No. 1 86(3) John Cassian, Conferences 9 and 10 89(8) Symeon the New Theologian, The Third Ethical Discourse 97(5) Hadewijch of Antwerp, Vision VII 102(3) John Tauler, Sermon 39 105(5) Teresa of Avila, On the Four Stages of Prayer 110(8) The Way of the Pilgrim 118(5) Inner and Outer Practices Introduction 123(2) The Philokalia, ``Discourse on Abba Philimon'' 125(6) Guigo I, Carthusian Customs 131(4) Aelred of Rievaulx, Spiritual Friendship 135(5) Letters of Spiritual Direction 140(4) Miguel De Molinos, The Spiritual Guide 144(5) Mystical Itineraries Introduction 149(1) The Threefold Way 150(5) Richard of St. Victor, The Four Degrees of Violent Charity 155(7) Bonaventure, The Mind's Journey into God 162(10) Marguerite Porete, The Mirror of Simple Annihilated Souls 172(8) John Tauler, Sermon 39 180(4) Walter Hilton, The Ladder of Perfection 184(7) PART TWO ASPECTS OF MYSTICAL CONSCIOUSNESS Living the Trinity Introduction 191(2) Augustine, On the Trinity 193(4) William of Saint-Thierry, The Mirror of Faith 197(5) Mechthild of Magdeburg, The Flowing Light of the Godhead 202(6) Gregory Palamas, The One Hundred and Fifty Chapters 208(5) John of the Cross, The Living Flame of Love 213(8) Encountering Christ Introduction 221(1) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs 74 222(3) Francis of Assisi and the Stigmata 225(6) Henry Suso, The Clock of Wisdom 231(7) Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love 238(8) Simone Weil, Encounters with Christ 246(5) Love and Knowledge Introduction 251(2) William of Saint-Thierry, The Golden Letter 253(3) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs 83 256(6) The Cloud of Unknowing 262(7) Nicholas of Cusa, Two Letters on Mystical Theology 269(7) Johann Arndt, The Christianity 276(5) Positive and Negative Ways to God Introduction 281(2) Dionysius, The Mystical Theology 283(7) Francis of Assisi, Two Songs of Praise 290(3) The Granum Sinapis: Poem and Commentary 293(5) English Poets on God in Nature 298(5) Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Hymn of the Universe 303(6) Vision, Contemplation, and Rapture Introduction 309(2) Contemplation in the Fathers 311(5) Augustine on Vision and Rapture 316(8) Gregory the Great, Dialogues 2.35 324(3) Symeon the New Theologian, Hymn 18 327(4) Hildegard of Bingen as Visionary and Theorist of Visions 331(5) Hugh of St. Victor, Contemplation and Its Forms 336(5) Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love 341(6) Nicholas of Cusan, On the Vision of God 347(6) Ignatius of Loyola, Autobiography 353(4) Teressa of Avila, Life 357(3) George Fox, Excerpts from The Journal 360(5) Distress and Dereliction Introduction 365(2) Gregory the Great, Moral Interpretation of Job 367(7) Angela of Foligno, The Memorial 374(5) John Tauler, Sermon 3 379(5) John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul 384(5) Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul 389(6) Deification and Birthing Introduction 395(2) Deification Among the Fathers 397(5) Birthing in Patristic and Medieval Texts 402(6) Maximus the Confessor, Questions to Thalassius 408(4) Meister Eckhart, Sermon 101 412(9) Theologia Deutsch 421(6) Union with God Introduction 427(3) Macarius, Homily 10 430(4) Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God 434(4) Meister Eckhart, Sermon 52 438(6) John Ruusbroec, The Little Book of Enlightenment 444(7) Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle 7.1--2 451(9) John of the Cross, the Spiritual Canticle 460(5) Francis de Sales, The Treatise on the Love of God 465(7) Marie of the Incarnation, The Relation of 1654 472(9) PART THREE IMPLICATIONS OF THE MYSTICAL LIFE Mysticism and Heresy Introduction 481(2) Mystical Heresy in Early Christianity 483(6) The Heresy of the Free Spirit 489(6) Meister Eckhart's Condemnation 495(6) The Condemnations of Quietism 501(8) Francois Fenelon, Explication of the Maxims of the Saints Regarding the Interior Life 509(10) Contemplation and Action Introduction 519(2) Gregory the Great, Pastoral Care 2.5 521(4) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermons on the Song of Songs 50 525(4) Meister Eckhart, Selections from Sermon 86 529(6) The Cloud of Unknowing 535(5) Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue 540(5) Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation 545(8) A Brief Critical Bibliography on Christian Mysticism 553