Fire and Light:
Week Two: A Look at Major Eras, Major Mystics, and their Contributions to Society

 

The names of the great
mystics are connected by
a thread; and it becomes
possible to treat them
as subjects of history
[as well as] biography.

Evelyn Underhill

 

 

 

 

6. Monday, November 6: The Role of the Earth and the Body

  • Essay #1 due at 9:00 a.m.
  • Quiet Eye Reflections 3
  • Dialogue 3: Evagrius and the Celts
  • Dialogue 4: John Climacus and Francis and Bonaventure
  • Discussion: Ray of Darkness, Riot of Symbols

Reading this afternoon:

  • Gospel of John 10:1-11:57
  • Egan: Cassian, pp. 70-79; Gregory Palamas, pp. 310-320; Cloud of Unknowing, pp. 367-377; Keating on Centering Prayer, Salinger on the Jesus Prayer (photocopy)
  • IC: pp. 155-183: Dwelling 6, part 1

7. Tuesday, November 7: Monologistos Prayer and Passion

  • Quiet Eye Reflections 4
  • Discuss IC Dwelling 6, part 1, in small groups and report
  • Dialogue 5: Cassian, Gregory Palamas, Cloud of Unknowing, Keating, and Salinger

Reading this afternoon:

  • Gospel of John 12:1-13:38
  • Egan: Bernard, pp. 166-179; Hildegard, pp. 197-206.
  • IC pp. 184-222: Dwelling 6, part 2

8. Wednesday, November 8: Medieval Mysticism: the Golden Age

  • Quiet Eye Reflections 5
  • Discuss IC Dwelling 6, part 2 in small groups and report
  • Dialogue 6: Bernard and Hildegard

Reading this afternoon:

  • Gospel of John 14:1-16:33
  • Egan: Aelred, pp. 180-185; Hilton, pp. 378-385; Juliana pp. 386-397
  • IC, pp. 223-255: Dwelling 6, part 3

9. Thursday, November 9: English Mystics

  • Quiet Eye Reflections 6
  • Discuss IC Dwelling 6, part 3
  • Dialogue 7: Aelred, Hilton, and Juliana

Reading this afternoon:

  • Gospel of John 17:1-18:40
  • Egan: Suso, pp. 333-343; Catherine of Siena, pp. 355-366; Teilhard de Chardin, pp. 575-590
  • IC, pp. 259-299: Dwelling 7/Epilogue

10. Friday, November 10: Approaches to Suffering

  • Quiet Eye Reflections 7
  • Discussion: IC Dwelling 7
  • Discuss Essay #2 (Due Monday, November 13 at Baca, except for Hadewijch, Mechtild, Jacopone, and John of the Cross, whose essays are due Tuesday, November 14)
  • Dialogue 8: Suso, Catherine, and Teilhard

Reading this weekend:

  • Gospel of John 19:1-21:25
  • Egan: Hadewijch, pp. 225-233; Mechtild, pp. 247-256; Jacopone, pp. 264-273
  • Write Essay #2: Christ and the Mystics

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