Secret Within

Wolfgang Riehle, Charity Scott-Stokes

Description

Spiritual seekers throughout history have sought illumination through solitary contemplation. In the Christian tradition, medieval England stands out for its remarkable array of hermits, recluses, and spiritual outsiders-from Cuthbert, Godric of Fichale, and Christina of Markyate to Richard Rolle, Julian of Norwich, and Margery Kempe. In The Secret Within, Wolfgang Riehle offers the first comprehensive history of English medieval mysticism in decades-one that will appeal to anyone fascinated by mysticism as a phenomenon of religious life. In considering the origins and evolution of the English mystical tradition, Riehle begins in the twelfth century with the revival of eremitical mysticism and the early growth of the Cistercian Order in the British Isles. He then focuses in depth on the great mystics of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries-Richard Rolle (the first great English mystic), the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, Walter Hilton, Margery Kempe, and Julian of Norwich. Riehle carefully grounds his narrative in the broader spiritual landscape of the Middle Ages, pointing out both prior influences dating back to Late Antiquity and corresponding developments in mysticism and theology on the Continent. He discusses the problem of possible differences between male and female spirituality and the movement of popularizing mysticism in the late Middle Ages. Filled with fresh insights, The Secret Within will be welcomed especially by teachers and students of medieval literature as well as by those engaged in historical, theological, philosophical, cultural, even anthropological and comparative studies of mysticism.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Middle Ages
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Cornell University Press
• Date de parution: 07 février 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780801470936
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

 THE SECRET WITHIN

THE SECRET WITHIN n HE RMI TS, RECLUSES, AND SPI RI T UAL OUTSI DE RS I N ME DI E VAL E NGL AND

Wo l f g a n g R i e h l e

Translated by Charity Scott-Stokes

CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS Ithaca and London

This translation was prepared with the kind assistance of the Austrian Fund for the Promotion of Research and of the Austrian government of Styria.

Originally published asEnglische Mystik des Mittelalters,copyright © Verlag C.H. Beck oHG München, 2011. English translation copyright © 2014 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2014 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Riehle, Wolfgang, 1937– author.  [Englische Mystik des Mittelalters. English]  The secret within : hermits, recluses, and spiritual outsiders in medieval England / Wolfgang Riehle ; translated by Charity Scott-Stokes.  pages cm  Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN 978-0-8014-5109-6 (cloth : alk. paper)  1. Mysticism—England—History—Middle Ages, 600–1500. 2. English literature—Middle English, 1100–1500—History and criticism. 3. Christian literature, English (Middle)—History and criticism. I. Scott-Stokes, Charity, translator. II. Riehle, Wolfgang, 1937– Englische Mystik des Mittelalters. Translation of: III. Title.  BV5077.E54R5413 2014  248.2′209420902— 2013027551

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Cloth printing

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In memoriam Wolfgang Clemen

Quid enim habet aliquis quod non accepit?

Aelred of Rievaulx,Institutio inclusarum

  Co nt e nt s

 List of Illustrations xi  Preface xiii  Acknowledgments xvii

 1. The Development of Eremitical Mysticism in the British Isles  2. Early Cistercian Theology in England  3.Ancrene Wisse: A Magnificent Exemplar of Early English Mysticism  4. “Female” versus “Male” Spirituality? A Talking of the Love of Godand the Meditations of the Monk of Farne  5. Richard Rolle of Hampole: England’s First Great Mystic  6. Marguerite Porete’sMirror of Simple Soulsand Its Reception in England  7.The Cloud of Unknowingand Related Tracts  8. Walter Hilton: England’s Mystic Theologian  9. The Singular Vision of Julian of Norwich 10. Margery Kempe: The Shocking “Fool in Christ”

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