The Religions Book

238

In a male-dominated Church, some

of the most renowned mystics were

women, such as Teresa of Avila (left),

Catherine of Siena (1347–1380), and

Julian of Norwich (c.1342–1416).

See also: Self-denial leads to spiritual liberation 68–71 ■ Man as a manifestation

of God 188 ■ Sufism and the mystic tradition 282–83

F

rom the earliest days of

Christianity, Christians

believed that Jesus had

made it possible for them to have

a direct relationship with God.

However, some Christians struggled

with worship in churches, finding

it too ritualistic. A quest for an

intensely personal experience of

God emerged in the later Middle

Ages, as a reaction to formalized

worship. It became known as

Christian mysticism. Rather than

following the usual pattern of

reciting authorized prayers, mystics

advocated silent contemplation of

God. This often led to overwhelming

experiences of God’s love. Mysticism

has been embraced by many

Christians because it requires

neither priests nor prayer books

to guide the believer, only a

personal communion with God.

The interior journey

One of the classic works on mystical

experience was written by Teresa

of Avila (1515 –1582), a Spa n i sh

Carmelite nun. In The Interior

Castle, Teresa narrates the journey

of the Christian soul through six

rooms in a castle until it reaches

the seventh, innermost room, where

God dwells. Each room represents

a more intimate level of prayer until

the soul achieves the goal of perfect

union with God’s life, which Teresa

described as “spiritual marriage.” ■

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Teresa of Avila

WHEN AND WHERE

16th century, Spain

BEFORE

From 3rd century CE Monks

and nuns adopt lives of

solitude in the desert in order

to escape worldly distractions

and focus solely on God.

c.1373 The English mystic

Julian of Norwich recounts

her visions in Sixteen

Revelations of Divine Love.

16th century A new emphasis

on personal communion with

God, instead of ritual, leads to

the Protestant Reformation.

AFTER

1593 Teresa of Avila and fellow

Spanish mystic John of the

Cross, a major figure in

the Counter-Reformation,

establish the Discalced, or

Barefoot, Carmelites, a more

contemplative form of the

monastic order.

GOD IS HIDDEN

IN THE HEART

MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE IN CHRISTIANITY