The Sun at Midnight: Monastic Experience of the Christian Mystery (Volume 29)

by Bernardo Olivera OCSO

The Sun at Midnight offers a splendid, easily accessible summary of mystical theology in the Cistercian school. Bernardo Olivera, a master of both the theology and the practice of the spiritual life, analyzes this tradition first in its rich human, biblical, and doctrinal connotations, and then according to its most typical expressions as they are lived among Cistercian mystics, with reference also to other Christian men and women. Olivera explores the rich testimony of the monks of the twelfth century as well as the lesser-known nuns and holy women of the thirteenth century. Throughout the book, we discover Olivera's fundamental Personal mystical experience is not only the key to an adequate renewal of monastic life today but also-and above all-the foundation, the originating point, of any and all religion or religious tradition. Mystical experience is, in particular, the origin of Christianity and its rich spiritual tradition.

Genres: Spirituality

152 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2012

Reviews

[John Murphy]

Everyone who even thinks that God might exist should read this book. It is a clear statement of what being human can mean as the person understands that being finite is really quite glorious.