The Mystical Element of Religion: As Studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and Her Friends

by Friedrich von Hügel

As Studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and her Friends With an introduction by Michael Downey Philosopher of religion, lay theologian, and biblical exegete, Baron Friedrich von Huegel was a remarkable man who set out to write a biography of Saint Catherine of Genoa and ended up writing an extensive and brilliant treatise on the "philosophy of mysticism." Using St. Catherine and her friends as illustrative examples, in this book he develops his well-known analysis of the three basics elements of religion: 1) the institutional, 2) the intellectual and 3) the mystical. While he saw the mystical element as the summit of religion, von Huegel insisted that all three are necessarily present at the same time, and that the key to the highest spiritual life is the attainment of the proper balance among the three. This volume is part of the prestigious series Milestones in Catholic Mysticism and Spirituality. Herder & Herder is bringing back into print a number of seminal works that have had a lasting influence on the study of mysticism and spirituality, in order to make them available once more for both scholars and students.

Genres: Mysticism, Theology, Philosophy, Christianity, Religion

944 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Friedrich von Hügel (born Friedrich Maria Aloys Franz Karl Freiherr von Hügel, usually known as Baron von Hügel; 5 May 1852 – 27 January 1925) was an influential Austrian Roman Catholic layman, religious writer, Modernist theologian and Christian apologist.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tome, but also a key work for understanding mysticism. Much disagreement and contention about what mysticism is (and whether it applies to any religion other than Christianity) is resolved in the lens of von Hügel's basic concept, that religion - in whatever tradition - contains three elements: the experiential (or mystical), the speculative (or theological), and the institutional (or traditional).

While the bulk of the tome is a study of St. Catherine of Genoa, its focus is on applying this lens to religious phenomena. The three elements of religion are taken as expressions of human faculties and development. Those familiar with Fowler's faith stages theory will find his model anticipated here - there are even passages that, it would appear, Fowler lifted from von Hügel's pages.

I have found this lens - adapted significantly - in Protestant discourse about the FOUR elements of religion: first the Bible, then tradition, reason and experience (in order of authority). The Bible, a component of tradition, is separated out. That's not von Hügel's approach. Nor does he privilege tradition over the other elements. Instead, he says the three elements each have a role in composing religion and a mature religious life.

[Jerry]

review text for 2095