The Mystical Element Of Religion, As Studied In Saint Catherine Of Genoa And Her Friends

by Friedrich von Hügel

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Mysticism, Theology, Philosophy, Christianity, Religion

432 pages, Hardcover

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