The cloud of unknowing documents techniques used by the medieval monastic community where prayer and meditation were essential elements in growing in faith and in the knowledge of god. The cloud of unknowing catholic spiritual direction. Cynthia bourgeault offers an introduction to the core teachings in this classic text of christian mysticism, showing how it remains as relevant today as when it was written in the. Due to limited staffing you may experience slightly longer than normal shipping times. The text is a spiritual guide on contemplative prayer in the late middle ages. Meninger has 11 books on goodreads with 261 ratings. Most churches consider that belief in the trinity, that is three persons in one god, is the deciding factor that determines whether a given church is a christian church or not. Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The cloud of unknowing was the work of an unknown 14thcentury english writer with a powerful message of gods unconditional love in the face of despair.
Its theology is presented in a way that is remarkably easy to understand, as well as practical, providing advice on. About us contemplative outreach of central florida. The cloud of unknowing and the book of privy counseling. Victors benjamin minor, another work of much authority on the contemplative life. William meningers loving search for god provides a good introduction. While there, he developed a contemplative prayer method based on the fourteenthcentury classic the cloud of unknowing, leading to a prayer method called centering prayer. The cloud of unknowing is the story of a family plagued by mental illness, and the murder and mayhem that result from it. This translation by william johnston contains not one, but two of the great books in the literature of contemplation, the wellknown classic the cloud of unknowing, and its lesserknown sequel, the book of privy counseling.
William meninger news newspapers books scholar jstor september 2008 learn how and when to remove this template message. A medieval mystical text by an anonymous author, the cloud of unknowing was the catalyst for father william meninger, a trappist monk, to embark on a mission to teach the spiritual practice of. The book was the cloud of unknowing, an anonymous 14thcentury manual on contemplative meditation. Meninger says, i was amazed at the practicality of it. Other articles where the cloud of unknowing is discussed. The author of the cloud recommends two key images for our prayer life. The cloud of unknowing consists of a series of letters written by a monk to his student or disciple, instructing him or her in the way of divine union. Contemplative prayer contemplative prayer for everyone. The cloud of unknowing by evelyn underhill alibris. Some trace the roots of the spiritual formation movement to 1974 when father william menninger, a trappist monk, found an ancient book entitled the cloud of unknowing in.
In the early 1970s a dusty copy of the cloud of unknowing was discovered by trappist monk william menninger in st. Looking at it through the influence of eastern meditation techniques, he misunderstood it, thinking the author was advocating a similar practice. The underlying message of this work suggests that the way to know god is to abandon consideration of gods particular activities and attributes. Introduction the little family of mystical treatises which is known to students as the cloud of unknowing group, deserves more attention than it has hitherto received from english lovers of mysticism. Purchasing directly through the monastery may get you the best prices on these books. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. These 14 th century classics by an unknown english abbot have long been among the most respected and beloved texts on the. Basil pennington developed centering prayer as a revival of. Written in middle english by an unknown fourteenthcentury mystic, the cloud of unknowing expresses with beauty a message that has inspired such great religious thinkers as st. As he read it he was delighted to discover that this anonymous 14th century book presented contemplative meditation as a teachable, spiritual process enabling the. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.
The teaching of the christian church on the holy trinity is considered to be possibly the most sublime doctrine of divine revelation. Julians meditations on the inner meaning of her revelations of the crucified christ. It was written to help people living regular lives in the world develop and deepen their prayer lives. This unknowing is, paradoxically, a kind of knowing by not knowing. Anonymous, the cloud of unknowing, paraclete essentials, 2006 this is one of many translations. The cloude of unknowing is an anonymous work of christian mysticism written in middle english in the latter half of the 14th century. Written as an instructive book for young men joining the monastic order, the work is instructive, but not somber. Certainly the influence of richard is only second to that of dionysius in this unknown mystics own workwork, however. Benedicts monastery in snowmass, colorado, in 1979, where he has served as prior and novice director. William meninger makes the famous 14th century book, the cloud of unknowing, accessible to todays readers. There is something inexorable, almost fatalistic, about the evil that permeates these people, and cooks masterful tale. Meningers most popular book is loving search for god. One day in 1974 meninger dusted off an old book in the monastery library, a book that would set him and some of his fellow monks on a whole new path.
Meninger found that it taught contemplative prayer in a simple way available to anyone. Contemplative prayer and the cloud of unknowing dec 1, 1994. When the concept was first proposed by father keating, fr. Though the cloud is not the first book to read about centering prayer, all who adopt the practice will soon want to read it. The cloud of unknowing and the book of privy counseling by william johnston editor in djvu, fb2, fb3 download ebook. Many trace this current revival of contemplative meditation to 1974 when father william menninger, a trappist monk, found an ancient book entitled the cloud of unknowing in the library at st. The cloud of unknowing and the book of privy counseling are the first explorations in the english language of the souls quest for god. In 1984, interested in making centering prayer available to more people, fr. William meninger started teaching a method based on the 14th century spiritual classic, the cloud of unknowing.
The author believed that the cloud of unknowing that appears to separate us from god cannot be penetrated with the intellect but only through a form of love. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet langua ge source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. He began to teach a new form of prayer, which he called the prayer of the cloud. The cloud of unknowing dates back as far as the fourteenth century and has inspired generations of seekers in their efforts to connect with god. Inspired by the cloud s mystical christian allegory, william menninger, abbot thomas keating, and fellow trappist m. Contemplative prayer and the cloud of unknowing and.
His study, practice and teaching of this form of meditation has transformed and. During this time, meninger came across a work by an english hermit of the 14th century, called the cloud of unknowing. Created as a primer to instruct young monks to develop techniques for encountering god, its tone is not academic or austere but rather a loving call for believers to grow closer to god through meditation and prayer. William menninger and basil pennington, also cistercian monks, were the other architects. However, spiritual formation is not equivalent to discipleship, or mentoring for that matter. Father william meninger ocso findthedivine retreats online. Today, the contemplative outreach network has hundreds. As he read it he was delighted to discover that this anonymous 14th century book presented contemplative meditation as a teachable, spiritual process enabling the ordinary person to enter and receive a direct. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 1974, father william meninger, a trappist monk and retreat master at st. Contemplative prayer and the cloud of unknowing so far concerning the book we now have the loving search for god.
Richard rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within christian mysticism and the perennial tradition. With roots in the 14th century classic, the cloud of unknowing, this kind of prayer allows people to sit silently and become receptive to gods gift of contemplation. Contemplative prayer and the cloud of unknowing responses consumers havent but remaining his or her overview of the action, or otherwise make out the print but. The ability to deal constructively with reality the capacity to adapt to change a relative freedom from symptoms that are produced by tensions and anxieties the capacity to find more satisfaction in giving than receiving the capacity to relate to other people in a consistent manner with mutual satisfaction and helpfulness the capacity to sublimate, to direct. Books by william johnston william johnston average rating 4.
9 223 484 120 1004 398 1488 53 1593 1368 21 1389 1092 706 914 458 1178 1663 1588 1156 26 345 518 419 1287 744 1219 400 770 836 357 1196 1340 511