The Pursuit of Wisdom: And Other Works

"...a milestone in American religious publishing." New Catholic World Pursuit of Wisdom and Other Works by the Author of the Cloud of Unknowing, The translated, edited and annotated by James A. Walsh, S.J. preface by George A. Maloney, S.J. "For it is by passing beyond yourself and all other things, and so purifying yourself of all worldly, carnal and natural love in your affection, and of everything that can be known according to its own proper form in your intellect; it is in this way, when all things are done away with, that you shall be carried up in your affection and above your understanding to the Substance beyond all substance, the radiance of the divine darkness." The Pursuit of Wisdom This volume contains six works written by the great fourteenth-century mystic, the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing. Presented here are: "The Pursuit of Wisdom" (the author's translation of Richard of St. Victor's treatise "Benjamin Minor"), his translation of Pseudo-Dionysius' mystical theology entitled "Denis' Hidden Theology," his free development of St. Bernard's homilies "The Discernment of Spirits," and the treatises "The Assessment of Inward Stirrings," "A Letter on Prayer," and "A Letter of Private Direction" often entitled The Book of Privy Counseling. In his masterly preface, George A. Maloney states that Ut is in the burning love of the author for Jesus Christ as indwelling and risen that techniques are seen always as subservient to the essential Christian teaching of mystical union with Christ and through him with the Indwelling Trinity. The fruit of such 'darkness' spirituality is seen as an outward movement toward active service on behalf on other human beings to co-create a better world through a loving synergy with the indwelling Trinity." †