The Carmelite tradition has produced a whole galaxy of fine mystical authors. Among them are not only famous mystics like Teresa d'Avila, Juan de la Cruz and Thérèse de Lisieux, but also less renowned but no less important authors like Nicholas the Frenchman, Philip Ribot, Conrad of St Joris and Jean de Saint Samson, to mention just a few.
Until quite recently the focus on the great mystical writers distracted attention from the Mystieke ruimte van de Karmel (Waaijman 2004, 2nd ed.) (Mystical space of Carmel ), as expressed in the Carmelite rule and the works of early Carmelite authors like Nicholas the Frenchman and Philip Ribot. With a view to the impending eighth centenary of the Carmelite rule (2005-2010) further study of these early Carmelite texts is called for.
The Carmelite tradition did not end with the aforementioned mystical giants. In the previous century Titus Brandsma and Edith Stein were major spiritual writers. |
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Projects
Oevres Complètes of Jean de Saint Samson
Conductor: Hein Blommestijn
The complete works of this important French mystical writer will be published in eleven volumes..
Translation of the complete works of John of the Cross
Conductors: Cees Bartels, Marika Meyer, Hein Blommestijn, Kees Waaijman, Elisabeth Hense The project is aimed at producing a new translation of the works of the Spanish mystic John of the Cross, with an introduction and an explanatory glossary.
Reading mystical texts
Conductor: Hein Blommestijn Major mystical texts from the Carmelite tradition will be interpreted with a view to describing the mystical process.
Titus Brandsma
Conductors: Hein Blommestijn, Rudolf van Dijk The principal texts by the mystical author Titus Brandsma will be collated and published. At the same time the team will work on a spiritual biography.
The Carmelite rule
Conductors: Kees Waaijman, Jos Huls The text of the Carmelite rule will be scrutinised from a mystagogic angle. This will include a systematic study of the so-called 'gaps'. |
