People are generally more aware of Judiac mysticism, with Madonna's interest in the Kabbalah, but I recently became aware of the Christian variety.
I was discussing some of the problems I've been having lately with a spirtual friend of mine and he suggested that I start doing a daily rosary. So, I went to the local Catholic gift shop and bought a shiny new rosary and Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book. Fr. Peyton (was Irish!) developed this book of meditations on the mysteries of the rosary for servicemen and chaplains, acting on the suggestion of the U.S. Navy Chief of Chaplains (Edward J. Hemphill). It's a compact little book and it fits right in the palm of your hand. Reading the meditations, and reflecting on the mysteries really made the rosary really come alive for me. Before, it seemed like it was just a flat recitation of Our Fathers and Hail Marys.
I started thinking more about Marian devotion, I really enjoy being a Catholic mostly because of Catholicism's reverence for Mary (although, it would be really nice if women could become priests). So, I went back to the gift shop and bought a book about the life of Mary as seen by the Mystics. This book talked all about the interior life of Mary and went into great detail about her humility. It's really so hard to find that kind of humility these days, especially in such a "me" centered culture. (Perhaps that's why she's the Mother of God)
I shared my newfound interest with another spirtual friend, and he introduced me to Teresa of Avila and her Interior Castle. Teresa had a vision of the soul in a state of grace and said it resembled a castle built of diamonds which had 7 rooms. Each room furthered your union with God, with complete union happening in the 7th room (although, some people are still stuck in the courtyard). I still haven't finished the book yet, only on the 4th room, but it is beautifully written and I look forward to finishing it soon. While I was at Barnes and Noble, I picked up her bio which was written by Cathleen Medwick (who is known for her work with Vogue and Vanity Fair).
High fashion and Christian mystics may seem like strange bedfellows, but maybe it just goes to show you that you SHOULDN'T judge a book by it's cover.
