Modern Mystics: An Introduction by Bernard McGinn (review)
Spiritus September 1, 2023 G. M. Young
Bernard McGinn's Modern Mystics: An Introduction serves as a coda to his seven-volume series on Western Christian mysticism, addressing the development of Christian mysticism in the twentieth century. The book begins with a description of mysticism as the preparation for, consciousness of, and effect of a direct and transformative encounter with the presence of God. It then examines ten twentieth-century mystics—including Charles de Foucauld, Thérèse of Lisieux, Edith Stein, Simone Weil, and Thomas Merton—evenly divided between female and male figures and representing Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Hindu-influenced traditions. Each chapter provides biography and discussion of the mystic's teaching, highlighting themes such as visions, suffering, action and contemplation, holistic perspectives, apophatic discourse, crossing traditions, and marginality. The book concludes by considering what it means for present-day people to read mystical texts.