Light From Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism, and: Invitation To Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Anthology, and: Mystics, Visionaries, and Prophets: A Historical Anthology of Women's Spiritual Writings (review)

Light from Light: An Anthology of Christian Mysticism. Second Edition. Edited by Louis Dupré and James A. Wiseman, O.S.B. New York: Paulist Press, 2001. 463 pp. $24.95.

Invitation to Christian Spirituality: An Ecumenical Anthology. Edited by John R. Tyson. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999. 474 pp. $49.95; $29.95 (paper).

Mystics, Visionaries and Prophets: An Historical Anthology of Women's Spiritual Writings. Edited by Shawn Madigan, C.S.J. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1998. 502 pp. $39.00.

The recent appearance of these anthologies of Christian spirituality is another telling testimony to the contemporary avid interest in spirituality that arose in the wake of the Second Vatican Council and which shows no sign of abating. The quality of that interest will rest on many factors not the least of which will be the need for a profound openness on the part of Christians to the Holy Spirit who is the primary architect of Christian spirituality. The quality of courses in spirituality, especially graduate courses, will also play a crucial role in the proper preparation of the teachers, preachers, and spiritual guides whose ministry of education and formation will determine much about the depth of understanding Christians will have of their spiritual heritage. Anyone who has taught courses in spirituality realizes the importance of providing solid guidance about access to the classics of Christian spirituality that are too often scattered in elusive and out-of-print resources.

The editors of the above anthologies are to be applauded for making available to students and professors selections from the Christian spiritual tradition. No sinecure is the task of the editor of an anthology of spirituality. The work is demanding and often exasperating as one seeks to select the most meaningful and appropriate texts as well as the necessary permissions from publishers. Moreover, the would-be anthologist, early in the selection process, becomes aware that there is no way that all of one's selections can meet with the approval of professors and reviewers who forever ask why this or that favorite text was not included. I am confident, in the name of the readers of Spiritus, that I can thank the editors of these three anthologies for offering us the fruit of their toil, whatever limitations one may detect. The pedagogical task will be much enhanced and the burdens not a little lessened by the work of these editors, who have produced quite distinctive anthologies.

Before continuing, I must make a confession. For a long time I was opposed to the use of anthologies in teaching theology or spirituality. I, and I am sure many others, have learned through experience that short excerpts are often susceptible to misinterpretation. Again and again, I have found that a brief selection from a classic text can easily be misread. Context is critical for the proper interpretation of texts even when one is willing to abandon oneself wholeheartedly to "the world of the text." My conversion to the use of anthologies is, no doubt, a marriage of convenience--since it does not take long to discover the problems associated with the amassing of sufficient texts to provide even limited literacy about the Christian spiritual tradition.

Few academic programs offer more than one or two courses in the history of Christian spirituality. I speak of courses in the history of Christian spirituality, because the anthologies under consideration here are arranged in chronological order and, for that reason, are ready made for courses that approach spirituality from an historical perspective. A carefully arranged anthology ensures easy access to illustrative texts and provides an adequate vision of the nature and evolution of Christian spirituality.

I shall...