The cloud, the night, the fire and the song : with the mystics in the school of prayer / Charlie Cleverly ; foreword by the Rt Revd and Rt Hon. Rowan Williams.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cleverly, Charlie, 1951- author.

Contributor:

Williams, Rowan, 1950- writer of foreword.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mysticism--Christianity.

Mysticism.

Mystics.

Spiritual life--History of doctrines.

Spiritual life.

mystics.

Physical Description:

xxii, 165 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Canterbury Press, 2025.

Summary:

"From climate upheaval and plagues to war and persecution, the great Christian mystics - John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila, Francis of Assisi, and others - lived through deeply turbulent times. Yet out of these crucibles emerged profound spiritual insight and rich traditions of prayer. In The Cloud, The Night, The Fire and the Song, Charlie Cleverly draws on the vivid imagery these mystics used to navigate their spiritual landscapes - symbols that continue to speak into the confusion and weariness of our own day. With insight and warmth, he invites us to listen to their voices and draw from their wisdom. Whether it's encountering God in mystery with the Cloud of Unknowing, learning to pray through darkness with John of the Cross, experiencing fire with Blaise Pascal or rediscovering the sacred power of melody with Richard Rolle, The Cloud, The Night, The Fire and the Song offers spiritual companionship for the journey of faith in our uncertain times." Page 4 of cover.

Contents:

Introduction : Why journey with the mystics today?

The Cloud of unknowing : 'dear spiritual friend'

'When you first begin, you find only darkness'

'Never be without some sense of eternal sweetness, even in this life'

'Sit quite still, as if slipping aspleep, worn out with sobbing and sunk in sorrow'

'Take a short word "God" or "Love"'

'It was in this cloud that Mary experienced the many secret movements of her love'

'Let your mind rest in the awareness of him in his naked existence, and to love and praise him for what he is in himself'

John of the Cross : 'The Dark night of the soul'

Union with God in the stillness and darkness

Our culture's dark night of the soul

Ways through the darkness : healing creativity

Ways through the darkness : healing nature

Ways through the darkness : spiritual friendships

Ways through the darkness : Teresa of Avila and finding the still centre

Richard Rolle the forerunner

Later stories of fire

Fire of love - fire of Pentecost

Fire and love today

A brief history of song

The mingling of joy and lament and community in song

Joining the Song of Songs

The end of winter and the season of singing.

Notes:

Includes select bibliography (pages 153-154) and endnotes.

ISBN:

1786225972

9781786225979

OCLC:

1468560853

Publisher Number:

90104931187