Of Martyrs, Monks, and Mystics

Everywhere there are voices calling for a new Reformation, marked by a return to the older sources of Christian wisdom, and for drinking anew the inspiration of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the church fathers, those from the monastic tradition and the medieval Christian mystics. This anthology of original sources in contemporary English, structured in a meditational mode, could well be the rich resource you are looking for in hearing the ancient Christian wisdom. Here are the deep wells of theological and spiritual insight that could guide you in walking a renewed path of faith in our precarious world. These voices from the past may well help you in living against the tide of late modernity with its rationality and utilitarianism that cannot sustain a well-lived and well-loved life. This book could sustain the hope for a renewed world through life lived in the presence of the healing and empowering God. ""This is a remarkable collection of quotations from the communion of Saints across the ages, which will deeply enrich your soul, and transform your identity as a Christian. I know of no other spiritual treasury like this. It should be at every Christian's desk or bedside."" --James M. Houston, Board of Governor's Professor, Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver ""[This] is a remarkable collection . . . The result is a sparkling array of freshness from many lesser-known lives such as Gertrude the Great, Macarius of Egypt, and the Dutch poet Hadewijch conversing with us alongside Julian of Norwich, John Cassian, and Clare of Assisi . . . [T]his is a book that not only needs to be read slowly and prayerfully but also applied and lived as present-day wisdom."" --Trevor Miller, Abbot of Northumbria Community ""The early fathers and mothers of the Church have provided us with a well of wisdom that was fed by their openness to God, so much so that their words flowing from that relationship have almost the quality of scripture about them. Charles has lowered his bucket and raised up a gift, brimming full of the grace of God. It is such a treasure to have so much of the original texts accompanied by very brief reflections that invite us to do our own work of opening ourselves to the truth and wisdom of God."" --Bishop Godfrey Fryar, Provincial Minister, Franciscan Third Order Asia-Pacific ""This collection of daily readings from our spiritual forebears is not meant for us to indulge in nostalgia; when read meditatively, they speak to our modern condition and challenge us to resist conforming to this world and experience real spiritual transformation. The editors are to be commended for their wide-ranging and judicious selections."" --Simon Chan, Earnest Lau Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Theological College, Singapore ""A wonderful meditational reader culled from carefully selected primary sources representing the ecumenical voices of the past--our very own past we can no longer afford to ignore. Ringma and Alexander have done a great service by reconnecting us all back to our common heritage."" --Wil Hernandez, Executive Director, CenterQuest (CQCenterQuest.org) ""For the many who believe in a post-Christian world, this rich resource of spiritual reflection drawn from that very tradition, shows what a huge loss it would be to accept that fate."" --Rachael Kohn, presenter of The Spirit of Things, ABC National Radio, Australia ""Of Martyrs, Monks and Mystics is a remarkable collection of primary sources offering a contemporary insider view of what is being described. The result is a sparkling array of freshness from many lesser-known lives such as Gertrude the Great, Macarius of Egypt and the Dutch poet Hadewijch conversing with us alongside Julian of Norwich, John Cassian and Clare of Assisi. I found the breadth, depth and consistency of insight in this anthology of ancient wisdom through storytelling and sayings; prayers and poems to be a real gift as such wisdom is timeless. Indeed, it struck me aga