The Christian mystical tradition has its roots in Holy Scripture but was enunciated most clearly by the late 5th century author writing under the name Dionysius the Areopagite. It was acquaintance with the medieval version of that work which inspired the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing and led him to develop his insights and perceptions of the obscurity and “unknowability” of God. His understanding was that God was on an entirely different plane of existence from human beings—indeed, so different that time-bound human language was inadequate to describe God exhaustively or accurately. Intellect and emotion both fail in seeking God, who can only be encountered by rejecting of all common earthly means in a “cloud of forgetting” and the discovery of Godself in the dark “cloud of unknowing” which can be pierced only with a “lance of longing love.”
Product Preview
| Format: | Paperback book |
|---|---|
| Product code: | PP6209 |
| Dimensions: | 6" x 9" |
| Length: | 336 pages |
| Publisher: |
Paraclete Press
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| ISBN: | 9781612616209 |
| 1-2 copies | $20.23 each |
|---|---|
| 3-9 copies | $19.31 each |
| 10-49 copies | $18.39 each |
| 50-99 copies | $17.93 each |
| 100+ copies | $17.24 each |
Praise
The Complete Cloud of Unknowing includes two classics of medieval Christian contemplative spirituality — essential reading for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with God through the practice of silent prayer. They are rich texts, full of nuanced wisdom that often gets lost in modern translations. Father John-Julian has captured the beauty, humor and literary elegance of the original versions, but also has supplemented his translation with detailed notes that convey the subtle spiritual insight that makes these works required reading. I'm excited about this book — it's a title I will recommend both to beginners and to longstanding students of The Cloud.
With his mastery of the subtleties of language and local idiom, Fr. John Julian reclaims a classic of spiritual literature to its rightful place in the 21st century. By rediscovering the nuances that the Unknown Author of The Cloud of Unknowing embedded into the spiritual fabric of his work, the reader is drawn into the contemplative life with the fullness of its 14th century origins while being fully relevant in the 21st century. I would highly recommend this spiritual classic restored and recast for a modern world.
In his translation of The Cloud of Unknowing, Fr. John-Julian presents us with an edition that is scholarly yet readable, learned yet spiritual. His lived experience as a monk combines with deep insight as a theologian to provide an approach to The Cloud that is contemplative in mind and soul. The book offers a rich introduction and enlightening, provocative notes that will satisfy both novice and veteran readers of the text. Fr. John-Julian's accessible version does not oversimplify the profundity of the text. This edition, with its wonderful resources, will keep the seeker journeying evermore back to the work, on both intellectual and practical roads.
Author
Father John-Julian, OJN, is an Episcopal priest and monk. He served parishes in Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Connecticut and was the founding Dean of the Seminary of the Streets in New York City before founding the Wisconsin-based contemplative monastic Order of Julian of Norwich (orderofjulian.org) in 1985. He has published eleven books, among them The Complete Julian of Norwich, The Complete Imitation of Christ, The Complete Introduction to the Devout Life, and The Revelations of Divine Love.
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