Wonderful and Dark is this Road: Discovering the Mystic Path

by Emilie Griffin

Overview

In Wonderful and Dark Is This Road, Emilie Griffin invites us to discover the fascinating, yet often misunderstood, spiritual path of mysticism. Griffin explores the origins of mysticism, the different expressions and gifts of mysticism, and the recognized stages on the mystical journey. In beautifully transparent prose, she illuminates the insights of famous mystics throughout the centuries, from the Apostle Paul, to the Desert Fathers and Mothers, to Thomas Merton and Evelyn Underhill. Ultimately, and perhaps most importantly, Griffin reveals mysticism as a spiritual path that is open to us all, offering the gift of an intimate knowledge of divine love to those who choose it. This is a book that has the potential to transform not only our inner lives, but our world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612615509
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	05/01/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

A native of New Orleans, Emilie Griffin received a B.A. in English and Classics from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She also pursued graduate studies in theology at Notre Dame Seminary. A professional writer, editor, and marketing consultant, Emilie has won fifty awards for creativity. Over her career, she has worked for major advertising agencies in New York and New Orleans, and studied playwriting with Edward Albee at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York. In 1998-1999 she was a guest columnist for Praying magazine. She recently collaborated with Richard Foster on a book entitled Spiritual Classics (her seventh major title). She has worked extensively as a retreat and workshop leader with Christians of all denominations. She is a member of the board of Renovare, an infra-church movement committed to Christian renewal. Emilie is the award-winning author of several books on the spiritual life including Turning: Reflections on the Experience of Conversion, Wilderness Time: A Guide for Spiritual Retreat, and Doors Into Prayer (Paraclete Press). Emilie and her husband live in Alexandria, Louisiana and are the parents of three grown children. Her recent book, Wonderful and Dark is This Road is an introduction and invitation to discover the fascinating, and often misunderstood spiritual phenomenon of mysticism.

Editorial Reviews

Some of the best writers on the subject of divine enlightenment have been practitioners like St. Teresa of Avila or Thomas Merton who have both feet on the ground. In this primer on the quest for closer intimacy with God, Griffin, both a retreat leader and the author of related books (Clinging: the Experience of Prayer), offers readers a reassuringly matter-of-fact guide through the biblical roots, history and theology of Christian mysticism. Although she makes brief references to dervishes, or dancing mystics, and to the Jewish mysticism of the kabbalah, this slender volume is clearly aimed at those who wish to understand the people, movements and beliefs that motivated such diverse personalities as the apostle Paul and the Carmelite sister Th r se of Lisieux to seek God with such passion. Frequent forays into the enigmatic love poetry of writers like St. John of the Cross and the Anglican priest George Herbert enliven and frequently illumine Griffin's lucid if sometimes plebeian prose. Creditably, Griffin, herself a Catholic convert, does not shrink from examining some of the more unusual phenomena, like apparitions and stigmata, which are sometimes coupled with mysticism and mystics. While Griffin may not completely fulfill her mission of convincing readers of "every believer's potential for walking the mystic path," she has written a warm and inviting introduction to a subject that continues to challenge and edify both the curious and the devout. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

In this effective introduction to mysticism, Griffin (Doors into Prayer) takes a biographical/historical approach rather than a practical one, discussing types of mysticism or mystical experience through the lives and deeds of well-known mystics such as Brother Lawrence and Th r se of Lisieux. She also delves into such topics as group mysticism and the quasi-erotic language used to describe mystical experience. While her own faith-confession as a Roman Catholic is evident and certainly influences her selection of examples, Griffin does not ignore non-Catholic mystics entirely; Quakers, Hasidic masters, and Methodists are also considered. A fine if brief introduction to the field, this is suitable for most collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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