The Christian Mysticism Podcast
This podcast explores the history of Christian mysticism from the early Church to today. Hosted by Alberto de la Cruz and featuring Dr. Carlos Eire, Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University, each episode dives into mystical traditions, figures, and practices. New episodes are released twice a month on the first and third Thursday.
Episodes
Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew: St. Teresa of Avila's right-hand woman
Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew (1550–1626) was a Carmelite mystic and as a close companion of Teresa of Ávila, her right-hand woman. Her extraordinary encounters with Christ began in childhood and continued through religious wars in France. From visions of the Infant Jesus when she was a child tending sheep to serving as Teresa’s nurse, secretary, and companion, Anne’s life straddled profound m
St. Charbel: The mystic monk and miracle worker who wrote nothing
Saint Charbel (1828–1898) was a Lebanese monk and mystic who wrote nothing about his encounters with God, yet his life of radical solitude, fasting, prayer, and silence reveals a profound mystical path. Known as the “second St. Anthony of the Desert,” Charbel embraced an extreme asceticism that drew him deeper into communion with God. From his extreme asceticism to the extraordinary phenomena and
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection: In constant contact with God
Brother Lawrence (c. 1614–1691) survived the horrors of the Thirty Years' War, lived with chronic pain, and yet discovered how to transform an ordinary monastery kitchen into holy ground. In this episode, we explore how an uneducated Carmelite lay brother became one of Christianity's most beloved mystics by achieving a deep union with God not with extraordinary visions, but through the quiet faith
Maria Simma: The mystic who spoke to souls in purgatory
Maria Simma (1915–2004) spent more than six decades speaking with souls in Purgatory who visited her pleading for prayers, Masses, and sacrifices to hasten their journey to Heaven. In this episode, we explore her astonishing encounters, vivid descriptions, and the spiritual lessons the suffering souls revealed to her. Simma’s extraordinary testimony offers a haunting glimpse into one of Christiani
St. Peter of Alcantara: The extreme mystic
Saint Peter of Alcantara (1499–1562) was so extreme in his pursuit of God that even other saints were stunned by his austerity. In this episode, we dive into the shocking life of the emaciated Franciscan reformer who slept only ninety minutes a night, wore heavy iron chains for years, fasted relentlessly, and became known for his mystical ecstasies and levitations.If you would like to order a copy
St. Bridget of Sweden: Mystic, noblewoman, and mother of eight
St. Bridget of Sweden (c. 1303–1373) was a noblewoman, mother of eight, and mystic whose extraordinary visions challenged popes and captivated Europe. From childhood revelations of Christ’s Passion to bold calls for reform during a time of deep Church crisis, her life was anything but ordinary. Known as both the “patroness of failures” and the "patroness of Europe," her mission unfolded in tension
St. John Bosco: The dreaming mystic
St. John Bosco (1815–1888) was a mystic who received visions in his dreams so vivid they shaped the future of souls and nations. From prophetic encounters and chilling glimpses of hell to a revolutionary approach to educating troubled youth, in this episode, we explore how one mystic's dreams became a divine blueprint for transforming lives.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's la
Thomas Merton: A controversial mystic
Thomas Merton (1915–1968) was a Trappist monk, bestselling author, and mystic whose life bridged cloistered silence and global controversy. From a restless, scandal-marked youth to a dramatic conversion and controversial activism. Merton sought hiddenness yet became one of the most influential Christian voices of the twentieth century.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's latest b
Anne Catherine Emmerich: A visionary mystic
Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) was an Augustinian Canoness born in Flamschen bei Coesfeld, Westphalia, in northwest Germany in 1774. One of nine children, her family was very poor but faith-filled. She is best known for her visions of Christ and the stunning details recorded of those visions that served as one of the primary sources for the portrayal of the Passion of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibs
Essential Books on Christian Mysticism
After many requests, Dr. Carlos Eire shares a reading list with our listeners.Great classic introductions:Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism: A foundational, comprehensive survey of the mystical path. The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism, edited by Amy Hollywood & Patricia Beckman): An excellent collection of essays Understanding Mysticism, ed. Richard Woods: Excellent essay
Emanuel Swedenborg: A most unusual mystic
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian who, in his midlife, became a Christian mystic and visionary after a profound spiritual awakening. Unlike most mystics, however, Swedenborg did not follow the usual steps to mysticism and many of his visions are like nothing we have heard about before, making him a most unusual mystic.If you would like to orde
Relics and Mysticism
What is the connection between relics and mysticism? In this episode, we look at how relics have played an important role throughout church history, including the relics of well-known mystics. Mysticism joins the heavenly realm with the earthly realm, and we find that relics can do the same. If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's new book, "They Flew: A History of the Impossible,"
Fr. Thomas Keating: Centering Prayer
Father Thomas Keating (1923 – 2018) was an American Trappist monk who took the form of prayer used by Christian mystics over the past centuries and presented in a modern and accessible manner, so everyone can partake of it. Although considered controversial by some, Centering Prayer bears a very close resemblance to how Christian mystics used prayer to connect with God and the divine.If you would
St. Gertrude of Helfta: Constant contact with the Divine
St. Gertrude of Helfta (1256–1302) was a 13th century German nun who enjoyed constant contact with the divine through her mystical experiences. Known also as Gertrude the Great, her writings were very influential and inspired St. Teresa of Avila and many other mystics throughout the centuries. If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's new book, "They Flew: A History of the Impossible,
Mystical Visions
Mystics can experience mystical visions that give them insight into the spiritual realm and that can bring messages from God. Whether they are visions of Christ Himself, the Virgin Mary, Angels, or even other saints, this mystical phenomenon plays a vital role in the life of mystics. In this episode, we go over the three types of visions mystics experience and discuss some of the messages they con
Mystical Apparitions
For many Christian mystics who live holy lives of prayer and dedication, visions of heavenly beings are not out of the ordinary. However, heavenly visions are not always exclusive to mystics. Throughout church history, apparitions of heavenly beings have appeared countless times to regular people, often children, sometimes creating confusion and many times changing lives, countries, and even regio
Madame Guyon: A mystic for Catholics and Protestants
Born at the end of the 30-Year’s War, the worst bloodbath ever in Christian history, with Protestants and Catholics killing each other, involving most western European nations, Catholic mystic Madame Guyon (Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon 1648 -1717) devoted herself to a life of prayer amidst intense suffering. Ironic for her era, her mysticism crossed confessional lines and appealed to bot
The persecution of mystics
Why do so many mystics endure investigations, persecutions, and even imprisonment and execution? Mystics are always a potential challenge to church and civil authorities. If they are close to God – or united with God – they can claim higher authority than anyone else. Nevertheless, there are also any mystics who escaped close scrutiny and persecution. If you would like to order a copy of Dr.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The anti-mystic mystic
St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) was a French Carmelite nun and a Doctor of the Church. She is known for her autobiography, Story of a Soul, which is still a popular spiritual read today. She is one of the most popular saints of the 20th century and still very popular today. St. Thérèse was never known for exhibiting the physical phenomena or ecstasies many other mystics throughout history have
Love in Christian Mysticism
Love is an absolutely essential component of Christian mysticism. It is the driving force as well as the ultimate goal: to know God and to love God. But like all other aspects of Christian mysticism, it is deeply wrapped in paradox.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's new book, "They Flew: A History of the Impossible," you can order a copy HERE (Yale University Press) o
Mysticism and the embrace of pain and suffering
Pain and suffering is part of every mystical journey and throughout history, Christian mystics have embraced it. The classic path to mysticism can be described in three steps: purgation, illumination, and union. But for Christian mystics, the purgation never ends. In this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire delves into the lives of Christian mystics and explains how they considered pain and suffering a gift
St. Faustyna Kowalska: The Secretary of Divine Mercy
Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, OLM (1905 – 1938) was a Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic. Faustyna had apparitions of Jesus Christ, which inspired the Catholic devotion to the Divine Mercy and earned her the title of the "secretary" of Divine Mercy.Throughout her life, Kowalska reported having visions of Jesus and conversations with Him, which she noted in her diary, l
The Bible and Mysticism: Part 2 - The New Testament
The Christian Bible is full of imagery and instruction that Christian mystics have used as inspiration and direction in their mystical journeys. In our last episode, Dr. Carlos Eire shared a sampling of Old Testament scripture that Christian mystics have used and meditated on over the centuries. In this episode, we explore the New Testament and how Christian mystics used it as inspiration.If you w
The Bible and Mysticism Part 1: The Old Testament
The Christian Bible is full of imagery and instruction that Christian mystics have used as inspiration and direction in their mystical journeys. In this episode, Dr Carlos Eire shares a sampling of Old Testament scripture that Christian mystics have used and meditated on over the centuries. In the next episode, we'll explore the New Testament and the inspiration mystics found in that scripture. If
Mysticism and madness
Is the human brain the source of mystical experience? You may be surprised to learn scientists have been able to map the part of the brain that becomes active when individuals are in prayer, but that doesn't necessarily mean mysticism is just a hallucination or psychosis. In this episode, we discuss how the brain plays a role in mysticism and how modern psychology's penchant to pathologize mystica
St. Gemma Galgani: The suffering mystic
St. Gemma Galgani (March 12, 1878 -- April 11, 1903) was a “Daughter of the Passion” and lived a short life of intense veneration and imitation of Christ’s passion despite her own physical and emotional pain. She received the gift of the stigmata at the age of 21 and experienced mystical experiences with Christ, the Virgin Mary, and her guardian angel. If you would like to order a copy of Dr.
Mysticism and exorcism
In this episode, we discuss the intersection between Christian mysticism and the phenomena of demonic possession and exorcism.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's new book, "They Flew: A History of the Impossible," you can order a copy HERE (Yale University Press) or HERE (Amazon).If you have any questions, you can email us at christianmysticismpodcast@gmail.c
St. Padre Pio: The modern-day mystic
St. Padre Pio (1887-1968) was a 20th century ecstatic mystic, much like the mystics from the early age. A healer who was obviously influenced by St. Francis, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and several other mystics, he was best known for the physical and paranormal phenomena that accompanied his ecstasies, especially the stigmata, bilocation, levitation, the ability to read minds and
Evelyn Underhill: A pioneer in the modern study of mysticism
Evelyn Underhill (1875 - 1941) was an Anglican and a pioneer in the modern study of mysticism who brought the teachings and writings of early Church mystics to a largely Protestant audience. She was the first woman to lecture to the clergy in the Church of England, and the first woman officially to conduct spiritual retreats for the Church. She was also the first woman to establish ecumenical
St. Martin de Porres: Living a mystical life without explaining it
St. Martín de Porres (1579-1639) was a Peruvian mystic, the son of a freed black slave and a Spanish nobleman, who despite the discrimination he suffered for the color of his skin, never lost his humility or his great peace. His mystical life of bilocation, levitation, instances of glowing, and numerous miracles were known only to those who witnessed or experienced them, since he seemingly never w
St. Ignatius of Loyola: The nobleman and soldier who became a mystic
Born in 1491, St. Ignatius of Loyola was a nobleman who wanted to be a soldier, but a serious injury took him off the battlefield and led to an unexpected conversion. He dedicated his life to God and prayer, leading him to dedicate his sword to the Virgin Mary. His intense mystical experiences were documented in his autobiography and his path to mysticism in his famous work, The Spiritual Exercise
St. Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi: The dramatic mystic
Born in 1566 to one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Florence, St. Maria Maddalena de' Pazzi joined the convent at the age of 16 and soon after began experiencing dramatic and intense visions where she conversed with the Holy Trinity. During these visions, the nuns in her convent wrote down her words as she conversed with the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit together, and separa
The Imitation of Christ: The mystic's handbook
Written in the 15th century around the same time as the invention of the printing press, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis was printed in several languages and became a bestseller. It is widely regarded as the most important devotional work in Catholic Christianity and one of the most-read devotional works next to the Bible. It undoubtedly helped many Christian mystics in that era an
St. Gregory of Nyssa: The father of mysticism
St. Gregory of Nyssa was a 4th century Bishop who is highly revered by both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church in the west. His take on prayer, Christocentric focus, theosis (divinization), and emphasis on God as infinitely transcendent illuminates a pathway to Christian mysticism and the divine.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's new book, "They Flew: A History
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque: The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was a 17th century French nun who experienced mystical visions with Jesus, where He revealed to her His Sacred Heart and His love for her and all humanity. In those visions, she was instructed to tell the world all about this love, and she did. This led to the popularization of venerating the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Programming Note: The next episode of the Christian My
Mother Ivonne-Aimée: Battling demons and Nazis
Augustinian nun Marie Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus Beauvais, also known as Mother Yvonne-Aimée de Malestroit, was born in 1901 and died in 1951. A true 20th century mystic from France, Yvonne-Aimée was part of the French Resistance during WWII, helping Jews, Allied prisoners, and others escape Nazi occupied France. Although she could be classified as an affective mystic focusing on the love of Jesus, she
Near Death Experiences and Mysticism
What is the phenomenon of a Near Death Experience? Is there a connection with mysticism? In this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire explores the visions experienced by some who have died and come back to life with incredible stories to tell of what they saw on "the other side," both wonderful and frightening. Although not short of critics and skeptics, medical studies and veridical evidence provide a compel
A Mystical Christmas
For children, Christmas is full of mystery and mysticism. But many of the Christmas symbols we all enjoy today also have their origins in Christian mysticism. On this special Christmas episode, Dr. Carlos Eire explores some of those symbols and their deep connections to Christian mysticism. If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos Eire's new book, "They Flew: A History of the Impossible," y
St. Anthony of the Desert: The father of monasticism
St. Anthony of the Desert (251 -- 356 AD) was one of the first Christian hermits whose mystical ecstasies had him struggling with demons and eventually led him to an Eden-like way of life. Also known as St. Anthony the Great, he is considered one of the fathers of monasticism, blazing a trail for future monastics and inspiring millions of Christians.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. Carlos
St. Joseph of Cupertino: The extreme levitator
Although older, St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603 - 1663) was a contemporary of Sir Isaac Newton, but St. Joseph never cared to obey the law of gravity. Known as the "village idiot" since childhood, St. Joseph went on to levitate in front of countless witnesses, including the pope and even royalty, leading many of them to conversion. His extreme levitation was documented by some of the most prominent
They Flew: A history of the impossible
In this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire talks about his new book, They Flew: A History of the Impossible. The book explores the seemingly impossible physical phenomena of levitation and bilocation by Christian mystics, as well as some of the charlatans who managed to fake these feats. Dr. Eire's book also delves into malevolent mysticism, including witches and those who claimed to receive their powers fr
Mystical Heresy: The Troublesome Dimension of Mysticism
Given Christianity's 2,000-year history, the number of mystical heretics is relatively small, but occasionally they pop up. Throughout history, there appear to be outbreaks almost every century, one of the largest ones taking place in the 14th century with the Free Spirit Heretics. In this episode, we explore that movement and others all the way to the 20th century.If you would like to order a cop
St. Catherine of Genoa: Purgatory and the Afterlife
St. Catherine of Genoa (Caterina Fieschi Adorno, 1447 – 1510) experienced mystical raptures that gave her profound insights on purgatory and the afterlife. She was beatified 1675 and canonized 1737. St. Catherine was born to a rich and powerful family in Genoa, Italy and married off at an early age, but endured a horrible marriage. That led to her conversion and life of prayer and penance. St. Cat
St. Catherine of Siena: The Affective Mysic
St. Catherine of Siena was a 14th century Dominican nun and affective mystic who was very focused on love and the salvific dimension of Christ’s suffering. St. Catherine was also a stigmatist, theologian, philosopher, and helper to the poor and suffering as well as a highly esteemed peace negotiator and political ambassador, even serving as such for popes.If you would like to order a copy of Dr. C
St. Hildegard of Bingen: The Visionary Mystic
St. Hildegard of Bingen was a 12th century German nun and mystic who eventually was canonized and given the title of doctor of the church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. She was not only a visionary mystic who was given the gift of seeing and understanding the deepest mysteries of the Christian faith through spectacularly colorful images, but St. Hildegard was also a woman with incredible achievemen
St. John of the Cross: The poetic and scientific mystic
16th century mystic St. John of the Cross was a very complex man who had a difficult life. However, his moving poetry and scientific detailed accounts showed a pathway to God within. A close associate of St. Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross was focused on self-emptying and self-abandonment, with close similarities to Meister Eckhart and the Cloud of Unknowing.If you have any questions, you can e
Protestant Mysticism: Is there such a thing?
The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century not only changed how Christians viewed the Church, but also how they viewed mysticism. In this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire discusses the startling differences between Protestant mysticism and the mysticism of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The different conception of human nature and our relationship with God held by Protestant reformers suc
The Venerable Maria de Jesus de Agreda: The Lady in Blue
The Venerable Maria de Jesus de Agreda was a 17th century Franciscan Conceptionist nun whose life was filled with mystical ecstasies and revelations. She experienced extreme bilocation, traveling to the other side of the world to spread the gospel to Native Americans without ever leaving her convent. She also received visits from the Virgin Mary where she dictated her life story to Maria de Agreda
St. Francis of Assisi: The Nature Mystic
St. Francis of Assisi was the first Christian mystic to manifest the Stigmata, and he went on to experience almost every other mystic physical phenomena along with divine encounters with Christ. Francis had a deep love for God's creation and was known as the "Nature Mystic," but he also extolled the virtues of poverty and was on the front lines confronting the Cathar heresy and Waldensian heresy i
The Physical Phenomena of Mysticism
On this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire discusses the physical phenomena exhibited by mystics from both past and current history. From cataleptic ecstasies, levitation, and bilocation, to stigmata, telepathy, and incorruptible bodies, Dr. Eire explains the amazing feats of Christian mystics that defy nature. We also talk about the failed attempts by science to explain these phenomena, which brought about
St. Teresa of Avila: Part 2
Few Christian mystics wrote so much about their divine encounters with God and provided as much rich detail as St. Teresa of Avila. The Spanish saint described them as ecstasies, all while the Spanish Inquisition was examining her experiences and looking for heresies. In this episode, the second and final pert of this two-episode series on St. Teresa, Dr. Carlos Eire describes some of the many mys
St. Teresa of Avila: Part 1
St. Teresa of Avila led an incredible life that some would say was as amazing as her mystical encounters with God. In the first part of this two-part series, we look at the life of St. Teresa of Avila, her setbacks and amazing accomplishments during the Spanish Inquisition, and the family secret that if it had ever been discovered, might have ended her calling in the Church.In the next episode of
Julian of Norwich
Julian of Norwich was a 14th-century English hermit nun whose extreme dedication to God led to her having intense visions of Christ. Julian wrote extensively about those visions, providing us with unique perspectives on the Christ's love for us, sin and redemption, and our place in God's universe. The story and visions of Julian and her message of hope have regained popularity in modern times, whe
Meister Eckhart
Meister Eckhart was a unique mystic who believed the spark of the divine existed inside every person and God was found within oneself, not outside oneself. A very popular 14th century theologian and preacher, Eckhart's teachings were ultimately deemed heretical by Pope John XXII, who put him on trial for heresy. Nevertheless, even though he died before his trial was completed, Meister Eckhart's lo
Hesychasts and The Cloud of Unknowing
The Hesychasts in the Eastern Orthodox churches and The Cloud of Unknowing from the western church both hold up mystical prayer as a pathway to the spiritual realm and closer communion with God. In this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire discusses the similarities and differences between these two methods of prayer, which provide what some may call a mystical How-To manual.If you have any questions, you can
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Dr. Carlos Eire takes us through the history of 12th century mystic St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a mystic theologian and Cistercian reformer who had incredible influence not only in the church but in politics as well.If you have any questions, you can email us at christianmysticismpodcast@gmail.com. Your question and the answer may appear in a future episode of the podcast.You can visit our podcast w
Monasticism: The struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil
In this episode we learn about monasticism and how the monastic lifestyle of unceasing prayer and extreme denialism in a fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil produced countless mystics in the early church as well as today, making monetarism and mysticism inseparable. If you have any questions, you can email us at christianmysticismpodcast@gmail.com. Your question and the answer may ap
St. Augustine: The Prince of Mystics
Born in 354 A.D., St. Augustine was a convert to Christianity who went on to become the Bishop of Hippo. His search for the Truth and God led him on a path of discovery both intellectual and mystical, which we discuss in this episode.If you have any questions, you can email us at christianmysticismpodcast@gmail.com. Your question and the answer may appear in a future episode of the podcast.You can
What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?
Unhappy with the influence of Greek philosophy on Christianity, third-century Christian author Tertullian once asked, "What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?" In this episode, Dr. Carlos Eire takes us on a deep dive into the influences of Greek philosophy regarding the concepts of body, mind, and soul and how it helps us to better understand Christian mysticism. If you have any questions, you
The Origins of Christian Mysticism
In this episode of the Christian Mysticism Podcast, Dr. Carlos Eire discusses the origins of Christian mysticism, from its roots in Jewish tradition to the pagan influences of Greek philosophy. If you have any questions, you can email us at christianmysticismpodcast@gmail.com. Your question and the answer may appear in a future episode of the podcast.You can visit our podcast website HERE. Ho
What is mysticism?
In our first episode of the Christian Mysticism Podcast, Dr. Carlos Eire defines what is mysticism and explains what traits makes a person a mystic. If you have any questions, you can email us at christianmysticismpodcast@gmail.com. Your question and the answer may appear in a future episode of the podcast. You can visit our podcast website HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf
Coming Soon! The Christian Mysticism Podcast
Introducing the Christian Mysticism Podcast with your hosts Alberto de la Cruz and Dr. Carlos Eire, Religious History Professor at Yale University, coming soon in January 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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