HarperCollins Spiritual Classics

Written by an anonymous English monk during the late fourteenth century, The Cloud of Unknowing is a sublime expression of what separates God from humanity and is widely regarded as a hallmark of Western literature and spirituality. A work of simplicity, courage, and lucidity, it is a contemplative classic on the deep mysteries of faith. "Lift up your heart to God with a humble impulse of love and have himself as your aim, not any of his goods ... Set yourself to rest in this darkness, always crying out after him whom you love. For if you are to experience him or to see him at all, insofar as it is possible here, it must always be in this cloud and in this darkness." –– The Cloud of Unknowing

The Cloud of Unknowing

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) is one of the most influential figures in the history of the Church. A bishop, philosopher, and doctor of the Church whose thought has molded the Western tradition, Augustine was deeply spiritual, and his writings emphasize the soul's experience of God in its depths. This book features selections from his writings, including Confessions and The City of God, and is the perfect introduction to his influential spiritual life and teachings.

Selected Writings

Augustine of Hippo

St. Gregory of Nyssa (335-394 CE), who came from an illustrious Christian family of Capadocia, became bishop of the small town of Nyssa in 371 and is known as one of the founders of mystical theology in the Church. In The Life of Moses, one of the most important books in the study of Christian mysticism, Gregory retells the story of Moses's life from the biblical account in Exodus and Numbers and then refers back to these stories as the basis for profound spiritual lessons. The ultimate goal of Gregory's spirituality is to strive for infinite progress in the never-completed journey to God. His exhortations to lead a life of virtue will inspire all who hope to increase their knowledge and love of God.

The Life of Moses

Gregory of Nyssa

The teachings of the German–born Meister Eckhart (1260–1328), Dominican philosopher and spiritual master, are among the most daring and profound in the history of Western mysticism. From counsels on discernment to a treatise on detachment as the most essential virtue, Eckhart's fascinating thoughts on the spiritual life will inspire and challenge those looking to deepen their experience of God.

Selections from His Essential Writings

Meister Eckhart

Teresa of Avila, a renowned sixteenth–century Spanish mystic, received the vision for The Interior Castle one Sunday in 1577. In this signature work, Teresa uses the castle as a symbol for the interior life to describe her mystical experience of the presence of God. Her humble and straightforward treatise invites readers on a spiritual journey to enter into the deep places in their soul where they will find God. "The soul of the just person is nothing else but a paradise where the Lord says he finds his delight. So then, what do you think that abode will be like where a King so powerful, so wise, so pure, so full of all good things takes his delight? I don't find anything comparable to the magnificent beauty of a soul and its marvelous capacity." –– Teresa of Avila

HarperCollins Spiritual Classics

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