The greatest contemplative schools often came into existence in the worst of times. In 14th century Europe, for example, people were tormented by plague (without vaccination), by social and economic chaos, by a divided church in shameful spiritual decline. The mystical teachers of the period (like the author of the Cloud, Mother Julian, Meister Eckhart and Ruusbroek) exposed the church’s failures but did not abandon it. Each of them was a unique manifestation of wisdom, with their own style and thought, to which
church authorities often reacted hostiley. In their very diversity, however, we can see a profound unity of vision.
( WCCM Newsletter, February 2023 by Laurence Freeman OSB )
