2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Sources of Modern Spirituality : The Influence of Late German Medieval Mysticism
| Project/Area Number |
10610040
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
History of thought
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| Research Institution | NOTRE DAME SEISHIN UNIVERSITY |
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Principal Investigator |
SUZAWA Kaori NOTRE DAME SEISHIN UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF LITERATURE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, 文学部, 助教授 (50171195)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1998 – 2000
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| Keywords | MODERN CHRISTIAN 16th Centurys' SPIRITUALITY / Spanis Mysticism / Ignatius of Loyola / Teresa of Avila / John of the Cross / German Mysticism / Ludolf von Sachsen / Edith Stein |
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| Research Abstract |
The aim of this research is to trace major sources of the modern Christian spirituality. The research took its starting point in examining the historical cultural and spiritual situation of the late medieval epoch that forms the background of modern spirituality. The 14th century was a time of transition and change in a political as well as religious sense. People were in search of a more individual, inner experience of God. This orientation can be considered as bridge to modern spirituality.
In order to show the concrete influence of late medieval Christian mysticism I have studied Ludolf van Sachsen, Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. In his expositions of and meditations on the life of Christ (Vita Christi) the German mystic Ludolf von Sachsen (1295-1377) draws the reader to a personal, inner encounter with Christ. This individual existential experience becomes the door that opens to modern spirituality. Ludolf von Sachsen had great influence on later mystics, such as the Spaniards Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) and John of the Cross (1542-1591).
The echo of this stream of late medieval mysticism can be perceived in modern Christian writers on spirituality. The Christ-centered thought of the German philosopher and mystic Edith Stein (1891-1942) shows clear signs of influence by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross.
In my future research I intend to clarify the influence of Spanish Carmelite mystics on the spiritual writings of Edith Stein.
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