Reading list

Christian Mysticism

Classics of Christian contemplative writing, from Augustine to John of the Cross.

Beginning. 7 steps

Orientation

Tradition
Christian Mysticism
The main currents of the tradition, East and West, and its central idea of union.

Text
The Confessions of S. Augustine
Augustine of Hippo, tr. E. B. Pusey, 1838
Read Books VII to IX: the Platonists, the conversion, and the vision at Ostia.

Text
A Book of Contemplation the Which is Called The Cloud of Unknowing
The author of The Cloud of Unknowing, 1912
A practical guide to prayer beyond thought; begin with the first ten chapters.

Text
Revelations of Divine Love
Julian of Norwich, 1901
Julian’s showings, especially the hazelnut and “all shall be well”.

Text
The Interior Castle
Teresa of Ávila, tr. The Benedictines of Stanbrook
Teresa’s map of the soul’s seven dwelling places, from self-knowledge to union.
Text
The Dark Night of the Soul
John of the Cross, tr. David Lewis
The purifying darkness: read after Teresa, as its counterpart.

Text
Meister Eckhart’s Sermons
Meister Eckhart, tr. Claud Field, 1909
Eckhart on detachment and the ground of the soul, the most daring of the four.

Cite this entry

Chicago (bibliography): “Christian Mysticism.” Reading list. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/christian-mysticism-reading-list.
Chicago (note): “Christian Mysticism,” reading list, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/christian-mysticism-reading-list.
MLA: “Christian Mysticism.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/christian-mysticism-reading-list.
BibTeX: @misc{reading-lists-christian-mysticism-reading-list, title = {{Christian Mysticism}}, howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society}, note = {Reading list. Last modified November 7, 2026}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/christian-mysticism-reading-list} }