Women Saints and 
Mystics 
in the 
Western Christian Tradition

 
History 204 (Studies in Social History)/
Religion 110 (Studies in Religion)/
Womens Studies 206 (Topics in Womens Studies)
Doyle, Neel--Block 5, 1997-8
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
Women's voices have been important in the shaping of Western Christianity from its origins in Mediterranean antiquity to the twentieth century. This course will invite students to hear these voices and to explore the historical experience from which they spoke. It will address the tradition of women's spirituality from the third century A.D. to the late 1800s--even to the present time, when religious communities still find inspiration in the words and examples of women saints and mystics from both deep and recent pasts.

During the first three weeks of the block, student work will center in close reading and thoughtful discussion of several major mystical texts, and in consideration of the instituional and theological circumstances of early and medieval Christian women authors. A short paper due at the beginning of the second week will provide the opportunity for written response to mystical literature--a genre which poses unique problems for any commentator or critic.

This background in writing and discussion will prepare students for a Monday through Friday visit, during the third week of the block, to the Baca Campus and nearby Carmelite hermitage, whose community's practices respond directly to both medieval and sixteenth-century mystical traditions. Return to Colorado Springs for the final week of the course will enable students to prepare larger-scale research/critical essays, due on the final day of the block, on figures or themes in the history of mysticism in which they are individually interested.

Throughout the course, written and discussion assignments will engage students directly in the materials of the past.  At the same time, however, instructors' presentation of these texts--and their suggestions for development of final papers--will incorporate recent critical perspectives, such as the works of Bernard McGinn, JoAnn McNamara, Ralph Lerner, and Caroline Bynum.  The course will thus explore the confluence of gender studies, religious studies, and historiography, drawing upon the differing disciplinary experience of staff and students alike.  In its final session, Women Saints and Mystics will encourage discussion of the meaning of historical women's sanctity and mysticism for contemporary religious life with Andrew Ciferni, O.Praem., lately dean of Washington Theological seminary and a member of a religious order founded in the twelfth century for both men and women.

READINGS
The following books are available for purchase in the Colorado College Bookstore:
  A packet excerpting the following further works will also be available: A final further work may be read in any of many available Bible translations:
SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Class will meet at 9:30 in Palmer 223 unless otherwise noted.  Participating students must be able to travel to the Baca Campus for the entire third week.

Week 1 (January 19)

Week 2 (January 26) Week 3 (February 2) [SPECIAL SCHEDULING THROUGHOUT] Week 4 (November 20)  
 

  

Mystical Bookmarks

The World Wide Web now offers many resources for the study of mysticism, and for the development of Western Christianity generally. The following may be especially useful for students in this course.
Labyrinth
              A rich, searchable collection of texts, images, and sites for medieval studies.
James J. O'Donnell Home Page
Materials in late classical, patristic, and medieval Christian thought and literature.
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Basic texts in the Western mystical tradition.
Guide to Early Church Documents
Fundamental documents in Christian history and doctrine.
Vatican Exhibit Rome Reborn
Visual materials for the history of Rome, the papacy, and the history of iconography.
OSB Index
Documents and texts in the history of monasticism, from the Benedictines themselves.
Hill Monastic Manuscript Library Homepage
Monastic book production and manuscript hands.
Saints Index
Some hokey, some superb links to materials in the history of sanctity and religious practice.
Luminarium
Materials about Margery Kemp, Julian of Norwich, and their context.
Hildegard von Bingen
Vast listing of materials about Hildegard from the Library of Congress.
Monastic Studies
Collection of materials on monastic history and theology.
Poetry of  St. John of the Cross
Writings of the Carmelite mystic.