Meister des Hildegardis-Codex (Public Domain) | Wikimedia Commons)
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Wed, Apr 26, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
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Himmel Park Library, 1035 North Treat Avenue, Tucson, AZ“Throughout time, but especially in the Middle Ages, individuals have been graced with visions, i.e., personal experiences with God or other saintly beings. Since the twelfth century, European mystics (especially women) reported about out-of-body experiences in which their souls were graced with a direct, personal encounter with the Godhead, which granted them unique and unheard-of authority. This talk will explore the meaning/history of mysticism and present its salient features through music and images, reflecting on individuals such as Hildegard of Bingen or Catherine of Siena. This talk addresses both religious phenomena and also highlights unique aspects in women’s lives. Presented by Dr. Albrecht Classen and AZ Humanities.”
Carolyn’s note: My husband is a University Distinguished Professor at the Univerisity of Arizona and has been researching and writing on the Middle Ages for over 30 years. His website: http://aclassen.faculty.arizona.edu/
Tonight about 25 people listened to my husband explain what are the Middle Ages, what is mysticism, material vs. spiritual history, and the quest for spiritual manifestations. He gave examples of two German mystics — Hildegard von Bingen and Mechthild von Magdeburg who tried to express these visions in art, poetry or writing, but that such attempts were “ineffable”, as beyond description of their abilities to talk with God, to be one with the Godhead. My questions usually at these talks is where are the mystics today?
Beautiful.
Thanks for commenting, T. Hope you can attend the talk tomorrow night at Himmel Park library.