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German theologist Karl Rahner once said, "The Christian of the future will be a mystic or (she) will be nothing at all."

John of the Cross was perhaps the most famous of the incredibly faithful group of Christians known as Mystics. John was a gentle and compassionate figure who was not only a practicing Carmelite Mystic, but a poet and author as well. We are thrilled to be offering a new and distinctive course presented by the distinguished Professor Keith J. Egan entitled John of the Cross: Poet and Mystic. You will explore the life and works of John of the Cross and provide an understanding of the centuries-old Christian mystical tradition.

Professor Egan will gracefully lead you through the history and life of John of the Cross while providing you with a deep understanding of his most influential teachings and writings, which are still considered significant in Mysticism today.

In a series of 15 lectures, you will learn more than you ever thought possible about an interesting and under-appreciated figure of 16th century Christianity. John of the Cross: Poet and Mystic will help you learn about a lesser-known Christian tradition from a distinguished speaker and will introduce you to Christian ideas and philosophies that have acted as the basis of the Mystic faith for centuries.

Brother Bryan Paquette, OCD, Business and Promotions Manager of the Institute of Carmelite Studies, has graciously granted permission for this program to quote extensively from The Collected Works of Saint John of the Cross. Revised Edition. Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD, and Otilio Rodriquez, O.C.D. Washington, DC: Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1991.

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With this order you will receive, free of charge, a detailed Electronic Study Guide. With your confirmation email, you will receive a link that will take you to this Electronic Study Guide, which includes outlines for each topic, review questions and suggested readings for further study. The link to access this Electronic Study Guide will also be included on the case of your CDs or DVDs. You are allowed to print up to 7 copies of your guide. Simply click on the link, or type it into your browser, to access the file.

About Your Presenter

Keith J. Egan is the former President of the Carmelite Institute (2007—2012) and the current Aquinas Chair in Catholic Theology Emeritus at Saint Mary’s College, where, in 1984, he founded the college’s Center for Spirituality. Dr. Egan’s doctorate is from the University of Cambridge, England. He lectures widely and has published extensively on Christian spirituality and mysticism as well as on Carmelite spirituality to audiences in North America, Ireland, England and Rome. Dr. Egan has been a charter lecturer of the North American Carmelite Forum and a corresponding fellow of the Institutum Carmelitanum in Rome.

Topic Titles

• The Weaver’s Son
• John of the Cross Becomes a Carmelite
• The Encounter with Teresa of Avila
• John and Teresa Collaborate on Reform
• John of the Cross: Prisoner
• John of the Cross: Escapee
• John of the Cross: Spiritual Guide
• John of the Cross: Sojourn in Andalusia
• John of the Cross: Poet
• Love is as Strong as Death
• The Dark Night According to John of the Cross
• From the Search for the Hidden Christ to the Manifestation of Christ’s Beauty
• “How Gently and Lovingly You Awake in my Heart”
• How to Read John of the Cross
• John of the Cross Prays Matins in Heaven