St. John of the Cross OCT

Description

Peter Tyler endeavours to represent St John of the Cross in the truest light, covering his life from the angles of John as Theologian, as Mystic, Psychologist, and Artist. Tyler draws parallels, at times uncomfortable, between the age of disruption and and change in the church during which St John wrote, and our current age. In so doing he makes the case for this controversial, but largely misunderstood, figure to be an important guide for practical theology today.

Peter Tyler is Senior Lecturer and Programme Director of Pastoral Theology at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, UK. Previous publications include St John of the Cross - Outstanding Christian Thinker (Continuum 2010), Sources of Transformation: Revitalising Christian Spirituality (edited with Edward Howells) (Continuum 2010) and The Return to the Mystical: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Teresa of Avila and the Christian Mystical Tradition (Continuum 2011).

Mention in the New Books Just Published section. The Church Times, 7th May 2010 'A clear exposition of the life and teachings of the diminutive Carmelite friar. ... Ideal for devotional reading with a helpful bibliography.' Methodist Recorder, 1st July 2010 'I ... recommend it, both to those wishing to find a way to begin to study the works of St John of the Cross and to those already familiar with them. 'The author uses the combination of his understanding of mystical and pastoral theology and of psychology to help the reader towards a better understanding of his subject.' 'Well written ... beautifully produced and ... very readable.' Fairacres Chronicle 'Tyler does exceptional work in rescuing John from the charge of moroseness by a sensitive analysis of his aesthetics and its psychological underpinnings.' Church of Ireland Gazette 'Peter Tyler's St. John of the Cross elucidates the great Carmelite's poetry and spiritual teaching through a very readable exploration of his life...It transformed my understanding of him.' -- The Tablet Books of the Year 'A new book about John immediately invites our interest, particularly when it is in Continuum's excellent Outstanding Christian Thinkers series... Overall, this is a book with much to recommend it.' -- Church Times 'I am now most grateful for the invitation [to review this book] not only for the attractive and well researched account of John of the Cross which Peter Tyler presents but, most of all, for the insights the book offers for understanding today's world... This is a timely book in our Christian history.' -- Mount Carnel magazine 'Tyler's introduction is very helpful and one which I highly recommend, particularly for the breadth of its scope.' -- Theological Book Review This book is an excellent introduction for anyone interested in understanding the spirituality of John of the Cross or the Carmelite way. It is scholarly but not academic in style, with a detailed bibliography to encourage further study. -- Franciscan, Volume 24, No.1