Notes and Reflections for a talk on Franciscan Mysticism by Maury Smith, ofm                                                                           1 a Preface.doc

 

 

PREFACE:

 

 

May I say at the beginning: I am terrible at proof reading.  If you notice any mistakes and I am sure you will,

please email me the correction: [email protected] 

Please list the mistake and the correction, then I can do a search and find the item.  THANK YOU>

 

Also I have adopted this peculiar practice of putting my reflections in green type and putting the resources that I quote in black type.

I do this to be clear about what are my reflections and what is the work of the esteemed scholar that I am using.

I wanted to avoid any confusion about that so that the scholars are not blamed for something I may write.

 

I never read a talk but I do prepare carefully. I usually talk from an outline or more frequently a text with certain texts highlighted.

 Much of the material presented here is simply the research I did in order to be able to give the talk. 

With word processing I have gotten in the habit that when I want to study an article or chapter I scan it into my computer and then outline the article. 

I also like to have my references handy.  So I place them to the right and use a small size font.

 

I want to thank Edward Alcott for inviting me to participate in this outstanding three year program on Christian Mysticism.

And the committee helping.  The people on the committee who have helped me are Bill Daly, Rose Marden and Homer Bain.

See the web page for details of the program. http://www.christianmysticismsa.org/index.html

 

I am grateful to the Franciscan scholars who helped me by answering my questions, and giving me bibliographies and materials:

Michael Blastic,   Edward Couglin,   Michael Cusato,   Wayne Hellman,   Timothy Johnson,  Robert Karris,   William Short

 

The librarians at Oblate School of Theology have been most gracious and helpful:

Carmen Rodríguez, Maria M. Garcia, Oscar Gutierrez  and Br. Tim Unser, OFM Conv.

 

Disappointments:

 

Due to time limitation I had to cut some areas that I would have liked to have covered. They are a developmental approach to the growth of a mystic,

relating current psychological research on altered states of consciousness and, biofeedback and effects of meditation. There is also the beginning of

research of the effect of praying on the person prayed for.

 

 

As with anyone who writes, I hope that this collection of materials and my reflections may be of help to some people as they continue their journey towards God and as they bravely explore their unique relationship to the world and God.

 

 

Return to Franciscan Mysticism page.