Mystical Classic
Olivier Clement is a french Orthodox theologian linked to the famous St. Sergius Orthodox Institute in Paris. My parish priest recommended I read this book, which I was reluctant to do at first, because the topic of 'mysticism' holds no interest for me. But I had read some other things by Clement and really appreciated his ability to combine depth and clarity in another book, You Art Peter.
Long story short, this is a brilliant work. Every line is so pregnant with thought that I find myself reading each chapter two or three times before moving on to the next. Very few book are like that. You can't rush through. You have to read it devotionally: lectio divina.
The book intertwines Clement's commentary with passages from the Fathers. Together, it reads seamlessly. Moreover, you can tell that, as he writes, he is deeply aware of recent continental philosophy, and is trying to illuminate those concepts with a more Christocentric spiritual vision. But he does it in such a way, that even if you aren't aware of the subtext, you can still easily understand what he is writing about.
On a more spiritual level, this books was like refreshing water to my thirsty soul. Mysticism here simply means the life of the Holy Spirit transforming us to become the image of Christ. It isn't about floating in mid-air and hearing eerie voices. Its about living in the midst of God's love, but not in a faddish new-agey kind of way. This book is born out of , and solidly rooted in, the spiritual experiences of generations of Christians. There's nothing to fear here, and everything to learn.
