Tuesday, September 14, 2021

"the twofold perfection which is required of the student of [the science of mystical theology]"

     "The sort of people to whom this kind of teaching ['which is entitled Mystical Theology'] is meant to be addressed is alluded to in the word 'Israel,' which means 'very straight' and 'a man who sees God.'  This reveals the twofold perfection which is required of the student of this science:  clarity of understanding in order to see God and right behavior in practice, which is how we come to such clarity or sharpness of understanding [(limpiditas ad videndum Deum, et rectitudo operis, per quam ad dictam limpiditatem vel acumen devenitur)]."

     St. Albert the Great, Commentary on Dionysius' Mystical theology, chap. 1 (Albert & Thomas:  selected writings, translated, edited, and introduced by Simon Tugwell, O.P. (New York, NY, and Mahwah, NJ:  Paulist Press, 1988), 135).  I was put onto this by Fr. Bernhard Blankenhorn, O.P., who quotes it at the beginning of his lecture "Albertus Magnus on contemplative ascent to God," Renewing Mystical Theology: The Link Between Theological Doctrine and Spiritual Practice in Medieval Spiritualities, Thomistic Institute, Angelicum, Rome, 26 February 2021.  Fr. Blankenhorn's concluding comments are eminently quote-worthy as well.  Latin from p. 812 of vol. 14 of the Borgnet edition of 1892, i.e not vol. 37.2 of the Editio Coloniensis.

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