The Spiritual Uses of Pain in Spanish Mysticism
Publication Type |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication |
1996 |
Author |
|
Journal |
Journal of the American Academy of Religion |
Volume |
64 |
Number |
2 |
Pages |
257-278 |
Language |
English |
Publish Dates |
January |
Keywords |
affliction (malheur) |
Annotation |
Medieval Christian notions of the mortal and immortal soul and their relation to the physical body are presented, followed by a discussion of their role in the mystical experience of the divine. Of particular importance is the role of pain in this experience. Simone Weil’s understanding of pain in relation to the senses and human consciousness is offered as a way of explaining the proposed efficacy of physical pain as a path to the experience of the divine within the Spanish mystical tradition. |