The Christology of the Mystics

Abstract

THE CHRISTOLOGY of the Catholic mystics through the ages has been notoriously neglected as a source of doctrinal tradition by the many authors who have recently focused attention on Christology. Modern New Testament scholarship has dominated the historical background. The contemporary concerns for humanity itself have made anthropology a central theme, so that the humanity of Jesus has been chiefly explored. The social context of the theologies of liberation has provided new points of view in regard to the functions and the mission of Jesus, which now tends to be seen more as liberation than as reconciliation. Even the problems of theological language, brought to light by the linguistic researches of Wittgenstein, have contributed new accents to Christology. But rare seems to be the author who regards the witness of the mystics as a valid and valuable source for the exploration of Christ as the center of a permanently contemporary experience. Indeed, the thesis of Dietrich Ritschl, that the proper context for theological reflection should be the contemporary experience of Christus praesensf has found little echo. 2