Self Surrender: Ten Ways to Suffer Well in Union with God and the Rhineland Mystics

Self-Surrender shows how a theology emerges out of the Rhineland-Flemish spirituality of Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, Henry Suso, the Frankfurt Priest, and John Ruusbroec that shines life-giving light on the mystery of suffering. From the books and sermons of these pastors, Bjorkman developed Ten Ways to Suffer Well in Union with God: surrender, pray, yield, imitate, co-suffer, participate, love, accept, empathize, and unite, which flesh out the meaning and significance of suffering in new and edifying ways. This book brings together a wealth of insights from history and theology, spirituality and mysticism to face the unavoidable problem of suffering. These teachings are culled from the writings of five Christians who lived along the Rhine in the 14th century. With the benefit of hindsight, one can see how these thinkers look backwards to Albert the Great (teacher of Thomas Aquinas) and forwards to Martin Luther. In ten meditations, ranging from psychology and prayer to approaching God without intermediaries, a journey through suffering, life and grace is sketched. Thomas F. O'Meara, O.P., Warren Professor of Theology Emeritus, University of Notre Dame (USA), author of 16 books including Thomas Aquinas, Theologian