Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 – 1327/8) is one of the great Christian mystics. He was born near Erfurt in Thuringia and in his distinguished career became a Parisian Professor of Theology and took a leading pastoral and organisational role in the Dominican Order.
The Controversy
Despite Meister Eckhart’s distinction and popularity, indeed partly because of it, in the political and ecclesiastical turbulence of the fourteenth century, the Meister found himself accused of heresy. Some passages of his work were posthumously condemned as heretical or dangerous and a shadow was cast over his reputation. His works were influential in late medieval spirituality but later were almost forgotten. With the growing interest in Eckhart today, both inside and outside the Church, it needs to be made clear whether he is acceptable to the Church as a Christian theologian and spiritual master.
Since 1980 steps have been taken by the Dominican Order, supported by lay people and friends, to seek an official declaration from the Pope in order to acknowledge “the exemplary character of Eckhart’s activity and preaching and to recommend his writings (particularly the spiritual works, treatises and sermons) as an expression of authentic Christian mysticism and as trustworthy guides to the Christian life according to the spirit of the gospel”.
Man never desires anything so earnestly as God desires to bring a man to Himself, that he may know Him.
God is always ready, but we are very unready; God is near to us, but we are far from Him
Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest of all to us.
God is within, but we are without; God is at home, but we are strangers…
When you are thwarted, it is your own attitude that is out of order
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There exists only the present instant… a Now which always and without end is itself new. There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now, as it was a thousand years ago and as it will be a thousand years hence.
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.
God expects but one thing of you, and that is that you should come out of yourself in so far as you are a created being made and let God be God in you.
God is at home, it’s we who have gone out for a walk
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Do exactly what you would do if you felt most secure.
A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don’t know ourselves! Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox’s or bear’s, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there.
