Now live! Please listen to my interview on my research of Adrienne Von Speyr, a Christian mystic and doctor, by the great James Ellis, host of the popular philosophy podcast, Hermitix. We discuss my book Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr alongside discussion on the Trinity, obedience, Ignatius of Loyola, Hans Urs von Balthasar and more.
Listen to the interview here or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr, my book is available.
“Sutton’s deep penetration into Adrienne’s mystical gifts offers an excellent introduction to her unique vision and also helps hit the ‘reveal codes’ button for von Balthasar’s theology.” - Rev. Raymond Gawronski, S.J.
I don’t write here to sell books, but do share what I create in my writing and teaching. My newest book captures the foundation of my theological and spiritual work as I develop the profound mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr. You can find out more about it here.
If you’ve read my book, would you please considering sharing it with others by reviewing it in journals or online?
“In this significant monograph, Sutton brings expositional clarity and conceptual rigor to the extensive textual legacy of Adrienne von Speyr. It is a real accomplishment.” Dr. Paul Nimmo
All your help sharing my book gives me support to work on the next book, which will be available soon. I can’t wait to share this new one with you.
“This book has the potential to do for Adrienne von Speyr’s theology what Father Edward Oakes’ Pattern of Redemption did for Hans Urs von Balthasar’s in the mid-1990s, in this case by accessibly introducing Adrienne to a generation of students and scholars.” Dr. Matthew Levering
Please read and share my book. You can find it in print and as an ebook. Thank you for caring to share these ideas.
The kind, Cyrus Olsen of the University of Scranton, reviews my book, Heaven Opens:
"The central thesis of the book is that the fulfilled mission of the Son opens heaven “to the Trinity and reveals the original image of the eternal, immanent relations of triune love”. Given that the bulk of von Speyr’s work is untranslated, Sutton’s study of the German and French renders a great service to the church and the academy in English-speaking contexts. ... Von Speyr needs an apologist capable of accounting for her analogical imagination if her trinitarian theology is to be taken more seriously today. ... Sutton may be poised to deliver an account."
Review PDF here. Citation: Cyrus P. Olsen, III (2014). Horizons, 41, pp 401-402 doi:10.1017/hor.2014.66
Excerpt of a review of my book Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr:
"In this ground-breaking book we are treated to an inside look at the thought of the Catholic convert and mystic, Adrienne von Speyr. What is it that makes Christian mysticism "Christian?" Dr. Sutton ably shows that for von Speyr mysticism meant following the Son and led by the Spirit into the Inner Life and Love of God--the Holy Trinity. The first part of the book includes a summary of the Christian narrative of Redemption History from the standpoint of mystical vision--which is worth the price of the book alone. Subsequent chapters look at how the Mission and Obedience of the Son and the Holy Spirit is our paradigm to entering the Triune Life. The last chapters show Trinitarian origins of the Sacraments and Prayer--how the Sacraments and Prayer are the living out of the Holy Trinity! A great introduction into the works of von Speyr and by association to the works of Hans urs von Balthasar."
You can find my book on amazon
My new book Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr is available today.
It's available as a Paperback from Fortress Press and Amazon and also available as a Kindle or iBooks.
However you choose to read it, please write a review to let others know what you think. Please let me know too.
May Adrienne pray for us.
"Hans Urs von Balthasar is increasingly acknowledged as one of the greatest theologians of the Christian tradition. Unquestionably, he was master of Western civilization as few have ever been and brought all into the key of Christ. His spiritual mentor in this vast undertaking was Adrienne von Speyr, whose work von Balthasar held to be more important than his own. Karl Rahner famously observed that the Christian of the twenty-first century would be a mystic-or not be at all. Adrienne von Speyr models this for us: she was gifted with a 'cataract of mystical graces.' Matthew Lewis Sutton's deep penetration into her mystical gifts offers an excellent introduction to her unique vision and also helps hit the 'reveal codes' button for von Balthasar's theology."
"This book has the potential to do for Adrienne von Speyr's theology what Father Edward Oakes's Pattern of Redemption did for Hans Urs von Balthasar's in the mid-1990s, in this case by accessibly introducing Adrienne to a generation of students and scholars. Focusing on the center of her thought-the opening of heaven through Christ's obedience so that we can share even now in the relationships that characterize the life of the divine Trinity, in light of her own experience of mystical penetration into the Father's sending of the Son and Spirit-Matthew Lewis Sutton ably presents Adrienne's teaching on the full panoply of theological topics. The convergence of her theology with von Balthasar's is striking."
"Matthew Lewis Sutton's thorough, unpretentious, and lucid introduction to the person and work of Adrienne von Speyr is now the standard guide in English. Indeed, I suspect it will remain the standard for many years to come. If you're looking for an excellent introduction to Adrienne von Speyr, look no further."
"Matthew Lewis Sutton's explication of Adrienne von Speyr's insight into Christian spirituality untangles the style of the mystical writer, giving the reader access into the deep vision of this contemporary woman, which is too often dismissed as simplistic due to her uncomplicated language by some and as impenetrable due to her circular manner of her writing by others. Sutton's work uncovers wealth within subtlety and gives access to a truly inspired writer for sincere seekers of God's presence in the world. It is a must-read for those who have approached von Speyr but found her difficult to follow."
Please preorder Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr.
"In this significant monograph, Matthew Lewis Sutton brings expositional clarity and conceptual rigour to the extensive textual legacy of Adrienne von Speyr. It is a real accomplishment that this is achieved without any unnecessary sacrifice of the vibrancy and immediacy of her Trinitarian mystical theology. But perhaps the greatest achievement of this volume is to demonstrate that von Speyr's contemplative work is worthy of attention and study, not simply as an adjunct of the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar, but in its own impressive right."
— Paul T. Nimmo University of Aberdeen
Please preorder Heaven Opens.
