more good words about my book

"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."

• Raymond Gawronski (Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology, Berkeley, CA)

"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 Levering (Mundelein Seminary)

"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."

• Rodney Howsare (DeSales University)

"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."

• Justin M. Matro (Saint Vincent Seminary)

Please preorder Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr.

good words about my book

"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.

preorder heaven open

Now available for preorder: my new book Heaven Opens: The Trinitarian Mysticism of Adrienne von Speyr.

Adrienne von Speyr was one of the most important mystical theologians of the last century, heralded by figures like John Paul II and T.S. Eliot. However, her work has been eclipsed in many ways by her personal connection to Catholic theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. Heaven Opens provides one of the first comprehensive accounts of von Speyr's theology.

My book argues that the eternal, immanent relations of the Triune God ground the mystical theological vision of von Speyr. Rooted in this vision of divine love, von Speyr's work is an account of the opening of heaven, a revelation of the Trinity's interior life turned outward to the world, that links intimately to the sacraments, prayer, the church, and the ethical life of obedience. In von Speyr's mystical theology, God as Triune journeys to us in order to brings into the inner life of the Trinity. Here, von Speyr's work is for the first time given an independent hearing, expositing its content, features, and connections, and assessing its contribution to contemporary Catholic theology.

Please preorder Heaven Opens

evangelii gaudium - pope francis

Please read Pope Francis' new apostolic exhoratation Evangelii Gaudium. Here's the PDF.

"The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus" (EG 1).

welcome students fall 2013

Greetings and Salutations Students!

If you taking my THE 1000C or HON 1050C course, please click here.

If you are taking my THE 4990 course, please click here.

You're the cat's pajamas.

prayer of the heart

How I need you. How I love you. How I want you.

Oh, Jesus, love me. I need your presence, Lord. You are the source. You are the reason I come alive to be in the greatness of your love, in the greatness of your presence. Lord, there is life in your presence.

Never alone when you are here and you are here now.

subtract until it breaks

In design today, minimalism is central as made clear by the documentary Objectified by Gary Hustwit, but it can often be misunderstood as a sort of abstract expressionism or surrealism. The philosophy of minimalism is 'subtract till it breaks.' Subtract until it breaks means that the unnecessary is unnecessary until it becomes necessary. Design focuses on what is the thing I am trying to now and if it is not necessary now, it disappears. It becomes available immediately when I need as I need it. Then it disappears. Subtract until it breaks.

Now when we think about design in relation to theology, this is essential: subtract until it breaks. In my reasoning, thinking, and praying I must return to the core question: what is the theological job to be done at this moment now and then subtract until it breaks. Say no to the extra stuff--no more thrills and frills, smells and bells (necessary in worship but not in theology) that only serve theological ego development.

What is the job to be done? Closer alignment with Jesus Christ. Knowing him more fully. Following him more closely. Anything else is unnecessary, fluff, and baroque.

What is the job to be done? Subtract till it breaks.

wing chun tonight

I've been learning about Wing Chun, probably because I watched this wonderfully propaganda-laden Chinese movies Ip Man and Ip Man 2. In Wing Chun, you use the three triangles of your body to receive the attacks of your opponent and absorb the energy and give it back to them.

I have been thinking about how you deal with attacks against Christianity. Rather than this punching, daggers-striking immediately defense, all that must be done is that one returns back to the triangle of the Trinity. Retreat back into the triangle of the Trinity rather than attacking from, let's say, logical fallacies. Absorb the attack from within the Christian doctrine of God who is Trinity and from that strength develop from within it the proper response. This is the lesson of the Adversus haereses of Irenaeus.

From the strength of the christological revelation of the trinitarian God, let us draw our strength to answer every heresy.

lumen fidei - pope francis

Please read Pope Francis' new and first encyclical Lumen Fidei - The Light of Faith. You know that I will be reading it as a PDF.

"Unless you believe, you will not understand." (cf. Is 7:9)

god's compassion for our suffering

On March 9, 2013, I gave a powerful talk on God’s Compassion for Our Suffering during a conference on Three Things Talks at St. John’s University. I was so happy to speak about the compassion of our Father who reaches out to us through his Son and Holy Spirit.

In the course of the talk, I lead the audience through thinking about the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32).

Luke 15:11-32

The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother

11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.

25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31 Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’

∞