Kabbalah is a mystical and esoteric system of Jewish thought and spirituality, which dates back to ancient times and has continued to evolve throughout history. It involves the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible and the quest for understanding the hidden meanings and secrets of the universe.In "The Cabala," Bernhard Pick explores the origins, history, and development of Kabbalah within Judaism. He also examines how Kabbalistic ideas and concepts have influenced Christian mysticism and esot...

This is a short monograph on the Kabbalah, written from a purely academic and somewhat critical point of view. Pick traces the origins and background of the Kabbalah to Jewish scholars of mediaeval Spain. He does not attribute any deeper roots to it historically, nor does he examine the roots of Jewish mysticism except for a brief mention of the Merkabah. If you are looking for an introduction to the subject written by an advocate of the Kabbalah, it might be better to start with some othe...

"The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew, and Thomas" is a collection of early Christian texts that did not make it into the canonical New Testament. These apocryphal acts provide additional stories and legends about the apostles and their missionary activities. The publication of the apocryphal Acts in Greek and Latin by Lipsius and Bonnet as well as Schmidt have opened a large, but very little cultivated field of ancient Christian literature. The oldest of these Acts are those w...

By Cabala we understand that system of religious philosophy, or more properly, of Jewish theosophy, which played so important a part in the theological and exegetical literature of both Jews and Christians ever since the Middle Ages.The Hebrew word Cabala (from Kibbel) properly denotes "reception," then "a doctrine received by oral tradition." The term is thus in itself nearly equivalent to "transmission, like the Latin traditio, in Hebrew masorah, for which last, indeed, the Talmu...

The Hebrew word Cabala (from Kibbel) properly denotes “reception,” then “a doctrine received by oral tradition.” The term is thus in itself nearly equivalent to “transmission, like the Latin traditio, in Hebrew masorah, for which last, indeed, the Talmud makes it interchangeable in the statement given in Pirke Abot I, 1: “Moses received (kibbel) the Law on Mount Sinai, and transmitted (umsarah) it to Joshua.” The difference, however, between the word “Cabala” and the cognate term masorah i...

This edition of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola comes complete with a Touch-or-Click Table of Contents, divided by each section.The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, (composed from 1522-1524) are a set of Christian meditations, prayers and mental exercises, divided into four thematic 'weeks' of variable length, designed to be carried out over a period of 28 to 30 days. They were composed with the intention of helping the retreatant to discern Jesus in his lif...

In "The Symbolism of Freemasonry," Albert Gallatin Mackey intricately explores the profound significance of Masonic symbols and their philosophical implications. Employing a meticulous blend of historical analysis and esoteric interpretation, Mackey delves into the rich tapestry of Masonic tradition, highlighting the interplay between its rituals, moral lessons, and the broader metaphysical concepts that underpin Freemasonry. Through his careful examination of symbols such as the square an...

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius come to life in this book by Louis Puhl. This smoothly and faithfully translated text of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius has been a favorite of Jesuits, spiritual directors, retreatants, and general readers for decades.

"The reader who has never met Augus-tine before ought to go first of all to the Confessions," reflected the Trappist monk and scholar Thomas Merton. "Augustine lived the theology that he wrote. . . . He experienced the reality of Christ living in his own soul."Saint Augustine, the celebrated theologian who served as Bishop of Hippo from a.d. 396 until his death in a.d. 430, is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in the Western world. Written in the form of a long...

Seven years have passed since this essay was written, and the pages have been lent to many friends and students of mystic lore and occult meanings. It is only at the earnest request of these kindly critics that I have consented to publish this volume. The contents are necessarily of a fragmentary character, and have been collected from an immense number of sources; the original matter has been intentionally reduced to the least possible quantity, so as to obtain space for the inclusion of ...

Pope Francis’s first papal letter, reflecting on the nature of belief and the need to renew our faith for a bright future of charity and love for all“Precisely because it is linked to love, the light of faith is concretely placed at the service of justice, law and peace. Faith is born of an encounter with God’s primordial love, wherein the meaning and goodness of our life become evident; our life is illumined to the extent that it enters into the space opened b...

In proceeding to the contemplation of the mysteries of knowledge, we shall adhere to the celebrated and venerable rule of tradition, commencing from the origin of the universe, setting forth those points of physical contemplation which are necessary to be premised, and removing whatever can be an obstacle on the way; so that the ear may be prepared for the reception of the tradition of the Gnosis, the ground being cleared of weeds and fitted for the planting of the vineyard; for there is a...