University of York

The Thomistic Institute at the University of York presents a lecture by Dr. Rik Van Nieuwenhove of Durham University titled “An Ebbing, Flowing Sea: The Trinitarian Mystical Theology of Jan van Ruusbroec.”

King's Manor, K/G84 | Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York

Monday, March 9

5:30 PM

This lecture is free and open to the public.

About the lecture: The blessed Jan van Ruusbroec (d. 1381) was a medieval Flemish mystical theologian who exerted a significant influence upon English and Spanish mystics of the late sixteenth century and French spiritual writers of the seventeenth century. Ruusbroec's highly attractive theology of the Trinity must rank as one of the most dynamic in Christian theology. He beautifully describes the Trinity as a pulsating mystery, "a flowing, ebbing sea," in which the Son and the Holy Spirit continually "go out" and "return." The spiritual and systematic theological significance of Ruusbroec's vision will be explored in this seminar.

About the speaker: Rik Van Nieuwenhove lectures in Medieval Thought at Durham University, UK. He has published scholarly articles on medieval theology and spirituality, theology of the Trinity, and soteriology. His books include: Introduction to Medieval Theology (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012); Jan van Ruusbroec. Mystical Theologian of the Trinity (IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2003); Introduction to the Trinity (with D. Marmion) (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011); and he is editor of The Theology of Thomas Aquinas (with J. Wawrykow) (IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2005); and Late Medieval Mysticism of the Low Countries (with R. Faesen & H. Rolfson) (NJ: Paulist Press, 2008). Presently he is researching the topic of contemplation in Thomas Aquinas.