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One week until our next series of webinars begins. Hosted by @churchtimes.bsky.social and @sarumcollege.bsky.social, we look at five English mystics from the 14th-20th centuries, and each webinar is led by an expert on the figure/text. Tickets still on sale here: www.sarum.ac.uk/short-course...

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In the final session we will consider some of the ways the Song has been depicted in art, music and fiction, and how it might continue to be utilised and represented today. /11 [end]

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The Ven. Dr Rachel Mann @revrachelmann.bsky.social will introduce us to trans readings of the Song, drawing particularly on her own experiences both within the Church and as a poet. /10

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Rev Lyndon Webb will lead a session on queer eco theology and the Song, asking what spiritualities might emerge if we base our theology of creation on the notion of wildness rather than the binary of order and chaos. /9

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Dr Beth Dodd will focus on poetic interpretations of the Song. In particular, Beth will consider medieval Ethiopia and the Kebra Nagast and then focus on more recent work including Nikki Giovanni and the Black arts movement. /8

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Professor Miri Rubin will lead two sessions based on her current research on the history of Jewish and Christian interpretations of the line ‘I am black and beautiful’ or ‘I am black but beautiful’ (Song 1:5). /7

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I will lead two sessions on the Song of Song’s reception. I will begin with an overview of some of the major medieval commentators and then focus on medieval and early modern women as interpreters and exegetes of the Song, focusing on Hildegard of Bingen, Teresa of Avila and Madame Guyon. /6

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Dr Danilo Verde will follow this by focusing on the Song as love poetry, considered the role of gender in the text. He will then lead a session on war and martial imagery in the Song, based on his book, Conquered Conquerors: Love and War in the Song of Songs. /5

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Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris will lead a session on Jewish approaches to the Song, considering its representation and presentation of sexuality within the context of the Hebrew Bible. /4

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Dr Jayme Reaves will introduce the Song, exploring its content within the context of the Hebrew Bible canon, including drawing on biblical parallels. We will also explore some of its early reception and set up key questions for the week. /3

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The course explores one of the most remarkable scriptural texts from a range of angles: in Hebrew Bible scholarship, the history of its interpretation, and its continued use today. The module is taught for the MA in Christian Spirituality but is open to external attendees too. /2

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Why is the Song of Songs part of the Hebrew Bible? How has it impacted its readers throughout history? And how might it be read and used today? Join us from 18th to 21st May at @sarumcollege.bsky.social to explore with a fantastic team of speakers. Booking here: www.sarum.ac.uk/short-course... /1

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"Mystagogy" is a particularly interesting answer.

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... and editions of texts by figures like Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure and Richard Rolle. Attendees will also have access to a tour of Salisbury Cathedral and the chance to look at Sarum College’s editions of the Saint John’s Bible. /11 [END]

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Following on from my session on the bible and medieval spirituality, Anne Dutton will introduce us to several medieval manuscripts of @salisburycathedral.bsky.social's library collection. This includes medieval bibles, bible commentaries and psalters, ... /10

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Liz will then teach a session on enclosure and particular anchoritic spirituality, considering figures such as Julian of Norwich and the Winchester anchoress as well as the famous guide for anchoresses, the Ancrene Wisse, and how this lifestyle fostered particular expressions of spirituality. /9

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Liz Herbert McAvoy will lead one session on gender and spirituality, considering the feminisation of spirituality in light of such movements as the Cult of the Virgin and affective devotion. /8

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Becky Field will introduce some of the English mystics before focusing in on the 14th-century classic text, The Cloud of Unknowing. In particular, Rebecca will examine the relationship between spiritual pedagogy and language, considering kataphatic and apophatic linguistic devices. /7

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@medievalmystics.bsky.social will teach two sessions, examining the Lives (vitae) of saints and medieval rules and customaries. In particular, Amanda will consider how these different sources paint different pictures of key figures and their movements. /6

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Later in the week, I will examine what lay Christianity looked like in the Middle Ages and how we can attempt to access what this looked like. I'll also lead sessions on key spiritual practices, such as pilgrimage, and the multifaceted ways the Bible was used in spiritual practices. /5

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I will introduce some of the major developments across the Middle Ages and how this impacted how spirituality was written about, lived out, and practised. I'll then outline some of the main scholarly approaches as well as genres of texts and how we access medieval texts. /4

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This module looks at a range of expressions and themes that are important in our study of how Christian spirituality was lived out, practised, and taught in the period between 500 and 1500. We will also consider how we study Christian spirituality in this period. /3

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Themes in Medieval Christian Spirituality (2026) - Sarum College

Our module on “Themes in Medieval Christian Spirituality” is open to external attendees. You can stay in on site at Sarum College in the beautiful Salisbury Cathedral Close. Booking here: www.sarum.ac.uk/short-course... /2

sarum.ac.uk

Intensive course on key themes during the medieval period when the flourishing of Christian Spirituality was at its height.

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Michael Hahn @mshahn.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

How did Christian spirituality come to flourish in the Middle Ages, and how can we access the lives and experiences of people as they practised their faith in that period? Join us at @sarumcollege.bsky.social from 20th-23rd April to explore these questions with a fantastic team of lecturers. /1

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Thanks, Scott. You might be interested in our webinar series on five English mystics next Spring. Julian was included in a similar series we did last Spring so we didn't include her in this one buy she'll be mentioned in a few.

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Michael Hahn @mshahn.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

"To be cancelled in our place" -- what a bizarre reading of the Incarnation

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Michael Hahn @mshahn.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

before considering how the Nativity is presented in Bonaventure's wider theological corpus and how it engages with his understanding of satisfaction and the role of Mary as mediator. /3 [end]

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Michael Hahn @mshahn.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

The article looks at the various changes made from the 1220s to the 1260s to the hagiographic presentation of Francis of Assisi's recreation of the Nativity at Greccio in 1223 finishing with Bonaventure's "Major Legend" of Francis /2

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Michael Hahn @mshahn.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Very pleased to have had published -- in time for Christmas! -- my article on "Mariology, Mysticism and the Manger: the Christmas Crib in Bonaventure’s Theology" in the journal Archivum Franciscanum Historicum. /1

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Each session will involve an introductory lecture by our speakers and then a 30-minute Q&A session. Attendees will also have access to a list of books from the Church House book shop related to our five mystics with discounts available on the books. /4 [end]

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The webinars will each take place via Zoom from 7:30-9 PM (UK time) one Monday evening at the end of each month from January to May 2026. More information and booking for the whole series can be found here: www.sarum.ac.uk/short.../eng..., and individual webinars can be booked via that page too. /3

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As well as three of the five classic "English mystics" of the 14th century (Margery Kempe, Richard Rolle, and the Cloud-author), we will also look at William Blake and Evelyn Underhill. Our fantastic team of speakers includes Hetta Howes, Tim Glover, Becky Field, Mark Vernon, and Jane Shaw. /2

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Joel Mayward @jmayward.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Delighted to announce our Spring 2026 webinar series, hosted jointly by @sarumcollege.bsky.social and the @churchtimes.bsky.social will focus on the English mystics. /1

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Reposted by Michael Hahn

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The event is hosted at Sarum College and will be accessible via Zoom. Please do let me know (mhahn@sarum.ac.uk) if you would like to attend through either means, and I can make the Zoom link available.

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Next Thursday at Sarum College, we are hosting a postgraduate seminar on the theme of "Spirituality and Human Flourishing." Alongside a keynote paper from James Woodward (@woodwardjames.bsky.social) we have three great student papers.

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The talk will be translated live into Spanish, French, Portuguese, Hindi, Tamil, and Italian, and the posters and information in those languages (including the respective time zones) are copied below.

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The talk will look to connect the view of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew that the deification of all creation is at the heart of his approach to the climate crisis to the Franciscan notion of the fraternity and sorority of all creation looking at Bonaventure and Angela among others.

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