Mystic Bonfires: Walter Hilton and the Development of Practical Spiritual Theology

For centuries, people have been drawn to the Christian mystics—women and men who have known God in powerful and experiential ways. Mystic Bonfires is for students, scholars, and practitioners of ministry, theology, and spiritual formation. It explores theology and theory and shares insights for practice and prayer. Readers will encounter classical concepts about the spiritual life and how to apply these concepts to their ministries in faithful and creative ways. Mystic Bonfires includes questions for students in academic and formation settings as well as project ideas for congregations. Mystic Bonfires explores the intersection of spiritual theology and practical theology. Walter Hilton, a 14th century English mystic and a contemporary of Julian of Norwich serves as a case study for the intersection of these fields called practical spiritual theology.

Kevin Goodrich, O.P., is a noted preacher, teacher, scholar, and author. Father Goodrich holds degrees in philosophy, divinity, counseling, and literature, as well as doctoral degrees in Christian Spirituality (DMin) and Practical Theology (PhD). He is an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and theologian with pastoral ministry experience in diverse settings. As a child, he had a dream that birthed a hunger to know God. Fr. Goodrich is a friar under life vows in the Anglican Order of Preachers (The Dominicans).