Knowing God by Experience: The Spiritual Senses and the Knowledge of God in the Theology of William of Auxerre

271 Pages·2004·2.2 MB·English

by  Boyd Taylor Coolman

" KNOWING GOD BY EXPERIENCE

KNOWING GOD BY
EXPERIENCE
The Spiritual Senses in the Theology
of William of Auxerre
BOYD TAYLOR COOLMAN
The Catholic University ofAmerica Press
Washington,D.C.
Copyright © 
The Catholic University ofAmerica Press
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum
requirements ofAmerican National Standards for Information
Science—Permanence ofPaper for Printed Library materials,
 .–.
∞
   -- 
Coolman,Boyd Taylor,–
Knowing God by experience :the spiritual senses in the theology
ofWilliam ofAuxerre / Boyd Taylor Coolman.— st ed.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
---(alk.paper)
.Guillermus,Altissiodorensis,d..Summa aurea.
.God—Knowableness—History ofdoctrines—Middle Ages,
–. .Experience (Religion)—History ofdoctrines—
Middle Ages,–. .Senses and sensation—Religious
aspects—Christianity—History ofdoctrines—Middle Ages,
–. I.Title.
.C
´.´—dc

" ForAnna,who arrived to see this project begun.
In memory of Velma and Florence,who departed
too soon to see it completed.
ForNancy,who first taught me to taste and see
that the Lord is good.

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xi
 Introduction 
     

 A Synaesthetic Beatific Vision 
      
 The Manifold Effects ofthe Metaphysical Good 
 The Trinity as Manifold Delectable 
 Creation:The Manifestation ofthe Delectabilia Divina 
      
 Faith:Knowledge ofGod in a Visual Mode 
 Charity:Love ofGod in a Tactile Mode 
      
 Symbolic Theology:Exterior Perception ofGod’s Effects 
 Mystical Theology:Interior Perception ofGod’s Effects 
 Taste and See:The Spiritual Senses and the Eucharist 
Conclusion.Spiritual Apprehension:The Spiritual
Senses and the Knowledge ofGod 
Bibliography 
Index 
:
vii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
;
   as my doctoral dissertation at the
University ofNotre Dame.It is a pleasure to acknowledge the assistance,
support,and encouragement without which it would not have been pos-
sible.I would like to thank the faculty of the Department of Theology
for their high standards,collegiality,and,in many cases,their friendship.
In particular,I would like to thank Brian Daley and Larry Cunningham
for their careful reading;Rabbi Michael Signer for his good will and af-
fection;Father Thomas O’Meara for his wisdom and guidance;and es-
pecially my dissertation advisor,Joseph Wawrykow,for his patient direc-
tion,keen sensibilities,and constant support.I am also grateful to Steven
P.Marrone,of Tufts University,for his thoughtful review of the manu-
script,and to Ellen Coughlin,copy editor for the Catholic University of
America Press,for her careful editorial eye and for her patience.Finally,I
wish to convey my appreciation to Holly Taylor Coolman,who read the
manuscript too many times,but always with care.Whatever defects re-
main are my own doing.
:
ix