The Dark Night of the Soul and St. John of the Cross

The two Spanish Carmelite saints, St Teresa of Avila (1515 – 1582) and St John of the Cross (1542 – 1591), as well as developing a mystical theology, also had a lively fascination with the mental health of both themselves and their religious communities. In this talk Professor Peter Tyler will explore their attitudes to mental health, which they talk of in terms of ‘melancholia’, and look at lessons we can draw from their work for mental wellbeing in the contemporary world.

About the speaker

Peter Tyler is Professor of Pastoral Theology and Spirituality at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London. He has written extensively on the subject of mental health and spirituality, most recently in his books: ‘Christian Mindfulness –Theology and Practice’ (SCM 2018) and ‘The Pursuit of the Soul – Psychoanalysis, Soul-making and the Christian Tradition’ (T & T Clark 2016). He is a registered psychotherapist (UKCP).

Image: Richard Dadd, Sketch to Illustrate the Passions - Grief or Sorrow,1854 (detail)

You can listen to the talk given by Peter Tyler here: