Letters of Ascent: Spiritual Direction in the Letters of Bernard of Clairvaux - Paperback

by Michael C. Voigts (Author)

Bernard of Clairvaux is best known by many today for his mystical approach to spirituality and his eloquent sermons on the Song of Songs. In his letters, however, a different Bernard emerges--one who had fled the world for the cloister yet possessed a soaring vision for the Church on earth. By examining select letters and placing them in the larger context of the people and the world around him, we discover a man who loved the Church--but who realized that the Church is comprised of individuals who did not share his ideals and agendas. In Letters of Ascent, we travel to medieval Europe and view society through the eyes of one of history's most passionate ecclesiastical reformers.

Author Biography

Michael Voigts is an Affiliate Professor at Asbury Theological Seminary in the School of Theology and Formation. He holds a PhD in Historical Theology (Brunel University) and a DMin in Spiritual Formation (Asbury Seminary). An ordained minister in The United Methodist Church, he serves as the Senior Pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Danville, KY.