LETTERS: MYSTICISM HAS LONG TRADITION IN CATHOLICISM

To the editor:

I come from a different faith tradition than David Limbaugh. I would like to address the question of the connection of mysticism to Christianity. Limbaugh stated that mysticism is a Hindu idea with very little place in Christianity. After all, few Christians have a mystical experience. Christian mysticism has a long tradition in the Roman Catholic Church. Early mystics were monks now known as the Desert Fathers of Egypt. John of the Cross and Therese of Avila were well-known mystics in the Middle Ages.

Mysticism is still alive and well in the Catholic church today. The Rev. Basil Pennington leads retreats to learn Centering Prayer, a Christian version of meditation. Christians are taught to meditate on verses of the Bible. They may repeat a short phrase such as "Jesus loves me" to foster the meditative state. Mystics might describe their experience as basking in the warmth of the breath of God.

Not all Christians will seek God in this manner, but mysticism is a historical and valid Christian tradition.

SHIRLEY SEABAUGH

Cape Girardeau