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Month: March 2021

Walter Hilton and the Kindling of Love

Published by Father Goodrich on
Walter Hilton as displayed in a monument at St. Peter's, Church, Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire, England.

Walter Hilton, 14th century Augustinian canon, writer, and spiritual director is one of the significant figures of the “Golden Age of English Mysticism.” Scholars and theologians debate this notion of a golden age.

They also debate the merits of the mystics associated with it: the anonymous author of the Cloud of Unknowing, Julian of Norwich, Hilton, Richard Rolle, and sometimes, Margery Kempe. Many of the other writers in this mystical fellowship readily refer to their own experiences of encountering God.

Hilton is reluctant to do so. His gift to his contemporaries and to us is his warm, wise, and well-organized counsel. Hilton addresses a depth and breadth of issues related to the spiritual life in a way that remains helpful today. His feast day in the Church of England is March 24. 

Walter Hilton: Life and Writings

Hilton was born around 1340, probably in Hilton, Huntingdonshire, England. We know little of his family or his early life. He would have had to receive some rudimentary education to account for his admission to Cambridge.

There he studied canon law. At some point Hilton became dissatisfied with the practice of canon law and became a hermit. He wrote about his decision to a friend,

“They believe that if you dismiss the study and practice of law from your mind, cast off honors, degrees and choose poverty and humility for Christ’s sake, that you are infatuated and insane.”

– A letter written to Adam Horsley

Despite the views of others, Hilton left the practice of law to devote himself fully to God. He gave particular attention to the practice of prayer and providing spiritual guidance to others. Hilton eventually joined the Augustinian priory in Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire.

As an Augustinian canon, Hilton lived like a monk. The canons prayed the liturgy of the hours together. They also ministered to the people in their village and region. In his years at the priory he wrote many works.

This included his two most influential works: The Scale of Perfection and The Mixed Life. Hilton died on the eve of the Annunciation, March 24, 1396. His writings became popular with a wide range of readers.

Readers who read Hilton included women, men, clergy, and monastics, as well as single and married persons with work and family responsibilities. Father Martin Thorton, one of the great ascetical  theologians of the last century, wrote:

“Walter Hilton, is the centre of English ascetical theology, and remains, our prime source of teaching on spiritual direction.”

– English Spirituality

Ascetical theology is the branch of theology that studies the spiritual life, its purposes, practices, and pitfalls.  

Spiritual Practices and Teaching

Spiritual direction is an ancient Christian practice. A spiritual director accompanies and guides another Christian toward deeper growth in their life of prayer and in their relationship with God.

Until recent decades, spiritual direction was a practice of certain monks, nuns, and priests. Today spiritual direction is practiced by Christians from many denominations, with many directors being lay persons.

In Hilton’s time spiritual direction could happen in person or in writing. Hilton wrote his major works, The Scale of Perfection and The Mixed Life to specific individuals.

In the first case, a contemplative nun, and in the second case, a worldly lord. As mentioned, Hilton’s wise counsel captured a wisdom that was found to be useful by many readers in his time and after.

Hilton writes:

“Nobody is suddenly made perfect in grace, but through long exercise and skilled working a soul may come to it, especially when a wretched soul is taught and helped by him in whom lies all grace. For no soul can come to it without special help and inward teaching from him” (Christ).

–The Scale of Perfection

Hilton affirms that the basic posture of the Christian spiritual life is not striving but receiving. Any progress we make in the spiritual life, whether in loving God or in loving others, rests on the foundation of God’s grace.

Grace meaning God’s special help or assistance. Christian growth must never be thought of as a self-help spirituality, but a grace-based spirituality dependent on the Holy Spirit’s power.

Starting with our Character

With grace as our foundation we may then cooperate with God in growing into the most Christ-like versions of ourselves. Hilton, like other mystical writers, stresses the importance of character formation in the early stages of the spiritual life.

Before we try to reach the heights of closeness to God in prayer, we would do well to ask ourselves, “Would people describe me as a humble person?” “How can I grow in humility?” “ or “What vices are present in my life that are obstacles toward love of myself, others, and God?”

Sometimes the promise of mystical encounter, miracle, or other extraordinary phenomena capture our attention. Hilton, along with other spiritual writers, tell us the primary yardstick of spiritual and human growth is not extraordinary experiences, but ongoing love toward God and neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).

Hilton compares our love for God and others to a flame within the heart of our being. This flame needs nurture or it will diminish. Hilton phrases it like this:

“The more sticks are laid on a fire, the greater is the flame, and so the more varied the spiritual work that anyone has in mind for keeping his desire whole, the more powerful and ardent shall be his desire for God.”

– The Scale of Perfection

When we fail to regularly put kindling on the fire of our faith we should not be surprised when we feel far from God or when we receive little joy from our faith.

Yes, there are dark valleys in our lives where despite our faithfulness in tending our spiritual flame we experience spiritual despair. Ordinarily, thankfully, if we tend to the fire our faith, we will feel its warmth and consolation.

Walter Hilton and Christians Today

Mother Julia Gatta, theologian, spiritual director, and author writes:

“In the late fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, there was in England no more highly esteemed devotional writer than Walter Hilton.”   

– The Pastoral Art of the English Mystics

Hilton understands growth in the spiritual life is not a purely subjective matter. Spirituality is not a matter of individual taste alone. Hilton understands growth in Christ has been characterized by certain practices, stages, and challenges over the centuries.

While each Christian’s journey has its own peculiarities, the journey toward deeper union with God has a general pattern that most of us will find useful to refer to and learn from. This approach contributed to his popularity in the past and his usefulness as a spiritual guide in the present.

Hilton’s spiritual counsel is full of Biblical references and allusions. It is a joyful spirituality encouraging readers to go further and further in their pursuit of knowing God in Christ through the power of the Spirit. Hilton writes:

“And even though you experience him in devotion and in knowledge, do not content yourself in that as though you have fully found Jesus. For know this for certain: that whatever you might experience of him, no matter how much – yes, even if you were to be ravished into the third heaven with Paul (2 Corinthians 12) yet you would not yet have found Jesus as he is in his fullness of joy.”

– The Mixed Life

For Hilton, the spiritual life is about love and joy as found in Jesus Christ.

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Choosing a Religion: 4 Starting Points

Published by Father Goodrich on
A desert landscape under a nigh sky. Nature often inspires people in their quest of choosing a religion.

In seekers and skeptics posts, I write specifically for those outside of the Christian faith. I know some will be considering the faith, some will be exploring spiritually, and some will come to any consideration of Christian claims with considerable suspicion.  If this describes you at all, I’m glad you’re here. Welcome!

Choosing a Religion. For most of human history the question of being religious was not a question. And most people didn’t choose a religion, they were born into a religion. To be religious was to be human and to be human was to be religious.

Today many perceive religion as an obstacle to human flourishing and development. Despite a vocal minority, the  majority of billions of human beings still find meaning, purpose, and answers to life’s most persistent questions in religion.

These humans may be rigorous in the practice of their religion. They may be casual in their practice of their religion, but they are religious to some degree. You probably encounter people who are religious on a regular basis.

Their religiosity may intrigue you. It may also be confusing , be off putting or raise lots of questions for you. Maybe you do not encounter people like this very often. Yet, you still feel a spiritual curiosity to learn more about religion.

4 Starting Points For Choosing a Religion

1. Know the Difference Between Denomination and Religion

It is important to understand what we are referring to when we use the world religion. Very often people mistakenly use the world religion to refer to a denomination or branch of a particular religion. For example, Catholics and Lutherans are not members of different religions.

They are members of different denominations of the Christian religion. Shiites and Sunnis are not members of different religions but are members of different branches of the Islamic religion. This is important to know when exploring or choosing a religion. The world’s religions are often composed of several branches or denominations.

When exploring a religion that interests you, say Buddhism for example. You want to learn about Buddhism in general, but you want to also learn about the different kinds of Buddhism. For example, Theravada and Mahayana.

Atheism and agnosticism are not religions, they are beliefs people have about certain religious claims. An atheist does not believe in God. An agnostic believes there is not enough evidence to prove or disapprove the existence of God.

Most atheists and agnostics, while not persuaded by the claims of religion, are not active in opposing religion. They simply choose not to include religion in their lives.  

2. Begin Your Search at Home

If you grew up or around a particular religion it might be worth starting your exploration there. People raised in a religion sometimes know little about it. They have collected bits and pieces of information and impressions about their religion but may not have every studied it seriously.

This often leads to misunderstandings about their religion. Beyond that most religions comes in many denominations and branches. Test your assumptions about what your religion is about or what it teaches by doing your homework, both on paper, and in connecting with people who practice your religion.

Some parents say, “We leave it to our child to choose a religion for themselves when they get older.” A problem that sometimes confronts people raised this way is that they have no point of reference for exploring religion as an adult.

If a child raised in one religion chooses another, their foundation gives them a point of comparison for understanding all religions. Atheist or agnostic parents could make sure their children receive some instruction in the religions of the world.

If you didn’t grow up with or around a religion, that’s ok. Start with a religion that shares some of your values as a starting point for your exploration.  

3. Use the Exemplar Principle

Since human beings practice religion, no religion is free of atrocities, scandals, or short comings. Atrocities, scandals, and short comings are not unique to religion. A principle to use when evaluating the merits of a particular religion or philosophy of life is what I call the exemplar principle.

Each of the major religions of the world have their exemplars. These include not only the founders of certain religions (e.g. Siddhartha Gautama ) but followers of a specific religion who are recognized as models worthy of admiration  (e.g. Mother Teresa). Research  several exemplars or role models of a religion and see if they inspire you to learn more.

The presence of one or more amazing human being in a religion does not excuse all the atrocities or scandals sometimes done in the name of that religion.

However, it does demonstrate that these failings were done not because of the teachings of the religion itself, but because followers of the religion disobeyed the teachings of their religion. For example, if a Buddhist leader (secular or sacred) was found to be cruel and malicious, this is clearly contrary to Buddhist teachings on compassion.

Also, many religions will have statements on record addressing their failings and the problem of human weakness, check these out as well.

4. Look Out for Hijacked Religion

Religion is like medicine. Just because there are bad examples of how medicine is practiced in the world does not mean we get rid of all medicine. Instead we look for better medicine, practiced well.

In the same way, just because religion is sometimes practiced in harmful ways does not mean we get rid of all religion. Instead, we look for better religion, practiced well. Throughout history there have been individuals and groups who have used religion not for its intended purpose, but their own purposes.

This still happens today. Religious individuals or groups that make unreasonable demands on your time, finances, and freedom of thought should be approached carefully and potentially, avoided all together.

Along the same lines, if you run into groups that isolate themselves from other members of their religion, groups that have no accountability beyond themselves, you should proceed very carefully.

There are noble and venerable religious traditions that as a matter of religious faith withdraw from society, such as monasteries in Buddhism and Christianity. But these monasteries still have connections to the public and to other religious communities.

Religious leaders that demand or suggest you perform violent or other immoral acts should be abandoned immediately and when appropriate reported to the authorities.

Choosing a Religion: The Adventure of the Human Spirit

Dr. Houston Smith, the late author, philosopher and scholar, wrote:

“Religion alive confronts the individual with the most momentous option life can present. It calls the soul to the highest adventure it can undertake, a proposed journey across jungles, peaks, and deserts of the human spirit. The call is to confront reality, to master the self. Those who dare to hear and follow that secret call soon learn the dangers and difficulties of its lonely journey…What then can rival its power to inspire life’s deepest creative centers?”

– The World Religions  

Religion, like any human endeavor, has its faults and failures, but religion at its best taps into an expansive understanding of the human spirit.

While many human beings in their search for meaning begin with the idea of choosing a religion, they often claim in the end, their religion choose them. May your explorations of religion bring you to the heights of beauty, truth, and goodness.

[Feel free to ignore this, but I invite you to explore Christianity, maybe for the first time or the first time seriously in a long time. Click here.]

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