The Evangelical Universalist Forum

Books of Gerard W. Hughes

Studies Books
#1

Hi All,

I’d like to know if any of you have read any of Gerry Hughes’ stuff? He is a Jesuit priest who practices a Catholicism of love and humanity that I have rarely (if ever) encountered.

I have read about half a dozen of his books and have particularly liked ‘The God of Surprises’ and ’ ‘God in All Things’. The books are often based around the spiritual exercises of Ignatious of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuit order). The end of each chapter generally has suggested exrecises (which don’t appeal to me so I don’t do them). However, it’s the general flow of the writing and the subjects covered that make me like him so much. He doesn’t expressly make Universalist statements but I have read enough of his work to feel he strongly leans in that direction.

If I have one criticism it’s that he tends to repeat a lot of material between books and that in the same book he will make some statements over and over. Having said that, these are minor quibbles. What really gets me hooked is the way he has been able to find a way to speak with compassion and sense from within the constraints of the Catholic church (which I know allows its theologians quite a deal of latitude in their explorations of God).

Would like to hear from anyone else familiar with him and his writing.

#2

Haven’t even heard of him myself. But I’m glad to hear about him! Thanks! :smiley:

#3

Hi Jeff -

Yes I’ve read ‘God of Surprises’ (but it was about fourteen years ago) – although I haven’t read his other books. I think it is possible - even for us Protestants - to find some wise and loving guidance within Catholic spirituality (and I believe/know John Wesley was open to Catholic Spirituality, and to the Greeks) - and I know Catholic spirituality is a rich and wide tradition (some of which I find less helpful and some even repellent).

Oh I think we can take it as read that Hughes was (is?) a hopeful Universalist, even if not a convinced one.
I do remember that Hughes had (has?) a deep and compassionate pastoral understanding of human nature - especially of those troubled by doubts, dryness and even despair (which suggests to me that he’d been to all of these places himself).

I also remember that the book is structured around a number of imaginative meditations based on the system of Ignatius of Loyola (although Hughes modifies this system in places - for example, by leaving out the meditations upon the torments of the damned). I well remember Hughes’s meditation on the Wedding at Cana – of being asked whether I picture Jesus as grim faced and stiff necked.

I know the book has been helpful to many. I would think that it is best read slowly and in a group setting (the sort of thing that Anglicans get up to in Lent) - and I would suggest that face to face rather than the internet would be the best setting for this. Could you find out if there would be any interest in such a group at your local Anglicans Church (the book is a widely known and respected classic within the Broad and Catholic wings of Anglicanism - and is popular with open Evangelicals’ and Post-Evangelicals/Recovering Fundamentalists.

All the best

Dick :slight_smile:

#4

Slight correction of nuance Jeff - although the imaginative exercises in ‘God of Surprises’ are based on Ignatius’ system, the only one that I remember Hughes’s saying is taken directly from Ignatius is the one on ‘The Two Standards’ (but I have read the Ignation exercises reflecting on ECT elsewhere, and they are very unpleasant). Hughes’s is/was a Jesuit - and it’s amazing how they have morphed from being the pretty fanatical shock troops of the Counter-Reformation to being very often a humane and outward looking Society of Jesus - much concerned with ‘liberal’ education methods and with social justice (and are often in trouble with the Vatican). The other Catholic writer I’ve derived help from is Julian of Norwich - she was, of course, an English Catholic since she lived before the Reformation - and she can be a wise and steadying influence on some.

I haven’t got ‘God of Surprises’ at the moment. However if you want to reflect on it with me later in the year - say the autumn - I’ll have an online chat with you and anyone else who wants to join in (have a lot to do at the moment though). The only thing I would say is that some of the exercises may bring up stuff that is so very personal and difficult (and actually quite hard to be truthful and honest about without long pause for reflection). So any reflections would have to be quite general and of an intellectual nature rather than an emotional one. Reading the book with a face to face group is by far the best way (reading it alone is still fine – but reflection in fellowship is best).

#5

Thanks for all of that - it’s good to talk with someone who has read Hughes’ stuff (I haven’t found many that have). It would be an interesting thing to do here perhaps.

#6

Will bear this in mind Jeff; I live in London and a lot goes on here, so it’s quite easy to find kindred spirits if you do the leg work (because it’s so densely populated and culturally diverse). I can see that it will be far more difficult in other parts of the UK. Any reflections on Hughes in the meantime – post them and I’ll have a look and reply if you are inviting replies.

#7

Jeff - I have remembered something about ‘God of Surprises’ that is worth sharing with you. It concerns the idea of reading scripture by placing yourself imaginatively and prayerfully within any Bible story - usually as a bystander. I think this was fairly new at the time when Ignatius formulated it. It had been done before but within Catholicism the focus had normally been on the events and story of Passion Week - the idea of ranging more widely was, as far as I know, novel.

I certainly really liked the meditation on how we imagine Jesus at the wedding feast - at the time I think I initially did imagine him as grim, straight backed, and serious rather than as warm, welcoming, and enjoying the conversation.

The meditation on the Two Standards - The Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan (‘and which banner do you march under?’) -I found more difficult to do. Although I remember chiming with Hughes’s idea of what the Banner of Christ means - I seem to remember that standing under the Banner had a lot about peacemaking and social justice - I found the metaphor from chivalry a bit remote (but Ignatius - the founder of the Jesuits - had been a soldier).

The meditation on the Cross I found most difficult. I was struggling with issues of Penal Substitution at the time - and rather stuck. As I remember it, funnily enough Hughes seems to work with a notion of Christ as substitute in this exercise - and for all of the intention to bring comfort, it didn’t work for me. In addition in this meditation he doesn’t just leave the scene to the reader’s imagination. He actually suggests a picture - Salvador Dali’s 'Crucifixion According to St John of the Cross '; I guess this painting is rooted in Spanish mysticism and therefore appropriate for a Jesuit. But I have never warmed to it - although there’s no accounting for taste - because it seems to have something of baroque kitsch about it. And Hughes’s suggestion of this image didn’t help me with the exercise.

My point? I think we have to use works of spiritual direction with discernment, to help us and not hinder us- knowing that we are all different. If Hughes had been with me for a chat I’m sure he’d have been able to accommodate my ‘stuckness’.

All the best

Dick

#8

Eureka Jeff -

We don’t have to do this together online - just tell me from time to time what you think of some of the exercises (those that you’ve found useful, those that you’ve found not so useful and why - as I have done above). There’s no need for detailed self disclosure to a still new and very virtual friend. The Evangelical tradition of giving a personal testimony will have shaped both of us - and sometimes the total openness in this form of communication is actually rather formulaic. I prefer some reserve; although communicating in a site where people do testify sometimes makes me unwittingly rather more open rather sooner than I’d like to be , but no matter).

Look forward to reading your thoughts.

All the best

Dick :slight_smile:

#9

Dick,

Just droppng in quickly to say - good idea - I share your reserve - mostly because every time in the past I’ve openly declared I’m back as a christian I immediately blow it! So I will participate as an agnostic and proceed with caution.

Jeff.

#10

Dick,

I recently gave away 2 of my Gerry Hughes books to a member of this site when he was visiting the UK (our very own Melchisedek); of the remaining books I can’t seem to see one going through the spiritual exercises (that’s not to say I’ve dug them all out from the backs of cupboards yet :wink: ). Do you recall offhand which title it was?

#11

Yes sure Jeff - the one that goes through the Spiritual Exercises (and has the status of a modern classic of pastoral spirituality) is 'God Of Surprises - so that’s the one everyone who knows of Hughes writings raves about.

Did Melchisedek find Hughes beneficial?

Have a look over at Original Sin - I’ve asked a question of everyone who joins in the thread - and would appreciate your feedback :slight_smile:

#12

Yes I think that was one of the ones I gave Melchi - I will get hold of it again.

Melchi seems to be enjoying Hughes’ writing What books are our members reading? Post updates freely! {g}

#13

O.K. Jeff - and I’ve now read Melichi’s appreciative comments about Hughes (but have not read the book on pilgrimage by him). I can see that you may not have completely got my comments about ‘self disclosure’, and ‘a book done best in a group’ etc at first. You may well have thought I’d gone raving bonkers because you weren’t aware that I was only referring to ‘God of Surprises’. :laughing:

P.S. The question on the Original Sin thread - the thread that you sort of instigated, and rightly so - concerns whether we need separate threads for different themes concerning this complex subject. I think this is a good idea. But please let me know what you think.

#14

Yes, I’m about 2/3 - 3/4 of the way through In Search of a Way. The other book I have from Jeff is God, Where are you? which I have not had the opportunity to begin yet. I have a rather large stack of books on my nightstand that are in a queue to be read…

#15

Ahh! That means God of Surprises is here but probably buried under a stack of other books somewhere :slight_smile: . Melchi I know what you mean about the book-laden nightstand (so much more concise than the British bedside cabinet/table).

#16

:wink: Now that I have a “real job”, I unfortunately can’t faff about all day reading books. I knew I should’ve become an academic… :laughing:

#17

Melchi - don’t mean to be overly sensitive but I feel the comment about academics who faff around reading all day may have been for my ears. Och - well I’m not an academic; I work in commnity education doing jobs on tower block estates getting classes started with long term unemplyed people; I also do reminiscence work with dementia patients. Some time ago I did work in academia for a decade - but a lot of my work was in student counselling.

The stuff I’ve been writing about here has mainly been to do with remembering what it was like when I was a student trying to shake off a fundamentalist mindset and get a true appreciation of other Christian traditions not based on false witness. The reason why I’ve got time to write and reflect at the moment is that I’m a carer - which takes up a lot of my time and makes it difficult for me to work when my full attention is required in caring. But caring also means that there is a lot of time when you have to be on call but you have time to do things like writing posts on threads as a diversion.

Well chums - if I irritate you, sorry about that. You win some and you lose some. I hope that sometimes I say some things of use to some people here. (I certainly don’t speak like an academic in the flesh - I don’t have much opportunity to communicate the ideas that this site gives me oppotunity to do).

I’ve responded to Jeff’s questions/concerns in my own way, as best I could (and I’m not perfect). I was going to revisit God of Surprises - but I really don’t have to.

So peace to you both

Dick :slight_smile:

#18

yeah i think “faffing around” might be a bit harsh, melchi!though i doubt you meant it that way…or hope not at least.
i would like to read these books but sadly have a million hobbies and so reading time is limited…and i rarely read non-fiction :blush:

#19

No, no. It was very tongue-in-cheek; I thought I was communicating that with my expressed wish to be able to do the very “faffing” I was poking fun at. No offense intended at all. :slight_smile:

#20

Hi Melchi - oops sorry about that. I’m not always over sensitive, but I sometimes am - and I was when I wrote that post (I think it was just around the time that I’d come clean about having had mental health problems on the Orginal Sin thread as an encouragement to the other depressive etc., and I was feeling a bit tired and emotional :wink: . Anyway - you’ll forgive me, as will Jeff (Hi Jeff :slight_smile:)

All the best

Dick :slight_smile: