I was born and reared in New Mexico,work mostly in and around Chicago, and enjoy time off in my second homeland,
Ireland.
A Dominican friar with a particular
interest in Meister Eckhart, I have written eight original non-fiction
books (and some fiction), edited three
anthologies, and authored a number of articles in spirituality,
philosophy, theology, sexuality, and Celtic studies.
I am now on the regular faculty at Dominican University, where I am the chair of the Department of Political Science, Theology and Pastoral Ministry, and an adjunct associate professor in the psychiatry department at Loyola University Medical School. I also sometimes lecture and tutor in theology and philosophy at Blackfriars Hall, the Dominican college at Oxford University.
EDUCATION:
Ph.D. , Loyola University Chicago 1978. Dissertation Topic: "The Social
Dimension of Mysticism: The Meaning and Structure of Religious Experience in the
Philosophy of William Ernest Hocking."
M.A. , Aquinas Institute of Theology 1970
M.A., Summa cum Laude, Aquinas Institute of Philosophy
1966
B.A. (Ph.L.), Aquinas Institute of Philosophy 1964
My undergraduate work was done at Loras College, 1961-62,
the University of New Mexico , 1960-61, and the Catholic University
of America (1959-60). My major was political science with
a double minor in English and Psychology.
GRADUATE and POST
GRADUATE WORK:
Intensive Training in Guided Imagery, Marquette University
Continuing Education (Minneapolis), Marriage/Family Therapist
CEU credit, May 3-5, 1985.
Internship, Sexual Dysfunction Clinic, Loyola University, Stritch
School of Medicine, April 10 -May 22, 1981
Religious Experience Research Unit under Sir Alister Hardy, Manchester
College, Oxford, England 1974 -1975
University of Minnesota, Summer l967, Journalism
De Paul University, Summer l965, Film Study
ORDAINED: May 24th, l969, Dubuque, Iowa. Member: Order of Preachers (Dominicans) since August, 1962.
AWARDS AND HONORS:
S.T.M. (Master of Sacred Theology,
awarded by the Order of Preachers,
Rome, 2000, conferred 28 April 2002)
Research Grant, Loyola University of Chicago, Autumn 1990
Endowed Chair in Philosophy and Theology, St. Thomas College,
St. Paul, Minnesota, 1984 -85
Research grant, Dominicans, Province of St. Albert the Great,
1974
"Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Man of the Year,"
Loyola National Blue Key Society, 1974
Graduate Assistantship, Loyola University, 1971 -1972
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
American Academy of Religion
Brehon Law Society (Honorary Trustee)
Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain
Catholic Theological Society of America
Center for Religion and Society (President, Board of Directors)
College Theology Society
Eckhart Society (Chairman, Board of Trustees)
Lumen Multimedia (Board of Directors)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Society for the Promotion of Eriugena Studies
Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality
LISTED (at one time or another):
American Catholic's Who's Who
Contemporary Authors
The International Authors
and Writers Who's Who
The International Directory
of Distinguished Leadership
Men of Achievement
Who's Who in the Midwest
Who's Who in Religion, 4th
ed. 1992-93.
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders
in America
The Writer's Directory,
1990-92.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Professor, Dept. of Theology, Dominican University, River Forest, IL, 2005-present
Associate Professor, Dept. of Theology, Dominican University, River Forest, IL, 2002-2005.
Visiting Professor, Dominican University,
River Forest, IL, 2000-2002
Visiting Scholar, Aquinas Center of Theology, Emory University,
Atlanta, Autumn 1999
Lecturer and Tutor, Blackfriars, Oxford, England, 1991-99
Associate Professor, Loyola University of Chicago, Institute of
Pastoral Studies, Aug. 1989 - 96
Endowed Chair in Philosophy and Theology, St. Thomas College,
St. Paul, MN, 1984 - 85
Lecturer, Theology Department, Loyola University, l981 to l986.
Adjunct Associate Professor, Loyola University Stritch School
of Medicine, Psychiatry Department, 1981 to present.
Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University of Chicago,
Institute of Pastoral Studies, 1978 - 1989.
Lecturer, Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University of
Chicago, 1970 -1978.
Visiting Professor, Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology,
Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA, 1977 -78.
Visiting Professor, Catechetical and Pastoral Institute, Loyola
University, New Orleans, LA, Summer, 1983, 1977.
Lecturer, Loyola University, Philosophy Department, 1971 -74.
NON-TEACHING PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Editorial Board, Presence: An
International Journal of Spiritual Direction, 1993 -97
Executive Editor, Spirituality Today, Jan. 1, 1986 -
June 30, 1990
Corresponding editor, New Blackfriars, Oxford, England,
1984-1992
Therapist, Sexual Dysfunction Clinic, Psychiatry Department, Loyola
Hospital, l981 to present (615 accumulated clinical hours of Continuing
Education Credit recognized by Illinois Academy of Family Physicians,
American Medical Association (Category I) and the American College
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists).
Chaplaincy, part-time campus ministry, Mundelein College,
Chicago, 1978 to 1984.
PUBLICATIONS, BOOKS:
Epiphanius
Tighe and the Dragon of East South Water Street,
San Jose, New York: Writers Choice Press, 2000.
The Spirituality of the Celtic Saints, New York: Orbis
Books, 2000.
Mysticism and Prophecy: The Dominican Tradition, London:
Darton, Longman and Todd / New York: Orbis Books, 1998.
A Diversity of Dragons, with Anne McCaffrey, New York:
HarperPrism / London, Paris: Simon and Schuster, 1997.
Christian Spirituality: God's Presence through the Ages,
Allen, TX: Thomas More Press, 1989, 1996.
Eckhart's Way, Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier, Inc., 1986;
London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1987.
Symbion: Spirituality for a Possible Future, Santa Fe,
New Mexico: Bear and Co., 1983.
Mysterion: An Approach to Mystical Spirituality, Chicago:
Thomas More Press, 1980.
Understanding Mysticism (ed.), Garden City, New York: Doubleday,
1980, London: Athlone Press, 1981.
Another Kind of Love, Chicago: Thomas More Press, 1977,
rev. ed., Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1978. Third edition, rev.,
Ft. Wayne, IN: Knoll Press, 1988. Polish translation, O Mi»oÑci,
Która Nie Ðmia»a Wymawiaƒ Swojego Imienia,
Poznan: Rebis, 1993.
The Pastoral Dimension (co-ed.), River Forest, Illinois:
Listening Press, 1977.
Heterodoxy (ed.), River Forest, Illinois: Listening Press,
1974.
The Devil, Chicago: Thomas More Press, 1973.
The Occult Revolution, New York: Seabury, 1971, revised
ed., 1973.
The Media Maze, Dayton, Ohio: Geo. Pflaum, 1969.
RECENT ARTICLES AND PAPERS:
“Pondering The Da Vinci Code: Fact, Fraud, Or Fiction?” Spirituality , 11, 60 (May-June 2005): 173-78 .
“Meister Eckhart on Pain, Suffering, and Healing,” Eckhart Review , No. 14 (Spring, 2005): 5 - 29.
“Dominican Spirituality,” “Rhineland Mysticism,” Dictionary of Spirituality, Philip Sheldrake, ed., London: SCM Press (in press).
“Angels,” Christianity: A Complete Guide, John Bowden, ed., London: SCM Press, 2005.
“Meister Eckhart: Preacher and Teacher,” Proceedings, Conference on Christian Mysticism, Notre Dame University, Beirut, Lebanon, 2004 (1st ed.), pp. 17-24.
“Vowed Poverty: Gospel Stewardship in a Consumerist Society,” Horizon, Journal of the National Religious Vocation Conference, 28 (Summer 2003) 4: 7-12.
“The Fall of Iraq,” Dominican Provincial Bulletin, Summer 2003.
“Catholics and Dominicans in Iraq,” St. Martin’s Magazine, Dublin, June, 2003, 24-26.
“Eckhart’s Imageless Image: Art, Spirituality, and the Apophatic Way,” Eckhart Review, No. 12 (Spring, 2003): 5-20.
“Ecology,
Spirituality, and Eckhart: On Loving the World,” Eckhart Review, No. 11
(March, 2002): 36-47.
“Celtic Spirituality: Some Principal Features,” Atlanta Celtic Quarterly,
Vol. 8, No. 4 ( Dec., 2001), 10-24.
“Above the Law: Mysticism and Antinomianism in the High Middle Ages,”
Crossing Boundaries: The Problems and Places of Ethics in the History of
Mysticism, G. William Barnard and Jeffrey Kripal, eds., New York: Seven
Bridges Press/Chatham House, 2001, 157-83.
“Old Ireland’s Pugnacious Saints,” Irish Spirit: Essays on Irish
Spirituality, Patricia Monaghan, ed., Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 2001,
147-55.
"The Condemnation of Meister Eckhart," Spirituality,
33, 6 (Nov.-Dec. 2000), 342-47.
"Good News: The Story Teller as Evangelist," New
Blackfriars, 81, 951 (May 2000): 204-15.
"Creation and the Eucharistic Liturgy," The Newman,
The Journal of the Newman Association, London, 50 (May, 2000):
22-24.
"The Seven Bowls of Wrath: An Ecological Parable,"
Ecotheology, No. 7 (July 1999), 8-21.
"Who were the Beguines? (Part 2)" Spirituality,
5, 22 (Jan.-Feb. 1999): 26-29.
"Prayer Since Vatican II: A Survey," Religious Life
Review, 37 (Nov.-Dec. 1998): 322-29.
"Who were the Beguines?(Part I)" Spirituality,
4, 21 (Nov.-Dec. 1998): 355-58.
"Reflections for Weekdays and Saints' Days, Scripture
in Church, 28, 112 (Oct.-Dec. 1998):474-77.
"Come the Millennium," Spirituality 3, 13 (July/Aug.
1997): 199-202 & 14 (Sept./Oct.): 313-16.
"The Little Word 'God,'" Presence: The Journal of
Spiritual Directors International, 3, 3 (Sept. 1997): 60-64.
"Spirit and Word," Presence: The Journal of Spiritual
Directors International, 3, 2 (May 1997): 62-67.
"Meister Eckhart and Contemplation," Eckhart Review
6 (Spring 1997): 3-12. Paper read at the Eckhart Society Conference,
Plater College, Oxford, Sept. 1, 1996.
"Holy, Healthy, and Whole," Presence: The Journal
of Spiritual Directors International, 3, 1(Jan. 1997): 62-67.
"The Mystery of Ministry," Presence: An International
Journal of Spiritual Direction, 2, 3(Sept. 1996):
59-63.
"Mysticism and Social Action: The Mystic's Calling, Development, and Social
Activity," The Journal of Consciousness Studies,
3,2 (1996): 158-71.
"The Way of Imperfection," Presence: An International
Journal of Spiritual Direction, 2 : 1(Jan. 1996),
57-61.
"Once and Future Cities," Para*Doxa, Studies in
World Literary Genres 2,1 (1996): 81-83.
"Spirituality, Jung, and Psychological Type: The MBTI Phenomenon,"
in Myers-Briggs: Critical Reflections, ed. by Kenneth
Leech, Croydon, England: The Jubilee Group, Dec. 1995.
"Sainthood Versus Sanctity: Saints, Dragons, and Other Mythical
Beasts," Forge Institute for Spirituality and Social Change,
Institute of Global Cultural Studies Conference, Binghampton
University, SUNY, October 22, 1995.
"Thomas Aquinas and the Universe: The Meaning and Value of Creation," Visions of Creation, ed. by James Stewart
and Eileen Conn, Alresford, Hants.: Godsfield Press, 1995, 54-63.
And a few older favorites:
"Abnormal and Psychophysical
Phenomena," Dictionary
of Spirituality, James
J. Heaney and Gordon Wakefield, eds.,
Philadelphia and London:
Westminster Press/SCM Press, 1983, 2-3.
"The Figure of Taliesin in the Arthuriad of Charles
Williams," paper presented to the Mythopoeic Society, annual
conference,
Chapman College, Orange, California, August 18, 1982.
Published in Mythlore, 10, 1 (Spring l983): 11 -16,
29.
And "Telyn Cymru: The Ancient Harp of Wales,"
Folk Harp Journal, No. 32, March, 1981, 32 -;
35.
COLUMNS:
For ten years, between September 1982 and November 1991, I wrote a more-or-less monthly column for the National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, MO 64141.
SHORT FICTION:
“Bones of
Contention,” Crusade of Fire, ed. by Katherine Kurtz, New York: Warner
Books, Autumn 2002 (in press).
"The Treasure of the Temple," On Crusade: More Tales
of The Knights Templar, Vol. 2, ed. by Katherine Kurtz, New
York: Warner
Books, 1998, pp. 71-116.
"Choices," Tales of The Knights Templar, ed.
by Katherine Kurtz, New York: Warner Books, 1995, pp. 47-91.
LECTURES, Interviews, Television, Radio, Film, etc.
“Human Rights in Iraq,” Amnesty International talk, Oak Park-River Forest High School, Oak Park, IL, 9 Nov. 2004.
“Yves Congar, Theologian of the Church,” panel presentation, Dominican University, 3 Nov. 2004.
“The Consolation of Creation: Christian Conscience and Environmental Crisis,” The Cortona Lecture, The Franciscan University, Clinton, Iowa, 14 Oct. 2004.
“Yves Congar, A Light for Today’s Church,” panel presentation, Siena Center, Dominican University, 7 Oct. 2004.
“Meister Eckhart: Preacher and Teacher,” paper given at Conference on Christian Mysticism, Notre Dame University, Beirut, Lebanon, 16 May 2003.
“The Dominican Contemplative Tradition,” lecture given to the Dominican Provincial Assembly, 2 June 2003, Dominican Conference Center, River Forest, IL.
"War in Iraq: Is it Justifiable?” St. Isaac Jogues Church, Hinsdale, IL, April 1, 2003.
“Reconstructing Iraq,” panel organizer and chair, Third World Conference, Embassy Suites Hotel, Chicago, IL, 5 April 2003.
“Poles Apart: Spirituality versus Religion,” lecture for the Religious Studies Department, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., Feb. 5, 2003.
“Iraq: UN Sanctions and Preemptive Attack in Light of Catholic Social Teaching,” St. Clement’s Parish, Chicago, IL, February 9, 2003.
"The Other Side
of Silence: Catholics and the Holocaust," Waycross College,
Waycross, Georgia, April 17, 2000.
"The Spiral Quest of the Celtic Soul," lecture at The
Great Tapestry: Celtic Spirituality in the New Millennium,
conference at
Emory University, Atlanta, GA, March 4, 2000.
"Plighting Our Troth: The Spirituality in Christian Marriage," Marriage and Family Life Conference, Diocese of Southwark,
England,
Bromley, Kent, Feb. 20, 2000.
"Eckhart and the Rhineland Mystics: Basis for Spirituality
Today," Day of Reflection, St. Thomas More Hall, Decatur,
Georgia,
Nov. 20, 1999.
"The Dominican Tradition of Spirituality," Catholic
Businesspersons of Atlanta Luncheon, Capital City Club, Atlanta,
GA, Oct. 6, 1999.
"Celtic Spirituality," University Catholic Center, Emory
University, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 27, 1999.
"God is Our Future: Spirituality for a New Millennium," 2 three-hour workshops for the Religious Education office, Archdiocese
of Omaha, Sept. 18-19, 1999.
Great Women Mystics,
Tape Cassette Program, St
Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, Ohio, Dec. 1998.
Angels: Faith,
Theology, and Experience, Tape Cassette Program, National
Catholic Reporter, Dec. 1995.
Meister Eckhart: The Gospel of Peace and Justice, Tape
Cassette Program, St Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, OH,
Jan. 1993.