Overview

Self-Surrender shows how a theology emerges out of the Rhineland-Flemish spirituality of Meister Eckhart, Johannes Tauler, Henry Suso, the Frankfurt Priest, and John Ruusbroec that shines life-giving light on the mystery of suffering. From the books and sermons of these pastors, Bjorkman developed Ten Ways to Suffer Well in Union with God: surrender, pray, yield, imitate, co-suffer, participate, love, accept, empathize, and unite, which flesh out the meaning and significance of suffering in new and edifying ways. ""This book brings together a wealth of insights from history and theology, spirituality and mysticism to face the unavoidable problem of suffering. These teachings are culled from the writings of five Christians who lived along the Rhine in the 14th century. With the benefit of hindsight, one can see how these thinkers look backwards to Albert the Great (teacher of Thomas Aquinas) and forwards to Martin Luther. In ten meditations, ranging from psychology and prayer to approaching God without intermediaries, a journey through suffering, life and grace is sketched."" Thomas F. O'Meara, O.P., Warren Professor of Theology Emeritus, University of Notre Dame (USA), author of 16 books including Thomas Aquinas, Theologian

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This book brings together a wealth of insights from history and theology, spirituality and mysticism to face the unavoidable problem of suffering. These teachings are culled from the writings of five Christians who lived along the Rhine in the 14th century. With the benefit of hindsight, one can see how these thinkers look backwards to Albert the Great (teacher of Thomas Aquinas) and forwards to Martin Luther. In ten meditations, ranging from psychology and prayer to approaching God without intermediaries, a journey through suffering, life and grace is sketched. -- Thomas F. O'Meara, O.P., Warren Professor of Theology Emeritus, University of Notre Dame (USA), author of 16 books including Thomas Aquinas, Theologian Striving of Perfect Self-Surrender offers a Christ-centered path into the experience of suffering using five medieval pastors as spiritual guides. Dewey Bjorkman retrieves the neglected teachings of these thinkers, who invite us into Christ's suffering as a shared experience. The book provides material for reflection and prayer as we face our own suffering and that of others. This is ultimately a book of hope and joy. -- Dean G. Stroud, Professor Emeritus of German Studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, author of Preaching in Hitler's Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich This book brings 21st century readers to a theological truth with both historical and contemporary implications. Human suffering, in all of its ramifications, offers believers the real possibility of a mystical union with God's boundless love and grace through the gift of faith.The heart and soul of this work revolve around an engaging exploration of that aspect of mysticism that involves suffering that is understood as striving for perfect self-surrender. The volume reminds us that what these medieval Christians had to say about suffering continues to speak to what it means for us to be a Christian today in a world marked by profound suffering. -- Gregory Paul Wegner, Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, author of Anti-Semitism and Schooling under the Third Reich

"""This book brings together a wealth of insights from history and theology, spirituality and mysticism to face the unavoidable problem of suffering. These teachings are culled from the writings of five Christians who lived along the Rhine in the 14th century. With the benefit of hindsight, one can see how these thinkers look backwards to Albert the Great (teacher of Thomas Aquinas) and forwards to Martin Luther. In ten meditations, ranging from psychology and prayer to approaching God without intermediaries, a journey through suffering, life and grace is sketched."" -- Thomas F. O'Meara, O.P., Warren Professor of Theology Emeritus, University of Notre Dame (USA), author of 16 books including Thomas Aquinas, Theologian ""Striving of Perfect Self-Surrender offers a Christ-centered path into the experience of suffering using five medieval pastors as spiritual guides. Dewey Bjorkman retrieves the neglected teachings of these thinkers, who invite us into Christ's suffering as a shared experience. The book provides material for reflection and prayer as we face our own suffering and that of others. This is ultimately a book of hope and joy."" -- Dean G. Stroud, Professor Emeritus of German Studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, author of Preaching in Hitler's Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich ""This book brings 21st century readers to a theological truth with both historical and contemporary implications. Human suffering, in all of its ramifications, offers believers the real possibility of a mystical union with God's boundless love and grace through the gift of faith.The heart and soul of this work revolve around an engaging exploration of that aspect of mysticism that involves suffering that is understood as ""striving for perfect self-surrender."" The volume reminds us that what these medieval Christians had to say about suffering continues to speak to what it means for us to be a Christian today in a world marked by profound suffering. -- Gregory Paul Wegner, Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, author of Anti-Semitism and Schooling under the Third Reich"

This book brings together a wealth of insights from history and theology, spirituality and mysticism to face the unavoidable problem of suffering. These teachings are culled from the writings of five Christians who lived along the Rhine in the 14th century. With the benefit of hindsight, one can see how these thinkers look backwards to Albert the Great (teacher of Thomas Aquinas) and forwards to Martin Luther. In ten meditations, ranging from psychology and prayer to approaching God without intermediaries, a journey through suffering, life and grace is sketched. -- Thomas F. O'Meara, O.P., Warren Professor of Theology Emeritus, University of Notre Dame (USA), author of 16 books including Thomas Aquinas, Theologian Striving of Perfect Self-Surrender offers a Christ-centered path into the experience of suffering using five medieval pastors as spiritual guides. Dewey Bjorkman retrieves the neglected teachings of these thinkers, who invite us into Christ's suffering as a shared experience. The book provides material for reflection and prayer as we face our own suffering and that of others. This is ultimately a book of hope and joy. -- Dean G. Stroud, Professor Emeritus of German Studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, author of Preaching in Hitler's Shadow: Sermons of Resistance in the Third Reich This book brings 21st century readers to a theological truth with both historical and contemporary implications. Human suffering, in all of its ramifications, offers believers the real possibility of a mystical union with God's boundless love and grace through the gift of faith.The heart and soul of this work revolve around an engaging exploration of that aspect of mysticism that involves suffering that is understood as striving for perfect self-surrender. The volume reminds us that what these medieval Christians had to say about suffering continues to speak to what it means for us to be a Christian today in a world marked by profound suffering.-- Gregory Paul Wegner, Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, author of Anti-Semitism and Schooling under the Third Reich

Author Information

Dewey J. Bjorkman holds a M.Div. degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary and a Th.M. degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (E.L.C.A). As a Lutheran pastor he served parishes in Illinois, Colorado, and Kansas until 1989 when his faith journey led him into the Roman Catholic Communion. Dewey is passionate about the power of the written word and pursued his full-time career in book-selling while writing Striving for Perfect Self-Surrender as a lay person. His vocation includes a commitment to the cause of the life-long catechesis of adult Christians.

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