Adrienne von Speyr
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Adrienne von Speyr (September 20, 1902 - September 17, 1967) was a Swiss medical doctor and Catholic mystic.
[edit] Her Life
Born September 20, 1902 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Adrienne von Speyr was a laywoman, wife, medical doctor, spiritual writer, and Catholic mystic. Originally a Reformed Protestant, she converted to Catholicism on the Feast of All Saints, November 1, 1940 under the spiritual direction of the famous Jesuit theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar. After her conversion, Speyr began to have many mystical experiences of the Trinity and the saints. While in a state of contemplative, mystical prayer, she dictated to Balthasar a total of 69 books, including commentaries on the Bible and various theological topics. With Balthasar, she co-founded a secular institute, Johannesgemeinschaft (Community of St. John). Her mystical experiences grew in frequency until her death in Basel, Switzerland on September 17, 1967.
[edit] References
- Adrienne von Speyr, My Early Years, trans. Mary Emily Hamilton and Dennis D. Martin (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1995).
- Hans Urs von Balthasar, First Glance at Adrienne von Speyr, trans. Antje Lawry and Sergia Englund (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1981).
- Hans Urs von Balthasar, Our Task: A Report and a Plan, trans. John Saward (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1994).
