Knowledge alone is not enough. Knowledge alone will never change anyone permanently. But the experience of being loved will!
Quote from 'Wisdom of the Western Isles - the Making of a Mystic'
Welcome to David’s Website
David Torkington is a Spiritual Theologian, Author and Speaker, who specializes in Prayer, Christian Spirituality and Mystical Theology.
His personal spirituality is predominantly Franciscan, his Mystical Theology Carmelite. He has sold over 300,000 books in more than twelve different languages.
He was educated at the Franciscan Study Centre, England and the National Catholic Radio and Television Centre, Hatch End, London where he was later appointed to the post of Dean of Studies.
He was extra mural lecturer in Mystical Theology at the Dominican University in Rome (The Angelicum). In addition to giving Retreats and lecturing all over Europe, he undertook five prolonged lecture tours to Africa, mainly Equatorial Africa, speaking on Prayer and Spirituality to Religious, Monks, Diocesan Priests and lay people.
His latest book, Wisdom from the Christian Mystics was published in January 2018 and will be followed by his autobiography Injured Innocence.
When he is not writing, he spends time on his boat on the peaceful Beaulieu river in the New Forest, Hampshire. He is a member of The Athenaeum, Pall Mall, London
David’s Publications
David considers his latest book, Wisdom from the Christian Mystics to be his life’s work. After many years of studying the early sources, he reintroduces us to the profound mystical spirituality which was the staple diet of Christians in the first centuries.
David’s most successful book is Wisdom from the Western Isles, the popular Peter Calvay Trilogy (Hermit, Prophet, Mystic) re-edited in one volume, in which he teaches the reader how to pray, from the very beginning to what St Teresa of Avila calls the Mystical Marriage.
Wisdom from Franciscan Italy shows how the essence of Christian spirituality is restored by Francis and details the implications of the revelation of the Primacy of Love received by Francis moments before he received the Stigmata. The book explains how this is the starting point for St Bonaventure’s spirituality and John Duns Scotus’ Mystical Theology of love.
Other publications include: Inner Life: How to Pray: A New Beginning: Dear Susanna.
Both Wisdom from the Western Isles, and Wisdom from Franciscan Italy, have been published by John Hunt Publications and are available to buy from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk
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Latest Blog Posts
Mystical Theology
The Mystical Meaning of Christ’s Descent into Hell
I first began to understand certain mystical truths as I prayed at the place where Jesus was crucified on the first Good Friday. I have written about some of these insights when I spent a night in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, but some were too much for me to understand at the time
Into the Redeeming Christ – A Course
Make your Home in Me as I make Mine in You
This series in story form sums up a great adventure. It details all that the author has written on prayer and mystical contemplation, how to search for and find what is the greatest possible human achievement. It is replete with his most recent research and latest inspirational insights
Contemplative Prayer
Contrast and Compare: Contemplation and its Counterfeit
‘Contrast and compare’ was a commonly used phrase used by the teachers who set our examination papers when I was at school. It is one of the best ways of highlighting and explaining a word or a truth by differentiating it from another, especially its opposite.
A Sideways Look at the Christian Faith
The Power of Love – Where Love is there is God
It was a sort of ‘Dorian Gray’ situation, where his mother took the place of his own decaying portrait.
Christian Prayer
When you stop falling you will be in heaven
Some weeks ago I went to a special Mass prepared by a group of laypeople to ask for God’s mercy on them and on their families as part of their preparation for Lent .
Franciscan Spirituality
From Bethlehem to Greccio with St Francis of Assisi
Throughout his life St Francis was consumed by a desire to give his life for Christ.
Latest Podcasts
Lecures and Talks
Anglicanorum Coetibus Society: Podcasts
A two part interview with David Torkington for the Anglicanorum Coetibus Society
Mystical Prayer
Podcast: In the Carmelite Tradition
Talk to the Discalced Carmelites, Boars Hill, Oxford, England. A historical perspective. Monasticism to Mendicants and back to Contemplation
Retreats
Retreat Belmont Abbey 2. From Meditation to the beginning of Mystical Contemplation
Each morning after his mother’s death, David’s father brought two cups of tea into his bedroom.
