This project has two components. First, I plan to bring to fruition in a book-length manuscript, almost a decade of work on the critical retrieval of images of the Holy Spirit in select medieval texts (rarely examined sermons, letters, prayers, spiritual and pastoral treatises, and accounts of mystical experience). In addition to situating this work in a contemporary context, I plan six chapters: Augustine of Hippo, Hildegard of Bingen, Bernard of Clairvaux, Bonaventure of Banoreggio, Julian of Norwich and Catherine of Siena. My research calls into question contemporary theological conclusions that the Holy Spirit has been seriously neglected in the western Christian theological tradition.

Second, the project will bring together a group of pastoral leaders (8-12) from several Christian denominations to discuss recent developments in pneumatology by a) reading Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit in Ecumenical, International, and Contextual Perspective by Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (Baker, 2002); b) critically assessing chapters in the proposed book; and c) reflecting on how the medieval tradition might enhance and correct present theologies of the Holy Spirit as they function in the spiritualities of individual ministers and in their ministry to their congregations. The group will meet 6 times from September, 2005 to April, 2006.