author
Freiherr von Friedrich Hügel
1852–1925
An Austrian Catholic thinker who spent much of his life in England, he became known for writing thoughtfully about faith, mysticism, and the challenges of modern thought. His work helped shape religious conversation well beyond his own time.
2 Audiobooks
The Mystical Element of Religion, as studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and her friends, Volume 1 (of 2)
by Freiherr von Friedrich Hügel
The Mystical Element of Religion, as studied in Saint Catherine of Genoa and her friends, Volume 2 (of 2)
by Freiherr von Friedrich Hügel
About the author
Born in Florence on May 5, 1852, Friedrich von Hügel was an Austrian Catholic layman, religious writer, and Christian apologist. He spent most of his adult life in England and became an important voice in discussions about religion at the turn of the twentieth century.
He is often linked with the Catholic Modernist crisis because of his friendships and exchanges with leading figures of the movement, but the sources consulted describe him as more independent than partisan. Rather than simply taking sides, he is remembered for trying to hold together historical scholarship, institutional religion, and personal spiritual experience.
Von Hügel is especially associated with writing on mysticism and the life of faith. He died in London on January 27, 1925, but his books and letters continued to attract readers interested in the meeting point of intellect, conscience, and devotion.