
In the bustling heart of 1586 Paris, a curious crowd gathers on Pentecost to hear an Italian Dominican whose reputation for eloquence has already set the city abuzz. The atmosphere is charged with fashionable intrigue—courtiers in the latest Italian dress, scholars whispering about a new voice that promises to reinterpret the Spirit’s freedom. Against the backdrop of a court enamoured with Italy’s cultural sway, his lecture promises to challenge familiar doctrines while offering a fresh, daring perspective.
The speaker, a young monk who chose the austere life of poverty, chastity and obedience, reveals a mind restless for intellectual liberty. Immersed in the rich libraries of his order, he draws on the ancient wisdom of Plato and Plotinus, weaving their ideas into a bold vision of a spirit unbound by conventional theology. As he pushes the limits of Dominican thought, his words hint at a radical synthesis of mysticism and philosophy that will stir both admiration and unease among his listeners.
Language
en
Duration
~34 minutes (32K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Alfred J. Drake. HTML version by Al Haines.
Release date
2003-07-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1839–1894
Best known for shaping the ideals of aestheticism, this English essayist and critic wrote with unusual care about art, literature, and the pleasures of style. His work helped define the late Victorian idea of “art for art’s sake” and went on to influence writers including Oscar Wilde.
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