Dialogues on Mysticism and Grace in the Christian Traditions

Dear Colleagues,

Christian mysticism—understood as the profound and personal union of the human person with God—holds a privileged place within the life and tradition of the Church. At its core lies the experience of grace. Mystical union is never the result of human effort alone, nor of ascetic or meditative techniques, but is, in its essence, the gratuitous self-communication of God. For centuries, Christian spiritual theology has reflected on the nature of mystical experiences and their relevance for the life of faith.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which explores the dynamic relationship between mysticism and grace and examines the ways in which mystical experience is shaped, interpreted, and lived within the Christian tradition. The aim of this Issue is to highlight the interdisciplinary richness of this field and to show its significance for theology, psychology, culture, and contemporary Christian life.

Above all, the aim is to present a comprehensive reflection on mysticism in the Christian tradition, with particular emphasis on its theological, spiritual, anthropological, and experiential dimensions. We encourage contributions that explore the many facets of mystical experience, its theological interpretation, and its enduring relevance for both the Church and modern society.

The scope of this Special Issue falls clearly within the journal’s focus on Christian theology, spirituality, and religious experience. The themes emerging from contemporary interdisciplinary research—especially theological, philosophical, psychological, and cultural perspectives—offer fertile ground for scholarly dialogue.

We welcome original research articles, as well as reviews. Possible research areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Methodologies for the study of mystical experience.

• Theological approaches (mistology), psychological interpretations, phenomenological analyses, and cultural perspectives.
• Criteria for distinguishing authentic experiences of grace from natural or ambiguous phenomena.

2. Mysticism and gender.

• Historical and contemporary expressions of female and male forms of mysticism.
• The role of social and cultural patterns in shaping mystical language and symbolism.

3. Typologies of mystical experience.

• Diversity of Christian mystical traditions.
• Theological categories for describing the varieties of union with God.

4. Mystical experience and extraordinary phenomena.

• Visions, ecstasies, stigmata, and other manifestations.
• Discernment between grace, psychological states, and natural or pathological experiences.

5. Mystics past and present: continuity and innovation.

• Historical development of mystical expression.
• Mysticism in a secularized and pluralistic world.
• Dialogue with contemporary psychology and phenomenology.

6. Mysticism as a locus theologicus.

• Mystical experience as a source for theological reflection when properly discerned.
• Influence on doctrine, liturgy, and Christian spirituality.

7. Marian mysticism and mystical mariology.

• Experiences involving Mary.
• Theological reflection inspired by mystical testimonies concerning her role in salvation history.

We hope that this Special Issue will stimulate new research at the intersection of spiritual theology, mysticism, and interdisciplinary studies, enriching contemporary understanding of mystical experience as a vital dimension of Christian life. Our aim is to provide conceptual clarity, broaden methodological dialogue, and encourage renewed scholarly engagement with the profound theological and anthropological implications of grace and mystical union.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or to the Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring their proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

A tentative timeline:

Deadline for abstract submission: 30 April 2026.

Deadline for full manuscript submission: 31 August 2026.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Marek Chmielewski
Prof. Dr. Adam Rybicki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Christian mysticism
• grace
• mystical experience
• spiritual theology
• mistology
• typology of mysticism
• mystical phenomena
• Marian mysticism