The Spiritual Tabernacle

Jan van Ruysbroeck's treatise on the spiritual tabernacle stands as one of the most systematic expositions of mystical theology to emerge from the Flemish mystical tradition of the fourteenth century. Written during his years as a canon regular at Groenendaal, this work addresses the ordered progression of the soul's journey toward union with God, using the Old Testament tabernacle as an elaborate allegorical framework for understanding the stages of spiritual development.

Ruysbroeck structures his exposition around the physical elements of the tabernacle described in Exodus, transforming each component into a symbol of interior spiritual reality. The outer court represents the active life of virtue and good works, while the holy place signifies the inward life of contemplation and devotion. The holy of holies becomes the supreme mystical union where the soul transcends all multiplicity and rests in the essential unity of the divine nature. Throughout this ascent, Ruysbroeck carefully delineates the psychological and spiritual transformations required at each stage, emphasizing both the necessity of grace and the soul's active cooperation in the mystical journey. His treatment balances speculative mystical theology with practical guidance, offering concrete descriptions of prayer, virtue, and the discernment of spiritual states.

The work's enduring significance lies in its sophisticated integration of scholastic theological precision with experiential mystical insight, influencing later mystical writers including the anonymous author of the Theologia Germanica and various members of the Devotio Moderna movement. Who should read this: serious students of medieval mysticism and those seeking a rigorous theological framework for understanding contemplative experience will find Ruysbroeck's systematic approach invaluable, though readers unfamiliar with scholastic terminology and allegorical interpretation may find the work challenging.