The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage

The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage is a book by Jan van Ruysbroeck, first published in the 14th century (circa 1340s). Ruysbroeck was a Flemish mystic whose writings significantly shaped medieval Christian mysticism. This work explores the mystical union between the soul and God, often described metaphorically as a spiritual marriage. It delves into the stages of the soul’s journey toward divine love, emphasizing inner transformation, contemplation, and the ultimate mystical experience of unity with the Divine. The book has influenced later Christian mystics and remains a key text in understanding the tradition of spiritual marriage and the broader mystical path within the Christian contemplative tradition. This translation by C. A. Wynschenk was originally published in 1916.