In Simone Weil, Maria Clara Bingemer reflects on the life, work, and legacy of an exceptional and enigmatic woman: the philosopher and French Jewish mystic of the same name. It constitutes a testimony so unique that it is impossible to ignore. In a Europe where authoritarian regimes were dominant and heading, in a sinister manner, toward WWII, this woman of fragile health but indomitable spirit denounced the contradictions of the capitalist system, the brutality of Nazism, and the paradox of bourgeois thought. At the same time, her spiritual journey was one of zeal and sorrow - that of a true mystic - but her radical intransigence and passion for freedom kept her from fully committing to the institutional church. Curious and insatiable, she wanted to experience, in the flesh, the suff ering of society's least fortunate and the truths of other religions. The reader will need to develop a discerning empathy for Simone Weil's sensibility, beyond her particular passion and zeal, in order to appreciate her in depth. But undeniable are this truly singular woman's authenticity, her capacity to suffer, her identification with the other, her inner passion, and her almost magical perception of the depths of the human spirit. And that is why her story merits being told as that of one of the great witnesses of our age.

In The Mystery and the World, Maria Clara Bingemer explores how the place of religion in society has dramatically shifted since the Enlightenment. The modern era is characterised by a major change in humanity's fundamental desires that means that reason has taken the place of faith. Human beings, in their ongoing search for a scientific understanding of the world, have drifted away from seeking any essence of transcendence in their lives. Bingemer examines this transition and how, especially in the postmodern era, it has led to technology and superficial happiness becoming all-important as opposed to the more sacred sense of contentment that governed us for centuries prior to the Enlightenment. In her discussion, however, Bingemer demonstrates that we as humans have not lost our innate desire to believe in a higher power and that, even in our world of instant satisfaction, we still need to fill the void left by religion. Through well-researched analysis of the modern era and discussion of some of the mystics of more recent times, she reveals to readers how our religious belief, whilst changed, is not dead and is still an important aspect of our existence.

Concilium has long been a household-name for cutting-edge critical and constructive theological thinking. Past contributors include leading Catholic scholars such as Hans Kung, Gregory Baum and Edward Schillebeeckx, and the editors of the review belong to the international "who's who" in the world of contemporary theology. Published five times a year, each issue reflects a deep knowledge and scholarship presented in a highly readable style, and each issue offers a wide variety of viewpoints from leading thinkers from all over the world.

Part One: Contexts Sketching an Ecological Theology of the Holy Spirit and theWord of God DENIS EDWARDS Creator Spirit and Ecologcal Ethics: An Ancient Frontier ELIZABETH A. JOHNSON The Spirit of God in the Public Sphere of Christian Communities: The Inspiration of the Hebrew Bible MARIE-THERESWACKER The Jesus Movement andWomen's Charism CETTINAMILITELLO Hidden Love: Notes on the Kenosis of the Spirit in theWest MARIA CLARA BINGEMER The Spirit in the Church BERNARD SESBOUEE 'The Spirit Poured Out on All Flesh': Pentecostal Testimonies and Experiences of the Holy Spirit VELI-MATTI KAERKKAEINEN Conflicting Pneumatologies: Classic Pentecostals and 'Neo- Pentecostals' in Brazil LEONILDO SILVEIRA CAMPOS The Spirit and the Signs of These Times 1 VIRGINIAAZCUY Spirit as CreativeWord in Africa LAURENTI MAGESA Existential Understanding of the Spirit in South America DIEGO IRARRAZABAL The Spirit of the Lord Fills theWholeWorld VICTOR CODINA Part Two: Theological Forum Dominum et Vivificantem Read Today PAULMURRAY Sage and Prophet: Jose Comblin (1923-2011) LUIZ CARLOS SUSIN, JON SOBRINO