ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR ASZESE UND MYSTIK (GEIST UND LEBEN). - Quarterly review of spirituality, founded in December 1925 by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus in Austria and Germany.
Its purpose initially (1925–47) was to serve scholarly studies of ascetics and mysticism, both theoretical and historical, with the collaboration of eminent writers, not only from the Jesuit Order but also from the secular and regular clergy. From 1947, after three years of interruption due to the war, it shifted its focus toward formation with the aim of promoting spiritual life especially among educated people, by studying above all those problems of ascetics and mysticism that most interest contemporary society. From that time it took the name Geist und Leben, with the previous title as a subtitle.
It admitted laypeople among its writers. The editorial direction was first held by A. Ersin (1925) in Innsbruck; then by F. Bleienstein in Dillingen-Donau with the collaboration of F. Wulf in Munich (1929–51). Among the writers are notable P. Lippert, E. Dorsch, R. Richstaetter, P. de Chastonay, O. ZIMMERMANN, OTTO (v.), A. Merk, E. Raitz V. Frentz, F. Hathey, A. Huonder, E. Przywara, P. A. Kneller, etc.