The Unknown Mystic
The True Story of a Woman with Remarkable Faith and Extraordinary Spiritual Gifts
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Pub Date Jan 2 2027 | Archive Date Dec 28 2026
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Description
“An amazing account of a mystical life. It’s been a very long time since a book has had this kind of impact on me.” — PROFESSOR CARLOS M.N EIRE, Yale University.
The Unknown Mystic is a love story that opens a window onto the unseen world. It begins when Pat Shaughnessy meets a young woman with remarkable mystical gifts. Her name is Cushla, an Irish term of endearment which means ‘pulse of my heart.’ Pat, then a sceptic regarding God and the afterlife, nevertheless senses that this girl, with ethereal beauty, does not seem to be of this world. They fall in love and get married.
Despite bearing heavy crosses, including a mysterious, debilitating illness she develops at age 33, Cushla is the wisest and happiest person he’s ever known. Inspired by her faith, he begins to climb the spiritual mountain with her. Soon enough, he will need all the strength given to him from above when they both have a dramatic vision in which Cushla is asked to suffer for a greater purpose. Shortly afterwards, she succumbs to an even more serious illness, facing her final journey as she lived every day: with unshakable faith, fearlessness and serenity. Later, from the other side of the veil, she lets Pat know that she is still very much with him.
The Unknown Mystic is both a testament to enduring love and an invitation to glimpse the mystery of life here and beyond.
A Note From the Publisher
The Unknown Mystic will be released simultaneously on Amazon on January 2, 2027, in Hardback, Paperback, and Kindle E-book formats. Permanent library and parish acquisition requests are highly welcome.
About The Author:
Born, raised, and still residing in Dublin, Ireland, Pat Shaughnessy took an unconventional path to becoming a spiritual author. After graduating from the University of Limerick, he spent several years teaching history and geography before diving into the business world—by his own admission, completely clueless about commerce. Through sheer grit and perseverance, he eventually transformed himself into an award-winning marketer and serial entrepreneur.
Yet, worldly success brought little satisfaction. Inspired by the profound faith, fearlessness, and extraordinary spiritual gifts of his late wife, Cushla, Pat joined her on a transformative spiritual journey. After she died, he founded The Unbroken Way (theunbrokenway.com) in her honour. Today, the platform connects like-minded souls worldwide through his writings on life, faith, and mysticism.
Advance Praise
“Absolutely incredible and like nothing I have ever read. Even the title draws one
in. Awe-inspiring.”
—DR MAURICE CURTIS, historian, novelist and author of over thirty books.
“This book is a love poem—a celebration of the profound spiritual bond between the author and his late wife, Cushla. They shared a deep faith in life’s goodness, which was severely tested when they faced the heartbreak of cancer. Pat Shaughnessy writes with great sensitivity about journeying with a partner through cancer and confronting loss. He explores grief in a way men rarely reveal. Perhaps his greatest achievement lies in immortalising Cushla and allowing us to experience her life-giving spirit.”
—Dr TONY BATES, Clinical Psychologist and author of Breaking the Heart Open.
“As soon as I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down.”
—CARLOS M.N EIRE, T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University. Author of They Flew: A History of the Impossible.
“This memoir celebrates how the human experience of love is the most authentic experience of mysticism. Fall in love— become a mystic!”
—ALBERT HASSE, OFM, author of Becoming an Ordinary Mystic: Spirituality for the Rest of Us.
The Unknown Mystic is not only a story of unconditional love and union between two people, but also a story about love for the world itself, for the unseen, for faith, and for the interconnectedness of all things.”
—ANDREA HAYES, Irish broadcaster, producer and author of Pain-Free Life: My Journey to Wellness.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781788464161 |
| PRICE | $21.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 187 |