John of the Cross

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contemplate, persevere, prayer, silence, St. John of the Cross, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transformation

When I wrote yesterday’s post, I wasn’t conscious that we were on the doorstep of John of the Cross. I know that there are several “Greats” celebrated in December, but being on vacation has a way of erasing any sense of date or time…It’s quite delightful but not so good for “devotion to duty” as in a daily practice. I say that because yesterday’s post seems to me a surprisingly appropriate introduction to this memorial.

Discipline and self-denial are not popular terms in our era but, in truth, they might be the best – if not the only – way to find what many of us long for: deep and meaningful relationship with the Divine. Spiritual author, mystic, founder of communities of Carmelite monks and nuns, spiritual director to many including St. Teresa of Avila and Doctor of the Church, John of the Cross is one of the “bright lights” of Christianity. As we celebrate his feast, let us consider some of his thoughts for reflection.

Silence is God’s first language.

Where there is no love, pour love, and you will draw love out.

To love is to be transformed into what we love. To love God is therefore to be transformed into God.

Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.

However softly we speak, God is so close to us that he can hear us; nor do we need wings to go in search of him, but merely to seek solitude and contemplate him within ourselves, without being surprised to find such good Guest there.

Words Across the Centuries

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Daniel Ladinsky, light, love, Love Poems From God; Twelve Voices from the East and West, pray, quiet, soul, St. John of the Cross, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

On this feast of John of the Cross, great 16th century mystic and Doctor of the Church I offer two short poetic “words,” translated by Daniel Ladinsky in his book, Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West. Savor them as you will…

“My soul is a candle that burned away the veil; only the glorious duties of light I now have.”

“You might quiet the whole world for a second if you pray. And if you love, if you really love, our guns will wilt.”

St. John of the Cross

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reflection, seeking God, St. John of the Cross, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Although St. John of the Cross, whose feast we celebrate today, was a prolific writer who “waxed eloquent” in his theological texts and mystical poetry, I thought the following sentence was enough for our reflection for the day. I hope you agree.

In the first place it should be known that if a person is seeking God, the Beloved is seeking that person much more.

 

 

 

 

 

John of the Cross

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asceticism, being of light, Carmelite, light, Mark, mystic, mysticism, paschal mystery, poet, reformer, St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, theologian, Thomas Merton

The biography of St. John of the Cross reads with more twists and turns than a complex novel. It would be foolish of me to try to capsulize it here. Suffice it for me to say that the play of light and darkness was the constant of his years as I yield to other sources for comment.

Americancatholic.org summarizes his life in the following way: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (MK 8:34b) is the story of John’s life. The Paschal Mystery – through death to life – strongly marks John as reformer, mystic-poet, and theologian priest. Thomas Merton said of John: “Just as we can never separate asceticism from mysticism, so in St. John of the Cross we find darkness and light, suffering and joy, sacrifice and love united together so closely that they seem at times to be identified.” As John himself expressed it: “Never was a fount so clear, undimmed and bright; from it alone I know proceeds all light although ’tis night.”

Only one note would I add to these intimations of the seamlessness of seeming opposites in his life, that being the value of feminine influence, most visibly of St. Teresa of Avila, for his spiritual development and understanding of the unity of all things in God. The contribution to the mystical stream and religious life of Christianity by these two saints is vast, something to celebrate with all Carmelite monks and nuns in the world on this feast of John of the Cross.