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chriswright7's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
"I enter'd in— I knew not where—
And, there remaining, knew no more,
Transcending far all human lore"
This line describes the experience of entering into the mystical theology of St John of the Cross' "Spiritual Canticle." Written as a dialogue between the soul and the spouse to depict an analogy of the relationship between the soul and Christ the Bridegroom, it often resembles the Song of Songs. His writing is an example of the intersection between beautiful poetry and solid theological enquiry. When reading his exposition and commentary upon each stanza of the poem, one cannot help but notice the prevalence of Thomistic language throughout the work. This gives a new understanding to the idea that if you take Dominican, or Thomistic, theology, and pray with it, you end up with Carmelite spirituality. This explains why so many of the greatest mystics have been Dominicans and Carmelites. After the Spiritual Canticle, there are a number of other poems containing no less beauty on various theological topics such as the Incarnation, the Trinity, and more.
"To assuage my pains, I gaze on Thee
Beneath the sacramental veils,
Yet even here my spirit fails
Because Thy face I cannot see.
All brings but greater pain to me,
Who see Thee thus imperfectly
And die because I do not die."
And, there remaining, knew no more,
Transcending far all human lore"
This line describes the experience of entering into the mystical theology of St John of the Cross' "Spiritual Canticle." Written as a dialogue between the soul and the spouse to depict an analogy of the relationship between the soul and Christ the Bridegroom, it often resembles the Song of Songs. His writing is an example of the intersection between beautiful poetry and solid theological enquiry. When reading his exposition and commentary upon each stanza of the poem, one cannot help but notice the prevalence of Thomistic language throughout the work. This gives a new understanding to the idea that if you take Dominican, or Thomistic, theology, and pray with it, you end up with Carmelite spirituality. This explains why so many of the greatest mystics have been Dominicans and Carmelites. After the Spiritual Canticle, there are a number of other poems containing no less beauty on various theological topics such as the Incarnation, the Trinity, and more.
"To assuage my pains, I gaze on Thee
Beneath the sacramental veils,
Yet even here my spirit fails
Because Thy face I cannot see.
All brings but greater pain to me,
Who see Thee thus imperfectly
And die because I do not die."
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