The Spiritual Canticle by John Ofthe Cross

Author:John Ofthe Cross [John of the Cross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: e-artnow
Published: 2021-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

NOTE

The soul in this state is become so great an enemy of the lower part, and its operations, that it would have God communicate nothing to it when He communicates with the higher. If He will communicate with the lower, it must be in a slight degree, or the soul, because of its natural weakness, will be unable to endure it without fainting, and consequently the spirit cannot rejoice in peace, because it is then troubled. "For," as the wise man says, "the body that is corrupted burdens the soul." And as the soul longs for the highest and noblest conversation with God, which is impossible in the company of the sensual part, it begs of God to deal with it without the intervention of the senses. That sublime vision of St. Paul in the third heaven, wherein, he says, he saw God, but yet knew not whether he was in the body or out of the body, must have been, be it what it may, independent of the body: for if the body had any share in it, he must have known it, and the vision could not have been what it was, seeing that he "heard secret words which it is not lawful for a man to speak." The soul, therefore, knowing well that graces so great cannot be received in a vessel so mean, and longing to receive them out of the body, — or at least without it, addresses the Bridegroom in the words that follow: Wisd. 9:15

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