Patron Saint of Poets

 Half an hour reading the first nine chapters of the Dark Night of the Soul would make it clear why the time always comes for the beginner to move forward into mystical prayers.  It could be a life-changing half hour for anyone ready for real spiritual development. Unless, that is, you're me. The first nine chapters told me that I'm not ready to read mystical, arcane, complex thoughts and expressions. St. John of the Cross and I are centuries apart.

Perhaps, David Torkington can explain mysticism.

Saint John of the Cross,
by Zurbarán

Overwhelming Love

 Once again, I tried reading Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross.  Someone said if I read the first nine chapters, my life would be changed.  So, I tried, again.

The edition I read was published in 2002 by Riverhead Books, New translation by Mirabai Starr.  My first problem was that I didn't know if the introduction, the forward, the Preface, the Prologue, and/or John's introduction, were included in the nine chapters.  

I start with the forward and read for half an hour.

Nothing.  No change in my life.

The next day, I skipped everything and began reading at chapter one, page 35.  The chapters are my style--a page or a page and a half.  I read for half an hour.

Nothing.  What am I missing?  St. John of the Cross waxes poetically about what union with God is like.  Doesn't everyone know this and want this? 

He doesn't tell us how.  Where do we get the ticket to ride?

I guess, keep praying for an intimate relationship to the Lord.  Pray, read scripture, read spiritual books, listen to homilies, and podcasts, and other religious themes, and hopefully one day, you will feel God's love overwhelm you.

It is quicker to go to a charismatic revival and get slain in the spirit.  Sorry, St. John of the Cross.

Jordi's Witness

Here's a witness (re)conversion story from my favorite Lay Dominican Postulant about St. John of the Cross. 

"Con la autoridad del Sumo Pontífice Gregorio XIII..."
With these words San Juan de la Cruz hears his prison sentence pronounced. Around him, Tostado, Maldonado and other unkind faces glare at him with no sign of Christ in their rotten hearts. The only loving face he sees when he closes his eyes is the image of Jesus and his last visit with Teresa de Cepeda, that wonderful woman who sang so beautifully, even when she was feeling ill, who understood him and could hold intelligent conversations with him better than any man, about real things, not material things.

Saint John of the Cross was the first saint I reached out to in my first dark night of the soul in Denver, Colorado. The elders at the Denver Church of Christ, a Fundamentalist Born-Again non-denominational church that I had served for months, deemed my views heretical and when they found me with my friend Leete, also a Born-Again Christian, but from a different Fundamentalist Church that allowed musical instruments in worship, they condemned me to house imprisonment and corrective instruction under the tutelage of a kind man who explained how worried he was for my soul.

It was the day I found Sanctuary at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Erin, who was going through her own dark night herself. We felt like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, and we found sanctuary at the Altar of Peace and answers from a Priest who never made an appearance in the news for all his good deeds, and never will. The news doesn't care for such priests, for the news and the false Christians all serve the same false god of nationalism, pharisaical rules devoid of spirit, and hate.

I returned to my Catholic faith that day, and gained a female friend who wanted nothing more from me than my friendship, and that can be just as beautiful as any other road.

Evangelize

LK 7:18B-23

Lectio

At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”  When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind.  And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.  And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” (Lk 7:18b-23)

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John is in prison but must hear news of Jesus’ ministry. John can’t do anything from prison, so he sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus right out, if He is v. 19 “…the One Who is to come…” The holy scriptures make frequent references to a coming prophet, Mal 3:1, Deut 18:15. It is understood by John and his disciples that the prophetic office would find its completion in a Messiah. And when John’s disciples come upon Jesus healing the sick, they quickly think of Isa 29: 18-19; 35: 5-6. They hopefully ask Jesus, “Are you the One…?” They are told to report back to John “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard…” And when Jesus quotes Isa 29: 18-19; 35: 5-6! John’s disciples must have raced back.

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John’s two disciples are told to tell John v. 22 “what you have seen and heard.” This is what we are to do, not only John’s disciples and Jesus’ apostles. Tell the world about Jesus. Spread the Good News. Evangelize. The apostles will carry this mission out even when persecuted. Do we?

John is also warned v. 23 “And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” Jesus is warning us not to hinder God’s plan. Jesus’ Good News is to proclaim “glad tiding to the poor…a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Luke 4: 18-19) Do not block Jesus. Accept Him. Help spread His Good News. 

Today is also the Memorial of St. John of the Cross. St. John was an sixteenth century Spanish mystical poet. He is famous for writing “The Dark Night of the Soul.” This meditation closes with St. John’s words of prayer. You must love Jesus to work for Him effectively. Love Him and tell the world. 

“No matter how much individuals do through their own efforts, they cannot actively purify themselves enough to be disposed in the least degree for the divine union of the perfection of love. God must take over and purge them in that fire that is dark for them, as we will explain.”  (St. John of the Cross, Dark Night of the Soul) 

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My Jesus, we wish to do great deeds for You. Help us with Your grace to do Your Will. Through our preaching of the Good News, may our work please You. May everyone come to know You. You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Contemplatio: 

Jesus is the promised Messiah.  May our lives give witness to this Truth.  Be open to God’s plan.