Contemplative Haven

Apr 22 2009

For This

Published by gabrielle at 1:16 am under Poetry, Saints

When you looked at me
your eyes imprinted your grace
in me;
for this you loved me ardently;
and thus my eyes deserved
to adore what they beheld in you.

[St. John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle, Verse 32]

11 responses so far

11 Responses to “For This”

# MCon 23 Apr 2009 at 8:25 pm

Beautiful!!
# Carolon 24 Apr 2009 at 10:10 am

The little St. de la Cruz’ statement is probably the most honest one ever. It hurt me to read it the first dozen times; I don’t like to think of myself or anyone else as the dust we are.
# gabrielleon 25 Apr 2009 at 2:59 pm

Hi, MC! Hope you are doing fine!

Carol, I love this verse. Don’t understand what you mean, though.
# MCon 26 Apr 2009 at 7:52 pm

Gabrielle I’m doing fine. How have you been? It’s been quite a journey for you this past year. I hope that all is well.
# Gabrielleon 27 Apr 2009 at 1:46 am

I’m doing well too, MC – thanks for asking, and for visiting. Will be stopping by this week to see you and catch up.
# Carolon 27 Apr 2009 at 11:09 pm

Oh, sorry — guess I thought it was as
evident to others as to me: He can only ardently love something of Himself in us.

Perhaps I misunderstand him.
# gabrielleon 28 Apr 2009 at 12:16 am

Carol, thank you; no, you didn’t misunderstand. I went back now and read the three pages of commentary on this verse. I think I was just caught up in that love between the two, and the “theology” of it didn’t even enter my head. Well, I can’t quote it all, but here are a few things that I think refer to what you said, especially the last one.

“By the eyes of the Bridegroom she refers to God’s mercy: He descends in mercy on the soul, impressing and infusing his love and grace in her, making her beautiful and lifting her so high as to make her a partaker of his very divinity.”

“…the cause of his loving her so ardently and intimately was his desire in looking at her to give her grace by which he could find his pleasure in her…. By infusing his grace in the soul, God makes it worthy and capable of his love.”

“…just as God loves nothing outside himself, he bears no love for anything lower than the love he has for himself. He loves all things for himself; thus love becomes the purpose for which he loves. He therefore does not love things because of what they are in themselves. With God, to love the soul is to put her somehow in himself and make her his equal. Thus he loves the soul within himself, with himself, that is, with the very love by which he loves himself. This is why the soul merits the love of God in all her works insofar as she does them in God.”

I can’t say I even mind being dust after reading that. Imagine Him loving us within Himself…
# Carolon 28 Apr 2009 at 7:47 am

Thank you for elaborating–it truly softens the blow! Based on the short quote, I’d been sitting here pondering the inner status of those on the other side of the world who don’t think of God as 3 in 1 and thus, have not been baptised, and thus without being brought into Christ’s life, death and resurrection and without being sent God’s very Spirit Whom they necessarily also don’t believe in, I figure they must wonder how personal God is, especially if their tradition is not that God willed us into being. Also, I was wondering when He first gazes at us — is it while we’re in Original sin?

Seriously, I need a job, lol. Too much think-time, yet not enough mystics perhaps. “With God, to love the soul is to put her somehow in himself and make her his equal” reminds me of His “You did not choose Me– I chose you.” Imagine being chosen.. whew. Yes, whether of dust, sand or cobwebs, it’s alright. He makes it more than alright. And how to tell brothers and sisters on the other side of the world?
# MCon 28 Apr 2009 at 6:04 pm

Gabrielle, no need to stop over, I’ve read and kept up with your blog, I’m not important for a visit, only God is and that’s what matters in all our lives. I’m happy being in the background.
# gabrielleon 29 Apr 2009 at 2:38 pm

Please read my post on St. Catherine of Siena, MC; you are very much appreciated and will be greatly blessed. Big hugs.
# MCon 30 Apr 2009 at 8:11 am

Big hugs to you too! God bless you!