St. John of the Cross is known as one of the greatest Spanish Poets. Thankfully, he was asked to expound upon his poems which resulted in the classics we may be familiar with…such as “The Spiritual Canticle,” “The Dark Night,” and “The Living Flame of Love.” Someone new to St. John of the Cross may complain, however, that he didn’t write very much about the Blessed Virgin Mary. This presentation by Lynn Bete, a professed Discalced Carmelite Secular in Dayton, OH, may change their perspective on that topic. What were the major Marian influences in St. John of the Cross’s life? How did our Blessed Mother draw him to come and to stay in Carmel? What does he write about our dear Blessed Mother? How can he be called totally Marian?
Sources:
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD and Otilio Rodriguez, OCD
“The Mariology of Saint John of the Cross” by Br. John-Mary of Jesus Crucified, OCD
https://discalcedcarmel.org/the-mariology-of-saint-john-of-the-cross/
“Mary and the Holy Spirit in the Writings of John of the Cross” by Emmanuel J. Sullivan, OCD
http://blesslife.org/ourgarden/maryspirit.html
Passages from St. John of the Cross:
God alone moves these souls [who have reached habitual union with God] toward those works that are in harmony with his will and ordinance, and they cannot be moved toward others. Thus the works and prayer of these souls always produce their effect.
Such were the prayer and the works of our Lady, the most glorious Virgin Raised from the very beginning to this high estate, she never had the form of any creature impressed in her soul, nor was she moved by any, for she was always moved by the Holy Spirit.
~ Ascent of Mount Carmel 3.2.10
The discreet lover does not care to ask for what she lacks and desires, but only indicates this need so the Beloved may do what he pleases. When the Blessed Virgin spoke to her beloved Son at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, she did not ask directly for the wine, but merely remarked: They have no wine.
~ Commentary on The Spiritual Canticle 2.8
You will not take from me, my God, what you once gave me in your only Son, Jesus Christ, in whom you gave me all I desire…
Mine are the heavens and mine is the earth. Mine are the nations, the just are mine, and mine the sinners. The angels are mine, and the Mother of God, and all things are mine; and God himself is mine and for me, because Christ is mine and all for me.
~ Sayings of Light and Love #27 and #28
Then he called
the archangel Gabriel
and sent him to
the virgin Mary,
at whose consent
the mystery was wrought,
in whom the Trinity
clothed the Word with flesh.
and though Three work this,
it is wrought in the One;
and the Word lived incarnate
in the womb of Mary.
And he who had only a Father
now had a Mother too…
~ Romances 8
Christmas Refrain
The Virgin, weighed
with the Word of God,
comes down the road:
if only you'll shelter her.
Silence…the Language of God (Less is More), by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Saint Teresa of Avila and the Holy Spirit, by Teresa Trygstad, OCDS
Carmel and the Holy Spirit, by Marika Zimmerman, OCDS
Living Our Carmelite Vocation through the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, by Lynn Bete, OCDS
Advent 2021: Where’s God in All That? by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
The Holy Trinity, the 7th Mansion, and the Sacrament of Matrimony, byDeacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Dealing with Annoyances and Difficult People by Teresa Trygstad, OCDS
When God Feels Distant…He’s Closer than You Think, by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Ratio Institutionis from The Book of Documents by Colleen Sollinger, OCDS
Discernment: An Encounter with the Lord, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Vows in the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, presented by Colleen Sollinger, OCDS
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross: The Price of Love, presented by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Engaging the World But Not of the World, with Mark Olson, OCDS
What the Soul is to the Body, by Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Mystery: The Threshold of Divine Love, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
Part 4: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally
Part 3: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally
Part 2: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally
Part 1: Courage in the Face of Opposition: What the Carmelites Can Teach Us About Living Counter-culturally
Inspired by the Holy Spirt, with Deacon Rusty Baldwin, OCDS
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