The Poems of Love and Longing for God of St. John of the Cross

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

What kind of poetry did John of the cross write?

John of the Cross is considered one of the foremost poets in Spanish. Although his complete poems add up to fewer than 2500 verses, two of them, the Spiritual Canticle and the Dark Night of the Soul, are widely considered masterpieces of Spanish poetry, both for their formal style and their rich symbolism and imagery.

Thhe Spiritual Canticle (file below) of the soul has a self written explanation of the verses he wrote on page 18.
Read the passion and the extreme longing for our God. What pleasure there is in loving God!

Here is one of St Johns shorter poem but shows how much he loved and longed for God. One that tastes of God’s love will find that it fills and expand in you changing you. He changes you and every personal interaction with loving heart he has and He gives you:

The Living Flame Of Love
by St John of the Cross

1. O living flame of love
that tenderly wounds my soul
in its deepest center! Since
now you are not oppressive,
now consummate! if it be your will:
tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!

2. O sweet cautery,
O delightful wound!
O gentle hand! O delicate touch
that tastes of eternal life
and pays every debt!
In killing you changed death to life.
3. O lamps of fire!
in whose splendors
the deep caverns of feeling,
once obscure and blind,
now give forth, so rarely, so exquisitely,
both warmth and light to their Beloved.
4. How gently and lovingly
you wake in my heart,
where in secret you dwell alone;
and in your sweet breathing,
filled with good and glory,
how tenderly you swell my heart with love.

Magenta · Sep 4, 2022

John Michael Talbot - One Dark Night
From the album The Lover and the Beloved

This piece is translated from St. John of the Cross. He (John of the Cross) is known for his
great work in theology with an emphasis on the nature of suffering (dark night of the soul).
It was his belief that in order to form a perfect union with God that a mystic must endure suffering.

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

Magenta said:

Yes, directly from St John of the cross.

I am wanting to exactly follow in the footsteps of our Master, including His sufferings. I hear these words “crush me, hurt me, but I know you wont harm my spirit” i guess comes as a response in me to His Spirit…i dont know! I have never suffered greatly, He has blessed me with everything i could want.

Judging from what i see in the chats, you are a sweetheart, caring about others.

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

Magenta said:

ebdesroches said:

thanks for posting the music that was directly from Dark Night

Magenta · Sep 4, 2022

ebdesroches said:

Thank you for your very kind words. You are perhaps fortunate to have never suffered greatly.
Some of human suffering is born of vain imaginings, misdirections of the heart. Max Ehrmann
says in Desiderata: Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not
distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

But perhaps Kahlil Gibran captures it better ~

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
He threshes you to make your naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets
of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your heart you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

From The Prophet (Knopf, 1923). This poem is in the public domain.

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

Magenta said:

Thank you for your very kind words. You are perhaps fortunate to have never suffered greatly.
Some of human suffering is born of vain imaginings, misdirections of the heart. Max Ehrmann
says in Desiderata: Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not
distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

But perhaps Kahlil Gibran captures it better ~

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
He threshes you to make your naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets
of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your heart you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

From The Prophet (Knopf, 1923). This poem is in the public domain.

Emil Gilbrans poem was outstanding.

I know I love Him a lot, but not as much as is possible, just a beginner.

I know He loves me so much that He has to be careful its not too much for me to take.

I guess the wounded feeling of St John is the intense love He feels for God and the extreme longing for His felt presence.

I see that we can be truly saved and not feel anything. I know that He can embrace me for long periods of time sweetly loving me and i know it. That’s a real foretaste of heaven!

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

ebdesroches said:

Yes, directly from St John of the cross.

I am wanting to exactly follow in the footsteps of our Master, including His sufferings. I hear these words “crush me, hurt me, but I know you wont harm my spirit” i guess comes as a response in me to His Spirit…i dont know! I have never suffered greatly, He has blessed me with everything i could want.

Judging from what i see in the chats, you are a sweetheart, caring about others.

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

Magenta said:

Thank you for your very kind words. You are perhaps fortunate to have never suffered greatly.
Some of human suffering is born of vain imaginings, misdirections of the heart. Max Ehrmann
says in Desiderata: Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not
distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Gilbran was raised as a raised as a Christian but accepts on an equal footing all faiths (I don’t). In this poem if you make him Him, I cant see anything wrong with it, and its inspiring.

But perhaps Kahlil Gibran captures it better ~

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
He threshes you to make your naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets
of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your heart you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

From The Prophet (Knopf, 1923). This poem is in the public domain.

Magenta · Sep 4, 2022

ebdesroches said:

Yes, I agree, and I did not know he was raised as a Christian!

I discovered his writings as a teenager (@ 16), and was profoundly moved by them.

I remember thinking, the world surely is a place worth living in if there are those with hearts such as his.

Even if rare

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

Magenta said:

We both are like St John in varying degrees. But it’s the matter of degree and closeness and revelation that God gives us.

It was when I was worshipping Him at the airport waiting for a flight, listening and worshipping Him that He said He loved me and I loved Him. It was that very close encounter over a year ago with Him that has remained and grown deeper. I think that having a worshipful spirit and Him not being very far from our minds day and night with prayer are ways that He reward us with His closeness. I also think not having any unforgiven sin is important. Telling Him how much you love Him is important. Becoming a completely dependent child is important. I have found that when He is close I don’t have to struggle to feel low and nothing, i am nothing and so in love Him.

What I am saying for sure I am just a dumb clay pot, nothing unique. I just don’t understand why everyone doesn’t fall completely in love with Him! His company is so much pleasure!

I may never catch up with St. John of the cross in his intensity and longing for God this side of heaven, but that doesn’t stop me from trying!

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

ebdesroches said:

From reading st John You can see I am a beginner. For John the intense pleasure of His company is mixed with the extreme pain of suffering and the pain of loving Him. All I have experienced is His consolation. Probably much pain lies ahead….and much more pleasure of His company. “Crush me, hurt me, but I know you will not harm my spirit” There is nothing He does out of meanness, He always has my best interest in mind and that I reflect His glory perfectly.

ebdesroches · Sep 4, 2022

ebdesroches said:

We both are like St John in varying degrees. But it’s the matter of degree and closeness and revelation that God gives us.

It was when I was worshipping Him at the airport waiting for a flight, listening and worshipping Him that He said He loved me and I loved Him. It was that very close encounter over a year ago with Him that has remained and grown deeper. I think that having a worshipful spirit and Him not being very far from our minds day and night with prayer are ways that He reward us with His closeness. I also think not having any unforgiven sin is important. Telling Him how much you love Him is important. Becoming a completely dependent child is important. I have found that when He is close I don’t have to struggle to feel low and nothing, i am nothing and so in love Him.

What I am saying for sure I am just a dumb clay pot, nothing unique. I just don’t understand why everyone doesn’t fall completely in love with Him! His company is so much pleasure!

I may never catch up with St. John of the cross in his intensity and longing for God this side of heaven, but that doesn’t stop me from trying!

One other thing helps i believe in my quest for closeness to God and that is speaking in tongues in private. Scripture says it’s for the building up of the person…me.! Works!

ebdesroches · Sep 5, 2022

Magenta said:

Thank you for your very kind words. You are perhaps fortunate to have never suffered greatly.
Some of human suffering is born of vain imaginings, misdirections of the heart. Max Ehrmann
says in Desiderata: Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not
distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

But perhaps Kahlil Gibran captures it better ~

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
He threshes you to make your naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets
of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your heart you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

From The Prophet (Knopf, 1923). This poem is in the public domain.

I copied Emils poem and emailed/texted to my friends. They loved it!

Magenta · Sep 5, 2022

ebdesroches said:

I am not sure who you mean by "Emil"

Kahlil's "poem" comes from perhaps his best known /loved work, The Prophet

It is laid out in a type of question answer format, "Master, speak to us of ______." And he answers....

The Prophet has been translated into over 100 different languages, making it one of the most translated
books in history, as well as one of the best selling books of all time. It has never been out of print. wiki

ebdesroches · Sep 5, 2022

Magenta said:

I translted kahil into Emil…my mistake, thanks for telling me. Sounds like i need to read the prophet

Magenta · Sep 5, 2022

ebdesroches said:

You are very welcome!

There is a full online copy of The Prophet replete with the artwork (his own) he included in the book

You can even listen to it

I once bought a second hand copy and found a large four-leaf clover pressed between the pages

ebdesroches · Sep 5, 2022

Magenta said:

how can i get it please

Magenta · Sep 5, 2022

ebdesroches said:

Can you search for it? I originally included a link but some of the artwork, though subtle, is perhaps somewhat not site appropriate.

So I deleted the link

Since it is in the public domain, it is readily available and easily found

You can read online from a number of sources or downloaded it if you have a reading device

ebdesroches · Sep 5, 2022

Magenta said:

Thanks!

If you have other good things to recommend please do so!

Magenta · Sep 5, 2022

ebdesroches said:

You are welcome

ebdesroches said:

Yes, I know

I was introduced to John Michael Talbot's music 26 or 27 years ago, and though I was not a Christian at the time, very much appreciated it: the gentleness, the seeking, the longing.. and of course, the musicianship

I was just thinking about this, how somewhat wide-ranging my musical tastes are, for at the same time as I was falling in love with his music, I was still rockin' out to U2's Achtung Baby LOL. As to literature, I have read a lot over many years, but perhaps not much in the genre you may be looking for. One of my favorite authors is Anne Rice, and it may strike some people strange that I would recommend the first five books of her vampire chronicles to any Christian or seeker, but she used her characters in those novels to explore and express her own questions and concerns about faith, philosophy, morality, and God. With profundity and great soul-searing anguish, I might add. I have read those five books a number of times

If you would like any modern praise and worship recommendations, I would be happy to oblige

The Poems of Love and Longing for God of St. John of the Cross

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