Dark Night of the Soul, Chapter 3
Friday, December 14, 2012
Christmas Buzzkill courtesy of John of the Cross
Posted by
Fr Joe
And others you
will see adorned with agnusdeis and relics and tokens,like
children with trinkets. Here I condemn the attachment of the heart, and
the affection which they have for the nature, multitude and curiosity of
these things, inasmuch as it is quite contrary to poverty of spirit
which considers only the substance of devotion, makes use only of what
suffices for that end and grows weary of this other kind of multiplicity
and curiosity. For true devotion must issue from the heart, and consist
in the truth and substances alone of what is represented by spiritual
things; all the rest is affection and attachment proceeding from
imperfection; and in order that one may pass to any kind of perfection
it is necessary for such desires to be killed.
Dark Night of the Soul, Chapter 3
Dark Night of the Soul, Chapter 3