Feast of St. John of the Cross
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. John of the Cross. A 16th century reformer of the Carmelite monastic movement, he is best known for his writings "The Dark Night of the Soul."
He was imprisoned and beaten for 9 months by his own order because of his zeal to reform it!
Despite the abuses suffered, he remained faithful to Christ and the Church and is now considered a Doctor of the Church for his theological insights.
"What more do you want, o soul! And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfaction and kingdom -- your beloved whom you desire and seek? Desire him there, adore him there. Do not go in pursuit of him outside yourself. You will only become distracted and you won't find him, or enjoy him more than by seeking him within you."
St. John of the Cross, You understand more than most the sense of abandonment and loneliness.
Today, I ask you to intercede for those of us who struggle with our own "dark nights" that we would be drawn closer to Christ.
He was imprisoned and beaten for 9 months by his own order because of his zeal to reform it!
Despite the abuses suffered, he remained faithful to Christ and the Church and is now considered a Doctor of the Church for his theological insights.
"What more do you want, o soul! And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfaction and kingdom -- your beloved whom you desire and seek? Desire him there, adore him there. Do not go in pursuit of him outside yourself. You will only become distracted and you won't find him, or enjoy him more than by seeking him within you."
St. John of the Cross, You understand more than most the sense of abandonment and loneliness.
Today, I ask you to intercede for those of us who struggle with our own "dark nights" that we would be drawn closer to Christ.
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 8:37 AM
1 Comments:
Reading this brief post about St. John of the Cross has spoken volumes to me. Timely. I'm being very drawn to the Carmelite movement and need to pursue the one that has recently begun in Omaha. Thanks, TJ.
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