In our current city life, that is always aglow with fluorescent and neon light, everywhere we turn. When was the last time we lift our heads above, to behold the night skies, dimly lighting the remaining hours of the day, as we prepare for the day's rest? The passage of the moon throughout the night, and the light that it cast on this earth?
In his captivity, St John of the Cross, would have been very familiar with this natural light, that falls on the pages of his prayer book ... which leads him to pen the Poem '
The Dark Night' or '
Noche Oscura'
One Dark Night,
fired with love's urgent longings
- ah, the sheer grace!-
I went out unseen,
my house being all stilled.
And in Spanish, his native language
En una noche oscura,
con ansias, en amores inflamada,
oh dichosa ventura
sali sin ser notada
estando ya mi casa sosegada
[First Stanza of his Poem, 'The Dark Night' or 'Noche Oscura' taken from page 50, of 'The Collected Works of Saint John of the Cross', Revised Edition]
And when the light in our lives becomes less bright, let us bear in mind that the stars shine brighter, in the deepest darkness of the night, if we have the eyes of faith, to remain hopeful.
#Contemplative #Carmelite # Spirituality #Prayer #Advent #Light #Detachment #Life #God
