In light of the Webb Telescope and the potential for humanity awakening anew to a new and shared cosmology, we continue our meditations on the sacred cosmos and Earth as seen through the poetry of John of the Cross, sixteenth century reformer and mystic.
He instructs us that “the most exalted delight of all” that the soul enjoys is “the whistling of love-stirring breezes,” occurring as an “unveiling of truth about the divinity and a revelation of divine secrets.” A “tranquil” night comes along—not a “dark night”–in which “the spirit elevated to the divine light is in quiet.”
He calls this “the rising dawn” that occurs “at the break of day.” One’s eyes are opened to an “unexpected light.”
There follows “silent music” in which
...the soul becomes aware of Wisdom’s wonderful harmony and sequence in the variety of God’s creatures and works. Each of them is endowed with a certain likeness of God and in its own way gives voice to what God is in it.
It follows that creatures are not an obstacle to the divine, but become “for the soul a harmonious symphony of sublime music surpassing all concerts and melodies of the world.”
The soul calls her Beloved “silent music because in Him she knows and enjoys this symphony of spiritual music.”
A “sounding solitude” is “almost identical with silent music” because human faculties “can receive in a most sonorous way the spiritual sound of the excellence of God, in Himself and in His creatures.”
“Each of the blessed in its own degree of glory gives” gratitude and praise “continually to God.” This praise is like music since “each one possess God’s gifts differently, each one sings His praises differently, and all of them together form a symphony of love, as of music.”
Indeed, all creatures, higher and lower ones alike, according to what each is in itself has received from God, raise their voice in testimony to what God is.
Indeed, each in its own way, bearing God within itself according to its capacity, magnifies God. And thus all these voices form one voice of music praising the grandeur, wisdom, and wonderful knowledge of God.
John recognizes these teachings as “the meaning of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Wisdom, when He said: “The spirit of the Lord filled the whole earth” and “this world which contains all things has knowledge of the voice.”
In fact, “all things give testimony to God. Thus the “silent music” and “sounding solitude” are the “Beloved” also.
But so too is “the supper that refreshes, and deepens love.” For “supper affords lovers refreshment, satisfaction, and love.”
Adapted from Matthew Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing From Global Faiths, pp. 110-113. Translation from Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD and Otilio Rodriguez, OCD, pp. 462-474.
To read the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: Flowering desert in the spring, Namaqualand, Goegap Nature Reserve, Northern Cape, South Africa. Photo by Winfried Bruenken on Wikimedia Commons
Queries for Contemplation
What teachings found here from John of the Cross move you to love and to action?
Recommended Reading
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
16 thoughts on “John of the Cross on the Sacredness of Creation, Part II”
Matthew, Today you begin with a poem by St. John of the Cross, which says that what the soul enjoys the most is, “the whistling of love-stirring breezes,” occurring as an “unveiling of truth about the divinity and a revelation of divine secrets.” A “tranquil” night comes along—not a “dark night”–in which “the spirit elevated to the divine.” I appreciate the fact that it is a “tranquil” night and NOT a “dark night.” And John goes on to say that: “the soul becomes aware of Wisdom’s wonderful harmony and sequence in the variety of God’s creatures and works.” John’s creation spirituality, as revealed in his poem, moves me to strive to be more of a mystic-prophet–demonstrating both love and action in my life. Also: “the meaning of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Wisdom, when it says: ‘The spirit of the Lord filled the whole earth’ and ‘this world which contains all things has knowledge of the voice’”–which makes sense in view of his vision.
Knowing that all things interconnect in an orchestrated whole, to be part of that attraction (action) that draws the parts together from their innermost, whose joining energy (spirit) is love. God is a verb who lives in, among, and between the parts, holding them together.
The dew of the morning mist, caresses my soul with wet kisses from my Beloved. This is what these past two days of DM’s on John of the Cross have been for me. Mathew, would you please be so kind as to recommend a book that I can purchase on the poetry and teachings of John of the Cross… for what you have been sharing with us, has been so profoundly beautiful, that I find myself hungering and thirsting for more.
You might consider the translations of Mirabai Starr, who loves John of the Cross. Maybe others have different recommendations. Thank you for your always wise and loving thoughts.
Thank you Sue for Mirabia Starrs’ recommended translation, which I have. I also came across The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, translated by Keiran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez… for those whom may be interested in reading more… like myself.
Matthew, yesterday I mentioned that I was feeling sad and grieving for the Dark Night of our sacred planet Mother Earth, All Her creatures and graces, and all humanity. The reason is the increasing suffering of both and the imminent (next 10~20yrs.) destruction of most of Mother Earth and the ongoing extinction of most of Her species, including our own. I am working through my own denial in my grief process. Two videos that I strongly recommend to understand this reality honestly are found in Michael Dowd’s website, postdoom.com, : 1) Robert Hunziker, environmental journalist for a summary of the worldwide research science, under the tab of Conversations; and 2) “Ten Inevitibles: Post Doom, No Gloom” (Synthesis/Culmination, 2hrs.) by Michael Dowd under the tab of Resources and YouTube.
Matthew, in case this Comment is censored, I hope you receive it and respond.
Blessings ?❤️??
St. John gifts us with poetic mystical theology. Through his words, people can catch glimpses of the beauty of mysticism. Mystical theologians said the same things, but not usually in poetry. Same beauty, different words. Both are meant to point people toward the inner, transformative re-alignment of the soul that is the mystical Path, a lifelong journey that tries to deeply experience, express and share mystical Love and Wisdom. This Love is all-encompassing, all-embracing, everywhere, One.
Melinda, You write today: “Mystical theologians said the same things, but not usually in poetry. Same beauty, different words.” And I would like to emphasize that even more, because poetry hits us at a level that theology cannot touch. It hits us at the level of our emotions and sometimes even in the body, whereas theology works with the head. It was once written, “a universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible but necessary.” And poetry, like all art is an experience, that has to be experienced.
The idea that God’s voice is expressed by everything everywhere is so beautiful and inspiring. It lifts my spirits away from the deadly poison infecting our politicians toward the notion that there are still things that I can do, ways that I can serve. And on a lighter note, here is a little song that expresses the same idea; we sang it in vacation bible school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43bp60pyFNQ
Sue thanks for the link. I listened to the Uplifted Puppets in Lockdown version, of your childhood song… and I smiled and laughed and laughed with such childhood joy. Thanks for this gift, as it certainly lightened my spirits. Often I take the spiritually journey way to seriously… and I’m learning as of late, that laughter and joy is indeed very good and beautiful medicine. Seems to me that God delights in this too.
Delightful!
This is a much more solemn and even frightening sound that reminds me that all of creation is groaning, as Paul writes in Romans 8:22-23. But is it the pain of birth or of the prelude to death? https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/08/23/nasa-black-hole-sound/
Sue, they’re one and the same, two parts of the same movement (death/renewal).
Of course, Joe, ultimately. Did you listen to the sounds of space?
Yes, eerie.
I love these words. “the whistling of love-stirring breezes.” When I have been in my darkest times, I have read John of the Cross. If he could find the magnificence of God in the dark of his cell–a former latrine barely large enough for his body–I can find beauty in my darkest hours. I rise in hope of the view that “each in [our] own way” can magnify God. “And thus all [our] voices form one voice of music praising the grandeur, wisdom, and wonderful knowledge of God.” This strengthens my belief that my poetry and playwriting, my brother’s songwriting, my friends’ paintings, other friends’ photography, and others’ gardening and cooking all serve God as co-creators, that all evince God’s spectacular glory.