Eternal Jubilation
August 9, 2010, 6:00 pm
Posted by Robert P. Imbelli
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross who was killed on this day in Auschwitz. A few months before her death she composed for her Carmelite community in Holland a brief novena to the Holy Spirit in seven verses or “Beams.” They comprise a remarkable poetic theology of the Holy Spirit.
The seventh reads:
Are You the sweet song of love and holy awe
That eternally resounds around the Triune throne,
That weds in itself the pure ringing of every being?
The harmony that joins together the members to the Head,
In which each finds the mysterious meaning of being blessed
And joyfully streams forth
Freely surrendered in Your streams:
– Holy Spirit, Eternal Jubilation!
How beautiful! I love Carmelite sprirituality. Thank you, Father, for this post.
There’s an unusual and perhaps not contrary image of the Holy Spirit in St. John of the Cross, from The Spiritual Canticle ch. 37 para. 8. This is less the Holy Spirit in se and more the Holy Spirit as known, or rather tasted, by people:
“The wine of the pomegranates which the bride says that she and the Bridegroom will taste is the fruition and joy of the love of God which overflows the soul in the understanding and knowledge of His mysteries. For as the many grains of the pomegranate pressed together give forth but one wine, so all the marvels and magnificence of God, infused into the soul, issue in but one fruition and joy of love, which is the drink of the Holy Spirit, and which the soul offers at once to God the Word, its Bridegroom, with great tenderness of love.”
I found this a source of comfort. Thank you.
Kathy,
Thank you for the reference to “The Spiritual Canticle.” In meditating upon the Holy Spirit, I think poetry and poetic images are particularly fitting — and song: “Veni, Creator Spiritus!”
I am also struck by the living stream of Carmelite spirituality from Teresa and John to Therese and Teresa Benedicta.
In the book, “Edith Stein: Selected Writings” (Templegate) there is a reproduction of the novena in her own hand. Very, very moving. “Heiliger Geist — Ewiger Jubel!”
The book “Edith Stein: A Biography” by Waltraud Herbstrith (also a Carmelite) is, IMO, an excellent introduction to the life of this remarkable and multi-faceted woman. The author draws liberally on Stein’s own words in tracing the future saint’s path from Judaism to atheism to Catholicism.
A Dominican writer (St. Thomas) waxes poetic about the form of the dove and the seven gifts. This is part of ST III.39.6 ad 4:
“In order to designate the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost, which are signified by the properties of the dove. For the dove dwells beside the running stream, in order that, on perceiving the hawk, it may plunge in and escape. This refers to the gift of wisdom, whereby the saints dwell beside the running waters of Holy Scripture, in order to escape the assaults of the devil. Again, the dove prefers the more choice seeds. This refers to the gift of knowledge, whereby the saints make choice of sound doctrines, with which they nourish themselves. Further, the dove feeds the brood of other birds. This refers to the gift of counsel, with which the saints, by teaching and example, feed men who have been the brood, i.e. imitators, of the devil. Again, the dove tears not with its beak. This refers to the gift of understanding, wherewith the saints do not rend sound doctrines, as heretics do. Again, the dove has no gall. This refers to the gift of piety, by reason of which the saints are free from unreasonable anger. Again, the dove builds its nest in the cleft of a rock. This refers to the gift of fortitude, wherewith the saints build their nest, i.e. take refuge and hope, in the death wounds of Christ, who is the Rock of strength. Lastly, the dove has a plaintive song. This refers to the gift of fear, wherewith the saints delight in bewailing sins.”
If I had to describe my idea of heaven (why anyone would ask, heaven knows!) I would, of course, choose Dante’s — peace, light, music and dance. And here it is in this lovely little piece.
Curious Bob that you didn’t allude to her pre-Carmelite existence as Edith Stein (even in paranthesis). Why is that?