Uncloistered

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  “She gazed ahead through a long reach of future days strung together like pearls in a rosary, every one like the others, and all smooth and flawless and innocent, and her heart went up in thankfulness. Outside was the fervid summer afternoon; the air was filled with the sounds of the busy harvest of men and birds and bees; there were halloos, metallic clatterings, sweet calls, and long hummings. Louisa sat, prayerfully numbering her days, like an uncloistered nun.” A New England Nun By Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852–1930)

One Dark Night

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A short poem written in the mid-1500s by a Spanish monk was so deeply infused with passion and meaning that the same monk wrote two books explaining the poem. The poem in its entirety (translated from Spanish) is given here, in song.



The poem describes the journey of the soul to God, "wherein the soul sings of the happy chance which it had in passing through the dark night of faith, in detachment and purgation of itself, to union with The Beloved." Think of it: two whole books to explore the depths of all that means.

These are a necessary read for every soul going through a dark night.

The first book, "Ascent of Mount Carmel"
The second book, "Dark Night of the Soul"

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