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"Obedience is the true holocaust which we sacrifice to God on the altar of our hearts."

St Philip Neri

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"Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it."

St Philip Neri

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"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."

St Augustine

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St John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)

THE SPIRITUAL CANTICLE

by St John of the Cross

CONTENTS

Introduction To The Spiritual Canticle

Prologue to the Spiritual Canticle

Stanzas between the Soul and the Bridegroom (The whole canticle)

STANZA 1

The Search for the Beloved (stanzas 1-12).

The initial burst into song; the bride laments the absence of her bridegroom.

First steps of the spiritual journey.

Longings and the weariness of impatient love.

Preparations for Perfect Union (stanzas 13-21).

Encounters of loving union. Urgent desires for complete freedom from inner and outer obstacles.

STANZAS 14 and 15

STANZA 16

STANZA 18

STANZA 19

STANZAS 20 and 21

STANZA 22

Full Union (stanzas 22-40).

The mutual, total surrender and gift of self in spiritual marriage.

Comparison of the present with the past.

Delights of union and desires for the vision of glory.

STANZA 23

STANZA 24

STANZA 25

STANZA 26

STANZA 27

STANZA 28

STANZA 29

STANZA 30

STANZA 31

STANZA 32

STANZA 33

STANZA 34

STANZA 35

STANZA 36

STANZA 37

STANZA 38

STANZA 39

STANZA 40

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