“She gives us God, or God’s image, or the fruit of His Redemption. Four incidents in Our Lady’s life are pointed out by St. John in this connection. First he remarks on the visit of Our Lady to her cousin Elisabeth, the first act of love after the conception of God’s Son, the first radiation …
“The union with God brings forth fruit and demands certain dispositions. I think it extraordinarily remarkable that St. John of the Cross who evidently always saw Our Lady on the loftiest heights, never reveals her on her way to Mystical union, but only in the glory of her love; in the effect, so to say, …
“In other places in his works as well, St. John of the Cross reminds us that we cannot always soar into the highest regions of the mystical life, but it is again Our Lady who is the image of our union in those regions. She also stands at our side, telling us what we ought …
“When St. John reminds us that especially at the beginning one cannot constantly be in contemplation, he says that the soul should then ever in all its thoughts, acts, good deeds and undertakings have recourse to holy thoughts and meditations, from which it will draw more fervent piety and greater advantage. But above all, should …
“Perhaps it will be a struggle, it may cost dearly. St. John says that that is exactly the reason why he and his brethren must follow Jesus with His cross, stripped of everything and of themselves because they are called to be the Brothers of Our Lady of Carmel, that is, called to be among …
“Let us not always look at the dark night to which St. John introduces us. Light gleams afar and is already breaking through the blackness. With him we chant the words of the Bride: Flores apparuerunt, ‘The flowers are already coming up.’ We cannot always, nay we may even seldom, stay in the contemplation of …
“If anyone still has doubts as to whether the connection which we have traced between all these quotations is correct; whether St. John really saw Our Lady in his mystical ideas as the image of our souls in her most intimate union with God, let him open the book of his poetry in which the …
“Let us not forget it. Ever and again St. John returns to the inexhaustible mystery of the Incarnation. “This knowledge,” he says, “is not the least part of the heavenly bliss.” And he quotes God’s own words: “This is the life eternal, to know Thee, the only true God, together with Thy Son, Whom Thou …
“In this union, the saint proceeds, that which is communicated is God Himself, Who gives Himself to the soul, at the same time restoring her to a peerless loveliness. Both have grown into one, just as – here note the return of the metaphor – just as the pane of glass and sunbeam passing through …
“Here St. John clearly expresses that the Bridegroom, resting in His bride, there celebrates the mystery of His Incarnation. Is it possible without mentioning her name to refer to Our Lady more clearly as the most favored one of all mystically blessed ones, the example of all who seek union with God? He applies to …