Stanza 12
—
ESPOSA:
¡Oh cristalina fuente,
si en esos tus semblantes plateados
formases de repente
los ojos deseados
que tengo en mis entrañas dibujados!
—
BRIDE:
O spring like crystal!
If only, on your silvered-over faces,
You would suddenly form
the eyes I have desired,
which I bear sketched deep within my heart!
Excerpt of Saint John +’s teaching on stanza 12:
At this period the soul feels that she is rushing toward God as rapidly as a falling stone when nearing its center…She knows, too, that she is like a sketch or the first draft of a drawing and calls out to the one who did the sketch to finish the painting and image…
With this burning desire she [the soul] exclaims, which is the meaning of this stanza: O faith of Christ, my Bridegroom, would that you might show me clearly now the truths of my Beloved that you have infused in my soul and are covered with obscurity and darkness (for faith, as the theologians say, is an obscure habit), in such a way that what you communicate to me in inexplicit and obscure knowledge, you would show suddenly, clearly, and perfectly, changing it into a manifestation of glory!
Personal reflection on stanza 12:
The imagery in this stanza is so luxurious. For me, savoring the images presented here is more spiritually sweet than discursive analysis on the verses’ meaning (as wonderful as SJ+’s commentary is). Indeed, there is an alluring and inviting sparkle in the impression on my imagination made by the suggestion of crystal fountains that are silvery and that suddenly form the eyes that are also sketched in my heart. These images and the sequence of action described by them might seem highly abstract. Have you ever had an experience, though, of gazing adoringly at either a sacramental (like a holy icon) or the Blessed Sacrament when suddenly you felt like there were holy eyes gazing back at you? I think this type of experience–this sudden sense of holiness staring back at you through the substance of your faith–might be akin to what SJ+ pleads for here: that the crystal spring of our faith be silvered-over with the eyes that are also sketched in our heart.
God, you are so mysterious. You speak to me in beautiful and obscure ways. Please let the darkness of my faith periodically erupt into spiritual sight.
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