WHOEVER KNOWS HOW TO DIE IN ALL,
WILL HAVE
LIFE IN ALL.
SAYINGS OF LIGHT AND LOVE 160
JOHN OF THE CROSS
WHOEVER
FLEES
PRAYER
FLEES
ALL THAT IS GOOD.
SAYINGS OF LIGHT AND LOVE 169
JOHN OF THE CROSS
THE SOLITARY BIRD
THE TRAITS OF THE SOLIATRY BIRD ARE FIVE;
FIRST, IT SEEKS THE HIGHEST PLACE
SECOND, IT WITHSTANDS NO COMPANY
THIRD, IT HOLDS ITS BEAK IN THE AIR
FOURTH, IT HAS NO DEFINATE COLOUR
FIFTH, IT SINGS SWEETLY.
THESE TRAITS MUST BE POSSESSED BY THE CONTEMPLATIVE SOUL.
IT MUST RISE ABOVE PASSING THINGS, PAYING NO MORE HEED TO THEM THAN IF THEY DO NOT EXIST.
IT MUST LIKEWISE BE SO FOND OF SILENCE AND SOLITUDE THAT IS DOES NOT TOLERATE THE COMPANY OF ANOTHER CREATURE.
IT MUST HOLD ITS BEAK IN THE AIR OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, RESPONDING TO HIS INSPIRATIONS, THAT BY DOING SO IT BECOMES WORTHY OF HIS COMPANY.
IT MUST HAVE NO DEFINITE COLOUR, DESIRING TO DO NOTHING DEFINITE OTHER THAN THE WILL OF GOD.
IT MUST SING SWEETLY IN THE CONTEMPLATION AND LOVE OF ITS BRIDEGROOM.
SAYINGS OF LIGHT AND LOVE 121
JOHN OF THE CROSS
