OUR DESIRE TO PRAISE GOD MAKES US LONG FOR HEAVEN
The loving soul realizes that it cannot satisfy its desire to praise its Beloved as long as it lives in the midst of the miseries of this world. It knows that the praises given in heaven to the divine goodness are sung in a melody infinitely more pleasing. O God, it says, how admirable are the praises poured out by these blessed spirits before the throne of my heavenly King! How glorious are the praises they offer![1] What happiness to hear this melody of holy eternity! In it takes place a meeting of dissimilar voices and unequal tones. They form these admirable harmonies. In them, all the chords progress one after the other by a continual flow of and unfathomable union of harmony. We hear resounding everywhere perpetual Alleluias.
The voices for their sudden burst are compared to thunder peals, to trumpets, to the sound of the waves of a stormy sea (Rev 19:6). These voices for their incomparable softness and sweetness are compared to the melody of harps, delicately and delightfully played by the hands of eminent artists. All these voices harmonise to sing the joyful paschal hymn: Alleluia, praise God, amen, praise God (Rev 14:2; 19:1-6). Know, Theotimus, that a voice comes out of the divine throne. It does not cease inviting the inhabitants of the glorious heavenly Jerusalem: Praise our God, all you his servants and all who fear him small and great (Rev 19:5). To this all this innumerable multitude of saints, choirs of angels, and choirs of men and women gathered together respond, singing with all their strength: Alleluia,Praise God.
What is this wonderful voice coming from the throne of God announcing Alleluias to the elect? It is nothing but delight [gratifying love]. They receive it within their heart. It makes them experience the sweetness of divine perfections. From this, benevolent love is born in them. It is the living source of divine praises. Thus, in fact, the delight emanating from the throne makes the saints aware of the greatness of God. Benevolent love inspires them to pour out in response the perfumes of praise before the throne of God. Hence, as a response they sing eternally Alleluia. It means, Praise God. The delight comes to the heart from the throne. Benevolent love goes from the heart to the throne. O, how lovable is this temple where everything resounds in praises! What sweetness for those who live in this sacred dwelling! There, so many Philomels and heavenly nightingales sing canticles of eternal sweetness with this holy emulation of love.
The heart, in this world, can neither sing nor hear divine praises to its satisfaction. It enters into earnest desires to be freed from the bonds of this life. It is to go to the eternal life where we praise our heavenly Beloved so perfectly. These desires seize the heart. Sometimes they become very powerful and compelling in the heart of these saintly lovers. These powerful desires create a dislike for all things earthly. They make the soul completely languishing and sick with love. Indeed the passionate [love] sometimes becomes so intense that, if God allows it, we die.
Thus, this glorious and seraphic lover St. Francis [of Assisi] had practised for a long time this intense love for praising God. Finally, in his last years, he received an assurance of his eternal salvation by a very special revelation. After it, he could not restrain his joy. Day after day, he was being burnt out as if his life and soul were evaporating. It was like incense on the fire of burning desires which he had to see his Master, to praise him unceasingly. Thus as these flames increased anew everyday, his soul left his body in an intense yearning towards heaven. For divine providence wished that he die uttering these sacred words: Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, you will deal bountifully with me (Ps 142:7) giving me the peace longed for.
Theotimus, please see this spirit which like a nightingale is enclosed in the cage of his body. In it, it cannot sing to its content the praises of his eternal love. It knows that it can warble and practise its song better if it can reach the sky. There it can enjoy its freedom in the company of other Philomels among the beautiful and blossoming hills of that country. So it exclaims: Alas! O Lord of my life, by your loving kindness deliver me, poor that I am, from the cage of my body. Take me out of this tiny prison so that freed from this slavery I can fly to heaven above. There my companions are waiting for me to join me in their choir and surround me with their joy. There, Lord, joining my voice to theirs, I shall make a sweet harmony of voices and enchanting melodies, singing , praising and extolling your mercy.
This admirable saint was like an orator who wishes to finish and conclude all he said in a short [pithy] sentence. He puts this happy end to all his wishes and desires, of which those last words were a summary. Those were words to which he bound his soul so strongly that he expired in breathing them forth. O, God, Theotimus, what a gentle and dear death was this! Death, happy, loving; love holy, mortal.[2]
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[1] Literally, how their benedictions are worthy to be blessed.
[2] Love is mortal in the sense that the intensity of Divine love can cause death, if God permits it, as the physical body will not be able to withstand the onslaught of love. See TLG, Bk VII, Chs. 11,12, 13,