THE STILLNESS OF THE RECOLLECTED SOUL IN ITS BELOVED
The human spirit is thus recollected within itself in God. Sometimes it becomes extremely gentle and attentive to the goodness of its Beloved. So it seems to it that its attention is almost not a concentration, as it is simply and delicately felt. It happens that some rivers flow very gently and smoothly. Hence it appears to those who look at them or sail over them that they do not see or feel any movement, since they do not see any ripple or any flow. It is this loving repose of the soul that the saintly virgin [St] Theresa of Jesus calls “Prayer of quiet". It is scarcely different from what she herself terms, “sleep of the powers," if however I understand well.
Human lovers, indeed, are sometimes quite happy to be close to or within the sight of the person they love. They remain without speaking, without discussing distinctly about their qualities or perfections. It seems that they are satisfied and delighted to taste this beloved presence. This experience of this presence is not on account of any reflection on it but because of a certain delight and stillness which their spirit take in it. My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh that lies between my breasts (Song 1:13). My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies. Until the day breathes and shadows flee (Song 2:16,17). Tell me you whom my soul loves, where you rest, where you sleep at noon; (Song 1:7). Do you see, Theotimus, that the holy Sulamite is quite contented to know that her Beloved is with her? He is either in her bosom or in her garden or elsewhere provided she knows where he is. She is truly the Sulamite as her name implies, fully peaceful, wholly tranquil and in stillness.
This repose[1] that takes place sometimes is so deep in its tranquillity that the whole soul and all its powers remain as if asleep. They do not make any movement or any action whatsoever. The only exception is the will. Even the will does not do anything else than receive the rest and satisfaction which the presence of the Beloved gives it. This is something still more wonderful. The will does not at all feel the repose and the satisfaction it receives. It enjoys it without being aware of it. The will does not think of itself but only of him [the Beloved] whose presence gives it this delight. For example sometimes it happens that we are surprised by a slight sleep in company. We hear only slightly what our friends around us say. We feel the compliments which they give. But it is almost without being aware of it, without feeling that we feel.
However, the human spirit in this peaceful stillness[2] enjoys delicate feelings of divine presence. It may not feel this enjoyment. All the same, it is very evident how this happiness is precious and dear to it, when we want to take it away from the soul or something turns it away from this peaceful stillness. Then the poor person complains, cries, sometimes even weeps like a baby who was awakened before it had enough sleep. This child, by the grief it feels on waking up, shows well the satisfaction it had in sleep. Of this the divine shepherd says: I adjure you, the daughters of Jerusalem by the gazelles and stags of the fields, do not wake up the beloved till she wishes it (Song 2:7). It means let her wake up by herself. No, Theotimus, the human soul experiencing peaceful stillness in God would not forsake this stillness for all the most valuable riches of the world.
Such was almost the stillness of the saintly Mary[3] as she sat at the feet of her Master. She was hearing his holy word (Lk 10:39). Look at her, I pray you, Theotimus! She is sitting in deep calmness. She does not say a word; she does not shed tears; she does not sob; she does not sigh; she does not move at all and she does not pray. Martha, in full eagerness, cross and recross the small hall. Mary does not even think of it. What does she do then? She does nothing but listen. What does it mean to say that she listens? It means that she is there as a chalice of honour to receive drop by drop the myrrh of sweetness which the lips of her Beloved was distilling into her heart (Song 5:13). This divine Lover, jealous of the loving sleep and stillness of his beloved, reproved Martha who wished to awaken her: Martha, Martha you are worried and distracted about many things; there is need of only one thing Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her (Lk 10: 41-42). What was the part or lot of Mary? To remain in peace, in stillness, in quiet, close to her gentle Jesus.
The painters usually portray the beloved St. John at the last supper as not only resting but also sleeping on the bosom of his Master. This is because he was seated in the eastern fashion. So his head was bending to the breast of his dear Friend. He is not sleeping a bodily sleep. There is no appearance whatever of it. I do not doubt that finding himself so close to the breast of eternal loving kindness (Song 1:2,4), he slept a deep mystical and sweet sleep. It is like a loving child which attaches itself to its mothers breast. It sucks milk while sleeping and sleeps while sucking. O God! What delights for this Benjamin, child of joy of the Saviour, to sleep thus between the arms of his Father. This Father, on the following day, like Benoni, son of sorrow (Gn 35:18), recommends him to the breast of his Mother. Nothing is more desirable for the little babe than the bosom of its father and the breast of its mother.
When you experience this simple and child like confidence with our Lord, my dear Theotimus, stay there. Do not move at all to make any conscious acts either of the understanding or of the will. For this simple love of trust and loving sleep of the spirit between the arms of the Saviour includes most perfectly all that you go in search of here and there according to your taste. It is better to sleep on this sacred bosom than to be awake elsewhere, wherever it may be.
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[1] French le repos, la quietude translated as stillness, repose, rest, quietude, quietness mean almost the same.
[2] Same as above
[3] In the French text Magdalene