A Song of Union

O Living Flame of Love

John of the Cross · 1542–1591

From the far side of the dark night, John sings of union — a living flame of love burning in the soul's deepest center. Pray his stanza slowly, and let the Spirit's fire be welcomed, not feared.

St John of the Cross, The Living Flame of Love, stanza 1 (trans. Kavanaugh & Rodriguez, ICS).