Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: The Spirituality of a solitary bird

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

The Spirituality of a solitary bird

I was reading through the Maxims of St John of the Cross today, and out of the different quotes that spoke to me - this particular one stood out. Partially because of the detail it has compared to his other maxims, but also for recognising the importance of understanding it correctly in context.

It can be easy to read this, and then have some pious romantic and idealistic ideas of what it means to be “contemplative” and to try to act aloof to the world and people around us. But this would be to misinterpret him.

The analogy of a bird is one he uses more than once. It symbolising rising up to God and being free, without being weighed down or constrained by attachments. So the emphasis in this quote below would be to start with the premise of the foundation of the spiritual life singing sweetly in the presence of the Beloved. Only from this starting point do the other points make sense and can be understood correctly from a theological viewpoint without misunderstanding.

The focus for St John of the Cross is always only for God in all things, and so by always being attentive to God and focused on His loving presence - that is how you are able to remain in your ordinary day to day life, fulfilling your duties and being charitable to all those around you. But without heing held captive to people or things, and so there is never a moment or situation in which you cannot contemplate God or sing sweetly of his loving presence when that is your primary focus. Authentic Catholic spirituality is not escapism, but rather love of God and neighbour are always interchangeable and never mutually exclusive.

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Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.