Eleventh Meditation

(The Spiritual Canticle - Stanza 20-21)

"No more shall men call you 'Forsaken,' or your land 'Desolate,' but you shall be called 'My Delight,' and your land 'Espoused.' For the LORD delights in you, and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you." (1)


Perfect Bloom

The vast banquet of His delights,
Set on the table of His will,
Sates the greatest of appetites --
Her deepest yearnings have their fill.

Virtues, stable and purified,
Unswayed by emotions' extremes,
Animate all where they abide --
Yielding new life like desert streams.

Now one with Him like wood and fire,
The wild beasts dare not draw near;
Nor can they disturb her desire -
For perfect love casts out all fear.

Transformed into His own being,
As far as mortal state can hold,
Beyond all knowledge and seeing --
Beatitude that can't be told.

A perfect flower in full bloom:
The wedding of bride and Bridegroom.


May the Bridegroom take us completely unto Himself, perfecting us in union with His loving will.

1. Isaiah 62:4-5


(c) Paul Buis, 2005