“Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the
staircase and the vehicle, like the ‘throne of mercy over the Ark of the
Covenant,’ and ‘the mystery hidden from the ages.’ A man should turn his full
attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross,
full of faith, hope, and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by
gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with
Christ a ‘pasch,’ that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he
will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he
will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulcher, as if he
were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one
who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: ‘Today
you will be with me in paradise.’”—St. Bonaventure (1225-1274), Journey of the Mind to God
(Painting of St. Bonaventure, 1650, by Francisco de
Zurbaran.)
No comments:
Post a Comment