Be
the Light
that rises
in darkness –

Open up
to the Source
of who you are-

Allow love
like helium
to illuminate
your soul.

We are living in dark times.

If we focus on the negativity in the news and on social media, it’s easy to get sucked into the dark gravity of fear-based, divisive thinking.

But we can make a better choice!

There are many ways to stay focused on the loving, light-filled presence of God, who has the power to uplift and unite us all!

One of my favorites is reading mystical poetry!

The mystics didn’t deny that the darkness exists – they found a way to blaze through it with an eternal love that is more powerful than any struggles we go through here on earth.

With the trail of breadcrumbs they left behind through their writings, we can open up into the living, breathing reality of God’s unifying love all around us and begin to receive the a more inclusive, loving, light-filled mindset they embodied so beautifully.

Mystical poetry is like medicine for our souls, a gateway into the heart of God, where divisions, fears, misunderstanding, doubts melt away into the bliss of divine love, perspective and wisdom, which we can all benefit from in these tumultuous times.I encourage you to make a cup of tea and prayerfully ponder the words of these great mystics below! Or better yet, grab a group of friends and have a socially distanced mystical poetry night, and take turns reading out loud to share the experience and discuss. I’m in the process of planning mine right now ;)Either way, I encourage you to soak in the grace, strength, light and love of God through these powerful words! Imagine you can experience God as tangibly as these powerful women did because by the grace of God, you can.Vulnerable
by Saint Catherine of Siena
Vulnerable we are, like an infant.
We need each other’s care
or we will
suffer.

I Won’t Take No For An Answer
by Saint Catherine of Siena

“I won’t take no for an answer,”
God began to say
to me

when He opened His arms each night
wanting us to
dance.The Hymns of the Earth
by Saint Catherine of Siena

I wanted to be a hermit and only hear the hymns
of the earth, and the laughter of the sky,and the sweet gossip of the creatures on my limbs,
the forests.I wanted to be a hermit and not see another face
look upon mine and tell me I was not all the beauty in this world.For so many faces do that—
cage us.The wings we have are so fragile
they can break from just
one word, ora glance void
of love.I wanted to live in that cloister of
light’s silencebecause, is it not true, the heart
is so fragile and shy.Consumed in Grace
by Saint Catherine of Siena
I first saw God when I was a child, six years of age.
the cheeks of the sun were pale before Him,
and the earth acted as a shy
girl, like me.Divine light entered my heart from His love
that did never fully wane,though indeed, dear, I can understand how a person’s
faith can at time flicker,for what is the mind to do
with something that becomes the mind’s ruin:
a God that consumes us
in His grace.I have seen what you want;
it is there,a Beloved of infinite
tenderness.

Eternal Trinity
by Saint Catherine of Siena

Eternal Trinity,
Godhead,
mystery deep as the sea,
you could give me no greater gift
than the gift of
yourself.
For you are a fire ever burning and never consumed,
which itself consumes all the selfish love
that fills my being.
Yes, you are a fire that takes away the coldness,
illuminates the mind with its light,
and causes me to know your
truth.
And I know that
you are beauty and wisdom itself.
The food of angels,
you gave yourself to man
in the fire of your
love.

The Sanctuary

Consecrated
by Saint Catherine of Siena

All has been consecrated.
The creatures in the forest know this,
The earth does, the seas do, the clouds know
as does the heart full of
love.
Strange a priest would rob us of this
knowledge
and then empower himself
with the ability
to make holy what
already was.My Nature is Fire
Prayer 12 (XXII)*
by St. Catherine of SienaIn your nature, eternal God,
I shall come to know my nature.And what is my nature, boundless love?
It is fire, because you are nothing but a fire of love.And you have given humankind a share in this nature,
for by the fire of love you created us.And so with all other people and every created thing;
you made them out of love.O ungrateful people!
What nature has your God given you?His very own nature!Are you not ashamed to cut yourself off
from such a noble thing through the guilt of deadly sin?O eternal Trinity, my sweet love!
You, light, give us light.
You, wisdom, give us wisdom.
You, supreme strength, strengthen us.Today, eternal God, let our cloud be dissipated
so that we may perfectly know and follow your Truth
in truth, with a free and simple heart.God, come to our assistance!
Lord, make haste to help us!

As you read through these poems by Mystic and Doctor of the Catholic Church Saint Catherine of Siena, do you feel closer to God or do you become more aware of areas inside of yourself, where you struggle to have faith? There is no wrong answer! The more aware we become of our interior blocks to God’s infinite love, the sooner they can melt away into grace-filled peace through contemplative prayer. Comment below, and I’ll be delighted to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Lord, thank you for the blessing of the mystics and saints, who have come before us and especially today for the opportunity to pray through the beautiful poetry written by Saint Catherine of Siena. Open up our hearts to receive the grace of true faith and mystical connection with You, so we can love well and help to bring more of Your light into the world through these dark times we’re living in. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Saint Catherine of Siena’s poetry quoted from http://www.poetseers.org
Everything else written by Nicky Gant for http://www.uniteinprayer.org 8/9/2020