Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting

Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting

Saint John of the Cross, a Spanish mystic and poet, is known for his profound writings on the spiritual journey towards union with God. His works often explore the concept of yearning as a central theme, emphasizing the idea that true yearning must be accompanied by a sense of longing and suffering in order to be considered genuine.

In his poem "The Dark Night of the Soul," Saint John of the Cross describes the soul's journey towards spiritual enlightenment as a painful process of purification and transformation. He writes, "Oh, night that guided me, / Oh, night more lovely than the dawn, / Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, / Lover transformed in the Beloved!" This passage illustrates the idea that true yearning for God requires a deep sense of longing and suffering, as the soul is stripped of its attachments and desires in order to be united with the divine.

For Saint John of the Cross, yearning is not simply a fleeting desire or whim, but a profound and intense longing for God that transcends earthly pleasures and comforts. He believed that true yearning must be accompanied by a sense of pain and sacrifice, as the soul is purified and refined through the process of spiritual growth.