LIVING FLAME OF LOVE
Oh Llama de Amor Viva
O living flame of love that tenderly wounds my soul in its deepest centre!
THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE is one of St. John of the Cross's later poems that condenses his teaching. It was written about in 1584.
This flame, St. John of the Cross told us, is the love of the Holy Spirit. Now, having grown hotter and sometimes flaring up, it impels the Carmelite friar to write more.
Some of his other major works include THE ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL, THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL and THE SPIRITUAL CANTICLE.
THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE is considered to be the most authentic expression of St. John of the Cross’ theology. He helped St. Teresa of Avila with her reform of the Carmelite Order and was imprisoned for political reasons. He wrote this beautiful poem on the love between the soul and God while in prison in Toledo. The work consists of the poem and a prose commentary on it.
"After the dark night there springs up the living flame of love!" - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
In THE SPIRITUAL CANTICLE and THE LIVING FLAME OF LOVE she discovered "the true Saint of Love."
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