Kathryn Jean Lopez

“Sitting with Jesus in his light Shedding to the innermost depths of the soul. Sweet light, joyous light, you the unmade who made me, enlighten the contours and working of my inward eye with unmade clarity. Shine into my mind so that it is wholly cleansed and so exalted by your gifts that it rushes into the full happiness of love. Kindle it with your sweet fire so that I may sit in you, Jesus, and rest there full of joy, walking about as if ravished by heavenly sweetness and always beholding unseen things. Let me be glad in God alone. Everlasting love, inflame my soul until I love God so much that nothing burns in me but his desires. Good Jesus, no one but you can help me so to feel you that I feel no one and nothing but you, and see no one and nothing but you. Shed yourself into the innermost depths of my soul. Come into my heart and fill it with your clearest sweetness. Moisten my mind with your sweet love’s hot wine so that I forget all unhappiness and all ridiculous dreams. Let me be happy only in your presence in me and rejoice only in Jesus, my God. From now on, sweetest Lord, do not leave me. Stay with me wholeheartedly in all your sweetness, for my only comfort is your presence and only your absence can make me sorrowful. —Richard Rolle, The Love of God”
― Kathryn Jean Lopez, A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living