Pentecost Novena with St. John Of the Cross (Day 4; May 18)
May 18, 2026
Day 4
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3.
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."
Meditation
Stanza 2 (cont'd)
O sweet cautery,
O delightful wound!
O gentle hand! O delicate touch
that tastes of eternal life
and pays every debt!
in killing you changed death to life
Although that which the soul tastes in this touch of God is not perfect, it does in fact have a certain savor of eternal life….And this is not incredible if we believe, as we should, that this is a
touch of substances, that is, of the substance of God in the substance of the soul. Many saints have attained to this substantial touch during their lives on earth.
The delicateness of delight felt in this contact is inexpressible. I would desire not to speak of it so as to avoid giving the impression that it is no more than what I describe. There is no way to catch in words the sublime things of God that take place in these souls. The appropriate language for the persons receiving these favors is that they understand them, experience them within themselves, enjoy them, and be silent. One is conscious in this state that these things are in a certain way like the white pebble that St. John said would be given to the one who conquers: and on that pebble a new name written, which no one knows but the one who receives it [Rv. 2:17]. Thus one can only say, and truthfully, "that tastes of eternal life."
Although one does not have perfect fruition in this life as in glory, this touch, nevertheless, since it is a touch, tastes of eternal life. As a result the soul tastes here all the things of God, since God communicates to it fortitude, wisdom, love, beauty, grace, goodness, and so on. Because God is all these things, a person enjoys them in only one touch of God, and the soul rejoices within its faculties and within its substance.
Sometimes the unction of the Holy Spirit overflows into the body and all the sensory substance, all the members and bones and marrow rejoice, not in so slight a fashion as is customary, but with the feeling of great delight and glory, even in the outermost joints of the hands and feet. The body experiences so much glory in that of the soul that in its own way it magnifies God, feeling in its bones something similar to what David declares: All my bones shall say: God, who is like to you? [Ps. 35:10]. And because everything that can be said of this unction is less than what it is, it is sufficient to say in reference to both the bodily and the spiritual experience, "that tastes of eternal life." and pays every debt!
Musical Selection
Living spirit, holy fire, burning bright to light our way blaze among us and inspire lives that praise you day by day.
Warm us draw your people near when our love grows weak or cold. Free our frozen hearts from fear, that each story may be told.
Melt away the masks we wear, hiding what we know and feel. Risking growth, we want to share love in action, love that’s real.
Open hearts; affirm us all, many splendored, one in you, we embrace the work, the call: you are making all things new.
Collect
O God,
to you every heart lies open
and every desire is known,
from you no secret is hidden;
purify our inmost thoughts
with the light of the Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you
and offer you fitting praise.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)