DIVINE LOVE

This form of Divine Love is exemplified by people such as 13th Century Christian penitents and ascetics, Richard Rolle and Julian of Norwich. This is love of God founded upon faith and belief in the teachings of, for these two people, the Catholic Church. 

On the other hand, the mystical Rabbis of Judaism - the travelling Rabbis of the Zohar - suggest that this love of, and for, God ought to be the natural state of all human beings to acknowledge their creator, integrate, and incorporate Him into their daily lives. It is from this exchange of love with God that all of life's blessings flow.

Erasmus provided fodder for the Protestant Reformation, and, in fact, was inspiration for Martin Luther's challenge to the authority of the Pope and Papacy. The fact is that the Lutherans, Calvinist, the Church of England, and others adopted and accepted The Apostles Creed. Although there maybe protestant ascetics and penitents, their view is likely more worldly. The most fervent ascetics appear to have been members of the Catholic Church - those whose aim it was to transcend life as it was presented to them either individually, or through living the monastic life.

In "The Fire of Love" Rolle speaks of his love for the Christ as fervour or warmth when: the mind is ablaze with eternal love, and the heart similarly, "burns with a love that is not imaginary but real. For a heart set on fire produces a feeling of fiery love."

Perfect Love: In a truly loving mind, said Rolle, there is always a song of glory and an inner flame of love. This loves surges out of clear conscience, out of an abundant spiritual joy - inward gladness. This sort of love is immense in its fervour, its whole direction is toward God. It is unrestrained love for God, cleaving to Christ without opposition of silly thoughts. Further, it is the mental wound caused by the flame of divine love that is referred to in the saying 'I am wounded with love'. Also, said Rolle, one who loves very greatly burns with an unquenchable blaze and is filled with heavenly sweetness.

The Nature of Love: is diffusive, unifying and transforming. It's diffusive because it flows out shedding rays of goodness on friends and neighbours, enemies and strangers. It's unifying because it makes lovers one in deed and will, and draws in Christ. By holding onto God we become one in spirit with Him. This love transforms lover into the beloved and makes him dwell in Him. When the fire of the Holy Spirit really gets hold of the heart it sets it wholly on fire and turns it into flame, leading to a state where it is most like God.

Said Rolle: He who really loves God, feels there is nothing in his heart save God. He loves whatever he has for God and only loves what God wants him to love. So he loves nothing but God.

God's love is a fire which sets our hearts aflame so that they glow and burn, purging all the foulness of sin. This fire blazes in his chosen ones, and makes them look heavenly, and to long ceaselessly for the release of death.

At death penitents are borne up to God to sit among the Seraphim, Rolle described a: "supreme love, an indescribable love that blazed in their souls and made them love God with such sweetness and devotion that, fundamentally, they knew nothing within themselves but spiritual heat, heavenly song, divine sweetness."

Julian of Norwich's book  is "Revelations of Divine Love".

Spiritual Life