Mystery of the Cross

VII

† 4

...the sad desert and unknown land of their nothingness In 17th-century French mysticism, "nothingness" (néant) refers to the total surrender of the self and the ego before the majesty of God. before God, yes, even unto the depths of Hell.

VI.

The style of this little work will seem a bit unusual to you, I know it well; but it must be forgiven in light of the circumstances of the Author, who, after having suffered a confinement of more than eight months without paper, pen, or ink, finally obtained, after his release, this small comfort: to commit these thoughts on the Mystery of the Cross The "Mystery of the Cross" refers to the central theme of the work: the spiritual necessity of suffering and the internal "crucifixion" of the self. and others—with which he was as heavy as a pregnant woman—onto paper. Thus, to relieve and cheer his mind and heart a little, he made use of the style that first presented itself, without selection or refinement, these thoughts having flowed onto the paper of their own accord, without study and without much reflection; being the work of as many days as you will find chapters, and of only a few hours per day, as much as he...