1 AFK SFC

T/. Ar| ( S(../ invcstigatcs tlc intcrplay ol spcccl and silcncc in tlc
dialoguc lctwccn God and luman lcings, onc luman lcing and anotlcr,
and luman lcings and tlc world. Fanging lrom tlc ld 1cstamcnt and its
dcpiction ol God`s crcativc word and rcsponsivcncss to luman lcings, via tlc
Ncw 1cstamcnt and its locus on tlc lilc and words ol {csus as tlc Word ol tlc
atlcr, tlc look slows low important it is lor tlc lclicvcr to listcn, lotl to
God and to otlcrs, in silcncc and dcvoutncss.
]can-Louis Chrcticn lccturcs at tlc Sorlonnc, \nivcrsity ol Faris, and is onc
ol rancc`s lcading plilosoplcrs. c is autlor ol T/. Un(r.//c||. cn4 //.
Un/(.4 lr (2002) and a contrilutor to P/.nm.n|; cn4 //. 'T/.|/c|
Turn' T/. lr.n/ D.|c/. (2001).
1 AFK
SFC
}.cn-Lu/ C/r///.n,
/rcn|c/.4 |; An4r.o Bron
irst pullislcd ly Frcsscs \nivcrsitaircs dc rancc as L'cr./. 4. |c (cr|.
irst pullislcd in nglisl 200+ ly Foutlcdgc
11 Ncw cttcr anc, ondon C+F +
Simultancously pullislcd in tlc \SA and Canada
ly Foutlcdgc
2 Wcst 35tl Strcct, Ncw York, NY 10001
Bu/|.4. / cn /m(r/n/ ( //. Tc;|r c lrcn./ Gru(
18, Frcsscs \nivcrsitaircs dc rancc
1ranslation 200+ Foutlcdgc
All riglts rcscrvcd. No part ol tlis look may lc rcprintcd or
rcproduccd or utiliscd in any lorm or ly any clcctronic, mcclanical,
or otlcr mcans, now known or lcrcaltcr invcntcd, including
plotocopying and rccording, or in any inlormation storagc or rctricval
systcm, witlout pcrmission in writing lrom tlc pullislcrs.
Br//// L/|rcr; Cc/c|u/n /n lu||/.c//n Dc/c
A cataloguc rccord lor tlis look is availallc lrom tlc Britisl ilrary
L/|rcr; ( Cnr. Cc/c|/n /n lu||/.c//n Dc/c
A catalog rccord las lccn rcqucstcd lor tlis titlc
SBN 0+152763 (llk)
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004.
ISBN 0-203-49103-3 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-57051-0 (Adobe eReader Format)
v
CN1N1S
ntroduction 1
1 1lc unlcard-ol
2 Woundcd spcccl 17
S 1lc lospitality ol silcncc S
+ ocs lcauty say adicu` 77
5 1lc ollcring ol tlc world 111
N/. 1+
In4.x 165
1
N1F\C1N
ow lar docs our lospitality go` ow lar cn it go` Wlat can wc wclcomc
and gatlcr in, and low` ospitality is, nrst and lorcmost, tlc lospitality tlat
wc givc cacl otlcr, cxclanging words and silcnccs, glanccs and voiccs. And
yct, tlis convcrsation cannot takc placc in a vacuum. it is in tlc world, tlis
world tlat wc ncvcr ccasc to slarc among oursclvcs lut also witl otlcr
lorms ol prcscncc, tlc prcscncc ol animals, ol vcgctallcs, ol tlings. n our
spcccl, wc arc cqually rcsponsillc lor tlcm, just as wc rcspond to tlcm.
vcn tlougl tlc liglt ol spcccl dawncd only lccausc ol man, it cannot
dawn lor lim alonc. Wlat wc lavc lcrc is anotlcr lospitality, indissociallc
lrom tlc nrst, lut witl its own propcr modcs ol vigilancc, attcntion, and
rcsponsilility. 1lc two lospitalitics arc lrouglt into play ly wlat lcrc call
tlc ark ol spcccl, an cxprcssion tlat may sccm disconccrting. Wlat docs it
mcan` t takcs inspiration lrom tlc lillical tradition ol tlc origins ol luman
languagc and lrom tlc polyplonic mcditation lascd on it tlat tlcologians
and plilosoplcrs lavc ncvcr ccascd to dcvclop, lrom Flilo to cgcl and
lcyond. 1lc rcncl word (cr|. (word, spcccl) dcrivcs lrom (crc||c (tlc
Grcck word lor parallc), it will not constitutc a lctrayal ol tlis word il wc usc
a parallc to commcncc our qucstioning ol luman spcccl and its powcrs.
According to tlc Gcncsis story, tlc nrst luman act ol spcccl is not tlat ol
saying somctling lut ol naming. 1lis is tlc act tlrougl wlicl man conlcrs a
namc on tlc animals tlat God las lrouglt lclorc lim. As tlcy appcar lclorc
man tlcy comc into tlc liglt ol spcccl, and tlcy do not lcavc unclangcd lut
lcaring a namc tlat calls tlcm. God 'lrouglt tlcm to tlc man to scc wlat
lc would call tlcm, cacl onc was to lcar tlc namc tlc man would givc it.
1lc man gavc namcs to all tlc cattlc, all tlc lirds ol lcavcn and all tlc wild
animals.`
1
1lis nrst luman act ol spcccl cannot lowcvcr constitutc tlc origin
ol spcccl or languagc. Wlcn lc spcaks lor tlc nrst timc, man docs not cntcr
languagc. lc must alrcady inlalit it. ndccd, as tlc vcry lcttcr ol tlc story
puts it, God las alrcady addrcsscd man, las alrcady spokcn to lim lclorc
man starts to spcak, so tlat lc will start to spcak in lis turn. Man las alrcady
N1F\C1N
2
listcncd, and so lc las alrcady rcplicd, cvcn il lis rcply was a silcnt onc. As lor
tlc living tlings tlat man considcrs and namcs, tlcy too lavc alrcady lad to
olcy tlc divinc spcccl, il tlc miraclc ol tlcir summoning and tlcir gatlcring
lclorc man is to lc possillc. Spcccl is tlus prior in two ways, prcccding as it
docs, in its vcry dissymmctry, tlc nrst luman spcccl.
1lis nrst spcccl, lar lrom coinciding witl itscll in tlc pcrlcct transparcncy
and plcnitudc ol a languagc sccn as original, is, in itscll and in tlc way it is
uscd, notling lut tlc discovcry ol its own inadcquacy and lailurc, as tlc
wlolc passagc slows. ndccd, wlcn man namcs tlc animals, wlat lc lcarns
lrom gazing on tlcm is tlc knowlcdgc ol lis own solitudc, ol tlc alscncc
ol an intcrlocutor. 'But no lclpcr suitallc lor tlc man was lound lor lim.`
2

Altlougl it is an act ol inauguration, tlc naming ol tlc animals ly Adam
docs not, lor all tlat, allow luman spcccl to dcploy tlc liglcst ol its powcrs.
c namcs, lut lc las nolody to say anytling to. So it is pointlcss to usc tlis
story as a prctcxt lor lccling nostalgia lor a primitivc and pcrlcct languagc, as
so many dillcrcnt autlors lavc donc tlrougl tlc agcs. 1lus Calvin writcs,
'As to tlc namcs wlicl Adam imposcd, do not doult tlat cacl ol tlcm was
loundcd on tlc lcst rcason, lut tlcir usc, witl many otlcr good tlings, las
lccomc olsolctc.`
S
And Bossuct, in turn. 'c would ncvcr lavc lccn allc to
namc tlc animals witlout knowing tlcir naturc and tlcir dillcrcnccs, so tlat
lc could givc tlcm suitallc namcs, in accordancc witl tlc primitivc roots ol
tlc languagc tlat God lad tauglt lim.`
+
A languagc likc tlis, cstallislcd ly
God, is not mcntioncd ly tlc story.
Mucl morc csscntial, and wortly ol considcration, is tlc lact tlat tlis
story makcs luman spcccl into tlc r/ cr|. 1lc animals lavc lccn gatlcrcd
lor luman spcccl and lrouglt togctlcr in tlis spcccl, wlicl namcs tlcm
long lclorc tlcy arc lrouglt togctlcr, according to tlis samc story, in Noal`s
ark to lc savcd lrom tlc ood and tlc dcstruction it lrings.
5
Noal must takc
tlc animals witl lim wlcn lc makcs tlcm loard tlc ark, wlcrcas tlc animals
tlcmsclvcs lad spontancously comc lclorc Adam so as to lc namcd. 1lcir
nrst guardian, tlcir nrst salcguard, is tlat ol spcccl, wlicl slcltcrs tlcir lcing
and tlcir divcrsity. 1lis is truc lor morc tlan just tlc animals. No protcctivc
gcsturc could takc rcsponsilility lor tlc lcast lcing il tlc lattcr lad not lccn
takcn up into spcccl. owcvcr, to tlis undcrstanding ol tlc nrst luman
spcccl as lospitality, as nrst and last ark, two distinct lut rclatcd oljcctions
can lc raiscd. 1lc nrst oljcction involvcs tlc vcry mcaning ol tlis act, and tlc
sccond tlc cxtcnt and signincancc ol tlis naming.
1lc summoning ol tlc animals lclorc man is indccd lrcqucntly intcrprctcd
as tlc dcmonstration ol lis domination and lis mastcry ovcr tlcm. 1lc
powcr ol giving a namc to tlat wlicl as yct las nonc is said to constitutc
an act ol sovcrcignty, laying tlc lasis ol all cxpropriation and all mastcry.
6

By naming, man on tlis rcading cxcrciscs lor tlc nrst timc, on lis own
N1F\C1N
S
account, tlat supcriority and tlat powcr wlicl God las conlcrrcd on lim,
and truly avails limscll ol tlcm, so wlat is at issuc is an act ol scizurc and
not ol salcguard. 1o spcak, in tlis rclation, ol lospitality in tlc ark would
lc quitc out ol placc. owcvcr, St 1lomas Aquinas sccs in tlis sccnc wlat
rancis Fongc latcr callcd 'tlc gazc as it is spokcn`. c olscrvcs, in lact, tlat,
in tlc statc ol innoccncc, mcn, in tlc lillical account, nccdcd animals not
lor clotlcs, nor lor lood, nor lor transport. But, lc continucs, wlat lumans
nccdcd animals lor 'was to acquirc an cxpcricntial knowlcdgc ol tlcir naturcs.
1lis is suggcstcd ly God lcading tlc animals to Adam lor lim to givc tlcm
tlcir namcs, wlicl dcsignatc tlcir naturcs.`
7
1lc animals lad to lc sccn and
considcrcd so as to lc namcd, tlcir naturc lad to lc appriscd so tlat tlcy
could lc apprclcndcd in spcccl. So Adam could not invcnt naturc. it was lis
duty to rcspcct it. So namcs comc lrom a gazc tlat olcys tlc vcry naturc ol
tlings.
1lc lact rcmains and tlis is an important clcmcnt in tlc story tlat God
limscll waits. waits lor man to invcnt lis own languagc. 1lis lacc-to-lacc
cncountcr lctwccn man, wlo is still solitary, and animality, an cncountcr in
wlicl lc lccomcs a man ol spcccl, las tlc claractcr ol a /./ or ordcal. 1lc
nrst act ol spcccl is /.//n. Flilo ol Alcxandria cmplasizcd tlis point. 1lc
way man 'calls` to wlat is not limscll, to wlat lc rcccivcs and wclcomcs,
'lccamc tlc namc not only ol tlc tling callcd lut ol lim wlo callcd it`.
8

n wlat allow to comc to myscll in and tlrougl languagc, also rcvcal
wlat am myscll. ow could tlc conlrontation lctwccn man and tlc
dillcrcnt lorms ol animal lilc lc anytling otlcr tlan a tcst in wlicl lc
limscll is at stakc and on trial` is lumanity, lor tlc lillical story, is dcnncd
simultancously tlrougl lis rclation to God, in wlosc imagc lc was crcatcd,
and tlrougl lis rclation to tlc otlcr tlings tlat livc on tlc cartl, witl wlom
lc is constantly intcracting. Man alonc can lall into lcstiality, wlcn lc trics
dcspcratcly to cllacc or to lorgct, in limscll or in tlc otlcr, tlc imagc ol
God. A wlolc lost ol autlors lavc sccn in animals tlc ngurcs or symlols
ol tlc dillcrcnt possililitics ol luman cxistcncc.

Wc lavc our own lcstiary,

wlicl tlc grotcsquc illustrations ol Granvillc lor a ontainc`s lc||. dcpict
as comical or tcrrilying. 1lis is also onc ol tlc dimcnsions ol tlc tcst tlat
Adam undcrgocs.
Ccrtain Clristian autlors daringly transposcd tlis sccnc ol naming,
comparing it to tlc scrutiny ol luman souls ly tlc sccond Adam. 1lis was
tlc casc, in tlc scvcntccntl ccntury, witl ouis Bail in lis T//|/. c((.//r.,
witl its admirallc stylc.
1lcsc tlings rcgard us and mattcr to us most cntircly. or tlis
sacrosanct soul lull ol knowlcdgc and trutl kncw all mcn wlo lad
cvcr lccn sincc Adam, and wlicl would lc until tlc lulnlling ol tlc
N1F\C1N
+
Fcsurrcction, all tlcir mcritorious or impious works, all tlcir words,
tlouglts, allcctions and intcntions lcing rcprcscntcd as in a tlcatrc
lclorc lis inncr cycs. and {csus tlcn kncw all mcn mucl lcttcr tlan
Adam kncw tlc animals in tlc nclds ol tlc artlly Faradisc, and tlcn
lc imposcd on tlcm namcs tlat nttcd tlc works and mcrits ol tlcir
wlolc lilc.
10

ouis Bail procccds to cvokc, lollowing an ancicnt autlor, tlc caglcs, tlc
oxcn, tlc dovcs, tlc loxcs or tlc vipcrs tlat wc can lc, lis mcditation cnding
witl a praycr to rcccivc lrom {csus a namc tlat will lc propitious. rom tlis
pcrspcctivc, tlc tcsting ol Adam announccs ours, tlc origin is also a promisc.
1lc sccnc dcrivcs a supplcmcntary mcaning lrom tlis intcrprctation.
Fcturning to tlis sccnc, ranz von Baadcr, in an intcrprctation tlc csotcric
ramincations ol wlicl arc untcnallc, nonctlclcss corrcctly lrouglt out tlc
claractcr ol tlis tcst. 'l man was to accomplisl lis vocation and attain tlc
lull mastcry ol tlc wlolc ol (animal) naturc, lc could not lct limscll lc
givcn tlis powcr in a simply passivc way, nor could lc takc posscssion ol it
witlout making lis own contrilution.`
11
Wlat las lccn crcatcd lor a liglcr
position 'must nrst and lorcmost nx itscll in tlis situation, or rcalizc its liglcr
naturc` tlrougl an act and tlc undcrgoing ol a trial. And Baadcr adds, 'Wlat
namc, wlat lcars my namc, lclongs to mc (olcys mc or lollows my call)`.
or Adam to comc and stand lclorc animality constitutcs, lor Baadcr, lis nrst
tcmptation. nstcad ol sccing in tlc act ol naming a mcrc dcmonstration ol
man`s powcr, as il tlis wcrc alrcady cstallislcd, lc locatcs in it tlc momcnt
at wlicl tlis powcr, cauglt lctwccn tlc opportunitics it can scizc on and
tlc pcrils tlat tlrcatcn it, rcally risks itscll and lorgcs its own idcntity. '1lc
mind can producc only ly tlinking and spcaking (naming), lut in naming
tlc product, it introduccs its namc into it, and ly tlis mcans as lrom wlat
comcs lrom it witlout lowcvcr lcing scparatcd lrom it tlc cllcctivc rclation
lctwccn it and tlc product las its consistcncy.`
12
1lis domination is not
simply a juridical act, nor is it indillcrcnt to tlc lcing ol wlat it dominatcs. t
prcsupposcs sccing and lcaring and tlus lospitality.
But and tlis is a sccond oljcction to tlc idca ol an ark ol spcccl
modcrn plilosoplics ol languagc, wlilc taking tlis inaugural sccnc as tlc
point ol dcparturc lor tlcir own mcditation, lavc sccn in it tlc rcvclation ol
a complctcly dillcrcnt powcr ol luman spcccl lrom tlc powcr to wclcomc,
namcly ncgation. 1lis is truc ol cgcl in lis writings ol tlc {cna pcriod.
Adam`s words providc an opportunity lor cgcl to dcscrilc tlc rcal potcntial
ol naming. 1lc cvancsccnt scnsillc intuition givcs way to tlc intcriorizing
mcmory, wlicl gatlcrs witlin itscll tlc mcaning ol tlings wlilc gatlcring
itscll togctlcr also. By grasping tlc mcaning ol tlc tlings tlat lc nxcs in
namcs, man dcnics tlcm in tlcir simplc cxtcriority.
N1F\C1N
5
n tlc ncm. its cmpirical lcing as a concrctc intcrnally manilold
living cntity is canccllcd, it is madc into a strictly idcal, intcrnally
simplc |lactor|. 1lc nrst act, ly wlicl Adam cstallislcd lis lordslip
ovcr tlc animals, is tlis, tlat lc gavc tlcm a namc, i.c., lc nullincd
tlcm as lcings on tlcir own account (/. c| S./.n4. r.rn///./.), and
madc tlcm into idcal |cntitics|.
1S
atcr analyscs point out tlat tlis movc lrom a 'kingdom ol imagcs` to a
'kingdom ol namcs` constitutcs an 'awakcning`, in wlicl tlc drcam clcmcnt is
lclt lclind. 1lc namc is onc ol tlc nrst acts in wlicl tlc spirit starts to comc
into posscssion ol itscll.
anguagc, says cgcl.
spcaks only witl tlis scll, witl tlc mcaning ol tlc tling, it givcs it a
namc and cxprcsscs tlis as tlc lcing ol tlc oljcct . . . Wlat / tlis`
Wc answcr, t / a lion, a donkcy, ctc. |namcly| it /. 1lus it is not
mcrcly somctling ycllow, laving lcct, ctc., somctling on its own,
|cxisting| indcpcndcntly. Fatlcr, it is a ncm., a sound madc ly my
voicc, somctling cntircly dillcrcnt lrom wlat it is in lcing lookcd
at and tlis |as namcd| is its truc |./n. . . . By mcans ol tlc namc,
lowcvcr, tlc oljcct las lccn lorn out ol tlc |and las cmcrgcd| as
|./n |.;.n4|. 1lis is tlc primal crcativity cxcrciscd ly Spirit. Adam
gavc a namc to all tlings. 1lis is tlc sovcrcign riglt |ol spirit|, its
primal taking-posscssion ol all naturc or tlc crcation ol naturc out
ol Spirit |itscll|. . . . Man spcaks to tlc tling as //.
1+
1o lc surc, cgcl is dcscriling tlc ncgativc dimcnsion ol languagc, in wlicl
is alnrmcd a liglcr act ol tlc spirit tlan tlat ol mcrc rcccptivity. rom
lcncclortl, to paraplrasc Claudcl, wc lavc owcrs tlat cannot ladc, owcrs
ol languagc, lut lor tlis to lc possillc it was ncccssary lor tlc owcr tlat
ladcs to ladc complctcly and lor tlc troulling tlouglts tlat tlis arouscd in
us to lc ovcrcomc.
owcvcr, it is not riglt, as ccrtain pcoplc lavc donc, to givc an
ovcrimaginativc rcading to tlcsc tlouglts, wlicl altcr all lorcground tlc
transccnding ol mcrc imagination, or to orclcstratc in an ovcrcmotional way
tlc solcr words ol plilosoply. cgcl`s intcntion is to dcscrilc tlc dillcrcnt
potcntialitics and dillcrcnt acts ol tlc spirit. to dcny tlc tling as an cxistcnt
lcing mcans dcnying it as acccssillc to mc in mcrc scnsillc intuition, and
tlus gatlcring up its mcaning, tlinking its trutl lcyond all imagcs. 1lis
dctcrminatc ncgation is productivc and positivc, it mcans tlat appropriatc
tlings, witlout wlicl tlc spirit would lc notling lut stupor and niglt.
Wlat is nccdcd is a way ol undcrstanding in an idcalist scnsc tlc ark ol
N1F\C1N
6
spcccl, and not a way ol translorming tlat ark into its oppositc. Naturc is
rclorn lrom spirit so as to comc into its trutl.
1lc usc Mauricc Blanclot makcs ol tlcsc pagcs ol cgcl`s or tlc latc
lc rcscrvcs lor tlcm in lis study 'itcraturc and tlc Figlt to catl` is
quitc dillcrcnt. t dcpcnds lcavily on tlc analysis ol Alcxandrc Kojcvc, in
wlicl tlc lattcr statcd, '1lc or4 dog` docs not run, drink, and cat, in it tlc
Mcaning (sscncc) .c. to livc tlat is, it 4/.. And tlat is wly tlc n.(/uc|
undcrstanding ol cmpirical rcality is cquivalcnt to a mur4.r.'
15
1lis is to lorgct
tlat, sincc tlc cmpirical dog is not its own csscncc, tlis csscncc cannot 'dic` at
tlc samc timc tlat it is 'lorn`, in otlcr words comcs to tlouglt, tlrougl tlc
ncgation ol tlc cmpirical dog. Murdcr in clngy is prcciscly n/ murdcr, unlcss
in somc magical scnsc. And it is not rcally tlc cmpirical dog tlat is dcnicd
lut tlc mutc and imprccisc scnsillc intuition tlat o. lad ol it and tlat wc
imagincd gavc us lull acccss to its lcing. Mauricc Blanclot is not contcnt witl
sucl a paltry murdcr as tlat ol a dog. c transposcs, strangcly cnougl, wlat
Kojcvc said alout tlc dog to 'tlis woman`, tlus cxplicitly making spcccl into
a 'dclcrrcd assassination`.
16
'or mc to lc allc to say 1lis woman,` must
somclow takc lcr csl-and-llood rcality away lrom lcr, causc lcr to lc
alscnt, annililatc lcr.`
17
1lis slippagc lrom onc cpisodc ol tlc lillical story
to anotlcr, quitc dillcrcnt onc, lrom tlc naming ol tlc animals to tlc suddcn
arrival ol tlc nrst woman as spcccl partncr, is ladcn witl mcaning. Adam
cxclaims, '1lis onc at last is lonc ol my loncs and csl ol my csl! Slc is
to lc callcd Woman`.
18
lcncclortl, lc can pass lrom naming to saying, lrom
tlc imposing ol namcs on mutc lcings to a dialoguc tlat takcs placc witlin a
lilcrty tlat is at oncc intimatc and opcn. Blanclot rcduccs all tlis to tlc samc
tling, so tlat coming into lcing coincidcs witl disappcarancc.
is lasic tlcsis makcs ol Adam`s spcccl, not tlc nrst ark, lut tlc nrst
ood. '1lc mcaning ol spcccl, tlcn, rcquircs tlat lclorc any word is spokcn,
tlcrc must lc a sort ol immcnsc lccatoml, a prcliminary ood plunging all
ol crcation into a total sca. God las crcatcd living tlings, lut man lad to
annililatc tlcm.`
1
And littlc ly littlc, spcccl, lar lrom lcing tlc song ol tlc
world, lccomcs, witl nililistic julilation, tlc song ol dcatl. '1lcrclorc it is
accuratc to say tlat wlcn spcak, dcatl spcaks in mc. . . . Wlcn spcak,
dcny tlc cxistcncc ol wlat am saying, lut also dcny tlc cxistcncc ol tlc
pcrson wlo is saying it.`
20
Wlilc claiming to dcvclop cgcl`s tlouglt, all
tlcsc lypcrlolcs llunt lis point and olscurc lis clarity. l to spcak is alrcady
to kill, il to tlink is alrcady to assassinatc, arc wc not in lcll`
But il tlc 'dcatl` tlat is supposcd to spcak in languagc is linkcd to its
idcality, it is, ly tlc samc tokcn, a dcatl in idca only. t is tlc clarm, and also
tlc limit, ol ccrtain pocms ly Supcrvicllc tlat tlcy translorm tlis dcatl-in-
idca into a dcatl-in-rcality. Spcccl is dcscrilcd as a matcrial rclation, acting
at a distancc lut still pcrlcctly adcquatcly, witl wlat it namcs. 1lus, in '1lc
N1F\C1N
7
Bird`, tlc poct`s spcccl rcaclcd tlc lird, in tlc vcry dcptls ol tlc distant
lorcst, and tlc lird lamcnts, saying.
cavc mc on my lrancl and kccp your words,
lcar your tlouglt likc a gunslot
lclorc it docs indccd dic.
21
1lc lamous pocm tlat givcs its titlc to tlc
collcction T/. Un|non lr/.n4 nnislcs witl a rcqucst lor lorgivcncss lor tlc
larm wc do to tlc animals drcamt up ly our words, a lorgivcncss
or tlc plrascs tlat comc lrom unknown lips
Wlicl toucl you lrom alar likc stray lullcts.
22
1lc ncgativity ol languagc as it is conccptualizcd ly modcrn plilosoply
comcs to it lrom tlc way it tcars itscll lrom tlc transicncc ol tlat wlicl
appcars to tlc scnscs. Spcccl is tlc solc ark, lor it is tlc solc mcmorial and tlc
solc promisc. t is in spcccl alonc tlat wlat is alscnt still, or alrcady, prcscnts
itscll and tlat tlc distant connncs ol spacc and timc comc to attcst to tlcir
cxistcncc and to rcsonatc lcrc and now. 1lis lcrc and now, wlicl cannot lc
scparatcd lrom tlc vcry act ol spcaking, in no way rcscmllcs a simplc point.
lcrc and now arc in cxccss ol tlcmsclvcs, rcsponscs to tlc world, an appcal
to tlc world, lringing witlin tlcmsclvcs cvcr-rcccding ncw lorizons. ocs
dcscriling spcccl as onc ol man`s powcrs, wlosc many dillcrcnt aspccts wc
can tlcn survcy, mcan tlat wc lavc takcn tlc mcasurc ol tlc word` ' Man
lclavcs,` says cidcggcr, as il lc wcrc tlc slapcr and mastcr ol languagc,
wlcrcas it is, on tlc contrary, languagc wlicl rcmains tlc sovcrcign ol
man.`` `
2S
Wc can makc cvcrytling cntcr tlc ark ol spcccl only lccausc it nrst
salcguards us.
1o wlat cxtcnt can spcccl lc tlis ark` 1lis is tlc qucstion to wlicl tlc
lollowing pagcs, dcvcloping and locusing morc slarply an invcstigation into
tlc voicc, tlc lody and tlc world tlat lavc undcrtakcn in various prcvious
works, try to lc rcmain lully attcntivc. Mucl spacc is givcn to wlat otlcr
voiccs tlosc ol plilosoplcrs, tlosc ol pocts, tlosc ol mystics can tcacl us
wlcn it comcs to sccing morc clcarly tlc plcnomcna dcscrilcd lcrc. 1lc nrst
claptcr, '1lc unlcard-ol `, asks wlat is involvcd in listcning, and in giving
lospitality witlin us to tlc spcccl ol tlc otlcr. 1lc sccond claptcr, 'Woundcd
spcccl`, attcmpts a plcnomcnology ol rc| praycr. wly is praycr not a purcly
inncr act, an invisillc movcmcnt towards tlc invisillc` ow and wly can
praycr, in accordancc witl various dillcrcnt conngurations, lc incarnatcd in
tlc voicc tlat rcsonatcs and gain a lcaring lor itscll in tlc world` Wlat rolc
docs tlc lody play in tlis` 1lc tlird claptcr, '1lc lospitality ol silcncc`,
dcscrilcs tlat witlout wlicl wc could ncitlcr rcccivc spcccl nor uttcr it on
N1F\C1N
8
our own lclall. owcvcr, silcncc is too oltcn lypostatizcd and translormcd
into an autonomous cntity, it is tlus alsolutcly csscntial to disccrn and to
ordcr tlc various acts tlrougl wlicl wc imposc or kccp silcncc and, in parallcl
to tlis, tlc silcnccs to wlicl wc can opcn oursclvcs. 1lc lourtl claptcr, 'ocs
lcauty say adicu`` studics lcauty in so lar as lcauty constitutcs, par cxccllcncc,
a provocation to spcak and to sing. ow can wc rcply to it` And to wlat
cxtcnt` 1lc nltl and nnal claptcr, '1lc ollcring ol tlc world`, trcats ol tlc
ark ol spcccl propcrly spcaking. ow and wly can our spcccl, in admiration
and praisc, lc tlc placc ol a wclcoming ol tlc world and ol naturc a placc in
wlicl tlcsc arc illuminatcd ly tlc vcry ollcring ol our song`
1o tlc lricnds, tlc studcnts, tlc rcadcrs, wlo lavc, tlrougl tlcir attcntion,
tlcir spcccl, tlcir cncouragcmcnts, tlcir qucstions and tlcir oljcctions too,
supportcd and lortincd mc tlrouglout tlc ycars wlcn tlis look was lcing
writtcn. a lcartlclt tlank you!

1
1 \NAF-
1lc nrst lospitality is notling otlcr tlan listcning. t is tlc lospitality tlat
wc can grant to otlcrs, witl our lody and our soul, cvcn out on tlc strccts
and on tlc roadsidc, wlcn wc would not lc allc to ollcr a rool, or warmtl
or lood. And it is at any instant tlat tlis lospitality can lc grantcd. l all
otlcr lorms ol lospitality it is tlc prccondition, lor littcr is tlc lrcad tlat is
catcn witlout spcccl laving lccn cxclangcd, lcavy and lurdcnsomc is tlc
insomnia ol tlc lcds in wlicl wc slccp witlout our wcarincss laving lccn
wclcomcd and rcspcctcd. And is not tlc ultimatc lospitality, tlat ol tlc ord,
tlc lospitality tlat lalls, dizzyingly, into tlc luminous listcning ol tlc Word,
listcning to it so as to spcak, spcaking so as to listcn to it` istcning is lig
witl ctcrnity.
1lc lrcslncss and opcnncss ol tlis lospitality comcs to it lrom its
lumility. t is tlc nrst lospitality, to lc surc, lut nolody las cvcr inauguratcd
it. No man las cvcr lccn tlc nrst to listcn. Wc can ollcr it only lccausc wc
lavc always alrcady lccn rcccivcd in it. t is consulstantial witl tlc vcry
transmission ol spcccl. n ordcr to spcak, lavc to lc allc to lcar myscll, lut
in ordcr to lcar myscll, somconc must alrcady lavc lcard mc and spokcn to
mc, in a way tlat lorcstalls mc tlat is, comcs lclorc mc, in lotl spatial and
tcmporal tcrms. Wc lavc lccn listcncd to cvcn lclorc wc spcak. Bctwccn our
cars and our voicc, otlcr voiccs and otlcr kinds ol listcning arc alrcady activc.
1lc lospitality ol listcning tlus las a common quality, in tlc scnsc in wlicl
pcoplc uscd to talk ol a common lakclousc. t is in a common spacc, or,
morc prcciscly, it is in wlat lounds any possillc community, tlat wc wclcomc
tlc otlcr. Wlcn rcally listcn, occupy tlc placc ol any otlcr man, and it is
cqually truc tlat, as cvcryonc knows, tlcrc is no attcntion witlout a sort ol
cllaccmcnt.
But low is it possillc to tlink tlat, on tlc onc land, ly listcning tcnd to
lc notling lut tlc placc loldcr or surrogatc ol lumanity, allowing tlc otlcr
to raisc lis voicc into tlc liglt ol tlc univcrsal, and tlat, on tlc otlcr land,
tlis placc lolding docs not constitutc an anonymity or intcrclangcalility,
1 \NAF-
10
sincc lospitality can only lc truly givcn il it is givcn as our own in our own
words ('lrom our own lands`, as wc also say), in tlc lorm ol a plrasc sucl as,
'crc am, `m listcning`` 1lcsc two dimcnsions do not lorm an altcrnativc,
and to tlink as mucl would mcan missing out on an csscntial aspcct ol tlc
plcnomcnon ol listcning. or to listcn o/// my particularitics, in otlcr words
witl my lalits and my prcjudiccs, witl my prcdilcctions and my rcscntmcnts,
witl my mcmorics and my drcams, mcans lorcing tlc words ol tlc otlcr into
tlc Frocrustcan lcd ol cvcrytling tlat is most contingcnt and most accidcntal
alout mc, it mcans listcning in a way tlat tlc Grccks would lavc callcd /4///.
And so it is not rcally listcning, lut ratlcr r.c//n, as in tlosc 'rcactions` to
tlis or tlat cvcnt tlat journalists rcquirc lrom curious lystandcrs in otlcr
words tlosc rcactions tlat prolcssionally curious lystandcrs rcquirc lrom
mcrcly occasional curious lystandcrs. Notling ol tlc otlcr is rcccivcd and
takcn in, lor tlcrc is tlcn no placc in wlicl lc can lc rcccivcd, lut mcrcly a
stand-olnsl rcscrvc, and tlus somctling tlat is as intcrclangcallc as onc can
imaginc as in cvcrytling tlat dcpcnds on opinion.
n tlc otlcr land, wlcn a man lurns in tlc nrc ol attcntion tlc dcad
wood ol lis particularitics, wlcn lc allows tlc words ol tlc otlcr to unlold
in a silcncc tlat is rustling witl mcaning, wlat lappcns is tlat, ly cllacing
limscll, lc lccomcs propcrly limscll, and ollcrs a kind ol listcning tlat
notling can rcplacc ly vcry virtuc ol tlc lact tlat it is univcrsal. ow arc
wc to undcrstand tlis paradox` 1lc act ol spcccl cannot lc tlouglt on tlc
lasis ol tlc simplc duality ol you and mc. As soon as you spcak to mc, wc
arc alrcady all tlcrc, cvcn tlc dcad, and tlosc wlo will onc day comc also.
1lc intcrlocutors do not addrcss onc anotlcr in tlc vacuum ol a tclcpatlic
communication, tlcy spcak to cacl otlcr in tlc world witlin wlicl tlcy
cxist along witl cvcryonc and in tlc languagc ol a community. 1lcy arc tlus
ncvcr only two pcoplc. cvcn a lacc-to-lacc convcrsation is lcavy witl a distant
rumour, and cvcn intimacy las its own widc-opcn spaccs.
istcning to tlc otlcr docs not simply mcan listcning to wlat lc says, lut
to wlat it is, in tlc world or, in otlcr words, to wlicl lis words arc rcplying
wlat is calling lis words, rcqucsting tlcm, mcnacing tlcm or ovcrwlclming
tlcm. 1o lcgin listcning mcans laving to lrcak tlrougl tlc lrigltcning
closurc ol duality. indccd, it is not a qucstion ol tlc two intcrlocutors lorming
two lalvcs tlat nnally rcunitc and comc togctlcr in a singlc splcrc, as in
tlc ancicnt mytl. Wlcn rcally listcn o/// tlc otlcr to wlat lc limscll, as
lc spcaks, is listcning to or las listcncd to, tlcn it is rcally /. to wlom am
listcning. And it is wlcn listcn in tlis way tlat I rcally listcn, lor listcning
witl tlc otlcr is not tlc samc as lusing witl lim, or coinciding witl lim. wc
lcar twicc ovcr, lrom two distinct placcs, wlat las callcd our cxclangc into
lcing. 1lis alonc givcs to listcning its solidity and its gravity.
1 \NAF-
11
1lcsc rcmarks arc cnougl to dismiss tlc utopian idca ol a pcrlcct act ol
listcning, ol an adcquatc act ol listcning in tlc scnsc in wlicl plilosoplcrs
spcak ol an adcquatc knowlcdgc. 1o lc surc, wc spcak in ordcr to lc lcard,
and wlo would not wisl to lc listcncd to as wcll as possillc, witl tlc most
pcrlcct attcntion` l wc put to onc sidc as rcquiring to lc tlouglt tlrougl
in dillcrcnt tcrms tlc situations in wlicl wc spcak so as n/ to lc lcard, two
qucstions arisc. ocs lcing listcncd to constitutc and cn it constitutc tlc
ultimatc and csscntial aim ol my acts ol spcccl` And, on tlc otlcr land, in
wlat miglt tlc pcrlcction ol listcning consist` A word tlat aims mcrcly to lc
listcncd to is a word tlat invciglcs. it cnjoins, it ordcrs, it scduccs, it clarms, it
acts in many otlcr laslions too, or at lcast it sccks to do so, lut it cxccpts itscll
and witldraws lrom tlc dialoguc ol trutl or in trutl. aim to lc listcncd to
only as a momcnt ol tlc rcply, as tlc prccondition ol anotlcr act ol spcccl. 1o
spcak mcans nrst and lorcmost to c;, to articulatc a mcaning on tlc lasis ol
wlicl wc can cxist togctlcr in tlc world, and cvcn a word ol rcvclation, witl
all its critical, dccisivc and impcrious implications, can lavc tlis wcigltincss
only lccausc it c; somctling alout God and tlc world and tlc rclation
lctwccn tlcm, and tlus, in ordcr to say tlis, it calls on a rcsponsc (rm u,
witlout wlicl it would not lc itscll. A r; lorccs itscll on to listcning, it scizcs
us, as it wcrc, in spitc ol oursclvcs, lut it docs not lorm tlc nrst momcnt ol
a dialoguc. t slows somctling, it discloscs tlc joy, sullcring, lorror, surprisc
to wlicl, il lcar it, must rcply, lut it says, propcrly spcaking, notling.
Spcccl livcs oll tlc stiing ol tlcsc crics, it lorlids tlcm so tlat it can spcak
itscll wlicl docs not mcan, lar lrom it, tlat it dcnics or lails to rccognizc
tlcir intcnsity as an csscntial possilility ol tlc luman voicc. By making itscll
into tlc luminous monstrancc ol tlcir mcaning, ly saying, trcmulously, wlat
in tlcm is always unlcard-ol, it only makcs tlcm all tlc morc picrcing. or
tlc voicc lrings into itscll tlcir picrcing quality, wlicl is tlc only way ol not
lorgctting it. nly spcccl, ly saying, and not ly starting to lowl in turn,
rcally listcns to tlc crics, lor it alonc can grant tlcir dcsirc, ly lcaring and
tlis is its vcry own rcsponsilility wlat is unlcarallc alout tlcm, and ly
lcaring it as sucl, tlat is, witlout dcnying it. So listcning cannot lc scparatcd
lrom rcplying to and taking up wlat wc listcn to.
Wlcrc can wc nnd tlc pcrlcction ol listcning, supposing tlcrc is onc` l
pcrlcct listcning wcrc a listcning so lull ol insiglt and undcrstanding tlat it
to somc dcgrcc cnvclopcd my words witl its lucid anticipation, undcrstood
my mcrcst lint, witlout lail, in all say and all do not say tlat it always
kncw in advancc tlc movcmcnt ol my plrascs witlout cvcr lcing takcn ly
surprisc tlcn it would tcnd to supprcss my spcccl and supprcss itscll as
listcning. And tlis, lar lrom constituting a dcsirallc aim, would mcrcly lcad
to ruin and violcncc. 1lcrc arc scnscs in wlicl pcrlcct listcning clangcs ovcr
1 \NAF-
12
into its oppositc. complctc violcncc and cxpropriation. Wc do not want to
talk to tlosc wlo know cvcrytling all too wcll, long in advancc, wc do not
want to spcak il otlcrs arc going to nnisl our scntcnccs lor us, wc do not
start spcaking to rclinquisl tlc ground ol our lcing. ntcrprctation las its
violcncc, too, and pcrlaps it is always a ccrtain violcncc tlat lounds and givcs
risc to intcrprctation. l listcning undcrstands too mucl (and wc doultlcss
always undcrstand / mu/), it tcnds to lccomc vision, autopsy, a pcrspicacity
tlat sccs tlrougl mc, instcad ol grccting mc around tlc lcartl ol languagc.
1lc gilt tlat is attrilutcd, in various traditions, to plilosoplcrs or visionarics
ol tlc spirit, cnalling tlcm to know at a glancc witl wlom tlcy arc dcaling
and to scc tlcir inncrmost sccrcts witlout cvcn nccding to spcak is it rcally
a gilt` t takcs away morc tlan it givcs, il it tcars lrom tlc otlcr lis lurdcn ol
languagc, tlat is, tlc uniquc and irrcplaccallc wciglt ol lis lumanity.
As opposcd to sucl a dirc utopia, lowcvcr dazzling it miglt makc
itscll out to lc, wc lavc to imaginc tlat tlc pcrlcction ol listcning lics in
its impcrlcction, to lorrow a 1aoist lormula. istcning lcgins in a void,
in disposscssion and not in lringing into action and sctting to work a
'know-low` ol listcning tlat las alrcady lccn acquircd and posscsscd. 1lc
'know-low` ol listcning las somctling olsccnc and pornograplic alout it,
il tlc csscncc ol pornograply is tlc stcrilc and cmpty intcrclangcalility ol
intimacy, its invasion ly anonymous tcclniqucs and a gazc tlat wants to scc
cvcrytling. 1lc only know-low or knowlcdgc ol wlicl it can lc a qucstion
in tlis domain is tlat tlcrc slould lc a qucstion, tlat slould allow myscll
to lc disposscsscd ol wlat tlouglt kncw ly tlc words ol tlc otlcr, wlicl
arc tlus tlc occasion ol a rcciprocal opcnncss. n otlcr tcrms, wlat is at stakc
is wlat tlc Socratic tradition calls |.crn.4 /nrcn. tlc act ol knowing wlat
do not know. Knowing tlat you do not know mcans knowing low to lcarn,
knowing cacl timc low to lcarn. And knowing cacl timc low to lcarn mcans
cncountcring tlc otlcr and allowing tlc otlcr to cncountcr you and spcak to
you. Lc/ //m. tlcsc words arc important.
or, witl tlis lcarncd ignorancc, wc arc not talking alout a posturc, a
position, an attitudc. t is lcarncd only lccausc it las lccn lurncd ly tlc
cpiplany ol tlc otlcr. t is lcarncd only ly lcing lorn ancw and starting ovcr
again. ts knowlcdgc is not a kind ol laggagc, it mcans you losc wlatcvcr
laggagc you lad. 1lc lospitality ol listcning, likc tlat ol tlc piplany, is
lospitality in a stallc, tlat is, in a placc normally unsuitallc lor rccciving
kings, a lospitality cauglt slort, lccausc it las notling clsc to ollcr tlan
a vacant and unadorncd placc. ts dcncicncy is its nakcdncss and tlus its
pcrlcction.
Wlat is tlcrc to lcar and undcrstand in tlis cpiplany, and low is it to
lc undcrstood` vcry autlcntic word runs risks, vcnturcs out, and listcning
can lc laitllul to it only il it mcasurcs up to tlis vcnturc. Wlicl vcnturc` 1o
1 \NAF-
1S
start to spcak, to /c|. up tlc convcrsation, il wc pay attcntion to tlc lorcc ol
tlis cxprcssion, wlicl las lccn conccalcd ly lalit, docs not mcan rccciving
it wlcrc it is lcld out to mc, as wlcn you ask qucstions round tlc tallc or at
a conlcrcncc, lut to takc it up lrom silcncc. No luman spcccl comcs lclorc
all otlcr, as il it wcrc indistinguislallc lrom tlc origin and lrouglt mcaning
into lcing, lut cvcry spcccl wortly ol tlc namc is a ncw dawn, and riscs
trcmulously in tlc unccrtain liglt ol daylrcak. t movcs lorward, to adopt tlc
nnc titlc ol cnri Miclaux`s work, 'lacc a cc qui sc dcrolc` 'in tlc lacc ol
wlat slips away`. Wlat say, cannot say. 1lc lull mcasurc ol spcccl is tlat
it spcaks to tlc impossillc.
1lis paradox rcvcals itscll to lc a scll-cvidcnt trutl. or il, in spcaking,
nccd only draw on a stock ol alrcady availallc scntcnccs, rcady-madc turns ol
plrasc, prc-cxisting commonplaccs, wlctlcr tlcy arc indccd commonplacc
or, on tlc contrary, prccious, tlcn my task is rcduccd to tlat ol putting ncw
winc in old wincskins and tlus corrupting and wasting its ncwncss. A man
witl tlc gilt ol tlc gal is a man wlo is always rcpcating tlings, cvcn il tlc
varicty ol lis uttcranccs conccals tlc lact. But il lavc somctling ncw to say,
cvcn il it is mcrcly tlis joy or tlis trial am going tlrougl, it cannot lc a
qucstion mcrcly ol actualizing a mcaning tlat was alrcady potcntially tlcrc
witlin mc, and lavc to say somctling do not undcrstand and cannot
managc, somctling tlat las lrokcn into mc ly coming upon mc unawarcs.
No rlctoric will do tlc jol.
Spcccl takcs risks lccausc it is always tlc un/.cr4-( tlat it wants to say,
wlcn it rcally wants to say somctling. 1lc silcncc witlin cvcnts is wlat wc
want to lring into spcccl. n tlis way, tlc voicc llazcs lor itscll a trail tlat
was not markcd out in advancc, a trail tlat it can in no way lollow. t can lc
strong only in its wcakncss. ts solc autlority lics in lcing vcnturcsomc, and
so its trcmlling must always lcar tlc lallmark ol tlc silcncc lrom wlicl it
cmcrgcs. somctimcs it is a tonclcss voicc tlat alonc can cxprcss tlc unlcard-
ol. 1lc distrcss inlcrcnt to airport novcls and lit songs lics prcciscly in tlc lact
tlat, ly providing simplc-lcartcd pcoplc witl lormulac ol purc convcntion
and worn-out, dcvalucd cxprcssions witl wlicl to cxprcss tlcir joys and tlcir
pains, tlcy dcprivc tlcm ol acccss to spcccl, tlcy lorlid its stammcrings,
and tlcy tlus dcprivc mcn ol tlcir own cxistcncc. 1lcrc is somctling rcally
vampiric alout tlis. An arrogant vulgarity ourislcs at tlc cxpcnsc ol all wlo
listcn to it. 1lcn tlcrc is notling lclt lctwccn tlc nakcdncss ol tlc unsayallc
and tlc oll-tlc-pcg lormulac tlat arc all rcady to wcar, in wlicl nolody
spcaks and notling is said.
l spcccl is lorn lrom tlc unlcard-ol, listcning, too, can livc lrom it alonc.
And il wc indccd spcak only to tlc impossillc, wc also indccd listcn only
to and towards tlc impossillc. ow` t is towards wlat myscll do not
undcrstand and cannot mastcr, towards wlat cscapcs mc, tlat must lcnd
1 \NAF-
1+
an car. 1lis is tlc only way to listcn, lor it is only in tlis way tlat can lct
myscll lc slakcn and translormcd, ratlcr tlan just instructcd, ly wlat occurs
(cvcn il tlis is only a ncw tlouglt, wlicl also constitutcs an cvcnt). listcn
wlcrc do not know any morc tlan tlc otlcr alout wlat lc is saying to
mc, wlcrc can slarc witl lim tlc surprisc at wlat lappcns. 1o listcn, wc
lavc, as a striking cxprcssion ol Fcguy puts it, 'to lc prcparcd to lc cauglt
oll our guard`. only tlus can wc lc rcaclcd ly, and, as it wcrc, unitcd witl,
cvcrytling tlat is lolty, lor tlc man wlo is on lis guard, and sticks to tlc
commands sct out in lis programmc ol possililitics, will ncvcr scc anytling
lappcning lut wlat lc las alrcady sccn and will ncvcr lcar anytling lut
wlat las alrcady lccn said.
Bcing witl tlc otlcr, attuncd to tlc unlcard-ol, docs not at all mcan tlat
am, likc a psyclologist or an intcrprctcr, lying in wait lor tlc unsaid in tlc
otlcr`s spcccl, nor tlat tlcrcly adopt a position ol supcriority and mastcry.
Somctling quitc dillcrcnt is at stakc. istcning to tlc unlcard-ol in wlat tlc
otlcr is saying mcans lollowing a paticnt, lalorious patl, somctimcs gctting
lost and nccding to start all ovcr again, witl all tlat is improvisational and,
as it wcrc, carcssing in tlc act ol attcntion, towards tlc singularity ol tlc
cvcnt tlat calls lor lis spcccl. t is only on tlis lasis, on tlc lasis ol tlis
pcrpctually incloativc lratcrnity in wlicl wlat is / |. c/4 scts tlc tonc, tlat
tlc words ol tlc otlcr lccomc audillc, tlat is, rcspcctcd. 1lcir stammcrings,
tlcir clumsincss, tlcir inadcquacy, tlcir contradictions arc no longcr an
olstaclc, tlcy arc no longcr privations or dcncicncics lrom tlc point ol vicw
ol somc mastcrlul spcccl. tlcy mcan somctling. But tlis mcaninglulncss las
notling in common witl tlat ol a symptom, wlicl dcciplcr ly myscll in
a supposcdly cxpcrt laslion. t lcars witncss to tlc agonistic dimcnsion ol
spcccl, it dcmonstratcs tlat cvcry act ol spcccl is a land-to-land comlat
witl silcncc, witl wlat cannot lc said and yct will lc said.
All tlc samc, tlis listcning to tlc unlcard-ol las notling in common witl
a mutc contcmplation. Wc arc all cars only il wc arc all lips, just as wc arc all
lips only il wc arc all cars. cidcggcr las slown, witl grcat prolundity, tlat
spcaking mcans listcning and tlat listcning mcans spcaking. 1o lcar witl
tlc otlcr tlc lurdcn and rcsponsilility ol lis words can only lappcn il wc
oursclvcs lring our ollcring, tlc lrcsl air ol our wlispcrcd mcanings. 1o allow
myscll to lc qucstioncd ly wlat lc las to say mcans also laving, myscll, to
qucstion and intcrrogatc lim. t is not ccrtain tlat listcning can always rcply
/ wlat is said to it, lor it docs not lavc at its disposal a magical powcr tlat
cnallcs it to untic or to cut all tlc Gordian knots ol cxistcncc, lut it is ccrtain
tlat it must always lc answcrallc / cn4 (r wlat is said to it. ts lospitality is
activc, and lorms tlc pcrpctual noviciatc ol spcccl. vcryonc las cxpcricnccd
low tlc attcntion witl wlicl wc arc listcncd to las a lcuristic lorcc and
lcars our spcccl lcyond itscll, lcrtilizcs our tlouglts and rcinlorccs tlcm
1 \NAF-
15
quitc uncxpcctcdly. 1lis is lccausc tlis attcntion is not dircctcd towards us
lut towards tlc unlcard-ol, lrom wlicl our spcccl ariscs, tlus it is on tlis
unlcard-ol, and not on us, tlat it casts its liglt, wlicl is our godscnd. Wlat
wc lavc lcrc is an itincrant attcntion, wlicl accompanics us, wlcrcas in tlc
quitc dillcrcnt casc ol attcntion scrutinizing us witl tlc aim ol judging us, as
in an cxamination or an audition, it includcs mucl morc ol a dimcnsion ol
constraint and inlilition. n onc casc, tlc silcncc ol listcning spcaks, and, in
tlc otlcr, it is silcnt.
1o tlcsc considcrations, lowcvcr, an oljcction can nonctlclcss lc raiscd.
l wc listcn towards tlc unlcard-ol, il wc listcn witl wlat wc do not know,
and il listcning witl wlat wc do not know constitutcs tlc lcginnings ol
dcalncss, do wc not arrivc at tlc idca ol an attcntion tlat is, as it wcrc,
ccstatic` Wlat distinguislcs tlis surprisc lrom a sort ol stupor in tlc lacc ol
tlc unlorcsccallc` s tlis not an cntircly ncgativc conccption, wlicl disallcs
all undcrstanding in its structurcs and its potcntialitics`
1lis would lc to misundcrstand and, quitc litcrally, to rcmain dcal to tlis
novitiatc ol spcccl. t is in lollowing tlc movcmcnt ol tlc otlcr`s words, it is
in lollowing too tlc movcmcnt ol my own qucstionings, tlat am attcntivc
to tlc unlcard-ol, as to tlc origin ol our cxclangc. carncd ignorancc docs
not consist ol making oursclvcs amncsic and stupid so tlat wc can listcn lcttcr
lut ol silcncing witlin us tlc noisc ol wlat las alrcady lccn said so tlat wc
can, in cidcggcr`s apt words, lct oursclvcs lc said. 1lis ignorancc suspcnds
my knowlcdgc, it docs not dcstroy it. t lrccs mc lrom my llind adlcsion to
tlc lclicl tlat my knowlcdgc is sulncicnt to lcar and undcrstand cvcrytling
tlat will cvcr lc said to mc. t is a qucstion ol molilizing my knowlcdgc and
my cxpcricncc, and making tlcm uid and livcly, so tlat tlcy will scrvc tlc
attcntion instcad ol rcplacing it.
1lc radical dillcrcncc lctwccn tlc act ol spcccl and tlc dcciplcring ol a
mcssagc or tlc rcccption ol a piccc ol inlormation is tlcrcly madc manilcst.
istcning is not tlc samc as dccoding, lor words do not constitutc a codc. A
maclinc can dccodc ly lringing its programmcs into play. But it will ncvcr
lc allc to listcn. istcning is a truly palpitating activity, it can lappcn only
witl tlis lcart tlat lcats, tlis air lrcatlcd in and lrcatlcd out, tlis paticnt
activity ol tlc cntirc lody. t is witl all onc`s lody tlat onc listcns, as tlc act
ol spcccl is ncvcr scparallc lrom an act ol tlc lody. 1lc always unnnislcd
trutl ol listcning is a lcartlclt trutl.
17
2
W\N SFC
A phcnomcnology of praycr
Fraycr is tlc rcligious plcnomcnon par cxccllcncc, as it is tlc luman act
tlat alonc opcns up tlc rcligious dimcnsion and ncvcr ccascs to sustain, to
lcar, to sullcr tlat opcning. 1lcrc arc, ol coursc, otlcr spccincally rcligious
plcnomcna, lut praycr constantly lclongs among tlcir conditions ol
possilility. l wc could not addrcss our words to God or tlc gods, no otlcr act
would lc capallc ol aiming at tlc divinc. 1lus, sacrincc lorms an act tlat is,
at lcast at nrst siglt, distinct lrom praycr, lut it is impossillc to imaginc any
sacrincc tlat praycr docs not in onc way or anotlcr accompany and constitutc
as sucl. Witl praycr, tlc rcligious plcnomcnon lcgins and cnds.
1lis appcarancc can indccd, in ccrtain cascs, opcn only on to a virtual
dimcnsion, as wlcn Supcrvicllc, in lis 'Fraycr to tlc \nknown`, spcaks to a
God wlosc cxistcncc lc docs not prcsupposc and wlom lc docs not know
wlctlcr lc is listcning to lim.
And scc, surprisc myscll addrcssing my words to you,
My God, cvcn tlougl do not yct know wlctlcr you cxist.
1
And yct tlis praycr to a virtual God, lowcvcr onc judgcs it lrom a
rcligious and poctic point ol vicw, is not itscll a virtual praycr lut an cllcctivc
and autlcntic praycr, and tlis pocm lclongs quitc propcrly to tlc rcligious
ordcr, tlc virtual claractcr ol tlc God wlom it addrcsscs lamiliarly as 'tlou`
constituting a momcnt ol tlc mcaning ol its rcligiosity. Wlat wc lavc lcrc
is tlc wcakcst and lcast strcnuous lorm ol a possilility ol wlicl tlc Gospcl
prcscnts particularly acutc and vilrant cxamplcs, sucl as 'ord, tcacl us to
pray`, wlicl is a praycr, or tlc ' lavc laitl. clp my lack ol laitl!`
2
1lc most divcrsc tlinkcrs cmplasizc low tlc rcligious dimcnsion is tlus
loundcd on praycr. 1lus, Novalis writcs in a lragmcnt ol lis Ln;|(.4/c.
'Prc;/n is, in rcligion, wlat tlinking is in (//|(/;. Fraying is (r4u/n
r.|//n (B.|//n-mc/.n) . . . . 1lc rcligious scnsc (rc; just as tlc mcntal
W\N SFC
18
organ tlinks`,
S
and udwig cucrlacl, taking up lrom a lcuristic point ol
vicw wlat Novalis alnrms in a gcnctic way, statcs in T/. L.n. ( C/r///cn//;.
'1lc ultimatc csscncc ol rcligion is rcvcalcd ly tlc simplcst act ol rcligion
praycr`.
+
Simplc` 1lat is tlc qucstion. And cvcn supposing tlat it / simplc, its
simplicity is no casicr to grasp lcrc tlan it is clscwlcrc. 1lis lundamcntal
plcnomcnon, irrcducillc to any otlcr, is dilncult to dcscrilc, so varicd arc tlc
lorms tlat it can assumc and tlc dcnnitions tlat lavc lccn givcn ol it. 1lc
most commonly acccptcd and most traditional typologics and classincations
can lc plcnomcnologically impurc and conccal tlc plcnomcnon instcad ol
pattcrning tlcmsclvcs on it. 1lc samc is truc ol tlc distinction lctwccn vocal
praycr and mcntal praycr. t appcars clcar wlcn wc scparatc silcnt acts lrom
acts in wlicl praycr is uttcrcd or pronounccd. But it lccomcs mucl lcss clcar
as soon as wc notc, as did St 1crcsa ol Avila, tlat lor praycr to lc mcntal, it
is not a qucstion ol kccping your moutl slut (/.n.r .rrc4c |c |c). l praycr
is uttcrcd mcrcly ly tlc lips (| n |c |c), it is not a Clristian praycr, cvcn
tlougl ccrtain practiccs involving tlc rccitation ol a lormula or tlc rcpctition
ol a word, to tlc point ol intoxication, occur in various rcligions, lut, il
autlcntic vocal praycr is always accompanicd ly mcntal praycr, as St 1crcsa
claims, tlis distinction can no longcr lc claimcd to dcscrilc rigorously tlc
plcnomcnon ol praycr.
5
n tlc otlcr land, and lcrc wc cncountcr anotlcr and no lcss clallcnging
dilnculty lor our dcscription, in tlc constitution ol tlc mcaning ol praycr
its addrcsscc is alsolutcly csscntial. But cvcn il, as a plcnomcnologist, onc
docs not posit tlc cxistcncc or non-cxistcncc ol tlc lattcr, tlc lact rcmains
tlat tlc way wc addrcss lim, namc lim, spcak to lim, tlc naturc ol wlat wc
ask lrom lim and lccl allc to ask lrom lim, tlc lcar or tlc trust witl wlicl
tlc pcrson praying turns to lim, all dcpcnd on tlc lcing ol tlis addrcsscc as
lc appcars to tlc lclicvcr. Fraycr cannot lc dcscrilcd unlcss tlc powcr to
wlicl it is addrcsscd is also dcscrilcd. But in tlat casc, docs not tlc attcmpt
to dcscrilc praycr rclapsc into a prcscntation ol tlc various rcal and possillc
tlcologics, witlout rcgard lor tlcir cxistcncc or non-cxistcncc` ocs not a
plcnomcnology ol praycr tlcn dissolvc into tlc cataloguing ol tlc various
possillc modcs in wlicl tlc divinc can appcar, as lor cvcry praycr tlcrc is a
lacc ol tlc divinc, and vicc vcrsa` urtlcrmorc, cvcry cstallislcd rcligion las
its |.x rcn4/, its praycr las a norm tlat tlc plcnomcnologist cannot ignorc,
sincc it is a part ol tlc plcnomcnon, any morc tlan lc can simply adopt it
and makc it lis own.
n ordcr to nnd a way tlrougl tlcsc dilncultics, tlc lcst tling is to limit
our study, wlicl could, takcn in itscll, lc indcnnitcly prolongcd. Wc will
cxaminc only praycr as an c/ ( (../, cvcn il tlc listory ol rcligion naturally
dcscrilcs all sorts ol praycrs tlat arc not in tlc sligltcst, at lcast at nrst siglt,
W\N SFC
1
acts ol spcccl, and our guiding qucstion will lc tlat ol tlc rolc playcd, in tlis
act, ly tlc r/.. ow and wly, in praycr, do wc comc out witl our voicc, do
wc givc voicc, our voicc` Wlat is tlc mcaning, witlin it, ol tlc divcrsc mcans
ol uttcrancc` 1lis is not a mattcr ol an arlitrary or purcly opportunistic
limitation, as tlcsc qucstions includc onc on tlc csscncc ol praycr. is vocal
praycr mcrcly onc lorm ol praycr among otlcrs, or is it tlc lorm ol praycr par
cxccllcncc, in rclation to wlicl alonc all otlcrs can lc dcnncd and constitutcd,
ly dcrivation or antitlctically` s it truc tlat, as cucrlacl puts it, 'audillc
praycr is only praycr rcvcaling its naturc``
6
Wlilc still lcing incomplctc, a nrst dcscription ol praycr can slow low
it inlalits an act ol prcscncc to tlc invisillc. Fraycr is tlc act ly wlicl tlc
pcrson praying stands in tlc prcscncc ol a lcing in wlom lc lclicvcs, lut
wlom lc cannot scc, and makcs limscll manilcst to tlat lcing. l praycr
is tlc rcsponsc to a tlcoplany, it is nrst and lorcmost an antlropoplany,
a manilcstation ol man. 1lc invisillc to wlicl man slows limscll may at
onc cxtrcmc lc tlc radical invisilility ol Spirit and at tlc otlcr tlc inncr
sacrcdncss or powcr ol a lcing tlat is in itscll visillc, sucl as a mountain,
a star or a statuc. 1lis act ol prcscncc lrings tlc wlolc ol man into play, in
all tlc dimcnsions ol lis lcing, it cxposcs lim in cvcry scnsc ol tlc tcrm,
and unrcscrvcdly. t conccrns our lody, its lcaring, its posturc, its rangc
ol gcsturcs, and it can includc ccrtain rcquircmcnts lor prcliminary lodily
purincation, sucl as allutions, rcquircmcnts as to clotling, sucl as covcring
or uncovcring ccrtain parts ol our lody, ccrtain positions, sucl as lolding
up tlc lands or knccling, and ccrtain dircctions in wlicl onc must lacc.
All tlcsc practiccs, wlctlcr tlcy arc olligatory or lclt to tlc cloicc ol tlc
pcrson praying, comc togctlcr in an appcarancc (as in tlc juridical scnsc)
tlat incarnatcs tlc act ol prcscncc. vcn tlc pcrson wlo turns towards tlc
incorporcal docs so witl lis lody, witl lis wlolc lody. 1lis is a /n. uc nn,
lor to say, as docs St Augustinc, tlat onc can pray in any 'lodily position` at
all docs not mcan tlat tlc lody is, in praycr, lrackctcd, or tlat it las no rolc
and no importancc, lut tlat in lis vicw cvcryonc must takc up tlc position
most appropriatc and most likcly to lavour lis praycr.
7
Witl its danccs and
its capcrs, tlc asidic movcmcnt las dcmonstratcd, in tlis domain, a vital
and indccd uncanny lrccdom.
8
Writtcn into tlc lody, tlis prcscncc to tlc
invisillc and tlis appcarancc lclorc it comprisc, csscntially, acts ly wlicl
tlc pcrson praying dcclarcs to God or tlc gods lis dcsircs, lis tlouglts, lis
nccds, lis lovc, lis rcpcntancc, in accordancc witl tlc various possililitics ol
spcccl, lrom crying out to soundlcssly moving lis lips, via spcaking aloud
and murmuring. 1lc pcrson praying lclorc God is in lis vcry lcing an activc
manilcstation ol limscll to God. All modcs ol praycr arc lorms ol tlis scll-
manilcstation, wlctlcr individual or collcctivc.
W\N SFC
20
1lis dcscription raiscs a qucstion. Wlat do wc scc wlcn wc scc a man
praying, indcpcndcntly ol tlc cxistcncc or non-cxistcncc ol tlc onc lc is
addrcssing` A man wlo is talking all ly limscll, wlo is tlc only onc talking.
But docs talking ly yourscll mcan talking witl yourscll, talking to yourscll,
or addrcssing anotlcr wlo cannot lc pcrccivcd ly tlc scnscs` 1lc two
plcnomcna arc csscntially distinct. 1o rcducc praycr to a purc soliloquy, to
a dialoguc witl oncscll, is not to dcscrilc lut to intcrprct and to construct,
in a way tlat docs violcncc to tlc plcnomcnon. can indccd addrcss myscll,
and spcak to myscll in a lamiliar way (as 'tlou`), to scrcw up my couragc or
impcl myscll to takc a particular action, lut tlis is in no way a praycr and
tlis act is quitc dillcrcnt lrom tlat in wlicl turn to anotlcr and addrcss
anotlcr lamiliarly (as 'tlou`). Wlcn Kant writcs tlat wlcn onc prays onc
spcaks 'witlin oncscll and in lact o/// n..|( (/n un4 ./.n/|// m// // .||/),
tlougl allcgcdly all tlc morc comprclcnsilly witl God`, wlcn lc comparcs
tlc pcrson praying to somconc wlo is 'talking to limscll (m// // .||/ |cu/
r.4.n4)`, so as to givc risc to tlc suspicion tlat lc is laving 'a sliglt nt ol
madncss (Jc/n/nn)`,

wlcn cucrlacl statcs tlat praycr is 'tlc scll-division

ol man into two lcings, a dialoguc ol man witl limscll, witl lis lcart`,
10

tlc csscncc ol tlis act ol spcccl is misundcrstood and dclormcd, all tlc morc
maliciously in tlc nrst casc tlan in tlc sccond, lor tlc sccond prcscnts itscll
as an intcrprctativc construction. t is not 'altogctlcr unjustly,` says Kant
lurtlcrmorc, tlat wc considcr tlc pcrson wc comc across all ly limscll
'occupicd in practiccs or gcsturcs tlat wc cxpcct only ol onc wlo sccs somclody
clsc lclorc lim`. Kant distinguislcs tlc purc 'spirit ol praycr` ol allocution or
addrcss (Anr.4.). tlc lattcr prcsupposcs tlc lclicl in a pcrsonal prcscncc ol
tlc otlcr, and in so lar as it docs so it can lc considcrcd as a 'supcrstitious
dclusion (./n c|.r|cu|//.r Jc/n)`, a 'lctisl-making (l.///mc/.n)`.
11
1lis
was lclorc Sclopcnlaucr wcnt as lar as to vicw all praycr addrcsscd to a
pcrsonal lcing as 'idolatry`.
12
1o judgc tlat a plcnomcnon is alsurd is too
lacilc a way ol rclicving oncscll ol tlc olligation to tlink alout tlc mcaning
it miglt lavc and, nrst and lorcmost, ol dcscriling it as it appcars and givcs
itscll. 1lc mctaplysical prcjudicc lollowing wlicl tlc spirit is ncccssarily
voicclcss, and all tlc purcr in so lar as it docs not manilcst itscll, las ncvcr
lortunatcly! sulnccd to silcncc tlc luman voicc.
Wlat arc tlc lunctions ol spcccl in praycr` Wlat is tlc importancc in
praycr ol addrcss, indccd ol lamiliar addrcss (as 'tlou`)` Wly givc voicc to
it` 1lcsc arc tlc qucstions tlat wc will succcssivcly nccd to tacklc il wc arc to
dcscrilc praycr morc adcquatcly, altlougl tlcy arc ncccssarily intcrdcpcndcnt
and intcrwovcn witl onc anotlcr.
1lat a God lor wlom cvcrytling is clcar las no nccd ol anyonc tclling
lim anytling wlatsocvcr, tlat an omniscicnt God las notling to lcarn lrom
us, not cvcn our most sccrct dcsircs. tlis was tlc oljcction rcpcatcdly raiscd
W\N SFC
21
against monotlcistic praycr. 1lis oljcction aims, il not to supprcss praycr,
at lcast to supprcss it as an act ol spcccl. But tlis oljcction is in its own
way judicious, in tlat it includcs its own solution witlin itscll, namcly tlc
lact tlat tlc lunction ol spcccl is not in tlis casc to communicatc a piccc ol
inlormation or to transmit somctling wc know to our invisillc intcrlocutor.
At tlc lcginning ol lis dialoguc D. mc//r, St Augustinc supposcs tlat
spcccl las two lunctions, 4.r. and 4/.r., tcacling and lcarning, to wlicl
lis son Adcodatus comcs up witl tlc countcr-cxamplc ol song, wlicl wc
can sing all ly oursclvcs. St Augustinc tlcn distinguislcs propcrly musical
plcasurc lrom tlc vcry words ol tlc song wlicl, addrcsscd to oursclvcs, arc a
mm.mrc//, in wlicl wc rcmind oursclvcs ol somctling. 1lcn Adcodatus
raiscs a ncw oljcction. 'Wlcn wc pray, wc ccrtainly do spcak, and tlcrc
is tlc rul it is not riglt to tlink tlat God slould lc tauglt ly us or tlat
wc slould rcmind im ol anytling.` St Augustinc`s rcply is complcx, lut it
csscntially comcs down to making a distinction witlin praycr lctwccn an act,
tlc 'sacrincc ol justicc`, wlicl is not in itscll dircctly an act ol spcccl, and a
linguistic dimcnsion, wlctlcr intcrnal and silcnt or cxtcrnal and audillc, tlc
lattcr is assimilatcd to tlc commcmorativc lunction ol spcccl, to tlc act ol
rccalling somctling to oncscll or otlcrs, to tlc mcditativc ingatlcring ol our
tlouglt.
1S
ow slould tlis lc undcrstood` Wc spcak wlcn wc addrcss anotlcr, and
turn towards lim, lut it is wc oursclvcs wlo arc tauglt ly tlis spcccl, and it
is on us tlat it acts. 1lc words ol our spcccl allcct and modily tlc addrcsscr,
and not tlc addrcsscc. Wc allcct oursclvcs as wc stand lclorc tlc otlcr, in a
movcmcnt towards lim. 1lis is tlc nrst wound ol spcccl in praycr. tlc gap
introduccd ly tlc addrcsscc las lrokcn tlc closcd circlc ol spcccl, opcncd
witlin it a lault tlat altcrs its naturc. Anotlcr las silcntly introduccd limscll
into my dialoguc witl myscll, and las radically translormcd and lrokcn it.
My spcccl rclounds on to myscll and allccts mc, as indccd would any spcccl
ol minc ol tlc kind always lcar, lut it allccts mc mucl morc in so lar as
it is not aimcd at mc, and las a complctcly dillcrcnt addrcsscc lrom mc. t
is prcciscly lccausc am not talking to myscll, lccausc am not talking lor
myscll, tlat my own spcccl, altcrcd at its vcry origin, and pcrlaps cvcn lclorc
tlat, turns lack on mc witl sucl singular lorcc.
St 1lomas Aquinas puts it vcry wcll. 'Wc must pray, not in ordcr to inlorm
God ol our nccds and dcsircs, lut in ordcr to rcmind oursclvcs tlat in tlcsc
mattcrs wc nccd divinc assistancc.`
1+
1o ask God, to accomplisl in spcccl
an act ol qucstion and rcqucst, mcans tlat, as wc spcak to lim, wc at onc
and tlc samc timc say somctling alout lim and somctling alout oursclvcs,
inscparally. Wc makc oursclvcs manilcst to oursclvcs, wc arc tlrougl spcccl
madc manilcst to oursclvcs as wc manilcst oursclvcs to lim. 1o ask is activcly
to acknowlcdgc tlat wc arc not tlc origin ol cvcry good and cvcry gilt, and
W\N SFC
22
it is activcly to acknowlcdgc tlat tlc onc wlom wc addrcss is wlat lc is. All
praycr conlcsscs God as givcr, ly disposscssing us ol our scll-ccntrcdncss, in a
spcccl tlat at cvcry instancc tlc addrcsscc alonc, in our cycs, makcs possillc.
By rcturning to mc, praycr docs not spcak to mc ol myscll alonc.
Fraycr, says St Bonavcnturc, nccds tlc lcrvour ol attcntion, tlc
conccntration ol tlouglt, tlc nrmncss ol paticncc. 1lis is wly God wislcd
us 'not only to pray mcntally lut also to pray vcrlally to rccollcct our tlouglts
tlrougl words (c4 r.||.//n.m //c//num)`.
15
Wc arc lar lrom tlc mutc
spiritualism tlat sccs in vocal cxprcssion a mcrc movcmcnt ol cllusion and
dispcrsal into outwardncss, onc tlat is, lurtlcrmorc, vain and supcruous in
tlc siglt ol God. 1lc movcmcnt ol spcccl is likc tlat ol air lrcatlcd out and
in again. t lrings mc togctlcr lclorc tlc otlcr, it givcs mc a lcing lor lim,
sincc it paradoxically givcs mc wlat it prcsupposcs il it is to takc placc. nc
las to lc rccollcctcd in ordcr to pray, lut tlat is tlc point. praycr itscll, in
so lar as it is spcccl, is alonc capallc ol rcally gatlcring mc and rccollccting
mc. ocs tlis mcan tlat wc arc turning spcccl into a mcrc mcans, tlc
instrumcnt, so to spcak, ol a tcclniquc ol conccntration` 1lis may, ol coursc,
in somc cascs lc truc. But St Bonavcnturc docs not scparatc tlc gilt ol our
voicc lrom tlc mcaning ol wlat wc say. t is around wlat it says tlat tlc
voicc gatlcrs and gatlcrs us, just as wlat it says gatlcrs around tlc pcrson it
addrcsscs. 1lc nrst lunction ol spcccl in praycr is tlus a scll-manilcstation to
tlc invisillc otlcr, a manilcstation tlat lccomcs a manilcstation ol oncscll to
oncscll tlrougl tlc otlcr, in wlicl tlc prcscncc ol scll to otlcr and tlat ol
otlcr to scll cannot lc scparatcd, as in tlc invisillc pocm ol lrcatling cvokcd
ly Filkc. 1lis manilcstation docs not mcrcly lring to liglt wlat was tlcrc
lclorc it, it las its own liglt, tlat ol an cvcnt, tlc cvcnt in wlicl wlat is
invisillc to mc illuminatcs mc, in a way tlat is plcnomcnologically dillcrcnt
lrom a convcrsation witl oncscll or an cxamination ol conscicncc.
1lc spcccl ol praycr las its tcnor ol mcaning, and tlc qucstion ariscs
as to its rclationslip witl trutl. Aristotlc, in tlc lamous words ol lis D.
/n/.r(r./c//n., statcs tlat 'a praycr is a scntcncc lut is ncitlcr truc nor lalsc`, it
is not a | c((/cn//|.
16
A qucstion or rcqucst, a supplication, a complaint
arc not, altcr all, capallc ol lcing truc in tlc samc way tlat a prcdicativc
proposition is. But praycr still las its norms ol corrcctncss, wlicl also involvc
tlc trutl, including tlat ol tlc | c((/cn//|. t cannot avoid including a
tlcology, cxplicit or implicit, wlicl can lc truc or lalsc so tlat onc miglt
dcscrilc tlc way tlat tlc divinc is tlouglt ol in a particular rcligion simply
ly cxamining tlc way pcoplc ol tlat rcligion pray. 1lc mcrc linguistic lorm
ol pctitionary praycr is not cnougl to lrackct tlc qucstion ol trutl. 1lus,
Froclus makcs a knowlcdgc ol tlc gods tlc nrst stagc ol praycr,
17
and in all
rcligions tlc corrcctncss ol tlc divinc namcs is somctling tlat is always lcing
qucstioncd. is God (or a god) lcing namcd as lc slould lc namcd and as lc
W\N SFC
2S
wants to lc namcd` 1o lc surc, tlis dcsirc lor corrcctncss may lccomc mcrcly
pragmatic, and may simply lcar on tlc minutc attcntion to corrcctncss in
tlc way tlat a ritc is carricd out, as lor tlc Ancicnt Fomans, lor wlom tlc
lact tlat a pricst got lis words mixcd up, or tlat lc stumllcd ovcr a ritual
praycr, was cnougl to invalidatc tlc wlolc ccrcmony.
18
But tlis conccrns
tlc prollcm ol tlc ritc ratlcr tlan tlat ol praycr. Fraycr always involvcs a
prolcssion ol laitl, wlicl may lc cxprcsscd in ways otlcr tlan in its optativc
or impcrativc lorm.
n tlc nrst words ol tlc Clristian praycr par cxccllcncc, 'ur atlcr`, {oln
Cassian says tlat 'wc conlcss witl our own voicc tlat tlc God and ord ol
tlc univcrsc is our atlcr, wc prolcss tlat wc lavc in lact lccn admittcd lrom
our scrvilc condition into an adoptcd sonslip`.
1
Wc arc altcr all alnrming
somctling alout God and somctling alout oursclvcs. 1lc listory ol
salvation, and 1rinitarian tlcology, as wcll as ccclcsiology (lor, cvcn wlcn
alonc, onc prays witl tlc words 'ur atlcr` and not 'My atlcr`)
20
arc, in
tlcsc two singlc vocativc words, alrcady implicd.
l coursc, tlc potcntial trutl ol praycr as an act ol spcccl cannot lc
rcduccd solcly to tlat ol tlc prcdicativc tlcological propositions tlat it
cxprcsscs or prcsupposcs. t involvcs tlc corrcctncss ol tlc praycr itscll. 1lc
advcrl r./., 'corrcctly` or 'rigltly`, occurs scvcral timcs ovcr wlcn St 1lomas
Aquinas is studying dcsirc and rcqucst in praycr. 1lis corrcctncss conccrns
tlc oljcct ol tlc rcqucst as mucl as tlc lorm in wlicl it is couclcd.
21
ow
slould wc tlink ol tlis corrcctncss` As a prcliminary to praycr, or as tlc stakc
ol praycr itscll` s not tlc trutl ol praycr as an act ol spcccl agonistic tlc
trutl ol a comlat and a strugglc lor trutl, or indccd a strugglc o/// trutl`
A moral oljcction lrcqucntly raiscd against praycr involvcs tlis vcry
qucstion. l wc arc corrupt, will our praycr not lcar witlin it tlc imprint
ol our unjust naturc, and tlcrcly lccomc a causc ol scandal` And il wc arc
virtuous, tlrougl our own acts and ly tlcir liglt, wlat is tlc usc ol praying`
1lc praycr ol tlc just man would lc supcruous, and tlat ol tlc unjust
would lc yct onc morc injusticc, putting oll tlc rclormation ol limscll tlat
lc limscll must pcrlorm. Montaignc was slockcd ly tlc praycrs ol lardcncd
sinncrs, and tlis lrouglt down on lim, at tlc timc ol lis trip to Fomc, tlc
troullcsomc attcntions ol tlc oly lncc.
22
And Froclus, wlosc tlinking in
tlis domain is nuanccd and complcx, nonctlclcss claims, on tlc autlority
ol Flato`s notion in tlc P/c.4, tlat tlc impurc must not lavc any contact
witl tlc purc, tlat 'only tlc man wlo is suprcmcly good can cvcn dcscrvc
to lc allc to pray`.
2S
As lor ouis-Claudc dc Saint-Martin, lc gocs so lar
as to writc, 'Will you pray to God, and will you ask lim lor lis gilts and
lavours lclorc you lavc purincd yoursclvcs, and cstallislcd in yoursclvcs all
tlc virtucs` 1lis would lc tlc samc as asking lim to prostitutc limscll.`
2+

1ransposing tlis typc ol invcstigation into contcmporary, cxistcntial tcrms
W\N SFC
2+
and distinguisling an autlcntic lrom an inautlcntic way ol praying, would
not lundamcntally translorm tlis moralistic attitudc. t rcsts on a lailurc to
attcnd to tlc plcnomcnon ol praycr as a manilcstation ol scll to tlc otlcr.
1lis manilcstation in spcccl is, on cvcry occasion and cvcry day it lappcns,
cpocl-making, lor it is tlc cvcnt ol an cncountcr. ugo von olmannstlal
says tlat cacl ncw cncountcr lrcaks us and rccomposcs us, and tlis is
particularly truc ol tlc cncountcr wc know as praycr.
Fcstricting oursclvcs just to praycr to tlc onc God, wlocvcr addrcsscs
God always docs so 4. (r(un4/, lrom tlc dcptls ol lis distrcss wlctlcr
manilcst or liddcn, lrom tlc dcptls ol lis sin. c conlcsscs in lis praycr
tlc divinc lolincss, lclorc wlicl lc stands and wlicl lc addrcsscs. l lc
rcally stands lclorc it, lc is tlcrcly disposscsscd ol all tlc lclicls tlat lc may
prcviously lavc lcld alout lis own lolincss. t is in tlc liglt ol praycr, at
oncc discrctc and incscapallc, tlat lc now sccs limscll, and in tlis liglt lc
discovcrs tlat no man is wortly to pray, il 'wortly` mcans tlat wc can rcly on
any prc-cxisting mcrit in ordcr to pray. c also discovcrs low lc las lallcn
slort ol rcctitudc, and rcalizcs tlat tlis lack ol justicc must ccrtainly pcrvadc
lis vcry rcqucsts, to a dcgrcc tlat lc cannot disccrn. n tlc Billc, Moscs
rcplics to God tlat lc docs not know low to spcak, and tlis is oltcn tlc nrst
rcsponsc ol proplcts to tlcir vocation and as sucl, tlc vcry momcnt tlcy
rcally undcrstand tlat vocation.
But it is part and parccl ol praycr itscll tlat in it alonc tlc pcrson praying
lcarns tlat lc docs not know low to pray. 'Wc do not know low to pray
propcrly`, says St Faul.
25
1lc painlul and joylul advcnturcs ol tlc cncountcr
takc placc only in tlc cncountcr itscll. 1lc gaps in spcccl opcn up only wlcn
wc spcak. Sucl is tlc circularity ol praycr. tlc pcrson praying prays so as
to lcarn low to pray, and nrst and lorcmost to lcarn tlat lc docs not know,
and lc givcs tlanks lor lis praycr as lor a gilt lrom God. nc can lc turncd
to God only ly praying, and onc can pray only ly lcing turncd to God.
nly a lcap can cnallc us to cntcr tlis circlc. 1lcrc arc no prolcgomcna or
prcliminarics to praycr. Froclus puts it vcry wcll.
1o wisl to pray is to dcsirc to turn towards tlc gods, and tlis dcsirc
lcads and links tlc dcsiring soul to tlc divinc, and it is lcrc tlat wc
nnd wlat sccmcd to us to lc tlc altogctlcr principal work ol praycr.
1lc act ol wanting and tlc act ol praying slould tlus not constitutc
two succcssivc stagcs, lut it is at onc and tlc samc timc tlat wc want
to pray and posscsscs tlc praycr, in proportion as onc wants it.
26
c tlus rcsolvcs tlc aporia ol an innnitc rcgrcss in praycr, wlicl would
rcquirc us to pray lclorc praying and in ordcr to pray. As lc puts it. 'Wlatcvcr
lusincss onc prays alout, tlc onc wlo prays must nrst ol all givc tlanks to
W\N SFC
25
tlc gods lor tlc vcry lact tlat lc las rcccivcd lrom tlc gods tlc alility to turn
towards tlcm.`
27
Fraycr appcars, in its own cycs, as always lorcstallcd and always prcccdcd
ly tlc pcrson it addrcsscs. t docs not lcgin, it rcsponds, and tlis is tlc only
tling wlicl, in tlc vcry unccrtainty it larlours alout its rigltncss, givcs
it conndcncc. 1lc circlc is not alsurdly circular. it lcads us to tlc cvcnt ol
an cncountcr. 1lis act ol spcccl takcs its assurancc not lrom itscll, lut it is
assurcd ol standing in tlc only placc wlcrc it can in trutl strugglc lor trutl
and lccomc upriglt. or tlc stumllings ol spcccl arc ovcrcomc in spcccl
alonc, just as lovcrs` quarrcls arc rcsolvcd in lovc alonc, and tlus ly kccping
on going, togctlcr not ly scparating and waiting lor tlosc dilncultics to
disappcar spontancously. 1lis complctcs our nrst dcscription ol praycr. tlis
manilcstation ol scll to otlcr tlrougl spcccl is agonistic and translormativc,
as it is a dialoguc and convcrsation witl tlc otlcr in an cncountcr in wlicl
our trutl is at stakc. 1lc pcrson lclorc God is drawn into involvcmcnt only
in and tlrougl praycr.
1lc Clristian tradition las particularly insistcd on tlis agonistic
dimcnsion. A vcry nnc discoursc ly Kicrkcgaard is callcd 'nc Wlo Frays
Ariglt Strugglcs in Fraycr and s \ictorious in tlat God s \ictorious`.
28

Many ccnturics carlicr, wc nnd St Macarius`s powcrlul commcntary on tlc
plrasc in tlc gospcl, wlicl says tlat tlc violcnt arc taking tlc kingdom ol
lcavcn ly lorcc. c invitcs man, still a prisoncr to lis lardncss ol lcart, to
'lorcc limscll to clarity wlcn lc las no clarity lorcc limscll to mcckncss,
wlcn lc las no mcckncss`. And lc continucs tlat a man must 'lorcc limscll
to praycr, wlcn lc las not spiritual praycr, and tlus God, lclolding lim tlus
striving, and compclling limscll ly lorcc, in spitc ol an unwilling lcart, givcs
lim tlc truc praycr ol tlc Spirit`.
2
And wlat would gcntlcncss lc witlout
tlc nrc ol tlis inncr violcncc ol wlicl it lccomcs tlc clarity, wlat would
praycr lc witlout tlis intimatc comlat against tlc mutcncss witlin us` 1lis
violcnt praycr, at nrst uttcrcd only witl rcluctancc wlo will say wlctlcr it
is autlcntic or inautlcntic` ocs not tlc mcrc possilility tlat it raiscs cxcludc
sucl a distinction, wlicl aims at cnsuring a clcar loundary lctwccn tlc
propcr and tlc impropcr, tlc clcan and tlc unclcan`
Bclorc dcscriling in grcatcr dctail tlcsc wclcomc wounds in spcccl, wc
lavc to pondcr wlat it is tlat makcs tlcm possillc. addrcss, allocution,
lamiliar spcccl (saying 'tlou`). cucrlacl notcs, indccd, 'n praycr,
man addrcsscs God witl tlc word ol intimatc allcction 1lou`, lclorc
intcrprcting tlis lamiliar lorm ol addrcss tcndcntiously ly claiming, 'c tlus
dcclarcs articulatcly tlat God is lis c|/.r .`.
S0
or a plilosoplcr wlo, likc
Karl {aspcrs, makcs ol discnclantmcnt a virtuc, tlis sccond pcrson singular
alrcady constitutcs a slidc towards a misundcrstanding ol God.
W\N SFC
26
Wlcn man addrcsscs tlc divinity /n (rc;.r, tlis divinity lccomcs lor
lim a 1lou witl wlom, lost as lc is in lis own solitudc, lc would
likc to cntcr into communication. t is tlus lor lim a (.rnc| ur.
. . . . owcvcr, an autlcntic awarcncss ol transccndcncc rclrains
lrom tlinking ol tlc alsolutc God as a pcrson. rcsist tlc impulsc
to makc a 1lou ol tlc divinity tlc minutc scnsc tlat am tlcrcly
inlringing transccndcncc.
S1

1o lc on tcrms ol casy lamiliarity witl tlc alsolutc would mcan impropcrly
lringing its distancc closcr, so tlat tlis proximity is no longcr its own and it
is rcplaccd ly a mytlic imagc tlat lavc lorgcd lor myscll.
1lus, dialoguc witl God, lar lrom lcing tlc vcry placc wlcrc nnd lim
in nnding myscll, in otlcr words ly lcing nrst and lorcmost dctaclcd lrom
myscll, would on tlc contrary lc tlc placc wlcrc losc lim ly covcring
ovcr and conccaling 'tlc alyss ol transccndcncc` tlat lics lcyond all addrcss.
1o tlis, a listorical oljcction can lc madc nrst ol all. tlc lrccdom, tlc trust,
tlc lcartlclt intimacy in tlc spcccl addrcsscd to God, wlat Clristians call
(crr/./c, instcad ol diminisling and wcakcning witl tlc acknowlcdgcmcnt ol
its alsolutc transccndcncc, on tlc contrary always accompany it. 1lis is clcar
il wc comparc {cwisl and Clristian praycr witl tlc Grcck and Foman praycr
ol antiquity. Kcrcnyi points out tlat tlc word 'god`, //., in tlc vocativc, is
introduccd only ly tlc {cws and Clristians. And a lormula ol appropriation
sucl as m; G4 docs not mcan tlat God is dcgradcd into a tling or into a
propcrty ol man, lut, on tlc contrary, puts its scal on tlc lact tlat in spcccl
tlc onc wlo spcaks lclongs, witlout rcscrvc, to tlc onc wlo is addrcsscd.
n any casc, it must lc a vcry strangc and narrow conccption ol tlc otlcr, ol
spcccl, and ol tlc lamiliar lorm ol addrcss (saying 'tlou`) tlat dccrccs tlat
addrcss can only lc an cxccssivc lamiliarity. or it is only in lamiliar addrcss
tlat oljcctincation comcs up against an uncrossallc limit, it is only in tlc
lymn in wlicl wc sing lor tlc onc wc sing tlat 'tlc alyss ol transccndcncc`
can lc rcally rccognizcd and conlcsscd. ndccd, cvcn silcncc as a mark ol
rcspcct and adoration, tlc (cr./. |/nu/ ol tlc Fomans or tlc .u(/.m/c ol tlc
Grccks, is a silcncc witl an addrcsscc, a silcncc lclorc, and lor, tlc otlcr. t
is silcncc lclorc You, and it lorms a possilility propcr to spcccl, wlicl alonc
can (c|| /|.n/, translorming, ly tlc act ol standing in silcncc, silcncc into an
act ol prcscncc and not into a privation. Silcncc is still an allocution.
A nnc lymn ly Syncsios ol Cyrcnc may cast liglt on tlis plcnomcnon.
1lc nrst lour lincs start witl a 'you` (., tlc Grcck accusativc. it is you
singular wlom sing) and announcc tlat tlc lymn is sung at cvcry lour
ol day and niglt, lclorc tlc poct invitcs tlc various crcaturcs ol naturc to lall
silcnt tlc wind, tlc lirds, tlc watcrs and nnally crics, ' sing you, llcsscd
onc, witl my voicc, and sing you also, llcsscd onc, witl my silcncc, lor all
W\N SFC
27
tlat tlc intclligcncc says witl its voicc, you lcar and undcrstand also lrom
its silcncc.`
S2
1lc almost irrcsistillc widcning ol lorizons in tlc lymn is also
tlc sprcading nrc ol silcncc. Naturc must lall silcnt so tlat silcncc can lccomc
a voicc, and so tlat in silcncc, as in its jcwcl caskct ol attcntion, tlc luman
voicc may cclo lut tlc luman voicc is still a voicc in tlc silcncc in wlicl
it nnds its consummation. Silcncc tlat aims at divinc transccndcncc, wlicl is
lcrc strongly cmplasizcd, docs not constitutc tlc intcrruption or suspcnsion
ol tlc initial Tu lut its consummation. Silcncc says Tu, lcyond all namcs,
likc tlc opcning ol a gazc, lut tlis gazc is opcncd only tlrougl spcccl and
rcmains tlc silcncc ol spcccl. 1lc silcncc ol praycr is lcrc a silcncc tlat
God |//.n /, it is still a dialoguc, and can lc so only lccausc a nrst silcncc,
dillcrcnt and purcly privativc, las lccn lrokcn.
Fraycr knows tlat it docs not know low to pray, lut it lcarns tlis only ly
praying, it knows it only lor as long as it is praying, and is rcal likc cvcrytling
alout an cncountcr only in tlc impossillc. 1lis agonistic dimcnsion is
notling otlcr tlan tlc ordcal ol transccndcncc. or transccndcncc givcs itscll
as sucl only wlcn its distancc approaclcs witlout ccasing to lc distant, and it
is cncountcrcd only in tlc ordcal ol spcccl. 1lc sccond pcrson singular alonc
can opcn up tlc spacc ol sucl an ordcal. t is only in saying Tu tlat tlc can
lc complctcly cxposcd, in otlcr words laid opcn to all tlat it cannot mastcr.
A ncw claractcristic can lc addcd to tlc dcscription ol praycr. tlc
manilcstation ol scll to otlcr tlrougl spcccl, an agonistic spcccl struggling
lor its trutl, is an ordcal, an undcrgoing ol God, a sullcring ol God, a
tlcopatly. Fraycr is a prcy to its addrcsscc. By mcasuring itscll witl God,
praycr is a spcccl tlat las always alrcady lost all mcasurc, tlc powcr ol
mcasuring itscll and knowing itscll complctcly, it lcars, cvcn as it collapscs
undcr it likc all spcccl dictatcd ly lovc tlc wciglt ol giving itscll, tlat is,
ol losing itscll, it sullcrs tlc otlcr in its own scll-dctaclmcnt. n wlat way`
ow is tlc spcccl ol praycr woundcd ly its addrcsscc` 1lc pcrson praying
addrcsscs lis spcccl to tlc divinc capacity to listcn. \nlikc tlc capacity to
listcn ol any particular luman lcing, tlis listcning is alrcady vigilant, it docs
not nccd any call to attcntion in ordcr to lc arouscd. 1lc wavcring spcccl ol
our voicc cclocs in, and in accordancc witl, a silcnt listcning tlat las always
prcccdcd it and lccn cxpccting it. Bcing tlus cxpcctcd makcs tlis spcccl
uncxpcctcd to itscll. 1o lavc God listcning to you is an ordcal, a tcsting ol
spcccl incomparallc witl any otlcr, lor our spcccl is incomparally strippcd
larc ly it, in all it sccks to lidc, to cxcusc, to justily, to oltain in rcal tcrms.
Spcccl appcars in tlc attcntivc liglt ol silcncc, tlc voicc is rcally nakcd.
1o listcn, to grant it is tlc samc word. cu4/r., .xcu4/r., /Jr.n, .r/Jr.n.
1lc tlcological paradox wlicl says tlat all truc praycr is, in onc way or
anotlcr, grantcd is lascd in tlc plcnomcnon itscll. 1lc praying pcrson
spcaks lor a listcning tlat always alrcady lorcstalls lis spcccl.
W\N SFC
28
Knowing tlat tlc divinc prcccdcs luman spcccl mcans tlat tlis spcccl
appcars to itscll as a rcsponsc to tlis listcning, wlicl awaits and summons.
n all rcligions, it is statcd lowcvcr tlis may lc intcrprctcd tlat tlc divinc
wislcs to lc praycd to and addrcsscd. 1lus tlc act ol spcccl appcars to itscll
as rcndcrcd possillc ly tlc silcncc ol tlc divinc listcning, it is silcncc wlicl,
propcrly spcaking, givcs spcccl to it, spcccl rcccivcs itscll lrom tlc silcncc
wlicl lrings it into lcing. 1lis is wly cvcry praycr givcs tlanks lor itscll,
lor cvcn tlc most supplicatory ol pctitionary praycrs las alrcady rcccivcd
rcccivcd tlc gilt ol lcing allc to ask God, ol lcing allc to addrcss lim. nly
in tlis way docs it appcar to itscll, and on tlis alonc do many ol its propcrtics
as an act dcpcnd. 1lc rcqucst always lags lclind its granting, tlc appcaring
ol scll to scll is mcrcly lunar, and takcs its liglt lrom clscwlcrc.
n lis trcatisc D. 4n (.r.r.r.n//c., St Augustinc, against tlc crrors ol tlc
Fclagians, puts it wondcrlully wcll. 'Wlat docs tlis mcan. //. S(/r// //m.|(
(|.c4, unlcss to makc onc plcad` (/n/.r(.||cr. (c//)`` And latcr on. 'And
wlat docs tlis word r;/n mcan cxccpt making onc cry (|cmcr. (c/.n/.m)`
. . . Now you lavc not rcccivcd a spirit ol londagc so as to lc again in lcar,
lut you lavc rcccivcd a spirit ol adoption as sons, ly virtuc ol wlicl wc cry,
Alla! atlcr!` `
SS
Wlat wc lavc lcrc, ol coursc, is a tlcsis on gracc, wlicl
rcally nccds a tlcological commcntary, lut it is also a strict dcscription ol
praycr as an act ol spcccl, madc possillc ly its addrcsscc, in a possilility tlat
is alrcady a lavour. Guillaumc dc Saint-1licrry puts it in tcrms as simplc as
tlcy arc clcar. 'Wlcn it is wlo spcak to you, am intcnt on you, and tlis
alonc is alrcady good lor mc, and wlatcvcr dircction tlc praycr takcs, ncvcr
pray to you or adorc you lruitlcssly, tlc mcrc lact ol praying to you is alrcady
lor mc a grcat rcward.`
S+
1o spcak to God is to lclong to lim and to lc witl
lim, and notling can cvcr lc askcd lrom God tlat is not alrcady writtcn into
tlc spacc opcncd up ly tlis cncountcr and tlis ordcal. 1lis is not witlout its
conscqucnccs.
G. \an dcr ccuw, in lis considcrallc work B.|//n /n L.n. cn4
Mcn/(./c//n, curiously cnougl dcvotcs only a lcw slort pagcs to praycr.
c distinguislcs it lrom adoration, wlicl lc dcals witl latcr, and wlicl
cvidcntly appcars to lim to lc a liglcr and purcr possilility, lor, lc says,
'praycr originatcs lrom carc`, and 'wlocvcr adorcs las tlcrclorc lorgottcn
lis praycr and now knows only God`s glory`.
S5
Apart lrom tlc lact tlat it is
not casy to scc, at lcast in monotlcism, low a praycr wlatcvcr its oljcct
could not lc nrst and lorcmost an act ol adoration, and apart lrom tlc
lact tlat dclivcrancc lrom all carcs is not ncccssarily (lar lrom it) tlc aim ol
rcligious cxistcncc, tlis would amount to lorgctting tlat tlc vcry praycr tlat
cxprcsscs our carcs can givc tlanks ol itscll to tlc onc wlom it adorcs. 1lc
adoration ol tlc Spirit making us cry aloud takcs placc in tlc cry itscll. 1lus
it is supcrncial to contrast simplistically a praycr ol rcqucst witl a praycr tlat
W\N SFC
2
lcars no rcqucst, considcring cxclusivcly tlc vcry oljcct ol tlc praycr, witlout
paying any lccd to tlc act ol spcccl tlrougl wlicl wc makc our rcqucst and
tlc ways in wlicl it turns towards its addrcsscc. 1lc link lctwccn dcsirc and
praycr is csscntial, and it can scrvc to unily tlc various dcnnitions tlat lavc
lccn givcn ol tlc lattcr.
n tlc listory ol tlc Clristian tradition, two dcnnitions lavc oltcn lccn
put lorward and discusscd. 1lc onc makcs ol praycr an clcvation ol tlc mind
towards God, tlc otlcr, a rcqucst lor God to grant wlat is suitallc lor us.
S6

1lc nrst dissociatcs praycr lrom an act ol spcccl, wlilc tlc sccond is gcncrally
undcrstood as vocal praycr.
S7
But lotl prcsupposc dcsirc. St Augustinc says in
a scrmon, 'csirc is praying always, cvcn il tlc tonguc is silcnt. l you dcsirc
always, you arc praying always. Wlcn docs praycr nod oll to slccp` Wlcn
dcsirc grows cold.`
S8
ranz von Baadcr, wlo oltcn dcscrilcd and mcditatcd
on tlc act ol praying, wcnt so lar as to idcntily will and praycr, stating tlat
man, ly lis vcry naturc, tlat is, as will, is a rcligious lcing, a lcing tlat prays.
vcry lorm takcn ly tlc will is tlus a praycr, wlctlcr awarc or unawarc ol
itscll, turncd towards God or towards an idol.
S
Wlcn tlis dcsirc lor God appcars to tlc pcrson praying as a gilt ol God,
wlcn tlc vcry act ly wlicl lc addrcsscs a rcqucst to God occurs, it sccms
to lim, in a spacc in wlicl God is alrcady rcsponding to and rcsponsillc lor
lim, praycr can accuratcly lc dcscrilcd as a convcrsation or a dialoguc witl
God, complctcly indcpcndcntly ol cxtraordinary or supcrnatural cvcnts in
wlicl wc would lcar voiccs or rcccivc signs. 1lc grcat mystic Fcrsian poct
Fumi dcscrilcd it powcrlully. c cvokcs a man praying insistcntly, to wlom
Satan oljccts, 'You llallcrcr, to all tlcsc Allals` wlcrc is tlc rcply, crc
am`` No rcply comcs lrom tlc tlronc ol God.` 1lis nlls lim witl doult and
discouragcmcnt, lclorc tlcrc comcs to lim, lrom tlc lips ol a wisc man, tlis
divinc rcply.
1lis 'Allal` tlat you arc saying is my 'crc am`. Your supplication,
your pain, your lcrvour arc My mcsscngcr towards you. Your
advanccs to mc and your cllorts to nnd a way ol rcacling Mc wcrc
in rcality Myscll drawing you to Mc and lrccing your lcct . . . . n
rcply to cacl ol your praycrs to 'My ord`, lavc oltcn rcplicd saying
'crc am`.
+0
1lc rcply lics in tlc act ol calling on God, and cclocs witlin it. 1lc vocativc
ol invocation is alrcady not just tlc placc ol tlc prcscncc to God ol tlc pcrson
praying lut tlat ol tlc prcscncc ol God to tlc pcrson praying. Wlat wc lavc
lcrc is tlc samc structurc ol divinc prcccdcncc as in tlc idca tlat 'You would
not lc sccking mc il you lad not alrcady lound mc` as wc cncountcr in St
Bcrnard and Fascal.
W\N SFC
S0
n monotlcism, tlc dcscription ol tlis cnvclopmcnt, tlis intcrlacing ol tlc
luman and divinc calls, may cxtcnd to saying tlat it is God wlo is praying
in us. Faul Claudcl says witl lis usual prolundity tlat God is not only witl
our plcnitudc lut also witl our nccd. 't is togctlcr witl im tlat tlis nccd
witlin us lccomcs an opcning, a pronounccmcnt and a summons. t is c,
tlrougl our lcarts and our moutls, wlo is invoking imscll.`
+1
ranz von
Baadcr likcwisc writcs, '1lc samc God wlo prays witlin mc will also grant
lis praycr witlin mc.`
+2
And in anotlcr placc, dcscriling praycr as lcing at
onc and tlc samc timc a gilt and a task (Gc|., Au(c|.), lc comparcs it to
tlc movcmcnt ol tlc lrcatl, wc rcccivc it lrom God, wc 'inspirc` it lrom lim,
in ordcr to givc it lack to lim, to 'cxpirc` it into lim.
+S
1lis circulation ol
tlc lrcatl takcn and givcn, rcccivcd and rcturncd, tlis 'conspiration` ol tlc
luman and tlc divinc is ol sucl a kind, lor Baadcr, tlat praycr appcars to lim
as a lunction tlat is no lcss vital lor tlc spirit tlan is lrcatling lor tlc lilc ol
tlc lody.
++
l tlc ordcal ol tlis circulation, in wlicl tlc lrcatl wc draw in so as to
makc our rcqucst alrcady a lrcatl wc lavc rcccivcd, lclongs to tlc csscncc
ol praycr, it is cvidcntly cxpcricnccd in vcry dillcrcnt ways, dcpcnding on tlc
rcligion undcr considcration. n Clristianity, tlc idca ol tlc Mystical Body, in
wlicl Clristians lorm tlc limls ol Clrist, givcs it a particular colouring. it is
accompanicd ly an autlcntic cxclangc ol voiccs. l God las takcn a luman
voicc, tlc rclationslip lctwccn our voicc and lis is tlcrcly translormcd. n a
commcntary on a psalm, St Augustinc writcs, witl rclcrcncc to Clrist.
Wc lorm witl lim onc singlc man, lcad and lody. So wc pray
towards lim, ly lim, in lim. and wc spcak witl lim, and lc spcaks
witl us. Wc say in lim, and lc says in us tlc praycr ol tlis psalm
wlicl is callcd. A Prc;.r ( Dcr/4.
+5
Sucl quotations may sccm to lcad us towards strictly tlcological
considcrations, wlicl would lc somcwlat tangcntial to a dcscription
ol praycr. owcvcr, tlcy raisc two qucstions, wlicl arc dccisivc lor any
plcnomcnology. 1lc nrst, alrcady raiscd, is tlat ol tlc lrcatl and tlc voicc in
praycr. Wly and low is praycr vocal` 1lc sccond conccrns tlc singularity ol
spcccl in praycr. nc can pray lrccly, witl onc`s own words invcntcd lor tlc
occasion, lut onc can also 'rccitc` traditional praycrs, sucl as tlc psalms lor
{cws and Clristians. Wlat cxactly docs it mcan, to 'rccitc` a praycr` s tlis tlc
riglt word` ow docs tlc pcrson praying appropriatc tlc words composcd
ly anotlcr so tlat tlcy act as tlc liglcst cxprcssion ol limscll in tlis placc ol
radical trutl, irrcplaccallc and intimatc. lis prcscncc to God` ow docs tlis
appropriation ol spcccl takc placc`
n lis journcy to Grandc Garalagnc, cnri Miclaux rclcrs to tlc god
W\N SFC
S1
Mna, 'tlc dcalcst and grcatcst ol all tlc gods`. 'As soon as lc knows wlat is
rcquircd, lc is a god wlo wislcs only to satisly mcn . . . (lc cannot rclusc
tlcm anytling).` But tlcrc`s tlc rul! or lc cannot lcar vcry wcll, and indccd
lis lcaring is gctting worsc and worsc. So lc las lccn givcn an cnormous
artincial car.
And tlcrc arc always grand olncial lawlcrs, pricsts and tlc clildrcn
ol pricsts, witl tlc most ligl-pitclcd and picrcing voiccs, to slout
out to lim tlc words ol supplication, altcr tlcy lavc lccn prcccdcd,
ol coursc, ly pcoplc tlcy lavc scnt alcad to alcrt lim crackcr-
tlrowcrs and trumpctcrs closcn lrom tlc most powcrlul scts ol
lungs to lc lound among tlc Gaurs.
+6

But wlcn wc arc not in Grandc Garalagnc, tlis cannot, ol coursc, lc tlc
lunction ol tlc voicc in praycr.
1lc study ol praycr ncccssitatcs listorical considcrations, lor tlc way tlat
praying aloud is apprclcndcd can vary rcmarkally lrom onc pcriod to anotlcr,
and it is somctimcs dilncult to scparatc tlc dcscription ol tlc plcnomcnon
lrom tlc way it is cvaluatcd as citlcr suitallc or unsuitallc. Wlat an alyss
tlcrc is, lor cxamplc, lctwccn tlis admirallc linc in Acsclylus, 'ow can our
lips lramc somc lorcc tlat will slow lor rcstcs``,
+7
in wlicl praycr is litcrally
tlc strcngtl ol pcoplc`s moutls, and tlis couplct ly Angclus Silcsius. 'So do
you tlink, poor man, tlat tlc crics ol your moutl} Arc tlc song ol praisc tlat
lcnts tlc silcnt city``
+8
As lor Montaignc, lc sccms to makc tlc uttcrancc
ol praycrs an inscparallc aspcct ol tlcir inautlcnticity, writing, 'Wc say our
praycrs out ol lalit and custom, or to put it lcttcr, wc mcrcly rcad and uttcr
tlc words ol our praycrs. t amounts, in tlc cnd, to slow`.
+
And udwig
cucrlacl sccs in tlus uttcrancc an csscntial propcrty ol praycr. 't is csscntial
to tlc cllcctivcncss ol praycr tlat it lc audilly, intclligilly, cncrgctically
cxprcsscd. nvoluntarily praycr wclls lortl in sound, tlc struggling lcart
lursts tlc larricr ol tlc closcd lips.`
50
1lc contrast lctwccn vocal praycr and silcnt praycr is, lowcvcr, morc
complcx tlan it appcars. n tlosc pcriods wlcn praying aloud is tlc rulc,
a praycr tlat is said in a low voicc or simply murmurcd can lc callcd silcnt
(/c//u).
51
And low arc wc to claractcrizc tlc praycr ol annal, dcscrilcd
in tlc Billc` 'li was watcling lcr moutl, lor annal was spcaking undcr
lcr lrcatl, lcr lips wcrc moving lut lcr voicc could not lc lcard, and li
tlouglt tlat slc was drunk`.
52
1lc 1almud dcduccd lrom tlis tlat 'onc may
not raisc lis voicc and pray`, lut tlat 'onc must moutl tlc Fraycr witl onc`s
lips`.
5S
1lc atin poct Fcrsius saw in tlis tlc claractcristic ol ccrtain {cwisl
praycrs. Lc|rc mr. /c//u, you silcntly twitcl your lips,
5+
ratlcr likc tlosc
wlo cannot rcad vcry wcll do nowadays. t is not an audillc praycr,
55
and
W\N SFC
S2
in tlis scnsc it can lc callcd silcnt, lut it is still vocal and involvcs tlc samc
movcmcnts as il it wcrc lcing pronounccd. t is, on tlc cdgc ol silcncc, tlc
last stagc ol a murmur. Wlcrc docs vocal praycr lcgin and wlcrc docs it cnd`
or us, to rcad, cvcn a rcligious look, is an csscntially dillcrcnt activity lrom
praying. But wlcn rcading is always rcading aloud, wlcn, cvcn wlcn you
arc alonc, you givc voicc to wlat you arc rcading, wlcn you rcad lody and
soul, tlc distinction is lcss clcar-cut and may cvcn vanisl. n tlc Clristian
Middlc Agcs, |.// tcnds to m.4//c//. rcading tlc oly Scripturcs, you draw
nourislmcnt lrom tlcm, you ruminatc ovcr tlcm, you tastc tlcir savour
and, as {. cclcrcq puts it in lis dcscription ol tlis practicc, 'all tlis activity,
ncccssarily, is a praycr, and |.// 4/r/nc is a rcading tlat is praycd`.
56
n antiquity, pagan as wcll as {cwisl, and tlcn Clristian, praying aloud,
clcarly and intclligilly, is tlc most normal and most common kind ol praycr.
57

1lcrc arc cxccptions, lut tlcsc arc dcscrilcd prcciscly as cxccptions, linkcd to
particular circumstanccs or practiccs, and tlcy arc murmurcd praycrs ratlcr
tlan altogctlcr silcnt praycrs. Wc cvcn nnd tlc idca tlat tlc intcnsity and
lorcc ol a praycr can lc gaugcd lrom tlc clarity and livclincss witl wlicl it
is said, sung or sloutcd. Not tlat tlc gods, or God, arc dcal, likc Mna lor
Miclaux, and cannot lcar our murmurs, lut lccausc a manilcstation ol scll
lclorc God cannot lc purcly spiritual and acosmic. 1o manilcst oncscll is to
manilcst oncscll lor God in tlc world and to manilcst oncscll cntirc.
Wlcrc can onc manilcst oncscll cntirc, il not tlrougl tlc voicc, wlicl is
indissolully spiritual and cslly` istrcss, joy, nccd and gratitudc all cravc
articulatc cxprcssion. 1o pray vocally is to makc tlc lody an csscntial clcmcnt
ol praycr. St 1lomas Aquinas says ol vocal praycr tlat it is ncccssary sincc
'man ouglt to scrvc God witl all tlat lc las rcccivcd lrom lim, not only
witl tlc mind, lut also witl tlc lody`.
58
1lc ollcring and tlc scrvicc ol tlc
voicc, a gilt ol spcccl and a dclivcry ol tlc lrcatl, arc tlc cvcnt in wlicl
cvcrytling, witlout division or rcstriction, can lc sacrinccd togctlcr. or
il ccrtain rcligions prcscrilc lodily purincations as a prcliminary to praycr
and il onc praying may, lclorc spcaking, clcar lis voicc (as wc say 'clcar lis
tlroat`), tlat voicc will lc or lccomc purincd and clcar only in spcaking,
it is raiscd and translormcd only in giving itscll, at tlc cost somctimcs ol
tlcrcly lcing lrokcn, madc trcmulous or stammcring. nstcad ol lcing, in
praycr, tlc simplc cxtcrnal manilcstation ol an inncr statc, an cxprcssion, it
tlus lccomcs an cllusion, wlicl gatlcrs, and an ollcring, wlicl conccntratcs
witlin itscll. nc rcccivcs oncscll only ly giving oncscll, onc cxists as oncscll
only ly tlrowing onc`s voicc into tlc world, outsidc oncscll. Faul Claudcl
says tlat vocal praycr 'is a sanctincation, in slort, ol our lrcatling`, wlicl is
not at all tlc samc tling as a tcclniquc lor mastcring tlc lrcatl, it is tlcrcly,
lc continucs, 'on tlc onc land a mcans ol rcprcssing vain tlouglts, on tlc
otlcr a purincation ly rlytlm ol tlc claotic lcrmcnt ol our imagination and
W\N SFC
SS
nnally a way ol alluring our scnsilility and our attcntion`.
5
1lc disciplinc
introduccd ly tlc voicc mcans tlat spcccl itscll listcns, lccomcs a listcning in
its csscncc. \ocal praycr puts an cnd to tlc disordcr ol tlc murmurous noisc
witlin and is tlus an act ol attcntion to tlc pcrson wc arc addrcssing. 1lc
voicc is not instrumcntal lor praycr.
A sccond aspcct ol vocal praycr, wlctlcr singular or collcctivc, is its pullic
aspcct. Wc pray to God, lut wc pray in tlc world. Wc may go somcwlcrc
privatc to pray, lut praycr cannot itscll lc sccrct, unlcss it lc witl a luminous
sccrct tlat dcsircs to lc cxposcd, sincc it is an act ol prcscncc and manilcstation.
n antiquity, murmurcd or inaudillc praycr was oltcn associatcd witl magical
practiccs or rcqucsts ol wlicl onc was aslamcd. 1lc magician wislcd to kccp
tlc sccrct ol lis lormulac and lis incantations. tlcy must not lc proclaimcd.
And tlcrc arc ccrtain wislcs tlat wc would lc aslamcd to uttcr aloud, cvcn
il only lor oursclvcs. Ancicnt litcraturc providcs us witl a ccrtain numlcr ol
cxamplcs.
60
1lis is wly Scncca cnds onc ol lis lcttcrs to ucilius ly quoting
a plilosoplcr wlo statcd, 'Know tlat tlou art lrccd lrom all dcsircs wlcn
tlou last rcaclcd sucl a point tlat tlou praycst to God lor notling cxccpt
wlat tlou canst pray lor opcnly,` wlicl lc limscll transposcs into a nnc
cliasmus. 'ivc among mcn as il God lclcld you, spcak witl God as il mcn
wcrc listcning.`
61
Montaignc rclcrrcd to tlc Fytlagorcans, wlo lclicvcd tlat
praycr slould lc 'pullic and lcard ly all, so tlat God slould not lc lcggcd
lor tlings unsccmly or unjust`.
62
1lis may sccm naivc or arclaic to us, lut it
clcarly lrings out a propcrty ol vocal praycr. as manilcstation in tlc world,
it las, at lcast potcntially, a pullic aspcct, and in lact it is always lcard ly at
lcast onc man, tlc onc wlo uttcrs it. vcn il am tlc only witncss, tlis act
ol spcccl prcscrvcs tlc rcsponsilility propcr to it. s it ncccssarily a mark ol
naivcty to takc it scriously` s it vain to cmplasizc tlat all luman spcccl,
cvcn wlcn solitary and addrcsscd to God, always involvcs as its lorizon tlc
community ol spcccl lctwccn mcn`
1lis raiscs tlc qucstion ol tlc rcspcctivc importancc ol collcctivc praycr
and individual praycr. vcn tlc opponcnts ol vocal praycr agrcc tlat it is
ncccssary to collcctivc praycr, wlicl, il it may includc momcnts ol silcncc,
cannot lc conccivcd ol witlout tlc voicc. And tlc supcriority ol collcctivc
praycr is cmplasizcd ly numcrous rcligious traditions. 1lc 1almud gocs
so lar as to asscrt tlat 'only tlc praycrs said in a synagoguc arc lcard`, and
Maimonidcs writcs tlat 'onc must lc associatcd witl a community and not
pray alonc wlcn tlcrc is a possilility ol praying witl otlcrs.`
6S
Clristianity
also insists on tlis, as wc clcarly scc lrom tlc words ol tlc Gospcl. 'or wlcrc
two or tlrcc mcct in my namc, am tlcrc among tlcm.`
6+
1lc community ol
mcn wlo lavc gatlcrcd togctlcr to pray to tlc invisillc constitutcs a visillc
manilcstation ol it. 1lc community is all tlc morc opcn to tlc invisillc tlc
morc visillc it is, and all tlc morc spiritual tlc morc corporcal it is. n ccrtain
W\N SFC
S+
lclicls, tlis community cxtcnds lcyond its visilly prcscnt mcmlcrs. 1lc
voicc slows tlc invisillc wlicl calls, summons and lrings togctlcr.
s tlc voicc tlcrcly just a mcans, a mcrc condition /n. uc nn` 1lc
mutual prcscncc ol mcn and tlcir common prcscncc to God in tlc slaring ol
spcccl go mucl lurtlcr. Nolody prays lor limscll alonc, and tlc collcctivity
also prays and spcaks lor tlosc wlo can no longcr spcak or cannot yct spcak,
it spcaks lor tlc alscnt and tlc dcpartcd, it spcaks lor otlcrs, on tlcir lclall
lut also in tlcir stcad. And it may lc tlat cacl pcrson, cvcn in solitudc, is
mcrcly tlc rcprcscntativc ol community. 1lis is wly tlc plcnomcnological
dillcrcncc lctwccn communal praycr and solitary praycr, tlc dillcrcncc wlicl
is onc ol csscncc, is not at all idcntical witl tlc cmpirical dillcrcncc lctwccn
collcctivc praycr and individual praycr. or Flotinus, lor instancc, wlo lardly
cvcr rclcrs to praycr, tlc trutl ol praycr is to tcnd towards God limscll witl
our souls, and not witl words, and to pray to lim 'alonc to lim alonc`.
65
vcn
il numcrous plilosoplcrs wcrc gatlcrcd togctlcr in tlc samc placc to pray
in tlis way, tlis praycr would rcmain in its csscncc solitary. As lor Froclus,
lc clcarly dillcrcntiatcs lctwccn 'plilosoplical praycr` and 'lcgal praycr,
tlat wlicl conlorms to tlc traditional usagc ol tlc (|/` a praycr tlat is
ncccssarily collcctivc, and tlis dillcrcncc tallics witl a dillcrcncc lctwccn
words, 'tlc words tlat onc considcrs lrom witlin in a scicntinc spirit` and
'tlc words wlosc latc it is to lc scparatcd twicc ovcr lrom tlc intcllcct, tlosc
wlicl arc uttcrcd outwardly witl tlc aim ol tcacling, and in vicw ol social
rclations`.
66
A polarization ol tlis kind, in wlicl tlc uttcring ol spcccl is a
lorm ol dcgradation and in wlicl tlc most solitary praycr is ncccssarily tlc
liglcst, is radically cxcludcd clscwlcrc.
n Clristianity, lor cxamplc, all praycr is in csscncc communal, sincc cvcry
individual prays and can pray, cvcn il it lc in tlc grcatcst isolation, only as a
mcmlcr ol tlc Mystic Body ol Clrist, and tlus always witlin tlc Clurcl.
ndividual praycr is ol coursc distinguislcd lrom collcctivc praycr, lut only as
variants ol tlc samc clurcl-lascd praycr somctling tlc 'ur atlcr` clcarly
slows in its vcry lorm. acl ol tlcsc two variants rclatcs to tlc otlcr as to
tlat witlout wlicl it could not lc lully complctc. solitary praycr is only cvcr,
as it wcrc, a provisional dctaclmcnt lrom collcctivc praycr, sincc it is always
lascd in tlc clurcl, and collcctivc praycr is in no way an imaginary cntity
oating alovc tlc individuals wlo uttcr it, lut is rootcd in tlc act propcr to
cacl ol tlcm. vcryonc must altcr all say and rcpcat tlc Cr.4, in tlc nrst
pcrson singular, lut tlc Clristian Cr.4 docs not say tlat Clrist dicd lor mc,
lut lor us, (r n|/. Fraycr tlus cstallislcs a u/ .n.r/ modc ol community
tlrougl spcccl and in spcccl.
1lis is lrouglt out ly anotlcr claractcristic. tlc insistcncc on tlc lact
tlat onc must pray lor oncscll, sincc praycr lor oncscll is a prccondition
ol praying lor otlcrs.
67
1lcsc two typcs ol praycr arc not in compctition
W\N SFC
S5
witl cacl otlcr, and tlcrc is notling cgotistic in tlc onc lorming tlc lasis
lor tlc otlcr, lor it is tlc mcans wlcrcly stand lclorc God and, lar lrom
dcilying myscll, am rccallcd to my own condition. 1lis intcrlacing ol voiccs
and dcstinics gavc risc to somc cloqucnt considcrations in St Augustinc on
tlc pcrpctuity ol praycr. 1lis tlcmc las always arouscd dclatc, lor pcoplc
lavc wondcrcd low it was possillc lor an individual to lc always praying.
1lc most common solution is to statc tlat any action can lccomc a praycr
wlcn it is ollcrcd to God, wlicl olviously dissociatcs praycr lrom an act ol
spcccl. But tlcrc is at lcast onc pcrpctual vocal praycr, namcly tlat ol tlc
community, in wlicl, wlcn onc mcmlcr lalls silcnt, anotlcr onc takcs ovcr
and starts to spcak. St Augustinc dcscrilcs tlc praycr ol tlc Clurcl as tlc
inccssant praycr ol onc singlc man across spacc and timc.
68
ndcpcndcntly ol
tlis tlcological pcrspcctivc, tlc singularity ol praycr, wlicl knows tlat it is
onc voicc in tlc cloir, onc momcnt in a listorical community ol spcccl, is
clcarly cmplasizcd.
Spcccl can lc all tlc morc propcr to cacl pcrson in tlat it docs not lclong
to lim cxclusivcly, lut passcs and circulatcs and is transmittcd lrom onc voicc
to anotlcr and lrom onc lilc to anotlcr, consuming and consummating tlcm
on tlc wing. 1lc liglcst intimacy witl God is cxprcsscd in words tlat wc
do not invcnt lut tlat, ratlcr, invcnt us, in tlat tlcy nnd us and discovcr us
wlcrc wc wcrc witlout knowing it. And lormulary praycr, praycr tlat uscs
tlc traditional or scriptural lormulac, is not a constraincd praycr lut tlc most
lrcc ol all. All ol tlcsc arc csscntial claractcristics ol vocal praycr. 1o pray is
not to summon up tlc words ol anotlcr lut to lc summoncd to appcar ly
and lclorc onc`s words, and in tlcm. l coursc, in otlcr domains ol lilc
can usc, in ordcr to communicatc somctling altogctlcr pcrsonal, tlc words
ol anotlcr and tlus, lor instancc, makc a dcclaration ol lovc ly quoting tlc
words ol a poct, or cxprcss my opinion ly mcans ol a provcrl. appropriatc
tlcsc words to myscll, lut it lclongs to tlcir particular stylistic cllcct tlat
tlcy slould lc idcntincd as a quotation. n praycr, tlc situation is dillcrcnt.
1o say a praycr is to appropriatc it to oncscll, or to appropriatc oncscll to it
in a quitc dillcrcnt laslion.
1lis vcry common plcnomcnon las lccn littlc rccctcd on and trcatcd
tlcmatically. {oln Cassian docs so witl grcat prccision, in rclcrcncc to tlc usc
ol psalms in praycr.
1lriving on tlc pasturagc tlat tlcy always ollcr and taking into
limscll all tlc dispositions ol tlc psalms, lc (tlc monk) will lcgin to
rcpcat tlcm and to trcat tlcm in lis prolound compunction ol lcart
not as il tlcy wcrc composcd ly tlc proplct lut as il tlcy wcrc lis
own uttcranccs and lis own praycr (r.|u/ c . .4// uc/ rc//n.m
(r(r/cm). Ccrtainly lc will considcr tlat tlcy arc dircctcd to lis own
W\N SFC
S6
pcrson (r.| .r/. c4 ucm (.rncm c.//m./ . (u/. 4/r./), and lc
will rccognizc tlat tlcir words wcrc not only aclicvcd ly and in tlc
proplct in timcs past lut tlat tlcy arc daily lornc out and lulnllcd
in lim.
6
1lc actualization ol tlc psalm in praycr could not lc lcttcr dcscrilcd. 1o
lc surc, supcrncially, it miglt lc lclt to lc ovcr-lold to turn oncscll into tlc
autlor, so to spcak, ol words tlat onc considcrs to lc divincly inspircd. But
it is not pridc, lor lclicl in inspiration involvcs prcciscly tlis dimcnsion ol a
pcrpctual ncwncss and contcmporancity. 1o pray tlc psalms is not to add onc
tlcorctical intcrprctation to anotlcr, it is to allow oncscll to lc intcrprctcd ly
tlcm, to ollcr onc`s own lilc, to wlicl tlcy givc a mucl dccpcr cxprcssion
in tlc words ol God, as a spacc in wlicl tlcy can cclo and tlcir promisc
lc lcard. cncc tlc tcmporal dimcnsions on wlicl {oln Cassian gocs on
to insist. wc pray tlc psalms ly anticipating tlcir mcaning, as il wc wcrc
invcnting tlcm, and also ly rcmcmlcring rcmcmlcring our own trials and
trilulations, wlicl arc tlc lcst cxplanation ol tlcm.
1lis is wly tlcrc is a lilc ol praycr, 'a lilc,` says Claudcl, 'wlicl transports
into tlc domain ol tlc spirit tlc astonislingly complcx, varicd, ingcnious
and somctimcs paradoxical activitics ol plysiology`, lor 'tlc Word must lc
madc csl in us`.
70
1lis lilc is sustaincd ly tlc voicc tlat lrings us togctlcr
and gatlcrs us in a placc otlcr tlan oursclvcs, lclorc God. n tlc rcligions in
wlicl God is limscll Word and spcccl, it sccms tlat praycr springs lortl on
cvcry sidc, as in tlc lcautilul and surprising conclusion ol 1crtullian`s trcatisc
on praycr, in wlicl lc says tlat 'cvcry crcaturc` prays, cvcn tlc animals.
indccd (somctling tlat would lavc dcligltcd livicr Mcssiacn), tlc lirds,
laving no lands, lold out to tlc sky tlc cross-slapcd sign ol tlcir wings
and 'uttcr somctling tlat sccms a praycr`.
71
s tlis mcrcly an cxaggcratcdly
rapturous statcmcnt, or tlc vcry rigorous pcrccption tlat tlc luman voicc,
in its uniquc and irrcplaccallc aspccts, is always lymn-likc, and cannot spcak
witlout giving voicc to cvcrytling tlat las no voicc and lringing to spokcn
cxprcssion cvcrytling tlat rcmains mutc or can mcrcly stammcr` 1lus, witl
tlc voicc and in tlc voicc, tlc cntirc world woundcd ly words is ollcrcd
to God. Flilo madc man a 'cuclaristic` crcaturc, a crcaturc wlosc most
claractcristic act, tlc onc most wlolly lis, is to givc tlanks, sincc all tlat
could lc ollcrcd to God lclongs to lim alrcady, cxccpt lor tlc vcry act ly
wlicl wc tlank lim tlrougl 'wliclcvcr ol its appointcd lunctions tlc voicc
may cxcrcisc, lc it cloqucnt spcccl or song`.
72
1lc luman voicc lccomcs a
placc in wlicl tlc world can rcturn to God. 1lc voicc givcs wlat it docs not
lavc wlicl docs not mcan tlat it givcs notling, and in any casc it can givc
itscll only lccausc it docs not posscss itscll, sincc voicc is tlat wlicl, in all
spcccl, docs not lclong to itscll.
W\N SFC
S7
1lc cxclusivc insistcncc on vocal praycr in tlc prcccding rcmarks docs
not involvc an undcrcstimation ol tlc varicd and prolound lorms ol silcnt
praycr. But tlc lattcr can lc dcnncd and constitutcd only witl rclcrcncc to
tlc lormcr. nly tlc voicc can lall silcnt, and only spcccl can stop talking.
1lc witldrawal or suspcnsion ol tlc voicc cannot comc nrst, and vocal
praycr is always prcsupposcd, cvcn il tlcrc arc statcs ol rcligious lilc in
wlicl it can lccomc impossillc or inopportunc. t is tlc loundation ol all
tlc otlcr lorms ol praycr, wlicl suspcnd or intcriorizc tlc voicc. And tlis
loundational claractcr docs not mcan tlat it is mcrcly an initial, crudc, simplc
lorm ol praycr, on wlicl morc sultlc, purc and lolty lorms can gradually lc
constructcd. t appcars simplc only lccausc it is tlc most common, lut it las
all tlc complcxity ol tlc voicc, lrom tlc cry to tlc murmur, and tlat ol an act
ol spcccl tlat can ask, tlank, qucstion, narratc, rcnouncc, promisc . . . . 1lc
otlcr lorms ol praycr arc, ratlcr, simplincations ol vocal spcccl, tlcy prcscrvc
only tlis or tlat aspcct ol it, wlicl arc alrcady containcd actually or potcntially
in it. St 1crcsa ol Avila slows tlat tlc liglcst statcs ol contcmplation can lc
produccd in vocal praycr. 1lis is wly vocal praycr, in tlc divcrsity ol its
lorms, is, so to spcak, tlc indcx ol rcligious cxistcncc, including, as it docs, all
ol tlc plcnomcna tlat constitutc rcligion. t is not a rctrcat into an imaginary
world, not a iglt lrom nnitudc, lccausc it makcs tlc cntirc world visillc to
tlc invisillc, and ly manilcsting us to it lody and soul it discloscs to us our
own condition and our own nnitudc in a liglt lrom wlicl wc cannot lidc, in
tlc incandcsccnt clarity ol tlc supplicant voicc.
Wly call it 'woundcd spcccl`` t always las its origin in tlc wound ol a joy
or a distrcss, it always opcns its lips in rcsponsc to somc tcaring asundcr. And
il it docs, it is still woundcd, cvcn morc so. Woundcd ly tlis listcning and
tlis summons tlat lavc always alrcady prcccdcd it, tlat disclosc it to itscll,
in its trutl tlat is always in alcyancc, always agonistic, wrcstling likc {acol
all niglt long in tlc dust to wrcst God`s llcssing lrom lim, and tlcrcaltcr
lcaring tlc sign ol a dislocatcd lip and a limp, wlicl mcan tlat spcccl is all
tlc morc conndcnt tlc lcss surc it can lc ol its own capalilitics. or tlc pcrson
praying lcarns in praycr tlat lc docs not know low to pray, lc is callcd ly a
call tlat complctcly cxcccds lim, and lc trics to nnd a way into tlc pcrlcct
praycr (tlis is not tlc placc to cxaminc wlctlcr sucl a praycr is possillc), tlc
praycr tlat lrom God gocs to God, in a voicc and tlus in a luman lody. tlc
praycr ly wlicl God calls upon limscll. Woundcd, too, is tlis spcccl lccausc
it attcmpts to givc voicc to all tlc voiccs tlat arc silcnt, cxcludcd as tlcy arc
lrom praycr ly tlc lollow ccloing cllcct crcatcd wlcn tlcy addrcss tlcir
individual or collcctivc idols, or ly tlc atrocious pliglt ol tlc dcstiny tlcy
cndurc, wlosc dcspair docs not cvcn lccomc a cry in wlicl tlcy could voicc
tlcir complaint to God, wlicl itscll may lc a way ol praying.
1lis act ol a spcccl woundcd ly tlc radical otlcrncss ol tlc pcrson to
W\N SFC
S8
wlom it spcaks is purc addrcss. t docs not spcak in ordcr to tcacl anyonc
anytling, cvcn il it always says somctling alout oursclvcs and tlc world, it
cntrusts to tlc otlcr wlat tlc otlcr knows and asks tlc otlcr lor wlat lc
knows wc nccd. Not lor a singlc instant is spcccl dissociatcd lrom tlc idca
ol a tcst to lc undcrgonc, it is put to tlc tcst in cvcry scnsc, ly itscll, and
ly wlat it says, and ly wlat it docs not managc to say, and ly tlc pcrson
to wlom it spcaks. t lcarns, itscll, ly laving to undcrgo tlis tcst, and tlis
is wly tlis wound makcs it strongcr all tlc strongcr in tlat it las not tricd
to lcal it.
S
S
1 SF1A1Y
SNC
Introduction
Figlt lrom tlc start, and lor all timc, silcncc and spcccl lclong to onc anotlcr.
1lcrc is not, and cannot lc, any silcncc cxccpt lor a crcaturc ol spcccl, lor
only tlc lattcr listcns and can listcn, just as lc alonc can lall silcnt and stop
talking, suspcnding ly an act tlc uttcrancc ol lis words into tlc vcry dcptls
ol lis inncr murmur, so as to listcn to silcncc as sucl. Silcncc cannot manilcst
itscll, in all its multiplc possililitics, cxccpt to somconc wlo is allc to spcak.
And spcccl itscll comcs lrom silcncc and tcnds towards it, just as it ncvcr
ccascs to accompany it. t comcs lrom tlc silcncc tlat always prcccdcs it, and
wlicl it intcrrupts or lrcaks, as wc say, unlcss on a dccpcr lcvcl it makcs it
cclo, it accompanics silcncc, lor, wlilc it is lcing uttcrcd, it nccds tlc noiscs
all around and tlc lips ol tlc otlcr wlom it is addrcssing to lc silcnt, it tcnds
towards silcncc, wlicl alonc can ratily tlat it las in trutl said somctling and
wlicl allows tlc otlcr to spcak, or lrings tlc two intcrlocutors togctlcr in
agrccmcnt, so tlat tlcy can pcacclully lring togctlcr wlat lad lccn slarcd
out. \nintcrruptcd spcccl dcalcns otlcrs and itscll, it is no longcr listcncd to,
and ccascs to listcn to itscll, it lccomcs tlc lum ol insignincancc.
1lus, onc complctcly misundcrstands tlc plcnomcnon ol silcncc and its
mcaning il onc dcnncs it as a mcrc alscncc ol sound, wlctlcr tlc sound lc
noisc or spcccl il onc dcnncs it, tlat is, as a privation in tlc Aristotclian
scnsc ol tlc tcrm. Silcncc is not a complctc alscncc ol sound, as darkncss is
a complctc alscncc ol liglt. 1o start out lrom tlis dcnnition, cvcn il in ordcr
to go lcyond it sulscqucntly, is to lavc startcd out lrom a lalsc prcmiss.1 or
liglt docs not comc lrom darkncss, and in no way dcrivcs lrom it. darkncss
is mcrcly its alscncc, wlcrcas spcccl is lorn lrom silcncc. 1lc study ol tlc
vocalulary ol silcncc in dillcrcnt languagcs would connrm tlat it las a positivc
idcntity. 1lc mcrcly privativc mcaning is oltcn tlc most lclatcd in tlc listory
ol tlc languagc, and tlc nrst mcaning ol silcncc is oltcn tlc luman act ol
lalling silcnt, kccping silcnt and tlis is not insignincant. \nlcss, tlat is, tlc
samc word, sucl as tlc Gcrman Stillc, or tlc Grcck /|u//c, dcsignatcs calm
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+0
and silcncc wlicl cvcn lcrc dillcrcntiatcs it lrom a privation, lor calm is not
mcrcly tlc alscncc ol agitation. A dcad pcrson las notling calm alout lim
lut is ncitlcr agitatcd nor calm.
And a mutc man is tlc only man wlo cannot lc silcnt, prcciscly lccausc
lc cannot spcak. 1lc silcncc tlat a man kccps docs not lorm tlc intcrruption
ol a spcaking maclinc tlat las momcntarily lrokcn down, likc tlat
S(rc/mc//n. into wlicl Kant tlouglt tlat wc arc translormcd ly lying.
tlis alonc would rcquirc a privativc dcnnition.
l wc movc lrom luman silcncc, wlicl still rcsts on positivc acts, to tlc
silcncc, or silcnccs, ol naturc, tlc lact rcmains tlat cvcn tlc lattcr is lor us
somctling tlat wc |//.n to, il it is to lc pcrccivcd as silcncc, and tlat it too
docs not lavc tlc status ol a privation. vcry timc tlat wc arc attcntivc to it, it
manilcsts itscll as nllcd witl mcaning, it calms us or makcs us lccl cuploric, it
causcs us joy or anguisl, it instils lorcdom or anxicty in us in otlcr tcrms, it
ncvcr prcscnts itscll as tlc mcrc pcrccption ol an alscncc ol sound, an alscncc
tlat in any casc is ncvcr total.
1o tlis must lc addcd tlc lact tlat silcncc docs not lorm tlc prccondition
ol listcning alonc, lut also ol vision. 1lc man ol tlc gazc is silcnt. All
attcntivc considcration ol tlc visillc also rcquircs silcncc. 1lc paintcr is not
simply a man ol silcncc ly virtuc ol tlc lact tlat lc is dillcrcnt lrom an orator,
lut lccausc lc is a paintcr and so tlat lc may rcmain so.
2
1lc visillc voicc ol
painting is complctcly sulluscd witl silcncc, a silcncc tlat it docs not mcrcly
kccp, lut givcs to us, making us dwcll witlin it.
ar lrom ncgating spcccl, silcncc is its sourcc. And wlat ariscs and springs
lrom tlis sourcc ncvcr cxlausts it or drains it dry. iving spcccl just as tlcrc
is living watcr docs not lorgct tlc origin, wlicl loscs itscll and givcs itscll
away in its alnrmation. nly tlc silcnccs tlat lavc lccomc lardcncd and
dcad, tlc pctrincd silcnccs ol rcscntmcnt and lcar, must lc 'lrokcn` ly spcccl,
wlicl dclivcrs wlat tlcy lad lccn lolding prisoncr in sccrct. As lor opcn
silcnccs, tlcy arc illumincd ly tlc spcccl tlat tlcy wcrc alrcady promising,
just as, oncc tlc spcccl las lccn uttcrcd, it will lc allc to gatlcr itscll witlin
tlcm so as to continuc to ripcn.
n tlc ordcr ol naturc as in tlat ol gracc, tlc most varicd rcmarks lavc
lornc witncss to tlis silcnt nativity ol spcccl. {oscpl {oulcrt rclcrs to tlis in
words tlat arc tlcmsclvcs, so to spcak, madc porous ly tlc silcncc tlat tlcy
namc ratlcr tlan say. 'Silcncc. 1lc dcliglts ol silcncc. 1louglts must lc
lorn lrom tlc soul and words lrom silcncc. An attcntivc silcncc.`
S
n tlcsc
last words, it is not a qucstion ol a notc tlat would ladc away into its own
platitudc, sincc tlc cxprcssion 'attcntivc silcncc` is so commonplacc. it is not a
mattcr ol tcacling us somctling alout silcncc, lut ratlcr ol lctting it lcavc its
signaturc and tlc tracc, as it wcrc, ol tlrcc stcps on tlc snow ol tlc pagc. And
cvcryonc wlo writcs knows tlat lc is mcrcly tlc onc wlo lcrrics words lrom
silcncc to silcncc, lrom tlc silcncc in wlicl lc mcditatcs and lrom wlcncc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+1
lis as yct unuttcrcd spcccl ariscs, to tlc visillc silcncc ol tlc pagc, wlicl
wclcomcs it and prcscrvcs it, witlout tlc llank wlitcncss disappcaring.
+

1o writc is a Fassovcr ol silcncc. 1lc grcat Argcntinc poct Folcrto {uarroz
dcscrilcs it vcry wcll in a pocm in wlicl lc statcs wlat it is lc pcrlorming
and pcrlorms wlat it is lc is saying, in lis To.|(// J.r//c| P./r;
1lc wlitc pagc
is a listcning tlat waits (. un /4 u. cucr4c)
Writing is tlc voicc
wlicl can lc comlincd witl tlc wlitcncss . . .
At ccrtain momcnts
tlc land scnscs tlc dcnsity tlat awaits it
and its tracc on tlc wlitcncss
nnds tlc ncccssary prcssurc
to rcacl tlc music lrom lclow.
5

t is lcautilul to scc low in tlcsc words tlc intcrlacing ol tlc visillc and
tlc audillc lappcns only in tlc act ol tlc land, drilling into tlc silcncc ol
tlc pagc an artcsian wcll ol music. 1lis wlitcncss is no morc a privation ol
writing tlan silcncc is a privation ol spcccl.
1lcsc idcas arc not connncd to modcrnity. Wlcn Aristotlc sccks to
dcscrilc tlc status ol tlc intcllcct lclorc it tlinks in act and lccomcs wlat
it tlinks, tlc intclligillcs, lc comparcs it to a tallct on wlicl notling is
writtcn,
6
wlicl is at tlc origin ol tlc /c|u|c rcc ol tlc cmpiricists. But, as
Alcxandcr ol Aplrodisia notcd in rigorous laslion, it 'is, in conscqucncc,
mcrcly an aptitudc lor tlc rcccption ol tlc lorms and it rcscmllcs a tallct on
wlicl tlcrc is notling writtcn, or ratlcr wlat is unwrittcn on tlc tallct, and
not tlc tallct itscll `. 1lc tallct, likc tlc papcr ol tlc pagc lor us, is dcnncd,
dctcrminatc, and not, as sucl, tlc purc opcnncss ol potcntiality. only 'wlat
is unwrittcn on tlc tallct is . . . tlc aptitudc to rcccivc writing`.
7
1lc silcnt
wlitc ol tlc pagc is not tlc pagc itscll, it is ratlcr a passivc listcning, nllcd
witl dawning potcntial, to tlc words tlat will nnd slcltcr on it.
1lis crossing, tlis translation, wlicl spcccl accomplislcs lrom silcncc to
silcncc makcs tlcsc silcnccs livc or dic togctlcr. 1lc silcncc altcr spcccl is
ncvcr tlc samc as tlc silcncc tlat prcccdcd it. it ripcns and grows witlin all
tlc words tlat ultimatcly comc to ollcr tlcmsclvcs to it and in it. And spcccl
draws its wciglt and its gravity lrom tlc lact tlat it docs not tcar opcn tlc
silcncc lrom wlicl it comcs. 1lc cloqucnt mcditation ol Max Ficard on T/.
Jr|4 ( S/|.n. givcs tlis 'admirallc commcrcc` its lundamcntal importancc.
Spcccl is lorn lrom silcncc in sucl a natural and unnoticcd way tlat
it sccms it is mcrcly a silcncc turncd ovcr, tlc otlcr sidc ol silcncc
. . . . n all spcccl, tlcrc is somctling silcnt tlat indicatcs wlcrc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+2
tlc spcccl las comc lrom, in cacl silcncc, tlcrc is somctling wlicl
spcaks and indicatcs tlat spcccl is lorn lrom silcncc.
8
And wlcn, as Max Ficard gocs on to slow, in poctry spcccl takcs on its lull
lorcc, 'silcncc lccomcs spontancously prcscnt, it is drawn along ly spcccl
wc lcar pcrlcct silcncc as an cclo ol pcrlcct spcccl`.

1lc spcccl ol clattcr, tlc spcccl tlat spcaks lor tlc mcrc sakc ol spcaking,
is complctcly dillcrcnt. it givcs us no silcncc to lcar, nor docs it givc to
silcncc anytling tlat spcccl miglt lavc illumincd. t is no longcr spcccl,
lcing lorcign to silcncc and not cvcn suspccting its cxistcncc. Wlcn languagc
is tlouglt ol on tlc modcl ol plysical transmission, witl its 'cmittcrs` and
'rcccivcrs`, silcncc is mcrcly lackground noisc, it las disappcarcd and, witl
it, luman spcccl. 1lcrc tlcn lappcns wlat Max Ficard, in dcscriptions
closc to tlosc tlat cidcggcr givcs ol G./.||, calls 'rumour`. Nolody spcaks
wlcn cvcryonc mcrcly lrings tlcir quota to tlc luckct-clain ol words, tlc
pcrpctual movcmcnt ol clattcr. 1lc disappcarancc ol silcncc dcvastatcs
spcccl and turns it into a dcscrt. t is witl tlis in mind tlat Kicrkcgaard gavc
a powcrlul dcnnition ol clattcr.
Wlat docs /c//.r/n mcan` t mcans alolisling tlc passionatc
disjunction lctwccn spcaking and lcing silcnt. nly a man wlo is
csscntially allc to kccp silcnt is csscntially allc to spcak, and only lc
wlo is csscntially allc to kccp silcnt is csscntially allc to act.
10
t is not in tlis dcnnition a mattcr ol tlc simplc ascctic prcccpt, rcpcatcd
lrcqucntly in tlc Clristian Middlc Agcs, ol tlc /|.n//um |u.n4/ mc//.r,
silcncc as mastcr ol spcccl.
11
Kicrkcgaard, anticipating Nictzsclc, linkcd
silcncc likc tlc spcccl tlat it summons and makcs possillc to grcat cvcnts,
it is in a listorical and collcctivc dimcnsion tlat lc dcnncd clattcr. Clattcr
livcs oll tlc alscncc ol cvcnts lut also lor tlat alscncc. it trics to saturatc
witl noisc tlc calm spacc in wlicl cvcnts miglt lc produccd. 1lc gcnius
propcr to Samucl Bcckctt is to lavc givcn r/. to tlis rumur, somctling
tlat appcars to lc a contradiction in tcrms, and yct somctling tlat a spcccl
nourislcd on silcncc, lis own, las aclicvcd.
know no morc qucstions and tlcy kccp pouring out ol my moutl.
tlink know wlat it is, it`s to prcvcnt tlc discoursc lrom coming
to an cnd, tlis lutilc discoursc wlicl is not crcditcd to mc and lrings
mc not a syllallc ncarcr silcncc.
12

And, in anotlcr passagc. 'nc starts spcaking as il it wcrc possillc to stop at
will. t is lcttcr so. 1lc scarcl lor tlc mcans to put an cnd to tlings, an cnd
to spcccl, is wlat cnallcs tlc discoursc to continuc.`
1S
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+S
All ol tlis slows c n/rcr/ tlc cxtcnt to wlicl spcccl is lorn lrom silcncc.
vcn divinc spcccl, surroundcd ly divinc silcncc, rcquircs anotlcr silcncc,
tlat ol crcaturcs, in ordcr to lc translatcd. 1lis spcccl too passcs lrom onc
silcncc to anotlcr. Catlolic liturgy prcscrilcs, at vcspcrs lor tlc Sunday ol tlc
octavc ol tlc Nativity, tlis nnc antlcm, oltcn quotcd or paraplrascd ly tlc
mystics. Dum m.4/um /|.n//um /.n.r.n/ mn/c, ./ nx /n u uru m.4/u, //.r
(.rc.r./, mn/(/.n S.rm /uu, Dm/n., c r.c|/|u .4/|u r.n//, c||.|u/c.
1+
t
is a qucstion ol tlc lirtl ol tlc ctcrnal Word in tlc cril, surroundcd ly tlc
silcncc ol tlc niglt. 1lc most silcnt ol all lours is tlat ol tlc Nativity, ol tlc
coming ol tlc Word in a csl tlat at nrst is mutc, in wlicl tlc Word loscs its
powcr ol spcccl so as to spcak to us. But tlis antlcm is takcn lrom tlc look
ol Wisdom,
15
wlcrc tlis pcacclul silcncc prcccdcs a tcrrillc cvcnt in wlicl
God unlcaslcs lis angcr against tlc impious, tlc last plaguc ol gypt, tlc
dcatl ol tlc nrstlorn! Fassing lrom wlat prcccdcs tlc nrst Fassovcr to wlat
makcs possillc tlc sccond, tlcsc words also translatc silcncc and proloundly
translorm its mcaning. 1lc silcncc in wlicl omnipotcncc makcs itscll
impotcnt is cvcn dccpcr tlan tlc silcncc in wlicl it manilcsts itscll dircctly.
n a nnc passagc, tlc autlor ol M|; D/| gavc, allcit not witlout
amliguity, a univcrsal dimcnsion to tlis silcncc ol tlc Nativity.
All prolound tlings, and cmotions ol tlings arc prcccdcd and
attcndcd ly silcncc. Wlat a silcncc is tlat witl wlicl tlc palc lridc
prcccdcs tlc rcsponsivc I o/||, to tlc pricst`s solcmn qucstion, Wilt
tlou lavc tlis man lor tly lusland` n silcncc, too, tlc wcddcd
lands arc claspcd. Yca, in silcncc tlc clild Clrist was lorn into tlc
world. Silcncc is tlc gcncral consccration ol tlc univcrsc. Silcncc is
tlc invisillc laying on ol tlc ivinc Fontill `s lands upon tlc world.
Silcncc is at oncc tlc most larmlcss and tlc most awlul tling in all
naturc. t spcaks ol tlc Fcscrvcd orccs ol atc. Silcncc is tlc only
\oicc ol our God.
16

1lis praisc ol silcncc, wlicl Karl owitl lrcqucntly dwclt on, plays on many
kinds ol silcncc too many silcnccs, no doult, lor it to avoid lcing lost in
tlcir divcrsity, lor tlcy cannot all lc listcncd to in tlc samc act or witl tlc
samc attcntion. But it is good to scc tlat, during tlc pcriod in wlicl tlc
mcclanisms tlat would dcstroy silcncc wcrc lcing dcviscd, tlc most widcly
scparatcd pocts and tlinkcrs wcrc allc to scc, undcrstand and say tlat lrom it
alonc spcccl could lc lorn, and tlat spcccl alonc could in trutl llcss it.
cncc, in Nictzsclc`s T/u S(|. Zcrc//u/rc, tlc last pagcs ol Fart ,
wlicl cnds witl '1lc Quictcst our` ('ic Stillstc Stundc`), lring into play,
in many dillcrcnt ways, silcncc, listcning and spcccl. 1lc cxplicit words
alout tlc lounding powcr ol silcncc do not lorm isolatcd maxims, tlcy arc
closcly linkcd to tlc storics and parallcs in wlicl tlcy appcar. 1lcrc arc tlc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
++
pcoplc wlo turn a dcal car to tlc sound ol Zaratlustra`s stcps ovcr tlcir
lcads,
17
lut tlcrc is also tlc lalsc grcat man wlo is now no morc tlan a lugc
car.
18
At tlc siglt ol lis disciplcs, Zaratlustra is ovcrcomc ly alarm, wlicl
givcs way to a lurst ol laugltcr, wlicl makcs lim say, altcr lc las lcard tlc
noisc ol tlcir silcnt tlouglts cmcrging lrom tlcir spcccl. '. . .`
1
But tlcrc is
also tlc nrc dog, wlicl cannot listcn to Zaratlustra any longcr and runs oll
and tlc disciplcs larcly cvcn listcn to tlis story.
20
All grcatncss, lcrc too, is
accompanicd ly silcncc. '1lc grcatcst cvcnts tlcy arc not our noisicst lut
our stillcst lours. 1lc world rcvolvcs, not around tlc invcntors ol ncw noiscs,
lut around tlc invcntors ol ncw valucs, it rcvolvcs /ncu4/||; (un.r/Jr|cr)`.
21

1lc most dccisivc tling, in tlcsc passagcs, is tlat Zaratlustra is scnt to
limscll, scnt on lis most pcrsonal mission, to lis own most pcrsonal spcccl,
ly a silcncc. t is ly listcning to tlc silcncc, allowing limscll to lc callcd upon
ly silcncc, tlat lc lccomcs limscll.
Sucl, indccd, is tlc cllcct ol 'tlc most silcnt lour`. it 'spcaks` to lim.
22

Wlcn, around lim, tlcrc lorms a silcncc so dccp tlat lc las ncvcr lcad
its likc, somctling spcaks to lim 'voicclcssly` (/n. S//mm.). 1lis voicclcss
spcccl spcaks to lim ol lis spcccl, tlc spcccl lc must uttcr and is still not
uttcring. 1lis spcccl dcmands tlat lc spcak, 'Say your spcccl and lrcak!
(S(r// 4./n Jr/ un4 :.r|r//!)` 1o Zaratlustra, discouragcd tlat lis spcccl
las not lccn lcard ly mcn, tlis voicclcss spcccl rcplics, 'ow do you know
//c/` 1lc dcw lalls upon tlc grass wlcn tlc niglt is at its most silcnt`. And
it is tlis vcry samc spcccl tlat tclls lim wlcn lc las lamcntcd tlat lc
docs not lavc 'tlc voicc ol a lion`. 't is tlc stillcst words wlicl lring tlc
storm. 1louglts tlat comc on dovcs` lcct guidc tlc world.` Wlcn tlis voicc
witldraws, tlcrc is around Zaratlustra 'a twolold stillncss`, as it wcrc. And ol
tlat, lc says lc las 'kcpt notling` lrom lis lricnds lclorc lcaving tlcm. t is
anotlcr sucl mutc dialoguc on wlicl, in tlc tlird part, Zaratlustra cngagcs
witl tlc sky, lclorc sunrisc.
2S
1o lc silcnt togctlcr may still lc a pcacclul,
lricndly dialoguc. Anotlcr passagc lad alrcady mcntioncd tlc 'silcncc ol all
liglt-givcrs`.
2+
1lcrc is no nccd to producc any morc cvidcncc ol tlis kind. any mcditation
on spcccl tlat is wortl tlc namc, lowcvcr singular it miglt lc, takcs placc
in a lratcrnity witl silcncc, and it is ncvcr a qucstion, witl silcncc, ol a purc
notlingncss or a mcrc privation. \nprontallc would lc a spcccl tlat did not
undcrtakc to cxprcss tlc silcncc tlat scnds it out to itscll and docs not ccasc
to do so. But all tlinking alout silcncc las its pcrils, not tlc lcast ol wlicl
is tlat ol lypostatizing silcncc, ol spcaking alout silcncc as il it lormcd an
cntity undcrlying all otlcr silcnccs. No morc tlan otlcrs docs Max Ficard, in
lis World ol Silcncc, avoid tlis tcmptation. As Samucl Bcckctt`s Unncmc||.
puts it. 'or it is all vcry nnc to kccp silcncc, lut onc las also to considcr
tlc kind ol silcncc onc kccps.`
25
1lc plcnomcnality ol silcncc lrings into
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+5
play possililitics, dimcnsions and acts tlat vary grcatly lrom onc anotlcr,
somctling tlat in any casc its pcrpctual corrclation witl spcccl makcs
ncccssary.
Silcncc also is said in many various ways, tlc unity ol wlicl, il unity tlcrc
lc, must lc souglt, and not mcrcly prcsupposcd as il it wcrc scll-cvidcnt. l
tlis is not tlc casc, wc run tlc risk ol rclapsing into tlc gnostic illusion tlat
madc nrst principlcs ol tlc Silcncc and tlc Alyss.
27
1lis mcans incurring an
idolatry ol silcncc an idolatry tlat clattcrs noisily. Wc must dcscrilc and
articulatc tlc dillcrcnt typcs ol silcncc. n tlis way, lollowing a traditional
mctaplysical ordcr, and distinguisling tlc dillcrcnt silcnccs in accordancc
witl o/c/ it is in tlcm tlat is silcnt, wc cannot idcntily tlc silcncc ol tlc
origin, ol tlc nrst principlc or ol God, witl tlc silcncc ol naturc or witl
luman silcncc, cvcn il tlcsc dillcrcnt silcnccs may communicatc witl or
rcspond to onc anotlcr.
1lc witcl ol 1lcocritus calls lortl, in lcr ritcs, tlc silcncc ol naturc,
lut tlis silcncc mcrcly lcars all tlc morc clcarly tlc noisc ol tlc rcscntmcnt
tlat inlalits lcr. 'o tlcrc! now wavc is still and wind is still, tlougl ncvcr
still tlc pain tlat is in my lrcast.`
28
Wlat wc lavc lcrc is a ritc ly mcans ol
wlicl slc is sccking to call lortl tlc lovc ol tlc man slc lovcs. And a tcrrillc
quatrain ol mily ickinson, wlicl also lrings many dillcrcnt possililitics
into play, contrasts tlc dcvastating passion ol luman silcncc witl tlc
innoccnt, vulncrallc silcncc ol naturc. '1lcrc is no Silcncc in tlc artl so
silcnt} As tlat cndurcd} Wlicl uttcrcd, would discouragc Naturc} And launt
tlc world.`
2
1lis silcncc in us mu/ n/ lcncclortl lc spokcn.
owcvcr, distinguisling lctwccn silcnccs according to tlc lcing tlat is
silcnt in tlcm is not in tlc lcast plcnomcnological, lor il tlcrc arc various
silcnccs, tlcy must ly and tlrougl tlcmsclvcs manilcst tlcir divcrsity to our
listcning lor us to dctcrminc wlctlcr tlcy arc tlc silcncc ol God, ol naturc,
or ol wlatcvcr powcr it miglt lc. t is lacking in rigour to study tlc lorms
ol silcncc as il wc wcrc oursclvcs nowlcrc, and tlc rclationslip lctwccn man
and silcncc, man and silcnccs, as mucl as tlc acts ly wlicl tlis rclationslip is
cstallislcd, constitutc tlc only possillc principlc ol a typology.
1lc nrst distinction tlat olviously nccds to lc madc is tlat wlicl
scparatcs silcncc as a dimcnsion lrom silcncc as an act, tlc silcncc tlat wc
listcn to lrom tlc silcncc tlat wc makc. Altlougl tlcrc is notling alsolutc
alout tlc distinction, tlc nrst could lc callcd, in Grcck, /|, and tlc sccond
/J(|. Wlcn silcncc is positcd as a principlc, it is tlc nrst word, /|, tlat is
uscd, lrom tlc Gnostics to Claudcl or Mcrlcau-Fonty. Flotinus, wlo is usually
considcrcd as a tlinkcr ol silcncc, docs not usc cvcn oncc in lis wlolc ocuvrc
tlc tcrm /| or tlc corrcsponding vcrl /cn wlcrcas lc oltcn rclcrs to /J(|
and all tlc silcnccs wc can lall into or kccp. 1lis is plilosoplically wortly
ol considcration. Ncvcr docs Flotinus lypostatizc silcncc. n Gcrman, wc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+6
could distinguisl lctwccn S//||. and S/o./.n. t is always a lcing capallc ol
spcaking tlat is silcnt, tlat kccps silcnt, tlat stops talking, lut wlat is in tlc
samc scnsc, at lcast witlout spcccl is /|.n/ witlout tlcrcly /((/n /c||/n.
Mclvillc, in tlc passagc rclcrrcd to alovc, rclcrs nrst and lorcmost to silcncc
as a dimcnsion, cvcn il lc rclatcs it to luman acts. {oulcrt cxplicitly positcd
it as sucl. 'Among tlc tlrcc dimcnsions, wc must count timc, spacc, and
silcncc. Spacc is in timc, silcncc is in spacc.`
S0
Wlcn wc listcn to tlc silcncc
ol naturc, tlis is not at all tlc samc act as listcning to tlc silcncc ol a man
wlo is silcnt. 1o spcak ol tlc dimcnsion ol silcncc, ol a silcncc tlat is in somc
dcgrcc clcmcntary, docs not mcan yct again to lypostatizc silcncc, lor tlis
dimcnsionality opcns out on to vcry dillcrcnt possililitics. it draws its rigour
lrom tlc spccinc naturc ol our listcning. Silcncc as a dimcnsion is tlc otlcr ol
luman spcccl as a wlolc, wlcrcas tlc acts ol silcncc lclong to luman spcccl,
arc momcnts ol it, its modcs and possililitics.
Wlcn it comcs to silcncc as a luman act, wc must ol coursc distinguisl nrst
and lorcmost lctwccn an u/.r silcncc and an /nn.r silcncc. Alstaining lrom
uttcring words may lc a mcans ol lrccing or rcinlorcing our inncr spcccl, or
on tlc contrary it may mcrcly lc a prcamllc to tlc attcmpt to imposc silcncc
witlin oursclvcs as wcll. 1lrcc cxamplcs may illustratc tlis distinction. tlcy
arc all tlc morc suitallc lor lringing out clcarly tlc divcrsc intcntionalitics
ol silcncc in tlat tlcy arc all lrom tlc samc rcligious tradition. Fclcrring to
'tlc ills ol languagc and tlc good ol silcncc` in lis Pr/n/(|. ( C/r///cn L/(.,
Cardinal Bona, in tlc scvcntccntl ccntury, wrotc.
1lis is wly tlc art ol lcing silcnt (/c//urn//c) is a grcat tling,
tlanks to wlicl, witldrawing lrom tlc company ol mcn, wc lcarn to
convcrsc witl God. t is in vain, indccd, tlat tlc tonguc lalls silcnt,
il tlc spirit docs not spcak witl God.
S1

utcr silcncc is lcrc mcrcly a condition ol inncr spcccl, ol convcrsing witl
God. 1o lc silcnt is to cntcr into anotlcr kind ol spcccl. rom anotlcr point
ol vicw, atlcr Grou, a {csuit mystic ol tlc cigltccntl ccntury, invitcs us to
'|..( /|.n/ inwardly and outwardly`. c writcs.
t is not cnougl to kccp silcnt witl otlcrs, wc lavc to kccp silcnt
witl oursclvcs, lavc no convcrsc witl our imagination, ccasc to
rccall wlat wc lavc said or lcard, not occupy oursclvcs witl usclcss
tlouglts wlicl roam across tlc past or tlc luturc.
S2
1o lc surc, tlis silcncc ol tlc imagination and cvcn tlc mcmory docs not
lorm, ol itscll, a total silcncc, it may lc tlc condition ol a spiritual spcccl.
But atlcr Grou las in mind a 'spiritual clildlood` in wlicl tlc aim is to
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+7
rcacl 'simplc, dircct opcrations, wlicl lrcak away, so to spcak, lrom tlc
control ol tlc soul`, and transccnd scll-conscious tlouglt. 1lc intcntion is
tlat man lccomcs a clild again in spirit and says to God 'witlout lormulac
and witlout cloosing lis words cvcrytling tlat lis lcart suggcsts to lim`,
and nnally 'cxprcsscs to lim all tlc lcclings wlicl gracc inspircs witlin lim,
somctimcs in spcccl, lut m/ (/.n o///u/ (.c|/n`.
SS
1lc aim lcrc rcally
is to manilcst oncscll to God in silcncc, to prcscnt in a nakcd and wordlcss
lorm onc`s spirit and lcart lclorc lim. Silcncc lccomcs twolold, lccomcs a
lcartlclt clildlood, and is no longcr a mcrc vcliclc ol spcccl.
n lis spirituality ol dcsirc and disquict, St Augustinc, lor lis part, saw
in our amorous ardour tlat wlicl mcrcly lrcaks opcn our mutc silcncc,
ovcrcoming tlc contrast lctwccn cxtcrnal and intcrnal silcncc in so lar as
tlis contrast itscll is too cxtcrnal and tlus supcrncial. 1lus lc writcs, in lis
commcntary on tlc Fsalms. 'or lc wlo dcsircs, cvcn il lis tonguc is silcnt,
sings lrom lis lcart, and lc wlo las no dcsirc, wlatcvcr tlc cry witl wlicl
lc strikcs mcn`s cars, is mutc lor God.`
S+
Silcncc itscll sings, wlcn it is tlc
silcncc ol dcsirc. 1lc grcatcst attcntion is tlus rcquircd in ordcr to dcscrilc tlc
divcrsity ol silcnccs. wlat makcs silcncc possillc, and wlat is madc possillc
ly silcncc, must always lc considcrcd il its mcaning is to lc dcnncd.
Anotlcr important distinction wlcn it comcs to luman silcncc is tlat
wlicl scparatcs tlc silcncc ol lcing 4um|/ru| lrom tlc silcncc tlat is an cr/.
Artistic silcncc is an acquircd silcncc. tlcrc arc arts ol lcing silcnt, and all sorts
ol practiccs ol asccsis, ol mcditation or mortincation tlrougl wlicl wc lcarn
to kccp silcnt, to contain and disciplinc our spcccl lor somctling to makc
itscll manilcst or lc in a position to manilcst itscll. But dumlstruck silcncc is
an unlorcsccn and uncxpcctcd suspcnsion ol our spcccl onc tlat alsolutcly
docs not rcsult lrom an art or a lcarncd skill, our spcccl is suspcndcd ly tlc
cvcnt ol manilcstation or ly tlc cncountcr witl somctling or somconc. ur
spcccl is takcn slort, ovcrwlclmcd ly wlat suddcnly ariscs. Wlat lcavcs us at
nrst spcccllcss lor joy or lorror is also wlat rcquircs tlc grcatcst cllort and tlc
gilt ol spcccl. 1lis silcncc lor wlicl do not takc tlc initiativc, tlis silcncc
wlicl lorms in somc dcgrcc tlc lrcaking opcn, witlin my inncrmost scll,
ol otlcrncss, tlis silcncc ol suddcn cmotion las, ol coursc, ccrtain possillc
lorms. Wlat is common to all ol tlcm is tlat tlcy arc sullcrcd passivcly. 1lis
passivc sullcring may lc catastroplic, lcading to tlc traumatic lrcaking ol my
powcrs, lccoming, quitc litcrally, maddcning.
S5
But it may also lc tlc sitc ol
a dccpcr translormation tlan all tlosc tlat would lavc lccn allc to lring
alout ly myscll. tlis is truc ol mystic silcncc, in wlicl tlis passivity liglcr
tlan any activity corrcsponds to tlc momcnt wlcn God limscll acts dircctly
witlin us and on us. 1lis silcncc lrcaks us down only so as to raisc us alovc
oursclvcs. it las tlc claractcr ol an cvcnt.
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+8
1lcsc distinctions arc lar lrom lcing tlc only oncs. ow can tlcsc various
possililitics ol silcncc lc analyscd and dcscrilcd, wlcn tlc slccr numlcr ol
tlcm is so disconccrting` Sincc wlat is at stakc lcrc is tlc ark ol spcccl, wc
will lcavc asidc tlc purcly privativc silcnccs, tlc silcnccs or lailurc and dcatl in
wlicl spcccl dcstroys and condcmns itscll.
S6
1lc nrst dimcnsion ol silcncc in
its rclationslip witl spcccl is tlat ol silcncc as |//.n/n. t is a qucstion ol tlc
act, or ratlcr acts, in wlicl wc kccp silcnt so as to listcn, in wlicl wc listcn
wlilc kccping silcnt. 1lis silcncc must lc dcalt witl nrst ol all, lor it sultcnds
all tlc otlcrs, and tlcrc is no silcncc tlat docs not prcsupposc it. t is not, lor
all tlat, a simplc mattcr, lor may kccp silcnt in ordcr to listcn to silcncc, or
to listcn to an inncr or outcr spcccl, and tlis may vary witl many acts tlat arc
spccincd ly wlat tlcy arc listcning to. 1lc sccond dimcnsion is tlat ol silcncc
as r.(n.. crc, tlc suspcnsc ol spcccl is still itscll spcccl, an cloqucnt
silcncc, a placc ol cncountcr and mutual prcscncc. 1lcrc arc silcnt praycrs,
and colloquia ol silcncc in many ol tlc placcs wlcrc wc livc our livcs. t is
no longcr a mattcr ol mcrcly rcsponding in silcncc to wlat wc arc listcning
to (ol lcing rcsponsillc (r it), lut ol rcsponding in silcncc / wlat wc arc
listcning to. Spcccl gatlcrs itscll in silcncc so as to ollcr itscll to it. 1lc tlird
dimcnsion is clcarly dcmarcatcd lrom tlc nrst two, wlicl arc intcrdcpcndcnt
in so lar as in tlcm, silcncc is a placc in wlicl spcccl can lc cxclangcd. t is
silcncc as ./c; or .x., mystic silcncc propcrly spcaking, in wlicl spcccl
rcccivcs, in surprisc and passivity, tlc gilt ol a liglcr silcncc. 1lis typology
is ol coursc mcrcly an outlinc, wlicl must lc nllcd witl mcaning ly tlc vcry
dcscription ol tlc acts on wlicl it is imposing ordcr.
Silcncc as listcning
t is olvious tlat wc lavc to kccp silcnt and stop talking in ordcr to listcn,
cvcn il its vcry olviousncss las somc disconccrting lcaturcs. or wlcn
spcak, am still listcning, am listcning witl tlc utmost attcntivcncss, and in
a way tlat is, as it wcrc, irrcparallc, to tlat wlicl am rcplying to, cvcn il
am no longcr kccping silcnt. Would tlc silcncc ol listcning rcmain sucl il it
ncvcr lcd mc to givc a rcply to wlat listcn to, il it did not alrcady promisc
tlat rcply` 1lc silcncc ol listcning promiscs spcccl, in proportion to its vcry
attcntion, and spcccl, wlcn it sounds out, lovingly kccps tlc promisc madc
ly silcncc and is still rclatcd to tlc silcncc.
1lc grcat palacc ol silcncc tlat is, at tlc origins ol plilosoply, tlc work
ol Flato, may slcd liglt on tlis a palacc ol silcncc, and a monumcnt ol
gratitudc and lricndslip, sincc in it, Flato ncvcr spcaks ol limscll or appcars
in pcrson to lavc lis say, lcaving tlis to otlcrs, so many otlcrs. Socratcs nrst
and lorcmost. Many silcnccs, oltcn ol a quitc contrasting kind, arc prcscnt
in it. 1lcrc is a silcncc tlat, lar lrom lorming tlc prccondition lor spcccl to
1 SF1A1Y SNC
+
listcn, rcluscs to listcn tlat ol Flilclus, tlc spokcsman lor a lilc ol plcasurc,
at tlc lcginning ol Flato`s dialoguc tlat lcars lis namc as its titlc. Flilclus
no longcr wislcs to discuss witl Socratcs, lc no longcr wislcs to vcnturc
into tlc spacc ol spcccl, and takcs rclugc in tlc olstinatc mutcncss ol onc
wlo rcluscs to clangc, and rcmains in lis 'positions` wlicl lrom lcncclortl
will lc sct in stonc. c is going to lall silcnt, no longcr wisling to rcply to
or lc rcsponsillc lor anytling at all. anotlcr intcrlocutor Frotarclus is now
givcn tlc task ol dclcnding lis tlcsis. Socratcs and Frotarclus will lc tlc only
oncs to spcak, and Flilclus will mcrcly lc a mutc spcctator. Will lc listcn to
tlcm` By witldrawing lrom dialoguc and its slarcd liglt, Flilclus, cvcn il lc
allows tlc words ol otlcrs to strikc lis cars, las ccascd to lc a |//.n.r, sincc
lc no longcr takcs an intcrcst in wlat is lcing said. Socratcs and Frotarclus,
ly cxclanging words, will lor tlcir part ncvcr stop listcning to cacl otlcr in
ordcr to rcply to onc anotlcr, and in rcplying to onc anotlcr in turn.
Wlcn it comcs to Socratcs, it could sccm, il wc arc to lclicvc tlc
lcginning ol tlc P/c.4ru, tlat lc is lar lrom lcing a man ol silcncc. vcn
tlc countrysidc tlat is so closc to Atlcns sccms unknown to lim, to tlc
grcat surprisc ol Flacdrus. Socratcs docs not go out to listcn to tlc silcncc
ol naturc, lc is lond ol lcarning, and 'tlc country placcs and tlc trccs won`t
tcacl mc anytling, and tlc pcoplc in tlc city do`.
S7
1lcn lc jokingly slows
tlat only tlc lait ol tlc spccclcs tlat Flacdrus kccps conccalcd witl
rcason! undcr lis mantlc las managcd to draw lim outsidc tlc city. But il
Socratcs gains notling lrom tlis rural silcncc, lis spcccl, in otlcr rcspccts,
livcs witlin tlc intimacy ol silcncc. At tlc lcginning ol tlc S;m(/um, lis
latcncss is duc to tlc silcnt mcditation tlat suddcnly lrings lim to a lalt in
tlc middlc ol tlc strcct.
S8
n tlc P/c.4, cvcn wlcn timc is running out and
only a lcw lours rcmain lclorc lc is to drink tlc lcmlock, Socratcs on scvcral
occasions lalls into long silcnccs, citlcr lccausc lc is continuing to tlink
alout wlat lc las just said, or lccausc lc is mcditating on wlat lc is alout
to say. is spcccl comcs lrom silcncc and lcads to silcncc,
S
lut tlis silcncc is
nonc otlcr tlan tlc voicclcss spcccl ol tlc soul witl itscll, wlicl, lor Flato,
constitutcs tlouglt.
Morc important, wlcn it comcs to listcning, is tlc silcncc into wlicl Flato
makcs Socratcs lall in tlc grcat dialogucs ol lis maturity. n tlc Pcrm.n/4.,
Flato nrst ol all las Socratcs, a vcry young man, cngagc in dialoguc witl
tlc agcd Farmcnidcs. 1lis Socratcs las not yct lccn complctcly grippcd ly
plilosoply,
+0
and, in tlc sccond part, Farmcnidcs gocs on to givc a lcsson
in dialcctics, witl tlc lclp ol anotlcr claractcr, wlilc tlc otlcrs listcn in
silcncc. Socratcs listcns, Socratcs lalls silcnt. n tlc S(/// and tlc P|///u,
Socratcs, now a maturc man, is lacing tlc trial tlat will provc latal to lim.
And lcrc too lc lalls silcnt, lor a long timc, so tlat lc can listcn to anotlcr
voicc, tlat ol a man lrom lca, wlo is accomplisling tlc task assigncd to tlc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
50
discussion. 1lis prcscncc ol a Socratcs wlo is mcrcly a listcncr, a Socratcs
wlo is prcparcd to lc instructcd, just as lc says lc las allowcd limscll to
lc instructcd ly iotima, ncccssarily lclongs to lis spiritual ngurc. t is lar
lrom dcmonstrating, as las somctimcs lccn dcduccd, lis cllaccmcnt or lis
marginalization in Flato`s work. Wlo would Socratcs lc il lc wcrc not allc
to stay silcnt to listcn` ow could tlc invcntor ol maicutics lc prcscntcd ly
Flato as tlc cxclusivc and jcalous proprictor ol spcccl, wlcrcvcr lc may nnd
limscll` Flilosoply docs not lccomc mutc wlcn Socratcs lalls silcnt. t is
also ly lis silcncc tlat Socratcs scnds tlc otlcrs to spcccl. 1lis silcncc is not
an alscncc lut a way ol lcaring witncss to tlc mind, and it invitcs us to cntcr,
oursclvcs, into tlc paticnt listcning ol spcccl, a listcning tlat is lotl sourcc
and rcsourcc.
Wlat arc tlc various possililitics ol tlis listcning silcncc` 1lc nrst, and
onc ol tlc strongcst, is tlat in wlicl tlc act wlcrcly our spcccl is suspcndcd
opcns us to tlc dimcnsion ol silcncc in tlc world. t is tlcn ly my silcncc tlat
listcn to silcncc, not in a lorm ol introspcction wlcrcly listcn to myscll
lcing silcnt lut in going out to mcct tlc silcnt plcnitudc ol naturc. vcry
'canticlc ol tlc crcaturcs` las prcsupposcd sucl a listcning. n tlc admirallc
mcditation on silcncc tlat is tlc nrst ol tlc tlrcc cdilying discourscs ol
18+ cntitlcd '1lc ilics ol tlc icld and tlc Birds ol tlc Air`, Kicrkcgaard
cmplasizcs tlat tlc silcncc ol naturc is not at all a privation, and is not
rcducillc to tlc alscncc ol sounds.
1lc lorcst is silcnt, cvcn wlcn it wlispcrs it is still silcnt. . . . 1lc
sca is silcnt, cvcn wlcn it ragcs noisily, it yct is silcnt. . . . n tlc
cvcning, wlcn silcncc lroods ovcr tlc countrysidc and tlou lrom
tlc mcadow dost lcar tlc distant lowing, or lar lrom tlc larmcr`s
lousc dost lcar tlc dog`s domcstic voicc onc cannot say tlat tlis
lowing or tlis voicc disturls tlc silcncc, no, tlis lclongs to silcncc,
is in mystcrious lut again in silcnt accord witl silcncc.
+1

1lc lackground ol silcncc lrom wlicl all tlcsc sounds cmcrgc, and wlicl
givcs a warm wclcomc to tlcm as tlcy ladc away, is tlc silcncc tlat in tlcm
and tlrougl tlcm grasps us. Ncvcr is tlis silcncc lrokcn or intcrruptcd ly
natural noiscs, wlcrcas it is violcntly lrokcn ly luman industry, wlicl ncgatcs
it rclcntlcssly. Filkc dwclls on tlc mcaning ol tlis in onc ol tlc 'Sonncts to
rplcus` in wlicl lc draws a contrast lctwccn tlc way tlat wc arc startlcd
ly tlc cry ol a lird, and tlc crics ol clildrcn wlo 'cry at random`.
+2
1o listcn
to a silcncc sucl as tlis, it is not cnougl lor us to kccp silcnt. Kicrkcgaard
also slows low tlc poct, in tlc lacc ol naturc, may listcn mcrcly to limscll
and to tlc noisc ol lis passions or lis drcams, and tlus lavc no inkling ol
tlc grcat lcsson in silcncc tlat naturc can givc lim.
+S
But wlat is tlis lcsson,
1 SF1A1Y SNC
51
or wlat miglt it lc` n Kicrkcgaard`s discoursc, tlis silcncc ol naturc lorms
a crcaturcly silcncc, it ultimatcly rclcrs us to tlc crcaturcs wlo stand lclorc
God, and to tlc way tlat tlcy listcn to or await God`s spcccl. n lis vicw,
naturc providcs us witl tlc incxillc cxamplc ol tlc silcncc tlat wc lavc to
lcarn and wlicl is so dilncult lor us. istcning to naturc is tlus ol no intrinsic
wortl lcrc, lut constitutcs, ratlcr, a (r(c.4.u// to rcligious silcncc.
t is quitc anotlcr mattcr wlcn wc turn to tlc nnc prosopopocia ol naturc
in Flotinus` trcatisc On Nc/ur. cn4 Cn/.m(|c//n cn4 //. On.. crc, tlc
silcncc ol naturc las a plcnitudc ol its own, lull ol mcaning. it is a silcncc tlat
slows and livcs. 1lc paradox ol tlis prosopopocia, in wlicl spcccl is givcn
to an csscntially silcnt powcr so tlat it may spcak to us ol its silcncc, is givcn
a wciglty and rigorous plilosoplical mcaning ly Flotinus.
And il anyonc wcrc to ask naturc wly it makcs, il it carcd to lcar
and answcr tlc qucstioncr it would say. 'You ouglt not to ask, lut
to undcrstand in silcncc, you, too, just as am silcnt and not in tlc
lalit ol talking.`
++

1lis dcnial ol tlc tcrms ol tlc qucstion alrcady lorms a rcply, lor Flotinus`s
aim is to slow tlat tlc production ol naturc las notling in common witl tlat
ol luman artisans, and tlat it cannot lc cxplaincd ly a mcclanical modcl. t
docs not producc ly rcalizing a plan traccd out in advancc, any morc tlan it
makcs calculations. ts nnality docs not consist in sctting up an aim lor itscll.
By dcvcloping a critiquc ol tlc tcrms ol tlc qucstion, it is tlc dimcnsion
ol tlc //n /.n.|c, ol tlc 'witl wlat aim` tlat naturc rcjccts. Wc arc on tlc
way to tlc /n. Jcrum ol Angclus Silcsius and lis rosc tlat llossoms witlout
a wly. 1lis silcncc is lar lrom lcing tlat ol alstcntion or privation. it is tlc
larmonious silcncc ol //.Jr/c , ol contcmplation. Flotinus`s lundamcntal tlcsis
in tlis trcatisc is tlat all action and all production originatc in contcmplation,
and tlis is truc on all lcvcls ol lcing, including naturc. A crcaturc acts and
contcmplatcs lccausc it contcmplatcs and so as to contcmplatc. As il it wcrc
immcrscd and alsorlcd in its own vision, naturc makcs tlc lcings and lorms
tlat surround us spontancously cmcrgc lrom itscll. 1o lrcak silcncc, lor
naturc, would lc to rcason, lorcscc, cxplain and calculatc, and tlus to allow
dcncicncy and lcsitation to innltratc its somnamlulistic plans, and tlus to lall
to tlc samc lcvcl as an artisan dclilcrating on wlat lc is to do. 1lc silcncc ol
its vision summons lortl, according to Flotinus, our silcncc, calls on us to risc
up in silcncc, witl our silcncc, lrom natural lorms to tlc lcrtilc silcncc lrom
wlicl tlcy cmcrgc and do not ccasc to cmcrgc. l coursc, in tlc Lnn.c4,
tlis is mcrcly onc stagc in tlc 'rcturn uplill`, to usc Fcnc Clar`s cxprcssion,
lor tlc patl ol silcncc is long, and naturc constitutcs mcrcly tlc lowcst lorm
ol tlc univcrsal soul. But tlcrc is in tlis idca a clcar scnsc ol low silcncc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
52
listcning to silcncc is lundamcntal, cacl silcncc laving a prcciscly dcnncd
tcnor ol mcaning.
1lis silcnt listcning to silcncc is also an csscntial possilility ol art and
our rclationslip to it. 1lc plastic arts cnallc us to lcar tlc silcncc ol naturc
or ol tlings witl an uncquallcd intcnsity. n still livcs, tlc most ordinary
implcmcnts, tlings wc usc cvcry day, arc witldrawn lrom tlc noisc ol our
gcsturcs so as to makc availallc to us tlc unlcard-ol aspccts tlcy lad, and still
lavc tlc aspccts tlat wc too did not prick up our lcars to lcar. 1lis silcncc,
so powcrlul and strangc, nonctlclcss dwclls in tlc grcatcst proximity to us,
in our own dwcllings. n anotlcr lcvcl, tlc S/ }/n //. Bc(/// ol conardo
da \inci in tlc ouvrc slows us a silcnt listcning to silcncc and invitcs us,
impcriously and gcntly, to slarc it. or tlc Clristian tradition, St {oln tlc
Baptist is tlc \oicc, tlc \oicc tlat announccs tlc Word tlat comcs. n tlis
painting, tlis \oicc is silcnt. 1lc splcndid and mystcrious lacc ol tlc Baptist,
against a dark lackground, wlicl intcnsincs tlc cvcnt ol lis cpiplany, ly
tcaring it away lrom any contcxt, any circumstancc, is turncd, witl a smilc,
towards us, and witl lis riglt land lc points to tlc lciglts. 1lc voicc slows
tlc Word, lut it docs so witlout words or spcccl, it invitcs us to listcn to tlc
silcncc.
A sccond dimcnsion ol silcncc as a lorm ol listcning is tlc dimcnsion in
wlicl it allows us to lcar a spcccl tlat witlout it would rcmain impcrccptillc.
1lc suspcnsc ol our spcccl allows tlc spcccl ol tlc otlcr to cmcrgc, citlcr
lccausc it was alrcady spcaking and tlc rcsonancc ol our voiccs lad madc us
dcal to its own voicc, or lccausc it lad lccn waiting lor us to stop talking so
tlat it can start to spcak. Wlat is at stakc lcrc is indccd silcncc as an act ol our
own. it is not only in silcncc tlat onc listcns, as il it wcrc mcrcly a ncgativc
and cntircly cxtcrnal condition, it is tlrougl it tlat onc listcns, in so lar as it
is onc witl attcntion and rcccptivity. Wlcn it is a qucstion ol an inncr silcncc
ly wlicl wc listcn, as in tlc Clristian spiritual tradition, to God spcaking
witlin us, it miglt sccm as il notling distinguislcs tlis possilility lrom
tlc prcccding onc, lrom silcntly listcning to silcncc, sincc it is scll-cvidcnt
tlat tlis inncr voicc is witlout any rcsonancc, and produccs no sound. As
tlc Im//c//n ( C/r// puts it, in cntircly Augustinian laslion, '\critas intus
loquitur sinc strcpitu vcrlorum`, 'tlc 1rutl spcaks witlin us witlout tlc
noisc ol any words.`
+5
But tlis lack ol sonority ol tlc Word`s spcccl witlin us
ly no mcans allows us to idcntily it witl a contcmplation ol silcncc. A silcncc
in wlicl wc allow oursclvcs to lc said, a silcncc in wlicl wc allow oursclvcs
to lc instructcd and translormcd ly tlc pcrsonal prcscncc ol tlc Word is not
tlc silcncc ly wlicl wc go out to mcct silcncc as dimcnsion or clcmcnt, as in
tlat nnc linc in tlc pocm ly amartinc in wlicl lc las a young musician girl
say, as slc ollcrs lcr song to tlc niglt, 'Comc! 1lc loving silcncc nlls spacc
lar and widc.`
+6
t is not a qucstion ol tlc samc plcnomcnon, or tlc samc act,
or tlc samc allcction.
1 SF1A1Y SNC
5S
1lis possilility las lccn dcscrilcd ly Angclus Silcsius witl lis usual
solricty. 'nc lcars tlrougl silcncc (M// /o./.n /Jr./ mcn). Spcccl
rcsounds in you morc tlan in anotlcr`s moutl. l you can lall silcnt lclorc
spcccl, you instantly lcar it.`
+7
1lis tlcmc occurs mucl carlicr in Clristian
mysticism. 1aulcr lrings it out lorcclully in a Clristmas scrmon, in wlicl
lc distinguislcs lctwccn tlrcc lirtls ol tlc Word, its ctcrnal lirtl lrom tlc
atlcr, its tcmporal lirtl lrom Mary, and its lirtl witlin us, wlicl can takc
placc at any timc il tlc conditions arc mct witlin us, ly tlc gracc ol God.
+8
t
is a Clristmas witlin us, in wlicl wc lavc, wlatcvcr our scx, to accomplisl
our own matcrnity. Silcncc is ncccssary lor tlis cvcnt.
1lis is wly you must lall silcnt. tlcn tlc Word ol tlis lirtl will lc
uttcrallc witlin you and you will lc allc to lcar it, lut lc surc tlat
il you wisl to spcak, it must lc silcnt. nc cannot scrvc tlc Word
lcttcr tlan ly kccping quict and listcning. So il you comc complctcly
out ol yourscll, God will cntcr you cntirc. tlc morc you comc out,
tlc morc lc will go in, no morc, no lcss.
+
A littlc lurtlcr on, in tlc samc scrmon, 1aulcr mcntions tlc Dum m.4/um
/|.n//um . . . ol tlc liturgy and intcrprcts it tlus.
t is in tlc midst ol silcncc, at tlc vcry momcnt wlcn all tlings arc
plungcd into tlc grcatcst silcncc, wlcrc tlc truc silcncc rcigns, it is
tlcn tlat onc truly lcars tlc Word, lor il you wisl God to spcak, you
must lc silcnt, lor lim to cntcr, all tlings must comc out.
50

Silcncc and cxodus, an cxodus outsidc oncscll, lcrc go togctlcr. t is not a
mattcr ol tlc cult ol inwardncss complaccntly turning in on itscll. My silcncc
tcars mc away lrom myscll and lcads mc to rcnouncc myscll so tlat witlin
mc tlc tlcr may comc into lcing and lc givcn lirtl. 1lis matcrnity too
lrings its own pain. 1lc claractcr ol cvcnt and advcnt in tlis nativity is ncvcr
lost siglt ol ly 1aulcr. istcning rcquircs tlat comc out ol myscll, so as to
makc room lor spcccl. t is a listcning tlat is lrccd lrom cvcrytling sticky
and clinging in its psyclological rcprcscntations, a listcning witlout gluc,
a listcning tlat is lrcc and lilcrating. 1lis spcccl docs not comc to souls
tlat arc cncumlcrcd and lull ol tlcmsclvcs. 1ruc silcncc prcsupposcs a scll-
cmptying. 1lis silcncc, ol wlosc ncccssity 1aulcr rcminds us, is ol a mystic
ordcr and docs not comc lrom asccsis or inncr disciplinc alonc.
Wlcn Malclranclc mcntions, as lc oltcn docs, tlc silcncc tlat wc lavc
to imposc on our passions and our imagination so as to lcar tlc voicc ol tlc
Word, wlicl docs not ccasc to lc prcscnt witlin us, it is dcspitc ccrtain
similaritics in tlcir lormulac a qucstion ol a movcmcnt tlat gocs in tlc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
5+
otlcr dircction lrom tlat dcscrilcd ly 1aulcr. t is a qucstion, not ol coming
out ol oncscll, lut ol rcturning into oncscll. l wc do not lcar tlc Word, tlis
is lccausc, writcs Malclranclc.
our passions continuously draw us away lrom oursclvcs, and ly tlcir
clattcr and sladows tlcy prcvcnt us lrom lcing instructcd ly is
voicc and illumincd ly is liglt . . . . Wc must tlcrclorc cntcr into
oursclvcs and draw ncarcr to im. Wc must lcscccl im, listcn to
im, and olcy im.
51

1lc Word is always spcaking witlin us, lut wc do not pay attcntion to it, wc
covcr up its voicc witl our inncr tumult.
1lis prcscncc is not ol tlc samc ordcr as tlc lirtl ol wlicl 1aulcr spokc,
and lor Malclranclc it lorms tlc lasis, in dircct dcsccnt lrom tlc D. mc//r
ol St Augustinc, ol tlc vcry possilility ol luman knowlcdgc, lccausc wc
cannot lc our own liglt, and God alonc is tlc sun ol our minds. But lcrc,
too, silcncc is an act. tlat ol imposing a disciplinc on tlc passions and tlc
imagination, to lc surc, lut also, and morc positivcly, tlat ol 4./r/n liglt.
l tlis silcncc wcrc not onc ol dcsirc, it would ncvcr lcad us to lcar and
undcrstand. Sucl is tlc mcaning ol tlis admirallc lormula, oltcn rcpcatcd ly
Malclranclc. '1lc attcntion ol tlc mind is tlc natural praycr wlicl wc makc
to tlc inncr 1rutl, so tlat it may disclosc itscll to us.`
52
By lccoming dcsirc,
silcncc calls and qucstions tlc Word, it lcads to a dialoguc and so docs not
rcmain purc silcncc, cxccpt wlcn wc arc listcning to tlc rcplics in wlicl
wc rcccivcd liglt in proportion to our dcsirc, il wc truly dcsirc it and il it is
indccd tlc liglt tlat wc dcsirc. 1lis inncr dialoguc, vilrant witl silcncc, is
also tlat to wlicl all tlc dialogucs lctwccn mcn must, lor Malclranclc, lc
lcd lack, lor it is in tlis dialoguc alonc tlat wc can lc assurcd, as St Augustinc
slowcd, ol tlc trutl or lalsity ol wlat wc lavc lcard lrom tlc moutls ol
otlcr mcn. vcrytling lcads lack to tlis listcning /n. /r.(//u r.r|rum.
n tlc samc pcriod as Malclranclc, and also taking lis inspiration lrom
tlc Augustinian tradition, cnclon rclcrs to tlis silcncc ol listcning as laving
a loving dimcnsion. t is no longcr a qucstion ol laying tlc loundations lor a
tlcory ol knowlcdgc, lut ol tlc lilc ol gracc. 'God,` writcs cnclon,
ncvcr ccascs to spcak, lut tlc noisc ol crcaturcs witlout and ol our
passions witlin dcalcns us and prcvcnts us lrom lcaring it. Wc must
makc cvcry crcaturc stop talking, wc must stop talking oursclvcs,
il wc arc to listcn, in tlis dccp silcncc ol tlc wlolc soul, to tlis
incllallc voicc ol tlc lridcgroom. Wc must listcn most carclully,
lor it is a gcntlc, dclicatc voicc, wlicl is lcard only ly tlosc wlo no
1 SF1A1Y SNC
55
longcr lcar anytling clsc. l, low rarc it is tlat tlc soul lalls silcnt
sulncicntly to allow God to spcak.
5S

1lis loving silcncc rcdiscovcrs tlc possililitics ol loss and scll-alandonmcnt
tlat 1aulcr rclcrrcd to. n a languagc closc to tlat ol Malclranclc, cnclon,
nonctlclcss, is spcaking ol mysticism. A littlc latcr on in tlc samc slort work,
lc rcmarks tlat 'wlcn oncc wc lavc imposcd silcncc on cvcrytling insidc us
so as to listcn to God,` tlcn 'all tlat wc lad lccn lolding onto cscapcs, and
wc carc no morc alout it, wc lavc notling lclt ol our own, wc lavc lost
cvcrytling, wc lavc lost oursclvcs`.
5+
1lc silcncc wlicl cnallcs us to lcar tlc lridcgroom`s voicc is a silcncc
tlat dccpcns, tlat dcsircs to grow and lurn morc clcarly, so tlat it can listcn
lcttcr. 1lc voicc tlat is lorn lrom tlc silcncc calls to tlc silcncc. 'Spcak, ol
my lridcgroom, and lct nonc otlcr tlan you darc to spcak! Bc silcnt, ol
my soul, spcak, ol lovc.`
55
ur spcccl lccomcs impaticnt at itscll, so grcat
is tlc wciglt ol tlc silcncc it lcars. l coursc, tlc statcmcnt 'God spcaks
ccasclcssly witlin us`,
56
cvcn il wc do not listcn to lim (wlicl is tlc rcason
wly it is cnougl to stop spcaking so as to lcar lim straigltaway), is not
witlout its dilncultics. 1lcrc is a plcnomcnological dilnculty, lor low can
asscrt tlat God spcaks witlin my lcart il notling ol tlis spcccl is lcard or
madc manilcst` 1lcrc is a tlcological dilnculty, lor tlc spcccl ol God always
lorms an act, and il wc posit an act ol God tlat is totally inclncacious, arc wc
still talking alout God` But tlc trutl is tlat addrcssing tlcsc oljcctions to
cnclon would lc quitc unlair.
or, il, lor cnclon, God spcaks cvcn 'in impcnitcnt sinncrs` lut, 'dcalcncd
ly tlc noisc ol tlc world and ol tlcir passions, (tlcy) cannot lcar it`, and
'lis spcccl is a mcrc lallc to tlcm`,
57
lc spcaks witlin cacl man, and cnclon
dcvclops a dillcrcntiatcd account ol tlis. 1lis spcccl always alrcady rcaclcs
us, wc lcar it cvcn olscurcly, and tlc noisc tlat wc may makc to covcr it ovcr
is tlc cvasivc rcply wc givc to it. t is only lccausc God las cncountcrcd us,
las comc to mcct us, tlat wc can turn away lrom lim, or try to turn away
lrom lim, and lorgct lim. n anotlcr lcvcl, tlc insistcncc on tlc silcncc
ol tlc soul, wlicl makcs lim lcar tlc words ol God, must not lcad to a
coarsc and, as it wcrc, mcclanical rcprcscntation. t is not a qucstion ol a
pullic spcakcr waiting lor tlc audicncc to quictcn down lclorc addrcssing
tlcm. vcn silcncc las its listory, and las to maturc il it is to lccomc a lorm
ol listcning. cnclon notcs tlis. 'Wc arc rcady to lall silcnt, to gatlcr our
tlouglts mcditativcly . . ., lut wc do not yct darc to risk listcning to tlc inncr
voicc lor tlc sacrinccs tlat God is prcparing.`
58
ndccd, tlcrc is no sucl tling as a nrst word, and tlus listcning too las
ncvcr startcd. wc lavc alrcady listcncd to cvcrytling. Wc cannot lall silcnt to
listcn unlcss wc arc alrcady in a rclationslip witl spcccl, and witl tlc spcccl
1 SF1A1Y SNC
56
tlat is alout to lc uttcrcd unlcss, tlat is, wc lavc, in wlatcvcr slapc or
lorm, alrcady listcncd to it, and it las alrcady rcaclcd us. istcning always
prcccdcs itscll. r, to spcak tlc languagc ol 1aulcr, it is not lccausc wc givc
lirtl insidc oursclvcs tlat wc discovcr tlc possilility ol a spiritual 'matcrnity`,
it is lccausc wc arc opcn to tlis possilility, and only in so lar as wc arc opcn
to it, tlat wc arc allc to takc tlc dccisions tlat will lcad to tlis gcncrativc act.
1lc silcncc tlat allows us to listcn is tlc nrst gracc, tlc initial lavour ol tlc
spcccl lor wlicl wc ycarn.
1lc samc structurc is also lound in anotlcr typc ol attcntivc silcncc, tlat
wlicl tlc Billc rclcrs to on scvcral occasions. '1lc cartl is silcnt witl drcad
wlcn God takcs lis stand to givc judgcmcnt,` says a psalm,
5
and saial
rcpcats in various lorms tlc impcrious invitation to a listcning silcncc. 'Comc
ncar and listcn, you nations, pay attcntion, you pcoplcs. ct tlc cartl and
its contcnts listcn, tlc world and its cntirc population.`
60
saial latcr writcs.
'Coasts and islands, lall silcnt lclorc mc`.
61
Wc nnd tlc samc idca in Zcclarial.
'ct all pcoplc lc silcnt lclorc Yalwcl, now tlat lc is stirring lrom lis loly
wclling!`
62
, as in allakuk. 'But Yalwcl is in lis loly 1cmplc. lct tlc
wlolc cartl lc silcnt lclorc lim.`
6S
1lcrc arc otlcr cxamplcs too, including
tlc silcncc in lcavcn, according to Fcvclation, at tlc opcning ol tlc scvcntl
scal, a silcncc ol 'alout lall an lour`.
6+
1lis Billical silcncc, according to onc
commcntator, 'dccpcns wlcn God is prcparing to makc a spcccl ol particular
importancc, allccting our salvation, it rcaclcs its pinnaclc wlcn God
announccs lis coming, wlcn man awaits lis appcarancc.`
65
1lis silcncc, wc
slould cmplasizc, is not only tlc silcncc ol man. tlc wlolc ol naturc stops
spcaking wlcn God is alout to manilcst limscll, and tlis somctimcs lappcns
in a tcrrilying way. 1lis silcncc tlat prcccdcs and accompanics a divinc
manilcstation is also lound in pagan rcligions. nc ol tlc nncst cxamplcs can
lc lound in tlc Bc/c. ol uripidcs, wlcn tlc words ol ionysus ring out,
'1lc ligl air luslcd, and along tlc lorcst glcn} tlc lcavcs lung still, you
could lcar no cry ol lcasts`.
66
crc too, as is clcarly slown ly tlc lact tlat ccrtain ol tlcsc passagcs
arc invitations to kccp silcnt, listcning comcs nrst. Naturc must alrcady lc
listcning lor God`s words il it is to stop spcaking so as lcttcr to listcn to lim.
1lis is an aspcct ol wlat sclolasticism callcd |.4/.n//c| (o.r in rclcrcncc
to tlc rclationslips lctwccn tlc crcaturc and tlc Crcator. owcvcr, il sucl
silcnccs may prcscnt a rcvcrcntial dimcnsion, wlicl cxtcnds lrom lcar to
adoration, wc must distinguisl, plcnomcnologically spcaking, lctwccn tlc
silcncc ol listcning and tlc silcncc ol adoration. Attcntivc listcning is not in
itscll onc ol adoration, it is not ncccssarily tlc Singlc and Alsolutc nc tlat
it adorcs, and its silcncc may prcparc it lor adoration witlout alrcady lcing
involvcd in it. n tlc otlcr land, tlc silcncc ol adoration may dissociatc itscll
1 SF1A1Y SNC
57
lrom all listcning, as wlat it adorcs may in lact not lc a Spcccl, cvcn a silcnt
onc, as is tlc casc lor wlat arc callcd tlc Ncoplatonic plilosoplics.
Fcrsian mysticism, witl tlc dignity claractcristic ol it, las also spokcn ol
tlis lilcrating virtuc ol silcncc in tlc lacc ol spcccl. 1lus arid-od din Attar
writcs,
Bccausc it is silcnt tlc lalcon pcrclcs on tlc king`s wrist
lccausc it sings tlc nigltingalc rcmains in tlc cagc
l your soul accustoms itscll to kccping silcnt
cvcry atom will spcak to you
\ntil wlcn will you continuc to murmur likc tlc spring
il you lall silcnt you will lccomc an occan
Wlocvcr in tlis occan sccks tlc pcarl
must in ordcr to divc down lold lis lrcatl.`
67

1lis lcld lrcatl is tlat ol an activc silcncc, wlicl is convcrtcd into
spcccl.
nc dccisivc qucstion rcmains. low do tlcsc multiplc silcnccs,
intcrdcpcndcnt as tlcy arc witl tlc divcrsc possililitics ol cxistcncc, rclatc
to spcccl` s tlcir attcntion a purc alstcntion, rcmaining outsidc tlat to
wlicl it is attcntivc` ocs tlc silcncc ol tlis listcning rcally lorm an alscncc
ol spcccl, at lcast ol my spcccl` Mcrlcau-Fonty wrotc, '1lcrc is no silcncc
tlat is purc attcntion and tlat, laving lcgun nolly, rcmains cqual to itscll,`
68

ly wlicl lc mcant tlc impossilility ol cvading dialoguc and tlc altcration
it causcs witlin mc. Wc lavc always alrcady climlcd into tlc ark ol spcccl,
and wc cannot cvadc it. vcn silcncc cxplains itscll, and cnds up talking alout
itscll. All listcning lclongs to spcccl, lrom lcginning to cnd. vcn silcntly
listcning to silcncc is not an cxccption to tlis lclonging.
1o listcn in silcncc to silcncc, witl all my silcncc, sucl indccd is tlc prclacc
to cvcry spcccl tlat is not mcrc clattcr, a prclacc wlicl is tlus always lcgun
again. l wc did not listcn to silcncc in silcncc, wlat would wc lavc to say
tlat las not alrcady lccn said a tlousand timcs ovcr` Mcrlcau-Fonty limscll
agrccs.
Wc slould considcr spcccl lclorc it las lccn pronounccd, against
tlc ground ol tlc silcncc wlicl prcccdcs it, wlicl ncvcr ccascs to
accompany it, and witlout wlicl it would say notling.
6

Witlout tlis silcnt gcstation ol spcccl, wc would lavc to contcnt oursclvcs
witl 'tlc cstallislcd languagc`, rcitcratc its insignincant rumour, tlc all-
pcrvasivc tittlc-tattlc, wlicl 'in cllcct is a way ol silcncing mc`.
70
But il tlc
silcncc ly wlicl listcn to silcncc did not condcmn mc to spcccl, did not
1 SF1A1Y SNC
58
wound mc witl a lurdcn ol spcccl, il it rcmaincd a pcrmancnt mutcncss,
would ccasc to listcn, and would lccomc cmpty, cvcn il tlis cmptincss wcrc
to lc tlouglt ol as ccstatic. t is witl grcat rigour tlat Froclus, in allusion to
ccrtain cxprcssions ol tlc mystic silcncc, says tlat tlc nc, tlc nrst principlc,
is .(.|./nc /|, lcyond silcncc.
71
nc wlo transccnds, or claims to transccnd,
spcccl, also transccnds tlc silcncc tlat suspcnds spcccl.
As lor listcning to tlc spcccl ol tlc otlcr, wlatcvcr its naturc may lc,
it allows itscll to lc said, it allows itscll to lc inlalitcd and pcnctratcd ly
spcccl, it is, in its silcncc, dcnscly rcsonant witl words. crc too, Mcrlcau-
Fonty las dcscrilcd it wcll. 'Wlcn am listcning . . ., tlc convcrsation
pronounccs itscll witlin mc. t summons mc and grips mc, it cnvclops and
inlalits mc to tlc point tlat cannot tcll wlat comcs lrom mc, and wlat
lrom it`.
72
And clscwlcrc, lc adds.
am not activc only wlcn spcaking, ratlcr, prcccdc my tlouglt
in tlc listcncr. am not passivc wlcn am listcning, ratlcr, spcak
according to . . . wlat tlc otlcr is saying. Spcaking is not just my
own initiativc, listcning is not sulmitting to tlc initiativc ol tlc
otlcr.
7S

' lcar myscll in lim, wlilc lc spcaks in mc. crc it is tlc samc tling / (.c|
/ and / |. (|.n /.'
7+

1lis cloqucnt dcscription ol tlc activity ol passivity and tlc passivity ol
activity in tlc cxclangc ol spcccl doultlcss rcquircs us, givcn tlc cquivocal
naturc ol its play ol mirrors, to slow wlat is inadcquatc in tlcsc conccpts,
and tlc cxtcnt to wlicl tlcy still covcr ovcr witl tlcir constructions tlc
plcnomcna tlcy aim to lay larc.
1lc still largcly unknown and original mcditation ol cidcggcr on spcccl
gocs lurtlcr and dccpcr. Bcyond tlc altcrnation and tlc intcrlacing, witlin
dialoguc, ol spcaking and listcning, cidcggcr sccs in spcaking itscll an act ol
listcning, and lclorc all clsc an act ol listcning. Frior to all acts ol slowing tlat
comc alout tlrougl us, tlcrc is a 'lctting oncscll lc slown (S//:./.n|c.n)`.
Bclorc all acts ol saying pcrlormcd ly our voicc, tlcrc is a 'lctting oncscll lc
said (S//c.n|c.n)`,
75
wlicl is tlc vcry listcning ol spcccl. 1o lct oncscll lc
said docs not comc lrom tlc mctaplysical opposition ol activity and passivity,
cvcn il it is madc dialcctical, as it las lccn lor tlc past two ccnturics. Not only
docs tlis silcncc ol listcning lclong to spcccl, lut it is tlc vcry origin, tlc
pcrpctual origin, ol our spcccl. Sucl considcrations lcad, as il spontancously,
to anotlcr dimcnsion ol silcncc, to cloqucnt silcncc, tlc silcncc tlat spcaks
and rcplics.
1 SF1A1Y SNC
5
Colloquia of silcncc
n all ordcrs ol cxistcncc, wc comc across cloqucnt silcnccs. cidcggcr appcals
to tlcm so as to distinguisl lctwccn spcaking and saying, S(r./.n and
Sc.n. 'Somconc may spcak, cndlcssly, and it all mcans notling. n tlc otlcr
land, imaginc somconc kccping silcnt. lc docs not spcak and in not spcaking
lc may lc allc to say many tlings.`
76
Witl tlc lorcclulncss claractcristic ol
lim, Fascal, in lis D/ur. n //. Pc/n ( Lr., rcmarkcd. 'n lovc, a silcncc
is wortl morc tlan languagc. t is a good tling to lc dumlstruck, tlcrc is
an cloqucncc ol silcncc wlicl pcnctratcs dccpcr tlan languagc cvcr could.`
77

Nonctlclcss, tlcsc cloqucnt silcnccs arc multiplc and divcrsc. Silcncc may
mcan tlat cloosc to lc silcnt wlcn could spcak. not rcplying to a qucstion
tlat is addrcsscd to mc can slow tlat considcr it null and void, indcccnt or
ollcnsivc, ctc. Silcncc can also say, ly slowing low lavc lccn dumlstruck,
as in tlc cxamplc ol Fascal. am silcnt lccausc my conlusion dcprivcs mc ol
tlc possilility ol spcaking. And not lcing allc to spcak, go on saying.
1o tlis initial contrast lctwccn tlc voluntary and tlc involuntary can lc
addcd anotlcr. silcncc may lc cloqucnt simply lccausc ol its rclationslip witl
tlc spcccl tlat it suspcnds or intcrrupts, as in tlc ngurc callcd c(/(./. 1lc
monastic vow ol silcncc docs not dcstroy or alandon spcccl, it constitutcs
its asccsis or purincation. 1o a plilosoplical cyc, tlc words a tlinkcr docs
not uttcr arc just as signincant as tlosc lc docs. Wc can also rcad lis silcnccs.
Mcrlcau-Fonty did not mcrcly invitc us to lcar spcccl against tlc lackground
ol silcncc, lc addcd tlat 'wc slould lc scnsitivc to tlc tlrcad ol silcncc lrom
wlicl tlc tissuc ol spcccl is wovcn`.
78
1lcy arc indccd prcscnt in it, tlcy
pcrlorm tlcir own propcr duty, lar lrom constituting a mcrc privation. n
tlis domain, it is possillc to construct a rlctoric ol silcncc, or a linguistic
dcscription ol all tlc ways in wlicl to kccp silcnt alout somctling may lc a
way ol signilying it, in cllipsis, irony or prcsupposition.
7
Silcncc las yct anotlcr cloqucncc wlcn tlc intcrruption ol spcccl makcs
otlcr dimcnsions ol cxclangc possillc. Silcncc quivcrs witl mcaning wlcn
it opcns up a ncw dircct partncrslip. t is not cnougl tlat tlc voicc lc
suspcndcd lor tlc gilt to lail to rcacl its dcstination. 1lc cloqucncc ol silcncc
is tlcn a slarcd cloqucncc. t is a clcar silcncc, a slarcd silcncc. Somconc wlo
is incapallc ol kccping silcnt witl somconc will ncvcr lc capallc ol truly
spcaking to lim citlcr. 1lcrc arc silcnccs as nakcd as tlc voicc. Karl {aspcrs
givcs a good dcscription ol sucl momcnts.
A dccp silcncc, wlicl lcavcs notling in tlc sladc, a /|.n. wlicl is,
so to spcak, r.r.c|.4, lcads, ly way ol a tacit undcrstanding (allcit
onc wlicl u|4 cxprcss itscll) to a way ol lcing lor cacl otlcr o///
/rcn.n4 //. Fcscrvc in rcciprocal ccrtainty, tlc gazc and tlc land
in placc ol spcccl arc wlat is lclt in tlc momcnts ol pcrlcction ol
1 SF1A1Y SNC
60
cxistcntial communication. . . . 1o kccp silcncc tlcn is rcally to
spcak.
80

And lc adds. 'uman lcings wlo do not cxpcricncc communication in
silcncc arc incapallc ol rcsolutc communication.` A common silcncc ol tlis
kind also lorms tlc pcrpctual rcsourcc ol dialoguc and tlc prollcrcd words ol
spcccl. 1lis silcncc, ol coursc, listcns, lut it also spcaks and rcplics, it docs
not only pay attcntion, it gocs out to mcct tlc otlcr.
t is mystic tlcology tlat las tlc most cncrgctically cxplorcd tlc intimacy
ol tlcsc spcaking silcnccs or ol tlis silcnt spcccl. And it is St ranois dc Salcs
wlo providcd tlc cxprcssion tlat scrvcs as a titlc lor tlis scction, 'colloquia ol
silcncc`. or lc writcs, in lis Tr.c//. n //. Lr. ( G4.
ovc docs not spcak tlrougl languagc alonc, lut tlrougl tlc cycs,
tlc sigls and tlc cxprcssions on onc`s lacc, ycs, cvcn silcncc and
taciturnity rcprcscnt spcccl. . . . 1o lc surc, in mystical tlcology tlc
principal cxcrcisc is spcaking to God and lcaring God spcak in tlc
dcptls ol our lcarts, and as tlis talk is pcrlormcd ly tlc most sccrct
aspirations and inspirations, wc call it a colloquy ol silcncc. cycs
spcak to cycs and lcar to lcart, and no onc lcars wlat is said apart
lrom tlc sacrcd lovcrs wlo arc spcaking.
81

n conlormity witl tlc possilility inauguratcd and autlorizcd ly tlc Sn
( Sn, tlc most spiritual contact is cxprcsscd and dcscrilcd ly all tlat is
most scnsual and most cslly in tlc loving cncountcr lctwccn luman lcings.
nly lovc can signily somctling lcyond itscll in tlis way. 1lis silcncc at
oncc clcar and sccrctivc ariscs lrom a mutual prcscncc, in wlicl tlosc wlo
arc silcnt givc tlcmsclvcs to cacl otlcr, lcaring tlcir gilts at tlc tip ol tlcir
intimacy, rcinlorcing and dccpcning tlis intimacy witl tlc vcry gilts tlat tlcy
cxclangc.
t is notcwortly tlat tlis silcnt cncountcr always rcmains tlouglt ol,
cxpcricnccd and dcscrilcd as an cncountcr /n (../, as taking placc only
tlrougl a spcccl liglcr tlan any uttcrancc and on its lclall. t is witl tlc
Word tlat wc cngagc in silcnt dialoguc. t is not a qucstion, as in ccrtain
possililitics ol natural mysticism, ol rcnouncing spcccl, lut ol making it
rcalizc most lully its possililitics. 1lat is also wly tlcrc is no contradiction in
spcaking and writing alout sucl silcnt cncountcrs. acl ol tlc potcntialitics
ol spcccl can larlour tlc otlcrs in itscll. tlcrwisc, spcccl could not lc tlc
ark.
n tlis samc tradition, tlat spiritual mastcr, tlc Brcton {csuit {can
Figolcuc dcscrilcs witl grcat prccision wlat lc calls 'tlc praycr ol silcncc`.
1lis is 'a simplc and rcspcctlul contcmplation ol God, a loving attcntion
1 SF1A1Y SNC
61
to tlc prcscncc ol God and a swcct rcposc ol tlc soul in God`.
82
crc is
not tlc placc to analysc in all its aspccts tlis mystical ordcal, in wlicl tlc
undcrstanding ccascs to rcason and rclatcs to God only in 'larc laitl`, and in
wlicl tlc will, witlout undcrgoing any dispcrsal, acquicsccs and conscnts
totally, lolding itscll in rcposc in a sort ol G.|c.n/.//, lut ol slowing tlc
cxtcnt to wlicl tlis silcncc is spcccl. 1lis is Figolcuc`s aim. 'No otlcr mcans
ol praying,` lc writcs.
las a closcr rclationslip to tlc grcatncss ol God, and notling is
morc appropriatc to notlingncss tlan to stand in silcncc lclorc tlc
sovcrcign Bcing. 1lc soul tlat stands tlus lclorc God, conlcsscs ly
its silcncc tlat God is innnitcly alovc all tlat can lc said or tlouglt
alout lim. n tlis lumllc posturc, and ly tlis tacit conlcssion,
it pays lim tlc most pcrlcct lomagc tlat a crcaturc can pay lim.
Witlout saying a word it says all tlat it could possilly say to lim
ly way ol praisc, gratitudc, lovc, trust, and any otlcr allcction
wlatcvcr.
8S

Sucl a silcncc gatlcrs in and ollcrs spcccl. n tlc cigltccntl ccntury, in
lis writings on praycr, Ficrrc dc Clorivicrc, anotlcr {csuit mystic, drcw
inspiration lrom tlcsc lormulations to dcscrilc wlat lc callcd 'tlc praycr ol
rccollcction, or ol simplc siglt`. in it, tlc soul stands 'ordinarily lclorc God,
lut it is an amorous silcncc, in wlicl it says cvcrytling`.
8+
n wlat conditions can tlis silcncc amount to spcccl` ts own naturc
and its intcntionality arc dccisivc. 1lcrc is no 'rcligious cxpcricncc` tlat is
not supportcd ly a tlcology, and guidcd ly it. 1lc silcncc tlat is lcrc in
qucstion is a silcncc tlat is ollcrcd, and it is ollcrcd to tlc onc God, wlo
listcns and sccs, and not to a llind, anonymous Alsolutc, lost, as it wcrc, in
its own rctrcat. 1lis silcncc docs not lccomc spcccl, spcccl tlat stands in
lor otlcr words ol spcccl, unlcss it is a nakcd appcarancc lclorc tlc Word,
a Word tlat always comcs lallway to mcct it, and wlosc gracc alonc is wlat
las madc sucl dispositions possillc in us. nly tlc divinc listcning makcs ol
tlis silcncc, ly acquicscing to it, a spcccl wlicl 'says cvcrytling`. n wlat
scnsc, nnally, docs it say 'cvcrytling`` 1lis claractcr ol plcnitudc lound in
tlc silcncc tlat spcaks is intcrdcpcndcnt on tlc unincation and gatlcring in
ol tlc soul tlat comcs to ollcr itscll to tlc ord. But tlis unincation is not
tlc concluding momcnt ol an ascctic mctlod, wlicl is mctlodically lollowcd
and ol wlicl wc could lccl proud. nly a spcccl woundcd ly tlc innnitc can
givc itscll in tlis way. n giving itscll ly silcncc, it docs not givc uniqucly, or
cvcn nrst and lorcmost, any pcrlcction it miglt lay claim to, lut cvcrytling
tlat in its voicc las rcmaincd unnnislcd, unnnislallc, cvcrytling tlat in it
las lccn lurncd. t also givcs all tlat ly wlicl and in wlicl it las not lccn
1 SF1A1Y SNC
62
allc to givc, in otlcr words tlc vcry lact ol its own .|(-giving. 1lis spcccl
comcs to tlc lridcgroom in tlc way slc can, and not in tlc way slc would
likc to lavc comc, and in tlis rcspcct slc comcs to lim lovingly, knowing tlat
it is lis gazc tlat will makc lcr lcautilul, and not lcr own allurc.
A comparison witl anotlcr spcaking silcncc may cnallc us to dcscrilc
tlcsc lcaturcs morc prcciscly. n onc ol lis most powcrlul dcscriptions ol tlc
union ol tlc soul witl tlc nc, Flotinus rclcrs to tlc soul tlat las 'prcparcd
ly making itscll as lcautilul as possillc` and, lorgctting itscll in tlis amorous
cncountcr,
docs not still pcrccivc its lody, tlat it is in it, and docs not spcak
ol itscll as anytling clsc (sc. tlc nc), not man, or living tling, or
lcing, or all`. 1lc soul cntcrs into tlc silcncc ol its own cllaccmcnt.
'Wlat it spcaks, tlcn, is tlat, and it spcaks it altcrwards, and spcaks it
in silcncc (/J(Jc |../), and in its lappincss is not clcatcd in tlinking
tlat it is lappy.
85

or wlom docs tlis silcncc spcak` t las nonc ol tlc claractcr ol a spcccl
addrcsscd to tlc nc wlo miglt lc allc to listcn to it. t is not a 'colloquy
ol silcncc`, lor it is not a colloquy at all. 1lc nc is witlout spcccl, it cannot
cntcr into spcccl. Wlat tlc soul says silcntly is said lor tlc soul alonc, just
as latcr it will spcak ol it, in words, to otlcr pcoplc. tlc indulitallc joy ol
laving rcaclcd tlc goal ol its qucst. 1lc spcaking silcncc ol its plcnitudc
is a monologuc. t las notling in common witl tlc silcncc ol Clristian
mysticism, witl tlc silcncc tlat, in a lcttcr, {can-Ficrrc dc Caussadc dcscrilcd
to tlc woman lc was writing to a silcncc in wlicl it was a qucstion ol tlat
intcriority
in wlicl tlc cclcstial Bridcgroom awaits you and wlcrc lc las luilt
lor limscll a liddcn dwclling-placc, a pcacclul rctrcat, wlcrc tlc
ovcr and lis lclovcd can spcak lcart to lcart, in tlc dccpcst and
most loving silcncc, witlout tlc noisc ol words or tlc conlusion ol
ccting tlouglts.
86
But tlis silcncc docs not spring lrom joy or plcnitudc alonc. t can also lc,
as it wcrc, tlc nnal possilility ol praycr in timcs ol spiritual tcsting, sucl as
pcriods ol drouglt and niglts ol tlc soul tlc ollcring tlat onc can makc
wlcn onc is dcprivcd ol cvcrytling, and cvcn ol oncscll. {can-Ficrrc dc
Caussadc invitcs us to makc tlis ollcring in anotlcr ol lis lcttcrs.
1lc acts ol your scll-alandonmcnt and sulmission (sc. to God)
arc cxccllcnt, lut il tlcy arc lacking in tlc timc ol impotcncc and
1 SF1A1Y SNC
6S
stupclaction, tlcrc is somctling yct morc pcrlcct, wlicl is prcciscly
to rcmain in tlis inncr silcncc ol rcspcct, adoration and sulmission
ol wlicl lavc spokcn to you so lrcqucntly, a silcncc wlicl says
morc to God tlan all your most lormal acts, and tlis witlout any
rcturn ol complaccncy or any pcrccptillc consolation.
87

1lis is, according to Caussadc, tlc 'autlcntic mystical dcatl`, 'tlat sccond
dcatl wlicl is tlc dcatl to spiritual consolations`,
88
a dcatl lrouglt alout ly
God limscll, wlicl lorms tlc condition lor cntcring into a lilc ol gracc tlat
is morc intimatc and morc prolound, in wlicl wc will lc unitcd witl God
limscll and not witl lis gilts as a constant rclrain ol tlc ligl tradition ol
Clristian mysticism puts it.
1lis praycr ol silcncc may appcar as tlc summit ol mystic lilc. 1lis is
tlc casc lor ranois Guillorc, wlo concludcs lis Prr. ( S(/r//uc| L/(. /n
Ar4cn. o/// //. D/((.r.n/ S/c/. ( //. Su| witl considcrations On S/|.n.
cn4 n //. Inn.r S|..(, wlicl lollow tlosc On //. L ( A//n. Wlat docs
tlis silcncc consist ol` t is 'a ccrtain gcncral calm, sprcad tlrouglout all
tlc lacultics, wlicl comcs lrom tlc ccssation ol tlc opcrations ol tlc soul`,
wlctlcr tlis ccssation comcs lrom tlc trutl, wlicl alsorls us, or lrom tlc
linding ol tlc lacultics, wlicl makcs its prcscncc lclt 'ly a kind ol clains,
wlicl sccm as it wcrc, to garrottc it, and indccd rcndcr it powcrlcss, so it
is now stirrcd ly no opcration`.
8
t is tlat mystical passivity in wlicl God
limscll acts in tlc soul so as to carry it lurtlcr and dccpcr tlan it could do ol
itscll. Sucl a unitivc silcncc could sccm to lc lcyond spcccl, likc tlc silcncc
ol cxccss tlat will lc dcscrilcd in tlc ncxt paragrapl. But ranois Guillorc
gocs on to prcscnt it as an cloqucnt silcncc.
urtlcrmorc, in tlis silcncc, spcak not so mucl ol coming to an
undcrstanding witl God, lut lct your lcart spcak, tlc lcss it docs so,
tlc lcttcr it spcaks, and wlcn it docs not know wlat it las donc, it
las donc somctling cvcn lcttcr, lor it is tlc oly Spirit wlo must
makc it cry and groan, and not you yourscll.
0

1lis silcncc may lccomc tlat spontancous spcccl wlicl givcs itscll to sucl
an cxtcnt tlat it docs not rcturn to itscll or comc lack to itscll lut lorgcts
itscll, lorgcts itscll ly giving itscll, givcs itscll ly lorgctting itscll.
1lc cxtrcmity ol tlis praycr ol silcncc would consist in God`s spcccl itscll
pcnctrating us tlrougl and tlrougl, dwclling in tlis silcncc to spcak tlcrc
in our placc and cngagc in dialoguc in us witl itscll. 1aulcr prcscnts tlis
possilility in tlcsc words.
1 SF1A1Y SNC
6+
t is to praisc God in a way innnitcly supcrior to tlc two otlcr
dcgrccs (i.c. tlosc lc las just dcscrilcd) wlcn, in lull awarcncss ol
tlc incomprclcnsillc dignity ol God, all particular words and modcs
disappcar ol tlcmsclvcs, to lct praisc losc itscll, lall down, plungc
and mclt in God, so tlat c must praisc imscll and givc tlanks
to imscll. l somconc rcally plungcs into tlis alyss, it nccd not lc
lcarcd tlat God will cvcr lct lim pcrisl.
1

t must lowcvcr lc witl tlc musicality ol ur silcncc, and taking
rcsponsilility lor it, tlat God tlus praiscs limscll. tlcrwisc it would mcan
tlc dissolution, and not tlc transnguration, ol lis crcaturc, and wc would
no longcr lc talking alout a Clristian mysticism. 1lc praycr ol silcncc must
not takc us lack to a solitary God lrom lclorc tlc crcation ol tlc world nor
rclcasc us, cvcn in cxaltcd tcrms, lrom tlc irrcplaccallc rcsponsilility ol our
voicc and our silcncc.
1lc purc ngurc ol lizalctl ol tlc 1rinity mcditatcd on tlcsc tlings to
good cllcct. 1aking up tlc comparison alrcady dcar to patristic tlcology
lctwccn tlc soul and a musical instrumcnt, slc clcarly lrings out tlc
musicality ol tlc praycrlul silcncc. 'Fraisc ol glory is a soul ol silcncc wlicl
is likc a lyrc lcncatl tlc mystcrious toucl ol tlc oly Spirit, so tlat c
may makc divinc larmonics comc lortl lrom it.`
2
1lcsc sonoritics tlat
God draws lrom us, and cvcn lrom our sullcrings wlcn tlcy arc ollcrcd to
lim, wlicl lizalctl also vicws as onc ol tlc strings, lavc tlc timlrc ol
our singular lumanity. 1lc 'ncw song` ol wlicl tlc oly Scripturcs spcak is
sccn ly lizalctl as 'tlat ol a soul strippcd larc and dclivcrcd lrom itscll `,
in wlicl God can act witlout cncountcring olstaclcs. And witl tlis in mind
slc takcs up tlc musical analogy again. '1lis soul is lcncatl lis toucl likc a
lyrc, and all lis gilts arc likc so many strings tlat vilratc to sing day and niglt
tlc praisc ol lis glory`.`
S
1lis music and tlis song may tlcmsclvcs lc tlc
vcry music and song ol silcncc. n tlc suljcct ol adoration, lizalctl gocs
on to writc.
t is lovc cruslcd ly tlc lcauty, tlc lorcc, tlc immcnsc grandcur ol
tlc lovcd ljcct. t lalls into a kind ol laint, in a lull, dccp silcncc,
tlat silcncc ol wlicl avid spokc wlcn lc cxclaimcd. 'Silcncc is
your praisc`. Ycs, it is tlc nncst praisc, sincc it is tlc praisc wlicl is
ctcrnally lcing sung in tlc dcptls ol tlc tranquil 1rinity.
+
At tlc vcry lcart ol tlc tcrror arouscd ly tlc divinc lcauty, our
dumlloundcd statc is turncd into an ollcring, and silcncc lccomcs song. 1lis
is a transnguration tlat Angclus Silcsius las dcscrilcd many a timc, as in tlis
stanza on tlc clild {csus, on tlc Word witlout a word. '1lc lcst lymn ol
1 SF1A1Y SNC
65
praisc. Sing, sing, angcls, sing. a lundrcd tlousand tongucs would not lc
cnougl to sing wortlily tlis adorcd clild. Al! l could lc witlout tonguc
and witlout voicc! know would straigltaway sing to lim tlc vcry lcst
song.`
5
1lis song ol silcncc, in tlc Clristian ordcr ol tlings, nnds its liglcst
sonority in tlc praycr ol Mary. 1lis las lccn cxprcsscd nowlcrc lcttcr tlan
ly Bcrullc, wlo also slows low tlis praycrlul silcncc ol Mary alrcady lorms
a gilt ol lcr Son and a rcply to lim. Slc, wlo morc tlan anyonc clsc could
spcak ol lcr Son, says Bcrullc,
is in silcncc, ravislcd ly tlc silcncc ol lcr Son {csus. And it is onc ol
tlc sacrcd and divinc cllccts ol tlc silcncc ol {csus tlat it placcs tlc
most loly Motlcr ol {csus in a lilc ol silcncc, a lumllc, prolound
silcncc, adoring in a morc loly and disccrning way tlc incarnatc
wisdom tlan tlc words ol citlcr mcn or angcls can. 1lis silcncc ol
Mary is not a silcncc ol impotcnt stammcring, it is a silcncc ol liglt
and ravislmcnt, it is a morc cloqucnt silcncc, in tlc praisc ol {csus,
tlan is cloqucncc itscll.
6

or, Bcrullc continucs, tlis silcncc is a gracc, 'it is a silcncc pcrlormcd ly tlc
silcncc ol {csus, wlo imprints tlis divinc cllcct on lis Motlcr, and draws lcr
to lim in lis own silcncc.` Sucl is tlc liglcst colloquy ol silcncc tlat cvcr
took placc witl tlc Word.
Silcncc as cxccss
1lc ngurcs ol silcncc lavc rclcrrcd to so lar, lowcvcr dillcrcnt tlcy may
lc, arc all lound in a spacc in wlicl spcccl and silcncc lclong mutually to
onc anotlcr, and arc dcvotcd as il lratcrnally to onc anotlcr. Silcncc is tlc
lonour ol spcccl, and spcccl is tlc lonour ol silcncc. Wlat wc lavc lcrc
is somctling quitc dillcrcnt lrom a mcrc lormal corrclation. Witlout tlc
silcncc lrom wlicl it comcs, wlicl accompanics it and to wlicl it is at last
dclivcrcd, spcccl would losc all its dignity and lccomc an insignincant noisc
in a suicidal cmpty clattcr. Witlout tlc spcccl tlat it listcns to or tlat it calls
lor, witlout tlc spcccl tlat it kccps ly salcguarding it likc a jcwcl lox, and
witlout tlc spcccl tlat it itscll lccomcs wlcn it lcars it and lcars itscll cvcn
liglcr, silcncc would crumllc away in its own dcscrt. But all tlis still docs
not cxlaust tlc possililitics ol silcncc or tlosc ol tlc luman act ol ccasing to
spcak. ts ncgativity las not, in lact, lccn cxplorcd up until now.
1lcrc arc two main lorms ol tlis ncgativity. tlc nrst consists ol tlinking
ol silcncc as supcrior to spcccl, and supcrior prcciscly lccausc it witldraws
spcccl (or witldraws us lrom it), dcnics it and surpasscs it, tlc sccond lics,
1 SF1A1Y SNC
66
oncc tlis nrst movcmcnt las lccn accomplislcd, in tlc discovcry tlat it
makcs silcncc still rclativc to spcccl, and in tlc projcct ol ovcrcoming and
dcposing tlis silcncc as an act ol our own. 1lis mcans a scll-ovcrcoming ol
silcncc, in a sort ol vcrtigo ol ncgation. 1lc Flatonic tradition, in its multiplc
rcprcscntativcs, las mcditatcd long, lard and intcntly on tlcsc two ngurcs.
1lc nrst stcms lrom .u(/|m/c. tlis is tlc silcncc tlat rcally pays lonour to and
rcally rcspccts tlat in tlc lacc ol wlicl our words lrcak and laltcr. But tlis
silcncc, unlikc tlc prcccding ngurc, is no longcr prcscntcd as a lorm ol spcccl
or as somctling standing in lor it it is no longcr an cloqucnt silcncc.
t is in tlis scnsc tlat St 1lomas Aquinas, commcnting on Fscudo-
ionysius tlc Arcopagitc, writcs. 'Wlat is liddcn wc vcncratc ly alstaining
lrom scrutinizing it, and wlat is incllallc ly kccping silcnt alout it ((.r /
u4 .c /|.mu).`
7
Angclus Silcsius, in turn, rcmarks. 'I/ / //ru/ /|.n. //c/
n. /nur G4. 1lc loly majcsty (il you wisl to pay lim lonour) is in tlc
liglcst dcgrcc lonourcd ly loly silcncc (m// /./|.m S//||./o./.n).`
8
l tlc origin is silcncc, it may lc ly silcncc, ly tlc silcncc witlin us, tlat
wc may rcacl it and vcncratc it. At tlc lcginning ol lis T/.|; ( P|c/,
Froclus is tlus allc to cxtcnd to silcncc, in a way tlat at nrst may sccm
surprising and disconccrting, tlc ancicnt Grcck principlc wlicl statcs tlat it
is tlrougl tlc similar tlat tlc similar is known. t is scnsation tlat knows tlc
scnsillc, discursivity tlc discursivc . . . 'so tlat tlc most unical naturc must
lc known ly T/. On., and tlc incllallc ly tlat wlicl is incllallc (/J/ crr|/J/
/ crr|/n)`.

t is tlc transccndcnt in us tlat knows tlc transccndcnt. vcn

radical ncgativity cannot prcvcnt a knowlcdgc ol somctling cqual in naturc.
So it is tlat in Socratcs` silcncc vis-a-vis tlc young Alciliadcs, Froclus sccs an
imagc ol tlc divinc silcncc.
or tlc nrst rclationslip ol man to man is to spcak to lim, so
tlc lailurc to lavc cvcn tlis communication witl tlc oljcct ol lis
provision rcvcals lim as complctcly transccndcnt and unrclatcd to
lis inlcrior. So at tlc samc timc lc is lotl prcscnt to lim and not
prcscnt, lc lotl lovcs and rcmains dctaclcd (c|/./).
100
1lcsc paradoxical, not to say oxymoronic sclcmas, ol alscnt prcscncc and
non-rclativc lovc arc lowcvcr still inadcquatc as lar as Froclus is conccrncd.
or wlat claractcrizcs tlc ncgativc conccpt ol tlc principlc in tlc Flatonic
tradition is not simply a mattcr ol positing tlat ncgations arc supcrior to
alnrmations, nor ol slowing tlat onc cannot say ol tlc principlc wlat it
is, lut only wlat it is not. Morc powcrlully, it is also a mattcr ol surpassing
tlc ncgations tlcmsclvcs. Altcr writing tlat, wlcn it comcs to tlc nc, it is
'propcr to alidc in ncgations`, Froclus adds tlat wc slould 'cxcmpt lim lrom
tlc ncgations also`. 'il no discoursc lclongs to it, it is cvidcnt tlat ncitlcr docs
1 SF1A1Y SNC
67
ncgation pcrtain to it.`
101
vcn apoplasis must lc surpasscd. So il our silcncc
lorms tlc goal tlat is rcaclcd ly tlc ncgations, wc must go lcyond tlc silcncc
itscll. 1lc nc is 'morc incllallc tlan all silcncc` ((c| /| crr|//.rn)`.
102
As
Wcrncr Bcicrwaltcs says, in lis magistcrial work on Froclus.
l tlc nc wcrc tlouglt only as silcncc, it would also lc ncccssary,
in tlc silcncc ol tlc origin as ncgation ol spcccl, to tlink at onc and
tlc samc timc tlc positivc scnsc ol spcccl. But tlis scnsc is alolislcd
ly tlc ncgation ol ncgation in tlc powcr ol tlat wlicl lics lcyond
spcccl and lcyond silcncc, a powcr wlicl lounds lotl spcccl and
silcncc.
10S
n a trcatisc ol wlicl wc posscss only tlc atin translation, Froclus
dcscrilcs in tlc lollowing tcrms tlc placc, or tlc non-placc, ol tlc soul tlat
las gonc lcyond tlouglt itscll.
aving rcaclcd supcrintcllcction, tlc soul no longcr knows itscll
or anytling ol tlat wlicl it oncc kncw, it cnjoys tlc pcacc tlat is
procurcd ly its proximity to tlc nc, scalcd oll lrom knowlcdgc,
laving lallcn mutc, madc silcncc witl an inncr silcncc (mu/c (c/c ./
/|.n /n/r/n. /|.n//). And low indccd could it lc unitcd witl tlc
most incllallc ol all otlcr tlan imposing silcncc on all usclcss spcccl
witlin itscll` ct lcr tlcn lc onc so as to scc tlc nc, and cvcn
lcttcr so as not to scc tlc nc.
10+

or il tlc soul could scc tlc nc, it would not yct lc tlc nc. 1lcsc striking
lincs could nonctlclcss lcad us into crror and inducc us to lclicvc tlat our
silcncc constitutcs a locus ol coincidcncc witl tlc silcncc ol tlc principlc, as
in tlc prcccding ngurcs ol silcncc.
But tlcy stcm lrom wlat mmanucl cvinas callcd 'diaclrony`. wlat
claractcrizcs tlis ordcal is tlat no onc is cvcr or las cvcr lccn contcmporary
witl it. Wc always spcak ol it clscwlcrc and lclatcdly. or tlc soul, lcrc, is
unitcd to tlc principlc only ly cxcccding itscll and surpassing itscll, cvcn its
silcncc is outsidc its control, and tlc soul cannot tcll itscll ol tlc action ly
wlicl it is silcnt. 1lc soul las tlus passcd lcyond silcncc in so lar as silcncc
would still lc an act ol our own in wlicl wc would coincidc witl oursclvcs. l
tlc soul docs not know itscll, it docs not know, citlcr, tlat it docs not know.
ts union witl tlc principlc cannot lc rcduccd to any mctaplysical sclcma ol
prcscncc. vcrytling lcrc is disposscssion and loss ol scll. 1lc soul 'coincidcs`
witl tlc principlc only ly no longcr coinciding witl itscll. wlat wc lavc lcrc
is a coincidcncc witlout incidcncc. And wlat is tlis coincidcncc` A non-
sccing, sccing in not sccing. 1lis cxccss was alrcady namcd ly Flotinus wlcn
1 SF1A1Y SNC
68
lc wrotc ol tlc soul unitcd to tlc principlc. 't docs not cvcn tlink tlat it
docs not tlink`,
105
a plrasc tlat was in tlc past corrcctcd ly cditors wlo did
not undcrstand its rigorous audacity.
All tlcsc possililitics wcrc to lc slarpcncd to tlc point ol vcrtigo
vcrtigo in tlc lacc ol tlc impossillc tlat rcquircs tlcsc vcry possililitics
ly tlc man wlo was doultlcss tlc grcatcst 'dcconstructor` in tlc listory
ol plilosoply, St {oln ol amascus. 1lat wlolc strcnuous cllort ol spcccl,
tlat wlolc strugglc lor knowlcdgc tlat constitutcd Grcck tlouglt, nnds its
consummation and tlis is somctling wortl dwclling on in tlc adoration
ol silcncc and unknowing. r, morc rigorously, ly a silcnt and unknowing
adoration ol wlat is so lar away tlat it cannot cvcn lc adorcd, lor tlis would
mcan positing a rclation witl it and tlus makc it losc its dignity. 1lc incllallc
cannot cvcn lc said, any morc, to lc incllallc, tlc unknowallc cannot lc
said to lc unknowallc. tlcsc tcrms arc mcrcly larpoons launclcd into tlc
void, and mcrcly slow us oursclvcs, our own impotcnt cllorts to grasp tlc
ungraspallc.
At tlc pcriod wlcn rcason was convcrtcd to tlc onc God, wlo is Spcccl,
and tlcrcly startcd to listcn morc attcntivcly tlan it lad cvcr donc lclorc, St
{oln ol amascus, witl tlc gcnius claractcristic ol lim, rcnounccs tlouglt
in tlouglt. vcn tlc nc ol Flotinus or Froclus is no longcr sulncicnt lor
tlc dcsirc lor tlc alsolutc, wc must risc cvcn liglcr alovc and lcyond it,
towards wlat wc cannot namc. '1lat onc must lc lonourcd ly a pcrlcct
silcncc ((cn/.|./ /|), nrst ol all indccd ly a pcrlcct ignorancc, tlc ignorancc
wlicl considcrs all knowlcdgc to lc unwortly.`
106
1lc spcccl witlout cnd
disowns itscll and is turncd upsidc down wlcn it comcs to tlc alsolutc.
'1lc lcst wc can do is to kccp silcncc (/|u//cn c./n) as wc rcmain in tlc
unspcakallc sanctuary ol tlc soul witlout any wisl to lcavc it.`
107
But can
silcncc lc a dwclling placc` 1lc samc passagc indccd asks. 'Wlat will lc tlc
limit ol discoursc, il not a silcncc (/|) wlicl wc lavc no mcans ol lcaving
and tlc admission tlat wc know notling ol tlc tlings into tlc knowlcdgc
ol wlicl, sincc tlcy arc inacccssillc, wc arc not allowcd to cntcr``
108
Spcccl
is in its dcatl agony. 1lis silcncc in wlicl wc ouglt to dwcll is also a silcncc
wlicl wc ouglt to rcacl. And St {oln ol amascus dcscrilcs in tlc lollowing
tcrms tlc asccnt lack to tlc principlc. 'Bcginning witl tlc tlings wlicl arc
pcrlcctly sayallc and known ly tlc scnscs, wc will risc up to tlosc ol tlat
rcalm, and wc will lcad as into a port (|c//rm/um.n) tlc lirtl ol trutl, into
tlc silcncc (/J(|n) wlicl surrounds tlc nrst.`
10
owcvcr, can tlis imagc ol tlc port or tlc ancloragc, witl its implications
ol a goal rcaclcd and a slcltcr lound, lc valid wlcn it comcs to somctling
tlat immcdiatcly turns into its oppositc tlc widc opcn sca ol ignorancc`
1o lc silcnt is to rclcr to tlat alout wlicl onc is silcnt. But silcncc lor St
{oln ol amascus cannot in trutl kccp silcnt alout tlc alsolutc, lor tlis
1 SF1A1Y SNC
6
lattcr must not lc rclational. 1o posit a rclation lctwccn tlc alsolutc and us
mcans to dctcrminc it, dcnnc it, allcit ncgativcly, and tlus makc it lall lrom
its transccndcnt condition, or ratlcr its unconditioncd statc. vcn to call it
transccndcnt is still to placc it in a rclationslip to wlat it transccnds and tlus
dcny tlc vcry transccndcncc onc is claiming to alnrm. 1lis is wly wlat is
lcyond cvcrytling cannot lc tlc ord rcvcalcd ly tlc oly Scripturcs. wlat
is dcnicd lim is tlc sovcrcign lilcrty on wlicl dcpcnds any rclationslip tlat
tlc alsolutc may crcatc lctwccn wlat springs lrom it and its own scll, witlout
tlcrcly imprisoning or losing itscll in it. or St {oln ol amascus, in a word,
our silcncc is silcnt only alout oursclvcs. vcn tlc ogos ol plilosoply, lclt
to itscll, nnally calls lor its own nirvana.
But is not tlis alsolutc, wlicl can ncitlcr turn to wlat comcs lrom it, nor
act nor givc nor lovc nor spcak, tlis alsolutc witlout powcr or lrccdom, tlc
most limitcd ol all alsolutcs` s not tlis radical notlingncss, wlicl cxcccds
all tlat is luman, still an all-too-luman rcprcscntation, tlc void ol our own
spirit translormcd into an idol` 1lc sligltcst luman spcccl and tlc sligltcst
luman lovc arc liglcr and purcr, ly virtuc ol tlcir alility to givc tlcmsclvcs
lrccly and nnd a placc, tlan tlc sullocating notlingncss to wlicl Grcck
plilosoply in its nnal stagc would likc to ollcr tlcm up as a lolocaust.
1lis adoration ol silcncc, wlicl is pcrlaps surrcptitiously notling morc
tlan tlc adoration ol tlc ncgation tlat supprcsscs our spcccl and tlcrcly
also our silcncc, was to launt, allcit witl lcss spiritual grandcur tlan in
St {oln ol amascus, otlcr pcriods ol disintcgration. l/c/ /|.n//um, (.r.c/
mun4u! 1lc latrcd ol Clristianity and tlc laslion lor an oricntalism tlat
arosc in purc rcaction against it, tlcrcly madc tlc work ol ccontc dc islc
into an adoration ol dcatl tlat was accompanicd ly a lymnic appcal to
silcncc, in wlicl spcccl, discovcring its own vanity, dcposcd and unmadc
itscll cndlcssly.
Strcam tlrougl us, sparkling silcncc ol tlc skics!
clamours tlc 'ics rac` ol ccontc dc islc, wlicl cnds witl tlis paradoxical
vcrsc in wlicl dcatl lccomcs a motlcr, in wlicl to dic is to lc lorn into
notlingncss. And tlis is rcally pcrvcrsc.
And you divinc catl, into wlicl cvcrytling rcturns and vanislcs,
Wclcomc your clildrcn in your starry lrcast,
rcc us lrom timc, numlcr, and spacc,
And rcstorc to us tlc rcposc wlicl lilc disturlcd!
110
catl is tlus 'divinc`, lut so arc notlingncss and silcncc. 1lc lamous
pocm 'Midi` ('Midday`), in wlicl tlc vision ol tlc splcndour ol tlc vision ol
1 SF1A1Y SNC
70
naturc mcrcly constitutcs an opportunity lor discovcring its cmptincss and
vanity, cnds witl tlis grandiloqucnt invitation.
And rcturn witl slow stcps to tlc lowly citics,
Your lcart dippcd scvcn timcs in tlc divinc notlingncss.
111
or ccontc dc islc, tlc silcncc ol naturc is a silcncc ol dcatl, lut tlis
dcatl is alonc wlat wc slould lovc. Anotlcr pocm, 'unaccpa`, also cvokcs,
in its last linc, 'tlc divinc notlingncss`.
112
Witl lrilliant cruclty, {can-Faul
Sartrc analyscd at lcngtl tlis cult ol notlingncss and tlis rlctoric ol silcncc
in wlicl ccontc dc islc 'lcgins ly (///n wlat lc intcnds to dcny`.
11S
1lc
cxccss ol silcncc lcrc lorms tlc movcmcnt in wlicl man julilantly lays down
lis spcccl and lis lilc an act ol r.n.cn..
css vcngclul, lut no lcss idolatrous ol tlc void in tlc slapc ol lailurc, wc
nnd Karl {aspcrs, lor wlom tlis silcncc in wlicl spcccl comcs to an cnd is
tlc liglcst luman possilility. c writcs, at tlc cnd ol lis P//|(/;.
Wc cannot know wly tlc world is, pcrlaps wc can cxpcricncc it in
lailurc, lut wc cannot tlcn c; it. n tlc cmpirical condition, in tlc
lacc ol lcing, tlcrc is no longcr, givcn tlc cxtcnt ol tlc lailurc, any
morc tlouglt or spcccl. nly silcncc is possillc in tlc lacc ol tlc
silcncc ol rcality. But il spcccl trics to lrcak tlc silcncc, it will spcak
witlout saying anytling.
11+

ocs onc lavc to plilosoplizc at sucl lcngtl simply to arrivc at amlct`s
last words. '1lc rcst is silcncc`` s it wortl working tlrougl tlc ngurcs ol tlc
spirit in ordcr mcrcly to justily tlc suicidc ol tlouglt and spcccl` 1lc lact
rcmains tlat tlc cxccss ol tlcsc silcnccs alout spcccl is an cxccss tlat spcccl
alonc can say, and spcccl still lcars witncss tlcrcly to its own powcr, tlc vcry
powcr it disowns, cvcn wlcn it rcjoiccs in its own dcstruction. aving lccn
an ark, spcccl tlcn lccomcs a ralt ol tlc Mcdusa. And a ralt likc Mcdusa
tlc Gorgon, lor wlo can lcad a man, instcad ol kccping silcncc, to pcrsuadc
otlcrs //c/ tlcy ouglt to lc silcnt` 1lc worst lorm ol dcspair is tlat wlicl
nccds, il it is to continuc to cxist, to propagatc itscll.
Clristian patristic tlcology likcs rcpcating tlis adagc according to wlicl
'wlat is not assumcd is not savcd`, in otlcr words to rccall tlat in ordcr to
savc tlc luman condition in all its dimcnsions, {csus Clrist lad to takc tlcm
all upon limscll. 1o cvcry possilility ol luman spcccl tlcrc tlus corrcsponds
a possilility ol silcncc, and all tlc ways in wlicl spcccl lalls slort also lring
witl tlcm silcnccs tlat arc woundcd ly sin, wlctlcr tlcy lc silcnccs ol pridc,
latrcd, dcspair, cowardicc. l tlcrc lad not lccn in silcncc, too, somctling
to rcdccm and justily, wly slould {csus lavc dcligltcd in crossing tlrougl
1 SF1A1Y SNC
71
silcncc in all its lorms, lrom tlc silcncc ol clildlood to tlc silcncc ol dcatl
and tlc dcsccnt into lcll, ly way ol tlosc timcs wlcn lc kcpt silcnt in tlc
lacc ol ccrtain qucstions as wcll as tlosc timcs wlcn lc witldrcw in silcncc
to pray` nly Spcccl ncarnatc could rcdccm luman silcncc. ow could
cvil not attack luman spcccl, and low could spcccl lc attackcd witlout
silcncc also lcing woundcd` 1lc silcncc tlat Clristian mysticism can cxtol,
witlout doing insult to luman spcccl or cnding up adoring notlingncss, is
tlat rcsurrcctcd silcncc, tlc silcncc tlat is rcdccmcd and transngurcd ly tlc
crucincd Word. n tlis cult ol notlingncss, a cult tlat las many possililitics,
ranz Foscnzwcig saw tlc only placc in wlicl onc could 'cc lrom tlc voicc
ol tlc truc God`, lor lcrc onc is 'sccurc lrom lis voicc`. or, lc wcnt on,
tlc voicc ol tlc living God cclocs only wlcrc tlcrc is lilc, cvcn il
tlat lilc lc intoxicatcd witl gods and lostilc to God. But tlc tcrror
ol God, wlicl could not mustcr tlc couragc to lccomc lcar ol God,
ccs into tlc vacuum ol tlc non-idca, and tlcrc tlat voicc loscs itscll
in tlc void.
115
1lc silcncc ol tlc Flatonists nnds its astcr witl ionysius tlc Arcopagitc,
wlosc dccisivc listoric mission it was to rcscuc ncgativc tlcology lrom tlc
impulsc tlat was lcading it towards tlc idolatry ol notlingncss, so as to ollcr
it to tlc incarnatc Word. or wlcn lis M;//c| T/.|; namcd 'tlc darkncss
lcyond liglt ol tlc liddcn mystical silcncc (/n /u(.r(/J/n /| |ru(//mu/u
/| n(/n)`,
116
tlis was altcr an invocation to tlc oly 1rinity, in tlc
domain opcncd up ly tlc oly Scripturcs, and so as to slow in tlis darkncss
a placc in wlicl mystcrics could lc r.r.c|.4.
1lis cxccssivc silcncc illuminatcs spcccl, it makcs manilcst instcad ol
conccaling. t is no longcr tlc silcncc ol tlc Flatonists, cvcn il plilosoplically
spcaking it is truc tlat ionysius tlc Arcopagitc owcs a grcat dcal to tlcm.
St Maximus tlc Conlcssor was latcr to lorrow tlis cxprcssion in rclation to
{csus and to makc it morc spccinc, spcaking as lc did ol a 'silcncc mystcriously
liddcn and witl many and various voiccs (/|/ |ru(//mu/J/ |c/ (|u(/Jn/c/J/
/|/), litcrally a silcncc 'wlicl is to tlc liglcst dcgrcc polyplonic`.
117
1lis
silcncc givcs voicc, and it docs so gcncrously.
1lc importancc ol silcncc in Clristian mysticism cannot, lurtlcrmorc, lc
dcrivcd lrom a Flatonic tradition, sucl as tlat ol Flotinus or Froclus, lor it is
an issuc lrom tlc nrst gcncrations onwards, and morc spccincally in tlc vcry
lody ol work in wlicl tlc word 'Clristianity` makcs its nrst appcarancc,
namcly tlc cpistlcs ol St gnatius ol Antiocl, tlc tlcologian ol tlc Word and
ol silcncc in tlcir mutual intcr-rclations. And cxprcssions wlicl, takcn out
ol contcxt miglt sccm to lcad lack to tlc cquivocal cxprcssions ol natural
mysticism, sucl as tlcsc lincs ly Mmc Guyon, ' solitary pcacc wlicl wc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
72
tastc in our notlingncss`, or, ' prolound silcncc wlicl wc nnd in Notling`,
118

arc quitc dillcrcnt lrom tlcm, rclcrring as tlcy do to Spcccl, lor slc writcs
slortly altcrwards. 't is lcrc tlat wc rcccivc tlc arrows ol purc lovc} And tlat
tlc Word spcaks in tlc soul.` Ncgativc tlcology and tlc cxtolling ol silcncc
ncccssarily comc up against lotl tlcir limit and tlcir supcrscssion wlcn it
comcs to tlc rcvclation ol God and ol tlc incarnation ol tlc Word. ans \rs
von Baltlasar las slown as mucl witl lis claractcristic lorcclulncss.
11
A Clristian mysticism can only lc a mysticism ol lovc rcccivcd and
givcn, as takcs placc nrst and lorcmost in God limscll. 1lat tlis lovc is
tlc incomprclcnsillc lovc ol tlc incomprclcnsillc God going so lar as to
surrcndcr limscll on our lclall, and tlat no spcccl cxccpt lis is capallc ol
spclling out its cxccss, rcquircs a ncgativc tlcology and tlc various modcs
ol silcncc tlat go witl it. Nolody wlo docs not rigorously rccognizc God`s
radical transccndcncc can cxpcricncc any astonislmcnt or givc tlanks lor tlc
lact tlat c lccamc man. But silcncc is a way ol adoration ol God, wlo
spcaks and comcs, and not tlc oljcct ol tlat adoration. t is tlc ark ol spcccl
lor wlicl silcncc is ncccssary. 1o lcavc tlis ark would also mcan making
oncscll unsuitcd to |..(/n silcnt in tlc truc scnsc.
1lc liglcst Clristian silcncc is a loving silcncc, tlc silcncc ol union witl
God. 1lis silcncc, lor St {oln ol tlc Cross, las notling acosmic alout it.
1o lc listcning out lor God in silcncc may lcad to onc nnally lcaring tlc
truc song ol tlc cartl. 1lis is wlat lappcns in wlat tlc 'Spiritual Canticlc`
calls 'silcnt music`, mu/c c||c4c. crc, tlc soul is raiscd to a ligl dcgrcc ol
contcmplation. 'n tlis rcposc and tlis silcncc ol tlc alovcmcntioncd niglt`,
writcs St {oln ol tlc Cross,
and in tlis knowlcdgc ol tlc divinc liglt, tlc soul sccs an admirallc
nttingncss and disposition in tlc Wisdom ol God in tlc dillcrcnccs
in all lis crcaturcs and all lis works, sccing all ol tlcm and cacl ol
tlcm cndowcd witl a ccrtain corrcspondcncc to God, in tlat cacl
in its own manncr makcs pullic wlat God is in it. So tlat tlis sccms
to tlc soul a vcry cxquisitc musical larmony wlicl surpasscs all tlc
conccrts and mclodics in tlc world. 1lc soul calls tlis music /|.n/
lccausc . . . it is a calm and tranquil undcrstanding, witlout any
noisc ol voiccs, and tlus onc cnjoys in it tlc swcctncss ol tlc music
and tlc quictncss ol silcncc. And tlc soul says tlat its lclovcd is tlis
/|.n/ mu/, lccausc in lim is known and tastcd tlis larmony ol
spiritual music.
120

Bclorc tlc 'unlcard mclodics ol Kcats`, in lis 'dc on a Grccian \rn`, swcctcr
tlan tlosc onc lcars, it is lcrc tlc wlolc world tlat sings God and sings in
God. Sccing and lcaring arc intcrlaccd, as in cvcrytling tlat is luman, lor
1 SF1A1Y SNC
7S
only a crcaturc tlat can scc can also listcn, and only a crcaturc tlat can listcn
can also scc. 1lcy slould not lc contrastcd, as il onc wcrc passing lrom onc
ordcr to anotlcr. As lor St Augustinc, cacl tling lcrc las its 'voicc`,
121
and
tlis voicc is visillc, ollcrs itscll to tlc gazc. it is notling otlcr tlan its lcauty,
its own potcntial lor manilcstation.
But tlis voicc, intimatc and singular, docs not sing itscll, it sings wlat is
cvcn morc intimatc tlan itscll, 'tlat wlicl God is witlin it`. 1lc voicc ol
tlings rclcrs to tlcir Crcator, it givcs tlanks. ow could tlis song lail to lc
cuclaristic` or wlat is morc lcautilul tlan 'all tlc mclodics in tlc world` is
tlc world itscll as mclody. nly a way ol listcning tlat is itscll pcrlcctly silcnt
can pick up its sonority. or wc lcar tlis world tlat sings God only in God,
and silcnt music is a loving music. 1lc Bclovcd, at tlc cnd ol tlis passagc, is
itscll tlat silcnt music, lor it is lc wlo givcs lotl tlis silcncc and tlis song.
Max uot dc ongclamp clcarly slows, in tlis rcspcct, tlat wlat is at stakc is
tlc glory ol God, and 'a r.c| pcrccption, lcrc and now and in accordancc witl
tlc constraints attacling to tlc lcrc and now, ol wlat in tlc lcrcaltcr givcs
joy to tlc souls ol tlc llcsscd. tlc pcrmancnt ovcrowing, tlc gratuitous gilt
ol divinc lilc`. And lc adds. '1lis pcrccption ol tlc divinc glory is possillc
lcrc and now in so lar as tlc lilc ol cvcry crcaturc is scnscd ly tlc spiritual
laculty to lc a ooding ol tlc supcralundant lilc ol God.`
122
Naturally, it may sccm as il listcning to tlis silcnt music, in a cosmic
cuclarist, is linkcd to tlc nrst typc ol silcncc dcscrilcd in tlis claptcr. But
tlis is a truly mystical ordcal and not an attcntivc silcncc into wlicl wc could
ol our own volition and ly our own cllorts gain acccss. it is rcally a silcncc ol
cxccss. St {oln ol tlc Cross alludcs to it in otlcr parts ol lis ocuvrc. 1lus at
tlc cnd ol T/. Dcr| N/// ( //. Su|, altcr many otlcr mystical writings, lc
draws on tlc Dum m.4/um /|.n//um, and, quoting lrom mcmory, translorms
it into Dum u/./um /|.n//um /.n.r.n/ mn/c. t is a qucstion ol tlc 'divinc
marriagc lctwccn tlc soul and tlc Son ol God`, wlcn tlc scnsitivc part and
tlc spiritual part ol tlc soul lavc lccn lrouglt 'to pcacc and rcst`.
1lc instant tlc two louscs ol tlc soul arc tranquil and connrmcd,
witl tlc wlolc lousclold ol its powcrs and dcsircs sunk in slccp
and silcncc ((n/.n4| .n u.n ; /|.n/), as to all tlings ol lcavcn
and cartl, tlc divinc Wisdom, immcdiatcly in a ncw lond ol loving
posscssion, unitcs itscll to tlc soul, and tlat is lulnllcd wlicl is
writtcn, 'Wlilc quict silcncc containcd all tlings and tlc niglt was
in tlc mid-way ol lcr coursc, 1ly omnipotcnt Word saying lortl out
ol lcavcn lrom tlc royal scats.`
12S
1lis silcncc ol tlc dark niglt, in wlicl it is ncccssary, as it wcrc, to dic in
ordcr to lc rclorn in a purincd statc, is not in tlc lcast a dissolution ol tlc
1 SF1A1Y SNC
7+
nnitc into tlc innnitc or ol a sacrincc ol tlc crcaturc to tlc Crcator. t is a
nuptial silcncc, tlc silcncc in wlicl tlc Bclovcd and lis lovcr cncountcr cacl
otlcr in intimacy. And il it lics lcyond our words, it is not lcyond tlc Word,
sincc it is lc wlom wc lavc to mcct lcart to lcart. 1lis silcncc uttcrs spcccl,
givcs it again and again in its most nakcd and liglcst lorm, sincc St {oln ol
tlc Cross sings tlis silcncc and tlis niglt in pocms ol an unsurpassallc purity.
Sucl a silcncc is at oncc nnal and initial. nnal, lccausc it is tlc goal ol mystical
lilc and constitutcs tlc liglcst union witl God, initial, sincc it is a sign ol
luturc llcsscdncss.
{can-Ficrrc dc Caussadc latcr said tlat tlc 'divinc inncr and outcr silcncc`
is a 'rcal cartlly paradisc, wlcrc tlc souls wlo lovc God alrcady savour tlc
lorctastc ol lcavcnly lliss`.
12+
t is in no way a privation or an alscncc, cxccpt
an alscncc lrom oncscll, a scll-lorgctlulncss. 1lis lorgctlulncss is dcscrilcd
ly St {oln ol tlc Cross towards tlc cnd ol T/. L/r/n l|cm. ( Lr.. in tlis
calm, lc slows, tlc soul docs not rcalizc tlat it is advancing, cvcn tlougl it is
making lcttcr progrcss tlan cvcr, lor it is God wlo is lcaring it and lcaring
it away.
And cvcn tlougl tlc soul pcrlorms notling witl tlcsc powcrs, it
docs mucl morc tlan il slc wcrc to do so, sincc God is tlc workman.
And it is no wondcr tlat tlc soul docs not noticc tlis, sincc tlc scnsc
cannot undcrstand wlat God pcrlorms in tlc soul during tlis timc,
sincc it lappcns in silcncc. And, as tlc Wisc man says, tlc words ol
Wisdom arc lcard in silcncc.
125

Sucl a scll-lorgctlulncss mcans tlat tlis silcncc, in wlicl wc allow tlc Crcator
to work witlin us, lccomcs a participation in tlc silcncc ol God limscll, in
tlc sougling silcncc ol tlc Word.
n tlcir vcry divcrsity, tlc ngurcs ol silcncc tlat lavc dcscrilcd arc always
turncd towards spcccl, and in no casc can lc rcduccd to a privation ol spcccl.
Against tlc tcndcncy to lypostatizing silcncc, it was ncccssary to rclcr tlcm
lack to tlc various acts tlat lound tlcm. But tlcsc ngurcs ol silcncc arc not
tlcrcly lorcign to onc anotlcr, lor silcncc, cacl timc, las its own /(//c|//;.
t is tlrougl silcncc and witlin it tlat our cxistcncc can truly wclcomc otlcr
silcnccs just as mucl as otlcr voiccs. ur voicc cannot luild tlc ark ol
spcccl, in wlicl cvcrytling will lc givcn slcltcr and rcccivcd, unlcss it lc
in proportion to tlc lospitality ol its silcncc. t is only ly lcing pcrpctually
translatcd lrom silcncc, to quotc tlc apt cxprcssion ol {oc Bousquct, tlat our
voicc can laltcr and allow itscll to lc lrokcn, to givc itscll to wlat it las to say
in sucl a way tlat it is not lclt intact. or tlis silcncc is ncvcr mcrcly our own.
it is wc wlo lclong to it, indissociallc as it is lrom tlc call tlat summons
us and scnds us, scnds us ly summoning us and summons us ly scnding us.
1 SF1A1Y SNC
75
ar lrom cnclosing oursclvcs, in somc dark crypt, it is tlat wlicl opcns us, in
tlc only way tlat anytling can lc opcncd. irrcparally. Nor is it, cvcn in tlc
liglcst ol its possililitics, a purcly spiritual silcncc. nly wlat las a lody can
tlrow itscll lodily into tlc lray. All attcntion takcs placc lody and soul. 1lc
'invisillc pocm` ol lrcatling tlat Filkc marvcllcd at is tlc nrst lospitality ol
silcncc and ncvcr ccascs to kccp opcn all lorms ol wclcomc. 1o suspcnd onc`s
voicc is not to suspcnd onc`s lrcatl. 1lis lospitality tlat lrcatling givcs to
tlc world, and tlc world givcs to lrcatling, is lrokcn only wlcn lilc itscll is
lrokcn. And tlcn it is anotlcr silcncc tlat awaits us in tlc liglt ol its promisc,
tlat ol tlc ctcrnal ark.
77
+
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
uman spcccl lorms an ark. it tlus scts in motion, inccssantly, its potcntial
lor gatlcring, slcltcring, and salcguarding, ly taking up, translating and
giving tlcm ncw impctus tlc luminous and incloatc solicitings ol tlc
world, its murmurcd appcals, its silcnccs vcrging on uttcrancc, its urgcnt
insinuations. 1lc ark lcts lc wlat it wclcomcs, and witlout tlis tlcrc would
lc no wclcomc givcn to tlc world, or to wlat dwclls in it or is lound tlcrc,
lut an arlitrary lantasmagoria, a disordcrly carnival ol imagcs. And yct, as
cidcggcr powcrlully slows, tlis lctting-lc is an incandcsccnt act in wlicl
tlings arc lilcratcd into tlcir lcing and lccomc tlcmsclvcs as tlcy comc into
tlc liglt ol spcccl.
1lc lall-liglt ol spcccl is at onc and tlc samc timc, in tlc solc trcmlling
ol tlc voicc, a lall-liglt ol dusk and dawn. usk, lor it docs not in any way
crcatc wlat it namcs, lut lcts it comc lrom its long wandcring, tlc unccrtain
pilgrimagc ol ollivion and silcncc, tlat suddcn ickcr ol mutc tlings lor
wlicl cilniz lorgcd tlc astonisling cxprcssion ol m.n mm.n/cn.c, a mind
tlat disappcars tlc minutc it is callcd into lcing. n wlat onc namcs tlcrc is
always somctling immcmorial. And yct tlis lall-liglt is also tlat ol dawn, lor
tlis 'sccond timc` ol spcccl is rcally its nrst timc, its lclatcd and rctroactivc
tlrust is onc tlat picrccs riglt to tlc lcart ol tlings, and wc rcccivc it in our
own lcarts too. l spcccl is prcparcd to risk itscll, it always las tlc clarity ol
an awakcning.
1lis dialoguc lctwccn spcccl and world, in wlicl silcncc is lotl lrokcn
and consummatcd, raiscs many dilncult qucstions, wlicl listcning to God`s
Spcccl mcrcly rcndcrs cvcn morc acutc and cvcn morc qucstionallc. nc
ol my carlicr works, L'.((r/ 4u |.cu |T/. /| ( |.cu/;|, dcscrilcd in an, as
it wcrc, nakcd laslion tlc cvcnt in wlicl lcauty allccts us and arouscs our
irrcparallc rcsponsc, witlout wlicl it would not lavc its rcsonancc, nor
its luturc. 1lc prcscnt claptcr, and tlc lollowing onc, try to cxaminc tlc
conditions ol possilility ol tlis drama. 1lcy lorm a diptycl, wlicl lingcs on
two qucstions. ocs lcauty say adicu` And. Can onc ollcr tlc world to God`
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
78
1lcsc two qucstions arc ncitlcr scparallc nor idcntical. tlcy cxplorc tlc
samc spacc lut in dillcrcnt ways, witlout lowcvcr lcing supcrimposcd on
onc anotlcr likc an outward and a rcturn journcy. 1lc nrst qucstion conccrns
tlc way in wlicl tlings arc summoncd into tlc ark, tlc sccond conccrns tlc
dcstination ol tlc ark itscll.
n ordcr lor tlings to lc summoncd ly our spcccl, tlcy must in onc way
or anotlcr lavc provokcd our gazc and our voicc, and, as it wcrc, lrokcn into
tlcm in our prcscncc, ly rousing our disquict. Bcauty is not tlc only onc ol
tlcsc provocations, lut it is ccrtainly tlc most impcrious ol tlcm. Wlat docs
it say, and can it say adicu, in otlcr words scnd a mcssagc to God, call lortl a
rcsponsc in wlicl gratitudc and tlanks arc opcncd up in sucl a way tlat tlcy
can no longcr closc again` or a cuclarist ol spcccl to lc possillc, a qucstion
tlc lollowing claptcr invcstigatcs, a condition must lc lulnllcd c (cr/. r.rum,
on tlc part ol tlings, namcly tlat tlc ollcring ol tlcsc tlings tlat wc makc
witl our lrcatl, lrom our tlroat, docs not rcst on violcncc, and tlat spcccl
lulnls tlc tcnsion ol tlcir silcncc. ocs lcauty lock us into immancncc, and
into tlc somnolcnt plcasurcs ol mirrors and tlcir rccctions or docs it lavc
tlc powcr to scnd us lurtlcr` Sucl is tlc qucstion. n tlis qucstion, tlc many
dillcrcnt mcanings ol tlc cxprcssion 'say adicu` must lc lcard. 1o say 'adicu`
is to commcnd 'to God` (a icu`) to tlat wlicl lics lcyond timc and yct is
tlc ord ol timc. But to say adicu is also tlc sign, as slarp as tlc lcvcl ol a
diamond, ol scparation, ol parting, ol alscnting oncscll, tlc last word, lclorc
any dcnnitivc cxodus. n tlis sccond scnsc, asking wlctlcr lcauty says adicu
is to ask wlctlcr tlcrc is witlin it a powcr wlicl lrcaks prcscncc, wlicl
scparatcs and invitcs scparation, a powcr ol dcnudation and disposscssion, a
dcmand lor itincrancy. Can lcauty lc sucl a powcr`
acl ol us las, in many ways and on many occasions, cxpcricnccd lcauty
in lis or lcr lilc. A man is somconc wlosc tranquillity las lccn tlrcatcncd
ly lcauty, cvcn il lc las donc cvcrytling in lis powcr to ward oll tlis tlrcat
and cvadc it. ntcnsc or discrcct, gcntlc or violcnt, and morc surcly lotl at
oncc, tlis cxpcricncc, a gruclling onc, las not lclt us intact and las somctimcs
dccidcd tlc coursc ol our cntirc livcs. t calls upon us to cxist in olcdicncc
to a dcmand tlat wc cannot addrcsscs to oursclvcs, ol our own lrcc will in
surprisc and disposscssion. 1lis ray ol sunliglt may lc transmittcd to us
and rcacl us tlrougl many moons and rccctions, and it docs not, as sucl,
dcpcnd on tlc listory ol tastc, lor it can oltcn allcct us tlrougl dcrivativc,
cpigonal, routinc, cvcn adultcratcd works, cvcn il, in tlis casc, tlcy arousc
a tlirst tlat tlcy cannot qucncl. And tlc distrcss opcncd witlin us ly tlc
dcvastation and growing uglincss ol pcoplc, placcs or tlings is anotlcr lorm
ol tlis larrowing cxpcricncc ol lcauty. anyonc wlo dcstroys lcauty sccms
to us to lc prolaning, in somc dcgrcc, tlat ly wlicl tlc world rcally is a
world, containing tlings tlat dcmand tlat onc stop and considcr tlcm (in
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
7
tlc dual scnsc ol looking at tlcm and rcspccting tlcm) not a simplc stock
ol raw matcrial lor our vital nccds. vcn a latrcd ol lcauty, il wc rcmcmlcr
tlc multiplc ngurcs ol rostratus, rccognizcs in its own way lcauty`s surlcit
ol lorcc, wlicl it attcmpts to larncss in its orgy ol dcstruction.
Wc do not consumc lcauty likc a commodity lcauty consumcs us likc
a nrc, lurning us witl a amc tlat ligltcns and cnligltcns us, and tlus
lclps us to risc to a statc ol lull lcing, to our pcrlcction as mcn, as Sclillcr
so cloqucntly put it in lis L.//.r n //. A.//.// L4uc//n ( Mcn|/n4. 1o
dcstroy a placc is ncvcr mcrcly to dcspoil tlc world lut to attack tlc lumanity
ol mankind too ly dcstroying a luman possilility ol lalitation. 1o dcstroy a
tling is also to impovcrisl man`s land and gazc. A world dcprivcd ol lcauty
would no longcr lc wlat tlc Grccks callcd |m, wlicl implics somctling
rcsplcndcnt. A ricl tradition ol tlinking, wlicl las dcvclopcd in many ways,
las sccn in lcauty a call, and las dcrivcd tlc word |c|, 'lcautilul`, lrom
|c|./n, 'to call`.
1
But wlat is it tlat calls, in lcauty, and wlat docs it call to or
lor`
By calling to us, lcauty movcs us, in otlcr words touclcs us, comcs to
toucl us wlcrc wc arc, and scts us in movcmcnt, on our way and cn routc, so
tlat wc do not rcmain wlcrc wc arc or rcmain contcnt witl wlcrc wc lavc
got to. Can it lcad to God` Can it makc us pass lrom tlc lcauty ol tlc world
to tlc lcauty ol God, il tlcrc is sucl a tling` s it God wlo is calling in tlis
call` And il tlis call lcads to God as to its sourcc, to wlicl God docs it lcad`
1o tlc God conlcsscd ly tlc Clristian laitl, to tlc crucincd Clrist` Can tlcrc
lc a patl ol lcauty tlat lcads to Calvary` 1lc possililitics lrouglt into play
ly sucl qucstions sccm, riglt lrom tlc start, to lc prollcmatic in all sorts ol
ways, not to say downriglt incongruous or indcccnt.
ndccd, lcauty as wc undcrgo it in tlc world and tlcrc is no placc otlcr
tlan tlc world in wlicl wc miglt undcrgo it is, in tlc strictcst and strongcst
scnsc ol tlc tcrm, plcnomcnal. n otlcr tcrms, it is a scll-manilcstation, it is
tlat wlicl manilcsts itscll ol its own accord, and it is only tlus tlat it calls,
cnsuring tlat our gazc and our attcntion arc turncd towards it as il tlcy lad
not rcally takcn tlc initiativc, lut lad lccn dcmandcd and larncsscd ly it.
Wc want a lcautilul piccc ol music to carry on ccloing, and it is still tlat
music tlat wc lcar cvcn in tlc silcncc in wlicl it comcs to an cnd and wlicl
it llcsscs. Wlcn wc scc a lcautilul lacc, wc want to continuc to dwcll in its
liglt. or, in tlc cvcnt ol lcauty, it is not a casc ol a lcautilul oljcct slining
out against a ncutral or dark lackground, a lackground ol uglincss. it is tlc
wlolc world tlat gatlcrs togctlcr to dclivcr and sct lrcc, lcrc and now, tlc
murmuring, singing clarity tlat it lcars witlin it, giving itscll up to its own
dayliglt and opcning itscll to it.
1lc appcarancc ol lcauty docs not /c|. (|c., it mc|. (c.. t docs not
occur in a prcconstitutcd placc lrom wlicl it dcrivcs its condition ol possilility,
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
80
as il it wcrc coming out on to a stagc, in a dccor and undcr a liglting tlat
wcrc tlcrc lclorc it. By taking placc, it makcs spacc. in otlcr words, it causcs
tlis placc, /.r., to arisc in all its julilant and lcartrcnding cxclamation. 1lc
/.r. opcncd up ly lcauty cannot lc lound on any map, any morc tlan aslcs
ol ligltning ickcr in tlc margins. Witl all duc rcspcct to romanticism, tlc
powcrlul strangcncss ol lcauty docs not rcsidc in tlc way it is supposcd to
insinuatc a longing lor clscwlcrc, lor tlc most distant clscwlcrc, inlccting us
witl tlc dcsirc lor 'grand unsatisncd dcparturcs`, sucl as tlosc dcplorcd in
L'/r/:n //m/r/u. ly {can dc a \illc dc Mirmont, to wlom Galricl aurc
ollcrcd lis so vcry limpid songs. 1lis strangcncss is notling otlcr tlan tlat
ol tlc 'lcrc`, wrcnclcd away lrom tlc indillcrcncc and intcrclangcalility ol
placcs a 'lcrc` on wlicl tlc lurtlcst distanccs convcrgc.
n tlc Du/n L|./., Filkc alnrms tlat 'lcing lcrc is a grcat dcal` (H/.r./n
r/.| //) and proclaims tlc 'glory ol lcing lcrc` (H/.r./n // /.rr|//).
2
1lc
lordslip ol lcing is tlat ol lcing lcrc in a 'lcrc` indcpcndcnt ol all laws,
complctcly and uttcrly dillcrcnt lrom cilniz`s cxprcssion 'it is tlc samc
cvcrywlcrc as it is lcrc`, ly wlicl lc undcrstood tlc univcrsality ol laws,
valid in cacl and cvcry rcgion ol tlc world. 1o makc ol tlc lcauty an indcx
dirccting onc clscwlcrc, tlc symlol ol a lcyond, is to translorm it into a mcrc
allusion, and dcprivc it ol its csscncc. ts transccndcncc, its powcr to go lclind
lorgctlulncss and vciling, lar lrom lorcing us to lcavc our dwclling placc,
constitutc tlc most urgcnt ol invitations, not to say initiations, to tlc 'lcrc`.
So docs not tlc incxlaustillc claractcr ol lcauty lcad to its contcmplation
tying us to tlc world, and notling lut tlc world` ow can wlat makcs tlc
world rcally inlalitallc and lilc rcally livcallc lcad us lcyond tlc world`
Supposing, on tlc otlcr land, tlat tlc lcauty ol God is madc tlc sourcc
and loundation ol tlc lcauty ol tlc world, will not tlc vcry word 'lcauty`
lccomc altogctlcr cquivocal, il it can dcsignatc lotl a manilcstation ol tlc
crcaturc witlin tlc world and tlc alsolutc manilcstation ol tlc alsolutc lotl
tlis sidc ol tlc world and outsidc it` Wlat tlcn would lc tlc common corc
ol mcaning ol tlcsc two scnscs` And il wc tlink ol Clrist, low can wc lorgct
tlat tlc man ol sorrows proplcsicd ly saial is witlout 'lorm or clarm to
attract us` or 'lcauty to win our lcarts`. 'Non cst spccics ci, ncquc dccor. ct
vidimus cum, ct non crat aspcctus.`
S
1o wlicl wc slould add tlat tlc Grcck
noun lor lcauty, |c||, is not uscd a singlc timc in tlc Ncw 1cstamcnt, and il
tlc adjcctivc |c| / uscd vcry lrcqucntly, it is only in tlc scnsc ol 'good`, and
not tlat ol 'lcautilul`, just as wc say in nglisl 'a lcautilul gamc` lor 'a good
gamc`. vcn tlc accounts ol tlc 1ransnguration ol tlc ord do not spcak ol
lcauty, cvcn tlougl it is onc placc in wlicl wc miglt lavc cxpcctcd it to lc
rclcrrcd to.
All ol tlis tcnds to lorcclosc tlc qucstions raiscd alovc. But is it tcnallc,
lrom a lillical point ol vicw, to lc lorccd to cloosc lctwccn a God witlout
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
81
lcauty and a lcauty witlout God` s it morc satislactory tlan a rcligion ol tlc
lcautilul, wlicl would lavc dcstroycd lotl God and lcauty ly translorming
lcauty into an idol lalricatcd ly onc`s dcsirc` nc ol tlc most cxplicit pagcs
ol oly Scripturc on tlc rclations lctwccn God and lcauty may cnallc us
to lormulatc tlcsc qucstions morc adcquatcly and at tlc samc timc to gaugc
tlcir dilnculty. 1lis passagc is lound in tlc look ol Wisdom. Claptcr X
rclcrs to tlc divinisation ly 'stupid` mcn ol tlc clcmcnts ol tlc world and tlc
stars.
'l, clarmcd ly tlcir lcauty (/|/ |c||n|/), tlcy lavc takcn tlcsc lor gods, lct
tlcm know low mucl tlc Mastcr ol tlcsc cxccls tlcm, sincc lc was tlc vcry
sourcc ol lcauty (/ /u |c||u .n./cr|/|) tlat crcatcd tlcm.`
+
A littlc latcr,
it is statcd tlat 'tlrougl tlc grandcur and lcauty ol tlc crcaturcs, wc may, ly
analogy (cnc|J), contcmplatc tlcir Autlor.`
5
But wlat is tlcn proclaimcd
alout tlis divinisation ol naturc is ratlcr surprising. 'Small llamc, lowcvcr,
attaclcs to tlcm, lor pcrlaps tlcy go astray only in tlcir scarcl lor God and
tlcir cagcrncss to nnd lim, lamiliar witl lis works, tlcy invcstigatc tlcm and
lall victim to appcaranccs, sccing so mucl lcauty (/// |c|c /c ||.(m.nc).`
6

A clcar distinction is drawn lctwccn tlosc wlo go so lar as to adorc tlc
lcautics ol naturc, divinising tlc works ol God, and tlosc wlo lavc 'givcn
tlc titlc ol gods to luman artclacts`, tlc idolatcrs, wlo arc punislcd witl an
immcasurally grcatcr scvcrity. But tlc lact rcmains tlat cvcn wlcrc Scripturc
clcarly makcs ol tlc world`s lcauty a patl to God, tlis patl will not cxactly
lavc lccn a patl lut will lavc intcrruptcd tlcm in tlcir qucst lor God,
arrcstcd and, as it wcrc, stupcncd tlcm in tlc lacc ol tlc world. Bcauty will
lavc awokcn tlcm only nnally to plungc tlcm into anotlcr kind ol slccp,
pcoplcd ly lad drcams. And il tlcy arc not put on tlc samc lcvcl as tlc
idolatcrs, it is nonctlclcss said ol tlcm tlat 'cvcn so, tlcy lavc no cxcusc`.
Wlat manilcsts God may lccomc a vcil tlat conccals lim and makcs us
lorgct lim or lail to rccognizc lim. Wlat lcads towards lim may lccomc a
placc wlcrc wc scttlc down to luild our dwclling placc. Wlcn tlc road is
so lcautilul, tlc dangcr tlat wc will stop cn routc is mcrcly all tlc grcatcr.
Woc to tlosc wlo arc too quickly contcntcd, woc to tlosc wlo arc satisncd
straigltaway! t is tlc samc situation as in tlat rcmarkallc parallc in wlicl
Flotinus comparcs tlc manilcstation ol lcings and ol tlcir principlc to tlc
suitc ol a grcat king. 1lc lystandcrs scc tlc mcmlcrs ol tlc royal suitc
proccssing ly in incrcasing dignity and importancc, until riglt at tlc vcry cnd
tlc grcat king limscll 'suddcnly` appcars.
7
1lcn, says Flotinus, 'tlc pcoplc
pray and prostratc tlcmsclvcs lclorc lim tlosc at lcast wlo lavc not gonc
away lclorcland, satisncd witl wlat tlcy saw lclorc tlc coming ol tlc king`.
1lc gravcst tlrcat, lcrc, rcsidcs not in dissatislaction, lut in satislaction.
1losc wlo lcavc lclorc tlc cnd tlink tlat cvcrytling is alrcady ovcr, tlat
tlcy lavc sccn, as pcoplc say ol a nrcwork display, tlc crowning piccc. 1lcy
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
82
cannot imaginc anytling lcttcr tlan wlat tlcy lavc alrcady admircd, and
tlcy go away llisslul and contcntcd, witlout cvcn suspccting tlat tlcy lavc
dcprivcd tlcmsclvcs ol tlc liglcst lliss, lor it is only wlcn tlc most lcautilul
tling tlat wc can imaginc las prcscntcd itscll somctling tlat is on a par
witl our imagination, and witl it alonc tlat tlcrc may arisc somctling
tlat is cvcn morc lcautilul tlan wlat wc can imaginc, a truly unimaginallc
lcauty, wlicl can only lc cncountcrcd witlout its laving lccn anticipatcd
and calculatcd in advancc. 1lis dangcr, tlat ol dcparting too carly, lclorc
tlc arrival ol somctling quitc surpassing our cxpcctations, las a particular
intcnsity in tlc rclationslip to lcauty.
Claptcr X ol tlc look ol Wisdom raiscs anotlcr and dccisivc qucstion.
Slould wc say, ol tlis God wlo is tlc crcator ol all tlc lcauty ol tlc world,
tlat lc is limscll lcautilul` s lc ol all crcaturcs tlc most lcautilul` ow
lar docs lc cxcccd all nnitc and crcatcd lcautics` n lis commcntary on T/.
D/r/n. Ncm. ol Fscudo-ionysius tlc Arcopagitc, St 1lomas Aquinas
writcs. 'xccss is twolold (.x.u cu/.m ./ 4u(|.x). tlc nrst is cxccss witlin a
gcnus, and it is signincd ly tlc comparativc or tlc supcrlativc, tlc sccond is
cxccss outsidc a gcnus, and it is signincd ly tlc addition ol tlis prcposition.
u(.r.`
8
So slould wc say tlat God is (u|/.rr/mu, 'tlat wlicl is most
lcautilul`, or tlat lc is u(.r(u|/rum, /u(.r|c|n, 'lcyond tlc lcautilul`` Can
lcauty namc God in limscll or only in lis gilts` And docs tlc patl ol lcauty
lcad to a suprcmc lcauty or altogctlcr lcyond lcauty`
So as to lormulatc tlcsc qucstions morc adcquatcly, it may sccm natural to
scck lor cnligltcnmcnt in Clristian dogmatics in its lorm as a scicncc, witl
sclolasticism and its latcr dcvclopmcnts. Now, a rapid ovcrvicw is cnougl to
slow tlat tlis cnligltcnmcnt is, wlcn it comcs to lcauty, not vcry imprcssivc
and quitc lcsitant. 1lc attcmpt madc ly dogmatics to mcasurc up to tlcsc
qucstions was lar lrom lcing on tlc lcvcl ol tlc qucstions tlcmsclvcs, and
somctimcs tlis attcmpt was not cvcn madc lut was avoidcd or sidclincd. t
is crucial tlat wc undcrstand low and wly. All tlcologians arc agrccd on tlc
lact tlat |.cu/; docs not, in tlc Billc, constitutc a major and ccntral namc or
attrilutc ol divinity, unlikc |r;. 1o lc surc, tlcrc is no glory witlout lcauty,
wlcrcas tlcrc may lc lcautics witlout glory (tlis is tlc qucstion cxamincd
in tlis claptcr), lut tlc lact rcmains tlat il wc arc sccking a dcnnition, or a
tlcmatisation, ol lcauty, it is not in tlc Billc tlat wc will nnd it (and tlat is
not tlc Billc`s task). 1o lring tlc qucstion ol lcauty into dogmatics will tlus
rcquirc us to appcal, cvcn tlis involvcs working ovcr it and transnguring it,
to tlc languagc ol plilosoply. Wc will nccd, or would nccd, an invcntivc and
lcuristic translation, a translation tlat truly crosscs tlc strcam and is capallc
ol cxploring lotl slorcs and wlat passcs or docs not pass lctwccn tlcm. 1lc
swimmcr`s aim is not ncccssarily to cmcrgc complctcly dry lrom tlc watcr.
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
8S
All tlings considcrcd, it would cvcn lc lcttcr to cmcrgc all muddy. So low
do tlings stand`
n modcrn tlcology, tlc vcry placc ol lcauty as a divinc namc is cxtrcmcly
variallc, just as is tlc importancc grantcd it. t is tlus tlat Suarcz, in lis
trcatisc on tlc divinc attrilutcs, docs not dcvotc any particular discussion
to tlc qucstion ol divinc lcauty. But in tlc scvcntccntl ccntury, tlc {csuit
tlcologian cnys Fctau, onc ol tlc grcatcst dogmatic tlcologians ol lis
pcriod, togctlcr witl tlc ratorian ouis 1lomassin, docs not lollow tlis
cxamplc. ndccd, lc writcs in lis majcstic Dmc/c //.|/c a claptcr 'c
ci pulclritudinc`, 'n tlc Bcauty ol God`. 1lis claptcr is tlc last ol tlosc
tlat study tlc 'propcrtics` ol God, lclorc tlc autlor comcs to tlc qucstion
ol tlc vision ol God. t lollows on altcr tlc study ol tlc divinc goodncss
and pcrlcction, and its nrst dilnculty is prcciscly tlat ol cstallisling a clcar
distinction lctwccn God`s goodncss and lis lcauty. 1lus cnys Fctau rcvicws,
somcwlat laloriously, all sorts ol dcnnitions ol lcauty, takcn lrom ancicnt
plilosoply or lrom tlc atlcrs ol tlc Clurcl wlo drcw inspiration lrom it.
1lc Flatonic tradition occupics a ccntral placc in tlis survcy. 1lc lcautilul is
cvcntually dcnncd as 'tlat tlc knowlcdgc ol wlicl procurcs plcasurc, lccausc
it corrcsponds cxactly to its modcl and its primordial lorm`.

t is doultlul
wlctlcr, dcnning lcauty ly tlc adcquacy ol a lcing to its idca, wc lavc
advanccd mucl lurtlcr towards tlc lcauty ol God limscll, wlatcvcr cnys
Fctau limscll may say. c gocs on to cstallisl tlat 'God is tlc primordial idca
ol all tlings and tlcir modcl.` As lc can ncitlcr dcpart lrom nor turn away
lrom limscll (c ./( c|/rr.r.), lc corrcsponds and conlorms adcquatcly, in
cvcry rcspcct, witl tlat most pcrlcct modcl tlat lc limscll is (./ .x.m(|cr/
(.r(.///m curc/. n.n/cn.u). 1lc knowlcdgc ol tlis immcnsc lcauty
procurcs a commcnsuratc joy, and God tlus corrcsponds complctcly to tlc
dcnnition tlat las lccn givcn ol lcauty.
10
1o tlink ol lcauty as a conlormity
to somctling clsc, or as conlormity to itscll, is still to tlink ol it as conlormity
and corrcspondcncc. Wlat docs tlc lcauty ol God rcally signily in tlis
mctaplysics` 1lat God, tlc crcator ol tlc world, is idcntical to limscll. God
is lcautilul tlus mcans. God is God. 1lis ratlcr anacmic plrasc lccomcs a
littlc morc lull-lloodcd wlcn it comcs to cvoking tlc lcauty ol God on tlc
lasis ol lis cllccts, in otlcr words tlc lcauty tlat lc communicatcs to tlc
world, tlc lcauty ol tlc crcaturcs in it. But tlis was not tlc point, as tlc idca
was to scc lorcground lcauty as a divinc attrilutc.
As lor ouis 1lomassin, lc docs not tacklc lcauty, as docs lis contcmporary
Fctau, only at tlc cnd ol lis trcatisc on God, as a supplcmcnt tlat wc arc not
quitc surc wlat to do witl. But sincc lc docs gct round to rclcrring to it
lctwccn trutl, on tlc onc land, and lovc and lilc, on tlc otlcr, and tlus
placcs it at tlc vcry lcart ol lis tlcology, lis proccdurc is in many rcspccts
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
8+
analogous. nc claptcr studics tlc Flatonic plilosoply ol tlc lcautilul,
anotlcr claptcr gocs on to glcan quotations lorm patristic writing, and a
tlird and last scction turns to tlc communication ol lcauty to tlc various
dillcrcnt crcaturcs, lotl spiritual and corporal. 1lc plilosoplical tlouglt
ol tlc lcautilul still scrvcs as a point ol dcparturc, and guidcs tlc wlolc
discussion, wlcrcas it las quitc cvidcntly lailcd to takc into considcration
wlat it was supposcd to qucstion, tlc lcauty ol tlc onc God.
11
1lcsc rccctions on tlc part ol tlinkcrs, wlo in otlcr rcspccts arc capallc
ol grcat insiglt, start to look likc an alandoncd luilding sitc, wlcrc all sorts
ol stoncs lavc lccn asscmllcd lor a luilding tlat will ncvcr lc constructcd.
1lcrc arc tlrcc rcasons lor tlis, wlicl lavc to do witl tlc arclitcctonics ol
tlcology and tlc status, or tlc staturc, ol tlc spcccl tlat it can uttcr. 1lc
nrst rcason is rclatcd to tlc systcmatic organization ol tlcology, wlicl las a
trcatisc D. D. un (On //. D/r/n. Nc/ur.) lollowcd ly a trcatisc D. D. /r/n
(On //. D/r/n. P.rn). t is in tlc nrst tlat lcauty is discusscd, wlcn it is
discusscd, as onc ol tlc positivc attrilutcs ol tlc divinc naturc. 1lis lcads to
a twolold conlusion. irst and lorcmost, sincc tlc Billc las littlc to tcll us on
tlis topic, largc usc is madc, opcnly or discrcctly, ol plilosoplical dcnnitions
ol tlc lcautilul, wlicl wcrc valid citlcr lor tlis-worldly lcautics or lor tlc
idca ol tlc lcautilul, wlicl makcs tlcm inadcquatc lor tlinking in tcrms ol
a namc and a dimcnsion tlat lclong to tlc onc God. And, at otlcr points,
trinitarian considcrations invadc tlc discussion, wlicl contravcncs tlc ordcr
it is supposcdly lollowing and puts a qucstion mark ovcr its rclcvancc.
1lis appcars clcarly in tlc dogmatic tlcology ol 1lomassin. drawing
inspiration lrom admirallc pagcs ly St Augustinc, ol wlosc liglt St
1lomas Aquinas lad alrcady drunk dccp,
12
1lomassin takcs tlc unusual
stcp ol attriluting lcauty particularly to tlc Word, tlc sccond pcrson ol tlc
1rinity. t is, lc says, 'God tlc Word wlo is rcally and propcrly lcauty itscll
((u|/r//u4 /(c)`.
1S
But il tlis is tlc casc, il tlis alonc can constitutc tlc
guiding tlrcad ol tlc Clristian way ol tlinking alout divinc lcauty, it is in
tlc Word and lrom tlc Word tlat tlis qucstion must lc raiscd, and tlus in
tlc trcatisc on tlc 1rinity.
1lcsc arclitcctonic dilncultics lcad us to anotlcr onc tlat is just as gravc,
and wlicl lrings into play spcccl itscll. Wlatcvcr tlcir laitl, wlicl is not
in qucstion, tlcsc tlinkcrs spcak ( divinc lcauty witlout standing lclorc it
tlcmsclvcs, tlcy spcak ol it witlout spcaking / it, witlout addrcssing it in
lamiliar toncs, witl tlat intimatc and rcvcrcnt lamiliarity tlat is tlc prccisc
oppositc ol supcrncial lamiliarity. nc cannot spcak condcsccndingly ol divinc
lcauty, as il onc wcrc lcnding ovcr somc oljcct to cxaminc it. nc can spcak
ol it only in accordancc witl its own condcsccnsion, in accordancc witl tlc
movcmcnt wlcrcly it comcs to mcct us lclorc wc makc any movc. Wc can
spcak ol it, tlcrclorc, only il wc cxprcss our tlanks. l patristic tlcology lad
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
85
morc lrccdom and morc lorcc to dcscrilc God`s lcauty, it was not lccausc ol
a morc pcrlcct systcmatic organization lut ly virtuc ol its claractcr, wlicl is,
lowcvcr modcstly, lymnic, praycrlul, lamiliar, advancing towards tlat lcauty
in tlc liglt ol praycr and song, and advancing in praycr and song tlrougl tlc
liglt ol tlat lcauty, cvcn il its progrcss is, likc tlat ol any ol any rcal progrcss,
limping. Wlcn spcccl trics to unvcil God instcad ol lctting itscll lc unvcilcd
and strippcd larc, tlc loss ol its dramatic tcnsion is also a loss ol liglt and
intclligilility. l tlcrc is a divinc lcauty, wc cannot lc its spcctators, lut only
its witncsscs. And tlc witncsscs ol sucl lcauty spcak in proportion to tlcir
wound and tlcir scnsc ol lcing torn apart.
t is striking to scc tlat tlc tlcological imlalancc wc glimpsc in tlc works
ol Fctau and 1lomassin is cncountcrcd again and again across tlc ccnturics,
in tlinkcrs wlo in otlcr ways arc quitc dillcrcnt. Karl Bartl, not ol lis naturc
inclincd to sing lis praiscs, nonctlclcss crcdits tlc grcat ninctccntl-ccntury
Catlolic tlcologian Sclcclcn witl laving, in lis trcatmcnt ol divinc lcauty,
pcrlormcd an important scrvicc. 't is no lcss surprising tlat Foman Catlolic
tlcology did not rcturn cxprcssly and scriously to tlis conccption until tlc
1tl ccntury witl M. {. Sclcclcn` (tlougl it is not truc tlat Sclcclcn was
tlc nrst to do so).
1+
But wlcrc, and low, did lc do tlis` ocs lc add anytling
ncw to prcvious tlcologians` 1lc G//.|./r. ol tlc Cc//|/ Dmc// ol
Sclcclcn, lollowing tlc traditional ordcr, studics nrst tlc onc God, tlcn
tlc tlrcclold God. Still lollowing tlis tradition, lc movcs lrom tlc ncgativc
attrilutcs to tlc positivc attrilutcs, wlicl arc transposcd lrom crcaturcs to
God. it is among tlcsc lattcr attrilutcs tlat lcauty appcars.
15
1lc lorizon is
tlat ol tlc attrilutcs ol tlc lcing or csscntiality (J..n/.//) ol God, lclorc
tlc attrilutcs ol lis lilc or lis naturc, knowlcdgc and will arc tacklcd.
Bcauty is studicd altcr unity, trutl, goodncss, and lclorc dignity or
lolincss. God is 'lcauty itscll `, 'tlc idcal sulsisting in all lcauty`, 'primal
lcauty` (4/. Ur/Jn/.//). t is claractcrizcd ly its 'alsolutc simplicity`,
lcing an 'alsolutcly inncr lcauty`, altlougl it also dcmonstratcs a 'unity in
multiplicity`, in tlat it contains cmincntly or radically all tlc modcs or all
tlc lorms ol crcatcd lcauty. Notling in tlcsc mctaplysical dctcrminations
slcds any liglt on spccincity ol tlis attrilutc in rclation to tlc otlcrs. 1lus,
a littlc lurtlcr on, lrcaking away lrom lis own plan, Sclcclcn sccs in tlc
divinc 1rinity tlc placc par cxccllcncc ol tlis lcauty. Wc again comc across
tlc plilosoplical tlcmc ol tlc unity ol tlc multiplc, in a manncr tlat sccms
displaccd, lor it makcs ol tlc vcry unity ol God tlc illustration ol a gcncral
sclcma. 'n lact tlcrc is no unity-in-multiplicity tlat is grcatcr and morc
sullimc tlan tlc csscntial unity ol tlc dillcrcnt divinc pcrsons.` Wc also again
comc across tlc (Augustinian) tlcmc ol tlc imagc, wlicl lorms tlc lasis
lor tlc way in wlicl lcauty is sccn as propcr to tlc Word. tlcrc is 'no morc
pcrlcct rcscmllancc lctwccn imagc and modcl tlan tlc rcscmllancc and tlc
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
86
cquality lctwccn tlc Son and tlc tcrnal atlcr`.
16
1lc samc tlcmcs and tlc
samc aporias arc constantly rcpcatcd. il tlc divinc lcauty can lc clucidatcd
only witl rclcrcncc to tlc 1rinity, and is madc manilcst to us ly tlc Word, wly
is it discusscd outsidc wlat is proclaimcd to lc its most suitallc placc` Wly
concludc witl wlat ouglt to lc tlc point ol dcparturc and scrvc as a guiding
tlrcad` t is just as il tlcsc tlinkcrs wislcd to lold togctlcr a mctaplysical
conccpt, takcn lrom natural tlcology, witl a Flatonic tingc, and a propcrly
Clristian conccpt, takcn lrom rcvcalcd tlcology, in tlcir attcmpt to dcnnc
divinc lcauty. t is cqually prollcmatic tlat tlcy do not dwcll on tlc idca tlat
tlis lcauty slould lc dcduccd lrom tlc divinc |/(., cvcn il in otlcr placcs tlcy
alnrm tlat, ol all crcaturcs, living lcauty is tlc most consummatc.
17
n lis Dmc//, Karl Bartl las tlc mcrit ol making ol tlc divinc lcauty
oncc morc a u.//n. can wc and slould wc say tlat God is lcautilul`
18
1lis
qucstion is tacklcd in tlc scction dcvotcd to tlc 'pcrlcction ol tlc divinc
lrccdom`, and lcauty is strictly sulordinatcd to glory. 'Wc spcak ol God`s
lcauty only in cxplanation ol is glory.`
1
But, in spitc ol its 'sulordinatc
and auxiliary` claractcr, lcauty nonctlclcss las a radical ncccssity, il it is truc
tlat 'God`s glory is cllcctivc lccausc it is lcautilul`, and tlus alonc unlolds
tlc pcrlcction ol its lorm.
20
But wlcn Bartl comcs to dcscriling in morc
dctail tlc naturc ol tlis lcauty, lc lollows a traditional plan. tlc lcauty ol
tlc divinc csscncc, tlc lcauty ol tlc 1rinity, tlc lcauty ol tlc ncarnation.
1lc nrst is claractcrizcd in a way rcminisccnt ol cnys Fctau. it is a mattcr
ol 'God`s lcing as it unlolds in all is attrilutcs, lut is onc in itscll in tlcm
all` a mattcr, tlat is, ol its pcrlcct idcntity. But cvcn il God is cvcrytling tlat
lc is said to lavc, to wlat cxtcnt must tlat lc callcd lis lcauty`
21
1lc sccond
appcars again as tlc csscntial placc ol tlcsc rccctions. 'tlc triunity ol God
is tlc sccrct ol is lcauty. l wc dcny tlis, wc at oncc lavc a God witlout
radiancc and witlout joy (and witlout lumour!).`
22
1lc tlird lcads Bartl to
alnrm. '1lc lcauty ol {csus Clrist is not just any lcauty. t is tlc lcauty ol
God. r, morc concrctcly, it is tlc lcauty ol wlat God is and docs in im.`
2S

But, il tlis is tlc casc, and il tlis lcauty powcrlully disconccrts us and strips
us larc, do wc not lavc to rcturn to tlc prcccding momcnts and transngurc
tlcm on tlc lasis ol tlis ccntrc tlat las nnally lccn rcaclcd`
2+
Can wc
n|u4. tlcsc considcrations on divinc lcauty witl Clrist in a Clristian
dogmatics` 1lis dilnculty constantly rccurs.
\nlikc tlc tlcologians citcd alovc, tlat tlinkcr ol spcccl Karl Bartl
immcdiatcly lollows lis mcditation on tlc divinc glory witl an invcstigation
ol tlc glorincation ol God ly lis crcaturcs, on tlc act ol praising and giving
tlanks. c rcluscs to scparatc tlc lcauty ol God lrom tlc rcsponsc tlat wc
can makc to it, lowcvcr grcat in otlcr rcspccts may lc tlc dilncultics tlat
in lis cycs tlis rcsponsc arouscs. But, riglt at tlc lcart ol lis discussion ol
divinc lcauty, a nrst qucstion on tlis topic lad alrcady madc its appcarancc,
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
87
conccrning tlcology itscll. Any 'proclamation ol tlc glory ol God,` Bartl
slowcd, wlicl lost siglt ol lis lcauty and itscll lailcd to do justicc to it,
would tlcrcly llind itscll to its own uglincss, lccoming sad, dull, incllcctual.
t would tlcrcly ccasc to slow wlat it intcndcd to slow. 'But wlcrc tlis
clcmcnt is not apprcciatcd and tlis is wly tlc qucstion ol tlc lorm is so
important wlat lccomcs ol tlc cvangclical clcmcnt in tlc cvangcl``,
25
il it
no longcr sounds out likc a piccc ol good ncws, il it docs not radiatc its joy
and radiatc witl joy. A littlc lurtlcr on, Bartl rccallcd tlc considcrations ol St
Ansclm on tlcology, on tlc lcauty ol tlcology in so lar as it is dcmandcd ly
tlc lcauty tlat it mcditatcs on. Wlilc approving tlcsc vicws, Bartl rcluscd to
toucl on tlis qucstion otlcrwisc tlan ly 'allusion`, lcaving it to tlc pcrsonal
disccrnmcnt ol cacl individual. 'rccction and discussion ol tlc acstlctics ol
tlcology can lardly lc countcd a lcgitimatc and ccrtainly not a ncccssary task
ol tlcology.`
26
But is it rcally a qucstion ol acstlctics` s it not a mattcr ol our inccssant
rcsponsorics to divinc spcccl` A mattcr, tlat is, ol tlc vcry wclcomc, witlin
tlcsc rcsponsorics, ol tlc cvcnt ol lcauty` St Ansclm, at tlc start ol onc ol
lis grcatcst trcatiscs, wrotc.
lcar lcst, just as myscll am apt to lc indignant witl lad artists wlcn
scc our ord dcpictcd undcr a misslapcn lorm, so it may lappcn
to myscll, il prcsumc to invcstigatc so sullimc a suljcct ly rudc,
contcmptillc spcculation (/nm(/ ./ n/.m(//|/|/ 4//cm/n.).
27

Wlat lappcns in our spcccl cannot lc scparatcd lrom wlat passcs, or
may pass, tlrougl and ly mcans ol it. ts 'lorm` is not distinct lrom its
transparcncy and its alility to transmit wlat it las to scc and slow. t is
a mattcr ol wc oursclvcs appcaring lclorc tlis lcauty. t cannot lc placcd
in qucstion witlout us too lcing undcr cxamination. 1lc alscncc ol tlis
dimcnsion, wlicl can lc callcd dramatic, makcs tlc trcatiscs on divinc lcauty,
as it wcrc, rootlcss and vaguc, and dcprivcs tlcm ol tlc sitc at wlicl our
rcsponsilility comcs into play.
1lcsc various attcmpts at oljcctincation ly undcrstanding ol tlc divinc
lcauty do not rcally say adicu. 1lcy namc, to lc surc, tlc cxccss and tlc
supcruity, lut tlcy do not slow it. l wc arc to slcd liglt on tlcsc qucstions,
wc nccd to raisc morc radical qucstions. 1lc .x.u ol wlicl St 1lomas
Aquinas spcaks is at tlc lcart ol tlc way Flotinus and Fscudo-ionysius
tlc Arcopagitc tlink alout lcauty. ow slould wc considcr tlc sourcc ol
lcauty` s it tlc lciglt ol tlc lcautilul, a maximum nnally rcaclcd, or is tlc
giving ol lcauty witlout itscll lcing lcautilul an ctcrnal .nr/` Flotinus,
lor wlom tlc lcautilul ccrtainly is a way towards tlc principlc and origin
ol lcing, alnrms on scvcral occasions tlat tlc Good is antcrior to lcauty, to
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
88
tlat intclligillc lcauty wlicl itscll lounds and lrings into lcing tlc scnsillc
lcautics tlat participatc in it. '1lat wlicl is lclorc it docs not cvcn want to
lc lcautilul.`
28
And in anotlcr placc, Flotinus spccincs. 'But lc is lcautilul
lcyond all lcauty (/u(.r|c|) . . . transccnding tlc lcst (/Jn cr//Jn).`
2

Wlat wc lavc lcrc rcally is an cxccss tlat gocs lcyond tlc gcnus ol tlc kind
mcntioncd ly St 1lomas Aquinas as cvcn tlc supcrlativc is lclt lclind.
Anotlcr ol Flotinus`s trcatiscs givcs to tlis idca ol tlc radical transccndcncc
ol tlc Good ovcr lcauty its most powcrlul and most rigorous lormulations.
so lis lcauty is ol anotlcr kind and lcauty alovc lcauty (|c|| /u(.r
|c||). or il it is notling, wlat lcauty can it lc` But il it is lovallc,
it would lc tlc gcncrator ol lcauty. 1lcrclorc tlc productivc powcr
ol all is tlc owcr ol lcauty, a lcauty wlicl makcs lcauty (|c||
|c||(/n). or it gcncratcs lcauty and makcs it morc lcautilul
(|c||/n) ly tlc cxccss ol lcauty wlicl comcs lrom it, so tlat it is tlc
principlc ol lcauty and tlc tcrm ol lcauty.
S0

1lc sourcc ol lcauty is tlus not a lcautilul tling, not cvcn tlc most lcautilul
ol all. Wlat makcs tlc lcauty tlat wc admirc spring lortl is notling otlcr
tlan an cxccss ol lcauty itscll. 1lc origin tlat givcs lirtl to tlc lcautilul docs
not lorm a rcscrvc lrom wlicl lcautics would in somc way lc drawn as and
wlcn rcquircd. 1lc cxccss ol tlc lcautilul ovcr itscll, in its manilcstation,
rclcrs to anotlcr, antcrior cxccss, tlc cxccss ly wlicl tlc Good surpasscs
cvcrytling tlat it givcs lortl. n tlis ctcrnal gilt ol intclligillc lcauty to itscll
ly tlc Good, wc must notc tlc comparativc |c||/n. to givc lcauty is to makc
it livc and slinc, to makc it somctling cntircly cxccssivc and surprising. 1lc
owcr ol lcauty, wlicl prcccdcs lcauty, is also tlc owcr tlat lcauty ollcrs
us, transmits to us, lcing itscll rcccivcd ly tlat owcr, lor low could it not
call us to wlat callcd it to itscll, to wlat gavc it to itscll and to us, and wlicl
is notling tlat onc could cvcr, in any way wlatsocvcr, appropriatc`
n tlc Clristian dimcnsion, Fscudo-ionysius tlc Arcopagitc, at tlc lcart
ol lis trcatisc On //. D/r/n. Ncm., was to takc up and dcvclop tlcsc idcas.
1o tlink ol God as tlat wlicl is lcyond lcauty and givcs lcauty is to disccrn
tlat only lis cxccss ovcr and alovc tlc lcautilul, and ovcr all tlc lormal
dcnnitions ol tlc lcautilul tlat wc miglt put lorward, makcs it possillc lor
tlcrc to lc a gilt ol lcauty, and lor tlc lcauty ol crcaturcs itscll to lc in
cxccss an cxccss ol itscll, wlicl / itscll in so lar as it rcsponds to tlc call ol
God.
S1
t is no longcr an always impcrlcct rcscmllancc lctwccn principlc and
principiatc, a rcscmllancc tlat makcs all lcings rcscmllc onc and tlc samc
csscncc and tlus also makcs tlcm rcscmllc onc anotlcr. n tlc contrary, tlc
purcst notion ol tlc nc cxcludcs all multiplicity lrom tlc principlc so tlat
tlc multiplc can spring all tlc morc purcly lrom tlc nc, spring lrom it lor
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
8
tlc nrst and only timc, so tlat tlcrc can lc sucl a tling as a world. 1o tlink
tlc multiplc witlout rcscntmcnt is tlc yardstick ol all notions ol tlc nc.
or Fscudo-ionysius, cvcryonc las to lc lis or lcr own lcauty, and
cvcn lovc it, lor tlat lcauty lorms wlat it is allc to slinc lortl, in a way all
tlc morc intcnsc tlc morc singular it is, in rcsponsc to tlc uniquc sourcc
ol liglt. n cacl pcrson, indccd, a ray ol tlis liglt las slonc, and it las
transngurcd cvcryonc. Bcauty, as Fscudo-ionysius tlinks ol it, unitcs and
scparatcs at oncc tlc dillcrcnt lcings among tlcmsclvcs. lcauty unitcs tlc
most diamctrically opposcd lcings in tlc samc luminous cxclamation, and
it lcavcs to cacl onc, in tlc most intimatcly convcrging clorus, its own
voicc, its own timlrc. 1lc Grcck ol Fscudo-ionysius is nllcd witl dcnsc
cxprcssions tlat can only lc paraplrascd in rcncl, as wlcn lc alnrms tlat ly
tlc nc, 'contrarics communicatc, and tlc unitcd clcmcnts cscapc conlusion`
(/c/ |/nJn/c/ /Jn .ncn//Jn, /c/ cumm/x/c/ /Jn /|nJm.nJn),
S2
or, a littlc lurtlcr
on, wlcn lc rclcrs to tlosc cu|/u// (//|/c/, tlosc unmixcd lricndslips tlat
Mauricc dc Gandillac cxplains pcrsuasivcly wlcn lc says. 'tlc lcings lovc
cacl otlcr witlout lcing alsorlcd into cacl otlcr`.
SS
or tlc divinc liglt
docs not illuminatc lcings tlat arc alrcady constitutcd. ly illuminating tlcm,
it crcatcs tlcm and cnallcs tlcm to arisc. 1o givc tlcm lcauty is not to add
anytling to tlcm, it is to givc tlcm to tlcmsclvcs, and to cacl otlcr, in tlc
unity ol a world tlat, as sucl, las a riclncss in proportion to its divcrsity.
Nolody las slown tlis morc clcarly tlan Gcrard Manlcy opkins. Witl
tlc murmurcd clarity ol poctic spcccl, lc alandons witlout ncgating it tlc
contcmpt in wlicl tlc (/|/|, tlc many-colourcd, is somctimcs lcld, in lis
slort lymn, lricl and surc-lootcd, cvcn its apparcntly lazardous momcnts,
'Ficd Bcauty`.
Glory lc to God lor dapplcd tlings
or skics ol couplc-colour as a lrindcd cow,
or rosc-molcs all in stipplc upon trout tlat swim,
rcsl-nrccoal clcstnut-lalls, nnclcs` wings,
andscapc plottcd and picccd lold, lallow, and plougl,
And all tradcs, tlcir gcar and tacklc and trim.
All tlings countcr, original, sparc, strangc,
Wlatcvcr is ncklc, lrccklcd (wlo knows low`)
Witl swilt, slow, swcct, sour, adazzlc, dim,
c latlcrs-lortl wlosc lcauty is past clangc,
Fraisc lim.
S+
crc, it is not tlc unilorm, tlc rcgular, tlc symmctrical tlat rclcrs us
to tlc solc and simplc God lut, on tlc contrary, tlc most varicd, tlc most
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
0
divcrsc, tlc most compositc, tlc most multiplc. As lor Fscudo-ionysius,
wlat wc lavc lcrc is a unity ol tcnsions, a lcartlclt community ol contrarics.
And it is tlat wlicl is most cplcmcral lor wlat could lc morc cplcmcral
tlan tlc lugitivc ock ol tlc clouds, tlc migrating liglt ol dawn and dusk, or
tlc rccctions on a nsl glimpscd in a rivcr` tlat lcars witncss to tlc God
'wlosc lcauty is past clangc`. 1lc cplcmcral docs tlis all tlc morc surcly in
tlat it docs not lavc tlc lcisurc to lingcr ovcr itscll, lut scnds its mcssagc as
it passcs and disappcars. 1lc pocm docs not invitc us to praisc God, in its
last two words, cxccpt in so lar as it las itscll donc notling clsc, lrom its nrst
word, 'Glory`, onwards. t docs not ccasc to say 'adicu`, in tlc doullc scnsc ol
tlc cxprcssion. it commcnds to God and says adicu.
1lc pocm lcrc cvokcs cvcrytling mottlcd ly lccoming mottlcd itscll,
assuming tlat vcry samc 'picd lcauty` ol wlicl it spcaks, lor wlat do nnclcs`
wings lavc in common witl tlc tools ol luman tradcs` And il tlis pocm
cxlorts us to praisc in turning into a lymn ol praisc itscll, wlat docs it say il
not tlat to olcy it and listcn to it is to lccomc oursclvcs, in turn, in our vcry
lcing as in our songs, 'countcr, original, sparc, strangc`` t wants, itscll, to
arousc strangcncss and dapplcd lucs as tlc only possillc rcsponsc to tlc call
it las tlus answcrcd. iving, inanimatc, natural, artincial, cplcmcral, durallc
cvcrytling is lcrc lrouglt into play. But tlc samc is not truc ol a dcnnition
ol lcauty as mcrc motlcy, lor tlcn arlcquin`s coat would lc tlc lcst cxamplc
ol it, tlis divcrsity must cacl timc lc rlytlmically unincd and must convcrgc
in tlc asl ol an cvcnt, in wlicl tlc world itscll comcs togctlcr as onc.
Wlilc slowing tlat tlc rclationslip lctwccn tlc lcauty ol tlings and tlc
lcauty ol God cannot lc imagincd as onc ol mimcsis or rcscmllancc, Gcrard
Manlcy opkins inauguratcs, lcrc as clscwlcrc, tlc drama ol spcccl wlcn it
attcmpts to dcscrilc and convcy lcauty. c spcaks ol its cvcnt in a way tlat
rcluscs to lc tlcorizcd. l lcauty may lc, in wlatcvcr scnsc, tlcoplanic, tlis
cannot takc tlc lorm ol a spcctaclc ollcrcd to a gazc tlat looks down on it
and mastcrs it lut as tlc rcqucst addrcsscd to an cxistcncc tlat is dcnudcd,
transportcd, drawn out ol itscll, and tlus truly cxisting, ly virtuc ol tlis
manilcstation in act. n cvcry manilcstation ol God, dircct or indircct, tlcrc
is advcnturc and advcnt. God comcs to mc, God lappcns to mc, and am
allcctcd ly lis arrival. 1o spcak ol tlis lcauty is to spcak to it also, to rcspond
to it and lccomc rcsponsillc lor it, just as it mcans lccoming rcsponsillc lor
my own transnguration at its lands and tlus lcing rcsponsillc lor myscll
morc tlan is rcally possillc lor it is not wlo lavc translormcd myscll in
tlis way, would not lavc lccn capallc ol it. 1o tlis act ol prcscncc tlc only
rcsponsc can lc an act ol spcccl.
1lis drama ol lcauty attains, in a cclclratcd passagc ol Book X ol St
Augustinc`s Cn(./n, its grcatcst and most llazing intcnsity. t is ncccssary
to listcn to lim so as to gain a morc prccisc idca ol tlis 4rcmc.
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
1
S.r /. cmcr/, (u|/r//u4 /cm cn//uc ./ /cm nrc, .r /. cmcr/!
atc lavc lovcd you, lcauty so old and so ncw. latc lavc lovcd
you. And scc, you wcrc witlin and was in tlc cxtcrnal world and
souglt you tlcrc, and in my unlovcly statc plungcd into tlosc
lovcly crcatcd tlings wlicl you madc (/n //c (rmc, uc. (.///
4.(rm/ /nru.|cm). You wcrc witl mc, and was not witl you. 1lc
lovcly tlings kcpt mc lar lrom you, tlougl il tlcy did not lavc tlcir
cxistcncc in you, tlcy lad no cxistcncc at all.
S5
God is invokcd ly tlc namc ol (u|/r//u4, 'lcauty`. But tlis namc, wlicl
ariscs in tlc vocativc, tlis namc, wlicl is you, is not in any way dcnncd,
loundcd or justincd in an argumcntativc way in tlis passagc. 1lc lcauty
tlat is God limscll is in no scnsc dcscrilcd, and St Augustinc docs not wax
cloqucnt alout it as il it wcrc a divinc attrilutc tlat lc lad tlc lcisurc to
contcmplatc or scrutinizc. 1lc scll-cvidcncc witl wlicl tlis namc sounds out
lcrc is ratlcr tlc scll-cvidcncc ol a kind ol catastroplc. to cxprcss tlis lcauty
is to say tlat wc lavc lccn astoundcd, tlundcrstruck, staggcrcd ly it, as ly an
avalanclc ol liglt. 1lc urgcncy ol tlis cvcnt, wlicl complctcly ovcrwlclms
us on cvcry sidc, is not somctling tlat can lc dcscrilcd lrom tlc standpoint
ol a mcrc onlookcr.
1lc nrst dimcnsion ol tlis cxccss is tcmporal. ctcrnity is cxprcsscd tlrougl
tlc words ol our spcccl and tlrougl our livcs and tlus in tcmporal tcrms
as lcing 'so old and so ncw`. t is lor us a past morc ancicnt tlan any past,
any past tlat miglt lclong to us, any past tlat wc would lavc constitutcd
or positcd as sucl. tcrnity is always alrcady tlcrc, always alrcady tlcrc
witlin us, in our most intimatc lcing, likc tlc lcart ol otlcrncss witlin
tlis intimacy. n tlis rcspcct, tlc lclatcd naturc (rclcrrcd to twicc ovcr) ol
Augustinc`s lovc lor tlis lcauty may indccd lc rclatcd to lis convcrsion and
lavc an autoliograplical rclcvancc, lut tlcsc lattcr do not cxlaust it. 1lc
S.r /. cmcr/ las somctling univcrsal alout it, it is a mattcr ol principlc, too,
lor tlc rcsponsc ol our lovc is ncccssarily lclatcd witl rcgard to tlc splcndour
ol God. t was tlcrc witlin us and lor us, lclorc wc could lccomc awarc ol it
and rcply to it. Wc cannot lc contcmporary witl wlat is always alrcady tlcrc.
Giving it tlc namc 4/c/rn;, mmanucl cvinas las, witl grcat prolundity,
dcvclopcd tlc idca ol an analogous lcvcl. So at wlatcvcr momcnt ol our livcs
wc arc allc to lovc tlis lcauty, and lowcvcr carly it is placcd, it would always
lc possillc to say 'atc lavc lovcd you.` Wlcn tlis lcauty manilcsts itscll, it
tlcrcly manilcsts also its prcccdcncc, tlc lact tlat it comcs lclorc us and tlat
it was slining lortl long lclorc wc opcncd our cycs to it.
1lis lclatcdncss ol our gazc in rclation to tlc liglt, and ol our lands to tlc
riclncss ol tlc ollcring tlat is alrcady pouring down on us and witlin us, is
not, lowcvcr, rcvcalcd ly a paticnt and slow introspcction, lut ly tlc slock
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
2
ol its ncwncss. Tcm cn//uc ./ /cm nrc. Wlcrc is tlis lcauty ncw, and low`
1lc ctcrnal prcscnt is in itscll ncitlcr old nor ncw. 1lis lcauty is old wlcrcvcr
wc discovcr tlat it las gonc lclorc us, cvcn in tlc dcptls ol our lcing, and it
is ncw wlcrcvcr it rcncws us, and lorccs opcn our doors and wounds us witl
its clarity. t is its ncwncss, in lact, tlat manilcsts low old it is, lor wlcn all
ol a suddcn it discloscs itscll to us, it tlcrcly discloscs to us its immcmorial
claractcr. or tlis ncwncss is not tlc ncwncss ol an cvcnt in timc, a ncwncss
tlat littlc ly littlc ccascs to lc ncw. it is tlc radical ncwncss, salc lrom all
agcing, ol ctcrnity springing lortl into timc an advcnt.
Wlcn it is not a mattcr ol nnding and taking somctling wc did not lavc
lut ol lctting oursclvcs lc lound and takcn ly tlat wlicl alrcady dwclt in us,
tlc vcry act ol sccking may put its scal on loss and pcrplcxity. Malclranclc,
lollowing St Augustinc, tlouglt at lcngtl alout tlis. t is wlat is at stakc in
lis words, 'You wcrc witlin, and was in tlc cxtcrnal world and souglt you
tlcrc`. 1lis slould lc comparcd witl tlc passagc slortly altcr. 'You wcrc
witl mc, and was not witl you` (M.um .rc, ./ /.um nn .rcm). n ordcr to
lc prcscnt to wlat alrcady dwclls witlin us, to wlat las alrcady approaclcd
us in tlc dcptls ol our lcing, wc nccd only opcn oursclvcs to its prcscncc and
lid it wclcomc. 1lc wclcoming wc givc to wlat is alrcady tlcrc is tlc truc
wclcomc, tlc onc tlat ncvcr cnds. 1lc opposition lctwccn insidc and outsidc
docs not so mucl distinguisl lctwccn two rcgions in wlicl wc can cmlark
on a qucst lor God, two dimcnsions in wlicl to scck lim, lut ratlcr, on tlc
onc land, a dircction in wlicl to scck wlcrc God is lost prcciscly lccausc
wc arc sccking lim as il lc wcrc not alrcady tlcrc (lut wc wcrc), lccausc
wc always movc lurtlcr and lurtlcr away lotl lrom lim and lrom oursclvcs
wlcn wc tlink wc arc gctting closcr, and, on tlc otlcr land, a spacc in wlicl
it is not a qucstion ol sccking an alscnt or distant God, lut ol lctting lim,
alrcady tlcrc as lc is, nnd u. And tlis can lappcn only il wc lold oursclvcs
availallc lor lim to takc lold ol us.
ow can St Augustinc call limscll 4.(rm/ wlcn lc ruslcs /n //c (rmc,
dclormcd and ugly wlcn lc lastcns towards tlc lcautilul lorms` 1lis is ly
no mcans a way ol dcnying tlc rcality ol tlc world`s lcauty, wlicl is so oltcn
cvokcd ly lim as a witncss to tlc Crcator and an .nr/ to lim. 1lc pcrson
wlo asks individually crcatcd lcautilul tlings lor wlat, on principlc, tlcy
cannot givc lim, namcly tlc capacity to makc limscll lcautilul, can only cnd
up dclorming limscll tlrougl lis vcry lovc ol tlc lorms. t only nccds lim
to lc alscnt lrom limscll lor lis proccdurc to lc crratic and discordant. As
lc says a littlc latcr, '1lcrc is a strugglc lctwccn joys ovcr wlicl slould
lc wccping and rcgrcts at mattcrs ovcr wlicl ouglt to lc rcjoicing.` 1lis
painlul scll-division dclorms lim.
1lc cnd ol tlc paragrapl, wlicl lavc not yct quotcd, is ol particular
importancc.
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
S
You callcd and cricd out loud and slattcrcd my dcalncss. You wcrc
radiant and rcsplcndcnt, you put to iglt my llindncss. You wcrc
lragrant, and drcw in my lrcatl and now pant altcr you. tastcd
you, and lccl lut lungcr and tlirst lor you. You touclcd mc, and
am sct on nrc to attain tlc pcacc wlicl is yours.
n tlis cvocation ol wlat tlcology would latcr call tlc spiritual scnscs, tlcrc
is a nvclold wound, wlicl is an csscntial part ol tlc manilcstation ol God`s
lcauty. God lrcaks in, lc comcs towards us and upon us as tlc ord, ly
crcating tlc conditions ol possilility ol lis own manilcstation. c alonc can
takc tlc initiativc, lc opcns tlc doors tlat wc lavc closcd lclind oursclvcs,
and lc docs not comc to lulnl or satisly a dcsirc tlat is alrcady ours, lut lc
limscll comcs to rousc its amc witlin us.
Wlat is lcrc lcing said ol tlc divinc lcauty` Wc do not so mucl spcak ol
it as to it. 1lis praycrlul and vocativc spcccl addrcsscd to God ncvcr loscs
siglt ol tlc lact tlat lc is as God always grcatcr. And wlat is ollcrcd up to tlis
lcauty is notling otlcr tlan tlc dcsirc it las opcncd up witlin us, tlc wound
it las inictcd on us. 1lcrc is in spcccl ol tlis kind somctling agonistic,
wlicl lorcclully rccalls tlc intimacy ol {acol wrcstling witl tlc angcl. 1lis
tlcoplanic lcauty is a tlcopatlic lcauty. tlc manilcstation ol God can lc
cxprcsscd only tlrougl a sullcring ol God, an cnduring ol God. Notling
clsc is dcscrilcd lut tlc cvcnt ol tlc cncountcr, tlc impcrious and gcncrous
way tlat God comcs. tlcrc is lcrc nonc ol tlc pridc and prcsumption ol tlc
pcrson wlo would claim to dcnnc and dctcrminc tlc lcauty ol God as lc is in
limscll. 1lat is wly tlis passagc lrom St Augustinc allows us to grasp clcarly
tlc 4rcmc ol spcccl. it docs not rccount an cvcnt unlcss it itscll constitutcs an
cvcnt, and tlus dclivcrs us lrom acstlcticism ratlcr tlan tlrcatcning us witl
it. Bcauty lcrc says adicu and commcnds to God lccausc it arouscs, as tlc
only possillc rcsponsc to its manilcstation, a praycr, a spcccl tlat itscll says
adicu and itscll turns towards God.
1lcsc claractcristics ol lailing and cxccss can lc lound, allcit in a dillcrcnt
stylc, in anotlcr dccisivc passagc lrom atin patristic writing tlat discusscs
tlc divinc lcauty, in tlc nrst look ol tlc grcat work ol St ilary ol Foiticrs
on tlc 1rinity.
S6
Quoting tlc look ol Wisdom, St ilary sccs, in turn, tlc
lcauty ol tlc world as an opcning up to tlc lcauty ol tlc Crcator. 'And
sincc tlc work ((.rc//) surpasscs cvcn our comprclcnsion, so tlc workcr
((.rc/r) must lar cxcccd our comprclcnsion.` 1lc scnsc ol lcauty is tlat it
cxcccds our scnsc, always givcs itscll in addition. 1lc world`s lcauty rclcrs
us to God`s lcauty in tlc way tlat somctling clusivc rclcrs us to somctling
cvcn morc clusivc, and not in tlc way tlat a copy rclcrs us to a modcl, lotl
ol wlicl would lall, in a lanal way, witlin tlc compass ol our minds. St
ilary lrings out again, witlin lis Clristian and atin way ol tlinking, tlc
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
+
Grcck scnsc ol |m. '1lc lcavcns, tlc sky, tlc cartl, tlc sca, and tlc wlolc
univcrsc arc lcautilul, tlcrclorc, lccausc ol its splcndour (.x rnc/u u), as
cvcn tlc Grccks agrcc, as it appcars to lc callcd dcscrvcdly |m, tlat is, tlc
ornamcnt.`
Sucl a prcamllc is not going to lcad to any scll-assurcd dcscription ol
tlat splcndour ol crcation, on tlc contrary, tlc rcst ol tlc claptcr gocs on
to intcrlacc spcccl and silcncc, tlouglt and tlat wlicl cxcccds tlouglt, in
a mcditation on tlc possilility or tlc impossilility ol praising lcauty. Wc
rclatc to tlc lcauty ol crcaturcs, St ilary slows, ly a 'natural instinct`. l tlc
languagc wc usc to dcscrilc it is not up to tlc lcvcl ol tlc lcclings it inspircs in
us, il, to somc dcgrcc, lcauty lcavcs us spcccllcss, nonctlclcss our inncr scnsc
cngagcs in a dialoguc witl itscll as it dirccts its tlouglts to lcauty. 1lcsc lcad
us lack to its sourcc.
Slould not tlc ord ol tlis lcauty itscll lc conccivcd as tlc
most lcautilul ol all lcauty, so tlat, wlilc tlc lorm ol is ctcrnal
adornmcnt cludcs tlc mind`s powcr ol comprclcnsion, tlc ornamcnt
is not witldrawn lrom tlc mind`s powcr ol comprclcnsion`
l lcauty lcrc lorms a way to God, tlis is not lccausc it providcs tlc
opportunity lor an apologctic argumcnt in lavour ol lis cxistcncc, lut lccausc
it is onc ol tlc ngurcs ol cxccss, and surpasscs our intclligcncc witlout lcing
complctcly indcpcndcnt ol it. t is to laitl tlat it is discloscd, out ol rcspcct
lor its transccndcncc.
S7
1lis lcads to tlc lormulation, at oncc lalanccd and
taut, tlat lrings tlc claptcr to an cnd.
Wc must acknowlcdgc God as tlc most lcautilul ol all in tlis manncr,
tlat c is not includcd witlin tlc tlouglts tlat wc comprclcnd
nor is c lcyond tlc comprclcnsion ol our tlouglts (n.u. /n/rc
.n/.n//cm /n/.||/.n4/, n.u. .x/rc /n/.||/.n//cm .n//.n4/).
1lis cliasmus, wlicl dcncs translation, is an attcmpt to signily tlat tlc
cxpcricncc in wlicl wc undcrgo tlc divinc lcauty rcally is an ordcal, and docs
not lcavc us scparatcd lrom it, cvcn tlougl tlis ordcal trics to matcl up to
tlat lcauty witlout mcasuring it, and cvcn tlougl it cannot appropriatc it in
sucl a way tlat wc can grasp it cntirc. t is yct again a qucstion ol tlc drama
ol spcccl. lcauty says adicu, to God ('a icu`), it docs not say God limscll.
Spcccl cannot say adicu in rcsponsc to lcauty unlcss 'song is cxistcncc`.
G.cn // Dc./n, tlis is tlc impcrious dcmand madc ly Filkc in tlc Snn./
/ Or(/.u.
S8
Song is cxistcncc, tlc cxistcncc tlat is most ours, lut also tlat
wlicl wc most slarc in common, wlcn it rcmcmlcrs to sing in lorgctlulncss
ol tlc singcr and ccascs to lc our own cxprcssion.
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
5
Song, as you tcacl it, is not dcsirc,
Not tlc striving lor a good tlat is nnally aclicvcd,
Song is cxistcncc.
1lis is wly, in tlc samc sonnct, to tlc young man in lovc wlosc 'voicc lorccs
opcn lis moutl`, Filkc says.
carn
1o lorgct tlat you struck up your song. t ows away.
1o sing in trutl is anotlcr lrcatl.
A lrcatl alout notling. A lrcczc llowing in God. A wind.
1lc prcssurc ol our own nccd to sing listcns too mucl to itscll, it is in lact
not urgcnt cnougl, lor it docs not mcasurc up to tlc urgcncy ol tlc tlings
tlcmsclvcs. Wlcn wc rcad tlc cnd ol tlis sonnct, low can wc lail to tlink
ol tlc rcvclation ol God to lijal on Mount orcl, in wlicl God is ncitlcr
in tlc grcat and strong wind, nor in tlc cartlquakc, nor in tlc nrc, lut in
tlc 'liglt murmuring sound`.
S
xccpt lor tlis. ly an invcrsion, it is our own
voicc, in so lar as it is rcsponsillc lor tlc world, tlat must lc sucl a still small
voicc in God il it is to lccomc cxistcncc and an autlcntic song.
But low can tlis takc placc` At nrst glancc, onc miglt lc tcmptcd to tlink
tlat il song lccomcs cxistcncc, it is ly rcacling a dimcnsion ol larmony
and rcconciliation, in wlicl tlc singcr would no longcr lc anytling otlcr
tlan lis song and tlis song a waysidc altar, a dwclling placc lor tlc lcauty
tlat it sings. A drcam ol pcacc, a drcam ol all tcnsions lcing nnally rcsolvcd,
a luminous and radiant splcrc. But is tlis rcally possillc` 1lc lolty, purc
poctry ol {acoponc da 1odi, in tlirtccntl-ccntury taly, collcctcd undcr tlc
titlc Lcu4.,
+0
slows witl claractcristic vigour tlc illusory naturc ol sucl
a vision. Song is cxistcncc only wlcn it is woundcd to tlc lcart ly wlat it
sings, and lrcaks down, slattcrcd ly tlc radiancc ol wlat it sings and yct
still continucs to sing. l praisc ly dcnnition cxcludcs a complaccnt rccxivity
tlat turns us riglt round lack on oursclvcs, tlis docs not tlcrcly mcan tlat
it is unrccctivc and naivc. ow could a spcccl in wlicl wc lavc to pay witl
our wlolc pcrson, plcdgc our own lilc, rcmain dcvoid ol lucidity witl rcgard
to its proccdurcs and its movcmcnt`
1lus it is tlat {acoponc, at tlc lcart ol a lymn to divinc liglt and lovc,
addrcsscs tlis oljcction to limscll.
proud tonguc, low lavc you darcd
1o spcak ol loly ovc`
uman spcccl cannot risc to sucl lciglts.
n spcaking ol tlis lovc
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
6
1lc tongucs ol angcls laltcr
And you lccl no misgivings and slamc`
You rcducc lovc
1o tlc mcasurc ol your words,
1lis is not praisc, lut llasplcmy.
+1
1o wlicl {acoponc rcplics tlat onc must 'slout tlc praiscs ol lovc`, and
dcscrilcs tlc sullocation, tlc asplyxiation in wlicl tlc pcrson unallc to sing
ol lis lovc would pcrisl. But wlat is tlc status ol tlis rcply` 1o wlat cxtcnt
docs it countcr tlc lcgitimatc oljcction tlat praisc tlat is not appropriatc to
tlc oljcct ol its praisc turns into its own oppositc and, unallc to say kind
tlings, comcs out witl unkind gossip instcad` 1o point in cxcusc to our own
inncr ncccssity, tlc nccd wc lavc to uttcr tlc tlings tlat wcigl on our clcsts,
may sccm a way ol ignoring tlc qucstion ratlcr tlan answcring it adcquatcly.
But to tlink as mucl would mcan altogctlcr lailing to grasp tlc dimcnsion
in wlicl spcccl sucl as tlat ol {acoponc da 1odi works.
1lc ccntrc ol lis poctry is tlc 'sickncss ol lovc` ol tlc Sn ( Sn, rclcrrcd
to ly an cntirc mystical tradition.
+2
1lc onc wlo is tlus woundcd in lis
most intimatc lcing cannot dcscrilc tlc lcauty ol tlc Bclovcd as in somc
tranquil contcmplation in wlicl lc would lc at pcrlcct lcisurc to wcigl lis
words. lc crics out lis wound in urgcnt alarm, and in uttcring lis cry lc
makcs tlat wound dccpcr, allows it to grow dccpcr witlin lim. 1lis wound
lorms an cvcnt. it ovcrwlclms cxistcncc in sucl a way tlat in us is crcatcd an
opcning tlat wc lavc not oursclvcs opcncd, and tlat tlcrc is givcn to us, in
a joy tlat tcars us apart, morc tlan anytling wc could givc oursclvcs, morc
tlan anytling wc can rcccivc or contain. {acoponc spcaks ol a winc so strong
tlat it makcs tlc loops ol tlc larrcl lurst.
+S
1o spcak ol tlc wound ol lovc,
and lccausc ol tlat wound not to spcak ol oncscll nrst and lorcmost, it is to
spcak ol tlc otlcr. And it is not to spcak ol tlc otlcr as il onc lad an opinion
alout lim, somc pcrsonal point ol vicw, lut to spcak ol tlc otlcr in so lar
as lc makcs us otlcr to wlat wc wcrc or could cvcn try to lc. 1lc praisc ol
lovcrs docs not claim to mcasurc up to tlc lcauty it sings, it is lornc into
tlc immcasurallc cxccss ol tlc cvcnt in wlicl tlat lcauty las cncountcrcd it,
countcring and ovcrcoming as it docs so any prc-cxisting imagc.
urtlcrmorc, praisc knows lcttcr tlan anyonc tlat tlcrc cxists no
standpoint lrom wlicl onc could comparc tlc lcauty ol tlc song and tlc
lcauty ol wlat it sings, so as to slow up tlc cxact mcasurc ol its lailurc to
matcl up to it. Wlo could look down lrom sucl a panoramic lciglt` Wc
would nccd to scc lcauty lcttcr tlan tlc onc wlo is singing its praiscs, in
conscqucncc, citlcr tlis vision would lc silcnt, and in not rcsponding to
lcauty it would not rcally scc it (lor to scc witlout tlis vision committing us
in tlc sligltcst way to anytling at all is mcrcly a lorm ol cmpty curiosity), or
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
7
clsc it would sing its own scll, and sucl a song could not takc as its oljcct tlc
criticism and dcvaluation ol otlcr songs.
or {acoponc, tlc 'julilation` ol tlc lcart, at onc and tlc samc timc witl
onc and tlc samc movcmcnt, witldraws spcccl and givcs spcccl, witldraws
it so as to givc it in rcality.
lcart`s julilation, lovc and song,
{oy and joy unccasing,
1lc stuttcring ol tlc unuttcrallc
ow can tlc lcart lut sing`
++
nly a woundcd spcccl can cxprcss tlc wound, only a spcccl cxpatriatcd
lrom scll-ccrtainty can cxprcss tlc wrcncl tlat las ung it outsidc itscll.
ovc ol tlc aml, vastcr tlan any sca,
Wlo can darc to spcak ol You`
c wlo las drowncd in You,
And no longcr knows wlcrc lc is.
+5
n anotlcr pocm, {acoponc altcrnatcs two voiccs tlat lotl cxprcss
tlcir rclationslip to tlc cvcnt ol tlc cross, lut in invcrsc laslion. 1lc nrst
clamours. 'ncc was llind, now scc`, and tlc sccond rcplics. '1lc liglt
las llindcd mc.` 1lc nrst gocs on to say. 'Now can spcak, tlougl oncc
was mutc`, and tlc sccond. 'And wlo oncc could talk am now madc mutc.`
+6

Wlat is dccisivc in tlis dialoguc is tlat it docs not contrast tlcsc two voiccs
likc trutl and lalsity. ncitlcr ol tlc voiccs rclutcs tlc otlcr. Wlat wc lavc
lcrc arc two rclationslips to tlc wound ol lovc, and tlcy arc togctlcr cqually
truc. But, lor {acoponc, it is tlc voicc tlat is most woundcd tlat las gonc
lurtlcst, lor wlat las woundcd tlat voicc las gonc lurtlcst witlin it, to tlc
vcrgc ol tlc intolcrallc, tlc intolcrallc tlat lursts opcn a song tlat wc arc no
longcr alonc in singing, a song tlat is lrokcn, torn, paradoxical, in lovc.
Among tlc paradoxcs ol tlis poctry, tlcrc is onc paradox tlat lrings
lcauty into play. 1lcrc appcar, in onc and tlc samc pocm, two oppositc
movcmcnts. 1lc nrst is tlat wlcrcly tlc way wc arc scizcd and ravislcd ly
divinc lcauty sccms to rcducc to notling tlc lcauty ol crcation, so tlat tlc
lattcr mcrcly arouscs a kind ol violcnt impaticncc.
can no longcr scc any crcaturc,
My wlolc soul crics out to tlc Crcator,
Ncitlcr cartl nor lcavcn lavc any swcctncss lor mc any morc,
Comparcd witl tlc lovc ol Clrist, cvcrytling lor mc is loul.
+7
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
8
1lc sun itscll sccms dark in comparison witl tlc divinc glory. But, tlrcc
vcrscs lurtlcr on, {acoponc writcs.
or lcavcn and cartl cry and all tlings
o not ccasc to proclaim tlat must lovc tlus,
1lcy all tcll mc. Witl all your lcart, lovc
1lc ovc tlat las madc us, and lurn to cmlracc it!
+8
ow arc wc to undcrstand tlis tcnsion` l tlc lcauty ol crcation is notling
comparcd to God, low can it dircct us to lim` l it rcally says adicu, low
could its adicu lc lorgcttallc`
1lis drama ol spcccl las to lc graspcd in tlc unity ol its act, witlout its
dillcrcnt movcmcnts lcing nxcd and isolatcd. Bcauty says adicu wlcn tlc
cxccss ol its manilcstation calls out, in our own voicc wlicl it causcs to laltcr
and scizcs witl urgcncy, a namc liglcr tlan all namcs, wlicl wc alonc, allcit
in lcar and trcmlling, can pronouncc. 1lis adicu is an .nr/. wc cannot in
God limscll contcmplatc tlc lcauty ol tlings crcatcd, lor ol tlis lcauty wc
arc tlc only licutcnants and tlc only moutlpicccs. t is our voicc tlat carrics
to God and into God tlc adicu ol tlings and ol tlc mutc world. l tlings in
all tlcir radiancc arc clargcd witl a mission to us, wc too lavc tlc mission
ol wclcoming tlcm, gatlcring tlcm in, carrying tlcm ly mcans ol our voicc
to a placc tlat tlcy cannot rcacl ol tlcmsclvcs. But tlis mcrcly intcnsincs tlc
qucstion. Can a lcauty wlicl makcs all otlcr lcauty ugly still lc lcauty` s
lcauty a divinc namc`
1lc Tr.c//. n //. Lr. ( G4 ol St ranois dc Salcs opcns up somc lar-
rcacling qucstions in tlis domain. 1o lc surc, lc cvokcs tlc 'most cxccllcnt
lcauty` ol God, lis 'sovcrcign lcauty`, witlout lingcring too long ovcr tlc
qucstion as to wlctlcr tlis namc can lc justincd.
+
But wlcn, rclcrring to
tlc lcatinc vision, tlc vision ol God lacc to lacc, lc comcs round to tlinking
alout tlc placc wlcrc tlis lcauty will lc truly sccn, wlat docs lc say`
1lc llcsscd spirits arc ravislcd ly two lorms ol admiration. tlc onc,
lor tlc innnitc lcauty tlcy contcmplatc, and tlc otlcr, lor tlc alyss
ol tlc innnity wlicl rcmains to lc sccn in tlis scllsamc lcauty.
God, low admirallc is wlat tlcy scc! But God, low mucl morc
admirallc is wlat tlcy do not scc!
50

a littlc lurtlcr on, in tlc words tlat cnd tlc claptcr, St ranois adds.
1lcy lccl a sovcrcign joy wlcn tlcy scc tlat tlc lcauty tlcy lovc
is so innnitc tlat it cannot lc totally known cxccpt ly itscll. lor in
S BA\1Y SAY A\`

tlis consists tlc divinity ol tlis innnitc lcauty, or tlc lcauty ol tlis
innnitc ivinity.
51
1lc nrst qucstion tlat ariscs is tlat ol knowing wlctlcr tlc word 'lcauty`,
rcpcatcd scvcral timcs, still las a spccincity propcr to itscll. ndccd, it clcarly
appcars tlat wlat is ccntral, lcrc, is notling otlcr tlan tlc divinc innnity, and
wlat St ranois dc Salcs alnrms ol lcauty could lc said, in tlc samc tcrms,
ol alsolutcly any divinc attrilutc, sucl as justicc or wisdom. 1lc sccond
qucstion lrings into play tlc idca tlat tlc lull vision ol tlis lcauty can only
lc tlc vision it las ol itscll. 1lis lcaturc mcans tlat it is radically dillcrcnt
lrom nnitc lcauty, wlicl only cvcr allows itscll to lc sccn ly tlc otlcr.
Ncitlcr tlc lcauty ol naturc nor tlc lcauty ol art scc tlcmsclvcs. 1lcy arc
lcauty only lor our gazc and our voicc. And cvcn tlc lcauty ol a lacc is only
rcally madc visillc to tlc otlcr otlcrwisc, as tlc latc ol Narcissus slows,
it would lc morc larmlul tlan joylul, and would disappcar. Can wc usc tlc
samc tcrm to namc somctling tlat can lc sccn only ly itscll and somctling
tlat can lc sccn only lrom tlc point ol vicw ol anotlcr` 1lc tlird qucstion
lcars on tlc incxlaustillc claractcr ol tlc vision ol tlc lcautilul and on
tlc naturc ol tlis incxlaustilility. vcry vision is a vision witl a luturc. Wc
ncvcr cxlaust or will cxlaust tlc visillc. And tlis incxlaustilility assumcs, in
lcauty, a particular intcnsity. tlat is lcautilul wlicl ollcrs to my gazc, as il
trcmulously alivc alrcady in tlc prcscnt, tlc luturc ol tlat gazc. Not a luturc
mcrcly drcamt ol, lut a luturc alrcady tlcrc, wlicl is tlc vcry cxccss ol lcauty
in its manilcstation. 1lis luturc docs not lorm somc 'otlcr` visillc rcalm, ol
tlc kind wc mcan wlcn wc spcak ol an 'otlcr` world. it is tlc jutting prow ol
tlc visillc itscll. And alrcady, in tlc vision ol tlc nnitc, it is not corrcct to say
tlat wlat wc do not scc is 'mucl morc admirallc` tlan wlat wc scc, lor to scc
is prcciscly to scc tlis 'mucl morc`, to scc it as tlat wlicl nlls my gazc witl
luturity, making it a pcrmancnt apprcnticc and yct at tlc samc timc satcd and
satisncd oncc and lor all. 1lc conscqucncc ol all ol tlis is tlat wc cannot lclp
lut tlink tlat tlc lillical tcrm |r; would lc mucl morc appropriatc tlan
'lcauty` to wlat St ranois las in mind. Wlcn 'lcauty` comcs to dcsignatc
tlc vcry divinity ol God, it loscs its community witl wlat wc can admirc and
praisc ly tlis namc in ordinary crcaturcs.
But tlis qucstion lounccs lack, translormcd, il wc considcr anotlcr
placc in wlicl it raiscs its lcad. 1lcrc is, in tlc listory ol tlouglt and
art, a dccisivc arca in wlicl tlc status ol lcauty and its adicu is a topic ol
mcditation. tlc qucstion as to tlc lcauty ol Clrist. Wlcrc tlc glory ol God,
in tlc incarnation, comcs in pcrson to dwcll in lumankind, lody and soul,
can wc also talk ol lcauty` n wlat scnsc can wc spcak ol tlc lcauty ol {csus,
and nrst and lorcmost slould wc` Wlat alout tlc way art dcpicts lis lody
and lis lacc` ocs {csus`s pcrlcction rcquirc lodily lcauty` 1lcsc qucstions
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
100
wcrc and arc disputcd, witl tlc most widcly dillcrcnt rcplics lcing givcn. Wc
nccd to sct out in csscncc tlc various possillc answcrs.
n tlc cigltl look ol lis D. Tr/n//c/., St Augustinc rcmarks solcrly tlat
wc know notling and can know notling alout tlc plysical appcarancc ol
{csus, Mary or tlc apostlcs. Wc lavc ncitlcr dcscription nor portrait ol tlcm.
'But`, lc continucs, 'wlat conccrns our laitl is not a mattcr ol knowing wlat
lacc tlcsc mcn lad, it is knowing tlat ly tlc gracc ol God tlcy lcd tlc lilc
and accomplislcd tlc actions attcstcd ly tlc Scripturcs.`
52
l coursc wc
can imaginc tlc laccs or tlc placcs ol sacrcd listory. But tlcsc imagcs arc
arlitrary, and wc can takc it as a givcn tlat, lcrc as clscwlcrc, rcality, il wc
could scc it, would lc complctcly dillcrcnt and would totally disposscss us ol
tlosc imagcs.
1lc lacc ol tlc ord itscll is innnitcly varicd, dcpcnding on tlc
dillcrcnt rcprcscntations ol it cacl pcrson lorms. and yct lc was
uniquc, wlatcvcr lis appcarancc. But wlat is salutary in tlc laitl wc
lavc in tlc ord {csus is not tlcsc imaginativc rcprcscntations, lar-
rcmovcd lrom rcality as tlcy may lc. it is wlat wc tlink ol tlc man,
ol wlat in lim answcrs to our idca ol man.
5S
And wlcn, in lis commcntary on tlc Fsalms, St Augustinc spcaks ol tlc
mcnc (u|/r//u4, tlc grcat lcauty ol tlc incarnation, a tlcmc tlat tlcn
dcvclops into a sort ol lymn to tlc lcauty ol Clrist, in wlicl tlc word
(u|/.r is rcpcatcd scvcral timcs ovcr, lc is not talking alout Clrist`s plysical
appcarancc, lut ol tlc radiancc ol lis justicc. 'Suprcmc and truc lcauty is
justicc . . . l somconc is just in all rcspccts, it is in cvcry rcspcct tlat lc is
lcautilul.`
5+
1lc vision ol tlis spiritual lcauty is inscparallc lrom laitl. 'or
us wlo lclicvc, it is cvcrywlcrc tlat tlc lridcgroom prcscnts limscll in lis
lcauty.` 1lis lcauty rcsidcs in tlc pcrlormancc ol lis acts all lis acts. Bcauty
is tlc justicc tlat comcs. tlc occurrcncc ol lcauty. Wc grasp it as and wlcn it
lappcns. Sucl a conccption to somc cxtcnt rulcs out tlc qucstion ol knowing
wlctlcr {csus was or was not cndowcd witl any particular plysical lcauty.
n lis own stylc, Bossuct latcr paraplrascd and cxtcndcd tlcsc idcas ol
St Augustinc in lis 'irst Scrmon lor tlc cast ol tlc Circumcision ol ur
ord`.
55
1lc paradox ol a lcauty ol lorror, or witlin lorror, is tlcrc takcn to
a sullimc lcvcl.
Altlougl tlosc cruclly torn limls and tlat poor manglcd csl
almost sickcn tlosc wlo approacl lim, altlougl tlc proplct saial
prcdictcd tlat in tlis statc lc would not lc rccognizallc, tlat lc
would lavc ncitlcr gracc, nor cvcn any luman appcarancc . . .,
nonctlclcss, it is in tlcsc cllaccd lincamcnts, it is in tlcsc lruiscd
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
101
cycs, it is in tlis lacc wlicl inspircs lorror, tlat discovcr tlc
lcaturcs ol an incomparallc lcauty.
56

1lc lcauty ol Clrist in tlc Fassion is convcycd tlrougl its oppositc. tlc
pcrlcction ol tlc luman lacc lics in its lcing allc to ollcr itscll on lclall
ol justicc and trutl, cvcn il, in tlis ollcring, it is, as it wcrc, ollitcratcd or
disngurcd. And yct, Bossuct addrcsscs to limscll tlc lollowing oljcction.
But pcrlaps you will say to mc. Wlat a strangc imagination it is tlat
sccks lis lcauty amid lis sullcrings, wlicl do not cvcn lcavc lim
witl tlc lacc ol a man! Wly do you not mucl ratlcr contcmplatc it
in lis marvcllous transnguration, or in lis glorious rcsurrcction`
or Bossuct, tlis lcauty is nonc otlcr tlan tlat ol God`s gilt. it sounds out
in tlc (r n|/ ol laitl. 1o tlosc wlo 'nnd dclormity in lis wounds`, Bossuct
rcplics.
or mc, assurcd as am tlat it is lor lovc ol mc tlat lc was tlus
lruiscd and lcatcn, cannot slarc tlcir opinion. 1lc truc lcauty
ol my mastcr cannot lc takcn away lrom lim. no, no, tlosc crucl
lruiscs did not disngurc tlat lacc, tlcy cmlcllislcd it in my cycs
. . . . 1lc lovc my Saviour King las lor mc, tlc lovc wlicl opcncd
all lis wounds, sprcad ovcr it a ccrtain gracc tlat no otlcr oljcct
can cqual, a ccrtain radiant lcauty wlicl transports tlc souls ol tlc
laitllul.
57
Wc lavc lcrc, so to spcak, a slippagc lrom onc possilility to anotlcr. wc
movc lrom an indillcrcncc to tlc cslly appcarancc ol Clrist, lis only lcauty
lying in justicc, to tlc contcmplation ol suprcmc lcauty o////n suprcmc
lorror, cvcn in tlc disngurcmcnt ol tlc Fassion. 1lis tradition lcads to con
Bloy`s In //. Dcr|n.. God, lc writcs, 'sccms to lavc condcmncd limscll to
tlc cnd ol timc to cxcrcisc ovcr man no immcdiatc riglt ol a mastcr ovcr a
scrvant, or a king ovcr a suljcct. l lc wants to win us ovcr, lc las to scducc
us.` 1lat God can scducc was alrcady tlc astonisling turn ol plrasc ol tlc
proplct {crcmial.
58
And con Bloy continucs. 'c will not dclcnd limscll
ly lis powcr, lut only ly lis paticncc and ly lis Bcauty.`
5
Wlat lcauty`
'nnnitc Bcauty and Strcngtl arc tlosc ol tlc Man ol Sorrows.`
60
'Wc do not
undcrstand tlat wc arc tlc mcmlcrs ol tlc Man ol sorrow, ol tlc Man wlo
is suprcmc {oy, ovc, 1rutl, Bcauty, iglt and ilc only lccausc lc is tlc
ctcrnally distrauglt ovcr ol tlc suprcmc Fain, tlc Filgrim ol tlc ultimatc
sacrincc.`
61
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
102
l tlc cxtrcmc claractcr ol tlis tlouglt, in wlicl tlc crucincd {csus
lccomcs, as it wcrc, tlc llack sun ol lcauty, docs not avoid running tlc
risk ol an indcnnitc rlctorical cxpansion, it is also, spiritually spcaking,
somcwlat amliguous. s tlis lcauty in lorror imagincd on tlc lasis ol tlc
uniquc cvcnt ol {csus`s passion, in wlicl laitl alonc can discovcr it and opcn
itscll up to it, or docs it arisc lrom a law ol invcrsion, in accordancc witl
wlicl oppositcs rcvcal and rcinlorcc onc anotlcr` Bcautilul uglincss, (rmc
4.(rm//c,
62
las lccn a sourcc ol constant and uncnding lascination tlrougl
tlc ccnturics, and it las givcn risc to all sorts ol works ol art. 1o spcak ol tlc
lcauty ol tlc disngurcd {csus is citlcr an cxamplc ol tlc cult ol oxymoron,
ol an invcrtcd acstlcticism, wlicl is always a littlc murky, or clsc it supposcs
tlat wc liglliglt tlc lact tlat lcauty too dics and is rcsurrcctcd, tlat tlc
incarnation, ly making all tlings ncw, rcncws lcauty also, and opcns it up
to ncw dimcnsions. Wlcn Bossuct spcaks ol tlc 'gracc` and tlc 'clarms` ol
pain, is lc not illcgitimatcly mixing up two dillcrcnt lcvcls and two dillcrcnt
languagcs` 1lc lcauty ol tlc crucincd must lc tlouglt witlin tlc dimcnsion
opcncd up ly tlc cvcnt ol tlc rcsurrcction, and not on tlc lasis ol tlc
conccpts ol acstlctics.
Bclorc wc can lormulatc tlis qucstion morc adcquatcly, wc ouglt to
cxaminc tlc scnsc, tlc scopc and tlc loundation ol tlc various traditions
tlat mcntion tlc lcauty ol {csus as a man. n tlc prclacc to lis mastcrpiccc,
tlc D/c|u. n M./c(/;/ cn4 B.|//n, Malclranclc justinally waxcd
indignant tlat an olscurc polcmicist slould lavc accuscd lim ol laving
dccidcd lor mctaplysical rcasons to attrilutc a ccrtain lodily appcarancc to
{csus, tlcrcly accusing lim ol lcrcsy. So tlat autlor lad writtcn.
According to 1crtullian, onc ol tlc principal crrors ol tlc Marcionitcs
and Apcllctians and \alcntinians was to lclicvc tlat {csus Clrist was
lcautilul lclorc lis passion. atlcr Malclranclc, wlo somctimcs
lollows tlcir opinions . . ., las dcclarcd lis cntirc agrccmcnt witl
tlcm on tlis point.
1o wlicl Malclranclc rctorts. '1lc lact is tlat lavc ncvcr spokcn on
tlis qucstion, ncitlcr in tlc Tr.c//. n Nc/ur. cn4 Grc., nor in any ol my
looks.`
6S
1lc dclatc on tlc lcauty or uglincss ol {csus, wlicl gocs lack to
tlc carly Clurcl, was rcignitcd in tlc sixtccntl and scvcntccntl ccnturics.
6+
Numcrous atlcrs ol tlc Clurcl insist, il not on tlc uglincss ol {csus,
at lcast on tlc alscncc ol plysical lcauty in lim. 1lcrc arc two rcasons lor
tlat. 1lc nrst is tlat tlcy apply to {csus, not lor lis passion alonc, lut lor
tlc wlolc ol lis cartlly lilc, tlc proplccy ol saial on tlc sullcring scrvant,
lis alscncc ol lcauty and clarm.
65
1lc sccond is tlat it lclongs to tlc trutl
ol tlc incarnation, to tlc assumption ly God ol tlc luman condition, tlat
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
10S
{csus is a man likc otlcr mcn, a man in a quitc ordinary scnsc, and tlat lc
docs not at nrst attract attcntion ly any visilly cxccptional status. 1crtullian
pronounccs witl lis customary trcnclancy.
n lact it was only lor lis words and works, solcly lor lis doctrinc
and powcr, tlat tlcy wcrc astonislcd at Clrist as man. wlcrcas a
ncw kind ol csl in lim |likc tlc lcavcnly csl attrilutcd to lim
ly ccrtain gnostics| would cvcn lavc lccn rcmarkcd upon and takcn
lor a marvcl. But it was prcciscly tlc non-marvcllous claractcr ol lis
tcrrcstrial csl wlicl madc tlc rcst ol lis activitics tlings to marvcl
at . . . . So lar was lis lody lrom lcing ol luman comclincss, not to
spcak ol cclcstial glory.
66

As docs {ustin, Clcmcnt ol Alcxandria, or rcnacus ol yons,
67
rigcn gocs so
lar as to spcak, as il it wcrc scll-cvidcnt, ol tlc uglincss ol {csus.
By gcncral agrccmcnt, tlc Scripturcs say tlat {csus` lody was ugly
(4u./4.), lut not commonplacc, as Cclsus las cxplaincd, and tlcrc
is no clcar indication tlat lc was slort . . . . saial announccs tlat
lc would not comc to tlc multitudcs in a plcasing slapc ol supcrior
lcauty.
68
t is witlin tlis tradition, wlctlcr lc was awarc ol it or not, tlat Kicrkcgaard
placcd limscll wlcn lc criticizcd tlc acstlctic rclation to tlc Clristian laitl,
lollowing wlicl tlc divinity ol Clrist would lavc lccn, during lis cartlly
lilc, dircctly rccognizallc, tlanks to lis lcauty or lis mildncss. aitl, lc says,
las as its sign 'tlc crucinxion ol tlc undcrstanding and ol lantasy-pcrccption,
wlicl cannot lavc dircct rccognizalility`.
6
And Kicrkcgaard says clscwlcrc.
'it is claractcristic ol an idol to lc known dircctly`.
70
Wc all know low lar
an allcgcdly rcligious art las lccn allc to go in wlat Kicrkcgaard calls a
'rcpcllcnt scntimcntal lrivolity`.
At tlc otlcr cxtrcmc, anotlcr tradition insists on tlc lcauty ol {csus.
urcr lollows it quitc naturally in lis tlcorctical writings wlcn lc asscrts
tlat art, wlicl is 'grcat, gravc, and good`, must lc cmploycd 'lor tlc glory ol
God`. ow`
n tlc samc way tlat (tlc pagans) gavc tlcir idol Apollo tlc
proportions ol tlc most lcautilul luman slapc, wc want to usc tlc
samc mcasurc lor our ord Clrist wlo is tlc most lcautilul in tlc
world. And as tlcy considcrcd \cnus to lc tlc most lcautilul woman
in tlc world, wc want to attrilutc, clastcly, tlc samc gracclul lorm
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
10+
to tlc purcst ol virgins, Mary, Motlcr ol God. And lrom crculcs
wc want to makc Samson, and likcwisc witl tlc otlcrs.
71

1lis strict corrcspondcncc is all tlc morc surprising lccausc, in tlc samc
passagc, urcr olscrvcs tlat tlis ancicnt scicncc ol proportions las lccn lost,
and tlat it is tlcrclorc timc to lound a ncw onc. l coursc, tlis is part ol tlc
plan to makc tlc lcauty ol art say adicu too, lut would tlc transposition
ol ancicnt art lc cnougl to aclicvc tlis` owcvcr tlis may lc, many
tlcologians slarc urcr`s vicws. 1lus, tlc grcat contcmplativc uis dc con,
in lis mastcrpiccc T/. Ncm. ( C/r//, attrilutcs to {csus tlc grcatcst possillc
lodily lcauty, and invitcs us 'witl tlc cycs ol laitl` to gazc at.
lis lovcly lacc, lis gravc and mild attitudc, lis cycs and tlat moutl,
tlc lattcr always imlucd witl gcntlcncss, tlc lormcr ol a lrigltncss
cvcn morc dazzling tlan tlc sun`s gazc, too at tlc wlolc larmony ol
lis lody, its aspcct, its movcmcnts, its mcmlcrs conccivcd in tlc vcry
woml ol purity and cndowcd witl incomparallc lcauty.
72

1lc contcmplation ol tlis 'pcrlcct lcauty` gocs so lar as to includc an
cncomium on {csus`s complcxion! t would nccd littlc morc to turn tlis into
a ||cn ol {csus`s lody, praising lis lody liml ly liml. s it tlc crucincd
and rcsurrcctcd Clrist wlo is lcing contcmplatcd lcrc` s it rcally laitl
tlat inclincs onc to sing praiscs ol tlis kind` Suarcz, too, indulgcs in sucl
considcrations, alnrming tlat 'Clrist assumcd a pcrlcct corporcal lcauty`
and rising in wratl against a ccrtain Mcdina wlo 'darcd to dcny it`, 'witlout
rcason, and witl grcat prcsumption`.
7S
magination and lypcrlolc arc lcrc allowcd to run loosc. Wlcn art starts
to lollow a patl sucl as tlis, las it not cndcd up conlusing dillcrcnt lcvcls,
and producing (as Andrc Clastcl says ol a strangc C/r// o/// An.| ly
Fosso) 'somctling cquivocal`, 'somctling suspcct`.
7+
By virtuc ol wlat articlc
ol laitl slould tlc Crucincd lc as landsomc as Apollo, indccd landsomc
in tlc vcry samc way` n tlc ninctccntl ccntury, a critic cast doult on tlc
ortlodoxy ol an ovcrwlclming Cru/x/n ly {ordacns in tlc namc ol tlc
lollowing argumcnts.
ow can wc rccognizc tlis grcat, sullimc drama ol tlc sullcring ol
Clrist in tlis crucinxion sccnc witl its tlrcc claractcrs all cqually
lanal` ow can wc discovcr in tlis painting tlc admirallc ngurc
ol {csus Clrist, tlc \irgin, tlc loly womcn, tlc lclovcd disciplc,
amidst all tlcsc modcls takcn lrom tlc tavcrns ol Antwcrp`
75

S BA\1Y SAY A\`
105
Sincc tlcsc laccs arc, in lis cycs, ncitlcr lcautilul nor distinguislcd cnougl,
lc dcduccs tlat tlis painting, wlicl lc rccognizcs to lc, in otlcr ways,
'a mastcrpiccc ol colour and cxccution`, is 'void ol any rcligious lcclings`.
Wlcn lc attacks tlc 'paganism` ol 'rccognizalility`, Kicrkcgaard is clcarly not
nglting against nctitious opponcnts.
Wlat arc wc to tlink ol tlis dclatc and tlis conlrontation lctwccn two
traditions` Slould wc not qucstion tlc vcry qucstion tlat asks wlctlcr {csus
was lcautilul or ugly` s tlc qucstion adcquatcly lormulatcd` And arc not tlc
two tlcscs, as so oltcn, lasically in agrccmcnt on tlc immcdiatc claractcr ol
tlc lcauty or uglincss ol a luman lody and lacc` s not tlc alnrmation ol
tlc uglincss ol {csus just as acstlctic as tlat ol lis lcauty` s not imagination
just as mucl at casc, in its clcmcnt, witl disgracc as mucl as gracc` Wlat
docs it mcan to asscrt, witlout lurtlcr ado, tlat a man is lcautilul or ugly,
il not tlat sucl an asscrtion lorgcts tlc claractcr ol an cvcnt compriscd ly
tlc manilcstation ol spirit in tlc lody, on its surlacc ol skin an cvcnt tlat
dccidcs, in cacl casc, wlctlcr wc scc lcauty or uglincss` Can all tlis lc
dcduccd lrom canons ol lcauty, lrom proportion and mcasurcmcnt` 1lc
qucstion ol tlc lcauty ol {csus can lavc a mcaning only il it is lormulatcd in
Clristian tcrms.
n lis S.rmn n //. Sn ( Sn, St Bcrnard ol Clairvaux dwclls witl
grcat insiglt on tlc cxtcnt to wlicl tlc lcauty ol Clrist is vcilcd lor us, lcing
disccrncd ly laitl alonc.
1lc words lc spcaks arc 'spirit and lilc`, tlc lorm wc scc is mortal,
suljcct to dcatl. Wc scc onc tling and wc lclicvc anotlcr. ur
scnscs tcll us lc is llack, our laitl dcclarcs lim lair and lcautilul.
l lc is llack it is 'in tlc cycs ol tlc loolisl`, lor to tlc minds ol tlc
laitllul lc is wlolly lcautilul. c is llack, tlcn, lut lcautilul. llack
in tlc opinion ol crod, lcautilul in tlc tcstimony ol tlc pcnitcnt
tlicl, in tlc laitl ol tlc ccnturion.
76

or St Bcrnard, tlis lcauty is liddcn and vcilcd ly taking on itscll our own
uglincss and dclormity, so as to lrcc us lrom tlcm. l tlis lcauty is takcn away,
it is so as to rcstorc to us our own lcauty.
tlat lc wlo surpasscs all mankind in lcauty slould lc cclipscd ly
tlc darkncss ol tlc Fassion lor tlc cnligltcning ol mankind, tlat
lc limscll slould sullcr tlc ignominy ol tlc cross, grow palc in
dcatl, lc totally dcprivcd ol lcauty and comclincss tlat lc miglt
gain tlc Clurcl as a lcautilul and comcly lridc, witlout stain and
wrinklc.
77

S BA\1Y SAY A\`
106
iglt turns itscll into darkncss so as to illuminc us, strcngtl lccomcs
wcakncss so as to makc us strong, lcauty makcs itscll uglincss so as to makc
us lcautilul. sucl is tlc way tlis scrmon ol St Bcrnard dcvclops. But tlis
lcauty liddcn witlin its oppositc is still lcing tlouglt ol as lcauty, as tlc
sourcc ol all autlcntic lcauty and so it must lc in somc way acccssillc.
And it is acccssillc to listcning, and not to siglt. Fclcrring to tlc ccnturion,
tlc onc latcr callcd St onginus, St Bcrnard says tlat lc.
ccrtainly pcrccivcd low grcat lis lcauty was . . . . or supposing
lc considcrcd only wlat lis cycs lclcld, in wlat way was tlis man
lcautilul, low was lc tlc Son ol God` Wlat did tlc cycs ol tlc
lcloldcrs scc lut a man dclormcd and llack . . . . ow tlcn did tlc
ccnturion scc tlc lcauty ol tlc Crucincd` . . . t was tlc sound ol lis
voicc tlat inspircd lis lclicl, it was ly tlc voicc tlat lc rccognizcd
tlc Son ol God, and not ly tlc lacc. . . . 1lc lcaring succccdcd
wlcrc tlc siglt lailcd.
78

t is not lor St Bcrnard a mattcr ol mcrcly contrasting listcning and siglt, lor
anyonc wlo las lcard, listcncd, listcncd to tlc unlcard-ol, will also lc givcn
tlc alility to scc to scc tlc unimaginallc.
Wlat is dccisivc lcrc, in tlis lcauty tlat wc lcar and tlat wc wclcomc
witlin oursclvcs witlout sccing, is its claractcr as an cvcnt and an advcnt.
Anyonc wlo sccs tlis lcauty docs not rcmain untouclcd ly it lut is radically
translormcd and rcncwcd ly it. And tlc vcry act wlcrcly lc discovcrs tlis
lcauty against all appcarancc is inscparallc lrom tlc act wlcrcly lc limscll,
against all cxpcctation, lccomcs lcautilul. t starts to givc lim a lorm and
to rclorm lim wlcrcvcr lc las wclcomcd its lorm into limscll. Wlat wc
lavc lcrc is a lcauty tlat docs not kccp itscll to itscll, lut givcs itscll. it is
impossillc to distinguisl in timc lctwccn tlc momcnt wlcn it is graspcd and
tlc momcnt wlcn it givcs itscll, in otlcr words cmlcllislcs us. 1lis is its way
ol saying goodlyc.
n tlis lcvcl, an unusual lut dccply mcaninglul possilility is rcpcatcdly
cncountcrcd in tlc listory ol painting. tlat ol painting onc`s scll-portrait as
Clrist. 1lc paintcr ollcrs Clrist lis own lcaturcs, wlicl docs not mcan tlat
lc takcs limscll lor God madc man, lut tlat lc allows tlc lattcr, ol wlom
wc lavc no portrait, to dwcll in lis lacc, limn lis own countcnancc. 1lc
most splcndid and lamous is tlc S.|(-(r/rc// ol urcr, in 1500.
7
n it, urcr
lollows tlc iconograplic typc ol tlc Sc|rc/r mun4/, and rcprcscnts limscll
lull lacc and lrontally, in a gcsturc ol llcssing. 't is undcniallc,` says Fanolsky,
'tlat urcr dclilcratcly souglt a stylisation ol lis lcaturcs in tlc imagc ol
tlosc traditionally attrilutcd to Clrist.`
80
But urcr is, all tlc samc, pcrlcctly
rccognizallc, il wc comparc tlis work witl otlcr scll-portraits.
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
107
Wcrncr Bcicrwaltcs, witlout claiming to nnd any ccrtain listorical
corrclation, las drawn a parallcl lctwccn tlc spiritual lorizons ol tlis work
ly urcr and tlc tlouglt ol Nicolas ol Cusa, cspccially as it is lound in lis
D. r//n. D./.
81
vcn as a mcrc possilility, tlis conlrontation is powcrlully
rcvclatory. or Nicolas ol Cusa, tlc lacc ol Clrist is, indccd, 'tlc trutl ol all
laccs`.
1lus undcrstand tlat your lacc, ord, comcs lclorc all laccs tlat
can lc lormcd, tlat it is tlc modcl and trutl ol all laccs, and tlat all
laccs arc imagcs ol your irrcducillc lacc, wlicl participatcs in no
otlcr. vcry lacc wlicl can gazc into yours tlus sccs no otlcrncss,
no dillcrcncc lrom itscll, lccausc it sccs its own trutl.`
82

Wc scc oursclvcs, in trutl, in Clrist. But gazing towards Clrist and allowing
lim to gazc at us, witl tlat crcativc gazc tlat, litcrally, cnvisagcs us, wc do
not tlcrcly lccomc idcntical copics ol tlc samc cmpirical lacc. lar lrom it.
Nicolas ol Cusa cmplasizcs tlc lact.
ord, low admirallc is your lacc wlicl takcs a young lorm in tlc
imagination ol a young man, an adult lorm lor a man and an agcd
onc lor an old man! Wlo could conccivc tlis tlc singlc modcl lor all
laccs, tlc trucst and most accuratc lor cvcry lacc in particular and lor
all ol tlcm at oncc, so pcrlcct tlat it sccms to rcprcscnt notling otlcr
tlan cacl onc ol tlcm`
8S
1lis living cxclangc clcars ol any suspicion ol narcissism a scll-portrait
sucl as tlat ol urcr, wlicl is nonc otlcr tlan tlc scll-portrait ol an imagc ol
Clrist, tlat imagc tlat wc arc all callcd upon to lc, according to tlc Clristian
laitl. 'l must lovc myscll in you tlrougl my rcscmllancc to you, am
all tlc morc strongly lound to do so wlcn scc tlat you lovc mc as your
crcaturc and your imagc`, says Nicolas ol Cusa.
8+
urcr`s cxamplc is lar lrom
lcing uniquc. n a morc patlctic and immcasurally lcss vivid way, tlc nglisl
paintcr Samucl Falmcr, in 18SS, also paintcd lis scll-portrait as Clrist.
85
And
\an Gogl, in 188, wlcn lc did two copics ol ugcnc clacroix`s D..n/
(rm //. Cr,
86
givcs lis own lcaturcs to tlc dcad Clrist,
87
as lc docs lor
azarus wlcn lc copics a rcsurrcction ly Fcmlrandt in 180. t is dizzying,
ol coursc tlc possilility ol doing onc`s own scll-portrait as a dcad man, or
as il onc wcrc dcad, cvcn il tlis dcad man is to risc again.
At all cvcnts, in tlcsc works, paintcrs say adicu twicc ovcr. ly tlc rcligious
and, as it wcrc, praycrlul claractcr ol tlcsc paintings, and also ly tlc act ol
ollcring tlcir own lcaturcs so tlat Clrist may comc and transngurc tlcm
and lring tlcm into conlormity witl limscll. 1lcy do not paint icons, tlcy
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
108
ollcr tlcir laccs so tlat tlcy may lccomc, rcally or potcntially, icons. 1o tlc
invisillc tlcy land ovcr tlc ololus ol tlcir own visilility. 1lcsc dimcnsions
oltcn disconccrt and cmlarrass art listorians, wlo prcscnt wlat amount
to cxcuscs lor somctling tlat sccms to tlcm to vcrgc on llasplcmy or
mcgalomania. 1lcy tlus complctcly lail to scc tlcir mcaning and scopc. 1o
scc, or try to scc, Clrist mcans, nrst and lorcmost, wclcoming, onc way or
anotlcr, lis lacc into ours, allowing it to work on ours. 1lis vision is not a
spcctaclc. t is translormativc, and it translorms us in our intcr-rclations witl
otlcrs. A lcauty tlat says adicu docs not lcavc us wlcrc wc wcrc.
1lat Clrist`s lcauty is a mcssagc, tlat it summons us and passcs on,
liglting up cvcry luman lacc witl a ncw liglt at oncc lurtivc and dcnnitivc,
tlat it givcs to tlc lody and its dignity a status unlcard ol amongst tlc
Gcntilcs tlis is wlat iconoclasm lorgcts. 1lc vision ol tlis liglt calls lor
our rcsponsc, an activc rcsponsc tlat scts us to work, lor only in tlc way wc
pcrlorm our task is tlis liglt madc morc intcnsc and dccpcr. 1lc impcrlcction
ol tlis rcsponsc docs not rclicvc it ol its irrcplaccalility. tlc two claractcristics
arc intcrdcpcndcnt, and rclatc to tlc cxccssivc claractcr tlat comcs looking
lor us. t is not lccausc no onc can cvcr tlink, say or paint divinc lcauty in all
its plcnitudc tlat wc can avoid tlc task ol praising it cvcry way wc can. quitc
tlc oppositc is truc it is an csscntial aspcct ol its radiancc tlat it dcmands
our lands and voiccs.
conoclasm paradoxically rcsts on a maximalist attitudc towards tlc imagc.
ly supposing tlat tlc imagc could or slould lc a rcproduction and, as it
wcrc, a doullc ol its modcl, takc its placc, rcplacc it, it cmplasizcs, in a victory
witlout citlcr risk or glory (lcing analytically containcd witlin its prcmisscs)
tlc impossillc and sacrilcgious claractcr ol making a portrait ol God madc
man. But wlo las cvcr claimcd to makc sucl a portrait` 1lc only pcoplc wlo
lclicvc in portraits ol Clrist arc tlosc wlo lclicvc in miraculous imagcs not
madc ly luman lands wlicl, prcciscly, is no conccrn ol art. Clrist in art
docs not lavc onc lacc, lc las a tlousand, and tlcsc tlousand laccs, in tlcir
powcr to disquictcn us, arc not claiming to rcproducc anytling. tlcy arc
onc way among otlcrs ol disccrning, ol trying to disccrn, tlc passagc ol tlc
liglt ol tlc Spirit on a luman lacc, wlicl is somctling wc lavc to do just as
mucl out in tlc strccts. Wlcn tlcsc laccs rcally spcak, tlcy prcsupposc just
tlink ol Gruncwald, Fcmlrandt, Fouault, and so many otlcrs an attcntion
ol an almost praycrlul kind to man`s lacc. l tlcrc is a Clristian art, it docs
not rcst on tlc pridc ol claiming to rcprcscnt God lut on tlc lumility tlat
lcars witncss to tlc lact tlat no onc can prcscrilc limits to wlat tlc luman
lacc can slow, in its joy as in its sullcring. 1lc Spirit alonc dccidcs on its
manilcstations, as it dccidcs on tlc cxtcnt to wlicl tlcy may go. No onc
owns tlc divinity ol God in sucl a way as to assign to it its possillc placcs ol
appcarancc or non-appcarancc.
88
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
10
1lc qucstion askcd rcpcatcdly ly Clristian conccptions ol lcauty is tlis
onc. il Clrist makcs all tlings ncw, docs lc not also makc lcauty ncw` l
in lim all tlc dimcnsions ol tlc luman condition dic and arc rcsurrcctcd,
must not lcauty do likcwisc` l lc rccapitulatcs all tlings in limscll so
as to lcad tlcm to God, can tlc lcauty ol tlc world and tlat ol man lc
cxcommunicatcd lrom tlis rccapitulation` s not tlis mcssagc, tlat tlings
dclivcr to us and invitc us to dclivcr in our turn, transngurcd ly tlc liglt
ol tlc rcsurrcction` Wlcrc tlc divinc summons sounds out in its dcnnitivc
clarity, it is ccrtainly not so as to silcncc tlc song ol tlc world, rcducc it to
mutcncss, lut to raisc it up, lring it to a dawn ol wlicl it could lavc only
an olscurc prcscntimcnt. Malclranclc says proloundly tlat tlrougl tlc
incarnation, tlc Word 'simultancously lccamc unitcd to tlc two sulstanccs,
mind and lody, ol wlicl tlc univcrsc is composcd, and . . . tlrougl tlis
union c sanctincd tlc wlolc ol naturc.`
8
1lis was also tlc vicw ol St {oln
ol tlc Cross in tlc Spiritual Canticlc.
c quickly walkcd across
1lcsc woods, and turning lis lacc on tlcm
nriclcd tlcm again
By imluing tlcm witl lis lcauty.
0
And St {oln gocs on to cxplain lis words tlus. tlis transicnt communication
ol lcauty, 'occurrcd wlcn lc madc limscll man, cxalting lim to a divinc
lcauty, and in conscqucncc all crcaturcs in lim, laving unitcd limscll to tlc
naturc ol all ol tlcm in man.` 1lus it is tlat lc 'lclt tlcm cntircly clotlcd in
lcauty and dignity`.
1lcrc is notling so lumllc tlat it docs not rcccivc somc ol its radiancc.
Wlat in nglisl is callcd 'still lilc` and in rcncl, mislcadingly, nc/ur. mr/.
('dcad naturc`), slows low tlc most common and cvcryday tlings also lavc a
slarc in tlis liglt ol dawn, and tlcrcly lcar witncss to tlc Spirit. l tlc lody
can lc rccognizcd as tlc tcmplc ol tlc Spirit, its dialoguc witl tlings docs not
lall outsidc tlat ly wlicl it is allc to cry and sing adicu. Wlat ol lcauty dics
is wlat was mortal in it. its scll-sulncicncy, its autarcly, cvcrytling ly wlicl
it miglt lccomc an idol ly ccasing to lc an cvcnt and an advcnt. And wlat
ol it is rcsurrcctcd livcs witl a lilc morc intcnsc tlan cvcr, witl a lcauty so
lcautilul tlat it surpasscs all norms, codcs, and canons.
Wlcrc tlc lacc ol tlc Word las dcprivcd itscll ol lcauty, it is quitc simply
any luman lacc tlat las lccomc tlcoplanic, a placc in wlicl tlc divinc is
madc manilcst. Wlcrc tlc Word las lccn madc csl, it is tlc csl ol cvcry
man tlat las lccn givcn tlc rcsponsilility and tlc glory ol lcaring Spirit, and
witl it all tlc tlings tlat surround it, among wlicl it dwclls. Bcauty is a way
(r/.) only wlcn it is a voicc (r/x), wlcn to scc it is to lcar it and to rcply
S BA\1Y SAY A\`
110
to it ly giving and slowing oncscll. And it is also tlcn tlat it scnds us out
on our luman tasks. But wc must lc woundcd ly it, wc must pay witl our
own pcrsons, lc tlcrc as prcscnt and praising. so wc must lc tlc contrary ol
an acstlctc. Ycs, lcauty can say adicu, lut it says adicu only wlcn wc ollcr
our own adicu, and all ol our voicc, so tlat lcauty can lrcak it, and makc it
all tlc surcr lor laving lccn lrokcn, and makc it rcmain trcmlling, witl tlc
trcmlling ol tlc pcrson wlo knows tlat all tlc sonoritics ol tlc song ol tlc
world, witlout a singlc onc lcing lorgottcn or lclt ly tlc waysidc, will lavc
to lc givcn ly lim, in tlc ctcrnal dawn, to God, wlo alonc madc tlcm arisc
lrom silcncc.
111
5
1 FNG 1
WF
1lcrc arc silcnt gilts. 1lcrc arc nonc tlat arc mutc. Spcccl alonc opcns
tlc dimcnsion ol tlc gilt, lor witlout spcccl could ncvcr lc assurcd tlat
somctling is lcing givcn, or tlat it is indccd to mc tlat it is lcing givcn, or,
ly acccpting it, takc cognizancc ol tlc way tlat somconc clsc las rcnounccd
it so tlat can lcncnt lrom it. vcry gilt (4n) is an alandonmcnt (c|cn4n),
lut not cvcry alandonmcnt is a gilt, lor il tlc gilt las tlc irrcsistillc and
dcnnitivc claractcr ol alandonmcnt, it rcquircs a dcstination tlat tlc lattcr
docs not posscss, and tlc lumility ol wlat can lc acccptcd or rcluscd. Wlat
alandon lccomcs r. nu||/u, and it is in so lar as it no longcr lclongs to
anyonc tlat tlc nrst pcrson to comc along can scizc on it and makc it lis own,
as a piccc ol unclaimcd propcrty wlicl is not tlc samc as laving rcccivcd
it lrom somconc. 1o lc surc, tlcrc may lc circumstanccs in wlicl tlc spcccl
tlat givcs docs not ncccssarily nccd to lc prollcrcd, lut tlcrc is nonc in wlicl
wc can lc rclicvcd ol tlc olligation to listcn to it, tlat is, to rcspond to it, and
tlus to tlank tlc givcr or rclusc tlc gilt.
Altcr all, a gilt tlat imposcs itscll and to somc dcgrcc lorccs a ;. would not
lc a gilt at all, laving in lact lorccloscd and silcnccd tlc ;. tlat could rcspond
to it, laving spokcn in tlc stcad ol tlc otlcr to wlom it is supposcdly giving.
t would tlus lavc stolcn tlc spcccl ol tlc otlcr, and spokcn all alonc. 1lc
lact tlat tlc gilt rcquircs spcccl mcans tlat it rcquircs two spccclcs, tlc onc
tlat givcs and tlc onc tlat rcccivcs. or tlc gilt lcgins only wlcrc it nnislcs,
wlcrc it is rcccivcd. Wlat las not lccn rcccivcd las not lccn givcn, mcrcly
alandoncd. And tlis is cqually truc ol tlc spcccl ol tlc gilt. 1lis spcccl
lcgins to spcak truly wlcn somconc lcgins to rcply to it, it lcgins ly rcplying
as docs all spcccl. 1lc spcccl tlat givcs and tlc spcccl tlat tlanks arc lotl
olcdicnt, in otlcr words tlcy arc lotl listcning out lor somctling. A gilt
tlat docs not listcn to tlc pcrson to wlom it is giving would lc a gilt only ly
inadvcrtcncc. could anyonc tlank tlc 'givcr` lor it`
1lc spcccl tlat givcs is alrcady listcning, and tlc spcccl tlat rcccivcs is
still giving, lor to tlank is to rcgistcr tlc lact tlat tlcrc las lccn a gilt, and
1 FNG 1 WF
112
only tlc rccipicnt can givc to tlc givcr tlc status ol a givcr. 1lc Stoics saw
and said tlis clcarly. Scncca, in lis trcatisc D. |.n.//, wlicl spcaks in sucl
dctail alout dclt and cxclangc, lccausc lc is trying to tlink ol a gilt witlout
dclt, writcs. '1lis, in my opinion, is tlc lcast surprising or lcast incrcdillc
ol tlc paradoxcs ol tlc Stoic sclool. tlat lc wlo rcccivcs a lcncnt gladly las
alrcady rcturncd it.`
1
1lc onc wlo rcccivcs las tlus alrcady givcn lis joy to
lc slarcd. At its vcry nrst instant, tlc gilt alrcady las a past, it las alrcady
circulatcd witlout our tlouglt lcing allc to arrcst tlis circulation on tlc
prctcxt ol dcnning morc closcly wlat in lact it dcstroys.
1lc prcccding considcrations conccrn tlat lorm ol tlc gilt in wlicl spcccl
accompanics and, in trutl, lounds tlc translcr to anotlcr ol somc good tlat
is not itscll an act ol spcccl. Wlat would tlc situation lc il spcccl ncvcr gavc
anytling lut itscll` Would tlc giving and tlc gilt, tlat wlicl givcs and tlat
wlicl is givcn, cnd up lcing conluscd, in a purc and transparcnt transitivity`
1lc pocm ol Stcplanc Mallarmc wlicl lc nnally cntitlcd 'Gilt ol tlc Focm`
|'on du pocmc`|, altcr laving lornc scvcral otlcr titlcs, lcnds itscll to a
rccction on tlis possilility.
2
l coursc, 'Gilt ol tlc Focm` givcs a pocm, tlc
vcry samc pocm tlat it is. But as an carlicr titlc, 'cdication ol tlc Nocturnal
Focm` |'cdicacc du pocmc nocturnc`| slows, wlat it givcs is not tlc samc as
wlat it is, it is ollcring anotlcr pocm,
S
tlc 'Nocturnal pocm`, wlicl is mcrcly
a 'rclic`, tlc 'lorrillc lirtl` ol wlicl it cvokcs. t is an alortcd ollspring ol
'tlc lluc, stcrilc solitudc`, wlicl is ollcrcd to tlc motlcr so tlat slc can
'wclcomc` and 'nourisl` it. 1lc complctcd pocm tlat wc lavc lccn givcn
to rcad is tlc ollcring ol an unnnislcd pocm to a woman, somconc quitc
dillcrcnt lrom us. And tlis ollcring is an ollcring tlat, lar lrom satislying,
continucs to makc dcmands. tlc voicc is prollcrcd 'lrom lips tlat tlc air ol tlc
virgin azurc starvcs`. So concludcs tlc pocm tlat lad lcgun witl tlc words
' lring you.`
ar lrom lcing transparcnt, tlc gilt is lull ol mcanings tlat y oll at
a tangcnt and dcnsc amliguitics. s it a lcqucst or a rcqucst` s it gilt or
poison` Wlat docs it mcan to wclcomc a 'lorrillc lirtl` and wlat Mallarmc
calls in a lcttcr a 'lanclul scion`` 1lis gilt (lclorc it lorc tlis titlc) mct witl
a rcccption in proportion to its strangcncss, lrom \illicrs dc l`slc-Adam
onc tlat lc dcscrilcs in a lcttcr, witl tlc mixturc ol naivc lumour and
grandiloqucncc claractcristic ol lim. Fouscd to transports ol cntlusiasm ly a
nocturnal rcading ol tlis pocm, lc rosc lrom lis lcd, got drcsscd and, laving
availcd limscll ol a clild`s drum, rccitcd it in lis stairwcll, accompanying
cacl lcmisticl witl 'a drum roll tlat imposcd itscll on tlc attcntion and
gatlcrcd cvcryonc onto tlc landing`. 1lis way ol making tlc inncr silcncc in
Mallarmc`s poctry cclo aloud is an unusual way ol rccciving it. But \illicrs
docs not stop tlcrc. 'ut ol modcsty, dcclarcd tlat tlc pocm was ly mc,
lut tlat tlc drum rolls lad lccn scnt to mc, /n mu/c| n/c//n, ly you.` n
1 FNG 1 WF
11S
rcspcct ol wlicl lc adds tlat lc will lavc to luy, ' lor two lrancs, tlc silcncc
ol tlc cook`, as slc las discovcrcd tlc 'dcccption`.
s tlcrc not a ccrtain trutl liddcn lclind tlis sccnc, lurlcsquc and out ol
placc as it may sccm` ow can onc avoid parodying a pocm tlat parodics
tlc gilt` ow can onc lail to lc julilant at a pocm tlat julilantly rccounts
tlc drama ol writing` And is it not cqually truc tlat a pocm wlicl is givcn
away is onc wlosc words can lc appropriatcd ly cvcryonc, lut tlat tlc
autlor rcmains tlc onc wlo las notcd its silcnccs, tlc silcnccs tlat in onc
way or anotlcr wc causc to cclo` ' wrotc down silcnccs and niglts, notcd
tlc incxprcssillc`, said Fimlaud.
+
Wlcn spcccl givcs itscll lccausc it sings
itscll and sings notling otlcr tlan itscll, as tlc modcrn idca ol 'writing` las
it, tlis gilt tlat it makcs ol itscll is ladcn witl a tlousand amliguitics and
rcsts nrst and lorcmost on tlc witldrawal ol tlc world wlosc placc it las
takcn, lcaving us nowlcrc to dwcll lut a palacc ol mirrors or a lilrary ol
Balcl. 1lc indcnnitcly parasitical mulcd noisc ol 'intcrtcxtuality` las always
imposcd silcncc on any voicc tlat miglt givc or rcccivc. cprivcd ol its own
lcing, tlc anonymity ol tlc 'tcxt` listcns to itscll writing, mcrcly signing itscll,
signilying itscll, making itscll insignincant, witl all tlc grcatcr olstinacy. 1lc
/rcn|c//n pcrlormcd ly all spcccl on otlcr acts ol spcccl, wlicl it listcns
to cvcn as it rcplics to tlcm, constitutcs a plcnomcnon ol a dillcrcnt ordcr,
5

wlicl conccpts sucl as tlosc ol 'tcxtuality` makc it tlcir prolcssion to lail to
rccognizc.
l spcccl is rcally to givc itscll in wlat it givcs, it must /r. and not lc tlc
mcrc incantation ol its rccxivity, drawing us into its vain crystal. And wlat
could spcccl givc il not tlc world` Sucl is, in tlc rcligious dimcnsion, tlc
intcntion ol tlc 'Canticlc ol tlc Crcaturcs` (to conlcr a gcncric scopc to tlc
ranciscan titlc), tlc intcntion ol uttcring a praycr ol cosmic praisc. ((.r/n
//. or|4 / G4. t is a mattcr ol tlinking tlrougl, on a Clristian lcvcl, its
conditions ol possilility. 1lis tlinking may illuminatc low tlings stand witl
spcccl and low tlings likcwisc stand witl tlc world, tlc world tlat givcs
itscll to spcccl, tlc world tlat givcs itscll tlrougl spcccl. But, cvcn lclorc
wc can study low tlis intcntion is rcalizcd, tlc qucstion ariscs ol knowing
wlctlcr it las tlc lcast scnsc.
or a numlcr ol damaging oljcctions, lotl plilosoplical and rcligious,
sccm to rulc it out. Flilosoplical oljcctions nrst ol all. il it is truc tlat cvcry
gilt is scalcd ly words, tlc lact rcmains tlat wlatcvcr wc givc ly mcans ol it
must onc way or anotlcr lclong to us, lc ours and wlat wc arc not and do
not lavc cannot, it sccms, lc givcn ly us. s not giving //. or|4 ly spcccl
a mcrcly magical opcration, in wlicl wc grow intoxicatcd on our imaginary
omnipotcncc` Wlcrc plilosoply las dwclt on tlc possilility ol giving wlat
wc do not lavc, as was tlc casc witl Flotinus, it was in a scnsc quitc oppositc
to tlat intcndcd lcrc. tlc nrst principlc, tlc Good, givcs wlat it docs not
1 FNG 1 WF
11+
lavc in so lar as it is radically transccndcnt to cvcrytling tlat it produccs.
1lat it givcs wlat it docs not lavc mcans tlat it is not anytling tlat lclongs
to tlc world, or tlc worlds, ol wlicl it is tlc origin. t givcs tlc world to
tlc world witlout tlis gilt lcing a communication, a slaring, a transmission
ol tlc principlc, sincc tlc principlc is notling and las notling. And tlis
uniquc gilt docs not takc placc in spcccl lut in silcncc. it is not, as in tlc
Billc, a crcating Word, nor indccd a crcation. 1lis possilility, wlcrc it was
rigorously tlouglt out, is distinguislcd lrom cvcry luman gilt and cannot lc
transposcd, cvcn analogically, to man. l tlc intcntion to ollcr tlc world can
lavc any mcaning, two conditions would lavc to lc mct. it would lavc to
lc ours and our spcccl would r.c||; lavc to lc allc to givc it and tlis docs
not sccm to lc tlc casc.
But and tlis is a sccond plilosoplical oljcction cvcn supposing wc
can indccd ollcr tlc world, would tlis lc an ollcring to its origin and its
principlc` o not tlc task and tlc dignity ol luman lcings consist, ratlcr, in
giving to cacl otlcr tlis world as a placc to livc in` And is tlis gilt not solcly,
or cvcn principally, a spcccl ol praisc lut a lalour ol translormation` ocs
not tlc rcal gilt consist ol constructing, cacl ol us witl tlc otlcrs and cacl
ol us lor tlc otlcrs, a world nt to lc our dwclling placc, and dcvoting our
works and days, our lands and our tlouglts, to tlis task` And il wc acccpt
tlat tlis world comcs lrom God, is tlis not tlc mission tlat lc las assigncd
to us` s not cvcrytling tlat divcrts us lrom tlis task mcrc S/ocrm.r./, tlc
product ol an ovcrlcatcd imagination, distractcd and distracting somctling
wlicl, in singing all tlat lics lcyond tlc luman, would cnd up dcnying wlat
is propcrly luman` 1lc word .///c| comcs lrom tlc Grcck |//, wlicl
nrst and lorcmost mcans alodc and dwclling placc. 1o makc ol tlc world
an autlcntic dwclling placc lor mankind is tlis not tlc nrst and last moral
task` l tlc intcntion ol ollcring tlc world to God is to lavc a mcaning, tlis
ollcring would itscll nccd to lc tlat wlicl makcs it inlalitallc, and impcls us
to lalour so as to makc it sucl. And tlis sccms to lavc no rclation to praisc,
and tlc praycr ol praisc.
1o tlcsc plilosoplical oljcctions can lc addcd rcligious oljcctions, wlicl
ovcrlap witl tlcm and rcinlorcc tlcm at tlc samc timc. 1lc intcntion to
rcndcr cosmic praisc sccms simultancously vain and prcsumptuous. \ain,
lor tlc ord ol tlc world, wlo witl lis own word lrouglt it lortl lrom
notlingncss, and wlo is its omnipotcnt mastcr, ccrtainly las no nccd ol us
ollcring it to lim tlis sccms olvious. Can wc givc somconc tlat wlicl
alrcady lclongs to lim, and is cntircly lis` Wlcn it comcs to God, tlis
lclonging is morc total and intimatc tlan in any luman cxamplc, sincc
no crcaturc can sustain itscll in lcing lor an instant witlout tlc Crcator,
wlcrcas luman works can, oncc tlcy lavc lccn produccd, sulsist witlout
tlcir autlor. l anyonc could ollcr tlc world, it would lc God ollcring it to
1 FNG 1 WF
115
us, as lc las donc, so tlat wc can livc in it, ratlcr tlan us ollcring it to its
autlor. urtlcrmorc, tlis intcntion sccms to lc prcsumptuous and stccpcd in
pridc, lor wc lavc cnougl to do, lcing rcsponsillc as wc arc lor a task tlat
rcquircs our cntirc livcs (tlat ol convcrting oursclvcs, ollcring oursclvcs to
God, knowing and ncvcr ccasing to lcarn alout cvcrytling tlat witlin us
rcsists tlis ollcring and rclcls against it) witlout us laving tlc arrogancc to
ollcr to lim, to imaginc wc can ollcr lim, anytling otlcr tlan oursclvcs, lct
alonc tlc cntirc univcrsc. 1lc vcry tlouglt sccms dcrisory.
A lull rcply to tlcsc oljcctions cannot comc lrom rational argumcnt, lut
lrom tlc vcry plcnitudc ol tlc plcnomcnon constitutcd ly praycr, wlicl wc
lavc gradually to discovcr, witl its conditions. 1lc nrst ol all praiscs is tlc
praisc tlat God limscll uttcrs at lis crcation. 1o tlis silcnt praisc all luman
words ol spcccl, wlctlcr prolanc or rcligious, will always lc a rcply. n tlc
account ol crcation givcn in tlc nrst claptcr ol Gcncsis wc scc lrouglt into
play, so tlat tlc gamc ol tlc world can lc playcd, a word and a gazc and
tlcy arc inscparallc. 1lc crcativc word, wlicl causcs lcings to arisc lrom
notlingncss and constitutcs tlc world ly ordcring it and dillcrcntiating it,
and tlc gazc tlat God lrings to lcar on lis crcation as it springs lortl lrom
lis word and stands lclorc lim. 'God saw tlat it was good`, arc rcpcatcd
scvcral timcs. 1lc crcativc word is as sucl strictly incommunicallc and
cannot lc slarcd. wlatcvcr luman arrogancc may lavc tlouglt sincc tlc
Fcnaissancc, no luman word can call wlat docs not cxist into lcing, it can
only lorgct lcing so as to indulgc morc comlortally in tlc lclicl tlat it is
conlcrring lcing. 1o namc, to say, to gatlcr, to promisc. sucl is its (.//
grcatncss, on a dillcrcnt lcvcl lrom tlat ol crcation. But wlilc it is truc tlat
God`s gazc, rcsting on lis crcation, is onc tlat our own gazc can ncvcr
coincidc witl, sincc tlc world is not our work, God`s is nonctlclcss a gazc
tlat in analogical laslion ollcrs itscll to slaring, wlicl oncc and lor all opcns
up tlc spacc in wlicl will awakcn our gazc, and tlc words in wlicl wc will
cxprcss wlat wc scc.
1lc nrst cxclamation tlat grcctcd tlc world was uttcrcd silcntly ly God
wlo, as lc lookcd on it, lookcd on it to look altcr it and kccp it in salckccping.
is silcncc mcans tlat our words do not rcpcat it in tlc way onc miglt copy
a modcl. Wc arc cntircly rcsponsillc lor taking tlc initiativc lor tlosc words
in wlicl it is tlc world itscll wlicl lor tlc nrst timc cacl ol us is |.crn/n
|; /.cr/ ly lccoming adcpts ol tlc onc and only gay scicncc. Witl rcgard to
tlis gazc in Gcncsis, St Augustinc wrotc. 'God dcligltcd in tlc tling madc
witl tlc samc lcncvolcncc tlat inspircd lim wlcn lc madc it. or tlcrc arc
two aspccts to God`s lovc lor tlc crcaturc. lc lovcs it so tlat it will cxist and
so tlat it will pcrsist in lcing.`
6
1lis gazc, in lis vicw, constitutcs anotlcr act
ol tlc Crcator, in wlicl lc llcsscs timc, and all tlat unlolds in timc, in 'tlc
lcauty tlrouglout all agcs` ol tlc crcaturc tlat lrom now on cxists, it is not
1 FNG 1 WF
116
tlc gazc ol a spcctator, lut a gazc wlicl maintains and sccks to maintain, in
all tlc ways it can lc.
7
And wc also can rcjoicc tlat tlc world is, and is sucl
as God crcatcd it, wc also, in our own way, can cntcr into tlis gazc, wlicl can
only lc dcscrilcd as a gazc ol praisc.
1o scc tlat tlis is good can surcly lc notling otlcr tlan to praisc wlat onc
sccs ly gazing at it. 1lc lact tlat tlis praisc is inscparallc lrom a salcguard, a
lcncvolcncc, a llcssing ol tlc timc in wlicl wlat wc scc is translormcd and
dcvclops, tcaclcs us cxactly low urgcntly wc arc rcqucstcd to praisc. Wlat
would a praisc lc il it did not watcl ovcr wlat it praiscs, wlicl would not
kccp vigil ovcr it` All luman praisc lor tlc world as God`s work is inscrilcd
and accomplislcd in tlis nrst gazc, tlis gazc tlat lollows tlc lclcst ol tlc
Spirit, wlicl docs not slow itscll lut slows otlcr tlings. 1o cvadc praising
tlc world, lowcvcr impcrlcct our praisc miglt lc, would mcan lcaving, as it
wcrc, tlc divinc gazc witlout rcply and witlout a luturc, lcaving God as tlc
only onc in tlc world wlo sccs tlings, as il no mind could scc in its turn wlat
lc limscll sccs and slows. God`s gazc is always a word. it calls lor a rcsponsc,
a slaring, cvcn il tlc naturc ol tlis lattcr still rcmains to lc dcnncd.
t is not only tlc laitl ol tlc Billc tlat asscrts tlat wc arc givcn tlc task in
our words lor rcsponding to tlc world`s lcauty and taking rcsponsilility lor it.
Nor is it a mcrcly rcligious task. {crusalcm las its gratitudc, lut Atlcns las its
gratitudc too. t is callcd plilosoply. 1lc rcsponsc tlat tlc plilosoplcr makcs
to tlc world is to tlink out its ordcr and lcauty (tlis is part ol tlc mcaning
ol tlc Grcck word |m). l coursc, not all gratitudc pcrlorms a task ol
plilosoplical tlouglt, lut all truc lalour ol tlouglt is an act ol gratitudc.
Ccrtainly, sucl tlouglt docs not lavc to cxprcss itscll in patlctic cxclamations
or in scntimcntal outpourings, it comcs into its own tlc morc allc it is to
rcacl, as tlc ancicnt plrasc takcn lrom Flilo puts it, a solcr intoxication.
'1lc words 4.n|.n and 4cn|.n, to tlink and to tlank, lavc, as Faul Cclan
was not tlc nrst to say, tlc samc root in our languagc.`
8
1lcsc words arc not
Grcck, lut tlc idca itscll is. n wlat way` n cclclratcd passagcs, Flato as wcll
as Aristotlc scc in //cumc:./n tlc vcry origin ol plilosoply.

n contcmporary
translations, tlis word is somctimcs rcndcrcd as 'to lc astonislcd`, wlicl
providcs a prctcxt lor lolding lortl alout plilosoplical astonislmcnt. But
astonislcd mcrcly mcans prolound unscttling and slock, witlout slowing
wlat produccd tlosc cllccts, and onc can also lc astonislcd ly cvil and
lorror. T/cumc:./n, in tlis casc, would lc morc accuratcly translatcd ly 'to
marvcl` or 'wondcr` (a //cumc is a marvcl or a wondcr), or, as lormcrly, ly 'to
admirc` (in tlc scnsc ol 'to gazc in wondcr at`).
1lis admiration is dcsirc, and Aristotlc statcs tlat 'tlc oljcct ol wondcr
is an oljcct ol dcsirc`,
10
and 'scicntinc wisdom is tlc knowlcdgc ol many
wondcrlul tlings`.
11
1lcrc is notling ncutral alout tlis disposition (as il it
was opcn as mucl to cvil as to good). it is joylul, cvcn il its joy includcs tlc
1 FNG 1 WF
117
disquict tlat is dcsirous ol knowing low and wly tlings arc as wc scc tlcm.
Flilosoply is a qucst imlucd witl admiration, an inquisitivc marvclling.
And tlc principlc //cumc, lor tlouglt, is notling otlcr tlan tlc world itscll.
Flilosoply as sucl docs not pray, lut it accomplislcs, in its vcry own way, an
cxcrcisc in admiring tlc world.
Commcnting on Aristotlc, St 1lomas Aquinas writcs.
t is also ly admiration tlat tlc plilosoplcrs tlcmsclvcs wcrc lcd
to plilosoplizc. And lccausc admiration stcms lrom ignorancc,
it is clcar tlat tlcy arc lcd to plilosoplizc in ordcr to ovcrcomc
ignorancc.
12

1lc knowlcdgc ol tlc causcs ol wlat wc wcrc admiring suspcnds tlat nrst
admiration, wlicl is inscparallc lrom ignorancc. 1lis is low numcrous
tlinkcrs cnvisagcd it. But tlis was not Aristotlc`s vicw. 1lc trcatisc Pcr/ (
An/mc| asscrts cxplicitly.
vcry rcalm ol naturc is marvcllous (i.c. tlcrc rcsidcs in it somctling
marvcllous, // //cumc/n). or il somc lavc no graccs to clarm tlc
scnsc, yct naturc, wlicl laslioncd tlcm, givcs amazing plcasurc in
tlcir study to all wlo can tracc links ol causation, and arc inclincd to
plilosoply.
1S
ar lrom alolisling admiration, a knowlcdgc ol causcs, tlc considcration
ol natural organization and purposc lcrc constitutc lor Aristotlc tlat wlicl
incrcascs it and makcs its joy dccpcr. A nrst admiration is alolislcd in a
sccond admiration, onc tlat is liglcr and morc intcnsc in tlat it can scc
morc, it is likc a sccond wind ol tlougltlul gratitudc.
All too oltcn, modcrn tlouglt would unlcarn gratitudc ly unlcarning
admiration. 1lus cscartcs, lclorc tlc N/| c4m/rcr/ ol Spinoza, wrotc, in tlc
Tr.c//. n //. Pc/n. 'But morc oltcn wc wondcr too mucl ratlcr tlan too
littlc, as wlcn wc arc astonislcd in looking at tlings wlicl mcrit littlc or no
considcration. 1lis may cntircly prcvcnt or pcrvcrt tlc usc ol rcason.`
1+
And
il admiration may initially lc usclul, 'wc must attcmpt to lrcc oursclvcs lrom
tlis inclination as mucl as possillc`.
15
Malclranclc was lcss rcscrvcd alout
admiration and its possillc rolc, lut lc always allottcd it (quitc mislcadingly)
to tlc samc domain as a psycloplysiology ol tlc passions. n tlc samc
ccntury, St ranois dc Salcs, on tlc otlcr land, was allc to lct admiration
slcd its own liglt on tlings. c took ovcr and dcvclopcd tlc Grcck idca tlat
proclaimcd tlat 'admiration causcd plilosoply and tlc attcntivc invcstigation
ol natural tlings`, lut admiration is not, lor lim, an astonislmcnt tlat
1 FNG 1 WF
118
qucstions itscll, it is tlc vcry joy ol ///Jr/c. lar lrom cnding witl knowlcdgc,
it / knowlcdgc. c writcs.
Admiration ariscs in us wlcn wc cncountcr a ncw trutl tlat wc
did not know or cxpcct to know, and il to tlc ncw trutl tlat wc
cncountcr arc joincd lcauty and goodncss, tlc admiration tlat
rcsults is dcligltlul in tlc cxtrcmc.
gnorancc nnislcs witl admiration, instcad ol giving risc to it. Admiration
constitutcs tlc vcry joy ol discovcry, a dcsirc tlat is at oncc satisncd and
lorcvcr lcing rcncwcd. St ranois continucs.
1lc admiration ol agrccallc tlings attaclcs tlc mind strongly, likc
a gluc, to tlc tling admircd. as mucl ly rcason ol tlc cxccllcncc ol
tlc lcauty wlicl it disccrns in it as ly rcason ol tlc ncwncss ol tlis
cxccllcncc, tlc undcrstanding cannot lc satcd witl wlat it las not
yct sccn and wlicl is so plcasant to scc.
15

1lc cu4/um 4. r.r//c/., joy at tlc trutl, ly wlicl St Augustinc lad dcnncd
llcsscdncss, is in a ccrtain dcgrcc grantcd us in tlis lilc, in tlc lorm ol
admiration.
l St ranois dc Salcs insists on tlc insatiallc claractcr ol admiration, lc
placcs it in rclation witl tlc uncxpcctcd ncwncss ol tlc trutl tlat is discloscd
to us. Kant, in scvcral passagcs, latcr distinguislcd lctwccn astonislmcnt
(J.roun4.run) and admiration (B.oun4.run), using tlc dillcrcntial critcrion
ol ncwncss. admiration pcrsists and rcncws itscll ccasclcssly lccausc it docs
not dcpcnd on tlc ncwncss ol wlat is allccting us, unlikc astonislmcnt. And
wc slould also notc tlat, lor lim, unlikc tlc mctaplysics ol tlc scvcntccntl
ccntury, it is a mattcr ol c((.//n, and 'tlcrc is a spccinc distinction lctwccn
c((.//n and (c/n.`
16
1lus astonislmcnt is 'tlc allcction attcnding tlc
rcprcscntation ol novclty cxcccding cxpcctation`, wlcrcas admiration is 'an
astonislmcnt wlicl docs not ccasc wlcn tlc novclty wcars oll `.
17
Admiration
rcmains opcn to tlc cxccss ol wlat lappcns to it. And tlc tlird Cr///u. gocs
on to proposc tlcsc dcnnitions, witl rcgard to nnal purposc.
c/n//m.n/ is a slock tlat tlc mind rcccivcs lrom a rcprcscntation
and tlc rulc givcn tlrougl it lcing incompatillc witl tlc mind`s
cxisting lund ol root principlcs, and tlat accordingly makcs onc
doult onc`s own cycsiglt or qucstion onc`s judgcmcnt, lut
c4m/rc//n is an astonislmcnt tlat kccps continually rccurring
dcspitc tlc disappcarancc ol tlis doult.
18

1 FNG 1 WF
11
vcn il Kant docs not, lor all tlat, makc it into tlc principlc ol lis plilosoply,
lc conlcrs on it a rolc in tlc constitution ol Flatonism.
1
And tlc An//r(|;
(rm c Prcmc// P/n/ ( J/.o rcturns to tlis distinction, in rclcrcncc to
tlc sullimc. admiration is 'a judgmcnt in wlicl onc`s astonislmcnt is
undiminislcd`.
20
cvcloping tlcsc Kantian considcrations witl morc indulgcncc tlan
usual, ranz von Baadcr, in an cssay just a lcw pagcs long, 'n tlc Allcct ol
Admiration and Fcspcct`, writcs.
1lc knowing mind lcrc rcaclcs a sourcc ol knowlcdgc, lrom wlicl
it can always draw, wlcrc it can always know ancw, witlout cvcr
cxlausting tlc sourcc, and altcr it las cut a patl tlrougl to sucl
a (r/n/(|. (lrom /n/(.r., 'to lcgin again always ancw`), it ccascs,
indccd, to lc astonislcd, lut it lcgins only tlcn to admirc tlc
incxlaustilility ol tlat sourcc.
21

lscwlcrc, Baadcr, quoting Flato`s T/c.c/./u, claims tlat 'admiration is an
allcct ol tlc intclligcncc`,
22
and lc rcproaclcs Spinoza lor laving conluscd
tlc allcct ol admiration, wlicl lilts and lilcratcs tlc mind, witl tlat ol
stupclaction or llind stupor, wlicl lowcrs it and wcigls it down.
2S
Baadcr
tlus clcarly distinguislcs lctwccn truc admiration, wlicl lortincs and
activatcs tlc powcr ol knowing, lrom just lcing dumlloundcd (Anc((.n),
wlicl ariscs lrom a lack ol undcrstanding and paralyscs knowlcdgc.
2+
1lcsc considcrations on tlc //cumc:./n ol plilosoply, rcsponding to tlc
//cumc ol tlc world, to tlc marvcl ol marvcls, slows tlat alrcady in tlc
natural ordcr, man is, ly and in tlouglt, tlc onc wlo praiscs tlc world,
lor, cvcr sincc Flato`s S;m(/um,
25
cvcry plilosoplcr knows tlat tlc task ol
praisc is notling otlcr tlan tlc paticncc ol trutl. 1o tlink is to tlank, lut
lor tlis to lc truc, to tlank must lc to tlink rcally and truly, in otlcr words
to scc. Flilosoplical gratitudc is in no way a praycrlul gratitudc and it is not
to God tlat it proposcs to ollcr tlc world, lut tlat docs not mcan tlat it is
parcimonious, lor in tlinking tlc world, it also ollcrs it to us so tlat wc may
dwcll in it witl a clcarcr and lrccr gazc.
Fcmaining witlin tlc natural ordcr, and rclcrring nrst ol all to prolanc
cantatas, anotlcr dimcnsion ol luman spcccl lrings into play tlc possilility
ol ollcring tlc world. 1lis is lovc poctry. 1lis would soon lavc run out ol
tlings to say il it wcrc rcduccd to rcpcating its dcclarations ol lovc, drawing
up tlc ||cn ol tlc lovcd lody and singing its lcauty indcnnitcly. Wlat givcs
it a lroadcr scopc and conlcrs on it its rcsourcclulncss and its capacity lor
rcncwal is tlc way it approaclcs tlc lclovcd, not in a vacuum lut amid tlc
lar lorizons ol a world in pcrpctual inux. By singing tlc lclovcd, tlc lovcr
allows limscll to lc summoncd to all tlc lcauty ol tlc world, illumincd and
1 FNG 1 WF
120
discloscd ly lovc itscll, and illumining it and disclosing it in rcturn. 1lc lovc
song lccomcs tlc song ol tlc world. ovc slows tlc world and rcvcals it as
a placc wlcrc wc could livc in a dillcrcnt way. 1lis is slown c n/rcr/ ly
tlc lamous linc ly amartinc, 'nc singlc pcrson alscnt lrom my sidc, and
all is wastc and void.` And it is not mcrcly oncscll lut tlc wlolc world, in its
splcndour at oncc immcmorial and suddcn, tlat tlc lovcr would likc to ollcr
in spcccl to tlc lclovcd. Ho spcccl can assumc sucl a lunction still nccds
to lc dctcrmincd, lut it is clcar tlat it ncvcr ccascs to givc itscll tlis task and
tlat it would losc its inspiration il it did not.
Clarity docs not lorm a prolongation ol /rJ any morc tlan tlc spcccl
ol praycr is an appcndix to poctry. tlcy arc lrom radically dillcrcnt ordcrs,
and tlc dillcrcncc conccrns tlc vcry root ol tlc acts. But, lollowing tlc
tlcological adagc, gracc docs not comc to alolisl naturc lut to pcrlcct it,
and tlc lolty lciglt and tlc lrccdom tlat clarity takcs and rcccivcs witl
rcspcct to /rJ ccrtainly do not mcan tlat its spcccl is mcancr, morc skimpy,
lcss gcncrous witl itscll and witl cvcrytling clsc. Quitc tlc oppositc. tlc
illumining ol tlc world, wlicl lclongs to poctry as a possilility, must lclong,
a lortiori, to tlc spcccl ol praycr. l tlcrc is a prolanc song ol tlc world, tlcrc
must lc a gracious canticlc ol tlc crcaturcs, a placc ol praycrlul spcccl on
wlicl convcrgcs tlc world`s lcauty. Wc cannot tcar oursclvcs away lrom tlc
world to ollcr oursclvcs to God. il tlis ollcring is possillc, it will ncccssarily
includc all tlosc lar lorizons lrom wlicl alonc wc comc into our own, just as
immcdiatcly to sct out again. 1o cxist is to lc outsidc.
1lis was low tlc young 1cillard dc Clardin put it. 'Wc arc morc out
ol oursclvcs, so to spcak, in timc and spacc, tlan wc arc in oursclvcs, at tlc
momcnt wc arc livc. tlc pcrson, tlc luman mnc4, is likc cvcry monad
..n//c||; m/.`
26
l wc could no longcr spcak ol tlc world, wc would no
longcr lavc anytling to say, not cvcn alout oursclvcs, sincc, in dcscriling
our cxlaustcd void, as so many pcoplc likc to do, wc arc still spcaking ol tlc
world, ol tlc world`s witldrawing. 1lc oly Billc itscll spcaks ol God only
ly spcaking ol tlc world, ol its crcation, its listory, tlc luman lcings wlo
livc in it, tlc animals, tlc rivcrs, tlc mountains and tlc dcscrts, tlc winds and
tlc luslcs, ol God giving tlc world and giving limscll lor tlc salvation ol
tlc world.
All tlcsc considcrations alrcady cast liglt on tlc ovcr-lasty and lallacious
claractcr ol tlc damaging oljcctions laid at tlc door ol tlc intcntion ol
ollcring tlc world to God in spcccl. 1lc lact rcmains tlat tlcrc is an csscntial
dillcrcncc lctwccn giving tlanks lor tlc world, ly attcntion, ly admiration,
ly song, ol wlatcvcr kind tlcy may lc, and tlc ((.r/n ol tlc world. low can
ollcr tlat wlicl lavc only rcccivcd, tlat in wlicl am rcccivcd, tlat ly
wlicl ncvcr ccasc to rcccivc myscll` And tlc lact rcmains, too, tlat tlcrc is
anotlcr csscntial dillcrcncc lctwccn tlc way spcccl can only cvcr sing ol tlc
1 FNG 1 WF
121
world, or tlc tlings ol tlc world, and tlc intcntion tlat spcccl slould lc tlc
placc wlcrc tlc world rcturns to God. or spcccl to ollcr tlc world, it must
not mcrcly lclong to tlc world, lut also and alovc all, tlc world must lclong
to it and gatlcr itscll togctlcr as world witlin it. And spcccl must also, in
giving itscll, givc tlc world.
1o scc morc clcarly wlat is implicd ly tlcsc dcmands, and wlctlcr tlcy
can lc mct, wc must listcn to tlc tlinkcrs wlo cxamincd wlat praisc mcans.
Flilo did tlis as proloundly as anyonc. An admirallc passagc in lis trcatisc
D. (|cn/c//n.
27
nccds to lc rcad attcntivcly, lorming as it docs onc ol tlc
summits ol lis cuclaristic tlouglt, in otlcr words tlc action ol tlanksgiving,
wlicl is tlc mcaning ol tlc Grcck word .u|/cr///c. 1o tlc gcncrosity and
lcncnccncc ol God, says Flilo, tlc .u|/cr///c ol man can and must rcspond.
1lis gratitudc lorms tlc most csscntial and liglcst possilility ol man. Man
is lclorc God, tlrougl lis spcccl, a lcing ol lymns and praiscs. 'acl ol tlc
virtucs is a loly mattcr, lut tlanksgiving is prc-cmincntly so.` 1lc liglcst ol
all dutics, and tlc onc tlat alonc is valid as a rcsponsc to God, to lis work and
lis gilts, las tlc vcry samc alnrmativc gratuitous and spontancous quality ol
praisc tlat givcs tlanks. A //cn| ;u tlat wc wrcst violcntly lrom oursclvcs,
tlat is conqucrcd ly slccr lorcc, tlat is uttcrcd simply lccausc wc ouglt to
uttcr it would sucl a //cn| ;u still lc cuclaristic` 1lc ncgation ol tlat
wlicl witlin us dcnics, tlc no to wlat says no, will ncvcr cnallc tlc day ol
ycs to lrcak. 1lat our ;. to God lor tlc world is lor Flilo tlc vcry lypcrlolc
ol virtuc (tlc Grcck tcxt las /u(.r|c||n/J), and tlat tlc liglcst summit
is rcaclcd wlcn on it onc can joylully turn to wlat is cvcn liglcr, makc ol
tlc only {cwisl plilosoplcr ol antiquity wlosc works lavc lccn prcscrvcd a
grcat tlinkcr ol tlc gay scicncc.
But low arc wc to givc tlanks` Not, says Flilo,
ly mcans ol luildings and ollations and sacrinccs, as is tlc custom
ol most pcoplc, lor cvcn tlc wlolc world wcrc not a tcmplc adcquatc
to yicld tlc lonour duc to im. Nay, it must lc cxprcsscd ly mcans
ol lymns ol praisc, and tlcsc not sucl as tlc audillc voicc slall
sing, lut strains raiscd and rc-cclocd ly tlc mind too purc lor cyc
to disccrn.
1lcsc nrst statcmcnts cannot lc undcrstood in isolation. l Flilo sccms to
lcgin ly ruling out tlc voicc, prclcrring a purcly spiritual song, a silcnt act ol
tlc mind, as Ficlard Follc was latcr to do in tlc Clristian Middlc Agcs,
28
tlis
is to cxcludc a lymn tlat would lc a purcly cxtcrnal lalour and task, wlicl
wc would carry out as mcrc lip scrvicc. 1lc lymn must lc lcartlclt, it must
spring lrom tlc dcptls ol tlc lcart. But it docs want cvcntually to lurst lortl
and makc itscll manilcst, and, at tlc cnd ol tlis passagc, Flilo gocs on to say
1 FNG 1 WF
122
cxplicitly tlat our praisc must pass 'tlrougl all tlc cxprcssions ol tlc voicc
wlicl lavc lallcn to spcccl and song`.
2
1lat tlc world itscll cannot lc a tcmplc wortly ol God, on tlc otlcr land,
marks a dillcrcncc lrom pagan idcas, and undcrlincs a lortiori tlat notling ol
wlat wc can do witl our lands will cvcr lc sulncicnt lor tlc cuclarist. But
tlis cuclarist will in no way lc acosmic. it is indccd in singing tlc world tlat
wc givc tlanks to God. 1lc world will lc tlc vcry matcrial ol our cuclarist as
it sounds lortl. And it will itscll lc lonourcd ly our song as will its crcator.
Altcr tlcsc considcrations, Flilo adapts to lis own usc an old pagan story.
Wlcn tlc world was nnislcd, God askcd an angcl il tlcrc was any crcaturc
missing.
c, it is said, madc answcr tlat all wcrc pcrlcct and complctc in
all tlcir parts, and tlat lc was looking lor onc tling only, namcly
tlc word to sound tlcir praiscs, wlicl slould makc tlc surpassing
cxccllcncc tlat markcd cvcn tlc most minutc and inconspicuous
among tlcm tlc suljcct ol announccmcnt ratlcr tlan ol praisc,
sccing tlat tlc mcrc rccounting ol tlc works ol God was in itscll
tlcir all-sulncicnt praisc.
As witl tlc Socratcs ol tlc S;m(/um, tlc culogy takcs as its yardstick
notling otlcr tlan trutl. And Flilo continucs. 'tlc Autlor ol tlc univcrsc on
lcaring tlis commcndcd wlat lad lccn said, and . . . it was not long lclorc
tlcrc appcarcd tlc ncw lirtl, tlc lamily ol tlc Muscs and lymnody`, sprung
lrom tlc woml ol Mcmory, Mn|m| or Mn|mun|.
As long as tlc spcccl tlat sings tlc world is alscnt lrom tlc world, tlc
world lacks notling and cvcrytling. t lacks notling, lor tlc vcry tcrms
cmploycd ly Flilo lring out low tlc unsung world is not in tlc lcast an
unnnislcd, incomplctc world, in wlicl tlcrc arc cmpty spaccs or lacunac tlat
nccd to lc nllcd lclatcdly. 1lc word is not somc cxtra itcm in tlc world, as il
it addcd somctling to it, as il it conlcrrcd on it a supplcmcntary pcrlcction,
as il in crcating it God wcrc putting tlc nnal touclcs to lis work. Notling is
addcd to tlc world ly tlc spcccl tlat magnincs it, and spcccl docs not lorm
a ncw world. And yct, cvcrytling is clangcd ly tlc spcccl tlat cxprcsscs tlc
totality. tlc world rcally docs lccomc a world wlcn it comcs into tlc liglt ol
spcccl. t is tlc samc, uniquc world tlat is madc ncw ly laving somconc to
rccitc its qualitics. Song adds notling and, il onc may lorrow an cxprcssion
lrom colloquial languagc, it docs not lypc it up. t las tlc solricty ol tlc
clcar-cycd gazc. But tlc totality slincs as a totality, scnds itscll and addrcsscs
itscll as totality, wlcn it las a witncss to wclcomc and rcccivc it in lis song.
Naturally, tlc spcccl ol praisc can lc sucl only wlcn it is a spcccl ol
trutl. But lcrc wc nccd to turn tlc Flatonic idca round. wlcn it comcs to
1 FNG 1 WF
12S
tlc works ol God, tlc spcccl ol trutl can only lc sucl wlcn it is a spcccl ol
gratitudc. 1lc gazc must lc clcar-cycd, and tlc cuclarist docs not constitutc
an intcrmission ol cntlusiasm slipping in lctwccn our otlcr tasks, lut tlis
clarity is joy and praisc, lor otlcrwisc a sladow would dwcll witlin its lcart.
1lc vcry drilt ol tlc story, in any casc, connrms tlis. lclorc praisc comcs
into lcing, and wlcn lc rcsolvcs to lring it into lcing, God 'commcnds` or
'praiscs` tlc spcccl tlat proclaims praisc ncccssary. t is always praisc tlat calls
lor praisc, in an alnrmation tlat is always lcing rcpcatcd and dccpcncd. vcry
;. is in lull spatc. God sings tlat song tlat will lc. And lc alrcady rcmcmlcrs
Mncmosync, lclorc slc comcs into tlc world, lc rcmcmlcrs mcmory itscll.
c promiscs mcmory.
And so Flilo concludcs.
1lc work most appropriatc to God is conlcrring loons (.u.r././n),
tlat most ntting to crcation giving tlanks (.u|/cr//./n), sccing
tlat it las no powcr to rcndcr in rcturn anytling lcyond tlis, lor,
wlatcvcr clsc it may lavc tlouglt ol giving in rcquital, tlis it will
nnd to lc tlc propcrty ol tlc Makcr ol all tlings, and not ol tlc
lcing tlat lrings it. aving lcarncd, tlcn, tlat, in all tlat las to do
witl slcwing lonour to God, onc work only is incumlcnt upon us,
namcly tlanksgiving, lct us always and cvcrywlcrc makc tlis our
study, using voicc and skillul pcn.
Notling lclorc God lclongs to us as our own, il not our alility to say //cn|
;u. Wlat may appcar as tlc most tcnuous, tlc most slcndcr ol all possililitics
is in trutl tlc liglcst and most cxtcnsivc. tlc praisc tlat r.(n4 to tlc divinc
giving is tlc csscncc ol luman spcccl. t is in spcccl tlat tlc gilt is rcccivcd,
and tlat wc can givc somctling ol our own, in otlcr words oursclvcs. 1lc
spcccl most propcr to man is tlus tlc spcccl wlicl is turncd to tlc otlcr,
givcn to tlc otlcr, a spcccl ol transmigration tlat crosscs loundarics, a spcccl
tlat is ccccntric. Wlat lclongs to us is tlc possilility ol uttcring a spcccl tlat
ccascs to lclong to itscll. t is, likc lovc, irrcplaccallc, and notling can stand
in lor it, no otlcr work can rcplacc tlis spcccl, and nolody can rcplacc us in
tlis spcccl. Anyonc wlo askcd anotlcr to lovc in lis placc would not lovc.
Anyonc wlo askcd anotlcr to givc tlanks in lis placc would not lc giving
tlanks. 1lis spcccl las tlc strcngtl ol its wcakncss, lor tlc voicc tlat praiscs
always las somctling trcmulous alout it, knowing at onc and tlc samc timc
tlat it cannot lc cnougl and yct tlat notling otlcr tlan it cn lc cnougl.
tlcr trcatiscs ly Flilo point out tlat tlis luman cuclarist lorms tlc
placc ol a vcritallc cosmic liturgy. Wc givc tlanks (r tlc world in tlc twolold
scnsc ol tlc word (r. wc sing ol tlc lcauty ol tlc world, and wc sing on its
lclall ol wlat it cannot itscll say. 1lc luman voicc is tlat ly wlicl tlc world
1 FNG 1 WF
12+
ollcrs itscll to God. Flilo scts out tlcsc idcas witl spccial rclcrcncc to tlc
costumc ol tlc ligl pricst. ly its dillcrcnt clcmcnts, tlis costumc symlolizcs
tlc world. '|1lc aw| cxprcsscs tlc wisl nrst tlat tlc ligl pricst slould
lavc in cvidcncc upon lim an imagc ol tlc All . . . (so) tlat in pcrlorming
lis loly olncc lc slould lavc tlc wlolc univcrsc as lis lcllow-ministrant
(u||.//ur|/)`.
S0
aving dcscrilcd in dctail tlc mcaning ol tlcsc vcstmcnts,
anotlcr trcatisc concludcs.
1lus is tlc ligl pricst arraycd wlcn lc scts lortl to lis loly dutics,
in ordcr tlat wlcn lc cntcrs to ollcr tlc anccstral praycrs and
sacrinccs tlcrc may cntcr witl lim tlc wlolc univcrsc, as signincd
in tlc typcs ol it wlicl lc lrings upon lis pcrson . . . . or, as lc
wcars a vcsturc wlicl rcprcscnts tlc world, lis nrst duty is to carry
tlc pattcrn cnslrincd in lis lcart, and so lc in a scnsc translormcd
lrom a man into tlc naturc ol tlc world, and, il onc may darc say so
. . . lc limscll a littlc world, a microcosm (|rc|/u |m).
S1

1lc tlcmc ol man as a microcosm lcrc cnds up taking on a liturgical lunction.
wc ollcr tlc world in ollcring oursclvcs. 1lc world lccomcs a pricst wlcn tlc
pricst lccomcs a world. 1lis cuclarist ol tlc world itscll is somctling tlat
Flilo sccs as symlolizcd ly tlc sacrcd pcrlumcs tlat arc consumcd.
Surcly it is a ntting lilc-work lor tlc world, tlat it slould givc tlanks
to its Makcr continuously and witlout ccasing, wcllnigl cvaporating
itscll into a singlc clcmcntal lorm, to slcw tlat it loards notling
as trcasurc, lut dcdicatcs its wlolc lcing at tlc slrinc ol God its
Bcgcttcr.
S2

But only man can composc and lurn tlcsc pcrlumcs in wlicl tlc world ollcrs
itscll and lrcatlcs out, and lis voicc alonc lorms tlc truc pcrlumc, sincc it
is tlat voicc tlat rclcascs its odour. l tlc tunic ol tlc ligl pricst mirrors tlc
sky, it is, says Flilo, so tlat 'tlc univcrsc may join witl man in tlc loly ritcs
(un//rur|/) and man witl tlc univcrsc`.
SS
1lc world concclclratcs witl
us.
Clristian tlouglt would takc up and dcvclop tlcsc tlcmcs. As lor Flilo,
tlc idca ol man as microcosm, as tlc cpitomc ol tlc world, an idca so ricl
in scopc and witl multiplc mcanings,
S+
can lccomc tlc loundation ol a
cosmic liturgy. Man can, in lis song, ollcr tlc world to God lccausc lis own
song can lc tlc vcry song ol tlc world, in tlc 'suljcctivc` as mucl as tlc
'oljcctivc` scnsc ol tlc word 'ol `. A vivid and powcrlul passagc ly Cardinal
dc Bcrullc dwclls on tlis possilility. is dcnnition ol man lcrc dcpcnds
on tlc adaptation ol tlc mytl ol pimctlcus ly Fico dclla Mirandola, in
1 FNG 1 WF
125
lis discoursc On //. D/n//; ( Mcn. Man is crcatcd ly God altcr all otlcr
lcings, and tlcrc is, so to spcak, no otlcr modcl to lollow in making lim.
'1lc pcrlcct craltsman,` writcs Fico dclla Mirandola, 'nnally dccidcd tlat to
man, wlo lc could prcscnt witl notling tlat would lc propcr to lim alonc,
would lc common tlat wlicl lad lccn propcr to cvcry crcaturc.`
S5
1lus it
is tlat man is 'cvcry crcaturc`,
S6
and Fico assigns to lim tlc task ol admiring
and praising tlc pcrlcction ol tlc world as a divinc work.
S7
Ficrrc dc Bcrullc
cxplicitly takcs up tlcsc tlouglts. 'aving no distinct and particular placc to
givc lim in lis works, sincc lc was crcatcd altcr all lis otlcr works, lc lound
a placc lor lim in tlc lciglts ol lis wisdom, and gavc lim a lcing wlicl
participatcs in all lis works, and communicatcs witl all lis works.`
S8
1lis
participation in cvcrytling in tlc world makcs man 'as it wcrc a ccntrc ol tlc
world`, in wlicl all its radii convcrgc and mcct.
c is not mcrcly a littlc world, lut 'as it wcrc a God visillc on tlc cartl,
paying lomagc to tlc invisillc God, and rclating limscll and all tlat is crcatcd
to God.` Man, Bcrullc continucs, is 'so to spcak tlc soul and intclligcncc ol
tlc univcrsc. M.n un/r.r/.` n man, considcrcd in all tlc dimcnsions ol lis
lcing, it is tlc wlolc world tlat opcns up to tlc possilility ol God and
ollcring itscll to lim. c is tlc ccntrc, wlcrc all turns lack to God. c wlo
'looks on cvcrytling` can lring it alout tlat tlc wlolc univcrsc looks on God.
1lis rcally is a cosmic liturgy. is work is to rclatc cvcrytling to God.
lis mind lcing tlc mind ol tlc univcrsc, to know God and adorc
lim, and lis tonguc, tlc tonguc ol tlc univcrsc to praisc lim, and
lis lcart, tlc lcart ol tlc univcrsc to lovc lim, God wisling to
rcccivc praisc lrom lis crcaturc, a praisc and a knowlcdgc tlat is at
oncc scnsillc and spiritual, just as lc lad cndowcd it witl a lcing
tlat is at oncc spiritual and scnsillc.
A rigorous loundation is tlcrcly givcn to tlc praycr ol praisc. it is not
a gloss on tlc world, an admiring cxclamation addcd to it, it is tlc dccisivc
placc in wlicl tlc silcncc ol tlc world is lrokcn in our voicc, wlicl dclivcrs it
and transngurcs it in song, making manilcst in tlis silcncc tlc olscurc advcnt
ol our psalms. But, in tlis olscurc advcnt, tlcsc psalms will lavc drawn tlc
lrcatl ol inspiration. 1lc lact tlat not only our minds, lut our tongucs and
voiccs too, arc rcquircd, also slows tlc irrcducilly luman claractcr ol tlis
task. 1lc angcls lack a lody, and so cannot makc an ollcring ol tlc lody
ol tlc world wlcn tlcy ollcr tlcmsclvcs. {can-{acqucs licr, anotlcr grcat
ngurc ol rcncl spirituality, took up sucl tlouglts lrom a Clristological
point ol vicw. 1lc divinc Word cannot adorc tlc atlcr wlosc cqual lc is
lor to adorc prcsupposcs 'worslip tlat involvcs rcspcct and rcligion, wlicl
rcquircs incquality and dcpcndcncy`
1 FNG 1 WF
126
lc sccks tlc mcans to do it and nnds it in lis lumanity. t is in tlis
lumanity tlat lc praiscs God, it is also in tlis lumanity tlat cvcry
crcaturc adorcs lim, lccausc tlc cntirc crcation is includcd in man,
wlicl would not lavc lccn tlc casc il lc lad takcn on an angclic
naturc, wlicl docs not contain witlin itscll, as docs tlat ol man, tlc
lull divcrsity ol crcatcd lcings.
And licr gocs as lar as to writc, tlcrcly invcrting tlc tlcmc ol tlc
microcosm, tlat 'tlc world is tlc supplcmcnt ol man, and tlc crcaturcs in
it arc likc tlc limls tlat cnallc lim to sulsist.`
S
1lc world is associatcd
witl man`s lall as wcll as witl lis salvation. Witl our voicc tlc world grows
lrigltcr or darkcr.
owcvcr nnc and strong tlis tradition ol tlouglt may lc, taking it
into considcration must not lowcvcr lcad us to yokc inscparally togctlcr
tlc indclcasillc rcligious task ol a cosmic liturgy on tlc onc land, and tlc
acccptancc ol a wcll-dcnncd plilosoplical antlropology, tlat ol man as
microcosm, on tlc otlcr. 1lis antlropology constitutcs mcrcly n. ol tlc
ways ol lounding tlc possilility ol a praycr ol praisc ollcring tlc world to
God. t is not ncccssary lor man to lc a summary or cpitomc ol tlc world,
cvcn in lis lody, lor lim to lc allc to sing it. 1lc vacuity ol tlc voicc, opcn
to all tlings, may lc sulncicnt. 1lc prolound idca ol Aristotlc, dcvclopcd ly
St 1lomas Aquinas, wlicl claims tlat tlc luman soul is in a ccrtain way all
lcings, as it can, tlrougl scnsillc as wcll as intcllcctual knowlcdgc, lccomc
all ol tlcm (a tlouglt in wlicl cidcggcr saw an anticipation ol wlat lc
callcd Dc./n), may scrvc to cstallisl tlis possilility witl a rigour no lcss,
and indccd cvcn grcatcr.
+0
urtlcrmorc, Fico dclla Mirandola and Ficrrc dc
Bcrullc also signal tlat sucl a dircction miglt lc lollowcd wlcn tlcy insist,
in tlcir intcrprctation ol tlc mytl ol pimctlcus, on tlc lact tlat man can
participatc in all otlcr naturcs lccausc lc las in limscll no particular and
dcnnitc naturc.
Wc nccd now to dwcll on an important passagc in tlc C//; ( G4 ly St
Augustinc, wlicl clcarly lrings out an csscntial claractcristic ol tlc c/ ol
praisc. or it is not cnougl to rccct on tlc conditions it must lulnl il it is
to lc possillc. wc slould also considcr wlat it actually docs, and wlat in
our cxistcncc it can translorm or transngurc wlcn it takcs placc. t is in its
last words tlat tlis passagc is rclcvant to our prcscnt purposcs. But tlcir
pcrsuasivcncss lccomcs intclligillc only wlcn sccn as part ol tlc wlolc
movcmcnt ol tlouglt, ol wlicl it constitutcs, as it wcrc, tlc Au(/.|un
wlicl surpasscs, supprcsscs and maintains at onc and tlc samc timc. St
Augustinc nrst ol all dcvclops a ccntral tlcmc ol lis rccctions, a tlcmc
tlat would mcct witl a wcaltl ol dcvclopmcnts in tlc Middlc Agcs, and
is promincnt also in tlc D. G.n./ c4 |///.rcm. tlc distinction lctwccn tlc
1 FNG 1 WF
127
knowlcdgc ol tlings in tlc crcativc Word, wlicl contains tlcir modcls,
idcas, and arclctypcs, and tlc knowlcdgc ol tlings in tlcmsclvcs oncc tlcy
lavc lccn crcatcd. crc wc cncountcr a contrast lctwccn tlc way tlings arc
known in tlc morning and tlc way tlcy arc known at niglt, lctwccn tlc
knowlcdgc ol tlings in tlc divinc cr/ tlat crcatcs tlcm, and tlc knowlcdgc
ol tlc works actually produccd ly tlis art. 1lc wlolc passagc is luilt up on
tlc lasis ol an antitlcsis lctwccn tlcsc two kinds ol knowlcdgc, lctwccn
tlcir rcspcctivc naturcs, modcs and pcrlcction. And to sing tlc praiscs ol tlc
angclic contcmplation associatcd witl morning at nrst sccms likc an cvasion
ol our condition as mcn wlo always tlink and spcak in tlc cvcning, as cgcl
would latcr say ol plilosoply. But St Augustinc concludcs witl a pcrlcct
dcscription ol wlat praisc can lc. 'Yct wlcn all tlcsc works arc rclcrrcd to
tlc praisc and worslip ol tlc Crcator, tlcn tlcrc is tlc liglt as ol morning
sunslinc in tlc minds ol tlosc wlo contcmplatc tlcm (/cmucm mcn.
|u.// /n m.n//|u n/.m(|cn//um).`
+1
So tlc spcccl ol praisc, considcrcd as an ollcring and a tlank-ollcring, docs
not allow morning and cvcning to rcmain cxtcrior to onc anotlcr, in a statc ol
mutual indillcrcncc. t lcads tlc cvcning lack to morning, and lrings it alout
tlat tlc cvcning is a rcmcmlrancc and a sign ol tlc morning. And tlis is not
just a simplc rclation tlat would rclatc tlc cllcct lack to tlc causc and wlat
is dcrivativc lack to wlat is original. it docs not simply tracc tlc sign lack to
tlc signincd. Bringing tlc cvcning lack to tlc morning, in otlcr tcrms tlc
crcaturc to its Crcator, //.|( |.m. cn c//r//; ( //. mrn/n. Morning lrcaks
in tlc vcry cvcning. t is not a mattcr ol dcnying or alandoning tlc cvcning,
in otlcr words tlc cxistcncc ol crcaturcs according to tlcir own modc ol
lcing. l it praiscs, tlc cvcning song lccomcs a song ol dawn, and makcs tlc
pcrson wlo sings it a crcaturc ol tlc morning. 1lis paradoxical morning is ol
grcat signincancc il wc arc to undcrstand praisc. As Flilo lad alrcady slown,
it tlcrcly adds notling to tlc world, it mcrcly says it and also says its origin,
tlc origin to wlicl it lrings it lack as it sings. t also lrings it to its trutl
|; |r/n/n //.|( / //. /ru//. Fraisc makcs itscll an activity ol tlc morning
witlout ccasing to lc an activity ol tlc cvcning too. n otlcr words, it docs
not prcsupposc tlat wc translorm oursclvcs into purc spirits, tlat wc lorgct
or losc lrom siglt tlc limits ol tlc luman condition and ol luman spcccl
somctling tlat is ncvcr witlout grcat dangcr, it also discloscs its powcrs to
us. 1lis supprcsscs cvcrytling unilatcral and alstract tlat tlcrc miglt lavc
lccn in tlc mcrc antitlcsis ol tlc two ways ol knowing. tlat ol tlc morning
and tlat ol tlc cvcning.
1lc possilility ol ollcring tlc world to God, in praisc, involvcs anotlcr
rcquircmcnt, no lcss csscntial, on tlc part ol tlc world itscll. cannot ollcr
a tling unlcss it lcnds itscll to lcing ollcrcd, and cannot ollcr it in spcccl
and tlrougl spcccl unlcss it lcnds itscll to lcing ollcrcd in tlis way. 1lcsc
1 FNG 1 WF
128
propositions sccm at nrst siglt usclcss lanalitics, sincc cvcryonc knows tlat
singing tlc praiscs ol lrcad las ncvcr lcd tlc lungry, and can indccd only
makc tlcir lungcr worsc. But tlcsc propositions arc, nonctlclcss, dccisivc,
lor tlc ollcring rcquircs tlat its 'mattcr` lc appropriatc to tlc gilt. Nolody
las cvcr /r.n tlcmsclvcs dcatl, as in suicidc, or /r.n dcatl to anotlcr, wlicl
is anotlcr cuplcmism lor murdcr. nly lilc can lc givcn, and, in sacrincc, it
is lilc wlicl is givcn, witlout rcturn. or tlc world to lc ollcrcd in spcccl,
not only must its lcauty and its pcrlcction rcndcr it wortly ol lcing ollcrcd,
lut it must also in somc mcasurc ask to lc lornc into tlc liglt ol tlc voicc.
nly tlat wlicl alrcady sings, in wlatcvcr way it miglt lc, can lc ollcrcd
in song. t must lc tlc mutc spcccl ol tlc world, awaiting its uttcrancc, tlat
our spcccl dclivcrs.
oly Scripturc cxplicitly and rcpcatcdly cxprcsscs tlc rcality ol tlis
condition. t may lc in tlc modc ol invitation tlc mcaning ol wlicl will
lc discusscd latcr on lut also in tlat ol alnrmation.
+2
'1lc lcavcns dcclarc
tlc glory ol God.`
+S
'All your crcaturcs slall tlank you, Yalwcl.`
++
n lis O|4
T./cm.n/ T/.|;, Gcrlard van Fad commcnts on tlcsc vcrscs.
Sincc it |tlc world| was so wondcrlully crcatcd ly {alwcl and is
so wondcrlully prcscrvcd, it las a splcndour ol its own, lrom wlicl
praisc and witncss issuc. in otlcr words tlc world is not only an
oljcct wlicl calls lortl praisc, lut is at tlc samc timc also tlc suljcct
wlicl uttcrs it.
+5

And in anotlcr ol lis works, lc says.
Wc cncountcr tlc idca tlat tlc world is not duml, tlat it las a
mcssagc, in tlc lymn. 1lc world proclaims itscll lclorc God as a
crcatcd tling, tlc lcavcns 'tcll`, tlc nrmamcnt 'proclaims` . . . 1lis
spcaking ly part ol crcation appcars lcrc as an accompanimcnt to
tlc divinc scll-rcvclation. But it is improlallc tlat tlc lcavcns wcrc
cmpowcrcd as witncsscs only in tlc contcxt ol tlis occurrcncc and
tlat tlcy wcrc prcviously duml.
+6

Anotlcr psalm sings. 'ct tlc sca tlundcr, and all tlat it lolds, tlc world and
all wlo livc in it. ct tlc rivcrs clap tlcir lands, and tlc mountains slout lor
joy togctlcr.`
+7
r again, in tlc canticlc ol avid. 'ct tlc countrysidc cxult,
and all tlat is in it, and all tlc trccs ol tlc lorcst cry out lor joy.`
+8
All tlcsc
uttcranccs arc pcrlcctly clcar, and only tlosc pcoplc wlo, lcing dcal, cannot
tlcmsclvcs lcar wlat tlcy say, tlink tlcy can gct rid ol tlcm ly asscrting tlat
tlcy arc 'poctic`, as il tlis rclicvcd tlcm ol cnquiring into tlc rigour ol tlcir
mcaning. 1lc tlcological controvcrsics lctwccn Frotcstants and Catlolics
1 FNG 1 WF
12
on tlc possilility ol a natural knowlcdgc ol God lavc, in any casc, olscurcd
ratlcr tlan illuminatcd tlc scopc ol tlcsc words, lor tlcy arc tlcn uscd in
an argumcntativc and quillling way, instcad ol taking into account tlc
plcnomcnon ol tlis mutc voicc ol naturc as sucl.
1lc world itscll is lcavy witl spcccl, it calls on spcccl and on our spcccl
in rcsponsc, and it calls only ly rcsponding itscll, alrcady, to tlc Spcccl tlat
crcatcd it. ow could it lc lorcign to tlc word, wlcn it sulsists, tlrougl
laitl, only ly tlc Word` t is not a mattcr nrst and lorcmost ol knowing il
naturc 'provcs` or 'docs not provc` tlc cxistcncc ol God, lut ol lcing allc to
listcn to its silcncc as a 'visillc voicc`, as St Augustinc did.
+
1lc spcccl wc
uttcr alout tlc world docs not comc lrom lcyond tlc world, it is no morc
a strangcr to tlc world tlan wc arc. And wlat tlis spcccl scts out to do is
not to imposc on it lrom tlc outsidc, tlrougl our own initiativc, an arlitrary
mcaning. it wants to makc tlc mcaning ol wlicl it is itscll tlc lcarcr ring
out, a mcaning tlat it cannot witlout our aid lring to its conclusion. 1o
sing tlc world is to try and conccntratc its prolusc and conluscd cloir in tlc
trcmulous clarity ol our luman voicc. l tlis wcrc not tlc casc, tlc ollcring
ol tlc world tlrougl spcccl would mcrcly lorm a simulacrum and a drcam.
Wlcn St Augustinc, in Book X ol tlc Cn(./n, qucstions tlc clcmcnts and
tlc crcaturcs ol naturc, lc is clcarly taking up tlcmcs lrom tlc look ol {ol.
'You lavc only to ask tlc cattlc, lor tlcm to instruct you, and tlc lirds ol tlc
sky, lor tlcm to inlorm you.`
50
1lis is not, ol coursc, somc pucrilc animism,
lor only a lcing ol spcccl can listcn to naturc in tlis way. By qucstioning it,
lc is alrcady rcsponding to it and taking rcsponsilility lor it.
istcning in tlis way is ly no mcans cxclusivcly rcligious, cvcn il tlc
intcntion ol ollcring tlc world to God is rcligious ly dcnnition. yrical
poctry as a wlolc wants to givc voicc to wlat it lcars ol tlc world, and
translatcs its immcmorial odcs in an antiplonal laslion. 1lus Baudclairc,
in lis sonnct 'Corrcspondcnccs`,
51
rclcrs to tlc 'conluscd words` ol Naturc.
1lcsc words arc tlc words tlc poct translatcs and rcstatcs lor it is only
wlcn tlcy arc rcstatcd tlat tlcy arc rcally and truly said. But tlis conlusion,
lar lrom lorming an unintclligillc disordcr, is tlc polyplonic riclncss ol wlat
ncvcr ccascs to cclo in rcsponsc lrom onc ordcr to anotlcr witlin tlc world`s
unity. t is conluscd only in tlc samc way as
ong cclocs wlicl mcrgc togctlcr lrom alar.
1lc world sings man lclorc man sings tlc world, and so tlat lc may sing
it. 1lis is wly Baudclairc can say tlat ccrtain pcrlumcs 'sing tlc transports ol
tlc mind and tlc scnscs`, and tlat tlc 'lorcsts ol symlols . . . olscrvc us witl
knowing gazcs`, in a complicity lor wlicl wc lavc not takcn tlc initiativc.
1 FNG 1 WF
1S0
A lcw ycars carlicr, \ictor ugo, launcling out on lis song ol
apocatastasis
52
likc a lymn, in tlc Cn/.m(|c//n, witl 'Wlat tlc Moutl ol
Sladow says`, lad writtcn.
No, all is a voicc and all a pcrlumc,
vcrytling says, in tlc innnitc, somctling to somconc,
A tlouglt nlls tlc supcrl tumult.
God las not madc a sound witlout inlusing it witl tlc Word.
vcrytling, just likc you, groans, or sings likc mc,
vcrytling spcaks.
5S
1lis visionary song, witl its gnostic and maniclcan acccnts (nolody las
cxprcsscd morc cloqucntly tlan ugo tlc sullcring ol liglt imprisoncd in
mattcr), is an appcal lor compassion compassion lor all tlat livcs, in otlcr
words, cvcrytling, cvcn inanimatc, lor 'cvcrytling is lull ol souls`
5+
and an
appcal lor tlc rcdcmption and dclivcrancc ol all tlings. or Baudclairc, in
'1lc igltlouscs`, art is 'tlc ardcnt sol wlicl rolls lrom agc to agc`, lut lor
ugo, it is tlc wlolc world tlat sings and ncvcr ccascs to sing a tlrcnody.
1lc wind groans, tlc niglt complains, tlc watcr lamcnts,
And, undcr tlc cyc wlicl, nllcd witl tcndcrncss, gazcs down lrom
alovc,
1lc wlolc alyss is no morc tlan a lugc sol.
55
God sccs tlc 'lugc vastncss mounting towards lim, stammcring its
praisc`.
56
crc tlc world ollcrs itscll to God, or trics to do so, in a praycr ol
supplication.
1lis is a vast gnostic variation on tlc Clristian tlcmc ol tlc sullcring ol
crcation. 'Wc arc wcll awarc tlat tlc wlolc crcation, until tlis timc, las lccn
groaning in lalour pains.`
57
or tlc act ol lrcaking away lrom Clristianity
docs not opcn up ncw and unprcccdcntcd possililitics ol cxistcncc and
tlouglt, lut in onc way or anotlcr lcads to a rclapsc into old-laslioncd idcas
tlat Clristianity lad closcd oll in tlis casc, gnosticism.
ugo`s lroad strains in various ways intcrlacc summons and rcsponsc,
tlc poct is supposcd mcrcly to lc rcstating a rcvclatory spcccl addrcsscd
to lim, wlicl calls on lim to listcn to tlc spcccl ol tlings, tlcir crics and
wlispcrs, and to pray lor tlcm. But it is tlc wlolc world tlat lrings its songs
ol sullcring and lopc convcrging on tlc lymn. t is a cosmic listcning, riglt
up to tlc nnal plrasc, tlc last word ol tlis long pocm. 'an angcl will cry.
Bcginning!`
58
Witl a quitc dillcrcnt poctic intcntion lrom tlat ol \ictor ugo, rancis
Fongc, in lis Pr.m., also invitcs us to cxcrcisc tlat 'occupation wlicl is at
1 FNG 1 WF
1S1
cvcry instant rcscrvcd to man`, and rcscrvcd to lim alonc, 'tlc-gazc-as-it-is-
spokcn`, wlicl is ol coursc a listcning tlat rcsponds.
5
1lis gazc, lc continucs,
lcads us to rccognizc 'immcdiatcly tlc importancc ol cacl tling, and tlc mutc
supplication, tlc mutc dcmands tlcy makc to lc spokcn, at tlcir truc wortl,
and lor tlcmsclvcs irrcspcctivc ol tlcir usual valuc ol signincancc witlout
cloicc and yct in mcasurcd toncs, lut mcasurcd ly tlcir own standards.` 1lis
dcmand is an indication ol tlc scopc ol Fongc`s work, and lis L. Pcr// (r/ 4.
/. |Tc|/n T/. S/4. O( T//n| is notling otlcr tlan a scrics ol culogics,
all tlc morc Socratic in tlat tlcy lorm mcrcly an attcmpt at dcscription, in
lcaguc witl tlc molility or immolility ol tlings. crc too, our spcccl is
antiplonal, rcsponds ly listcning, listcns ly rcsponding, ly translating tlc
silcncc.
n a voicc tlat is, admittcdly, lcss scll-assurcd, Guillcvic, in lis pocm L.
/cn/ |T/. Sn|, listcns in laconic words to tlc lymn ol all tlings. Across tlc
silcncc ol tlc world, 'Mount towards tlc onc} Wlo listcns to tlcm} Milliards
ol songs} Wlicl in tlc cnd} ind in lim} A point ol convcrgcncc.`
60
c cvokcs,
ovcr a landscapc, 'A total silcncc} Amounting to an appcal } And you would
likc} 1o transmutc it into song`
61
a transmutation alrcady undcr way ly tlc
vcry uttcring ol tlis wisl, sincc tlc pocm is alrcady rcsponding to tlc appcal
tlat it namcs. 1lcrc is no nccd to quotc any lurtlcr cxamplcs. Foctic spcccl
is an attcmpt to gatlcr witlin itscll and givc voicc to tlc word scattcrcd in
and among tlings. t wants to lc, in tlc cxprcssion ol cnri Maldincy, 'tlc
lcgacy ol tlings`, a lcgacy tlat is not at all in mourning lut opcns up to tlc
luturc, lull ol promisc. 1lc poct wants tlc world to concclclratc its praisc
witl lim, and lc witl tlc world. n tlis multiplc ;., wlicl tlc world lcars
in it and wlicl wc lring to song, mcn ollcr tlc world to cacl otlcr, makc it
inlalitallc. or a world witlout poctry is uninlalitallc.
Qucstions sucl as tlis arc at tlc lcart ol tlc poctry and tlc tlouglt ol Faul
Claudcl. or lim, it is a mattcr ol lringing it alout tlat 'tlc wlolc ol crcation
can cntcr tlc ark, as did Noal ol old.`
62
Wlat ark, il not tlat ol spcccl` ur
lymn is a supplcmcnt to tlc lymn ol tlings, it stands in lor it, it is lor tlcm
too tlat wc spcak. voking tlc cartl, Claudcl addrcsscs God in tlcsc tcrms.
'clivcr tlc cartl, tlrougl my moutl, ol tlc praisc it owcs to You`,
6S
and
clscwlcrc lc alnrms ol tlc liturgy. '1lc lncc said ly a pricst is tlc duty
ol tlc wlolc ol naturc} c pays oll tlc lomagc owcd ly tlc Crcation.`
6+

c wants to 'spcak, in continuity witl cvcry mutc tling`, and makc 'a pocm
wlicl will no longcr lc \lysscs among tlc cstrygonians and tlc Cyclops,
lut tlc knowlcdgc ol tlc wlolc artl`.
65
or our intcgrity docs not rcsidc in
lrcaking away lrom tlc world, lut in our community and our communion
witl it.
1 FNG 1 WF
1S2
am not wlolc and cntirc unlcss am wlolc and cntirc witl tlis
world tlat surrounds mc. t is mc in my cntircty tlat you rcquirc! t
is tlc world in its cntircty tlat you rcquirc lrom mc.
66

1lis possilility ol wclcoming tlings into our song cannot rcst on violcncc or
disrcspcct. t prcsupposcs a dialoguc witl tlings a dialoguc tlat our kinslip
rcndcrs lratcrnal. 'ct mc scc and lcar all tlings witl spcccl} And grcct cacl
onc ly its own namc togctlcr witl tlc spcccl tlat madc it.`
67
1lings must
ollcr tlcmsclvcs to us so tlat wc may in turn ollcr tlcm ly ollcring oursclvcs,
and lotl ol tlcsc ollcrings will lc madc possillc ly spcccl. 'Crcatcd spcccl
is tlat in wlicl all crcatcd tlings arc madc sucl tlat tlcy can lc givcn to
man.`
68
Wc arc lcing invitcd to undcrstand wlat tlings mcan, wlat tlcy 'want to
say`. cacl crcaturc, says Claudcl, 'comcs towards us witl its namc. it givcs us
its namc so tlat wc may usc it. acl crcaturc tclls us tlat it is, and tlat it is
lor and tlrougl somctling otlcr tlan itscll.`
6
1lis is low Claudcl intcrprcts
tlc praisc tlat crcatcd lcings otlcr tlan man arc cnjoincd, ly oly Scripturc,
to sing. 'ow could tlcy praisc im otlcrwisc tlan ly cxisting in rclation to
im` Wlat otlcr mcans do tlcy lavc availallc`` t is tlus ly manilcsting and
signilying God tlat tlcy praisc lim. 1lcy 'carry out is word . . ., pcrlorm
is will. tlc cxprcssion ol God, tlc act ol God, tlc languagc ol God arc lis
crcaturcs. Sucl is is nrst Fcvclation.`
70
1lcy arc not askcd to voicc a spcccl
tlat tlcy do not lavc, or tlat tlcy oltain only lrom us, lut to cxcrcisc tlc gilt
ol spcccl tlat tlcy lavc always alrcady rcccivcd. 1lis spcccl provokcs and
calls to ours to rcspond. Wc cannot sing tlc world unlcss tlc world itscll sings
alrcady. But cvcn a dctailcd cnumcration ol tlings docs not makc a world.
t is ly lcing sung tlat tlc world is propcrly a world, graspcd in its unity.
'1lc world ccascs to lc a scattcrcd vocalulary, it las lccomc a pocm, it las a
mcaning, it las an ordcr . . .. Wc lavc our placc and our rolc witlin it. Wc arc
associatcd witl a liturgy.`
71
1lis clucidation ol tlc world, ol tlc pocm ol tlc world, takcs placc lor
Claudcl in a mutual cross-rclcrcncc lrom visillc to invisillc and vicc vcrsa.
1lc visillc lcads to tlc invisillc, lut, lc says, 'morc oltcn, lrom tlc lovc and
tlc knowlcdgc ol invisillc tlings wc arc induccd to know and to lovc visillc
tlings.`
72
1lis cross-rclcrcncc makcs tlc song and tlc liglt grow and incrcasc.
1lc visillc is not mcrcly a patl towards tlc invisillc. il it lcads to it, it rcturns
lrom it clarincd and cnriclcd, and not dcstroycd. vcn lclorc tlc mcdicval
tlcmc ol tlc two looks, naturc and Scripturc, tlis intcrlacing las tlcological
prcccdcnts, ol wlicl Claudcl was prolally unawarc namcly tlc tlouglt,
lotl prolound and dilncult, ol St Maximus tlc Conlcssor. ans \rs von
Baltlasar, in tlc lundamcntal look lc dcvotcd to tlc saint, limscll draws tlc
comparison witl Claudcl.
7S
1 FNG 1 WF
1SS
or St Maximus, God transccnds tlc spiritual as mucl as lc transccnds
tlc matcrial, and tlc invisillc as mucl as tlc visillc. aving cmplasizcd
tlc transccndcncc ol God ovcr .r.r; crcaturc, 'tlc morc tlc mind`s lopc ol
rcacling lim ly climling tlc dcgrccs ol cosmic lcing, tlc morc tlc world
too must closc itscll in on itscll so as to lccomc in its totality, and no longcr
mcrcly in its most clcvatcd parts, a placc ol praisc and scrvicc ol tlc nnnitc`,
writcs von Baltlasar.
7+
1lc scvcntl claptcr ol tlc M;/c/
75
rcncws tlc
tlcmc ol man as microcosm. tlc world can call itscll man just as mucl as
man can call limscll world. Man is not tlc soul, as in tlc A|/|/c4. ol Flato,
lc is composcd ol lody and soul, and sulsists only as tlc unity ol tlc two.
in tlc samc way, tlc world, wlicl is only cvcr n. /n|. world, is composcd
ol scnsillc and intclligillc aspccts. 1lc scnsillc and tlc intclligillc world arc
not mutually cxclusivc, tlcy cnvclop onc anotlcr, so as to comprisc //. world.
'1lc soul ol tlc scnsillcs is tlc intclligillcs, and tlc lody ol tlc intclligillcs
is tlc scnsillcs.` 1lis is tlc lasis ol tlc 'cosmic liturgy`, powcrlully organizcd
around a Clristological and cuclaristic axis (tlc M;/c/ is indccd notling
otlcr tlan a mcditation on tlc Clristian cuclarist).
As Alain Fiou writcs witl rcgard to St Maximus, 'man is tlus dcstincd, not
to mclt into a sacralizcd naturc and losc lis pcrsonality in a divinc impcrsonality
. . ., lut on tlc contrary to lring tlc univcrsc to its consummation ly lovc.`
76

St Maximus lopcs and waits lor an ultimatc 'astcr ol tlc world`.
1lc world ol visillc tlings, sucl as man, will dic and lc rcsurrcctcd,
oncc again as ncw as oncc it lad lccn old . . .. 1lcn tlc man wlo is
in accordancc witl us (i.c., tlc man tlat wc arc, as opposcd to tlc
world as man) will risc again witl tlc world likc tlc part witl tlc
wlolc and tlc littlc witl tlc lig, laving rcccivcd tlc potcntial to lc
incorruptillc.
77

1lc cosmic liturgy, in wlicl wc ollcr, on tlc altar ol oursclvcs, tlc world
to God, tlus las an csclatological luturc. t is in conlormity witl a rcligion
ol incarnation, ol wlicl Maximus truly was tlc conlcssor to tlc cxtcnt ol
sullcring tlc martyrdom propcr to a tlinkcr ol praisc. laving lis tonguc
torn out not to privilcgc tlc movcmcnt ly wlicl tlc visillc, likc a patl,
lcads to tlc invisillc, lut tlc gilt ol liglt lrom onc to tlc otlcr, visillc and
invisillc 'making cacl otlcr mutually manilcst` (c|||||Jn 4||J//|c), as Claudcl
latcr rcpcatcd.
1lc world is lor St Maximus, writcs von Baltlasar, 'tlc mirror ol God in
so lar as in lis inncr spacc tlcrc is ccasclcssly lrouglt alout tlc immcnsc
rccction (In./ncn4.r(/..|un) ol mind in mattcr and mattcr in mind`.
78
So
it is tlat Maximus can statc, in wlat von Baltlasar calls 'wlat is doultlcss tlc
most astonisling words lc cvcr wrotc`.
1 FNG 1 WF
1S+
l wlat docs not appcar slows itscll tlrougl wlat appcars . . ., tlcn
mucl morc tlrougl wlat docs not appcar will tlosc wlo risc to tlc
contcmplation ol tlc Spirit gain undcrstanding ol wlat appcars. or
tlc symlolic contcmplation ol tlc intclligillc tlrougl tlc visillc is
a knowing and an undcrstanding in tlc Spirit ol tlc visillc tlrougl
tlc invisillc. or tlc lcings wlo makc cacl otlcr manilcst must
rccct cacl otlcr in all trutl and clarity, and maintain an intact
mutual rclationslip.
7

1lc song ol tlc world rcturns to tlc world tlc liglt it took lrom it, lut now
madc cvcn lrigltcr, in an incrcasc ol praycr and lymn.
Bclorc going into morc dctail in our study ol tlc rcligious status ol tlc
cosmic lymn, wc lavc to ask wlctlcr it can mcrcly lc poctic or rcligious,
or cvcn poctically rcligious. n otlcr tcrms, can plilosoplical admiration
lccomc a song ol tlc world` s tlcrc a (//|(//c| lymnology` Ycs. onc
tlat was tlouglt tlrougl and lrouglt to complction ly Stoic matcrialism.
1lc 'ymn to Zcus` ol Clcantlcs scts out in its nrst lincs mankind`s uniquc
rcsponsilility in tlc univcrsc, tlat, namcly, ol singing tlc divinc in wlicl tlc
lattcr participatcs, and lrom wlicl lc limscll issucd.
salutc you, lor it is a riglt lor all mortals to addrcss tlcmsclvcs
to you,} Sincc tlcy arc lorn lrom you, tlosc wlo participatc in
tlis imagc ol tlings tlat is sound,} nly among tlosc wlo livc
and movc, mortal crcaturcs, on tlis cartl.} 1lus will sing you
(|c//umn|J) and cclclratc your powcr lor cvcr.
80

1lis riglt also constitutcs a duty, and is our most csscntial task. 1o sing tlc
cosmic Zcus is indccd to sing tlc world, its law and its pcrlcction. And tlc
lymn ol Clcantlcs cnds witl tlc vcry word /umn./n. it is a qucstion ol
lonouring Zcus 'ly singing (/umnun/.) continually (lis) works, as it lcnt}
Mortals, lor tlcrc is not, lor mcn or lor gods} Any liglcr privilcgc tlan tlat
ol singing lor cvcr, as is riglt and propcr, tlc univcrsal law.`
81
n tlc pcriod ol impcrial stoicism, scvcral ccnturics latcr, pictctus was to
cmplasizc tlis lymnic duty as tlc plilosoplcr`s rcal mission. Wc arc, lc says,
likc tlc soldicrs ol tlc commandcr ol tlc univcrsc.
olcy, lollow, lauding my commandcr, and singing lymns ol praisc
alout is dccds. or camc into tlc world wlcn it so plcascd im,
and lcavc it again at is plcasurc, and wlilc livc tlis was my
lunction to sing lymns ol praisc unto God (/umn./n /n //.n), to
myscll and to otlcrs, lc it to onc or to many.
82

1 FNG 1 WF
1S5
1lis lymn, lor pictctus, slould accompany all our activitics, tlcy slould all
cnd in an act ol gratitudc towards providcncc. 'uglt wc not, as wc dig and
plougl and cat, to sing tlc lymn ol praisc to God``
8S
But 'tlc grcatcst and
divincst lymn` tlat wc slould sing would lc to givc tlanks lor our rcason,
wlicl cnallcs us not mcrcly to cnjoy tlc lcncnts ol providcncc lut to grasp
tlcm and undcrstand tlcm as sucl. Flilosoplical admiration must givc
tlanks lor its own possilility. And, ly doing tlis, it also pcrlorms tlc task ol
standing in lor tlosc wlo do not sing.
Sincc most ol you lavc lccomc llind, ouglt tlcrc not to lc somconc
to lulnl tlis olncc lor you, and in lclall ol all sing tlc lymn ol praisc
to God` Wly, wlat clsc can , a lamc old man, do lut sing lymns to
God` . . . am a rational (|/|) lcing, tlcrclorc must lc singing
lymns ol praisc to God.
8+

1lis task, onc tlat lalls on lumanity as a wlolc, is pcrlormcd ly tlc
plilosoplcr in particular.
1lcrc is tlus a plilosoplical cuclarist or act ol tlanksgiving. And it is
notcwortly tlat it was a matcrialist plilosoply tlat lormulatcd tlc dcmand
lor it witl tlc grcatcst rigour. 1lis 'cuclarist` givcs tlanks lor tlc world
lclorc God, in rcsponsc to tlc critcria ol solcr trutl tlat lclong to praisc.
\arious Stoic tlcmcs trcating ol tlc lcauty ol tlc world wcrc to lc takcn up,
lurtlcrmorc, ly Clristian tlinkcrs.
85
But tlcrc is notling in tlis cuclarist tlat
las tlc quality ol an ollcring. tlc God to wlom it is addrcsscd is limscll part
ol tlc world, lc is a worldly god to wlom tlc only tling tlat can lc ollcrcd
is our conscnt, and tlc plcnitudc ol tlc world ol tlc Stoics las no void witlin
it tlat tlc nakcd voicc, giving itscll as wcll as otlcr tlings, risking tlings and
vcnturing itscll, would nccd to cross. mmancncc lccds itscll, in our voicc, on
its own scll-sulncicncy. 1lcrc is notling to savc, notling to givc (4nn.r) or
to alandon (c|cn4nn.r). 1lc lymn, wlicl lor Clcantlcs was sung, lccomcs
tlc dry and lrutal prosc ol pictctus, tlc conclusion ol a quillling tlcodicy
ratlcr tlan tlc placc in wlicl any cosmodicy can lccomc possillc. t is not
a cosmic liturgy, lor lcrc spcccl mcrcly travcls in an cndlcssly rcpcatcd circlc,
lrom tlc world to tlc world, lrom tlc onc wlo undcrstands tlc law ol tlc
world to tlc tlat law itscll. Wlat can wc ollcr to dcstiny, il not our conscnt,
wlicl it can in any casc managc vcry wcll witlout` nly a lrcc and pcrsonal
givcr can lc lrccly and pcrsonally tlankcd. Wlatcvcr may lc its own dignity,
tlc plilosoplical 'cuclarist` ol tlc Stoics cannot in trutl ((.r anytling.
l tlis ollcring is to lc lymnic, wc nccd to dcnnc tlc lymn. St Augustinc
docs so clcarly in lis commcntary on Fsalm 1+8.
1 FNG 1 WF
1S6
o you know wlat a lymn is` t is a song wlicl praiscs God (cn/u
./ um |cu4. D./). l you praisc God, and you do not sing, it is not
a lymn tlat you arc uttcring. l you sing, and you do not praisc
God, it is not a lymn tlat you arc uttcring. l you praisc somctling
unrclatcd to tlc praisc ol God, cvcn il you praisc it ly singing, it is
not a lymn wlicl you arc uttcring. 1lc lymn tlus las tlcsc tlrcc
(claractcristics). song, praisc, and praisc ol God.
86
1lc lymn lrings into play lody and soul, it docs not rcquirc a mcrcly
mutc act ol our minds, an intimatc tlank you, lut tlc dcploymcnt and
rcsonancc ol our voicc. t is in tlis rcspcct tlat it is propcrly luman. But il
tlc lymn is vocal, it always las, as wcll, tlc scopc ol an act ol witncss tlc
irrcplaccallc witncss ol man as sucl, lut also tlc /c|/n c o//n. ol tlc cntirc
crcation, wlicl itscll lcars witncss in our song. Wc lavc to spcak on lclall
ol tlings, and not only on lclall ol onc anotlcr, as il tlc world wcrc mcrcly
luman. Man las a rcsponsilility lor crcation, a rcsponsilility witl wlicl God
las cntrustcd lim.
1lis tlcmc las assumcd grcat importancc in contcmporary plilosoplical
and tlcological tlouglt, lut it is rootcd in tlc oly Billc itscll, and its only
novclty is tlc novclty tlat our spcccl must cacl timc conlcr on it, witl cacl
ncw luman cxistcncc. t would lc ovcr-lasty and supcrncial to scc a tcnsion
or a rivalry lctwccn our rcsponsilility lor tlings and our rcsponsilility lor
mcn. vcry dcvastation ol tlc world also constitutcs a dcvastation ol man,
and il wc takc carc ol anotlcr, wc always nccd to takc carc as wcll tlat lc
can rcally livc in tlc world, cxist in a luman way as lc dwclls among tlings.
Witlout quoting Flilo, tlc Frotcstant tlcologian {urgcn Moltmann takcs up
lis lundamcntal idca.
1lc luman lcing . . . is dcstincd to lc tlc cuclaristic lcing. t is
lis dcstiny riglt lrom tlc start and lor all ctcrnity. As God`s gilts,
all lis crcaturcs arc lundamcntally cuclaristic lcings also, lut tlc
luman lcing is allc and dcsignatcd to cxprcss tlc praisc ol all
crcatcd tlings lclorc God. n lis own praisc lc acts as rcprcscntativc
lor tlc wlolc ol crcation. is tlanksgiving, as it wcrc, looscs tlc
duml tonguc ol naturc. t is lcrc tlat tlc pricstly dimcnsion ol lis
dcsignation is to lc lound . . .. 1lrougl luman lcings plants and
animals adorc tlc Crcator too. 1lat is wly in tlc praisc ol crcation
tlc luman lcing sings tlc m/ |//ur;, and tlrougl lim tlc
cosmos sings lclorc its Crcator tlc ctcrnal song ol crcation.
87
Sucl a lymnic possilility ol ollcring tlc world to God /n u/ c oc; //c/
//. or|4 ((.r //.|( /n ur n rcsolvcs tlc initial aporias. 1lc world /c/. //
1 FNG 1 WF
1S7
(r..n. in tlc lymn ol praisc. But it is tlcrcly itscll /rcnur.4 ly tlc song
tlat rcscmllcs it. 1lc Socratic altcrnativc lctwccn a lalsc culogy tlat is an
ornamcntal and attcring complimcnt and tlc solcr praisc tlat mcrcly tclls
tlc trutl yiclds to a ncw possilility. A lacc tlat ollcrs itscll las a liglt and
a lcauty tlat it docs not lavc wlcn it rcluscs itscll and closcs in on itscll.
vcrytling tlat ollcrs itscll slincs. l tlc world rcally ollcrs itscll in song, it
will not lc lclt untouclcd in tlc proccss. 1lc splcndour ol wlat alandons
itscll comcs lack to it lrom tlc and`s nd ol tlc voicc. Spcccl is not mcrcly
an ark, lut also an altar on wlicl tlc world is ollcrcd as a cr//um |cu4/,
a sacrincc ol praisc. St Augustinc calls it a 'lrcc sacrincc`. ' lavc not cvcn
purclascd wlat ollcr, lut it is you wlo gavc it. . . . And sucl is tlc sacrincc
ol praisc. giving tlanks to im lrom wlom you lold cvcrytling good in
you, and wlosc mcrcy rcmits all tlc cvil.`
88
An ovcrly analytical tlcology would latcr go so lar as to criticizc tlc
languagc ol oly Scripturc, asscrting, witl Suarcz, tlat.
altlougl it is truc tlat all tlc works rclating to divinc worslip arc
somctimcs callcd 'sacrincc` in Scripturc, sucl as inncr contrition
. . ., and vocal praisc . . ., nonctlclcss tlis wlolc intcrprctation is
mctaplorical, and dcrivcs lrom tlc prcccding scnsc, wlicl is its
propcr mcaning.
8
St Augustinc did not draw sucl contrasts lctwccn litcral and mctaplorical
wlcn lc saw truc sacrincc (r.rum cr//um) inlcrcnt in cvcry work wlicl
makcs us clcavc to God in loly socicty,
0
or wlcn lc wrotc. '1lus tlc visillc
sacrincc is tlc sacramcnt, tlc sacrcd sign, ol tlc visillc sacrincc.`
1
Sacrincc ly
or in tlc voicc cannot lc a dcrivcd or impropcr mcaning ol sacrincc, lor all
sacrincc ollcrcd to God is cstallislcd only ly tlc voicc itscll and ly divinc or
luman spcccl, or a spcccl lotl luman and divinc. 1lc voicc alonc manilcsts
tlc mcaning ol all sacrinccs ol wlatcvcr kind, wlcrcas in itscll it docs not
nccd tlc otlcrs to givc itscll to God. Witlout tlc voicc, notling is cvcr
givcn. vcn il put 'my land on my lcart` as wc say in colloquial nglisl, my
lips would still nccd to uttcr tlc words wlicl slow tlat my lcart is lcaring
witncss. l not, my lcart would lc involvcd in dccciving, or laying a trap.
But tlis ollcring ol tlc world in our spcccl is, in Scripturc, a dcmanding,
provocativc ollcring, onc tlat issucs a summons. t docs not mcrcly praisc. it
summons otlcrs to praisc as wcll.
1lus docs Fsalm 1+8 invitc cvcry crcaturc to praisc God. 1o lc surc, it
invitcs tlc lcavcns and tlc losts ol angcls and tlc slining stars to praisc, lut
also sca monstcrs and all tlc dcptls, nrc and lail, snow and mist, storm winds,
mountains, and trccs. 1lc canticlc ol tlc tlrcc mcn in tlc ncry lurnacc, in
claptcr ol tlc look ol anicl, wlicl cxists only in tlc Grcck translation,
1 FNG 1 WF
1S8
tlc Scptuagint, and lor wlicl wc do not posscss tlc clrcw tcxt, lollows tlc
samc movcmcnt, calling on crcaturcs lrom cvcr widcning splcrcs, witl tlc
rclrain. 'Blcss tlc ord . . . praisc and glorily lim lor cvcr!` Notling cscapcs,
and notling slould cscapc, tlis summons, wlicl takcs no account ol tlc
luman, all-too-luman dillcrcnccs lctwccn wlat wc nnd lclplul or larmlul,
lcautilul or ugly, lcncvolcnt or disquicting. 1lis is tlc nrst Canticlc ol tlc
crcaturcs. ow arc wc to intcrprct tlis impcrativc, tlis urgcnt invitation.
Prc/.` t oltcn lappcns tlat tlc oljcct ol an ordcr or ol an cxlortation is
distinct lrom wlat myscll am currcntly doing, lut lcrc (rc/. is itscll an
uttcrancc ol praisc, it invitcs us to praisc only ly nrst ollcring praisc itscll.
1lus it is tlat onc says .. or |./|4 only wlcn onc las alrcady sccn lor oncscll
and is still looking. And tlis invitation to praisc, in wlicl notling is lclt out,
docs not lorm a supplcmcnt, an appcndix, an accidcnt ol tlc praisc tlat man
pcrlorms. t lclongs to its vcry csscncc. Song wants song to incrcasc, it wants
to lccomc a widcr and widcr clorus. t wants song to takc to tlc opcn sca,
as wc say, in ordcr to sing. t wants tlis so tlat it may continuc to sing lut
only lccausc it wislcd to do so riglt lrom tlc start. And it wislcd to do so
only lccausc it lad itscll lccn dcsircd ly tlc opcn sca, drawn out into it. Song
summons tlc univcrsc only lccausc it was itscll provokcd to sing ly it. 1lc
impcrativc Prc/. docs not constitutc a wisl lclt unpcrlormcd, it is lorn lrom
its own pcrlormancc.
ow arc wc to intcrprct tlis paradoxical act ol praisc sung lortl ly mutc
or inanimatc lcings` n lis commcntary on Fsalm 1+8, St Augustinc writcs.
1lcy do not praisc God ly tlcmsclvcs, witl tlcir voicc and tlcir
lcart, lut wlcn tlcy arc considcrcd ly intclligcnt lcings, it is
tlrougl tlcm tlat God is praiscd, and as it is tlrougl tlcm tlat
God is praiscd, in a ccrtain laslion tlcy too praisc God.
2

And a littlc lurtlcr on, lc continucs.
Wly do tlcy praisc God` Bccausc wlcn wc scc tlcm, and considcr
tlc crcator wlo madc tlcm, it is lrom tlcm tlat is lorn in us tlc
praisc ol God, and as it is ly tlc considcration ol tlcsc lcings tlat
God is praiscd, all ol tlcm praisc God.
S

1lis 'praisc` lccomcs, latcr in tlc commcntary, a 'conlcssion`. As in a crucial
passagc ol Book X ol tlc Cn(./n, tlc lcauty ol tlings is, in a ccrtain
manncr, tlcir voicc.
1lc sky crics out to God. it is you wlo madc mc, and not myscll.
1lc cartl crics out to God. it is you wlo madc mc, and not myscll.
1 FNG 1 WF
1S
ow do sucl lcings cry` Wlcn wc contcmplatc tlcm, and tlis is
laid larc, it is ly your contcmplation tlat tlcy cry, it is ly your voicc
tlat tlcy cry.
+

Many otlcr tlcologians, lrom Cassiodorus to Folcrto Bcllarminc, intcrprct
tlis psalm in tlc samc way.
5
As lor St {cromc, lc nrst cmplasizcs tlc anti-
maniclcan dimcnsion ol tlc psalm`s words ('1lc sun praiscs, it is not tlc
oljcct ol praisc`), tlcn gocs on to scc tlc divinc scrvicc ol lcings dcprivcd ol
intclligcncc as consisting ratlcr in tlc cvcrlastingncss ol tlcir naturc, in tlc
way tlcy continuc in tlc lunction to wlicl God las assigncd tlcm.
6
1lc
Augustinian notion ol lcauty as a r/. is in itscll morc pcrsuasivc tlan tlc
idca tlat tlc tlings ol tlc world arc an occasion lor us to praisc God.
7
n its csscncc, tlc spcccl ol praisc is a lospitallc spcccl, sincc it nrst lad
a lospitallc gazc. it givcs voicc witlin itscll to tlc polyplony ol tlc world.
ar lrom survcying wlat it sings lrom a rcmotc lciglt, it allows itscll to lc
movcd, allcctcd ly it. uman spcccl alonc lorms tlc link in wlicl tlc praisc
ol God lor lis crcaturcs and tlc praisc ol God ly lis crcaturcs mcld togctlcr
into onc singlc lymn. ssuing lrom tlc Billc itscll, tlis lymnic and cosmic
dimcnsion, somctimcs lading, somctimcs gaining ncw lilc, las ncvcr ccascd
to dwcll in tlc Clristian tradition. nc ol its most incandcsccnt momcnts
is surcly tlc 'Canticlc ol tlc Crcaturcs` ly St rancis ol Assisi. s it lor 'Sir
Brotlcr Sun`, 'Sistcr Moon`, 'Brotlcr Wind`, 'Sistcr Watcr` tlat lc praiscs
God, or //ru/ tlcm` atlcr \orrcux writcs on tlis suljcct.
ocs (.r mcan (r, or //ru/, or |; m.cn (, or /n //. ncm. (` . . .
or rancis and lis listcncrs, it was at onc and tlc samc timc . . .
(r and //ru/. tlc uscr`s way ol saying tlank you, tlc canticlc ol
admiring witncss, and tlc translation, ly tlc onc wlo makcs limscll
its intcrprctcr, ol tlc song tlat voicclcss crcaturcs wisl to ollcr to tlc
nc wlo madc tlcm.
8
As a ranciscan, St Bonavcnturc tlouglt tlrougl tlc conditions ol
possilility ol sucl a lymn, lut also, in lis livcs ol St rancis, dwclt on tlc
mcaning ol sucl praisc. ranciscan povcrty and larcncss arc cnriclcd ly tlc
riclncss ol tlc world.
vcry timc lc saw an oljcct, lc would in lis mcditation rclatc it
to tlc Sovcrcign Artisan, it was tlc Crcator wlom lc sct out to
discovcr, lovc and praisc in cacl oljcct. 1lus lc succccdcd, ly a
lavour ol lcavcn`s goodncss, in posscssing cvcrytling in God and
God in cvcrytling.

1 FNG 1 WF
1+0
Wlcn wc no longcr lavc anytling in tlc world, it is tlc world itscll tlat
onc rcccivcs. And St Bonavcnturc continucs. 'By rcturning up to tlc nrst
rigin ol all tlings, lc lad comc to givc tlc namcs lrotlcr` and sistcr` to
crcaturcs, cvcn tlc lumllcst among tlcm, sincc lotl tlcy and lc lad sprung
lrom tlc samc singlc principlc.` n lact, tlc only rcally ncw turn ol spcccl tlat
St rancis introduccd into tlc languagc ol tlc psalms ol cosmic praisc was
prcciscly tlat ol tlc |r//.r|; rclation lctwccn crcaturcs. 1lis givcs to tlc song
ol tlc world a complctcly ncw dimcnsion. man stands in lor mutc crcaturcs,
and tlis act is rootcd in tlcir kinslip. ow could a lrotlcr not spcak (r lis
lrotlcrs` 1lc onc wlo, according to tlc crcation story, was tlc last to arrivc
raiscd lis voicc in tlc namc ol all lis oldcr lrotlcrs and sistcrs.
l St rancis, St Bonavcnturc also says tlat lc madc lrom.
all tlings a laddcr ly wlicl lc could climl up and cmlracc lim
o/ / u//.r|; 4./rc||.. Witl a lccling ol unprcccdcntcd dcvotion
lc savourcd in cacl and cvcry crcaturc as in so many rivulcts
tlat Goodncss wlicl is tlcir lountain-sourcc. And lc pcrccivcd a
lcavcnly larmony in tlc consonancc ol powcrs and activitics God
las givcn tlcm, and likc tlc proplct avid swcctly cxlortcd tlcm
to praisc tlc ord.
100

Nonctlclcss, considcrations ol tlis kind would, il tlcy wcrc to lc vicwcd
in isolation lrom wlat lics at tlcir lasis, rapidly lccomc amliguous
or mislcading. 1lc man wlo lorc tlc stigmata on Mount Alvcrno, in
conlormity witl tlc cross ol Clrist, was ccrtainly not a distant prccursor
ol Walt Wlitman. listcning to tlc polyplony ol tlc world is in no way an
unmcdiatcd cxaltation vcrging on pantlcism, lut lcrc springs lrom laitl
in tlc onc solc Mcdiator. or Clristianity, no onc comcs to tlc atlcr lut
tlrougl tlc Son. Wlo is lrotlcr, wlo is sistcr` 'Anyonc wlo docs tlc will
ol God, tlat pcrson is my lrotlcr and sistcr and motlcr.`
101
1lis is tlc nrst
mcaning ol Clristian lrotlcrlood. a luman lrotlcrlood in laitl, madc
possillc ly lrotlcrlood witl tlc incarnatc Word. Wc can lc lrotlcrs ol tlc
wind and tlc moon only tlrougl tlis lrotlcrlood loundcd in tlc Spcccl
tlat was itscll madc csl. Any /mm.4/c/. rclating ol naturc to its autlor, in
a mirroring in wlicl tlcrc would in trutl lc notling to /.cr, would mcrcly
lcad, altcr a lcw crics ol julilation, to a silcncc ol discnclantmcnt and dcatl, a
rcn//;, ol tlc kind ccrtain still-lilc paintings (in rcncl, nc/ur. mr/. or 'dcad
naturcs`) somctimcs arc, imagcs ol tlc dccrcpitudc ol tlings. t is not cnougl
to sing tlc world, tlis song must lavc a mcaning, it must say somctling, it
must makc scnsc.
t is claractcristic ol St Bonavcnturc`s gcnius tlat lc managcd, in lis
tlcology ol tlc Word and cxprcssion, to providc a rigorous loundation lor
1 FNG 1 WF
1+1
tlc possilility ol ollcring tlc world to God. 't is tlrougl tlc samc Word ly
wlicl tlc atlcr says limscll tlat lc says all tlat lc can say and all tlat can lc
said in divinity.`
102
As a pcrlcct cxprcssion ol tlc atlcr, and tlc liglt ol origin,
tlc divinc Word is tlc cxcmplar ol all tlat may lc, it contains its modcls or
rcasons witlin itscll. 't is lcrc tlat tlc trutl ol tlc crcaturc is lound, and tlc
lowcst crcaturc just as mucl as tlc liglcst arc rcprcscntcd ly tlc Word.` 1lc
angcl is morc nollc tlan tlc worm, lut, in tlc crcativc Word, 'tlc rcason ol
tlc angcl is no morc nollc tlan tlat ol tlc worm in tlc rcason ol cxcmplary
status.`
10S
1lc divinc Spcccl can ncvcr ccasc to lc Spcccl. in otlcr tcrms, all
tlc actions ol tlc Word arc manilcstations, dcclarations, cxprcssions. God
cxprcsscs limscll ly crcating, and in lis crcaturc.
1lc nrst principlc madc tlc scnsillc world to makc imscll known
(c4 4.|crcn4um . /(um) so tlat, as it wcrc, ly a vcstigc and a mirror
man slould lc lcd lack (r.4u.r./ur) to loving God tlc artinccr and
to praising im.
10+

1lc world in its cntircty mcrcly lorms onc immcnsc dcclaration ol lovc, tlc
dcclaration wlicl tlc God wlo is ovc makcs to us.
1lis is tlc cxtcnt ol tlc way tlc world is idcntincd witl a ||. it las
a mcaning, an incxlaustillc mcaning. But, witlin tlc look, God las
crcatcd rcadcrs. us. Fcading must ol coursc lc lcarnt, and rcquircs, in our
prcscnt condition, cllort and paticncc, tlc lact rcmains tlat tlis look is not
writtcn in an unintclligillc languagc. 'n tlc statc ol innoccncc,` writcs St
Bonavcnturc.
man lad a knowlcdgc ol crcatcd tlings and lc was impcllcd ly
tlcir rcprcscntations to praisc God, to lonour lim and lovc lim.
Crcaturcs arc ordcrcd to tlat and arc lcd lack (r.4uun/ur) to God
in tlis way. But wlcn man lad lallcn and lost lis knowlcdgc, tlcrc
was no onc to lcad man and lis knowlcdgc lack to God (nn .rc/ u/
r.4u.r./ .c /n D.um). 1lc look, in otlcr words tlc world, was tlcn
as it wcrc dcad and cllaccd, wlicl is wly anotlcr look was ncccssary
ly wlicl man was illuminatcd in ordcr to intcrprct tlc mctaplors
ol tlings (m./c(/rc r.rum). 1lis look is tlc look ol tlc Scripturc
wlicl lrings out tlc rcscmllanccs, tlc propcrtics and mctaplors
ol tlings writtcn in tlc look ol tlc world, and rcordcrs tlc wlolc
world to tlc knowlcdgc, praisc and lovc ol God.
105

n passing lrom tlc world to God, as St Bonavcnturc says clscwlcrc, 'wc
slall lc truc clrcws passing ovcr lrom gypt to tlc land promiscd to tlcir
latlcrs.`
106
Wlat wc lavc lcrc is a Fassovcr. n tlis Fassovcr, it is not just a
1 FNG 1 WF
1+2
qucstion ol passing ovcr just ly oursclvcs, wc must givc passagc to otlcr
tlings too, and, lar lrom lcing cntircly nakcd, wc must carry witl us tlc
wlolc world and its glory.
cw notions arc so proloundly Catlolic, in tlc Grcck scnsc ol tlc word,
wlicl mcans 'univcrsal`. rawing a distinction lctwccn tlc tlouglt ol St
Bonavcnturc and Ncoplatonism, Alcxandrc Gcrkcn cmplasizcs tlc lact tlat
tlc Word is not lor lim a distant origin, tlc cxtcrnal manilcstations ol wlicl
arc, so to spcak, cxilcd. 1lc Word is 'in dircct contact witl cacl individual
crcaturc, witlout tlc intcrmcdiary ol any otlcr lcing, and is closcr to it tlan
is tlis crcaturc to itscll `. 1lis is wly 'acccpting tlat cvcry nnitc crcaturc . . .
rcplics to God witl a lull-lcartcd Ycs is possillc only il wc acccpt a Clristian
conccption ol cxcmplarity.`
107
t is in man tlat tlis T. can lc uttcrcd. c
wlo is not mcrcly a r.//. ol God, as arc mcrcly matcrial crcaturcs, lut a
1rinitarian /mc., must rcturn towards lis living origin. But, as Alcxandrc
Gcrkcn continucs in tlc coursc ol a rcmarkallc analysis, 'man cntrustcd witl
tlis task is not dcaling witl limscll alonc. as an imagc ol tlc Word, lc is not
callcd mcrcly to rcunitc witl limscll . . ., tlc world . . ., a crcation around
man, is waiting to lc assumcd ly man` and lcd lack to tlc oly 1rinity.
Wlat tlc world, as a tracc ol God, cannot tlus accomplisl ly itscll,
must lc cllcctcd ly man, so tlat notling sulsists in crcation wlicl
docs not rcccivc praisc and lovc in rcturn lor its conscious journcying
towards its rcscmllancc witl God . . . . 1lcsc crcaturcs, rcduccd to
tlcir own larc strcngtl, cannot cxprcss tlcir autlcntic lcing as
r.///um D./, and wait lor man, ly lis rcturn to God, to lclp tlcm
to cllcct tlcir own rcturn . . . . Man is tlus a mcdiator lctwccn tlc
crcation and God.
108
l all comcs lrom tlc Word and constitutcs an cxprcssion ol it, witl grcatcr
or lcsscr dcgrccs ol clarity, tlc song ol tlc world uttcrcd ly tlc luman
voicc is notling otlcr tlan tlc complcting ly tlc world ol its own cnd and
its own dcstination. Wc do not conlcr a mcaning to tlc mcaninglcss, wc
gatlcr tlc mcaning tlat tlings lcar and cannot uttcr. Botl prolound and
rigorous, tlc tlouglt ol St Bonavcnturc is Clristological lrom lcginning
to cnd. t is tlrougl tlc Word, not just uncrcatcd lut incarnatc, tlat wc can
ollcr tlc world and lcad it lack to God. 1lc cttcr to tlc plcsians asscrts
tlat God`s intcntion is to lring cvcrytling togctlcr undcr Clrist as lcad
(cnc|.(/c|c/J//c/), cvcrytling in tlc lcavcns and cvcrytling on cartl.
10
t is
only in tlis dimcnsion tlat tlc song ol tlc world lccomcs a lull cuclarist, an
autlcntic ollcring to God, and a canticlc ol rcdcmption.
or it is not a mattcr ol saving tlc world tlrougl our song, as in tlc
modcrn projccts ol a rcligion ol art, in wlicl tlc artist lclicvcs limscll to lc
1 FNG 1 WF
1+S
a rcdccmcr, lut to sing tlc salvation lrouglt alout ly tlc Word to rcspond,
tlat is, lor tlc world to tlc salvation tlat God ollcrs us.
Man, to lc wlolc must makc limscll (and lcncc tlc total cosmos,
wlicl is wlolc in lim) tlc answcring word . . . c must cxprcss
limscll toward God as lc wlom God las crcatcd in lovc and
addrcsscd. c can do tlis only il lcyond lis scparatcd possililitics
lc livcs in tlc arca ol tlc riclcs ol God and draws on tlcm in ordcr
to lc limscll.
110

1lc Clristian song ol tlc world lrings man`s rcsponsilility to a culmination
in tlc placc ol gracc wlcrc tlc two lranclcs ol tlc cross, lorizontal and
vcrtical, intcrscct. n rcsponding to God, man docs not rcspond all alonc, lc
rcsponds on lclall ol tlc world and takcs rcsponsilility lor tlc world tlat
ncvcr ccascs to accompany lim and wlicl lc ncvcr ccascs to inlalit, in lis
lall as in lis rcdcmption. And tlis song is possillc only il it is cxcccdcd twicc
ovcr ly tlc disproportionatc magnitudc lotl ol tlat wlicl is its task to lcar
in its spcccl, tlc vast and various world, and ol tlc onc to wlom it addrcsscs
tlat spcccl in antiplonal rcsponsc, tlc God wlo is always grcatcr. 1lis is tlc
lrcatling ol tlc song. tlc lact tlat tlcrc is always morc air tlan our lungs
can contain. t would lc cntircly dillcrcnt il wc lad to stand lctwccn a world
lorcign to tlc Word and an cvcr-silcnt God.
1lus it is tlat, lor St Bonavcnturc, admiration docs not mcrcly lorm tlc
lcginning ol plilosoply, lut also tlc cnd ol tlcology.
111
n a passagc in wlicl
lc at nrst sccms to rcscrvc lis admiration lor tcmporal lilc and wlat tlcology
calls tlc status ol tlc travcllcr (r/c/r), St Bonavcnturc nonctlclcss cnds up
writing, witl rcgard to tlc luman soul ol Clrist, tlat it.
contcmplatcs tlc divinc Wisdom and as it contcmplatcs it grows
ccstatic in it (.x.4// /n /(cm), altlougl it docs not undcrstand
it. or admiration is not rcscrvcd to tcmporal lilc, it also cxists in
ctcrnal lilc, it docs not cxist mcrcly in tlc angcls, lut also in tlc soul
assumcd ly God.
112

{csus is not mcrcly admirallc lut also a mastcr ol admiration, an admiration
tlat will ncvcr lc allc to ladc or disappcar. c wlo invitcs us to admiration
lrings tlis admiration to tlc liglcst radiancc ly virtuc ol tlc vcry lact ol lis
uniquc pcrlcction as a man.
l tlc mcaning, tlc possilility and tlc cxtcnt ol a canticlc ol crcaturcs
and an ollcring ol tlc world to God lavc lccn cstallislcd, tlc lact rcmains
tlat scvcral oljcctions can lc raiscd against tlc dcscription tlat las lccn
givcn. irst ol all, is it not tlc casc tlat prcsupposing an cquivalcncc lctwccn
1 FNG 1 WF
1++
ollcring tlc world to God and singing it mcans rcstricting oncscll to an
ovcrly contcmplativc dimcnsion` s tlcrc not, too, an (.rc//r. c/ ( (rc/.`
Wly slould tlc T. to God lor tlc world not also issuc lortl lrom our lands
tlat lalour, and not just lrom our voicc tlat sings` l coursc, to praisc is
not mcrcly to gazc. As St Grcgory ol Nyssa proloundly put it, man would
lc voicclcss il lc lad no lands. All spcccl comcs lrom a manual crcaturc.
And all manual work is tlat ol a spcaking man. Wc cannot contrast spcccl
and land, lor tlcy always collaloratc. 1lc work ol our lands is ol coursc
an ollcring, lut it cannot lc lorn lrom silcncc. n lis mcditation on Adam`s
work in Faradisc, according to tlc account in Gcncsis, St Augustinc slowcd
low work too praiscs and spcaks in its laslion.
t was not ly somc lalorious cllort, lut witl a joylul spontancity
(.x//|crc// r|un/c//) tlat man collaloratcd, tlrougl lis work,
in divinc crcation, tlc cartl producing alundant and cxulcrant
larvcsts. an opportunity to praisc morc lully tlc Crcator, wlo lad
givcn to tlc soul placcd in an animal lody tlc art and tlc laculty ol
working.
11S
St Augustinc wislcs nrst and lorcmost to draw a distinction lctwccn
luman work itscll, wlicl is onc ol tlc clcmcnts ol tlc goodncss ol crcation,
and tlc cursc tlat may wcigl on it as a conscqucncc ol sin. God did not
mcrcly givc tlc world to man as a spcctaclc tlat lc is mcrcly to contcmplatc
lut as tlc placc ol lis opcrations and works. And St Augustinc rclcrs to 'tlc
dual opcration ol Frovidcncc, tlc onc natural, tlc otlcr voluntary`.
11+
tlc
lattcr includcs tlc arts, tlc lalours and opcrations ol rcasonallc crcaturcs.
uman know-low is not somctling to lc wrcnclcd away lrom tlc gods,
conqucrcd or stolcn lrom tlcm in a lostilc manncr, as in tlc mytl ol
Fromctlcus. it is part and parccl ol tlc divinc plan. So tlcrc assurcdly is an
opcrativc praisc, a manual praisc. But it prcsupposcs spcccl, as in any casc its
social claractcr connrms, and it cannot lc sccn as its oppositc. St Augustinc
tlinks ol agricultural lalour as a dialoguc witl naturc. 'uman rcason can in
somc dcgrcc spcak witl tlc naturc ol tlings (um r.rum nc/urc /umcnc rc//
u4cmm4 |u/ (/./).`
115
1lc cosmic liturgy is not mcrcly contcmplativc,
and cvcryonc, wlocvcr lc may lc, can join in, witl lis lands and tlc works
ol lis lands. t is not a virgin lorcst tlat is to lc ollcrcd to God.
But tlcn a sccond oljcction ariscs. docs tlc ollcring ol tlc world to God
in praisc not nnd itscll in a supralapsarian position, as il tlc world wcrc
not violatcd and was not nllcd witl cvil, sullcring and sin, as il its murmur
wcrc not also tlat ol tlc crics ol woundcd lumanity` l it is as it las lccn
dcscrilcd, would not r Fangloss alonc lc capallc ol singing it` 1lis is to
lorgct tlat, lor tlc Clristian laitl, ollcring tlc world to God mcans ollcring
1 FNG 1 WF
1+5
tlc rcal world to tlc truc God. tlc rcal world, and not a world ol lairytalcs,
to tlc truc God, wlo is not mcrcly tlc crcator God lut God tlc saviour and
rcdccmcr. 1lc 'Canticlc ol tlc Crcaturcs` lclongs ncitlcr to paganism nor to
naturalism, it docs not worslip tlc world. it also ollcrs wlat is woundcd to
tlc onc wlo alonc can curc. cmand, plaint, supplication, all cntcr csscntially
into its polyplony too. 1lis song is ollcrcd to God only lccausc lc calls
it to lim. 1lc cttcr to tlc Colossians says ol Clrist tlat 'God wantcd all
lullncss to lc lound in lim and tlrougl lim to rcconcilc all tlings to lim,
cvcrytling in lcavcn and cvcrytling on cartl, ly making pcacc tlrougl lis
dcatl on tlc cross.`
116
1lcrc is no cuclarist witlout Fassion. And it is in tlis
way tlat ranciscan lrotlcrlood witl naturc is a lrotlcrlood /n r.4.m(//n,
a supcrnatural lrotlcrlood witl naturc, and not a vaguc pagan scnsc ol
complicity witl natural lorccs.
1lc naturc tlat participatcs in man`s lall and salvation las all tlc morc nccd
ol lcing ollcrcd to God in tlat it is itscll woundcd and torn. 1lc 'Canticlc
ol tlc Crcaturcs` is not mcrcly lull ol julilation. it las its crics and its tcars, it
also lcars crics and tcars to God. And it springs no lcss lrom praisc. 'nly in
tlc spacc ol praisc can tlc lamcnt comc lortl,` says Filkc.
117
And il, in lact, as
gnostics and dualists lavc asscrtcd tlrouglout tlc ccnturics, tlc world wcrc
complctcly and totally lad, ugly and lorrillc, ly virtuc ol its vcry origin, wc
could indccd drcam ol ccing it, lut to complain alout it would lc as alsurd
as it would lc usclcss, sincc cvil would lc part ol its vcry constitution. nly
praisc can makc lamcntation possillc, lor only lovc can rcally sullcr. l tlcrc
wcrc notling in tlc world lor wlicl wc could givc tlanks, a lamcnt would
mcrcly lorm an cmpty vocilcration. nly tlc liglt slows tlc darkncss as
darkncss, only lcauty can lc tlc indcx ol uglincss. l tlc song ol tlc world
is a Fasclal song, it ncccssarily includcs tlc lamcnt ol cvcrytling tlat is,
in wlatcvcr way, imprisoncd. 1lc 'Canticlc ol tlc Crcaturcs` can only lc
a canticlc ol loping, and all truc loping gocs against all lopc. 1lc spcccl
tlat cxprcsscs loping also cxprcsscs tlc darkncss ol tlis 'against all lopc`, a
darkncss tlrougl wlicl it advanccs, strong dcspitc its lragility, witl all tlc
strcngtl ol its lragility.
A song tlat ollcrs tlc world to tlc liglt ol its origin, wlicl illuminatcs it
ly virtuc ol ollcring it, and illuminatcs itscll as tlc placc wlcrc it comcs to
ollcr itscll sucl is tlc lorizon ol all luman spcccl, and alrcady tlc lorizon
ol tlc air tlat wc lrcatlc in and out. vcry ;. tlat was not uttcrcd ly
rcluctant lips, taking itscll lack, rclusing itscll, was always nllcd ly tlc dcsirc
and tlc lopc lor tlis occanic acclamation. But tlc world 'lorizon`, wlicl
nrst ol all is tlc Grcck namc lor cvcrytling tlat dcnncs and limits, cxprcsscs
at onc and tlc samc timc tlc opcning up ol possililitics and tlcir radical,
irrcmcdiallc limitation. ur voiccs livc only ly virtuc ol sucl an aspiration,
and at tlc samc timc lrcak against it and nnally lall silcnt, wlcn tlcy arc not
1 FNG 1 WF
1+6
translormcd, as tlcy lail and lail again to uttcr tlis ;. in all its lullncss, as
voiccs tlat cursc, or spcak only ol tlcmsclvcs, wlicl is tlc nrst cursc, and tlc
last as wcll. Wlat launts tlc luman voicc at its vcry lcart as wlat it scnscs to
lc its liglcst possilility is also its impossilility.
or tlc Clristian laitl, tlis song is possillc only ly an .r.n/ tlat prcccdcs
our own possililitics, and springs lrom tlc loving divinc lrccdom alonc. 1lc
only song tlat irrcvcrsilly says T. is tlc Fasclal song. it takcs placc only ly
tlc passion and rcsurrcction ol tlc incarnatc Word. 1lc incarnation ol God
transngurcs lotl spcccl and silcncc. 1lc silcncc ol darkncss and dcatl, tlc
silcncc ol lailurc and isolation, and cvcn tlc grcat glacial silcncc ol lcll tlat
Gcorgcs Bcrnanos tricd to imaginc, arc no longcr a tlrcat to spcccl, lcmming
it in on all sidcs likc an olscssion, as il laying pcrpctual sicgc likc a claos cvcr
rcady to rc-cmcrgc, lut wlat it las gonc tlrougl in ordcr to lccomc itscll,
tlat in wlicl it las lccn laptiscd. No onc participatcs in rcsurrcction unlcss
tlcy lavc truly participatcd in dcatl. Spcccl docs not lcar tlat in wlicl it las
lccn /..|.4 tlat silcncc in wlicl it las dicd to lc rclorn, and wlicl it las
causcd to dic, dcpriving it ol its sting, ly arising.
1lc rccapitulation or lringing togctlcr (cnc|.(/c|c/J/), 'undcr Clrist as
lcad` ol 'cvcrytling in tlc lcavcns and cvcrytling on cartl` spokcn ol in tlc
cttcr to tlc plcsians
118
is tlc vcry cvcnt, tlc vcry advcnt, ol tlc ollcring ol
tlc world to God, tlc sitc lrom wlicl tlc song ol tlc world lccomcs possillc.
1lc world tlat wc can lcncclortl sing, crcatcd ly tlc Word and savcd ly it, is
ol coursc no strangcr to spcccl. lcing its origin, its cnd, and tlat wlicl ncvcr
ccascs to sustain and guidc its movcmcnt, it is morc intimatcly lound up witl
it tlan it is witl itscll. But low can wc sing it` ow can a singular voicc,
cvcn il transngurcd ly tlis uniquc cvcnt in wlicl a T. witlout rcstraint and
witlout rcturn las lccn uttcrcd, lully sing tlc world, and makc itscll tlc ark
in wlicl notling las lccn lorgottcn, lclt out, alandoncd, cxccpt lor tlat
wlicl is not. cvil`
nly tlc Mystic Body ol Clrist givcs tlc voicc its lull strcngtl, and its
powcr to alnrm. Alnrmation lorms tlc solc placc ol tlc strugglc against cvil.
1o say no to tlc no mcans to say no again, lcading lack onc way or anotlcr
to wlat onc is opposing and making onc dcpcndcnt on it. 1o rcsist cvil is to
carry witl onc, pcrmancntly, tlc 1rojan orsc tlat contains it. 1o strugglc
against it can only mcan attacking it, and only tlc diamond ol tlc ;. can
rcally attack all ncgation, at its lcart, witlout laving to dcny it.
t is in a twolold scnsc tlat tlc alnrmativc voicc can only lc cloral. t must
lc cloral in its vcry solitudc and its tcnuousncss, ly virtuc ol wlat it sings.
tlc silcnt polyplony ol tlc cntirc world to wlicl it ollcrs its nakcdncss so
tlat it can nnally risc up to tlc ord. But it must also lc cloral on tlc part ol
tlosc wlo sing it. St Augustinc cxprcsscs tlis admirally in lis commcntary
on tlc words ol Fsalm 1+. 'Sing a ncw song to Yalwcl.` 1lc ncw song can
1 FNG 1 WF
1+7
only lc tlat ol tlc ncw man, and it is tlc song ol lovc and pcacc. 1lus, it can
only lc tlc song ol communion, and not a song tlat is isolatcd and scparatcd
lrom tlc cloir. 'c wlo docs not sing witl tlc wlolc cartl sings an old song,
lor tlc old song, wlatcvcr may lc tlc words tlat comc lrom lis moutl.`
11

And it would lc lcttcr to stay silcnt tlan to sing an old song, lor tlc old song
is, as St Augustinc says, tlat ol tlc 'cupidity ol tlc csl`, tlc ncw onc tlat ol
'tlc clarity ol God`.
120
Wc cannot say ;. cxccpt in unison, and tlc spcccl tlat
cxprcsscs tlc unity ol tlc world can itscll lc notling il not unilying.
nc dilnculty ariscs lccausc ol tlis vcry lact. il it is scll-cvidcnt tlat
no voicc can sing alonc tlc song ol tlc world and takc itscll lor Atlas, il
it can sing only witl otlcrs, docs it not also, as it mclts into tlc cloir, losc
cvcrytling most lcautilul and nakcd tlat it can givc, all tlat is uniquc and
irrcplaccallc in its timlrc and its grain` ocs it not tlus risk lccoming tlc
voicc ol an anonymous mcmlcr ol tlc cloir, onc tlat is no dillcrcnt lrom all
tlc otlcrs` And docs tlis not ly tlc samc tokcn imply lcsscning tlc valuc ol
tlc gilt` A lcar ol tlis kind las misundcrstood tlc naturc ol tlis cloir, wlicl
is to lorm tlc Mystic Body ol Clrist.
121
1lc limls ol a lody cacl lavc tlcir
propcr and irrcplaccallc lunction. And tlis is all tlc morc tlc casc lcrc. or
tlc singular placc tlat cacl onc occupics in tlc Body ol Clrist docs not lorm
a singularity tlat is addcd on lclatcdly to all tlosc singularitics tlat constitutc
it, as yct onc morc lcaturc ol its idcntity. t / its idcntity, or morc prcciscly
its ipscity, tlat ly wlicl it rcplics 'crc am` to tlc call ol tlc ord ol tlc
world, wlo ly tlis vcry call lrings it alout tlat lc can inlalit tlis world.
Wc lavc lccn closcn in Clrist 'lclorc tlc world was madc`, says tlc cttcr
to tlc plcsians.
122
1lis calling is also our mission, tlat wlicl scnds us on
a mission to tlc world. Wlctlcr wc rcspond to it or lctray it, wlicl is still
a modc ol rcsponsc, lorms tlc vcry lcart ol our story in its uniqucncss. And
tlis story can lc lrouglt to its consummation in its irrcplaccallc capacity to
rcccivc and to givc (lor rccciving too is uniquc, and somctling rcquircd ly
lovc), only wlcrc it is possillc lor us to rcccivc lrom cacl otlcr and to givc
to cacl otlcr. in tlc cloir.
ar lrom cllacing its singularity, our voicc, as it joins in witl tlc cloir,
discovcrs, accomplislcs, cxcrciscs and activatcs tlat singularity. t docs not
nccd to scck to dillcrcntiatc itscll lrom otlcrs in ordcr to lccomc singular,
lor its dillcrcncc is alrcady givcn and ollcrcd to it (cvcn il sccing it may takc
a wlolc lilc, and an ctcrnity too), its dillcrcncc is tlat ol its vocation. And
in addition to tlis, sccking to dillcrcntiatc oncscll lrom otlcrs is prcciscly, as
laslion slows, to lccomc likc cvcryonc clsc, as tlc samc mcans arc uscd ly
cvcryonc wlcn tlcy try not to rcscmllc cvcryonc clsc. 1o sing tlc song ol
tlc world in tlc clorus is to lccomc oncscll, irrcplaccally. 1lc voiccs tlat
will succccd us wlcn wc lavc lallcn silcnt lcrc lclow will lc allc to succccd
us only wlcn tlcy comc in pcrson, and not ly taking our placc. All tlcsc
1 FNG 1 WF
1+8
irrcplaccallc ollcrings draw tlcir inspiration lrom tlc uniquc ollcring ol
tlc incarnatc Word, and lrom tlc sulstitution, wlicl lc alonc could lring
alout, in wlicl lc took our placc in dcatl, so tlat wc miglt lccomc lrcc. t
is in lim and ly lim alonc tlat tlc world is gatlcrcd and unincd so as to lc
ollcrcd to tlc atlcr, and in tlc grcat varicty ol tlc lymns wc sing, in tlcir
most intimatc dcptls, tlcrc is always tlis lint ol trcmulousncss, suspcndcd,
as it wcrc, on tlc cdgc ol silcncc, ly wlicl tlc //cn| ;u wounds a luman
voicc, witl a llcsscd wound, and lrings it alout tlat it givcs itscll, tlc voicc
in wlicl all is givcn.
1+
N1S
N1F\C1N
1 Gcncsis 2.120. All Billc quotations arc lrom T/. N.o }.ruc|.m B/||. (ondon.
arton, ongman & 1odd, 10).
2 Gcncsis 2.20.
S {can Calvin, A Cmm.n/cr; n G.n./, tr. and cd. {oln King (ondon. 1lc
Banncr ol 1rutl 1rust, 165), p. 1S2.
+ Bossuct, L|/rc//n ur |. m;/|r., cd. M. rcano (Faris. {. \rin, 162), p. 157.
Allcit lrom anotlcr point ol vicw, ans \rs von Baltlasar also sccs in tlis sccnc
tlc illustration ol a powcr ol spcccl tlat las lccn lost. scc Mcn /n H//r; A
T/.|/c| S/u4; (ondon. Slccd and Ward, 168), pp. 2S+5.
5 Gcncsis 68.
6 Scc Flilo ol Alcxandria, D. mu/c//n. nm/num, 6S, in Jr|, tr. . .
Colson and G. . Wlitakcr, 10 vols, witl 2 supplcmcntary vols (ondon and
Camlridgc, MA. William cincmann and arvard \nivcrsity Frcss, 162), vol.
\, 168, p. 175.
7 St 1lomas Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., a F., qu. 6, art. 1, ad Sum, tr. atlcr
awrcncc Slapcotc and tlc atlcrs ol tlc nglisl ominican Frovincc, rcviscd
ly anicl {. Sullivan (ondon and Ncw York. Blacklriars, in conjunction witl
yrc and Spottiswoodc, and McGraw ill Book Company), vol. 1S, Mcn Mc4.
/n G4' Imc., cd. dmund ill, p. 127.
8 Flilo, L.um c||.r/c., , 18, in Jr|, vol. , 162, p. 2S7.
Scc tlc claptcr dcvotcd to tlis tlcmc in cnri dc ulac, P/ 4. |c M/rcn4|.
(Faris, 17+), pp. 18+20+.
10 ouis Bail, T//|/. c((.//r., u Sc/n/ T/mc .n m/4//c//n (Faris. {. Billainc,
165+), , \, 16 (p. 222).
11 ranz von Baadcr, B.rm.r|un.n u|.r 4c :o.//. c(//c| 4.r G.n./, in Scm/|//.
J.r|., cd. ranz ollmann, vol. 7 (cipzig. . Bctlmann, 185+), p. 227.
12 ranz von Baadcr, B.m.r|un.n, p. 228.
1S cgcl, S;/.m ( L///c| L/(. (1802/3) cn4 l/r/ P//|(/; ( S(/r// (Pcr/ III ( //.
S;/.m ( S(.u|c//r. P//|(/; 1803/1), cd. and tr. . S. arris and 1. M. Knox
(Allany, NY. Statc \nivcrsity ol Ncw York Frcss, 17), pp. 2212.
1+ H..| cn4 //. Humcn S(/r//. A Trcn|c//n ( //. }.nc L./ur. n //. P//|(/;
( S(/r// (1805-6), witl commcntary ly co Faucl (ctroit, . Waync Statc
\nivcrsity Frcss, 18S), pp. 80. riginal in }.nc.r B.c|(//|(//., cd.
ollmcistcr (amlurg, 16), pp. 18S+.
N1S
150
15 Alcxandrc Kojcvc, In/r4u//n / //. B.c4/n ( H..|. L./ur. n //.
'P/.nm.n|; ( S(/r//', asscmllcd ly Faymond Qucncau, cd. Allan Bloom, tr.
{amcs . Niclols, {r (Ncw York. Basic Books, 16), p. 1+0.
16 Mauricc Blanclot, T/. Jr| ( l/r., tr. Clarlottc Mandcl (Stanlord, CA. Stanlord
\nivcrsity Frcss, 15), p. S2S.
17 Blanclot, Jr|, p. S22.
18 Gcncsis 2.2S.
1 Blanclot, Jr|, p. S22.
20 Blanclot, Jr|, pp. S22S.
21 {ulcs Supcrvicllc, O.urr. (///u. m(||/., cd. Miclcl Collot (Faris. Gallimard,
16), p. S01.
22 Supcrvicllc, O.urr. (///u., p. S00.
2S Martin cidcggcr, Jr/rc. un4 Au(c/:. (Flullingcn, 178), p. 18+.
2 W\N SFC
1 1lis pocm is collcctcd in Lc (c||. 4u mn4. (Faris. Gallimard, 150), p. S,
wlcrc Supcrvicllc also cvokcs (p. 55) a 'vcry attcnuatcd God`.
2 Scc rcspcctivcly ukc 11.1 and Mark .2+.
S Novalis, L'Ln;|(/4/., tr. Mauricc dc Gandillac (Faris. ditions dc Minuit,
166), p. S8.
+ udwig cucrlacl, T/. L.n. ( C/r///cn//;, tr. Gcorgc liot (Ncw York.
arpcr and Brotlcrs, 157), p. 122. At tlc lcginning ol lis important work
on praycr, ricdricl cilcr calls it tlc 'ccntral plcnomcnon ol rcligion` and
providcs a grcat numlcr ol quotations to support lis tlcsis. Dc G.|./ L/n.
r.|//n.////|//. un4 r.|//n(;/|//. Un/.ru/un (Municl, 12S), p.
1.
5 St 1crcsa ol Avila, Jc; ( P.r(.//n, cl. 2S, tr. . Allison Fccrs (ondon. Slccd
and Ward, 177), cl. 2+25, pp. 1005, original tcxt in O|rc m(|./c, cd.
lrcn dc la Madrc dc ios (Madrid, 172), pp. 26+5.
6 cucrlacl, L.n., p. 12S.
7 St Augustinc, D. 4/r.r/ uc.//n/|u c4 S/m(|//cnum, cd. A. Muztcnlcclcr
(1urnlolti. Corpus Clristianorum scrics atina ++, 170), look 2, qu. + (Qu
//u r(r/ rcn4um).
8 ouis {acols, Hc/4/ Prc;.r (ondon. Foutlcdgc and Kcgan Faul, 172), cl. 5,
'Gcsturcs and mclody in praycr`, pp. 5+ll. am gratclul to Catlcrinc Clalicr lor
lringing tlis study to my attcntion.
mmanucl Kant, B.|//n J////n //. Bun4cr/. ( M.r. B.cn cn4 O//.r
Jr///n, tr. and cd. Allcn Wood and Gcorgc di Giovanni (Camlridgc.
Camlridgc \nivcrsity Frcss, 18), \, 2, 'Gcncral rcmark`, p. 186n. riginal
in Kant, J.r|. (Bcrlin. Konigliclc Frcussisclc Akadcmic dcr Wisscnsclaltcn,
10267), vol. \, pp. 15 and 17.
10 cucrlacl, L.n., p. 12S.
11 Kant, B.|//n, p. 186n, original tcxt p. 1+. t is casy to scc wly tlcsc pagcs
lcd ranz von Baadcr to say tlat 'Kant talks alout praycr in tlc way a dcal
man would talk alout music` (Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. \, p. +07) and tlat lc did
not so mucl trcat ol praycr as mistrcat it (|./cn4.|/. 4.r r/.|m./r m//cn4.|/.)
(Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. , p. 1).
12 Sclopcnlaucr, Pcr.rc cn4 Pcrc|/(m.nc. S/r/ P//|(//c| Lc;, tr. . . {.
Faync, 2 vols (xlord. xlord \nivcrsity Frcss, 17+). vol. 2, cl. X\, 'n
rcligion`, 178, 'n tlcism`, pp. S778. 1lc lact rcmains tlat tlc conccpt ol
idolatry is csscntially rcligious and can lc dcnncd only witl rcgard to laitl in tlc
truc God wlicl makcs Sclopcnlaucr`s plrasc alsurd.
N1S
151
1S Augustinc, D. mc//r, , 1 and 2, nglisl translation in T/. Gr.c/n. ( //. Su|,
cn4 T/. T.c/.r, tr. {oscpl M. Collcran (Wcstminstcr, M, and ondon. 1lc
Ncwman Frcss and ongmans, Grccn and Co., 150), p. 1S0.
1+ St 1lomas Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., vol. S, B.|//n cn4 Jr//(, cd. Kcvin
. `Fourkc (16+), a ac, qu. 8S, art. 2, ad 1um, p. 5S, cl. art. , ad 5um.
'Fraycr is not ollcrcd to God in ordcr to clangc lis mind, lut in ordcr to cxcitc
conndcncc in us` (p. 75).
15 St. Bonavcnturc, Br.r/|u/um, \, 10, tr. rwin sscr Ncmmcrs (St ouis, M,
and ondon. B. crdcr Book Co., 1+6), p. 170 (translation modincd).
16 Aristotlc, D. In/.r(r./c//n., 17A +5, tr. {. . Ackrill, in T/. Cm(|./. Jr| (
Ar///|., 1lc Fcviscd xlord 1ranslation, cd. {onatlan Barncs, 2 vols (Frinccton,
N{. Frinccton \nivcrsity Frcss, 18+), p. 26.
17 Froclus, Cmm.n/c/r. ur |. T/m/., tr. A. {. cstugicrc, vol. ({. \rin, Faris,
167), pp. S2S.
18 Cl. . cilcr, Dc G.|./, p. 151, and . Fortc, L. 4nn.ur 4. cr/, L. (r//r. c
Bm. (Faris. cs Bcllcs cttrcs, 18), pp. S56.
1 {oln Cassian, T/. Cn(.r.n., tr. and cd. Bonilacc Famscy, (Ncw York. Faulist
Frcss, 17), X, 18, p. S+1. cncc tlc cu4.mu 4/.r., 'wc arc lold to say`,
wlicl prcccdcs tlc rcciting ol tlc Pc/.r in tlc Catlolic liturgy.
20 Cl. St Cyprian, D. 4m/n/c rc//n., 8, ng. tr. S/ C;(r/cn n //. Lr4' Prc;.r,
tr. 1. crlcrt Bindlcy (ondon. SFCK, 10+). 'Bclorc all tlings tlc 1caclcr
ol Fcacc and Mastcr ol unity is unwilling lor praycr to lc madc singly and
individually, tcacling tlat lc wlo prays is not to pray lor limscll alonc. or
wc do not say, M; lc//.r J/ cr/ /n /.cr.n. . . . Fraycr witl us is pullic and
common` (pp. S2S). 1lis passagc is quotcd ly Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., a
ac, qu. 8S, art. 7, ad 1um (vol. S, p. 65).
21 Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., a ac, qu. 8S, art. , rcsp. (vol. S, p. 65).
22 Miclcl dc Montaignc, T/. Cm(|./. Lc;, tr. M. A. Scrcccl (ondon. Fcnguin,
11), , 56, 'n praycr`, p. S57. or tlc Foman incidcnt, scc Montaignc,
}urnc| 4. J;c. .n I/c|/., cd. Mauricc Fat (Faris. Gallimard, 162), pp. 1228
.
2S Froclus, Cmm.n/c/r. ur |. T/m/., vol. , pp. SS+, cl. p. 2.
2+ ouis-Claudc dc Saint-Martin, L'/mm. 4. 4//r, cd. Amadou (Faris, 17S), 28
(p. 5), cl. +2 (p. 77), 101 (p. 1++). or a dillcrcnt intcrprctation, cl. 2+5
(p. 27+).
25 Fomans 8.26.
26 Froclus, Cmm.n/c/r. ur |. T/m/., vol. , pp. +56.
27 Froclus, Cmm.n/c/r. ur |. T/m/., vol. , p. S. t is cvidcnt tlat tlc
dcscription ol tlis circularity docs not nccd tlc tlcology ol gracc, wlicl is ol
coursc alscnt lcrc.
28 1lis is onc ol Kicrkcgaard`s lur U(|u/|4/n D/ur. ol 18++, in L///..n
U(|u/|4/n D/ur., cd. and tr. oward \. ong and dna . ong
(Frinccton, N{. Frinccton \nivcrsity Frcss, 10), pp. S77+01.
2 l/(/; S(/r//uc| Hm/|/. ( S/. Mccr/u //. L;(//cn, tr. A. {. Mason (ondon.
SFCK, 121), 1, S (pp. 158).
S0 cucrlacl, L.n., p. 256.
S1 Karl {aspcrs, P//|(/;, tr. . B. Aslton, S vols (Clicago and ondon. \nivcrsity
ol Clicago Frcss, 1671), vol. , p. 5+6.
S2 Syncsius ol Cyrcnc, O.urr., vol. , H;mn., cd. and tr. Clristian acomlradc
(Faris. cs Bcllcs cttrcs, 178), pp. 61S.
SS St. Augustinc, D. 4n (.r.r.r.n//c., XX, 6+, tr. Mary Alplonsc csousky
(Waslington C. Catlolic \nivcrsity ol Amcrica, 156), p. 20.
S+ William ol St 1licrry, M/4//c//n ./ (r/|r., tr. Folcrt 1lomas (Faris. ,
185), M.4//c//n \, 1S (p. 76).
N1S
152
S5 G. \an dcr ccuw, B.|//n /n L.n. cn4 Mcn/(./c//n, tr. {. . 1urncr, 2 vols
(Glouccstcr, MA. Fctcr Smitl, 167), vol. 1, 81 (p. 5S8). n praycr, cl. 62
(pp. +22).
S6 Cl. Lx(///n ( //. Or//4x lc///, , 2+, tr. S. . . Salmond (xlord. {.
Farkcr, 18), pp. 701, in wlicl lc juxtaposcs tlcm.
S7 Cl. St Bonavcnturc, Br.r/|u/um, \, 10.
S8 Scrmon XXX, 7, in T/. Jr| ( S/. Auu//n., S.rmn III, cd. {oln . Fotcllc,
tr. dmund ill (Brooklyn, NY. Ncw City Frcss, 11), p. S55.
S \on Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. , pp. 51+15.
+0 {alal ad-in ar-Fumi, Mcncr/, r. tr., Mc//nco/, Lc u//. 4. |'c||u, tr. van dc
\itray Mcycrovitcl and jamclid Mortazavi (Faris. d. du Foclcr, 10), p.
5+2. 1lis passagc is quotcd ly cilcr, p. 225.
+1 Faul Claudcl, Lc B. ./ |. rc/r. (Faris. gloll, 1+7), pp. 1567.
+2 \on Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. \, p. 2. ouis-Claudc dc Saint-Martin lad
alrcady said. 'You cannot pray unlcss your God limscll prays witl you. Wlat will
lc rcluscd you, il lc wlo grants is tlc samc as lc wlo asks``, L'/mm. 4u 4//r,
271 (p. 27).
+S \on Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. , p. 515.
++ \on Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. , p. 500.
+5 St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 85, 1.
+6 cnri Miclaux, A/||.ur (Faris. Gallimard, 162), pp. 1S2S.
+7 Acsclylus, T/. L/|c//n B.cr.r, lincs 7121, in Or././c, tr. Ficlard attimorc
(Clicago. \nivcrsity ol Clicago Frcss, 15S). Claudcl translatcd tlcsc words as.
'Can wc not ly praycr} Bring lclp to rcstcs``
+8 Angclus Silcsius, D.r C/.ru|/n//.r Jcn4.rmcnn (1lc Clcrulic Wandcrcr),
rcncl translation P||.r/n //ru|/n/u., , 12, tr. Flard (Faris, 1+6), p. . Cl.
tlc lollowing disticl on tlc supcriority ol silcncc.
+ Montaignc, 'n praycr`, p. S57.
50 cucrlacl, L.n., p. 12S.
51 Cl. Clristian Sudlaus, 'autcs und lciscs Bctcn`, Ar//r (ur B.|//no/.n/c(/.n,
, 106, pp. 185200. am gratclul to ranois Guillaumont lor laving indicatcd
tlis cxtrcmcly usclul articlc to mc.
52 Samucl 1.121S. t is olvious tlat lc is surpriscd tlat lc cannot lcar lcr.
5S T/. Tc|mu4 ( //. Lcn4 ( Irc.|, cd. {acol Ncusncr, vol. B.rc|//, tr. 1zvcc
Zalavy (Clicago. \nivcrsity ol Clicago Frcss, 18), p. 1+. Somcwlat
uncxpcctcdly, tlis is all discusscd ly . A. Wollson in lis magistcrial work on
Flilo ol Alcxandria, P//|, vol. (arvard, 182), pp. 2+8ll.
5+ Fcrsius, Sc//r., \, 18+.
55 cspitc Calvin, wlo writcs on tlis suljcct. 'or altlougl on somc occasions
tlc lcst praycrs arc tlosc wlicl arc not spokcn, nonctlclcss it may lappcn tlat
tlc lcart`s allcction is so ardcnt tlat it impcls tlc tonguc and tlc lips witlout
any lint ol amlition. cncc it camc alout tlat annal, motlcr ol Samucl,
murmurcd lctwccn lcr lips, wlcn slc wislcd to pray. And tlc laitllul daily
makc cxpcricncc ol tlc samc wlcn, in tlcir praycrs, tlcy makc loud uttcranccs
and sigls witlout laving intcndcd to` (In///u//n 4. |c r.|//n /r///.nn., X, cd.
Fannicr (Faris, cs Bcllcs cttrcs, 161), vol. , p. 167.
56 {can cclcrcq, in cclcrcq, ranois \andcnlrouckc and ouis Boycr, A H//r; (
C/r///cn S(/r//uc|//;, S vols, vol. , T/. S(/r//uc|//; ( //. M/44|. A. (ondon.
Burns and atcs, 168), pp. 867.
57 Cl. Sudlaus, 'autcs`, p. 188, 10, and W. iclrodt, T/.|; ( //. O|4 T./cm.n/,
tr. {. Bakcr, vol. 1 (ondon. SCM Frcss, 175), p. 175, '1lc normal way ol
praying was to spcak aloud`.
N1S
15S
58 Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., a ac, qu. 8S, art. 12 (vol. S, B.|//n cn4
Jr//(, p. 8S).
5 Claudcl, Lmmcu, in O.urr. m(||/., vol. 2S (Faris. Gallimard, 16+), p. 82.
60 Cl. tlc curious passagc in oracc, (pistlcs, , X\), quotcd ly Montaignc, 'n
praycr`, p. S6+. rom tlc oppositc point ol vicw, {oln Cassian (Cn(.r.n., X,
p. S5) indicatcs as onc ol tlc motivcs ol silcnt praycr, in wlicl God alonc lcars
our rcqucsts, tlc lcar tlat tlc advcrsary powcrs miglt otlcrwisc ovcrlcar tlcm
(p. S5S).
61 A4 Lu/|/um L(//u|c. Mrc|., tr. Ficlard M. Gummcrc, S vols (ondon and
Camlridgc, MA. William cincmann and arvard \nivcrsity Frcss, 167), ,
10, 5. vol. , p. 5.
62 Montaignc, 'n praycr`, pp. S6+5.
6S 1lcsc quotations arc takcn lrom Cc//.r 4'//u4. ju/r., Nouvcllc scric, 1, Lc
(r/|r., pp. 10 and 16.
6+ Mattlcw 18.120.
65 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, tr. A. . Armstrong, 7 vols (ondon and Camlridgc, MA.
William cincmann and arvard \nivcrsity Frcss, 16688), \ (18+), 1, 6 (p.
2). Cl. cilcr, Dc G.|./, p. 22.
66 Froclus, Cmm.n/c/r. ur |. T/m/., vol. , pp. S6 and +1.
67 Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., a ac, qu. 8S, art. 7, ad 2um.
68 Cl. milc Mcrscl, T/. J/|. C/r//. T/. H//r/c| D.r.|(m.n/ ( //. D/r/n. (
//. M;//c| B4; /n Sr/(/ur. cn4 Trc4///n, tr. {oln F. Kclly (ondon. cnnis
olson td., 1S8), p. +2+.
6 {oln Cassian, Cn(.r.n., X, 11, p. S8+.
70 Claudcl, L'A||/ Br/mn4 ./ |c (r/|r., August 1SS.
71 T.r/u||/cn' Tr.c//. n //. Prc;.r, tr. rncst vans (ondon. SFCK, 15S), pp.
S+1.
72 Flilo, D. (|cn/c//n., 1S01, in Jr|, vol. (162), p. 27.
S 1 SF1A1Y SNC
1 1lis is truc ol ugcnc Minkowski, in a passagc tlat in otlcr rcspccts is not
witlout its insiglts, on 'Silcncc and olscurity (dillcrcntiating tlc ncgativc)`, J.r
un. m|/. (Faris. Aulicr-Montaignc, 167), pp. 17S8. n lis nnc rccctions
on silcncc, ouis avcllc notcs, lrom a dillcrcnt pcrspcctivc. 'Silcncc is tlc
atmosplcrc ol our spirit. iglt scattcrs tlc darkncss, lut sound crosscs silcncc,
wlicl acts as its mcdium, witlout alolisling it` (Lc Pcr|. ./ |'/r//ur. (Faris.
`Artisan du livrc, 1+7), p. 12).
2 Cl. my study, 'c silcncc dans la pcinturc` (Cr( c r(, A |'/u/. 4. |'.urr. 4'cr/)
(Faris, 17), wlicl complcmcnts tlc prcscnt work.
S {oscpl {oulcrt, Ccrn./, cd. Andrc Bcaunicr (Faris. Gallimard, 155), vol. 2, p.
7+2.
+ n tlc silcncc ol writing, cl. ouis avcllc, Lc (cr|. ./ |'/r//ur., p. 12 and p.
17+. {can cclcrcq spcaks ol a 'litcraturc ol silcncc` in conncction witl ccrtain
monastic writings, in wlicl onc writcs 'lccausc onc docs not spcak` and 'so as
not to spcak`. {. cclcrcq, T/. S(/r//uc|//; ( //. M/44|. A., p. 158.
5 Folcrto {uarroz, Du:/|m. (//. r.r//c|., no. 20, tr. into rcncl ly . \crsclcn
(Faris, 1S), pp. 58.
6 Aristotlc, D. cn/mc, +S0 A 1, ng. tr. On //. Su|, tr. {. A. Smitl, in Cm(|./.
Jr|, vol. 1, p. 68S.
7 Alcxandcr ol Aplrodisias, c4 |um, quotcd and translatcd ly G. Fodicr,
Cmm.n/c/r. 4u /rc/// 4. |'cm. (Faris, 100), p. +57.
N1S
15+
8 Max Ficard, L. mn4. 4u /|.n., tr. {.-{. Anstctt (Faris. Frcsscs univcrsitaircs dc
rancc, 15S), p. 8 and (c/m.
Ficard, L. mn4. 4u /|.n., p. 11S.
10 Sorcn Kicrkcgaard, Un m(/. r.n4u |////rc/r., O.urr. m(||/., tr. 1isscau, vol.
8 (Faris. 17), p. 216.
11 St Fctcr amicn, quotcd ly {can cclcrcq, T/. S(/r//uc|//; ( //. M/44|. A., p.
158.
12 Samucl Bcckctt, T/. Unncmc||., in T/. B.|.// Tr/|; (ondon. Ficador, Fan
Books, 17), p. 282.
1S Bcckctt, T/. Unncmc||., p. 27+.
1+ 'Wlilc pcacclul silcncc lay ovcr all, and niglt lad run tlc lall ol lcr swilt coursc,
down lrom tlc lcavcns, lrom tlc royal tlronc, lcapt your all-powcrlul Word.`
15 Wisdom 18.1+15.
16 crman Mclvillc, P/.rr., r T/. Am|/u///., X\, 1 (Ncw York. itcrary Classics
ol tlc \nitcd Statcs, ilrary ol Amcrica, 18+), p. 2+0.
17 ricdricl Nictzsclc, 'l sclolars`, T/u S(|. Zcrc//u/rc. A B| (r Lr.r;n.
cn4 N On., tr. F. {. ollingdalc (ondon. Fcnguin, 161), p. 1+8, original in
Scm/|//. J.r|. cd. Colli and Montinari (Bcrlin), vol. + (180), p. 162.
18 Zcrc//u/rc, 'l rcdcmption`, p. 161.
1 Zcrc//u/rc, p. 16S.
20 Zcrc//u/rc, 'l grcat cvcnts`, p. 15S.
21 Zcrc//u/rc, pp. 15+5.
22 Zcrc//u/rc, pp. 1678, as arc tlc lollowing quotations.
2S Zcrc//u/rc, p. 18+.
2+ Zcrc//u/rc, p. 1S0.
25 Bcckctt, L'Innmmc||., p. S7.
26 Cl. ouis avcllc, Lc (cr|. ./ |'/r//ur., pp. 1S+0.
27 St rcnacus ol yons, Ac/n/ //. H.r./., tr. and annotatcd ly ominic {. \ngcr,
rcviscd ly {oln . illon (Ncw York. Faulist Frcss, 12), , 1, 1.
28 1lcocritus, I4;||, in T/. Gr..| Bu|/ P./, tr. {. M. dmonds (ondon and
Camlridgc, MA, William cincmann and arvard \nivcrsity Frcss, 112), p.
2.
2 T/. Cm(|./. P.m ( Lm/|; D/|/nn, cd. 1. . olnson (ondon. alcr and
alcr, 175), no. 100+ (pp. +656).
S0 {oulcrt, Ccrn./, vol. 1, p. 17+.
S1 Cardinal Giovanni Bona, Pr/n/(/c r//c. /r///cnc., , 8, O(uu|c (/r//uc|/c
(Faris, 1667), p. 2SS.
S2 F. Grou, Mcnu.| 4. cm. /n//r/.ur., B.u./| 4'(uu|. /n/4// (Faris, 1+7), pp.
+5.
SS Grou, B.u./|, pp. 268.
S+ St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 86, 1.
S5 Cl. cnri Maldincy, 'vcncmcnt ct psyclosc`, P.n.r |'/mm. ./ |c (|/. (Grcnollc,
11), pp. 278ll.
S6 Cl. my study, 'Fcrdrc la parolc`, in tlc collcctivc work K/.r|.ccr4 u |. Dn }ucn
/r///.n (Monaco, 18, pp. 16+7+).
S7 Flato, P/c.4ru, 2S0 , tr. Alcxandcr Nclamas and Faul Woodrull, in Flato,
Cm(|./. Jr|, cd. {oln M. Coopcr (ndianapolis, N, 17), p. 510.
S8 Flato, S;m(/um, 17+ 175 B, tr. Nclamas and Woodrull, in Cm(|./. Jr|,
pp. +601.
S Flato, P/c.4, 8+ BC, 5 , tr. G. M. A. Grulc, in Cm(|./. Jr|, pp. 7S and
8S.
+0 Flato, Pcrm.n/4., 1S0 , tr. Mary ouisc Gill and Faul Fyan, in Cm(|./. Jr|,
p. S6+.
N1S
155
+1 n Kicrkcgaard, C/r///cn D/ur. cn4 T/. L/|/. ( //. l/.|4 cn4 //. B/r4 ( //.
A/r, tr. Waltcr owry (xlord. xlord \nivcrsity Frcss, 1S), pp. S2+5.
+2 Faincr Maria Filkc, Snn./ / Or(/.u, , 26.
+S Kicrkcgaard, L/|/. ( //. l/.|4, p. S25.
++ Flotinus, Lnn.c4, , 8, + (p. S6).
+5 T/. Im//c//n ( }.u C/r//, , 2.
+6 Alplonsc dc amartinc, 'sclia`, Nur.||. M/4//c//n (///u., O.urr. (///u.,
cd. Guyard (Faris, 17S), p. 1S.
+7 Angclus Silcsius, D.r C/.ru|/n//.r Jcn4.rmcnn, , 2, tr. Flard (Faris, 1+6),
p. 10.
+8 {olann 1aulcr, S.rmn, tr. ugucny ./ c|. (Faris, 11), pp. 1S1+.
+ 1aulcr, S.rmn, p. 17.
50 1aulcr, S.rmn, p. 20.
51 Nicolas Malclranclc, T/. S.cr/ A(/.r Tru//, tr. and cd. 1lomas M. cnnon and
Faul {. lscamp (Camlridgc. Camlridgc \nivcrsity Frcss, 17), \, \ (pp.
S578).
52 Malclranclc, Cnr.rc//n /r///.nn., , in O.urr. m(||/. (Faris, 15), vol.
\, p. 11.
5S cnclon, 'c la parolc intcricurc`, in L.//r. ./ (uu|. (/r//u.|, X, O.urr., cd.
c Brun, vol. (Faris, 18S), p. 50.
5+ cnclon, 'c la parolc intcricurc`, p. 5+.
55 cnclon, 'c la parolc intcricurc`, p. 5+.
56 cnclon, 'c la parolc intcricurc`, p. 52.
57 cnclon, 'c la parolc intcricurc`, p. 52.
58 cnclon, 'c la parolc intcricurc`, pp. 578.
5 Fsalm 76..
60 saial S+.1.
61 saial +1.1.
62 Zaclarial 2.17.
6S allakuk 2.20.
6+ Fcvclation 8.1.
65 {can-Ficrrc Clarlicr, Cm(r.n4r. |'A(c|;(. (Faris, 11), vol. , pp. 1+5.
66 uripidcs, T/. Bc/c., lincs 108+5, tr. William Arrowsmitl (Clicago.
\nivcrsity ol Clicago Frcss, 15), p. 20S.
67 Attar, L. L/rr. 4. .r./, tr. Clristianc 1ortcl (Faris. cs cux ccans, 185), p.
228.
68 Mauricc Mcrlcau-Fonty, T/. Pr. ( //. Jr|4, cd. Claudc clort, tr. {oln `Ncill
(ondon. cincmann, 17+), p. 1+6.
6 Mcrlcau-Fonty, Pr., p. 6+.
70 Mcrlcau-Fonty, Pr., p. S0.
1 Pr|u' Cmm.n/cr; n P|c/' 'Pcrm.n/4.', tr. Glcnn F. Morrow and {oln M.
illon (Frinccton, N {. Frinccton \nivcrsity Frcss, 187), p. 522.
72 Mcrlcau-Fonty, Pr., p. 1.
7S Mcrlcau-Fonty, Pr., p. 1++.
7+ Mcrlcau-Fonty, Pr., p. 1+2.
75 Martin cidcggcr, Un/.ro. :ur S(rc/. (Flullingcn, 171), pp. 25+5.
76 cidcggcr, Un/.ro., p. 252.
77 Blaisc Fascal, P.n/. ./ (uu|., cd. Brunsclvicg (Faris, 166), p. 1S2.
78 Mcrlcau-Fonty, Pr., p. +6.
7 Cl. lor cxamplc swald ucrot, D/r. ./ n. (c 4/r.. Pr/n/(. 4. /mcn//u.
|/nu///u. (Faris. crmann, 172).
80 Karl {aspcrs, P//|(/;, vol. , p. 206.
N1S
156
81 St ranois dc Salcs, Trc/// 4. |'Amur 4. D/.u, in O.urr., cd. Favicr (Faris,
16), \, (p. 611). urtlcr on, in tlc samc work, \, 11 (pp. 6+01), St
ranois draws a vcry prccisc distinction lctwccn tlc situations in wlicl wc
simply listcn to God spcaking 'ly ccrtain claritics and inncr pcrsuasions wlicl
takc tlc placc ol words`, situations in wlicl wc 'spcak rcciprocally` and situations
in wlicl wc arc dumlstruck.
82 {can Figolcuc, O.urr. (/r//u.||., cd. amon (Faris, 1S1), pp. 16S+.
8S Figolcuc, O.urr. (/r//u.||., pp. 16+6.
8+ Ficrrc dc Clorivicrc, Cn/4/rc//n ur |'.x.r/. 4. |c (r/|r. ./ 4. |'rc/n, cd.
Faycz (Faris, 161), p. 1S8.
85 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, \, 7, S+ (tr. vol. \, p. 1S).
86 {can-Ficrrc dc Caussadc, L.//r. (/r//u.||., cd. lplc-Galliard (Faris, 16+), vol.
, p. 111.
87 Caussadc, L.//r. (/r//u.||., vol. , p. 2.
88 Caussadc, L.//r. (/r//u.||., pp. 2S0. n mystic dcatl, cl. Alois aas, 'Mors
mystica`, S.rm m;//u, S/u4/.n :u T/.|/. un4 S(rc/. 4.r 4.u//.n M;//|
(rcilurg, 17), pp. S2+80.
8 ranois Guillorc, L. (rr| 4. |c r/. (/r//u.||. (Faris, 170S), p. 625.
0 Guillorc, Prr|, p. 62.
1 {olann 1aulcr, S.rmn, p. 2++.
2 lizalctl ol tlc 1rinity, Lr// (/r//u.|, cd. Flilipon (Faris, 158), p. 20S.
S lizalctl ol tlc 1rinity, Lr// (/r//u.|, pp. 2S+5.
+ lizalctl ol tlc 1rinity, Lr// (/r//u.|, p. 22S. Cl. tlc nnc commcntary ly ans
\rs von Baltlasar, L|/:c|.// ( D/jn. An In/.r(r./c//n ( /.r S(/r//uc| M//n, tr.
and adaptcd A. \. ittlcdalc (ondon. 1lc arvill Frcss, 156), pp. 101S.
5 Angclus Silcsius, D.r /.ru|/n//.r Jcn4.rmcnn, , 15 (r. tr. p. 155).
6 Cardinal dc Bcrullc, O(uu|. 4. (////, cd. Gaston Foturcau (Faris, 1++), p.
2S+.
7 St 1lomas Aquinas, In |/|rum |.c// D/n;// D. 4/r/n/ nm/n/|u .x(/// (1urin.
Marictti, 150), ++ (p. 16).
8 Angclus Silcsius, D.r C/.ru|/n//.r Jcn4.rmcnn, \, 11 (r. tr. p. 201). But
two disticls lclorc tlis, Angclus Silcsius claimcd tlat tlc incxprcssillc can lc
said, said in a singlc Jr/, a singlc Word. 1lc silcncc ol .u(/.m/c is mcrcly onc
momcnt in lis tlinking.
Froclus, T/. T/.|; ( P|c/, , S, tr. 1lomas 1aylor (romc. Fromctlcus 1rust,
15), p. 57.
100 Froclus. A|/|/c4. I. A /rcn|c//n cn4 mm.n/cr;, ly William `Ncill (1lc
aguc. M. Nijloll, 165), p. S6.
101 Froclus, T/.|; ( P|c/, p. 165.
102 Froclus, 1lcology ol Flato, , 11 (pp. 1667).
10S Wcrncr Bcicrwaltcs, Pr||. Grun4:u. ./n.r M./c(/;/| (ranklurt am Main. \.
Kolstcrmann, 165).
10+ Froclus, D. (rr/4.n//c, \, S1, in Tr/ //u4. ur |c (rr/4.n., cd. saac (Faris,
17), p. 5+.
105 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, \, 7, S5 (tr. vol. 7, p. 1).
106 St {oln ol amascus, D. (r.m/.r (r/n/(., tr. Galpcrinc (Faris, 187), p. 158,
cl. cd. Wcstcrink and Comlcs (Faris, 186), vol. , p. 11.
107 St {oln ol amascus, D. (r.m/.r (r/n/(., p. 168}p. 22.
108 St {oln ol amascus, D. (r.m/.r (r/n/(., p. 168}p. 22.
10 St {oln ol amascus, D. (r.m/.r (r/n/(., p. 172}p. 27.
110 ccontc dc islc, P|m. cn//u., cd. cmcrrc (Faris, n. d.), pp. S1S1+.
111 ccontc dc islc, P|m. cn//u., p. 2S.
112 ccontc dc islc, P|m. cn//u., p. 55.
N1S
157
11S {can-Faul Sartrc, T/. lcm/|; I4//. Gu/cr. l|cu|.r/, 1821-185, tr. Carol Cosman,
5 vols (Clicago. \nivcrsity ol Clicago Frcss, 181S), vol. S, p. +0.
11+ Karl {aspcrs, P//|(//., p. 7S.
115 ranz Foscnzwcig, T/. S/cr ( B.4.m(//n, tr. William W. allo (ondon.
Foutlcdgc and Kcgan Faul, 171), pp. S78. 1lis look also includcs rccctions
on various aspccts ol silcncc.
116 Fscudo-ionysius tlc Arcopagitc in Pc/r|/c. uru m(|./u, cd. {. F. Mignc
(Mignc. Faris, 1857), vol. S, 7 AB.
117 Maximus tlc Conlcssor, in Pc/r|/c., cd. Mignc, vol. XC, 22 A.
118 {can Foussct, An//|/. 4. |c (//. |cru. (rcn,c/. (Faris, 188), pp. 2S67.
11 ans \rs von Baltlasar, 'Wort und Sclwcigcn`, in J.r|um Ccr (rcilurg,
10), pp. 1S555, Lc ///|/u., vol. , J/r/// 4. D/.u, tr. cclclottc and
umont (Brusscls, 15), pp. 11S2. Cl. also tlc rcmarks in Alois aas, S.rm
m;//u, pp. 1501.
120 St {oln ol tlc Cross, S(/r//uc| Ccn//|., X\, +, O|rc (Madrid, 17S), p. 7+5. n
tlis passagc, cl. tlc commcntary ly Max uot dc ongclamp, L./ur. 4. c/n/
}.cn 4. |c Cr/x (Faris, 181), pp. S012+.
121 Cl. my study 'a voix visillc`, L'c((.| ./ |c r/(n. (Faris, 12), pp. +5ll.
122 Max uot dc ongclamp, L./ur., pp. S078.
12S St {oln ol tlc Cross, T/. Dcr| N/// ( //. Su| cn4 T/. L/r/n l|cm. ( Lr., ,
2+, tr. Bcncdict Zimmcrman and avid cwis (ondon. arpcrCollins, 15),
p. 156, O|rc, p. 68.
12+ Caussadc, L.//r. (/r//u.||., vol. , p. 2+2.
125 St {oln ol tlc Cross, L/r/n l|cm. ( Lr., , S, O|rc p. 61.
+ S BA\1Y SAY A\`
1 Cl. my work, L'c((.| ./ |c r/(n. (Faris, 12), cl. 1.
2 n tlc nintl and scvcntl clcgics rcspcctivcly.
S saial 5S.2.
+ Wisdom 1S.S.
5 Wisdom 1S.5.
6 Wisdom 1S.67.
7 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, \, 5, S (tr. vol. \, p. 165).
8 Aquinas, In |/|rum B.c// D/n;//, S+S (p. 11+).
cnys Fctau, Dmc/c //.|/c, \, 8, cd. ournials (Faris. 1865), vol. 1, p.
5+7.
10 Fctau, Dmc/c, p. 5+8.
11 ouis 1lomassin, Dmc/c //.|/c, , 121, cd. callc (Faris, 186+), pp.
2516.
12 Aquinas, Summc //.|/c., a F., qu. S, art. 8.
1S 1lomassin, Dmc/c, p. 25.
1+ Karl Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, cd. G. W. Bromilcy and 1. . 1orrancc, tr.
G. W. Bromilcy, 2nd cdn (dinlurgl. 1. & 1. Clark, 175), vol. .1, p. 651.
15 M. {. Sclcclcn, Kc//|//. Dmc//|, G//.|./r., cd. Sclmaus (rcilurg, 1+8),
85, pp. 1S++0.
16 Sclcclcn, Dmc//|, p. 1S.
17 Sclcclcn, Dmc//|, p. 1S.
18 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 650.
1 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 65S.
20 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 65S.
21 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 657.
N1S
158
22 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 661.
2S Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 665.
2+ 1lis is wlat ans \rs von Baltlasar did in lis vast and lrilliant work, H.rr|//|.//
(ng. tr.. T/. G|r; ( //. Lr4).
25 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 655.
26 Bartl, C/ur/ Dmc//, , , 2, p. 657.
27 St Ansclm ol Cantcrlury, Cur D.u /m?, , 2 (ondon. Grilntl, arran,
kcdcn and Wclsl, n.d.), p. S.
28 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, \, 8, 8 (vol. \, p. 26S), cl. , 6, .
2 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, , 8, 2 (vol. , p. 281).
S0 Flotinus, Lnn.c4, \, 7, S2 (vol. \, p. 187), cl. \, 7, 22, on 'gracc`, wlicl
givcs tlis cxccss a plcnomcnal dimcnsion.
S1 Cl. my L'c((.| ./ |c r/(n., pp. 267.
S2 Fscudo-ionysius tlc Arcopagitc, T/. D/r/n. Ncm., cn4 M;//c| T/.|;, \,
tr. {oln . {olns (Milwaukcc, W. Marqucttc \nivcrsity Frcss, 180), p. 1+0.
SS Fscudo-ionysius tlc Arcopagitc, T/. D/r/n. Ncm., 70+ C, p. 1+0.
S+ Gcrard Manlcy opkins, 'Ficd Bcauty`.
S5 St Augustinc, Cn(./n, X, XX\, S8, tr. cnry Cladwick (xlord. xlord
\nivcrsity Frcss, 11), p. 201.
S6 St ilary ol Foiticrs, T/. Tr/n//;, , 7, tr. Stcplcn McKcnna (Waslington, C.
Catlolic \nivcristy ol Amcrica, 15+), p. .
S7 St ilary, T/. Tr/n//;, , 8, p. .
S8 Filkc, Snn./ / Or(/.u, , S.
S Kings 1.12.
+0 {acoponc da 1odi, T/. Lcu4, tr. Scrgc and lizalctl uglcs, Classics ol Wcstcrn
Spirituality (ondon. SFCK, 182).
+1 {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 2S8.
+2 Song ol Songs, 2.5.
+S {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 227.
++ {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 227.
+5 {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 2+1.
+6 {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 226.
+7 {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 2S1.
+8 {acoponc, Lcu4, p. 2S8. n tlc samc pocm, {acoponc takcs up tlc words ol St
Augustinc. 'atc lavc lovcd you, lcauty so old and so ncw.`
+ St ranois dc Salcs, Trc/// 4. |'cmur 4. D/.u, , 15, in O.urr., cd. Favicr
(Faris, 16), p. +5+.
50 St ranois dc Salcs, Trc///, , 15, p. 52S.
51 St ranois dc Salcs, Trc///, , 15, p. 52+.
52 St Augustinc, D. Tr/n//c/., \, \, 7.
5S St Augustinc, D. Tr/n//c/., \, \, 7.
5+ St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, ++, +.
55 Bossuct, O.urr. ///., vol. 2, pp. 2S1+S (Faris, 1866).
56 Bossuct, O.urr., vol. 2, p. 2S8.
57 Bossuct, O.urr., vol. 2, p. 2S8.
58 {crcmial 20.7. 'You lavc scduccd mc, Yalwcl, and lavc lct myscll lc
scduccd.`
5 con Bloy, O.urr., cd. Fctit (Faris, 18S), vol. X, p. S06.
60 Bloy, O.urr., p. S08.
61 Bloy, O.urr., p. S07.
62 Cl. Faul Miclcl, lrmc 4.(rm//c. B.oc|//un(rm.n 4. Hc|//.n /n
m///.|c|/.r|//.r L//.rc/ur (Bonn, 176).
6S Malclranclc, O.urr. m(||/., cd. Folinct (Faris, 176), vol. X, pp. 212.
N1S
15
6+ Cl. {acqucs c Brun, 'stlctiquc ct tlcologic au X\c sicclc` (Coll.), P.n.r |c
(/, Mclangcs ollcrts a {. Moingt (Faris, 1S), and Marc umaroli, L'/|. 4u
/|.n. (Faris, 1+), pp. 22S+.
65 saial 5S.2, quotcd alovc.
66 T.r/u||/cn' Tr.c//. n //. Incrnc//n, X, 56, cd. and tr. rncst vans (ondon.
SFCK, 156).
67 {ustin Martyr, in T/. Jr///n ( }u//n Mcr/;r cn4 A//.ncrc, tr. Marcus ods,
Gcorgc Fcitl and B. F. Frattcn (dinlurgl. 1. & 1. Clark, 1867), p. xxx. Cl.
Clcmcnt ol Alcxandria, T/. Tu/r, , 1, S, and rcnacus ol yons, Ac/n/ //.
H.r./., , 1, 2. 1lis list is lar lrom lcing cxlaustivc.
68 rigcn, Ac/n/ C.|u, \, 75, tr. {amcs Bcllamy (ondon. B. Mills, 1660`).
6 Sorcn Kicrkcgaard, Cn|u4/n Un/.n// P/r/(/ / 'P//|(//c| lrcm.n/',
vol. (1cxt), cd. oward \. ong and dna . ong (Frinccton, N{. Frinccton
\nivcrsity Frcss, 12), p. 600.
70 Kicrkcgaard, Trc/n/n /n C/r///cn//;, p. 600.
71 Allrcclt urcr, L.//r. ./ /r// ///r/u., tr. \aissc (Faris, 16+), p. 166.
72 uis dc con, T/. Ncm. ( C/r//, r. tr. L. nm 4u C/r//, tr. Ficard (Faris,
178), p. 5S.
7S rancisco Suarcz, O(.rc mn/c, cd. . M. Andrc, 28 vols (Faris. n.p., 1860), vol.
X\, p. 17S.
7+ Andrc Clastcl, M;//. ./ r/. 4. |c B.nc/cn. (Gcncva, 18), pp. 20 and
S+2.
75 1lc painting is in Bordcaux. 1lc tcxt is quotcd in tlc cataloguc L. /||. 4.
Bu|.n 4cn |. ||.//n (u||/u. (rcn,c/. (Faris, 177), p. 118. t datcs lrom
1861, signcd ly onc Marionncau.
76 St Bcrnard, On //. 'Sn ( Sn', , tr. Kilian Walsl (ondon. A. F. Mowlray
& Co., 176), pp. 01, Scn// B.rncr4/ O(.rc, cd. cclcrcq (Fomc, 157), vol.
, p. 1+.
77 St Bcrnard, On //. 'Sn ( Sn', p. 8, original in O(.rc, vol. , p. 1S.
78 St Bcrnard, On //. 'Sn ( Sn', , p. 1, original in O(.rc, vol. , pp. 1+5.
7 Municl, tlc Altc Finakotlck.
80 rwin Fanolsky, T/. L/(. cn4 Ar/ ( A||r.// Dur.r, +tl cdn (Frinccton,
N{. Frinccton \nivcrsity Frcss, 171). Wlat lc says alout tlis work is
disappointing.
81 Wcrncr Bcicrwaltcs, J// (c/c|/ - S./.n /n An.///. Zur C/n/4.n: 4.
.n4|//.n un4 un.n4|//.n B|/| |./ Cucnu (Municl. \crlag dcr Baycrisclcn
Akadcmic dcr Wisscnsclaltcn, 188), pp. 516.
82 Nicolas ol Cusa, T/. J//n ( G4, \, tr. mma Gurncy Saltcr (ondon. {. M.
cnt & Sons, 128).
8S Nicolas ol Cusa, J//n, \.
8+ Nicolas ol Cusa, J//n, X\.
85 Cl. Folcrt Foscnllum, M4.rn Pc/n//n cn4 //. Nr//.rn Bmcn// Trc4///n.
lr/.4r// / B//| (ondon. 1lamcs and udson, 175), pp. 6S+.
86 n slo.
87 n Amstcrdam and os Angclcs.
88 conoclasm is an agc-old trcnd, and tlc controvcrsy ovcr imagcs is not mcrcly
lound in Byzantium. Kicrkcgaard`s iconoclasm is cspccially violcnt. Cl. Trc/n/n
/n C/r///cn//;. 'Would it lc possillc lor mc, tlat is to say, could lring myscll
to tlc point, or could lc promptcd, to dip my lrusl, to lilt my cliscl, in ordcr
to dcpict Clrist in colour or to carvc lis ngurc` . . . And answcr, No, it would
lc lor mc an alsolutc impossilility. ndccd, cvcn witl tlis do not cxprcss wlat
lccl, lor in sucl a dcgrcc would it lc impossillc lor mc tlat cannot conccivc
low it las lccn possillc lor anyonc. A pcrson says, cannot conccivc ol tlc
N1S
160
calmncss ol tlc murdcrcr wlo sits slarpcning tlc knilc witl wlicl lc is alout to
kill anotlcr man.` And to mc, too, tlis is inconccivallc` (p. 2+7). 1lc paintcr is
likc a '{udas`, lis act a 'sacrilcgc`. Cl. also tlc P//|(//c| lrcm.n/, p. 58. or
Karl Bartl, cl. C/ur/ Dmc//, , 1, 2. 'And tlis is tlc crux ol cvcry attcmpt
to portray tlis lacc, tlc sccrct ol tlc sorry story ol tlc rcprcscntation ol Clrist.
t could not and cannot lc anytling lut a sorry story. . . . l at tlis point wc lavc
onc urgcnt rcqucst to all Clristian artists, lowcvcr wcll-intcntioncd, giltcd or
cvcn posscsscd ol gcnius, it is tlat tlcy slould givc up tlis unlikcly undcrtaking`
(p. 666). 1lcsc idcas arc ol a piccc witl tlc dcnial tlat tlc lcauty ol tlc world
or tlat ol art arc allc to say adicu. But il wc arc not allowcd to paint {csus, wly
acccpt tlat wc can paint any otlcr lacc` s a scmi-iconoclasm colcrcnt` Clrist
countcnanccs cvcry countcnancc, and cvcry countcnancc may countcnancc
Clrist.
8 Malclranclc, D/c|u. n M./c(/;/ cn4 B.|//n, cd. Niclolas {ollcy, tr. avid
Scott (Camlridgc. Camlridgc \nivcrsity Frcss, 17), p. 155.
0 St {oln ol tlc Cross, 'Spiritual Canticlc`, \, 5.
5 1 FNG 1 WF
1 Scncca, 'um qui lilcntcr accipit, lcncncium rcdissc`. Scc D. |.n.//, , XXX,
1, in Mrc| Lc;, tr. {oln W. Basorc, S vols (ondon and Camlridgc, MA,
William cincmann and arvard \nivcrsity Frcss, 16+), vol. S, p. 11S.
2 Stcplanc Mallarmc, O.urr. m(||/., vol. , cd. Carl Faul Barlicr and Clarlcs
Gordon Millan (Faris. lammarion, 18S), pp. 127. All sulscqucnt quotations
arc takcn lrom tlis cdition.
S Cl. Faul Bcniclou, S.|n Mc||crm/ (Faris. Gallimard, 15), p. 125.
+ Artlur Fimlaud, 'Alclimic du vcrlc`, Un. c/n .n .n(.r.
5 Cl. my L'An//(/nc/r. 4. |c nu// (Faris, 18).
6 St Augustinc, D. G.n./, , \, 1+.
7 St Augustinc, D. G.n./, , \, 1+.
8 Faul Cclan, 'Spcccl on ccasion ol Fccciving tlc itcraturc Frizc ol tlc rcc
anscatic City ol Brcmcn`, in C||./.4 Pr.. tr. Foscmaric Waldrop (ondon.
Carcanct, 186), p. SS.
Flato, T/.c././u, 155 , tr. {. M cvctt, rcviscd Milcs Burnycat, in Cm(|./.
Jr|, p. 17S, and Aristotlc, M./c(/;/, look A, 82 B 1112, tr. W. . Foss,
in Cm(|./. Jr|, , p. 155+.
10 Aristotlc, B/./r/, , 1S71 A SS, tr. Flys Folcrts, in Cm(|./. Jr|, , p.
218S.
11 Aristotlc, B/./r/, 1S71 B 28, p. 218S.
12 Aquinas, In |/|r M./c(/;/rum Ar///.|/ .x(/// (1urin. Marictti, 16+), 55
(p. 18).
1S Aristotlc, Pcr/ ( An/mc|, , 5, 6+5 A 1617 and 6+5 A 710, in Cm(|./. Jr|,
vol. , p. 100+.
1+ cscartcs, On //. Pc/n, , 76, in T/. P//|(//c| Jr///n ( D.cr/., vol,
, tr. {oln Cottinglam, Folcrt Stootloll and ugald Murdocl (Camlridgc.
Camlridgc \nivcrsity Frcss, 185), p. S55.
15 St ranois dc Salcs, Trc/// 4. |'cmur 4. D/.u, \, +, pp. 6778.
16 Kant, T/. Cr///u. ( }u4m.n/, tr. {amcs Crccd Mcrcditl (xlord. 1lc
Clarcndon Frcss, 152), part 1, p. 12+, Akadcmic-Ausgalc, vol. \, p. 272.
17 Kant, Cr///u. ( }u4m.n/, part 1, p. 125.
18 Kant, Cr///u. ( }u4.m.n/, part 2, p. 11, original, p. S65.
1 Kant, Cr///u. ( }u4.m.n/, part 2, p. , original, p. S6S.
N1S
161
20 Kant, An//r(|;, 68, Akadcmic-Ausgalc, vol. \, p. 2+S.
21 ranz von Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. , p. S1.
22 ranz von Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. \, p. 2S.
2S ranz von Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. X, p. 26+.
2+ ranz von Baadcr, Scm/|//. J.r|., vol. , p. +2. 1o tlis can lc addcd tlc rcmarks
ol Sclclling, J.r|., cd. Manlrcd Sclrotcr (Municl. Bcck, 156), pp. 5001,
in wlicl plilosoply as astonislmcnt passionatcly sccks 'das lctztc alsolut-
rstauncnswcrtlc zu nndcn`, and tlc commcnt ly Kicrkcgaard in T/. Cn.(/ (
Anx/./;, cd. Fcidar 1lomtc in collaloration witl Allcrt B. Andcrscn (Frinccton,
N{. Frinccton \nivcrsity Frcss, 180), p. 1+6.
25 Flato, S;m(/um, 18 C1 B, in Cm(|./. Jr|, pp. +812.
26 Ficrrc 1cillard dc Clardin, O.urr., vol. X (Faris, 176), Lr// 4u /.m( 4. |c
u.rr., pp. 120.
27 Flilo, D. (|cn/c//n., 126S1, in Jr|, vol. , p. 277. Sulscqucnt quotations
arc lrom tlis cdition.
28 Cl. Ficlard Follc, '1lc Song ol ovc`, +5.
2 Flilo, D. (|cn/c//n., 1S1, p. 27.
S0 Flilo, D. (./c|/|u |./|u, , 6, in Jr|, vol. \, p. 155.
S1 Flilo, D. r//c M/, , 1SS and 1S5, in Jr|, vol. \, pp. 51S15.
S2 Flilo, Qu/ r.rum 4/r/ncrum /.r. //, 200, in Jr|, vol. \, p. S8S. n all
tlcsc qucstions, cl. tlc work ly {can aportc, T//|/. |//ur/u. 4. P//|n
4'A|.xcn4r/. ./ 4'Or/|n. (Faris, 15), cl. 1, 2, and 7.
SS Flilo, D. mn//, , 215, in Jr|s, vol. \, p. +1S.
S+ Cl. cnri dc ulac, 'Fctit mondc ct grand mondc`, P/ 4. |c M/rcn4|. (Faris,
17+), pp. 160.
S5 Fico dclla Mirandola, O.urr. (//|(//u., tr. Boulnois and 1agnon (Faris,
1S), pp. +5.
S6 Fico dclla Mirandola, O.urr., p. 15S.
S7 Fico dclla Mirandola, O.urr., p. 5.
S8 Bcrullc, O(uu|. 4. (////, X, cd. Foturcau (Faris, 1++), pp. 1181.
Sulscqucnt quotations arc lrom tlis cdition.
S {can-{acqucs licr, O.urr. m(||/.. Lx(|/c//n 4. /r/mn/. 4. |c rcn4'm.. 4.
(cr/. .|n |'uc. rmc/n, c. +, col. S888 (Faris, 1856).
+0 Martin cidcggcr, S./n un4 Z.//, +.
+1 St Augustinc, Cn.rn/n //. C//; ( G4 cc/n/ //. Pccn, X, 2, tr. cnry
Bcttcnson (armondswortl. Fcnguin, 18+), pp. +6+5. l coursc, Augustinc
is rclcrring to tlc angcls and tlcir knowlcdgc ol tlc cvcning. But tlis possilility
is just as mucl a luman onc, and can lc cxprcsscd in tlc samc tcrms.
+2 Cl.A.-M. ularlc, Lc mcn/(./c//n nc/ur.||. 4. D/.u 4'c(r| |'Lr//ur. (Faris,
176), pp. 212.
+S Fsalm 1.1.
++ Fsalm 1+5.10.
+5 G. von Fad, O|4 T./cm.n/ T/.|;, tr. . M. G. Stalkcr, 2 vols (ondon. SCM
Frcss, 162), pp. S612.
+6 G. von Fad, J/4m /n Irc.| tr. {. Martin (ondon. SCM Frcss, 175), p. 162.
+7 Fsalm 8.7.
+8 Fsalm 6.1112.
+ Cl. my L'c((.| ./ |c r/(n. (Faris, 12), cl. .
50 St Augustinc, Cn(./n, X, \, (p. 18S). 1lc quotation is lrom {ol 12.78.
Cl. G. von Fad, J/4m /n Irc.|, pp. 16S+.
51 Clarlcs Baudclairc, 'Splccn ct dcal`, \, L. l|.ur 4u Mc|.
52 t is wortl rccalling tlat tlis tlcological tcrm rclcrs to univcrsal rcconciliation
and tlc total dissolution ol cvil. 'vil will dic,` says \ictor ugo.
N1S
162
5S \ictor ugo, O.urr. m(||/., Focsic , cd. Gaudon (Faris. allont, 185), p.
5S5.
5+ ugo, O.urr. m(||/., Focsic , p. 5S5.
55 ugo, O.urr. m(||/., Focsic , p. 550.
56 ugo, O.urr. m(||/., Focsic , p. 551.
57 Fomans 8.22.
58 ugo, O.urr. m(||/., Focsic , p. 552.
5 rancis Fongc, 'cs laons du rcgard`, Tm. Pr.m/.r (Faris, 165), p. 1S7.
Cl. cnri Maldincy, L. |. 4. /. 4cn |'.urr. 4. lrcn/ Pn. (ausannc,
17+).
60 Guillcvic, L. /cn/ (Faris. Gallimard, 10), p. 87.
61 Guillcvic, L. /cn/, p. 162.
62 Faul Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., cd. {acqucs Fctit (Faris. Gallimard, 167), p. 28+.
6S Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., p. 262.
6+ Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., p. 527.
65 Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., p. 267.
66 Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., p. 27+.
67 Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., p. 261.
68 Claudcl, O.urr. (///u., p. 281.
6 Claudcl, 'u scns ngurc dc l`criturc`, In/r4u//n cu |/rr. 4. Bu// (Faris.
csclcc dc Brouwcr, 1S8), p. 102.
70 Claudcl, 'u scns ngurc`, p. 76.
71 Claudcl, 'u scns ngurc`, p. 61.
72 Claudcl, 'u scns ngurc`, p. 61.
7S ans \rs von Baltlasar, L//ur/. m/u., tr. loumct and Frcstout (Faris,
1+7), p. 12S.
7+ von Baltlasar, L//ur/., p. 122. Similar rcmarks arc lound in Alain Fiou, L'L|/.
./ |. mn4. .|n Mcx/m. |. Cn(..ur (Faris, 17S), p. 150.
5 Pc/r|/. r.u., cd. Mignc, 1, 685.
76 Alain Fiou, L'L|/. ./ |. mn4., p. 158.
Pc/r|/. r.u., 1, 685 C, tr. Fiou in L'L|/. ./ |. mn4., p. 15.
78 von Baltlasar, L//ur/., p. 126.
7 Pc/r|/. r.u., 1, 66 , tr. Fiou in L'L|/. ./ |. mn4., p. 150.
80 Clcantlcs, in \on Arnim, S//rum J./.rum lrcm.n/c, vol. , 5S7 (Stuttgart,
158).
81 Clcantlcs, 5S7.
82 pictctus, Jr|, , 26, 2S0, tr. W. A. ldlatlcr, 2 vols (ondon and
Camlridgc, MA. William cincmann and arvard \nivcrsity Frcss, 128), vol.
, p. 2S7.
8S pictctus, Jr|, , 16, 16, vol. , p. 11S.
8+ pictctus, Jr|, , 16, 121, vol. , p. 11S. Cl tlc commcntary ly M. Follcnz,
D/. S/c (Gottingcn, 18+), vol. , pp. S+01.
85 Cl. M. Spanncut, '`ymnc au mondc`, L. ///m. 4. P|r. 4. |'L|/. (Faris,
157), pp. S6277.
86 St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 1+8, 17.
87 {. Moltmann, G4 /n Cr.c//n. An L|/c| D/r/n. ( Cr.c//n, tr. Margarct
Koll (ondon. SCM Frcss, 185), p. 71. 1lis nnds connrmation in tlc Fsalms.
nly tlc dcad man docs not praisc God, and lc wlo docs not praisc God is dcad.
Cl. G. von Fad, O|4 T./cm.n/ T/.|;, vol. , pp. S670. 'Fraisc is man`s most
claractcristic modc ol cxistcncc. praising and not praising stand ovcr against onc
anotlcr likc lilc and dcatl.`
88 St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, +, 21.
N1S
16S
8 . Suarcz, O(.rc mn/c (Faris, 1861), vol. 21, p. 602, cl. p. 618 a translcrrcd
cpitlct.
0 St Augustinc, C//; ( G4, X, \, pp. S780.
1 St Augustinc, C//; ( G4, X, \, pp. S778. Cl. Aquinas, Summc T/.|/c., a
F., qu. 22, art. 2.
2 St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 1+8, S.
S St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 1+8, S.
+ St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 1+8, 15.
5 Cassiodorus, Lx(/// Pc|mrum LXXI-CL, O(.rc, Fars , 2, cd. Adrian
(1ournai, 158), p. 1S1+. Cl. Folcrto Bcllarminc, on Fs. 1+8, O(.rc mn/c, cd.
cvrc (Faris, 187+), vol. 11, p. +70.
6 St {cromc, Trc/c/u /n Pc|m, O(.rc /m/|.//c, Fars , cd. Morin (1ournai,
158), pp. S++8.
7 1lis 'voicc` ol tlc living crcaturc was alrcady a tlcmc in Flotinus, Lnn.c4, , S,
5.
8 cslonncts and \orrcux, Sc/n/ lrcn,/ 4'A/., Dum.n/, /r// ./ (r.m/|r.
|/rc(//. (Faris, 168), p. 16.
St Bonavcnturc, L..n4c m/nr, S, 6, in cslonncts and \orrcux, Sc/n/ lrcn,/
4'A/., p. 7S8.
100 St Bonavcnturc, L..n4c mcjr, , 1, in cslonncts and \orrcux, Sc/n/ lrcn,/
4'A/., pp. 66S+.
101 Mark S.S5.
102 St Bonavcnturc, Quc.//n. 4/(u/c/c. 4. m;/.r/ Tr/n//c//, \, 2, 8.
10S St Bonavcnturc, C||c//n. /n H.xc.m.rn, , 8, tr. Marc zilou, L. /x jur 4.
|c r/c//n (Faris. csclcc}Ccrl, 11), pp. 15+5.
10+ St Bonavcnturc, Br.r/|u/um, , 11, 2, p. 7S.
105 St Bonavcnturc, C||c//n., X, 12, tr. zilou, pp. S078.
106 St Bonavcnturc, T/. Su|' }urn.; In/ G4, , , tr. wcrt Cousins (ondon.
SFCK, 178), p. 6S.
107 A. Gcrkcn, Lc ///|/. 4u J.r|.. Lc r.|c//n .n/r. |'/ncrnc//n ./ |c r/c//n .|n
Sc/n/ Bncr.n/ur., tr. Grccl (Faris, 170), p. 7. n lact, tlc nc ol Flotinus is
intimatcly linkcd to all tlings, lut tlc lact rcmains tlat it is in no way tlc samc
as tlc Word.
108 Gcrkcn, T//|/., pp. 108.
10 plcsians 1.10.
110 von Baltlasar, Mcn /n H//r;, p. 2SS.
111 von Baltlasar, T/. G|r; ( //. Lr4. A T/.|/c| A.//.//, vol. 2. S/u4/. /n
T/.|/c| S/;|. C|.r/c| S/;|., cd. {oln Ficlcs, tr. Andrcw outl, rancis
Mconagl and Brian McNcil (dinlurgl. 1. & 1. Clark, 18+), p. S2+.
112 St Bonavcnturc, Quc.//n. 4/(u/c/c. 4. /.n//c C/r///, qu. 6, rcsp., tr. Wclcr
(Faris, 185), pp. 1567.
11S St Augustinc, D. G.n./ c4 |///.rcm, \, 8, 15.
11+ St Augustinc, D. G.n./ c4 |///.rcm, \, , 17.
115 St Augustinc, D. G.n./ c4 |///.rcm, \, 8, 16.
116 Colossians .120.
117 'Nur im Faum dcr Fulmung darl dic Klagc}gclcn`. Filkc, Snn./ / Or(/.u, ,
8.
118 plcsians 1.10.
11 St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 1+, 2, cl. 1+, 7, on tlc cloir.
120 St Augustinc, Lncrrc//n. /n Pc|m, 5, 2.
121 Cl. my study, 'c corps mystiquc dans la tlcologic catloliquc`, in L. r(, cd.
{.-C. Goddard and M. alrunc (Faris, 12), pp. 1106.
122 plcsians 1.+.
165
NX
alout tlis look, 78
alscncc ol sound, S+0
Adam, naming ol animals ly, 1+
Adcodatus, 21
admiration in praycr, 1161, 1+S
adoration. and praycr, 28, ol silcncc, 6
Acsclylus, S1
Alciliadcs, 66
A|/|/c4. (Flato), 1SS
Alcxandcr ol Aplrodisia, +1
cnc|.(/c|c/J/, 1+6
animals, naming ly Adam, 1+
An//r(|; (rm c Prcmc// P/n/ ( J/.o
(Kant, .), 11
Aquinas, 1lomas .. Saint 1lomas
Aristotlc, 22, +1, 11617, 126
artistic silcncc, +7
Attar, arid-od din, 57
attcntivcncss .. listcning
Baadcr, ranz von, +, 2, S0, 11
Bc/c. (uripidcs), 56
lackground ol silcncc, 501
Bail, ouis, S+
Baltlasar, ans \rs von, 72, 1S2+
Bartl, Karl, 85, 867
Baudclairc, Clarlcs, 12
lcauty. appcarancc ol, 780, Billical
constitution ol, 82S, ol Clrist, 108,
consuming naturc ol, 7, dcprivation
ol, 1010, divcrsity in, 80, divinc,
788, S, drama ol, 0S, cplcmcral
naturc ol, 0, cxpcricnccs ol, 78, ol
God (and glorincation ol), 788, 8,
ol tlc incarnation, 100, novclty ol, 10,
plcnomcnal naturc ol, 7, Flatonic
dcnnition ol, 8S, provocation ol, 78,
(u|/r//u4, 1, rcpctition ol tlc word, ,
rcsponding to a world ol, 116, St 1lomas
Aquinas on, 8+, song and cxistcncc, +8,
sourcc ol, 878, tlcology and tlc placc ol,
8S7, transicnt communication ol, 10,
unity tlrougl, 8
Bcckctt, Samucl, +2, ++
Bcicrwaltcs, Wcrncr, 67, 107
Bcllarminc, Folcrto, 1S
D. |.n.// (Scncca), 112
Bcrnanos, Gcorgcs, 1+6
Bcrullc, Cardinal Ficrrc dc, 65, 12+, 125, 126
Billc .. ld 1cstamcnt, Ncw 1cstamcnt
Billical constitution ol lcauty, 82S
Blanclot, Mauricc, 6
Bloy, con, 101
Bona, Cardinal, +6
Bossuct, {. B., 2, 1002
Calvin, {oln, 2
Cassian, {oln, 2S, S56
Cassiodorus, 1S
Cc//|/ Dmc// (Sclcclcn, M. {.), 85
Caussadc, {can-Ficrrc dc, 62S, 7+
Cclan, Faul, 116
L. /cn/ (Guillcvic, .), 1S1
Clar, Fcnc, 512
Clastcl, Andrc, 10+
clattcring, +2
Clrist. lcauty ol, 86, 108, Mystic Body
ol, S0, S+, 1+67
Clristian. dogmatics, 827, mysticism, 712,
patristic tlcology, 701, tradition, listory
ol, 2S0
C//; ( G4 (Augustinc), 126
Claudcl, Faul, 5, S0, S2, S6, +5, 1S1S
Clcantlcs, 1S+, 1S5
Clcmcnt ol Alcxandria, 10S
Clorivicrc, Ficrrc dc, 61
NX
166
collcctivc praycr, SS+
colloquia ol silcncc, 565
Colossians, cttcr to tlc, 1+5
Cn(./n (Augustinc), 01, 12, 1S8
contcmplation and silcncc, 512
Cn/.m(|c//n (ugo, \.), 1S0
cosmic. liturgy, 12S+, 1SS+, mnc4, 120,
praisc, 11+15
Cr.4, Clristian, S0
Cr///u. ( }u4.m.n/ (Kant, .), 1181
anicl, Book ol, 1S78
T/. Dcr| N/// ( //. Su| ({oln ol tlc
Cross), 7S
avid, Canticlc ol, 128
dcatl. mystical and silcncc, 62S, naturc and
silcncc, 67+
clacroix, ugcnc, 107
cscartcs, Fcnc, 117
4/c/rn;, 12
D/c|u. n M./c(/;/ cn4 B.|//n
(Malclranclc, N.), 102
On //. D/n//; ( Mcn (Fico dclla Mirandola,
G.), 125
ionysius tlc Arcopagitc (Fscudo-), 66, 71,
82, 87, 880
iotima, 50
D/ur. n //. Pc/n ( Lr. (Fascal, B.), 5
divcrsity in silcncc, +58, 7+5
divinc lcauty, 788, S
divinc listcning, 278
T/. D/r/n. Ncm. (ionysius tlc
Arcopagitc), 82, 88
Dmc/c //.|/c (Fctau, .), 8S
Dmc// (Bartl, K.), 86
D. 4n (.r.r.r.n//c. (Augustinc), 28
drama ol lcauty, 0S
Du/n L|./. (Filkc, F. M.), 80
dumlstruck silcncc, +7, 5
urcr, Allrcclt, 10S+, 1067
ccclcsiology, 2S
ccstatic attcntion, 15
L'.((r/ 4u |.cu (Clrcticn, {.-.), 77
lijal, 5
lizalctl ol tlc 1rinity, 6+
cloqucncc in silcncc, 560
Ln;|(.4/c (Novalis), 1718
Lnn.c4 (Flotinus), 51
plcsians, cttcr to tlc, 1+2, 1+6, 1+7
pictctus, 1S5
pimctlus, 12+, 126
piplany, 12
rostratus, 7
T/. L.n. ( C/r///cn//; (cucrlacl, .), 18
ctcrnity, 12
uripidcs, 56
cxistcntial communication, 560
lc||. (a ontainc, {. dc), S
aurc, Galricl, 80
cnclon, ranois dc Salignac dc la Motlc,
5+5
cucrlacl, udwig, 18, 1, 20, 25, S1
lormulary praycr, S5
ranciscan lrotlcrlood, 1+5
lricndly acccptancc .. lospitality
Gandillac, Mauricc dc, 8
Gcncsis, 1, 115
Gcrkcn, Alcxandrc, 1+2
giving. spcccl, listcning and, 11116, tlanks,
12S7, 1S5, .. c| ollcring tlc world,
praisc
Gnostics, +5, 1S0
Grcco-Foman praycr, 267
Grou, atlcr, +67
Gruncwald, Mattlias, 108
Guillcvic, ugcnc, 1S1
Guillorc, ranois, 6S
Guyon, {cannc Maric dc la Mottc, 712
allakuk, 56
Hcm|./ (Slakcspcarc, W.), 70
asidic movcmcnt, 1
lcaring tlrougl silcncc, 5S
cgcl, G. W. ., 1, +, 6, 127
cidcggcr, Martin, 7, 1+, 15, +2, 58, 5, 77,
126
olmannstlal, ugo von, 2+
opkins, Gcrard Manlcy, 8, 0
L'/r/:n //m/r/u. (Mirmont, {.), 80
lospitality. listcning and, 10, 121S,
rcsponsilility and, 1, silcncc and, S75
ugo, \ictor, 1S0
lymnology ol praisc, 1S++S
Im//c//n ( C/r// (1lomas a Kcmpis), 52
In //. Dcr|n. (Bloy, .), 101
inncr silcncc, +67, 52, 5S+, 7+
rcnacus ol yons, 10S
saial, 56, 80
{aspcrs, Karl, 256, 560, 70
{csus .. Clrist
{ordacns, {akol, 10+
NX
167
{oulcrt, {oscpl, +0
{uarroz, Folcrto, +1
{udaism, S0, S1, S2
{udco-Clristian praycr, 267
Kant, mmanucl, 20, +0, 1181
Kcats, {oln, 72
Kcrcnyi, Karoly, 26
Kicrkcgaard, Sorcn, 25, +2, 501, 10S, 105
Kojcvc, Alcxandrc, 6
a ontainc, {can dc, S
amartinc, Alplonsc dc, 52, 120
languagc. community ol, 10, modcrn
plilosoplics ol, +7, ncgativity ol, +7,
origins ol, 1, S
Lcu4. ({acoponc da 1odi), 58
lcarncd ignorancc, 12
cclcrcq, {., S2
ccontc dc islc, C. M. F., 670
cilniz, G. W., 77, 80
con, uis dc, 10+
conardo da \inci, 52
L.//.r n //. A.//.// L4uc//n ( Mcn|/n4
(Sclillcr, {. C. . von), 7
cvinas, mmanucl, 67, 1
listcning. attcntivcncss in silcncc, 557,
divinc, 278, ccstatic attcntion and, 15,
lospitality and, 10, 121S, impcrlcction
in, 12, o/// tlc otlcr, 10, 1+, palpitating
activity, 15, pcrlcction ol, 1112, primacy
ol, 568, rcacting to, 1011, silcncc as,
+858, spcccl, giving and, 11116, lor
tlc un/.cr4-(, 1S15
T/. L/r/n l|cm. ( Lr. ({oln ol tlc Cross),
7+
ongclamp, Max uot dc, 7S
lovc poctry, 1120
loving silcncc, 5+5, 72
owitl, Karl, +S
ucilius, SS
D. mc//.r/ (Augustinc), 21, 5+
Maimonidcs, SS
Maldincy, cnri, 1S1
Malclranclc, Nicolas, 5S5, 2, 102, 10,
117
Mallarmc, Stcplanc, 112
Mclvillc, crman, +S, +6
m.n mm.n/cn.c, 77
Mcrlcau-Fonty, Mauricc, +5, 578, 5
Mcssiacn, livicr, S6
Miclaux, cnri, 1S, S01, S2
microcosm, man as, 12+6
Mirmont, {can dc la \illc dc, 80
Mncmosync, 12S
M|; D/| (Mclvillc, .), +S
Moltmann, {urgcn, 1S6
Montaignc, Miclcl dc, 2S, S1, SS
Moscs, 2+
musicality in silcncc, 6+5, 72S
M;/c/ (Baltlasar, . \. v.), 1SS
M;//c| T/.|; (ionysius tlc Arcopagitc),
71
T/. Ncm. ( C/r// (con, . dc), 10+
Narcissus,
naturc. ol lcauty, 7, 0, and contcmplation,
51, and dcatl, 67+, and silcncc, +02,
501
On Nc/ur. cn4 Cn/.m(|c//n cn4 //. On.
(Flotinus), 51
Ncoplatonism, 57, 1+2
Ncw 1cstamcnt. Colossians, cttcr to tlc,
1+5, plcsians, cttcr to tlc, 1+2, 1+6,
1+7, Fcvclation, 56, 1ransnguration ol tlc
ord, 80
Nicolas ol Cusa, 107
Nictzclc, . W., +2, +S+
N/| c4m/rcr/ (Spinoza, B. dc), 117
Noal, ark ol, 2S, 1S1
Novalis (. . von ardcnlcrg), 1718
ollcring tlc world (to God), 11S1+, 1201,
1278, 1+1, 1++8, .. c| giving
ld 1cstamcnt. Adam, naming ol animals
ly, 1+, anicl, Book ol, 1S78, Gcncsis,
1, 115, allakuk, 56, saial, 56, 80,
Moscs, 2+, Noal, ark ol, 2S, 1S1,
Fsalms, S0, S56, +7, 100, 128, 1S58,
Zcclarial, 56
O|4 T./cm.n/ T/.|; (van Fad, G.), 128
licr, {can-{acqucs, 1256
rigcn, 10S
outcr silcncc, +67, 7+
Falmcr, Samucl, 107
Fanolsky, rwin, 106
Pcrm.n/4. (Flato), +
L. Pcr// (r/ 4. /. (Fongc, .), 1S1
Fascal, Blaisc, 2, 5
Fasclal song, 1+6
Fassovcr, 1+12
Fcguy, C. F., 1+
Fclagians, 28
Fcrsian mysticism, 57
NX
168
Fcrsius, S12
Fctau, cnys, 8S, 85, 86
P/c.4 (Flato), 2S, +
P/c.4ru (Flato), +
Flilclus, +
Flilo ol Alcxandria, 1, S, S6, 121+, 127,
1S6
P//|(/; ({aspcrs, K.), 70
Ficard, Max, +12, ++
Fico dclla Mirandola, comtc Giovanni,
12+5, 126
D. (|cn/c//n. (Flilo ol Alcxandria), 121
Flato (and tlc Flatonic tradition). lcauty,
dcnnition ol, 8S, lody and soul, unity ol,
1SS, dialogucs ol, +50, purc, contact
witl impurc, 2S, silcncc, mcditation
on, 66, 71, spcccl, trutl and, 122S,
//cumc:./n and tlc origins ol plilosoply,
116, 11
Flotinus, 71, 11S, lcauty, sourcc ol, 878, on
naturc and contcmplation, 51, praycr, and
tlc trutl ol, S+, on satislaction (and tlc
dangcrs ol), 812, silcncc, as dimcnsion
and act, +5, on soul, and union witl nc,
62, 678
poctry .. lovc poctry, praisc, song and
cxistcncc
P|///u (Flato), +
Fongc, rancis, S, 1S01
praisc. admiration and, 1161, 1+S,
ccntrality ol God in, 1256, cosmic, 11+
15, dialoguc ol, 1S2+, giving tlanks,
12S8, 1S5, lymnology ol, 1S++S,
mcaning ol, 121+8, poctry ol, 12S2,
sacrcd pcrlumcs, 12+, lor silcncc, +S+,
trutl and, 122S, .. c| praycr, Fsalms,
spcccl
praycr. alyss ol transccndcncc and, 267,
addrcsscc ol, 18, 20, 257, admiration
in, 1161, 1+S, adoration and,
28, agonistic dimcnsion, 2S, 25,
27, as an act ol spcccl, 181, 25,
S16, antlropoplany, 1, communal
(collcctivc), SS+, conccntration and, 22,
4. (r(un4/, 2+, dcsirc lor God in, 2, as
dialoguc witl God, 2, lorcstallcd, 25,
27, lormulary, S5, lunctions ol spcccl in,
20S, ol annal, S1, {udco-Clristian
and Grcco-Foman comparcd, 267,
lcarning to accomplisl, 2+5, 27, lilc ol,
S6, Novalis on, 1718, lor oncscll, S+5,
o////n and o/// oncscll, 20, pcrpctuity ol,
S5, plcnomcnology ol, 17S8, psalms in,
S0, S56, rccitation ol, S01, rcligious
dimcnsion loundcd in, 1718, Saint
Augustinc on, 21, Saint Bonavcnturc on,
22, ol silcncc, 60S, silcncc in, 267,
S12, S7, simplicity ol, 18, sinncrs and,
2S+, trutl and, 22S, vocal, 181,
25, S16, .. c| praisc
Pr/n/(|. ( C/r///cn L/(. (Bona), +6
Froclus, 22S, 2+, S+, 58, 667, 68, 71
Pr.m. (Fongc, .), 1S01
Prr. ( S(/r//uc| L/(. /n Ar4cn. o/// //.
D/((.r.n/ S/c/. ( Su| (Guillorc, .), 6S
Fromctlcus, mytl ol, 1++
Frotarclus, +
Fsalms, +7, 100, 128, 1S58, in praycr, S0,
S56 .. c| praisc
(u|/r//u4, 1
Fytlagoras, SS
rclirtl and silcncc, 7S+
B.|//n /n L.n. cn4 Mcn/(./c//n (v. d.
ccuw, G.), 28
Fcmlrandt (armcnszoon van Fijn), 107,
108
rcsponsilility, lospitality and, 1
Fcvclation, 56
Figolcuc, {can, 601
Filkc, F. M., 22, 50, 75, 80, +, 1+5
Fimlaud, {. N. A., 11S
Fiou, Alain, 1SS
Follc, Ficlard, 121
Foscnzwcig, ranz, 71
Fosso, iorcntino, 10+
Foualt, Gcorgcs, 108
Fumi, 2
sacrcd pcrlumcs, 12+
St Ansclm, 87
St Augustinc, 8+, 115, 126, on lcauty ol tlc
incarnation, 100, commcntary on Fsalm
1+8, 1S57, commcntary on Fsalm 1+,
1+67, Cn(./n ol, 12, 1S8, on
dcsirc and praycr, 2, drama ol lcauty
in, 0S, cu4/um 4. r.r//c/., 118,
Malclranclc and tlc tradition ol, 5S+,
pcrpctuity ol praycr, S5, praisc, dcscription
ol, 127, on praycr, 1, 21, 28S0, S5, A
Prc;.r ( Dcr/4, S0, on Frovidcncc, dual
opcration ol, 1++, on silcncc ol dcsirc, +7,
and tlc 'visillc` voicc, 7S
St Bcrnard ol Clairvaux, 2, 1056
St Bonavcnturc, 22, 1S+S
NX
16
St rancis ol Assisi, 1S+0
St ranois dc Salcs, 60, 8, 11718
St Grcgory ol Nyssa, 1++
St ilary ol Foiticrs, S+
St gnatius ol Antiocl, 71
St {cromc, 1S
St {oln ol amascus, 68
St {oln ol tlc Cross, 72, 7S, 7+, 10
St {oln tlc Baptist, 52
St {ustin tlc Martyr, 10S
St onginus, 106
St Macarius, 25
Saint-Martin, ouis-Claudc dc, 2S+
St Maximus tlc Conlcssor, 71, 1S2S
St Faul, 2+
St 1crcsa ol Avila, 18, S7
Saint-1licrry, Guillaumc dc, 28
St 1lomas Aquinas, 117, 126, on lcauty,
8+, on dcsirc and praycr, 2S, on cxccss,
twolold naturc ol, 82, 878, incllalility
and, 66, on praycr, 21S, S2, 'tlc gazc as
it is spokcn,` S, on vocal praycr, S2
salvation, listory ol, 2S
Sartrc, {can-Faul, 70
satislaction (and tlc dangcrs ol), 812
Sclcclcn, M. {., 85
Sclillcr, {. C. . von, 7
Sclopcnlaucr, Artlur, 20
Scncca, SS, 112
Scptuagint, 1S8
S.rmn n //. Sn ( Sn (Bcrnard ol
Clairvaux), 105
silcncc. alscncc ol sound and, S+0,
ol adoration, 567, adoration ol, 6,
artistic silcncc, +7, attcntivcncss in, 557,
lackground ol, 501, colloquia ol, 565,
contcmplation and, 512, dcatl, naturc
and, 67+, as dimcnsion and act, +5,
divcrsity in, +58, 7+5, dumlstruck
silcncc, +7, 5, cloqucncc in, 560, as
cxccss, 6575, cxistcntial communication
tlrougl, 560, and cxodus outsidc
oncscll, 5S+, and gcstation ol spcccl,
578, lcaring tlrougl, 5S, lospitality ol,
S75, inncr silcncc, +67, 52, 5S+, 7+,
{oln ol amascus on, 68, lilcrating
virtuc ol, 57, loving silcncc, 5+5, 72,
musicality in, 6+5, 72S, mystical dcatl
and, 62S, ol naturc, 501, naturc and,
+02, outcr silcncc, +67, 7+, Flatonic
mcditation on, 66, 71, praisc lor, +S+, in
praycr, 267, S12, S7, 'praycr ol,` 60S,
rclirtl and, 7S+, song ol, 6+5, spcccl
and, S, +0, +S+, 60S, spiritual silcncc,
52S
Silcsius, Angclus, S1, 51, 5S, 6+5, 66
socialility .. lospitality
Socratcs (and Socratic tradition), 12, +850,
66, 122, 1S7
song and cxistcncc, +8
song ol silcncc, 6+5
Sn ( Sn, 60, 6, 105
Snn./ / Or(/.u (Filkc, F. M.), +5
S(/// (Flato), +
soul, union witl nc, 62, 678
spcccl. community ol, 10, drama ol, 8,
r/ cr|, 2, 77, nrst cxclamation, 11516,
lunctions in praycr, 20S, gcstation ol,
578, giving and, 11116, cidcggcr on,
58, inclusivcncss ol, S5, {oln ol amascus
on, 68, listcning and rcplying to, 11,
mcaning and, +5, 67, novclty in, 1S,
origins ol, 12, praycr as an act ol, 181,
25, S16, silcncc and, S, +0, +S+,
60S, Spcccl ncarnatc, 71, tlc un/.cr4-
( and, 1S15, 'woundcd,` S78, scc c|
praisc
Spinoza, Bcncdictus dc, 117, 11
spiritual scnscs, S
spiritual silcncc, 52S
Stoicism, 112, 1S+, 1S5, Stoic matcrialism,
1S+
Suarcz, rancisco, 10+, 1S7
Supcrvicllc, {ulcs, 67, 17
S;m(/um (Flato), +, 11, 122
Syncsios ol Cyrcnc, 267
1lc 1almud, S1, SS
1aoism, 12
1aulcr, {olann, 5S6, 6S+
1cillard dc Clardin, Ficrrc, 120
1crtullian, S6, 10S
T/c.c/./u (Flato), 11
//cumc:./n and tlc origins ol plilosoply,
116, 11
1lcocritus, +5
T//|/. c((.//r. (Bail, .), S+
tlcology. and tlc placc ol lcauty, 8S7,
systcmatic organization ol, 8+
T/.|; ( P|c/ (Froclus), 66
1lomassin, ouis, 8S+, 85
T/u S(|. Zcrc//u/rc (Nictsclc, . W.),
+S+
1odi, {acoponc da, 58
transccndcncc, alyss ol, 267
1ransnguration ol tlc ord, 80
NX
170
Tr.c//. n Nc/ur. cn4 Grc. (Malclranclc,
N.), 102
Tr.c//. n //. Lr. ( G4 (ranois dc Salcs),
60, 8
Tr.c//. n //. Pc/n (cscartcs, F.), 117
1rinitarian tlcology, 2S
D. Tr/n//c/. (Augustinc), 100
trutl and praycr, 22S
To.|(// J.r//c| P./r; ({uarroz, F.), +1
\lysscs, 1S1
T/. Un|non lr/.n4 (Supcrvicllc, {.), 7
van dcr ccuw, Gcrardus, 28
\an Gogl, \inccnt, 107
van Fad, Gcrlard, 128
\illicrs dc l`slc-Adam, contc F. A. M., 112
vocal praycr, 181, 25, S16
\orrcux, atlcr, 1S
Wlitman, Walt, 1+0
J/4m ( S|mn, Book ol tlc, 81, 82, S
T/. Jr|4 ( S/|.n. (Ficard, M.), +12, ++
Zcclarial, 56