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Song of the Tendency by Raissa Maritain

Song of the Tendency

In the infinite longing
Through which I come to Thee
I know Thee
As the eternal love that breathes me in
And draws my soul to Thee.

Thou dividest me from me
My soul strives to quit me
I am lost in Thy charity
I am but nothingness which loves.

In the heart, the captive of Thy invisible hand,
Thy flaming secrets seem to part half-open;
All our senses – useless outpaced servants –
Seek after sleep to be more thoroughly Thine.
And yet I wake – watching for Thee to pass,
My spirit tends to Thee who can alone fill it,
To seize Thee I have only the touch of the soul
And this love, this love which binds me.

Sometimes to bear the weight of Thy presence,
My wailing breath breaks into a chant
A strange melody, song of the tendency
To Thee of whom I have a mysterious cognition
More certain than my life.

– Raissa Maritain

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  1. WatcherOfTheSky11 August, 2012 13:44

    David,
    Thanks for sharing the poem by Raissa. She is one of my favorite spiritual authors. On another note...I just left New Melleray Abbey for good. I actually met you back in January. If you could, I would like to "speak" with you about faith, the spiritual life, and monasticism. Please send me an e-mail (undertheheavens@gmail.com). Keep writing! Nate

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