embodiedtheHolySpiritandwasbelovedbyGod.Itwasthehungerandthirstfor
Divinewisdomthatwascapableofovercomingallearthlyhindrances.ToloveGod
withallone'sheart,torecognizethatallarecreatedinGod'ssacredimage,tostrive day and night to meditate on the Torah, and to understand that the sacred names reflecttheangelsofallbeingsenttoallthoseofpuredevotioninordertoraisethem higherandhigher:ThiswasthemessageofAbulafia.
Abulafia offered an original technique designed to elevate the practitioner in the progressivestagesofloveinordertobecomebelovedanddelightfulwhileonEarth.
This method was based first on purification, then on contemplation of the letters of thenameofGod:YHWH.ItwasbyconstantmeditationontheselettersthatHeaven
couldbeattained.
Day,andespeciallynight,Abulafiaurgedhisdisciplestodetachallthoughtsfrom
thevanitiesoftheworld,todonwhitegarmentsandaprayershawl,andtopartakeof
thegladnessoftheheartthroughdeepintrospectionandconcentration.
The combinations and permutations of the letters, undertaken with a warm heart filledwithyearningforGod,wouldtheninvokethepresenceoftheholyonhighand
43
of the exalted angels. The entire body, predicted Abulafia, would be seized with a trembling so powerful as to resemble a death rattle. Then the soul, overjoyed and filledwithecstasy,wouldinsteadbeovercomewithaninfluxofGod'sspiritandlove
The story is the testimony of an unnamed disciple of Abulafia, who applied the methodofhisteacherdiligentlyandwithgreatsuccess.Itfirstappearedin1295ina
bookcalled Sha'areiZedek.Thetranslation,byG.Scholem,isfrom MajorTrendsin JewishMysticism.
44
KABBALAH:THESECRETNAMESOFGOD
IreturnedtomynativelandandGodbroughtmetogetherwithaJewishphilosopher
with whom I studied some of Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed and this only added to my desire. I acquired a little of the science of logic and a little of natural science,andthiswasverysweettomefor,asyouknow,“natureattractsnature.”And
Godismywitness:IfIhadnotpreviouslyacquiredstrengthoffaithbywhatlittleI
hadlearnedoftheTorahandtheTalmud,theimpulsetokeepmanyofthereligious
commandswouldhaveleftmealthoughthefireofpureintentionwasablazeinmy
heart. But what this teacher communicated to me in the way of philosophy (on the meaning of the commandments), did not suffice me, until the Lord had me meet a godly man, a kabbalist who taught me the general outlines of the Kabbalah.
Nevertheless, in consequence of my smattering of natural science, the way of
Kabbalah seemed all but impossible to me. It was then that my teacher said to me:
“My son, why do you deny something you have not tried? Much, rather, would it befityoutomakeatrialofit.Ifyouthenshouldfindthatitisnothingtoyou—andif you are not perfect enough to find the fault with yourself—then you may say that thereisnothingtoit.”Butinordertomakethingssweettomeuntilmyreasonmight
acceptthemandImightpenetrateintothemwitheagerness,heusedalwaystomake
me grasp in a natural way everything in which he instructed me. I reasoned thus withinmyself:Therecanonlybegainhereandnoloss.Ishallsee;ifIfindsomething inallofthis,thatissheergain;andifnot,thatwhichIhavealreadyhadwillstillbe mine. So I gave in and he taught me the method of the permutations and
combinations of letters and the mysticism of numbers and the other “Paths of the book Yezirah.” In each path he had me wander for two weeks until each form had beenengraveninmyheart,andsoheledonforfourmonthsorsoandthenordered
meto“efface”everything.
He used to tell me: “My son, it is not the intention that you come to a stop with somefiniteorgivenform,eventhoughitbeofthehighestorder.Muchratheristhis
the‘PathoftheNames.’Thelessunderstandabletheyare,thehighertheirorder,until youarriveattheactivityofaforcewhichisnolongerunderyourcontrol,butrather
your reason and your thought are in its control.” I replied: “If that be so [that all mentalandsenseimagesmustbeeffaced],whythendoyou,Sir,composebooksin
which the methods of the natural scientists are coupled with instruction in the holy Names?” He answered: “For you and the likes of you among the followers of
philosophy,toallureyourhumanintellectthroughnaturalmeans,sothatperhapsthis
attraction may cause you to arrive at the knowledge of the Holy Name.” And he producedbooksformemadeup(ofcombinationsof)lettersandnamesandmystic
numbers,ofwhichnobodywilleverbeabletounderstandanything,fortheyarenot
composedinawaymeanttobeunderstood.Hesaidtome:“Thisisthe‘Pathofthe
Names.”’Andindeed,Iwouldseenoneofit,formyreasondidacceptit.Hesaid,“It
wasverystupidofmetohaveshownthemtoyou.”
Inshort,aftertwomonthshadelapsedandmythoughthaddisengageditself(from
everythingmaterial)andIhadbecomeawareofstrangephenomenaoccurringwithin
me, I set myself the task at night of combining letters with one another and of 45
ponderingovertheminphilosophicalmeditation,alittledifferentfromthewayIdo now, and so I continued for three nights without telling him. The third night, after midnight, I nodded off a little, quill in my hands and paper on my knees. Then I noticed that the candle was about to go out. I rose to put it right, as oftentimes happens to a person awake. Then I saw that the light continued. I was greatly astonished, as though, after close examination, I saw that it issued from myself. I said:“Idonotbelieveit.”Iwalkedtoandfroallthroughthehouseand,behold,the
lightiswithme;Ilayonacouchandcoveredmyselfup,andbehold,thelightiswith
me all the while. I said: “This is truly a great sign and a new phenomenon which I haveperceived.”
The next morning I communicated it to my teacher and I brought him the sheets whichIhadcoveredwithcombinationsofletters.Hecongratulatedmeandsaid:“My
son, if you would devote yourself to combining holy Names, still greater things would happen to you. And now, my son, admit that you are unable to bear not combining. Give half to this and half to that, that is, do combinations half of the night,andpermutationshalfofthenight.”Ipracticedthismethodforaboutaweek.
DuringthesecondweekthepowerofmeditationbecamesostronginmethatIcould
not manage to write down the combinations of letters (which automatically spurted out of my pen), and if there had been ten people present they would not have been abletowritedownsomanycombinationsascametomeduringtheinflux.WhenI
cametothenightinwhichthispowerwasconferredonme,andmidnight—whenthis
powerespeciallyexpandsandgainsstrengthwhereasthebodyweakens—hadpassed,
I set out to take up the Great Name of God, consisting of seventy-two names, permutingandcombiningit.ButwhenIhaddonethisforalittlewhile,behold,the
letterstookoninmyeyestheshapeofgreatmountains,strongtremblingseizedme
andIcouldsummonnostrength,myhairstoodonend,anditwasasifIwerenotin
&
nbsp; this world. At once I fell down, for I no longer felt the least strength in any of my limbs.Andbehold,somethingresemblingspeechemergedfrommyheartandcame
tomylipsandforcedthemtomove.Ithought—perhapsthisis,Godforbid,aspiritof
madnessthathasenteredintome?Butbehold,Isawitutteringwisdom.Isaid:“This
is indeed the spirit of wisdom.” After a little while my natural strength returned to me,IroseverymuchimpairedandIstilldidnotbelievemyself.OncemoreItookup
theNametodowithitasbeforeand,behold,ithadexactlythesameeffectonme.
NeverthelessIdidnotbelieveuntilIhadtrieditfourorfivetimes.
WhenIgotupinthemorningItoldmyteacheraboutit.Hesaidtome:“Andwho
was it that allowed you to touch the Name? Did I not tell you to permute only letters?”Hespokeon:“Whathappenedtoyourepresentsindeedahighstageamong
propheticdegrees.”Hewantedtofreemeofitforhesawthatmyfacehadchanged.
ButIsaidtohim:“Inheaven'sname,canyouperhapsimparttomesomepowerto
enablemetobearthisforceemergingfrommyheartandtoreceiveinfluxfromit?”
For I wanted to draw this force towards me and receive influx from it, for it much resembles a spring filling a great basin with water. If a man (not being properly preparedforit)shouldopenthedam,hewouldbedrownedinitswatersandhissoul
would desert him. He said to me: “My son, it is the Lord who must bestow such poweruponyou,forsuchpowerisnotwithinman'scontrol.”
46
ThatSabbathnightalsothepowerwasactiveinmeinthesameway.Whenafter twosleeplessnights,Ihadpasseddayandnightinmeditatingonthepermutationsor
ontheprinciplesessentialtoarecognitionofthetruerealityandtotheannihilations of all extraneous thought—then I had two signs by which I knew that I was in the rightreceptivemood.Theonesignwastheintensificationofnaturalthoughtonvery
profoundobjectsofknowledge,adebilityofthebodyandstrengtheningofthesoul
until I sat there, myself all soul. The second sign was that imagination grew strong withinmeanditseemedasthoughmyforeheadwasgoingtoburst.ThenIknewthat
I was ready to receive the Name. I also, that Sabbath night, ventured at the great ineffable Name of God (the name YHWH). But immediately that I touched it, it weakenedmeandavoiceissuedfrommesaying:“Thoushaltsurelydieandnotlive!
WhobroughttheetotouchtheGreatName?”Andbehold,immediatelyIfellprone
and implored the Lord God saying: “Lord of the universe! I entered into this place only for the sake of heaven, as Thy glory knoweth. What is my sin and what my transgression? I entered only to know Thee, for has not David already commanded Solomon: “Know the God of thy father and serve Him”; and has not our master Moses,peacebeuponhim,revealedthistousintheTorahsaying:“Showmenow
Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may there find grace in Thy sight?” And behold,Iwasstillspeakingandoilliketheoiloftheanointmentanointedmefrom
headtofootandverygreatjoyseizedmewhichforitsspiritualityandthesweetness
ofitsraptureIcannotdescribe.
All this happened to your servant in his beginnings. And I do not, God forbid, relate this account from boastfulness in order to be thought great in the eyes of the mob, for I know full well that greatness with the mob is deficiency and inferiority withthosesearchingforthetruerankwhichdiffersfromitingenusandinspeciesas
lightfromdarkness.
FromthetestamentofanunknownSpanishdiscipleoftheKabbalist,Abraham
Abulafia.
47
SAINTCATHERINEOFSIENA
48
SIX
SAINTCATHERINEOFSIENA
1347-1380,ITALY
CATERINABENINCASAwasbornin1347,thetwenty-fifthchildofanItalianfamilyof
modest means. Enjoying sublime visions and practicing extreme austerities from a tender age, Catherine consecrated her virginity to Christ at the age of seven. When herparentsattemptedtobetrothheratsixteen,sheincurredtheirwrathbycuttingoff herhair.Inturn,theydeprivedherofaprivateprayerspace,dismissedthemaid,and
placedCatherineinchargeofthehouseholdwork.ImaginingherfathertobeJesus,
hermothertheblessedMary,andtherestofthefamilytobethedisciplesofJesus,
shetoiledblissfully.Itwaswhenherfatherwitnessedawhitedovehoveringabove
herheadassheprayedthathefinallyrecognizedhisdaughter'sdestinyasanun.
Atsixteen,CatherinejoinedtheThirdOrderofSaintDominicinSienaand,shortly
after, experienced several years of celestial visitations, intimate conversations with Christ,andwhatsheconsideredtobehermarriagetoJesus.Threeyearslater,after
rejoining her family, Catherine became known for her remarkable gift of
contemplation and her loving devotion to the plague-stricken and the destitute.
Austerities were an integral part of Catherine's practice, inspired perhaps by the example of Mary Magdalene, who spent thirty-three years (the age at which
Catherinedied)raptincontemplationinhercaveretreat,takinglittleornofood.Just asMaryMagdalenewassaidtohavebeenliftedbytheangelsseventimesdaily,so
enrapturedwasCatherineinthemysteriesofGodthatherbodywasfrequentlylifted
intotheair,hersoulinecstaticcommunionwithherBeloved.Oblivioustophysical
suffering, material needs, and persecution by friars and sisters of her own order, Catherineattractedafollowingofdisciplesdrawnbyherradianceandsimplicity.
CatherinespentmuchofhertimeinsublimecontemplationofherLord,theangels,
and the heavens. Once, while engaged in fervent prayer, Catherine begged Him to purify her spirit by removing her heart and will. So thoroughly convinced was she that her Heavenly Bride-groom had granted her wish that she insisted that she was livingwithoutaheart.Dayslater,uponemergingfromprofoundcontemplation,she
beheldherselfembracedinlight.ThereappearedherLord,holdinginHisholyhands
a bright red, glistening, human heart. Just as he had taken away her own heart, he nowofferedherHisownforever.Asproofofthemiracle,ascarremainedintheflesh
ofherchest.
Dedicatedtirelesslytothereformationofthechurch,andcontinuingtoservethe
poor and afflicted, Catherine's strength was quickly depleted. Following a three-month period of mysterious agony and ecstasy, Catherine succumbed at the age of thirty-three. Several weeks before her death, while praying fervently in St. Peter's Basilica, she had a vision of St. Peter's fishing boat. It came out of a mosaic and 49
landedonhershoulder,crushinghertothefloor.Shebecamenearlyparalyzeduntil her untimely death at such a tender age. In the year of her death, 1380, the church reconciled its differences, the goal for which Catherine had so tirelessly devoted herself.Canonizedin1461,SaintCatherine'sfeastdayisApril29.
Thepassagesareexcerptedfrom TheLifeofSaintCatherineofSienabyBlessed
Raymond of Capua, a Dominican priest who was Catherine's dear friend and
confessor.Hespeaksofhisexperienceswithherinthefirstperson.
50
THEBRIDEOFCHRIST
EcstasiesandRevelations
AT THIS TIME, when the Lord had granted His bride a particular way of living as regards the body, he likewise comforted her soul with great and extraordinary revelations, and the supernatural vigor of her body certainly resulted from this abundanceofspiritualgraces. And nowthat we have describedin the utmostdetail Catherine'sbodilylife,itisrequisitetogoontorecountthevigorofherspirit.
Knowthen,reader,thatfromthetimewhenthisvirgindrankthewateroflifefrom
theLord'sside,sheaboundedinsuchfullnessofgracesthatshewasalmostalwaysin
astateofcontemplation,andherspiritwassoabsorbedintheCreatorthatshespent
mostofhertimeinaregionbeyondsense.This…Iexperiencedpersonallytimeand
time again, and so did others, who saw and touched, as I did, her arms and hands, whichremainedsonumbwhileshewasinastateofcontemplationthatitwouldhave
beeneasiertobreakthemthantogetthemtomove.Hereyesremainedtightlyshut,
herearscouldnotheartheloudestnoise,andnoneofherbodilysensesperformedits
accustomed functions. You will not find this astonishing if you follow carefully all thatfollows.
TheLordbegantoappeartoHisbridenotonlyprivately,asHehaddoneatfirst,
butinpublictoo,infactbeforeeveryone'seyesandquitefamiliarly,bothwhenshe
was walking about and when she was standing still, and He set such a fire blazing within her heart that she herself told her confessor that she could not find words to expressthedivineexperiencesshehad.
Once,whenshewasprayingtotheLordwiththeutmostfervor,sayingtoHimas
the Prophet had done, “Create a clean heart within me, O God, and renew a right spiritwithinmybowels,”’andaskingHimagainandagaintotakeherownheartand
willfromher,Hecomfortedherwiththisvision.ItappearedtoherthatherHeavenly
Bridegroomcametoherasusual,openedherleftside,tookoutherheart,andthen
wentaway.Thisvisionwassoeffectiveandagreedsowellwithwhatshefeltinside
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