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Love's Immensity: Mystics on the Endless Life
One of America's finest living poets has breathed new life into the early Christian mystics.
From Saint Paul to Julian of Norwich, the original texts of these mystical fathers and mothers of the Church have been pored over, pressed for further revelation, and set in verse to provide readers with fresh encounters of their wisdom and provocations.
At the heart of this undertaking is Scott Cairns’ conviction that the words of the mystics sacramentally partake of the Word Himself, and as such are inexhaustible, generative powers. These particular selections cohere in their common claim that Love is the most compelling name of God, and also the most apt attribute of the Holy One in Whom we live and move and have our being. In that spirit, these luminous texts are understood to partake of Love, and concurrently to witness to His presence and His promise that, as “our Courteous Lord” averred to Julian, “All will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.”
From Saint Paul to Julian of Norwich, the original texts of these mystical fathers and mothers of the Church have been pored over, pressed for further revelation, and set in verse to provide readers with fresh encounters of their wisdom and provocations.
At the heart of this undertaking is Scott Cairns’ conviction that the words of the mystics sacramentally partake of the Word Himself, and as such are inexhaustible, generative powers. These particular selections cohere in their common claim that Love is the most compelling name of God, and also the most apt attribute of the Holy One in Whom we live and move and have our being. In that spirit, these luminous texts are understood to partake of Love, and concurrently to witness to His presence and His promise that, as “our Courteous Lord” averred to Julian, “All will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.”
162 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 12, 2025
Summary: Reflections and prayers of mystics from St. Paul to Julian of Norwich translated and rendered in verse.
At a student leadership conference many years ago, one of our speakers made the distinction between knowing about God and knowing God. Yet I found as I went on in the Christian life that we were not always at ease with the latter. There was a great fear of subjectivity and “mysticism” was looked at askance. We wanted to “rightly handle” scripture, be “sound” in doctrine.
Yet, rather than choose one pole of this tension, I discovered that living in it was the better place to be. Amid reading great theology, I would find myself caught up in wonder, awe, and love. In both worship and witness, I found myself suddenly in the grip of fresh insight into the truth, the rightness of Christian belief. It was a bringing together of mind and heart in a knowing, passionate, and at times, beyond knowing experience of the love and greatness of God.
It was this that poet Scott Cairns discovered as he meditated upon, translated, and set in verse the writings and prayers of mystics from St. Paul to Julian of Norwich. In particular, he writes of noetic prayer. He found the idea of nous untranslatable. The best he could come up with is “the intellective aptitude of the heart.” However, Cairns does not spend much time on this, preferring to show through our encounter with these mystics, inviting us to join them. In Prologue, by the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, he asks us “to read slowly and thoroughly, tasting each word’s trouble.” And such an approach is wise in reading this profound collection.
Firstly, in so many of the works, the paradox of knowing the unknown is evident. An example is Nicholas of Cusa’s Within the Cloud. He writes:
"...For there, beyond all
reason, and above every bold ascent
--even there, where I glimpse that
with every intellect judges to be
most distant from truth, there
You bide, my God, who remain
our absolute necessity."
To encounter God in this way, according to Meister Eckhart in The Prayer of a Heart Detached is to be both detached and one with God. One becomes detached from asking and wanting. Rather prayer is simply dwelling in the peace and uniformity with God.
Yet the encounter with God is not passionless, devoid of feeling. In The Depth of His Touch, Saint Claire of Assisi speaks of loving and touching God. God is one who excels in power, generosity, beauty, tender love, and gracious courtesy. It is love that catches her in an embrace, lays precious stones upon her breast and pearls upon her ears. The language is romantic, nearly erotic, and yet she speaks of chastity, purity, virginity. Ultimately, one senses that such a holy love is beyond eros.
Similarly, Saint John of the Cross’s famous Dark Night reads as if it were a lover’s tryst. First, he steals away unobserved by a household at rest. Then, unseeing in the darkness, “heartlight” guides him. The Beloved’s embrace transforms him. Finally, he swoon’s upon the Beloved’s breast, releasing all his burdens.” We find here an intimacy greater than any sexual union.
Origen, in All in All, indeed, speaks of consummation. In this case, it is the promised restoration of all things, in which we are caught up in the “All in All.” Finally, Saint Basil the Great, in Illumination reminds us that this is only possible through the Spirit. Only by the Spirit is the invisible manifest, the inexpressible beauty glimpsed.
But Cairns offers us so much more. In all, he includes thirty-seven saints. The translations rendered in verse enable us to meditate phrase by phrase. This is love poetry on a whole different level. I will treasure it!
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
At a student leadership conference many years ago, one of our speakers made the distinction between knowing about God and knowing God. Yet I found as I went on in the Christian life that we were not always at ease with the latter. There was a great fear of subjectivity and “mysticism” was looked at askance. We wanted to “rightly handle” scripture, be “sound” in doctrine.
Yet, rather than choose one pole of this tension, I discovered that living in it was the better place to be. Amid reading great theology, I would find myself caught up in wonder, awe, and love. In both worship and witness, I found myself suddenly in the grip of fresh insight into the truth, the rightness of Christian belief. It was a bringing together of mind and heart in a knowing, passionate, and at times, beyond knowing experience of the love and greatness of God.
It was this that poet Scott Cairns discovered as he meditated upon, translated, and set in verse the writings and prayers of mystics from St. Paul to Julian of Norwich. In particular, he writes of noetic prayer. He found the idea of nous untranslatable. The best he could come up with is “the intellective aptitude of the heart.” However, Cairns does not spend much time on this, preferring to show through our encounter with these mystics, inviting us to join them. In Prologue, by the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing, he asks us “to read slowly and thoroughly, tasting each word’s trouble.” And such an approach is wise in reading this profound collection.
Firstly, in so many of the works, the paradox of knowing the unknown is evident. An example is Nicholas of Cusa’s Within the Cloud. He writes:
"...For there, beyond all
reason, and above every bold ascent
--even there, where I glimpse that
with every intellect judges to be
most distant from truth, there
You bide, my God, who remain
our absolute necessity."
To encounter God in this way, according to Meister Eckhart in The Prayer of a Heart Detached is to be both detached and one with God. One becomes detached from asking and wanting. Rather prayer is simply dwelling in the peace and uniformity with God.
Yet the encounter with God is not passionless, devoid of feeling. In The Depth of His Touch, Saint Claire of Assisi speaks of loving and touching God. God is one who excels in power, generosity, beauty, tender love, and gracious courtesy. It is love that catches her in an embrace, lays precious stones upon her breast and pearls upon her ears. The language is romantic, nearly erotic, and yet she speaks of chastity, purity, virginity. Ultimately, one senses that such a holy love is beyond eros.
Similarly, Saint John of the Cross’s famous Dark Night reads as if it were a lover’s tryst. First, he steals away unobserved by a household at rest. Then, unseeing in the darkness, “heartlight” guides him. The Beloved’s embrace transforms him. Finally, he swoon’s upon the Beloved’s breast, releasing all his burdens.” We find here an intimacy greater than any sexual union.
Origen, in All in All, indeed, speaks of consummation. In this case, it is the promised restoration of all things, in which we are caught up in the “All in All.” Finally, Saint Basil the Great, in Illumination reminds us that this is only possible through the Spirit. Only by the Spirit is the invisible manifest, the inexpressible beauty glimpsed.
But Cairns offers us so much more. In all, he includes thirty-seven saints. The translations rendered in verse enable us to meditate phrase by phrase. This is love poetry on a whole different level. I will treasure it!
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review.
December 10, 2018
A stirring book filled with evocative writings from Christian mystics in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. As a love of Church history, I found this book to be a refreshing resource in my morning abiding times.
The collection is based primarily on early church and middle age writers ranging from patristic fathers to female mystics. The contributors include names familiar to those who have read Christian spirituality.
Two practical recommendations...approach this book with a deliberate pace that allows you to reread key sections and block out daily distractions. Secondly, like all good prose, I found it necessary to read the texts out loud. Only then did I begin to enter into the richness of what these profound writers recorded for posterity.
The collection is based primarily on early church and middle age writers ranging from patristic fathers to female mystics. The contributors include names familiar to those who have read Christian spirituality.
Two practical recommendations...approach this book with a deliberate pace that allows you to reread key sections and block out daily distractions. Secondly, like all good prose, I found it necessary to read the texts out loud. Only then did I begin to enter into the richness of what these profound writers recorded for posterity.
June 18, 2023
3.5 stars. A very different kind of read for me with verse and poetry, but beautifully composed and insightful in spots. Ranging from the Patristic period to the 19th century, Cairns fashions verse from the word of Church fathers, mothers, and mystics. Many of these verses contain wisdom and inspiration. However, as a Protestant, some of the mystical components were not insightful and were borderline strange and at least, odd. This is not surprising however as the work tends towards an Eastern Orthodox view and theosis. Overall, it is well composed and adds to my contemplation, prayer life, and thoughts. Appreciated greatly, if not in its entirety.
March 17, 2023
This book holds many fine words and beautiful sentiments so I will keep this review short.
This book is beautiful.
It’s captivating.
It’s lovely.
But take your time.
Read it slowly just a little here and there and savor the words, break it down, think about them.
I am not Catholic, but I loved this book and I loved the mysticism that I feel we see so little today. I’m happy to have this book in my arsenal to turn back to when I desire introspection.
This book is beautiful.
It’s captivating.
It’s lovely.
But take your time.
Read it slowly just a little here and there and savor the words, break it down, think about them.
I am not Catholic, but I loved this book and I loved the mysticism that I feel we see so little today. I’m happy to have this book in my arsenal to turn back to when I desire introspection.
May 24, 2018
An excellent volume of selections from the Christian tradition put into poetry. The only criticism is that a few too many of the selections are prescriptive of how to attain a state of mystical union with God.
August 25, 2018
The idea is a fun one. The poetic translations are sometimes powerful, definitely beautiful. Alas for the history & theology.
Will read again!
Will read again!
October 9, 2012
Love's Immensity is a wonderful collection of sayings, encouragement, wisdom, and observations from many of Christianity's most influential mystics, all put into accessible and often time powerful verse by Scott Cairns. While some of the poems are a bit prosy for me, the overall collection is delightfully edifying.
Making poems of these wonderful words is certainly more than putting line in breaks in, and Cairns handles the task with the aplomb he puts into crafting his own marvelous verse. These poems are not only quite readable, but they seem to take into account the need to be aware of ones breathing and focus, as they not only discuss, but become part of the noetic prayer of the reader who is open to it. For those outside of religious tradition, I think the poems offer unique insight into the world of the mind and spirit.
I believe I will return to this book several times. For anyone on a spiritual journey, this volume is a fine companion.
Making poems of these wonderful words is certainly more than putting line in breaks in, and Cairns handles the task with the aplomb he puts into crafting his own marvelous verse. These poems are not only quite readable, but they seem to take into account the need to be aware of ones breathing and focus, as they not only discuss, but become part of the noetic prayer of the reader who is open to it. For those outside of religious tradition, I think the poems offer unique insight into the world of the mind and spirit.
I believe I will return to this book several times. For anyone on a spiritual journey, this volume is a fine companion.
July 1, 2014
Live in this book for a year or two and see what happens. The words of mystics, desert fathers and mothers, and patristics begin to shape a place of listening within you. I was amazed at the synergy across centuries about the noetic: the space in which our communion-with-God souls, inhabit our made-for-good-works bodies.
I have read it for 3 years now, always surprised by how candid Cairns can be, and how truly long the path of the mystic is. A brilliant poet and a brilliant concept.
I have read it for 3 years now, always surprised by how candid Cairns can be, and how truly long the path of the mystic is. A brilliant poet and a brilliant concept.
June 4, 2010
This is a wonderful idea: have a poet retranslate words by Christian writers from Paul to the 19th century. Gives their words new life.
November 7, 2010
Excellent. Buy it, read it, re-read it.
February 11, 2012
I'm not spiritual enough for these. Need more particulars.
March 8, 2012
poetry by
Scott Cairns -- how can I go wrong?
Scott Cairns -- how can I go wrong?
September 14, 2014
I like how the author used the ministry and focus of saints in the church to form poetry that reflects their contributions and thought.
December 18, 2024
It was lovely to be immersed in the beautiful thoughts and words of so many Christians that have come before me. I was struck by the depths of their devotion, which was humbling.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews