peace of charity in the annihilated

Of this life, says Love, we wish to speak, in asking what one could find:

1. A Soul

2. who is saved by faith without works

3. who is only in love

4. who does nothing for God

5. who leaves nothing to do for God

6. to whom nothing can be taught

7. from whom nothing can be taken

8. nor given

9. and who possesses no will

~ Marguerite Porete

from Mirror of Simple Souls

english version by Ellen Babinsky

with thanks to poetry chaikhana

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Thought is no longer of worth to me

.

Thought is no longer of worth to me,

Nor work, nor speech.

Love draws me so high

(Thought is no longer of worth to me)

With her divine gaze,

That I have no intent.

Thought is no longer of worth to me.

Nor work, nor speech.

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~ Marguerite Porete
(1260?-1310)

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Her book, The Mirror of Simple Souls (or The Mirror of Simple Annihilated Souls, a reference to ecstatic annihilation in God), survived her death and was translated into many European languages, attributed initially to "an unknown French mystic." The book is a collection of poetry and prose that suggests a profound experience of mystical union which resulted in a complete loss of personal identity in which only the Divine remains.

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