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little to know him in his omnipotence, assisting in thought at the glorious work of the universal creation; nor is it enough to behold him in his glory, when his countenance is resplendent with an uncreated light, and when the powers of heaven are prostrated in ecstasy before the divine majesty; nor does it suffice to hear him pronounce the unappealable decrees of his justice, surrounded by angels and saints. Nor is the soul fully satisfied with the contemplation of the ineffable splendors of his infinite mercy. The Apostle, devoured by an unquenchable thirst, an unappeasable hunger, and an inextinguishable desire, wishes more, asks more, and carries still higher his audacious thought, for he can only be content when he has found Jesus Christ crucified, that is to say, he wishes to know him, as Jesus Christ most wishes to be known, in the highest and most excellent manner which reason can conceive of, the imagination imagine, or desire long for in its most ardent aspirations; for this is to know him in the act of his incomprehensible and infinite love. This is what the Apostle means when he says, I only wish to know one thing, and that is Jesus Christ and him crucified.

It is Jesus Christ crucified, and he alone, whom those happy few wish to know, who, taking up their cross, lovingly follow the bleeding and glorious footsteps of his passion. It is he alone whom those fathers of the desert wished to know, whose virtue converted the most frightful deserts into gardens of paradise. It is to him alone that those chaste virgins, whose miraculous strength triumphed over all concupiscence, consecrated their pure and virginal thoughts, and whom they accepted as their spouse. It is he alone whom all those desired to know, whose generous hearts have received