‘This is the unapproachable light wherein he dwells; etc.’ - Saint Anselm of Canterbury - 'Proslogion …
[Saint Anselm of Canterbury/Anselm of Aosta; XI-XII Century AD; born: Aosta, Kingdom of Burgundy, Holy Roman Empire/died: Canterbury, England; (aged 72); Italian Benedictine Monk; Archbishop; Abbot; Philosopher; Theologian; Doctor of the Church]
Chapter XVI ~ This is the unapproachable light wherein he dwells
Truly, 0 Lord, this is the unapproachable light in which you dwell; for truly there is nothing else which can penetrate this light, that it may see you there. Truly, I see it not, because it is too bright for me. And yet, whatsoever I see, I see through it, as the weak eye sees what it sees through the light of the sun, which in the sun itself it cannot look upon. My understanding cannot reach that light, for it shines too bright. It does not comprehend it, nor does the eye of my soul endure to gaze upon it long. It is dazzled by the brightness, it is overcome by the greatness, it is overwhelmed by the infinity, it is dazed by the largeness, of the light. O supreme and unapproachable …More
"Chapter XX ~ He exists before all things and transcends all things, even the eternal things
Hence, you did permeate and embrace all things. You are before all, and did transcend all. And, of a surety, you are before all; for before they were made, you are. But how did you transcend all? In what way did you transcend those beings which will have no end? Is it because they cannot exist at all without you; while you are in no wise less, if they should return to nothingness? For so, in a certain sense, you did transcend them. Or, is it also because they can be conceived to have an end; but you by no means? For so they actually have an end, in a certain sense; but you, in no sense. And certainly, what in no sense has an end transcends what is ended in any sense. Or, in this way also did you transcend all things, even the eternal, because your eternity and theirs is present as a whole with you; while they have not yet that part of their eternity which is to come, just as they no longer have that part which is past? For so you did ever transcend them, since you are ever present with yourself, and since that to which they have not yet come is ever present with you."
"Chapter XIX ~ He does not exist in place or time, but all things exist in him
But if through your eternity you have been, and are, and will be; and to have been is not to be destined to be; and to be is not to have been, or to be destined to be; how does your eternity exist as a whole forever? Or is it true that nothing of your eternity passes away, so that it is not now; and that nothing of it is destined to be, as if it were not yet? You were not, then, yesterday, nor will you be tomorrow; but yesterday and today and tomorrow you are; or, rather, neither yesterday nor today nor tomorrow you are; but simply, you are, outside all time. For yesterday and today and tomorrow have no existence, except in time; but you, although nothing exists without you, nevertheless did not exist in space or time, but all things exist in you. For nothing contains you, but you contain all."
2 more comments from In Principio
"Chapter XVIII ~ God is life, wisdom, eternity, and every true good
And lo, again confusion; lo, again grief and mourning meet him who seeks for joy and gladness. My soul now hoped for satisfaction; and lo, again it is overwhelmed with need. I desired now to feast, and lo, I hunger more. I tried to rise to the light of God, and I have fallen back into my darkness. Nay, not only have I fallen into it, but I feel that I am enveloped in it. I fell before my mother conceived me. Truly, in darkness I was conceived, and in the cover of darkness I was born. Truly, in him we all fell, in whom we all sinned. In him we all lost, who kept easily, and wickedly lost to himself and to us that which when we wish to seek it, we do not know; when we seek it, we do not find; when we find, it is not that which we seek. Do you help me for your goodness' sake! Lord, I sought your face; your face, Lord, will I seek; hide not your face far from me (Psalm 26:13). Free me from myself toward you. Cleanse, heal, sharpen, enlighten the eye of my mind, that it may behold you. Let my soul recover its strength, and with all its understanding let it strive toward you, 0 Lord."
"Chapter XVII ~ In God is harmony, fragrance, sweetness, pleasantness to the touch, beauty, after his ineffable manner
Still you are hidden, 0 Lord, from my soul in your light and your blessedness; and therefore my soul still walks in its darkness and wretchedness. For it looks, and does not see your beauty. It hearkens, and does not hear your harmony. It smells, and does not perceive your fragrance. It tastes, and does not recognize your sweetness. It touches, and does not feel your pleasantness. For you have these attributes in yourself, Lord God, after your ineffable manner, who have given them to objects created by you, after their sensible manner; but the sinful senses of my soul have grown rigid and dull, and have been obstructed by their long listlessness."