ST. GASPAR BERTONI AND THE “DEPTHS” OF THE HUMAN SOUL

 

St. Gaspar Bertoni and the "Depths" of the Human Soul - Rev. Joseph Henchey, CSS

St. Gaspar Bertoni’s idea of the Depths of the Soul in the spiritual life, reflect and ancient tradition in the Church. One of the early tests from this tradition  may be found in the second reading in the Liturgy of Hours for the commemoration of St. Augustine. A well-known  citation This classical text is as follows:

“Late have I loved You, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved You! You were within me but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for You. In my unloveliness, I plunged into the lovely things which You created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from You; yet if they had not been in You they would not be at all. You called, You shouted, and You broke through my deafness. You flashed, You shone, and You dispelled my blindness. You breathed Your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for You. I have tasted You.now I hunger  and thirst for more. You touched me and I burned for Your peace…! [Confessions, Book 7, 10, 18]. Fr. Bertoni was deeply ‘touched’ by this tradition.

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