da Todi Jacopone
Jacopone da Todi was a prominent Italian poet and mystic of the late 13th century, renowned for his passionate and innovative religious poetry. Born in Todi, Umbria, he initially lived a life of wealth and privilege as a member of the local nobility. However, after a personal tragedy—the death of his wife—he underwent a profound spiritual transformation, leading him to abandon his former life and embrace a life of poverty and devotion. He joined the Franciscans, a move that deeply influenced his writing and spiritual outlook. His most significant contributions to literature are his 'Laude,' a series of vernacular poems that express deep religious fervor and mystical experience. These works are notable for their emotional intensity and lyrical beauty, breaking away from the rigid forms of contemporary poetry. Jacopone's poetry often reflects themes of divine love, suffering, and the quest for spiritual truth, making him a precursor to later Italian literary movements. His legacy endures not only in the realm of poetry but also in the broader context of Christian mysticism, influencing future generations of poets and thinkers, including Dante Alighieri, who admired his work.
Famous Quotes
View all 3 quotes“What happens to the drop of wineThat you pour into the sea?Does it remain itself, unchanged?It is as if it never existed.So it is with the soul: Love drinks it in,It is united with Truth,Its old nature fades away,It is no longer master of itself.The soul wills and yet does not will:Its will belongs to Another.It has eyes only for this beauty;It no longer seeks to possess, as was its wont--It lacks the strength to possess such sweetness.The base of this highest of peaksIs founded on nichil,Shaped nothingness, made one with the Lord.””
“O Love, divine Love, why do You lay siege to me?In a frenzy of love for me, You find no rest.From five sides You move against me,Hearing, sight, taste, touch, and scent.To come out is to be caught; I cannot hide from You.If I come out through sight I see LovePainted in every form and color,Inviting me to come to You, to dwell in You.If I leave through the door of hearing,What I hear points only to You, Lord;I cannot escape Love through this gage.If I come out through taste, every flavor proclaims:"Love, divine Love, hungering Love!You have caught me on Your hook, for you want to reign in me."If I leave through the door of scentI sense You in all creation; You have caught meAnd wounded me through that fragrance.If I come out through the sense of touchI find Your lineaments in every creature;To try to flee from You is madness.Love, I flee from You, afraid to give You my heart:I see that You make me one with You,I cease to be me and can no longer find myself.If I see evil in a man or defect or temptation,You fuse me with him, and make me suffer;O Love without limits, who is it You love?It is You, O Crucified Christ,Who take possession of me,Drawing me out of the sea to the shore;There I suffer to see Your wounded heart.Why did You endure the pain?So that I might be healed.””
“O happy wound, full of delight, He whom You wound Is joyous indeed.””
Books from the author
