Heralded as one of the great English mystics
of the Middle Ages, Richard Rolle's religious adventures
have been venerated since the 14th century. In the Fire of Love,
Rolle
describes his divine encounters by dividing the nature of the experience
into three unique stages. Rolle describes the first stage as the
sensation of spiritual fire, a glowing presence accompanied by a feeling
of physical warmth in his chest. Rolle says that the second stage is
marked by an overwhelming sense of peace and joy, a taste of sweetness
in his soul. Finally, Rolle explains how in the third stage the glorious
song of angels resounds, signifying his union with God's divine love.
Rolle's artistic re-telling of his encounters enlightens us to the
powerful religious experiences of Christian mystics during the medieval
period.