Raymond Lulle
1232-1316 13th century
The desire for God lived as burning love, even in the meeting with the other.
Who was Raymond Lulle?
A Majorcan courtier, poet and philanderer, he converted at thirty after visions of Christ on the cross. He learned Arabic, wrote hundreds of works in Catalan, Latin and Arabic, founded a school of languages for missionaries and preached in North Africa, dreaming of a peaceful meeting of Christians, Jews and Muslims. His Book of the Lover and the Beloved stands among the summits of medieval mysticism.
In their own words
The Lover was asked: what is love? He answered: it is that which binds the free into servitude, and sets free the bound.
The paths by which the Lover seeks his Beloved are long and perilous, thronged with cares, sighs and tears, and lit with love.