By Basil the Great Now, what is greater than divine beauty? What is more delightful than contemplating the splendor of God? What is more powerful than the desires of the soul when graced by God? This grace purifies the soul from evils, crying out with true love, “I am wounded by love!” The radiance of divine beauty surpasses all words and descriptions. Words cannot express it, and the power of hearing cannot receive it. You cannot compare it to the brilliance of the morning star, the shining moon, or the midday sun. All such comparisons surely fall short in conveying the true nature of this heavenly illumination, just as the pitch darkness of a moonless night compares to the brightness of the noonday sun. True Beauty It is not seen by human eyes, but captured only by the spirit and mind. When it happens to shine in one of the saints, it leaves an unbearable longing in its wake. The saints, who understand the true nature of this present life, constantly cry out, “Alas, my life here has gone on too long,” or, “When shall I come and appear before God?” or, “To depart and be with Christ is far better,” or, “My soul thirsts for the mighty, living God,” or, “Now, Lord, you let your servant depart in peace.” For this life appears to them as a prison for their souls, which have been touched by divine desires. They can scarcely contain their intense longing to depart, their desire to behold the insatiable beauty of heaven, praying that their thoughts may dwell uninterruptedly in the love of God for all eternity. Our human nature loves beauty, and goodness is always beautiful and worthy of love. God is goodness, and all things need goodness; therefore, all things need God.