«Ab vergues d’amor». The cross as a symbol in Llull’s contemplation

Abstract

Jesus Christ is a key element in the contemplative method created and preached by Ramon Llull. Due to his dual nature and as an exemplary sign full of virtues, he is the model to follow for any contemplator who seeks to attain their goal. In the Christocentric spirituality of Llull, the suffering of Christ is used as an image for contemplation, and the cross becomes an essential means. If the use of the cross becomes productive in contemplation, it is because the vision of the cross activates the remembrance of the passion and because it signifies divine virtues. Therefore, the skilled contemplator must know how to interpret it, decode its meanings, and actively follow the model it represents, imitating the passion and martyrdom of Jesus Christ. This article analyzes the role of the cross in Llull’s contemplation based on various passages from different works by Llull, especially with examples from the great spiritual encyclopedia that he constructed, the Llibre de contemplació.