{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-03-chapter-iii.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 4,
    "slug": "vol-1-03-chapter-iii",
    "title": "Chapter  III.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 528,
    "text": "## Chapter  III.\n\nOf  a  supernatural  rapture  which  befell  him. \n\nIt  happened  once  in  the  time  of  his  begin- \nnings, that  he  came  into  the  choir  on  St.  Agnes' \nday,  after  the  midday  meal  of  the  convent  was \nended.  He  was  there  alone,  and  he  stood  at \nthe  lower  stalls,  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the \nchoir.  It  was,  moreover,  a  time  at  which  he \nwas  more  than  usually  crushed  down  by  a  heavy \nweight  of  sorrow.  Now  it  came  to  pass,  that  as \nhe  stood  there  all  desolate,  and  with  none  to \nhelp  or  shield  him,  his  soul  was  caught  up  in \necstasy,  whether  in  the  body  or  out  of  the  body, \nand  he  saw  and  heard  what  no  tongue  can  tell. \nIt  was  without  form  or  mode,  and  yet  it  con- \ntained within  itself  the  entrancing  delightful- \nness  of  all  forms  and  modes.  His  heart  was \nathirst,  and  yet  satisfied;  his  mind  was  joyous \nand  blooming ;  wishes  were  stilled  in  him,  and \ndesires  had  departed.  He  did  but  gaze  fixedly \non  the  dazzling  effulgence,  in  which  he  found \noblivion  of  himself  and  all  things.  Was  it  day \nor  night,  he  knew  not.  It  was  a  breaking  forth \nof  the  sweetness  of  eternal  life,  felt  as  present \nin   the    stillness   of   unvarying   contemplation. \n\n\n12  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nHe  said  afterwards : — If  this  be  not  heaven,  I \nknow  not  what  heaven  is ;  for  not  all  the  suffer- \nings, which  a  man  could  suffer  here  below,  could \never  merit  for  him  in  justice  to  possess  a  joy \nlike  this  throughout  eternity.  This  overpower- \ning rapture  lasted  about  an  hour  and  a  half; \nbut  whether  his  soul  stayed  in  his  body,  or  was \nparted  from  it,  he  knew  not.  When  he  came \nto  himself  again,  he  was  altogether  like  a  man \nwho  has  come  from  another  world.  His  body \nwas  in  such  anguish  from  the  brief  moment, \nthat  he  had  never  deemed  it  possible  to  suffer \nso  much  in  so  short  a  time,  even  at  death.  He \ncame  to  himself  with  a  deep  groan,  and  his \nbody  sank  to  the  ground,  in  spite  of  him,  as  if \nhe  were  in  a  faint.  He  cried  aloud  piteously, \nand,  deeply  groaning,  exclaimed : — Woe  is  me, \nmy  God !  Where  was  I  ?  Where  am  I  now  ? \nAdding : — Ah,  Thou,  who  art  my  heart's  good ! \nnever  can  this  hour  pass  from  my  heart !  He \nwent  on  his  way  in  body,  and  no  one  saw,  or \ntook  note  of  any  thing  in  him  outwardly ;  but \nhis  soul  and  mind  were  full  within  of  heavenly \nmarvels.  The  heavenly  glances  came  again \nand  again  in  his  innermost  interior,  and  it \nseemed  to  him  as  if  he  were  floating  in  the \nair.     The  powers  of  his  soul  were  filled  full \n\n\nSPIRITUAL  ESPOUSALS.  13 \n\nof  the  sweet  taste  of  heaven ;  just  as,  when  a \nchoice  electuary  has  been  poured  out  of  a  box, \nthe  box  still  keeps  the  good  flavour  of  it.  This \nheavenly  taste  remained  with  him  for  a  long \ntime  afterwards,  and  gave  him  a  heavenly \nyearning  and  longing  after  God.",
    "project_translation": false,
    "text_trust": "verbatim",
    "quote_safe": true,
    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}