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  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 6,
    "slug": "vol-1-05-chapter-v",
    "title": "Chapter  V.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 688,
    "text": "## Chapter  V.\n\nHow  he  inscribed  upon  his  heart  the  gracious  Name  of \nJesus. \n\nAt  this  season  there  came  down  into  his \nsoul  a  flame  of  intense  fire,  which  made  his \nheart  all  burning  with  divine  love.  Now  one \nday  that  this  feeling  was  strong  within  him,  and \nhe  was  suffering  exceedingly  from  the  torments \nof  divine  love,  he  went  into  his  cell  to  his  place \nof  retirement,  and,  rapt  in  loving  contemplation, \n\n\nNAME  OF  JESUS.  21 \n\nspoke  thus : — Ah,  sweet  Lord !  would  that  I \ncould  devise  some  love-token,  which  might  be \nan  everlasting  sign  of  love  between  me  and \nThee,  as  a  memorial  that  I  am  Thy  beloved,  and \nThou  art  my  heart's  only  beloved ;  a  sign  which \nno  oblivion  might  be  ever  able  to  efface.  In \nthis  fervour  of  devotion,  he  threw  back  his  sca- \npular, and,  baring  his  breast,  took  in  his  hand  a \nstyle ;  then,  looking  at  his  heart,  he  said : — Ah, \nmighty  God !  give  me  to-day  strength  and  power \nto  accomplish  my  desire;  for  Thou  must  be \nburnt  to-day  into  my  very  inmost  heart.  There- \nupon he  set  to  work,  and  thrust  the  style  into \nthe  flesh  above  his  heart,  drawing  it  backwards \nand  forwards,  up  and  down,  until  he  had  in- \nscribed the  Name  of  Jesus  upon  his  heart.  The \nblood  flowed  plenteously  out  of  his  flesh  from \nthe  sharp  stabs,  and  ran  down  over  his  body  into \nhis  bosom ;  but  this  was  so  ravishing  a  sight  to \nhim  through  the  ardour  of  his  love,  that  he \ncared  little  for  the  pain.  When  he  had  finished, \nhe  went  thus  torn  and  bleeding  from  his  cell  to \nthe  pulpit  under  the  crucifix,  and  kneeling  down \nsaid : — Ah,  Lord !  my  heart  and  soul's  only  love ! \nlook  now  upon  my  heart's  intense  desire.  Lord, \nI  cannot  imprint  Thee  any  deeper  in  myself; \nbut  do  Thou,  O  Lord,  I  beseech  Thee,  complete \n\n\n22  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nthe  work,  and  imprint  Thyself  deep  down  into \nmy  very  inmost  heart,  and  so  inscribe  Thy  holy \nName  in  me,  that  Thou  mayest  never  more  de- \npart from  my  heart. \n\nThus  he  bore  upon  him  for  a  long  time  love's \nwound,  until  at  length  it  healed  up;  but  the \nName  of  Jesus  remained  upon  his  heart,  as  he \nhad  wished,  and  the  letters  were  about  the \nbreadth  of  a  smooth  stalk  of  corn,  and  the  length \nof  a  joint  of  the  little  finger.  In  this  way  he \nbore  the  Name  upon  his  heart  until  his  death, \nand  at  every  beat  of  his  heart  the  Name  moved \nwith  it.  When  newly  made,  it  was  very  visible. \nHe  bore  it  secretly,  so  that  no  one  ever  saw  it, \nexcept  a  companion  of  his,  to  whom  he  showed \nit  in  spiritual  confidence.  Thenceforth,  when \nany  trouble  befell  him,  he  used  to  look  at  the \nlove-token,  and  his  trouble  became  lighter.  It \nwas  his  wont  also  at  times  to  say  within  himself \nfond  words  like  these : — See,  Lord,  earthly  lovers \nwrite  their  beloved's  name  upon  their  garments  ; \nbut  I  have  written  Thee  upon  the  fresh  blood  of \nmy  heart. \n\nOnce  upon  a  time,  after  matins,  when  he \nhad  finished  praying,  he  went  into  his  cell,  and \nsitting  down  upon  his  chair,  he  placed  the  book \nof  the  lives  of  the  ancient  Fathers  under  his \n\n\nCONSOLATIONS  OF  BEGINNERS.      23 \n\nhead  for  a  pillow.  Thereupon  he  was  rapt \nin  ecstasy,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  a  light \nstreamed  forth  from  his  heart ;  and  as  he  looked, \nthere  appeared  upon  his  heart  a  cross  of  gold, \nand  there  were  worked  into  it  in  noble  fashion \nmany  precious  stones,  which  gave  forth  in  bril- \nliant light  the  Name  of  Jesus. \n\nThen  the  Servitor  took  his  mantle,  and  drew \nit  over  his  heart,  intending,  if  he  could,  to  cover \nup  the  bright  light  which  streamed  from  it,  so \nthat  no  one  might  behold  it.  But  the  fiery \nradiance  shone  forth  so  ravishingly  that  all  his \nattempts  to  hide  it  were  of  no  avail  against  the \npower  of  its  loveliness.",
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  }
}