{ "meta": { "schema_version": "1.1", "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-06-chapter-vi.json" }, "work": { "slug": "suso", "name": "Heinrich Suso" }, "parents": [ { "slug": "rhineland-mystics", "name": "Rhineland Mystics", "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/" } ], "chapter": { "num": 7, "slug": "vol-1-06-chapter-vi", "title": "Chapter VI.", "of": 51, "words": 877, "text": "## Chapter VI.\n\nOf the foretaste of divine consolations, with which God \nsometimes allures beginners. \n\nIt was his custom to go into his chapel after \nmatins, and sitting down upon his chair to take \na little rest. He sat there but a short time, \nuntil the watchman announced the break of \nday ; when, opening his eyes, he used to fall at \nonce on his knees, and salute the rising morn- \ning star, heaven's gentle queen, with this in ten- \n\n\n24 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\ntion that, as the little birds in summer greet the \ndaylight, and receive it joyously, even so did \nhe mean to greet with joyful longings her, who \nbrings the light of the everlasting day ; and he \ndid not merely say these words, but he accom- \npanied them with a sweet still melody in his \nsoul. \n\nOnce at this time, while he sat thus at rest, \nhe heard within him something which rang so \ntenderly, that his whole heart was stirred by it. \nThe voice sang in tones sweet and loud, as the \nmorning star uprose, these words: — \"Stella \nmaris Maria hodie processit ad ortum : Mary the \nmorning star has risen to-day.\" This strain re- \nsounded in him with such unearthly sweetness, \nthat it filled his whole soul with gladness, \nand he sang with it joyously. After they \nhad thus sung together, he was embraced in a \nway ineffable, and it was said to him at the \ntime : — The more lovingly thou embracest me, \nand the more spiritually thou kissest me, so \nmuch the more ravishingly and lovingly shalt \nthou be embraced by my glory. Upon this he \nopened his eyes, and, the tears rolling down \nhis cheeks, he saluted the rising morning star \naccording to his custom. When this first \nsalutation was ended, he next saluted with a \n\n\nCONSOLATIONS OF BEGINNEES. 25 \n\nvenia* the gentle Eternal Wisdom in the words \nof the prayer, beginning u Anima mea desidera- \nvit te, \"&c. This was followed by a third saluta- \ntion, with another venia, which he addressed to \nthe highest and most fervent of the Seraphim, \neven to the one who flames upwards in hottest \nand fieriest love towards the Eternal Wisdom, \nand this he did with the intention that the spirit \nshould so inflame his heart with divine love, \nthat he might both be on fire himself and en- \nkindle the hearts of all men with his loving \nwords and teaching. These were the saluta- \ntions which he made every morning. \n\nOne night in the carnival time, when he \nhad prolonged his prayer until the watchman's \nhorn announced the daybreak, the thought came \nto him : — Sit a little longer, before thou greet- \nest the bright morning star. Thereupon, his \nsenses being thus for a short time lulled to rest, \nit seemed to him that the heavenly spirits began \nwith loud voice to intone the beautiful respon- \nsory, \" Surge et illuminare, Jerusalem (Isaias \nlx. 1) : Arise and be illuminated, Jerusalem ;\" \nand it rang with exceeding sweetness in his \nsoul. They had scarcely sung a little, when \n\n* A monastic term, which means to kneel down and \nkiss the ground. \n\n\n26 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nhis soul became so full of the heavenly strain, \nthat his frail body could bear no more, and, \nopening his eyes, his heart overflowed, and the \nburning tears streamed down his cheeks. \n\nOnce at this time, as he was sitting thus, it \nseemed to him in a vision that he was carried \ninto another land, and that his angel stood there \nbefore him full tenderly at his right hand. \nThe Servitor sprang up at once, and, embracing \nhis dear angel, clung round him, and pressed \nhim to his soul as lovingly as he could, so that \nthere was naught between them, as it appeared \nto him. Then in sorrowful accents and with \nweeping eyes he exclaimed out of the fulness of \nhis heart : — O my angel, whom the faithful \nGod has given me for my consolation and guard, \nI pray thee, by the love thou hast for God, not \nto leave me. The angel answered him and said: \n— Canst thou not trust God ! Behold, God has \nso lovingly embraced thee in His eternity, that \nHe will never leave thee. \n\nIt came to pass once, after the time of his \nsufferings was over, that early one morning he \nwas surrounded in a vision by the heavenly \nspirits. Whereupon he besought one of the \nbright princes of heaven to show him the man- \nner of God's secret dwelling in his soul. The \n\n\nDIVINE CONSOLATIONS. 27 \n\nangel answered thus : — Cast, then, a joyous \nglance into thyself, and see how God plays His \nplay of love with thy loving soul. He looked im- \nmediately, and saw that his body over his heart \nwas clear as crystal, and that in the centre of \nhis heart was sitting tranquilly, in lovely form, \nthe Eternal Wisdom; beside whom there sat, \nfull of heavenly longing, the Servitor's soul, \nwhich, leaning lovingly towards God's side, and \nencircled by God's arms, and pressed close to His \ndivine heart, lay thus entranced and drowned \nin love in the arms of the beloved God.", "project_translation": false, "text_trust": "verbatim", "quote_safe": true, "license": null, "methodology_url": null } }