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  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
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      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 12,
    "slug": "vol-1-11-chapter-xi",
    "title": "Chapter  XI.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 671,
    "text": "## Chapter  XI.\n\nOf  the  words  \"  Sursum  corda.\" \nHe  was  once  asked  what  was  the  subject  of \nhis  contemplation  when  he  sang  mass  and  in- \ntoned the  words  \"  Sursum  corda,\"  at  the  begin- \nning of  the  preface  before  the  Canon.  Now \nthese  words  mean  in  the  vulgar  tongue,  \"Lift \n\n\nSUESUM  CORDA.  39 \n\nup  all  hearts  on  high  to  God ;\"  and  they  came \nforth  from  his  mouth  with  such  an  expression \nof  ardent  desire,  that  it  may  well  have  moved  to \npeculiar  devotion  those  who  heard  them.  He \nanswered  this  question  with  a  deep  sigh,  say- \ning : — When  I  sing  these  adorable  words  in  the \nholy  mass,  it  usually  happens  that  my  heart  and \nsoul  are  melted  with  a  yearning  and  longing \nafter  God  which  carry  away  my  heart  out  of \nitself  at  that  moment ;  for  three  different  inten- \ntions commonly  present  themselves  to  me  then, \nand  lift  me  up  on  high — sometimes  one  alone, \nsometimes  two,  and  sometimes  all  three  together \n— and  they  bear  me  upwards  into  God,  and  with \nme  all  creatures. \n\nThe  first  intention,  that  darts  like  a  ray  of \nlight  into  my  mind,  is  this  : — I  place  before  my \ninward  eyes  myself  with  all  that  I  am — my  body, \nsoul,  and  all  my  powers — and  I  gather  round \nme  all  the  creatures  which  God  ever  created  in \nheaven,  on  earth,  and  in  all  the  elements,  each \none  severally  with  its  name,  whether  birds  of  the \nair,  beasts  of  the  forest,  fishes  of  the  water, \nleaves  and  grass  of  the  earth,  or  the  innumer- \nable sand  of  the  sea,  and  to  these  I  add  all  the \nlittle  specks  of  dust  which  glance  in  the  sun- \nbeams, with  all  the  little  drops  of  water  which \n\n\n40  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\never  fell  or  are  falling  from  dew,  snow,  or  rain, \nand  I  wish  that  each  of  these  had  a  sweetly- \nsounding  stringed  instrument,  fashioned  from \nmy  heart's  inmost  blood,  striking  on  which  they \nmight  each  send  up  to  our  dear  and  gentle  God  a \nnew  and  lofty  strain  of  praise  for  ever  and  ever. \nAnd  then  the  loving  arms  of  my  soul  stretch  out \nand  extend  themselves  towards  the  innumerable \nmultitude  of  all  creatures,  and  my  intention  is, \njust  as  a  free  and  blithesome  leader  of  a  choir \nstirs  up  the  singers  of  his  company,  even  so  to \nturn  them  all  to  good  account  by  inciting  them \nto  sing  joyously,  and  to  offer  up  their  hearts  to \nGod.     \"  Sursum  corda.\" \n\nHis  second  intention,  he  said,  was  this  : — I \nput  before  myself  in  thought  my  own  heart  and \nthe  hearts  of  all  men,  and  I  consider  on  the  one \nhand  what  joy  and  pleasure,  what  love  and \npeace  they  enjoy  who  give  their  hearts  to  God \nalone;  and,  on  the  other,  what  hurt  and  suf- \nfering, what  sorrow  and  unrest  perishable  love \nbrings  to  those  over  whom  it  rules ;  and  then \nI  cry  out  with  earnest  desire  to  my  own  heart, \nand  the  hearts  of  all  men,  wheresoever  they \nbe,  from  one  end  of  this  world  to  the  other : — \nCome  forth,  ye  captive  hearts,  from  the  strait \nbonds  of  perishable  love!    Come  forth,  ye  sleep- \n\n\nCANDLEMAS.  41 \n\ning  hearts,  from  the  death  of  sin !  Come  forth, \nye  frivolous  hearts,  from  the  lukewarmness  of \nyour  slothful  and  careless  lives !  Lift  yourselves \nup  by  turning  wholly  and  unreservedly  to  the \nliving  God.     \"  Sursum  corda.\" \n\nHis  third  intention  was  a  friendly  call  to \nall  well-disposed  but  undetached  men,  who  go \nastray  in  their  interior  life,  and  cling  closely \nneither  to  God  nor  to  creatures,  because  their \nhearts  are  distracted  and  drawn  to  one  side  or \nthe  other  at  every  moment.  These  men,  and \nmyself  among  their  number,  I  then  invite  to \nmake  a  bold  venture  of  ourselves,  by  turning \naway  entirely  from  ourselves  and  every  crea- \nture unto  God.  Such  was  the  subject  of  his \ncontemplation  in  the  words  \"  Sursum  corda.\"",
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  }
}