{
  "meta": {
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    "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-12-chapter-xii.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 13,
    "slug": "vol-1-12-chapter-xii",
    "title": "Chapter  XII.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 582,
    "text": "## Chapter  XII.\n\nHow  he  kept  the  feast  of  Candlemas. \n\nFor  three  days  before  our  Lady's  feast  of \nCandlemas,  he  used  to  get  ready  with  prayer  a \ncandle  for  the  heavenly  Mother ;  and  he  formed \nthe  candle  of  three  twisted  tapers  in  this  man- \nner : — The  first  taper  was  in  token  of  her  stain- \n\n\\ \n\n\n42  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nless  and  virginal  purity;  the  second,  of  her \nunfathomable  humility;  and  the  third,  of  her \nmaternal  dignity ; — three  prerogatives  which  are \nhers  alone  above  all  creatures.  And  he  made \nready  this  spiritual  candle  every  day  with  three \nmagnificats.  Now  when  the  day  of  the  blessing \nof  the  candles  was  come,  he  went  early  in  the \nmorning,  before  any  one  had  gone  into  the \nchurch,  to  the  high  altar,  and  waited  there  in \ncontemplation  the  coming  of  the  august  Mother \nwith  her  heavenly  treasure.  When  she  drew \nnigh  the  outer  gate  of  the  city,  he  ran  to  meet \nher  with  the  multitude  of  all  souls  that  love \nGod,  and  he  outran  them  all  with  the  longings \nof  his  heart.  Then  running  in  front  of  her  in \nthe  street,  he  prayed  her  to  tarry  a  while  with \nher  attendants  until  he  had  sung  something  in \nher  honour.  Thereupon,  with  a  spiritual  voice- \nless melody,  so  that  his  lips  moved,  but  no  one \nheard  him,  he  began  to  sing  as  lovingly  as  he \ncould  the  prose,  \"Inviolata,\"  &c.  (O  spotless \none,  &c),  and  he  bowed  himself  down  before \nher  as  he  sang,  \"  O  benigna,  O  benigna !\"  (O \ngracious  one !  O  gracious  one !)  and  he  prayed \nher  to  show  forth  her  gracious  kindliness  to- \nwards a  poor  sinner.  Then  rising  up,  he  fol- \nlowed her  with  his  spiritual  candle  in  the  desire \n\n\nCANDLEMAS.  43 \n\nthat  she  would  never  permit  the  burning  flame \nof  divine  light  to  be  extinguished  in  him.  After \nthis,  on  coming  up  to  the  multitude  of  all-loving \nsouls,  he  began  to  sing  \"  Adorna  thalamum,\"  &c. \n(Make  ready  the  bridal  bed,  &c),  and  he  called \nupon  them  to  receive  the  Saviour  with  love,  and \nf ervently  to  embrace  His  Mother ;  and  thus  he \nled  them  with  songs  of  praise  as  far  as  the \ntemple.  Then  drawing  near  to  the  Mother  be- \nfore she  entered  in  and  gave  the  Saviour  to \nSimeon,  he  knelt  down  in  front  of  her,  and  with \nuplifted  hands  and  eyes  prayed  her  to  show  him \nthe  Child,  and  to  suffer  him  also  to  kiss  It. \nWhen  she  kindly  offered  It  to  him,  he  spread \nout  his  arms  to  the  boundless  quarters  of  the \nwide  world,  and  received  and  embraced  the  Be- \nloved One  a  thousand  times  in  one  hour.  He \ncontemplated  Its  beautiful  little  eyes ;  he  looked \nupon  Its  little  hands ;  he  kissed  Its  tender  little \nmouth ;  and  he  gazed  again  and  again  at  all  the \ninfant  members  of  the  heavenly  treasure.  Then \nlifting  up  his  eyes,  he  uttered  a  cry  of  amaze- \nment in  his  heart  that  He  who  bears  up  the \nheavens  is  so  great  and  yet  so  small,  so  beauti- \nful in  heaven  and  so  childlike  upon  earth ;  and \nas  the  Divine  Infant  moved  him  so  did  he  act \ntowards  It, — now  singing,  now  weeping,  with \n\n\n44  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nother  spiritual  exercises,  until  at  last  he  gave  It \nback  to  Its  Mother,  and,  going  in  with  her  into \nthe  temple,  remained  there  till  all  was  fully \naccomplished.",
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    "text_trust": "verbatim",
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  }
}