{ "meta": { "schema_version": "1.1", "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-13-chapter-xiii.json" }, "work": { "slug": "suso", "name": "Heinrich Suso" }, "parents": [ { "slug": "rhineland-mystics", "name": "Rhineland Mystics", "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/" } ], "chapter": { "num": 14, "slug": "vol-1-13-chapter-xiii", "title": "Chapter XIII.", "of": 51, "words": 951, "text": "## Chapter XIII.\n\nHow he spent the Carnival time. \n\nWhen the Carnival was close at hand, on \nthe evening that the Alleluias are left off,* and \nthe foolish people of this world begin to abandon \nthemselves to merriment, he set about keeping \nin his heart a heavenly carnival, in this wise : — \nIn the first place he considered how short-lived \nand hurtful the pleasure of this earthly carnival \nis, and how some persons with a momentary joy \npurchase for themselves long suffering; and then \nhe said a \"Miserere\" to the adorable God for \nall the sins and the dishonour which would be \noffered to Him at this time of dissipation. This \ncarnival he called the peasants' carnival, as be- \nfitting those who knew nothing better. His \nother carnival consisted in a contemplation of \n\n* The eve of Septuagesima Sunday, when the Alleluias \nare left off in the divine office. They are not resumed until \nEaster. \n\n\nTHE CARNIVAL TIME. 45 \n\nthat which is the prelude of eternity; namely, \nhow God makes merry with His chosen friends, \nwhile still clothed in this mortal body, through \nthe heavenly consolations which He gives them ; \nand he recounted with praises and thanksgiving \nthose which he had himself received, and he was \nfull of joy in the Almighty God. \n\nAt this same season of his beginnings, God \nonce gave him a spiritual carnival, and it was in \nthis wise. It was the carnival time, and he had \ngone before compline into a warm little room to \nwarm himself, for he was miserably cold and \nhungry, and yet this did not cause him so much \npain as the thirst from which he suffered. Now \nwhen he saw them eating meat there and drink- \ning good wine, while he was hungry and thirsty, \nhe was so affected by it interiorly that he soon \nwent out again and began to lament himself, \nand to sigh from the very bottom of his heart. \nThat same night it seemed to him in a vision \nthat he was in an infirmary, and that outside \nthe room he heard some one singing a heavenly \nsong, and the tones rang so sweetly that no \nearthly harp ever sent forth the like ; and it was \nas if a little schoolboy of twelve years old was \nsinging there alone. The Servitor forgot all \nabout the body's food as he listened to the sweet \n\n\n46 LIFE OF BLESSED HENKY SUSO. \n\nmelody, and he exclaimed with longing heart : \n— Ah me ! what is it that is singing there ? \nNever on earth heard I tones so sweet. A \nnoble-looking youth, who stood by, answered \nhim and said : — Thou shouldst know that this \nBoy who sings so well is singing for thee, and \nthat thou art the object of His song. The Ser- \nvitor replied : — Alas ! God help me ! Ah, hea- \nvenly youth, bid Him sing more. The Boy sang \nagain, so that it resounded high in the air, and \nlie sang about three heavenly canticles from the \nbeginning to the end. When the song was \n«nded it seemed as though the same Boy who \nsang so sweetly came through the air to the \nlittle window of the room, and presented the \nyouth with a pretty basket filled with red fruit, \nlike ripe red strawberries, and they were large \nin size. The youth took the basket from the \nBoy, and offered it joyfully to the brother, say- \ning:— Look, comrade and brother! this red \nfruit is sent thee by thy friend and heavenly \nLord, the delightful Boy, the Son of the hea- \nvenly Father, who has been singing to thee. \nAh, how very dear thou art to Him ! At this \nthe brother's face became all on fire and red \nwith joy, and he received the basket longingly, \nsaying : — Ah, it is well with me. This is indeed \n\n\nTHE CARNIVAL TIME. 47 \n\na lovely gift for me from the delightful heavenly \nBoy. My heart and soul shall ever rejoice in \nthis. Then he said to the youth and the other \nheavenly beings who were there: — Ah, dear \nfriends, is it not meet that I should be enamoured \nof this heavenly Boy, who is so full of graces ? \nYes, verily, it is meet that I should be enamoured \nof Him, and whatever I shall know to be His \ndearest will that I will always do. Then turning \nto the aforenamed youth, he said: — Tell me, \ndear youth, am I not right ! The youth smiled \nsweetly, and said : — Yes, thou art right. It is \nmeet for thee to be enamoured of Him ; for He \nhas regarded and honoured thee more than \nmany other men. Therefore love Him very \ndearly; and I tell thee thou must also suffer \nmore than many other men. Wherefore make \nthyself ready for it. The Servitor answered : — \nAh, this I will do right gladly ; but, I pray thee, \nhelp me to see Him and to thank Him for His \nbeautiful gift. The youth replied: — Go then \nto the little window and look out. The Servitor \nopened the window, and there he saw standing \nbefore the window the tenderest and loveliest \nlittle boy that eye has ever seen ; and when he \ntried to force himself through the window to \nget at Him, the boy turned lovingly towards \n\n\n48 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nhim, and inclining Himself sweetly to him, with \na friendly blessing, vanished from his sight. \nThus the vision departed, and when the Servi- \ntor came to himself again, he thanked God for \nthe good carnival which He had bestowed upon \nhim.", "project_translation": false, "text_trust": "verbatim", "quote_safe": true, "license": null, "methodology_url": null } }