{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-14-chapter-xiv.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
    }
  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 15,
    "slug": "vol-1-14-chapter-xiv",
    "title": "Chapter  XIV.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 327,
    "text": "## Chapter  XIV.\n\nHow  he  began  the  month  of  May. \n\nIt  was  his  custom  on  May-day  Eve  to  set \nup  a  spiritual  May-bough,  and  to  do  it  honour \nevery  day  for  a  long  space  of  time.  Among  all \nthe  beautiful  branches  that  ever  grew  he  could \nfind  none  more  like  to  a  lovely  May-bough  than \nthe  delightful  bough  of  the  Holy  Cross,  which \nis  more  blooming  with  graces,  virtues,  and  orna- \nments of  every  kind  than  any  May-bough  that \never  was.  Under  this  May-bough  he  made  six \nprostrations  (venias),  and  at  each  prostration \nhe  desired  in  his  contemplation  to  adorn  the \nspiritual  May-bough  with  some  one  of  the  love- \nliest things  which  the  summer  might  bring \nforth;  and  he  sang  before  it  interiorly  the \nhymn,  u  Salve  crux  sancta,\"  &c,  in  this  wise ; \nHail,  heavenly  May-bough  of  the  Eternal  Wis- \n\n\nMAY-DAT.  49 \n\ndom,  on  which  has  grown  the  fruit  of  everlasting \nbliss !  First,  I  offer  thee  to-day  as  an  eternal \nadornment,  in  place  of  all  red  roses,  a  heartfelt \nlove;  secondly,  for  every  little  violet,  a  lowly \ninclination ;  thirdly,  for  all  tender  lilies,  a  pure \nembrace ;  fourthly,  instead  of  all  the  beautifully- \ncoloured  and  brilliant  flowers,  which  heath  or \ndown,  forest  or  plain,  tree  or  meadow  has \nbrought  forth  this  lovely  May,  or  which  have \never  been  or  will  be  brought  forth,  my  heart \noffers  thee  a  spiritual  kiss ;  fifthly,  for  the  songs \nof  all  the  blithesome  little  birds  which  ever  sang \nmerrily  on  any  a  May-day  flight,  my  soul  offers \nthee  praises  without  end;  sixthly,  for  every \nornament  with  which  a  May-bough  has  ever \nbeen  adorned  my  heart  magnifies  thee  to-day \nwith  a  spiritual  song ;  and  I  pray  thee,  blessed \nMay-bough,  to  help  me  so  to  praise  thee  in  this \nshort  time  of  life  that  I  may  feed  upon  thy \nliving  fruit  throughout  eternity.  Thus  it  was \nthat  he  began  the  month  of  May. \n\n\n50  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO.",
    "project_translation": false,
    "text_trust": "verbatim",
    "quote_safe": true,
    "license": null,
    "methodology_url": null
  }
}