{
  "meta": {
    "schema_version": "1.1",
    "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-20-chapter-xxi.json"
  },
  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
  },
  "parents": [
    {
      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
      "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/"
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  ],
  "chapter": {
    "num": 21,
    "slug": "vol-1-20-chapter-xxi",
    "title": "Chapter  XXI.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 830,
    "text": "## Chapter  XXI.\n\nHow  he  was  directed  to  the  rational  school,  in  which \nthe  art  of  true  detachment  is  taught. \n\nOne  day  the  Servitor  was  sitting  on  his \nbench  after  matins,  and  while  he  was  absorbed \nin  meditation  his  bodily  senses  became  ab- \nstracted, and  it  seemed  to  his  inward  vision  that \na  noble  youth  came  down  from  above,  and, \nstanding  before  him,  addressed  him  thus: — \nThou  hast  been  long  enough  in  the  lower \nschools,  and  hast  exercised  thyself  sufficiently \nin  them,  and  art  now  full-grown.  Up  then \nwith  me.  I  will  take  thee  to  the  highest  school \nwhich  is  to  be  found  in  this  world;  and  thou \nshalt  diligently  learn  there  the  highest  of  all \ncrafts,  which  shall  establish  thee  in  divine  peace, \nand  bring  thy  holy  beginnings  to  a  blissful  end. \nThe  Servitor  was  rejoiced  at  this,  and  stood  up; \nupon  which,  the  youth  took  him  by  the  hand \nand  carried  him,  as  it  appeared  to  him,  into  a \nland  above  the  ken  of  sense.  There  was  a \nbeautiful  house  there,  which  looked  as  if  it  were \nthe  abode  of  religious  men,  and  those  who  prao \ntised  the  afore-named  craft  dwelt  in  it.  When \nhe  entered  the  house,  they  received  him  kindly \n\nG \n\n\n82  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nand  greeted  him  lovingly,  and  then  they  went \nin  haste  to  the  Master  Superior,  and  told  him \nthat  one  had  come  who  also  wished  to  he  his \ndisciple,  and  to  learn  the  craft.  He  answered: \n— I  will  look  at  him  and  see  how  he  pleases  me. \nWhen  he  saw  the  Servitor,  he  smiled  upon  him \nvery  kindly,  and  said: — Be  assured  that  this \nstranger  may  become  an  excellent  professor  of \nthis  high  craft,  if  he  will  patiently  submit  to  the \nstrait  stocks,  in  which  he  must  be  inwardly  con- \nfined. But  the  Servitor  understood  not  these \nobscure  words ;  so  he  turned  him  to  the  youth \nwho  had  brought  him  thither,  and  asked  him, \nsaying: — Tell  me,  dear  comrade,  what  is  the \nhighest  school,  and  what  is  the  craft  taught  there \nof  which  thou  spokest  to  me  f  The  youth  an- \nswered :  —  The  highest  school,  and  the  craft \nwhich  is  taught  there,  consist  simply  in  an \nentire  and  perfect  detachment  from  self;  that \nis  to  say,  how  a  man  may  attain  to  such  an \nabiding  spirit  of  self-renunciation,  that,  no  mat- \nter how  God  treats  him,  either  directly  by  Him- \nself, or  indirectly  through  creatures,  or  how  he \nfeels,  whether  joyful  or  sad,  the  one  object  of \nhis  strivings  shall  ever  be  to  continue  always \nthe  same  by  a  perpetual  giving  up  of  self,  as  far \nas  human  frailty  will  allow,  and  to  make  God's \n\n\nTHE  SCHOOL  OF  TRUE  DETACHMENT.       83 \n\nhonour  and  glory  his  sole  aim,  just  in  the  way \nthat  the  dear  Christ  acted  towards  His  heavenly \nFather.  When  the  Senator  heard  this,  he  was \nwell  pleased  at  it,  and  he  resolved  to  study  the \ncraft,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  could  meet \nwith  no  difficulties  so  great  as  to  make  him  turn \naside  from  this  intention.  Moreover,  he  wished \nto  build  a  house  there,  and  to  undertake  much \nactive  work.  The  youth  prevented  him  from \ndoing  this,  saying : — This  craft  requires  a  com- \nplete cessation  from  activity.  The  less  a  man \ndoes  here,  the  more  he  has  really  done.* \n\nImmediately  after  this  discourse  the  Servitor \ncame  to  himself  again,  and  he  continued  to  sit \nstill  as  before.  Then  he  began  to  reflect  deeply \nupon  this  discourse,  and  he  observed  that  it  was \nthe  same  pure  and  simple  truth  which  Christ \nHimself  has  taught.  Thereupon  he  proceeded \nto  hold  converse  with  himself  interiorly,  saying: \n— Look  inwards,  friend,  and  thou  wilt  find  thy- \nself still  really  there,  and  wilt  perceive  that,  not- \nwithstanding all  thy  outward  practices,  in  which \nthou  didst  of  thy  own  choice  exercise  thyself, \nthou  art  still  undetached  from  self  in  what  re- \n\n*  He  alluded  in  this  to  that  mode  of  acting  in  which  a \nman  is  a  hindrance  to  himself,  and  does  not  seek  God's \nhonour  purely. \n\n\n84  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENEY  SUSO. \n\nlates  to  contradictions  at  the  hands  of  others. \nThou  art  still  like  a  timid  hare,  which  lies  hid- \nden in  a  thicket,  and  is  terrified  at  every  rust- \nling leaf.  Even  so  is  it  with  thee  too.  Thou \nart  terrified  every  day  at  the  sufferings  which \ncome  upon  thee.  The  sight  of  thy  enemies \nmakes  thee  lose  colour.  When  thou  shouldst \nlet  thyself  be  humiliated,  thou  takest  to  flight. \nWhen  thou  shouldst  expose  thyself  to  the  blow, \nthou  hidest.  When  thou  art  praised,  thou  laugh- \nest.  When  thou  art  blamed,  thou  mournest. \nIt  may  well  be  true  that  thou  needest  a  higher \nschool.  Then  sighing  inwardly,  he  looked  up \nto  God,  and  said: — O  God,  how  nakedly  has \nthis  truth  been  shown  me !  Woe  is  me !  When \nshall  I  ever  become  a  truly  detached  man  ?",
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    "text_trust": "verbatim",
    "quote_safe": true,
    "license": null,
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  }
}