{ "meta": { "schema_version": "1.1", "endpoint": "/api/sources/rhineland-mystics/suso/vol-1-35-chapter-xxxix.json" }, "work": { "slug": "suso", "name": "Heinrich Suso" }, "parents": [ { "slug": "rhineland-mystics", "name": "Rhineland Mystics", "url": "/sources/rhineland-mystics/" } ], "chapter": { "num": 36, "slug": "vol-1-35-chapter-xxxix", "title": "Chapter XXXIX.", "of": 51, "words": 1282, "text": "## Chapter XXXIX.\n\nHow he drew light-minded persons to God, and comforted \nthose who were in suffering. \n\nThe Servitor had once been a long time \nwithout sending any message to his spiritual \ndaughter. Upon this she wrote a letter to him, \ntelling him that she was in great need of a \nmessage from him to cheer her suffering heart, \n\n\n186 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nand adding : — The poor find a little consolation \nwhen they see those who are poorer than them- \nselves, and sufferers draw a little courage from \nhearing that some among their neighbours have \nbeen in greater straits than they are, and have \nbeen helped out of them by God. \n\nThe Servitor wrote thus to her in answer: — \nIn order that thou mayest be more patient in \nthy sufferings, I will tell thee for God's glory \nsomething about suffering. I know a man on \nwhom by God's appointment there fell cruel \nsufferings in regard to his good name in this \nworld. This man's unceasing desire was to \nlove God from the very bottom of his heart, \nand to win all persons to the same love of God, \nand to withdraw them from all vain affections ; \nand he brought this about in the case of many, \nboth men and women. Since, however, by \ndoing this he estranged from the devil those \nwho had been his, and brought them back to \nGod, the evil spirit took it ill, and appeared \nto certain holy persons, and threatened that he \nwould avenge himself on the Servitor. \n\nIt happened once that the Servitor came to \na monastery belonging to a certain Order in \nwhich the religious men are accustomed to have \na special dwelling-place for themselves, and the \n\n\nHE DRAWS SINNERS TO GOD. 187 \n\nreligious women of the Order likewise a special \ndwelling-place for themselves. Now in this \nmonastery there were two religious, a man and \na woman, who were bound to each other by \nclosest ties of great affection and hurtful inti- \nmacy ; and the devil had so disguised it to their \nblinded hearts, that they looked upon the mis- \ndeed as if it were no fault or sin, but a thing \npermitted to them by God. When the Servitor \nwas privately asked whether they could go on in \nthis way without being in opposition to God's \nwill, he answered : — No, by no means ; and he \ntold them that their view of the matter was \nfalse, and contrary to Christian doctrine; and \nhe succeeded in making them leave off their \nintimacy, and live thenceforward in purity. \nWhilst he was occupied about this matter, a \nholy person named Anna was rapt in spirit \nwhen she was at prayer, and she saw a great \nband of devils gathered together in the air \nabove the Servitor, and they all cried aloud \nwith one voice : — Death, death, to the wicked \nmonk! and they reviled and cursed him for \nhaving driven them forth by his good counsels \nfrom that place which was so pleasant to them ; \nand they all swore, with horrible gestures, that \nthey would never let him alone until they had \n\n\n188 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nrevenged themselves upon him ; and that if they \nwere not allowed to touch him in his person or \nhis goods, they would at least inflict cruel in- \njury upon his good name and honour in men's \neyes, by laying shameful things to his charge ; \nand, however carefully he might avoid giving \nany cause for it, they would by falsehood and \ncunning bring it about. The holy woman \nAnna was greatly terrified at this, and she be- \nsought our dear Lady to come and help him in \nhis impending straits. Upon which the kind \nMother said to her lovingly : — They can do \nnothing to him without my Child's ordinance. \nWhat He ordains concerning him will be the \nbest and the most profitable for him. Bid him \ntherefore be of good cheer. \n\nWhen she told this to the brother, he began \nto feel great alarm at this hostile assembling of \nthe evil spirits ; and, as he often used to do in \nhis distresses, he ascended the hill on which a \nchapel stands dedicated to the holy angels, and \nhe went nine times round this chapel, according \nto his custom, saying prayers in honour of the \nnine choirs of the heavenly host, and he be- \nsought them earnestly to be his helpers against \nall his enemies. Early that same morning he \nwas earned in a spiritual vision to a beautiful \n\n\nHE DRAWS SINNERS TO GOD. 189 \n\nplain, and lie saw there all round him an ex- \nceeding great company of angels, who stood \nready to help him, and they comforted him, \nsaying : — God is with thee, and will never leave \nthee in any of thy straits. Cease not, then, to \ndraw worldly hearts to the love of God. This \nconfirmed him in his purpose, and he busied \nhimself all the more diligently in bringing back \nboth the wild and the tame to God. \n\nHe had succeeded by his good words in \ncoming round a ferocious man, who had been \neighteen years without confession. This man \nwas inspired by God with confidence in the \nServitor, and confessed to him with such great \ncontrition, that they both began to weep. He \ndied soon afterwards, and made a happy end. \n\nHe once converted twelve sinful women from \ntheir evil life. It is impossible to tell how much \nhe suffered from them. In the end, however, \nonly two of them persevered. \n\nThere were at that time up and down the \ncountry many persons of the female sex, both \nsecular and religious, who from the frailty of \ntheir disposition had fallen openly into sinful \npractices. These poor women through shame \ndared not confess to any one their heart's an- \nguish ; so that from agony and distress of mind \n\n\n190 LIFE OF BLESSED HENRY SUSO. \n\nthey were often assailed by the temptation to \ndestroy themselves. Now when these persons \nheard that the Servitor had a tender heart for \nall who were in suffering, they took courage and \ncame to him, — each one at the time when her \ndistress lay heavy upon her, — and disclosed to \nhim then* anguish, and the straits in which they \nwere held captive. When lie saw these poor \nhearts in such misery and suffering, he used \nto weep with them and console them lovingly. \nHe often risked his good name in this world in \norder to help them to recover their souls and \ntheir reputation ; and he let malicious tongues \npass what judgment on him they pleased. \n\nAmong others there was a lady of high birth, \nwhose contrition for her fall was very great. \nOne day our Lady appeared to her and said : — \nGo to my chaplain ; he will set thee right again. \nShe answered : — Alas, Lady, I know him not. \nThe Mother of Compassion replied: — Look here \nbeneath my mantle, where I keep him under my \nguard, and note well his face, that thou mayest \nknow him again. He is a help in need and a \ncomforter of all who suffer. He will comfort \nthee. The lady came to the Servitor from a \nforeign land, and she recognised his face as she \nhad seen it before in spirit, and she prayed him \n\n\nVISION OF SUFFERINGS. 191 \n\nto bring her back to grace, and told him what \nhad befallen her. He received her very kindly, \nand set her right again to the best of his ability, \naccording as the Mother of Compassion had en- \njoined him.", "project_translation": false, "text_trust": "verbatim", "quote_safe": true, "license": null, "methodology_url": null } }