"The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart. "

St Philip Neri

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"Lord, here burn, here cut, and dry up in me all that hinders me from going to You, that You may spare me in eternity."

St Louis Bertrand

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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. "

Thomas á Kempis

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Blessed Henry Suso (1295 - 1366) Dominican and German mystic
 

A LITTLE BOOK OF ETERNAL WISDOM (cont)
 

by Blessed Henry Suso

THE THIRD PART

On Sunday, or at Matins


O Eternal Wisdom, my heart reminds Thee of Thy sorrow of soul.

1. When after the Last Supper on the Mount, Thou wast bathed in Thy bloody sweat because of the anxiety of Thy heart;

2. And when like an enemy Thou wast made prisoner, cruelly bound, and led miserably away;

3. When, Lord, Thou wast sacrilegiously maltreated in the night with hard blows, and with blindfolding of Thine eyes;

4. Early accused before Caiphas and pronounced worthy of death;

5. Seen by Thy affectionate mother with unspeakable sorrow of heart;

6. Thou wast ignominiously presented before Pilate, falsely accused, and condemned to die;

7. Thou, O Eternal Wisdom, wast mocked as a fool in a white garment before Herod;

8. Thy fair body was torn and rent without mercy by the cruel whips of Thy scourgers;

9. Thy delicate head was pierced with sharp thorns and Thy sweet face, in consequence, drenched with blood;

10. Thus condemned Thou wast led miserably and shamefully with Thy cross to death.

Alas, my only hope, let me, therefore, remind Thee to give me Thy fatherly aid in all my distresses. Oh, unloose my sinful fetters, guard me against secret vice and open guilt, shelter me from the false councils of the enemy, and from the occasion of all crime, inspire me with a sincere sympathy for Thy own sufferings and for those of Thy tender mother. Lord, at my last departure, judge me mercifully, teach me to condemn worldly honours, and to serve Thee wisely. Let all my infirmities be healed in Thy wounds. Let my reason be fortified and adorned by the injuries inflicted on Thy head, and may Thy whole Passion be imitated by me according to my ability. Amen.

Sweet Lord!

1. When on the high branches of the cross Thy eyes were extinguished and turned in their sockets;

2. Thy divine ears filled with mockery and blasphemy;

3. Thy delicate nostrils stopped with rank smells;

4. Thy sweet mouth with bitter drink;

5. Thy tender feeling visited with rude blows.

Therefore do I beg that Thou wouldst guard this day my eyes from all dissolute sights, my ears from voluptuous speech. Lord, take away from me all relish of bodily things, make all temporal things unpleasant to me, and rid me of all tenderness for my own body.