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Jesus and Mary! Sacred names, always united in the mind and heart
of
every true Christian. Jesus, model of true manhood; Mary, model of
true
womanhood. Jesus, begotten of the Father before all ages, the
figure of His
substance, by whom were made all things of the Creator; original
type,
remaining unfallen when every copy fell! Woman, destined from
eternity to
crush the head of the unclean demon. Jesus and Mary! Models of the
interior
life, to you is dedicated this new edition of a work of one of
your devoted
servants, which is well calculated to lead many souls up the path
of
perfection till they reign with you in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The LITTLE BOOK OF ETERNAL WISDOM is among the best of the
writings of
Blessed Henry Suso, a priest of the Order of St. Dominic, who
lived a life
of wonderful labours and sufferings, and died in the Fourteenth
century with
a reputation for sanctity which the Church has solemnly confirmed.
Gregory
XVI granted to the whole Order of St. Dominic the privilege of
celebrating
his office, and of offering the Mass yearly in his honour,
appointing the
Second of March for his festival.
The Order of St. Dominic, known in the Church both as the Order of
Truth and the Order of Preachers, so rich in pontiffs, martyrs,
and
confessors, is also illustrious for its theologians, its ascetic
writers,
its great masters of the Spiritual life. Its mystic theologians
stand in the
first rank of those who have sealed the wondrous heights of
sublime
perfection. Not only have they stood on the mountain tops of the spiritual
life, but they have pointed out, with a clearness surpassed by no
other
writers, the path of ascent, marking for the unwary its every
danger. The
wiles of the enemy are exposed; where, when, and how he seeks to
accomplish
our ruin. Our defence is first outlined, and then given in detail.
The
source of strength is pointed out, and thus the perilous journey
may safely
be made.
Among the ascetic writers of the Order, mention may be made of St.
Thomas Aquinas, Blessed Albert the Great, Master Humbert, St. Antoninus, Dom
Bartholomew of the Martyrs, Ven. Louis of Granada, St. Vincent
Ferrer, St.
Catherine of Sienna, and St. Catherine of Ricci, whilst the
Illuminated
Doctor John Tauler and Blessed Henry Suso are among the first of
the great
mystic theologians of the Church.
THE LITTLE BOOK OF ETERNAL WISDOM was translated and published for
the
Catholics of England years ago, but has long been out of print. It
would be
difficult to speak too highly of this little book or of its
author. In
soundness of teaching, sublimity of thought, clearness of
expression, and
beauty of illustration, we do not know of a spiritual writer that
surpasses
Henry Suso. He clothes virtue in such lovely garments, the path to
the
sublime heights of perfection is so clearly marked out, that the
willing
soul is allured onward and assisted upward, till she stands with
her blessed
guide in the full light of the Eternal Wisdom.
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