Blessed Henry Suso, a priest of the Order of St.
Dominic, gathered into three parts, divine wisdom on suffering, living and
praising God in daily life. The entirety of A
Little Book of Eternal Wisdom is centered on the concept of suffering.
Henry Suso writes as if in a dialogue with our Divine Lord. The book is encompassed
with words spoken between the servant and Eternal Wisdom: God.
The book
is prefaced by a short story, Parable of
the Pilgrim, written by a Carthusian monk, Walter Hilton. This parable
outlines the pilgrimage made by one who yearns to reach Jerusalem. Upon
beginning his journey, a voice told him that he can show him the way, however,
he cannot promise the pilgrim that his journey will be free from tribulation. The
Pilgrim immediately replies, “If only I arrive at length in safety at the place
I desire so much, I care not what miseries I suffer on the way; therefore, only
let me know the course I am to take, and, God willing, I shall not fail
carefully to observe all your directions.”[1]
The voice tells the pilgrim to ground himself in the truth of the Catholic
faith, founding him in charity and humility. Before he sends the pilgrim on his
path, he tells the pilgrim that when he is tempted to do other than God’s will,
repeat “I am naught, I have naught, I desire only one thing and that is our
Lord Jesus, and to be with Him at peace in Jerusalem.”[2]
The pilgrim is warned of the evil and abuse he will face if his faith in Christ
is not yet shaken. When others see the strength of your love for God, they will
test and mock you, “For there is nothing annoys them so much as to see a
resolute desire to love Jesus and to labour to find him.”[3]
The
parable of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem is truly a reflection of our spiritual
journey, seeking to know Christ. The
Praable of the Pilgrim was chosen to preface Suso’s A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, for Suso will give guidelines on
how to suffer, how to live, and how to praise God. Doing so, we will eventually
reach our destination, heaven with our Lord.
Part One of Suso’s Little Book of Eternal Wisdom
is comprised of twenty chapters, discussing with our great Lord the topic of suffering,
varying from our daily tribulations to the very death of Christ on the cross. Eternal
Wisdom speaks
All
that is not of absolute necessity to thee shouldst thou leave untouched; then
will thy hands be truly nailed to My cross. Thou shouldst cheerfully set about good
works and persevere in them; then will thy left foot be made fast. Thy
inconstant mind and wandering thoughts shouldst thou make constant and
collected in Me; and thus thy right foot will be nailed to My cross. Thy mental
and bodily powers must not seek rest in lukewarmness; in the likeness of My
arms they should be stretched out in My service. Thy sickly body must often, in
honour of my dislocated bones, be wearied out in spiritual exercises, and
rendered incapable of fulfilling its own desires. Many an unknown suffering
must strain thee to Me on the narrow bed of the cross, by which thou wilt
become lovely like Me, and of the colour of blood.[4]
Henry
Suso uses the image of Christ suffering on the cross in accordance with
sufferings we will endure in our journey in seeking God. Eternal Wisdom says
that through these sufferings we will “become lovely like him”. God has the
ability to regenerate hearts that are weighted down by sin, to renew them in
His goodness and love.
The
servant then asks the Lord, a burden which has caused his heart to ache. He
admits to Eternal Wisdom, feeling ashamed, that he is saddened that due to the
vastness of the Lord’s love, the love that God has for the servant is less. God
assures the servant that “My love is of that sort which is not diminished in unity,
nor confounded in multiplicity. I am as entirely concerned and occupied with
thee alone, with the thought how I may at all times love thee alone, and
fulfill everything that appertains to thee.”[5]
It seems foolish to question God and His love for us; however, I believe many
ponder upon this very agony. This begins the litany of questions from the
servant to Eternal Wisdom. The servant questions the wrathfulness and justice
of God, while yet showing merciful love. He beckons God to name the highest
good, the activity which the soul rests most happily.
Perhaps,
the question which heavies the greatest of hearts is how suffering can be justified
with a God who has unimaginable power and love for his creatures? The servant
explains to God that he praises him during times of great fortune; however,
during times of tragedy, he finds difficulty in praising God. It is a common
misconception among people, that suffering is evidence enough to disprove God’s
omnipotence and omnibenevolence. If God is all loving, he would not allow evil
to enter the world, and if God is all powerful, he holds the capability to destroy
the evil of the earth. Eternal Wisdom rebukes this by saying, “What harm can
all their sufferings and disgraces now do them, which have turned out so much to
their joy?[6]”
Throughout Suso’s book of Eternal Wisdom, the theme of suffering bringing
eternal joy surrounds Eternal Wisdom’s words. Without suffering and
tribulation, we cannot reach heaven. Our suffering is temporary, so we must
turn to our Lord during these times of tribulations for guidance and strength. Eternal
Wisdom responds to the servant’s anguish with suffering bringing possible
goodness. God replies,
If
suffering gave no pain, it could not be called suffering. There is nothing more
painful than suffering, and nothing more joyful than to have suffered.
Suffering is a short pain and a long joy. Suffering gives to the sufferer pain
here and joy hereafter. Suffering kills suffering. Suffering is ordained that
the sufferer may not suffer eternally[7].
Eternal
Wisdom is constantly reassuring the servant of the promise of everlasting joy,
if one anchors himself in God during times of great anguish. We must carry our cross, alongside the Lord.
Henry
Suso ends the first part with a dialogue between the servant and Mary, the
Mother of Christ. Mary expresses the sorrow in her heart during the passion and
death of her son, Jesus. The servant then expresses his fear of separation from
the Lord, and requests Mary keep close to him, in leading him towards Christ.
Part
two of A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom is
centered on the ways in which we are to live and die. The servant asks Eternal
Wisdom how to live a life, devoted entirely to God. Eternal Wisdom addresses the
necessity of the sacrament of the Eucharist. The celebration of the Holy
Eucharist is the highest form of prayer to God, for this is when God is truly
present before us. God reminds his children that He, who remains in constant
thought of God, will avoid sin.
The third
part of this book is the shortest amongst the three, and here, Suso complies
hundreds of words in prayers and mediation directed towards God, in a few daily
devotions. Henry Suso chose to conclude his book of wisdom with words of prayer
so that we do not forget, even in times of sadness, to praise our Lord. The entire
book symbolizes the spiritual journey which every being takes, in his/her path
towards God. Suffering, joy, love and life have been explored and answered by
the ultimate Wisdom, God. This book serves as a tool of improving ones spiritual
life, as well as a tool of daily devotion to our Lord and Mary, the Mother of
God.
[1] Henry Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom (London: Burns, Oates, &
Washbourne Ltd.), 5.
[2] Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 5.
[3] Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 7.
[4] Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 25.
[5] Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 33.
[6] Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 40.
[7] Suso, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 47.
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