Vigils Reading

BE FIRM, STAND FIRM, ACT BOLDY

A letter from Henry Suso to a spiritual daughter4 ◊◊◊

Dear daughter, why do you give in to yourself? Why do you so turn your back on the well-intentioned instruction of your spiritual father that you begin again to surrender yourself to things from which I had just barely weaned you, things that weakened you in soul, body and honor. Do you now think you can go and do whatever you feel like? Do you now stand so firmly that you can allow yourself anything? Alas, why don’t you think back on what God has forgiven you, how you just barely got to where you are, and that you are not yet anything at all?… Don’t you see the devil has wrapped a silk thread around your neck and would like to lead you off after him?…

“Be brave…” When a respected knight first leads a squire into the tournament ring, he says to him encouragingly, “Now, noble hero, show what you are capable of today. Be bold and defend yourself keenly. Don’t lose heart… It is better to die with honor than to live in dishonor. Once the first contest has been gotten through, it gets easier.”… This is what you need… that you stand firm and do not follow the evil counsels of the devil. You are now in the worst situation possible. If you can pass over this narrow stretch, you shall quickly pass over into the beautiful and spacious meadow of a peaceful spiritual life. Would to God that I might stand in your place and fight, taking for you the fierce blows that your besieged heart is now receiving. But this would be a shame because then you would not receive the green palm branch that you, along with other special knights of God, shall wear in your eternal glory if you conquer. For every arrow shot at you there shall be a ruby in your crown.

And so, my child, be firm, stand firm, act boldly. What you suffer is short. What you look forward to is eternal. Act as though you can neither see nor hear until you have won the first contest of your spiritual beginning. After big storms there follow bright days… Do not give in out of indulgence to the sucking vipers of your heart… If you do not want them to return tomorrow, tear their heads off. Do it quickly and thoroughly. If you only take them by the tail, they will stick to you all the more and will bite you so much the worse. Say to them that have so clearly robbed your heart of peace with their guile: “I make no peace with you!” Flee to God. Let the silly fools call after you as much as they want. Never look back! Then you will have quickly conquered all your enemies and will easily be freed from your heavy shackles…

Certainly it is not enough for you to bite daintily into the clover. You must attack your rebellious body, curb your sharpened tongue, recollect your distracted mind, so that your heart is not like a public house, a common wine cellar, a tavern, where anyone can come in and where everyone can do as he pleases. Drive them out, drive out this low company or you can certainly never receive our gentle Lord. Remember that he has bidden you to be his bride. And so see to it that you don’t become a barmaid