Vigils Reading

ROOTED IN LOVE

From the spiritual writings of the 13th century anchoress Ancrene Wisse4 ◊◊◊

God has earned our love in every kind of way… He gave us all the world in Adam our first father… He did even more… “Christ,” says St. Paul, “so loved his beloved that he paid for her the price of himself.” Pay close attention, my dear sisters, to why one ought to love him: first, as a man who woos, like a king who loved a noble poor lady of a far land… Hereby hangs a tale, a parable with a hidden meaning.

A lady was completely surrounded by her enemies, her land all ruined, and she completely destitute, inside an earthen castle. Nevertheless, the love of a mighty king was turned to her so passionately that by way of courtship he sent his messengers, one after the other, often many together. He sent her many beautiful presents, provisions to keep her alive, the help of his noble army to hold her castle. She received it all like one who did not care, and was so hard-hearted that he could never come any nearer to her love… He came himself in the end… spoke so sweetly, and such happy words they could raise the dead to life again. He worked miracles, and performed many acts of power before her eyes, revealed to her his might, told her of his kingdom, asked to make her queen of all he had. All this was no use. Is this contempt not strange? For she was never worthy to be his handmaiden. But in his graciousness love had so overcome him that in the end he said:

“Lady, you are beleaguered, and your enemies are so strong that you can in no way escape from their hands without my help. So that they do not put you to shameful death after all your grief, for the love of you I will take this fight upon myself, and rid you of those who seek your death. Yet I know it to be true that I will receive from them my death-wound – and I wish it with all my heart, to win your heart. Now then, I beseech you, for the love I show you, that you love me at least after this deed, dead, when you would not living.”

The king did everything just so: he rid her of all her enemies and was himself cruelly abused and finally killed – yet through a miracle he arose from death to life. Would not this same lady be of an evil sort of nature if she did not love him ever after over all things?

This king is Jesus, God’s Son, who in just this way wooed our souls, which the devil had surrounded; and he, like a noble wooer, after many messengers and many presents, came to prove his love, and showed through chivalry that he was worthy of love, as knights were at one time accustomed to do… And for love of his love had his shield pierced on every side in the fight, like a brave knight. His shield, which covered his Godhead, was his beloved body which was spread on the cross, broad like a shield above in his stretched arms, and narrow beneath where the one foot…was set upon the other.

“But Lord,” you say, “why? Could he not have delivered us with less pain?” Yes indeed, very easily, but he would not… A thing little loved is easily bought. He bought us with his heart’s blood – never was a price dearer – to draw out our love toward him, that cost him so bitterly… After a brave knight’s death, his shield ishung high in church in his memory. So is this shield, that is, the crucifix, set high in church in such a place where it is soonest seen, to bring to mind Jesus Christ’s chivalry, which he performed on the cross. His beloved should see by it how he bought her love, letting his shield be pierced, his side opened to show her his heart, to show her openly how deeply he loved her, and to draw out her heart.