A FORWARD
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.
To this preface it was deemed advisable to add
the celebrated "Parable of the Pilgrim," taken from the writings of Walter
Hilton, a Carthusian monk, and afterwards abridged by the venerable
contemplative Father Baker, of the Order of St. Benedict.
The devout reader is earnestly requested to read
this parable again and again before commencing the study of Suso's golden book
of Eternal Wisdom. This parable outlines the whole plan of the spiritual life,
it conveys most useful instructions for those who seriously aim at perfection,
which Hilton designates as the Vision of Peace given to the Soul in Jerusalem.
This parable will be understood and appreciated by those only who are hungering
after Justice. They should read it frequently, and fervently pray for grace to
become true pilgrims and pursue the path here clearly marked out, that so they
may arrive at the glorious end.
C. H. McKenna, O.P.