Capitulum IV
The Lament of the Fallen Soul
The disciple expresses profound grief and desolation over having abandoned the heavenly bridegroom and the spiritual joys once experienced.
Let tears pour from my eyes; weep and don't grow weary. Let all the joys of this world depart; let everything that once seemed a comfort to me be far away, and let me seek a companion in the solitude of sorrow, a partner in sadness, so that I may weep for the sudden evils that have come upon me from the fog of my sins, and that once made me rejoice in success and flourish in youthful beauty have led me to this present misery. Therefore, my soul, turn inward, surpass all that is falling away, and seek the vast solitude of the deepest sorrows. Pursue the lofty mountains of remembered miseries, and with a wounded heart, in a tearful voice and a miserable cry, exclaim so strongly that this lamentable voice may reach the heights of the mountains and hills, and the lofty skies, until it reaches the very vault of heaven, and may it reach those ears filled with the compassion of heavenly spirits. With such cries, approach them and say: O living stones, lofty mountains, luminous fields of the heavenly mansions: who will give me that fire which, burning with the most intense heat, consumes my heart? May the most bitter tears that are now flowing move you to comfort me, and to ease my incomparable pain—a pain that pierces my heart and torments my soul deeply. Alas for me, the unfortunate one. Indeed, that heavenly bridegroom has anticipated me with his love, nourished me, chosen me as his bride, betrothed me with his ring, and adorned me abundantly. I often receive milk from His sweet mouth. I sometimes enjoy the kiss of His mouth. Sometimes that spiritual bridegroom, the lover of lilies, has embraced me spiritually and filled me with many good things. But I, wretched and ungrateful, did not realize when I was in honor, but fled from Him, withdrew, and apostatized. Woe to me, for I have lost Him. Woe to me, for I have forsaken the one joy of my heart. I have forsaken the Lord, the source of living waters. I have alienated myself from my beloved and unfaithfully separated myself from Him. Oh, miserable me! What did I want to do? Why did I forsake Him? Alas, how many good things I lost along with Him! In truth, I have lost myself and offended all the heavenly spirits. Sorrow has come upon me, and all comfort has abandoned me. I sit here naked, a widow and desolate, full of confusion and disgrace, because my false lovers, indeed my true deceivers, have grievously deceived me and miserably abandoned me, stripping me of all the good things I had received from my beloved. O the loss of honor, the ruin of joys, the deprivation of all comforts, because in one hour I have been left desolate of all my desires. From now on, I won't be able to find comfort; but this will be my greatest consolation: to receive no comfort at all, but to always groan and weep until I pass away in a miserable death. Woe is me, where shall I turn? To whom shall I go? Who will console me?
The Deception of the World
The soul reflects on the vanity of worldly pleasures and the deceptive nature of the world that led to its spiritual ruin.
Look, the whole world has abandoned me, because I have forsaken my beloved. Alas, why did I do this? Oh, what a miserable hour, that was aware of this evil. Oh, you blushing roses, white lilies, and untouched violets—you holy and immaculate souls—now behold this late-blooming flower. Pay attention and see how similar I am to the thornbush; consider how quickly the flower that the world plucks withers and falls. From now on, nothing remains for me but to die while still alive. Flourishing, I will wither; a youth before my time, I will grow old while still in health. But I could easily dismiss all these things if only I had offended your lovely and fatherly face, and saddened you, my beloved: this is hell for me, and pain above all pain. O my sweet Lord, I am failing in my mind as I recall how much love and affection you showed me, how sweetly you reminded me, and how kindly you once drew me to you. I feel pain because I have been ungrateful for all these good things, because I cared so little for such great gifts, and because I have so lightly cast aside such a treasure. O the longed-for presence of unhappy death, why do you delay? Why don't you take me away? O strong power of the human heart, why do I not fail under such great suffering? O iron hardness of my heart, why do I suffer so much pain and yet not break? Listen to me, divine flowers, and have compassion, all you pious lovers. I was once beloved, adorned with the most excellent name, and called the bride of the highest King. The Lord had called me the beautiful, fruitful olive tree. Alas for me, unhappy one, for now I am not worthy to be called his servant, to be assigned the duty of a maid. I can no longer raise my eyes in shame and embarrassment, nor can I open my mouth to him anymore. O the anguish of my heart! I feel surrounded by anguish on every side; I don’t know what to choose. To lose something beloved without hope of recovery is worse than any death; to regain it seems impossible to my deeply sorrowful soul. Look at how I’m constrained on all sides in the vast expanse of the world. Oh, if only I could be in the most desolate solitude, where no human eye could see me and no ear could hear me, so that I could freely satisfy my cries and tears; for this is the end of my consolation. Oh sin, what have you brought upon me? Oh wretched sin and burdensome pleasure, to what a miserable state have you led me? Oh, the world is unclean, full of deception, trickery, and dizzying distractions. You, who serve and submit to your will, are deceived. Oh, how much one suffers here from tribulations and miseries! For even if it seems calm on the outside, inside it hides what can bite. And if it appears serene on the surface, infinite troubles still arise that continually afflict the wretched soul. Alas, alas, deceiver, how much you promised me at the start while you wanted to deceive me! You've set sweet words and frequent little gifts as traps for me. With the sweetest words designed to lure me—like the voices of sirens and the most delightful melodies—you've overwhelmed my senses; with a seductive look, a shining throat, and laughing eyes, you've pierced the heart of a fool. When I asked for water, you opened a jar of milk and intoxicated me with sweet poison and pleasant absinthe. You offered me beautiful and sweet little apples, to be avoided solely out of gratitude, with your own hand. You gave me roses from the rosary as a gift. You swore that you loved me deeply, and that you never wanted me to fail in joyful successes or prosperous events. Look, you clever little fox, you venomous viper. Behold, with these and countless other false flatteries, you have ensnared me, leading me to death, just as a green branch is shown to a sheep, and joyfully leads it to death. Oh, you worst of beasts, you cruelest of creatures. Now you cruelly sting the one you gently anointed, and you violently hurl the one you lightly lifted. You approach with the voice of a siren, but you carry a sting. And look, everything has been turned upside down. Just when I think I can rest more securely in your embrace, my hair is cut, my eyes are torn out; my spirit departs, my strength is taken away, and I fall defenseless to the swords of my enemies. Reflecting on these things and pondering them in my mind, I wither away within myself and become heavy with grief. Blessed, therefore, is the soul—rightly called the queen of the divided—which has been made cautious by the dangers others have faced and has preserved its own innocence of mind and body. Oh, what great happiness such a one enjoys, even without realizing it! Let the pure life rejoice, and let the soul, alien to worldly desires, be glad, for it always presumes upon a fierce and troubled conscience. This is proven to be heavier than lead, fiercer than a lion, more terrifying than thunder, and more bitter than wormwood. Here is a worm that eats away at the innermost parts, which does not allow me to eat or rest, but often shakes even those who are asleep with horror. There are so many things that lead to a polluted conscience that those who are untainted can hardly believe it. For your creature, serving you, O Creator, burns with torment against the unjust, and becomes gentler in doing good to those who trust in you. I said this because it taught me to experience these things, and the present bitterness of my heart provoked me to say it. Now, indeed, pressed by misery, I am compelled to cry out and say that it is evil and bitter for me to have forsaken my beloved and not to have obeyed his commands. Who will give me the membranes of heaven, having width exceeding the sea's ink, and pens as many as the leaves of trees and the grasses of meadows, so that I might express the pain and the irrecoverable loss I have incurred because I have forsaken my beloved? Alas, why was I born into this world? Why didn't I perish in my mother's womb? I am completely at a loss, and I don't know what to do. What more can I say? What is it that troubles me? What am I crying about?
The Call of Eternal Wisdom
Wisdom intervenes to prevent the soul's despair, revealing the infinite mercy and redemptive love available to the repentant.
What else is there for me to do but cast myself away and be thrown into the abyss of wretched despair, far from the glory of God? Wisdom: Don't you know that despair is a dangerous thing? You must not despair about your salvation at all, because I came into this world to seek and save what was lost. Disciple: Oh, what is this that I hear, that resonates so sweetly in my ears, in this wretched man and cast-off dog? Wisdom: What has happened that you don't recognize me? How is it that you have collapsed to the ground? Are you letting yourself be consumed by excessive pain and despair, my son? My dear child, look: I am the eternal wisdom, the heavenly Son of the Father, the bearer [REDACTED] mercy, the guide, and the lawgiver of piety. From my infinite, incomprehensible nature, I have opened an abyss of mercy to all created spirits, ready to receive you and everyone who wishes to return to me in my most loving embrace. Recognize my face. I am the one who endured poverty to enrich you, and I suffered the bitterest death to give you life. Behold, here I stand as the mediator between God and humanity, bearing the marks of the cross, interposing myself in the strict judgment of the eternal Father against all your sins. So now, don't be afraid. Look, I am your brother, your spouse, ready to show mercy and cover your sins, to cast them into the depths of the sea, and to forgive them as if they had never happened, provided you turn back and take care from now on. Wash in my blood, I say—in the blood of the unblemished Lamb—and in my most abundant love. Lift your head from the earth. Open your eyes and be attentive. Behold, the first robe is offered to you, a ring of understanding is given, and shoes are presented; the fattened calf is killed, a beloved name is given back, so that you may be the bride of the eternal king and be called. For I have redeemed you not with corruptible gold and silver, but with my precious blood, and with such great labor I have acquired you, so that I may not unworthily rejoice in your salvation, and be easily inclined to grant you forgiveness. What I am about to say is truly amazing and remarkable, yet it must be held with the most certain and undeniable faith. Behold, if the whole world were a fiery globe, and in the middle of it there was a single small piece of flax, it would not receive the flames as quickly as the abyss of my mercies receives a penitent sinner who wishes to convert. For in that natural action, even the smallest and most imperceptible delay would be required, but there is absolutely no delay between the penitent and the one who forgives, between the one who groans and the groan that is heard. Disciple: O incredible compassion of paternal love, O astonishing fidelity of brotherly affection, O unique joy of my heart, do you not still deign to receive that abject son of perdition? Do you not wish to grant grace to me, a condemned sinner, burdened by all my iniquities? O singular grace, O inexpressible kindness, O infinite sea of divine mercy, incomprehensible to all mortals, surpassing all human understanding, exceeding all vows, and finally transcending all merits.
The Path of Compassionate Love
The disciple embraces the path of imitation of Christ, seeking to unite their suffering with the Lord's passion through devotion and mortification.
Therefore, I bend my knees now in my heart to you, Father of mercies, and prostrate myself on the ground before your most merciful feet, giving thanks from the depths of my heart, and I ask that you look upon your only-begotten Son, whom you delivered to death out of the immense love with which you loved us, and that you forget all my iniquities because of the multitude of his sufferings. Remember, I ask you, your mercies and ancient promises. Indeed, you, by your holy mouth, delivered a sign of reconciliation to the world once lost through the flood, saying: 'I will set my bow in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you, and it shall be a sign between me and the earth.'✦ O Lord, look now, most merciful Father, upon that bow prefigured then: your beloved Son suspended on the cross. Consider carefully how he is stretched out and extended on every side, so that it may please you to count all his bones. Behold how his hands, his arms, and all his members are valiantly extended, bruised by wounds, and drenched in blood. Look upon this, I ask you, and through His wounds heal our wounds, and forgive our sins. Remember, Lord, why you are called merciful and Father of mercies. For indeed, it is because you are merciful to all that you do not remember the injustices committed against you and forget our sins. You aren’t called merciful for the righteous who don’t need repentance, but for us who have sinned and acted unjustly, you will be called merciful. Or is it only for the righteous and innocent, whose exceptional and celibate life is continually held up to us as an example, that you have decreed to place them in secret, and to adorn them alone with your grace and friendship? Or is it only for the innocent? Isn't there also a need for repentance? Indeed, there is a need for repentance for those who turn to their hearts. Isn't it true that where sin abounds, grace superabounds? Therefore, I flee to you, Father of mercies, seeking the grace of your protection. With fervent affection, I embrace you, O eternal King, and I bind myself between your outstretched and bare arms, covered in your blood, unwilling to be separated from you, whether alive or dead, ever. Therefore, O sweet and pious Father, forgive me; forgive me for the sake of the love of your only Son for my sins, for which I have deserved your wrath and have done evil before you; for my sorrow for my sins is so great that I would rather endure a thousand deaths than ever offend you again, O most pious Father. I bear all the calamities I suffer, whether it’s the hell I’ve deserved or the most severe purgatory; they don’t weigh on me or trouble me as much as the offense I’ve caused you, my Creator. I say to you, O my God and my Lord, my Redeemer and the only joy of my heart, that I grieve for having saddened you or shown any irreverence. If I could now fill the heavens with irremediable cries, and inflict such a force on my heart that it would break into a thousand pieces, that would be preferable to me than any comfort I’ve had in all the days of my life. And the more I’m troubled, the more my sorrowful spirit is afflicted because I’ve been so ungrateful to such a loving friend and most faithful Father. But now, you, teacher of God’s discipline, O eternal Wisdom, teach me, I pray, how I should bear your sweetest and most gentle wounds in my body, how I should keep them always in my memory, so that at least through this I may show to the heavenly and earthly beings what grace I owe for the countless good things you have generously bestowed upon me, a miserable person. Wisdom: Offer yourself and all that is yours to me, and never take back what you have offered. Don't just abstain from what is unnecessary, but sometimes from what is lawful as well; and look, you have shown me your hands nailed to the cross. You must do what is good; and bear the evils inflicted on you with equanimity; you should gather your restless spirit and the scattered thoughts, and strengthen them in me for the highest good; and you have affixed your feet to the cross. Don't let the strength of your mind and body weaken through carelessness, but strive to extend them continually in service to me with all your effort. When you're weary and worn out from any labor, give thanks and endure it patiently. Control the movements of your desires with strength; thus, you will respond to the violence and fatigue that your limbs endure. Moreover, let my flesh flourish through the devoted and reasonable mortification of your flesh. Even when the harshness of the cross afflicts my back, create a sweet place for yourself to rest, finding peace amidst various discomforts. Always keep your burdened soul lifted up toward the Lord; offer your members for righteousness and sanctification, just as you used to offer them for injustice. May your heart be ready to endure all adversities for my name's sake; and thus, like a faithful disciple spiritually crucified with his Lord and in some way sprinkled with the blood of compassion, you will become similar to me and beloved. Lamentation over the extinguished fervor of devotion in various people of both sexes in modern times: whom Christ calls back to true love through his passion.
Read the original Latin
Efiundite lacrimas oculi mei, plorate et nolite deficere. Leta huius mundi universa abscedant; cuncta que michi solacii esse videbantur, procul recedant, et me solitudinem meroris amicam, tristicie sociam querere sinant, ut deflere possim repentina mala que michi ex peccatorum nebula supervenerunt, et me quondam letis successibus gaudentem, et iuvenili decore florentem ad presentem miseriam deduxerunt. Ad temetipsam igitur o anima mea introrsum recurrens, et labencia cuncta supergrediens vastam solitudinem profundissimarum tristitiarum perquire, et excelsos montes rememoratarum miseriarum pete, cordeque sauciato, voce flebili et eiulatu miserabili exclama tam valide ut moncium et collium alta cacumina, aerisque excelsa auspicia usque ad supremi celi convexa, vox ista lamentabilis pertingat, et ad aures illas pietate plenas celestium spirituum perveniat. Talibusque clamoribus eos aggredere et dic: O lapides vivi, montes excelsi, campi luminosi syderearum mansionum: quis michi det ut ignis ille vehementissimuscalore nimio precordia mea adurens, et lacrime amarissime uberrime iam profluentes vos moveant ad conpaciendum michi, et ad leniendum dolorem meum, Dolorem utique inconparabilem, cordi meo vim facientem, anime viscera cruciantem, et me prementem medullitus. Heu me infelicem. Siquidem sponsus ille celestis me sua caritate prevenerat, enutrierat, in sponsam elegerat, annulo suo subarraverat, et ornaverat multipliciter.
Mei et lac ex eius ore mellifluo frequentius suscepi. Osculo oris sui interdum perfruitus sum. Non numquam etiam amplexu me spirituali spiritualis ille sponsus lyliorum amator lenierat, et repleverat multiplicibus bonis. At ego misera omnibus hiis ingrata, cum in honore essem non intellexi, sed ab ipso aufugi, recessi, apostatavi. Ve michi, quia ipsum perdidi. Ve michi, quia unicum cordis mei gaudium dereliqui.
Dereliqui venam aquarum viventium dominum. A dilecto dilecta quondam me alienavi, ab ipso me infideliter separavi. Heu me miseram, ad quid hec facere volui? Cur ipsum deserui? Eya quot et qualia cum ipso perdidi. Memetipsam etenim amisi, et omnes celestes spiritus offendi.
Tristia venerunt, solaciosa queque me dereliquerunt. Sedeo nuda, vidua ac desolata, confusione et ignominia plena, quia mei falsi amatores, ymmo certe veri deceptores prochdolor deceperunt me et miserabiliter dereliquerunt, et omnibus bonis quibus a dilecto ditata eram spoliaverunt. 0 honoris amissio, gaudiorum perdicio, omniumque consolationum privatio, quia una hora venit universorum desiderabilium meorum plena destitutio. De cetero consolari non potero; sed hec michi erit maximaconsolacio, nullam consolacionem recipere, sed semper gemere ac flere, donec miserabili morte perfungar. Ve michi, quo me vertam, ad quem ibo? Quis me consolabitur?
Ecce totus mundus me dereliquit, quia dilectum meum reliqui. Heu me, quare hoc feci? 0 quam miserabilis hora, que huius mali extitit conscia. 0 rubescentes rose, et lylia albescencia, ac viole inviolate, anime videlicet sancte et inmaculate, intuemini nunc quemprefero serotinum florem. Attendite et videte me spineto consimilem, et ponite ad cor quam citissime marcessit et decidit flos ille quem hic mundus carpit; quia de cetero nil restat, nisi ut vivus moriar, florens marcescam, iuvenis ante tempus senescam, et sanus langwidus fiam. Sed hec omnia leviter dissimilare possem ad hoc solum, quod tuam amabilem et paternam faciem offendi, et te dilectum contristavi: hoc michi infernus est, et dolor super omnem dolorem.
0 my dulcis, mente deficio, cum recolo quanta me caritate et dileccione preveneras, cum quanta dulcedine ammonebas, et quam amicabiliter me ad te quondam trahebas. Me premit dolor, eo quod hiis omnibus ingratus fui, quod tanta bona tam modicum curavi, tantum thesaurum tam leviter abieci. 0 mortis infelicis optata presenda, ad quid retardas? Cur me non tollis? 0 cordis humani fortitudo prevalida, quia tanta paciendo non defitio. 0 cordis mei duricia ferrea, quare nimio dolore premor et non dirumpor?
Obaudite me divini flores, et condolete omnes pii amatores. Ego illa quondam dilecta, nomine excellentissimo decorata, sponsa summi regis appellata fui. Olyvam uberem pulchram fructiferam speciosam vocaverat dominus nomen meum. Heu me infelicem, quia nunc non sum digna vocari ipsius focaria, lotricis officio deputanda. Oculos meos pre rubore et verecundia nequaquam de cetero audeo levare, sed neque os meum amplius ad ipsum aperire. 0 cordis angustie.
Angustie namque michi sunt undique; et quid eligam ignoro. Dilectum enim absque spe recuperandi perdidisse, gravius est omni morte; ipsum vero sicut prius rehabere apud tristissimam animam meam iudicaturinpossibile. En quomodo undique coartor in tocius mundi latitudine spaciosa. Atque utinam in solitudine vastissima essem, ubi oculus humanus me non videret, neque auris audiret, ut me liberius clamoribus ac fletibus saciare possem; quia hoc finis consolationis mee existit. 0 peccatum, quid michi contulisti? 0 infelix culpa et laboriosa voluptas, ad qualem miserum statum me perduxisti?
0 mundus inmundus, decepcione et fallacia ac vertigine plenus. Ye ei qui tibi ffamulatur et voluntati tue se subicit. 0 quantis hic tribulationibus et miseriis angustiabitur. Nam et si exterius blandire videatur, interius tamen latet quod mordeat. Et si aforis serenus videatur, infinita tamen occurrent que animam miseram iugiter affligant. Heu heu deceptrix, quanta michi in inicio promisisti, dum me decipere voluisti.
Dulcibus litteris, crebrisque munusculis michi insidias posuisti. Verbis suavissimis et ad alliciendum conpositis, velud syrenarum vocibus fistularumque dulcissimis modulacionibus sensum michi abstulisti; vultu meretricio, gutture nitenti, ridentibusque oculis cor stulti transfixisti. Aquam petenti, utrem cum lacte aperuisti, et me dulci toxico et suavi absinthio inebriasti. Pomella pulchra et suavia ob solam gratitudinem fugienda, manu propria exhibuisti. Rosas de rosario pro munere dedisti. Jurastique valide quod me summe diligeres, nec umquam michi letis successibus prosperisque eventibus deficere velles.
0 callida vulpecula, 0 vipera venenata. Ecce hiis aliisque innumeris falsis blandiciis me irretitum post te in mortem traxisti, sicut cum ovi ramus viridis ostenditur, et ad mortem leta gaudensque perducitur. 0 fera pessima, 0 bestia cruenta. Nunc pungis crudeliter quem leniter unxisti, atrociter allidis quem leviter elevasti. Vocem syrene similans, aculeum te habere prodis. Et ecce omnia versa sunt in contrarium.
Dum in sinu tuo me tucius requiescere puto, capilli absciduntur, oculi eruuntur; recedit spiritus, robur tollitur, et inimicorum gladiis inermis occumbo. Hec recolens, hec mente pertractans, in memetipso marcesco, factusque, sum michi metipsi gravis. Felix proinde anima, regina merito dividarum nuncupanda, quam aliena reddiderunt pericula cautam, que suam mentis et corporis servavit innocenciam. 0 quanta felicitate talis eciam nesdens perfruitur. Gaudeat vita pura, letetur et anima a concupiscendis mundanis aliena, quoniam semper presumit seva conturbata consciencia. Hec plumbo gravior, leone ferocior, tonitruo terribilior, absinthio amarior esse conprobatur.
Hic est vermis interiora corrodens, qui non comedere nec quiescere sinit, sed plerumque eciam dormientes horrore concutit. Tot et tanta sunt que inquinatam consciendam ledunt, quod hec incoinquinati vix credere possent. Creatura enim tua tibi factori deserviens, excandescit in tormentum adversus iniustos, et lenior fit ad benefadendum hiis qui in te confidunt. Hec dixi, quia hec dicere experienda docuit, et presens amaritudo cordis mei amarissima ad hec me provocavit. Jam enim miseria me premente, cogor exclamare et dicere, quia malum et amarum est michi reliquisse sponsum meum, et preceptis eius non obtemperasse. Quis michi det menbranas celi habentes latitudinem, atramentum maris excedens quantitatem, et calamos tot quot arborum folia et pratorum gramina, ut perstringere possem dolorem, simulque dampnum irrecuperabile quod incurri, quia dilectum meum dereliqui.
Heu, ut quid in hunc mundum nascebar? Cur in utero matris non perii? Totus deficio, et quid agam ignoro. Quid amplius moror? Quid turbor? Quid ploro?
Quid amplius restat, nisi ut meipsum despidam, et in baratrum infelicis desperationis a facie glorie dei me proiciam desolatum? SAPIENCIA: An ignoras quoniam periculosa res est desperacio? Desperare de salute tua nullatenus debes, quia ego ad hoc veni in hunc mundum, querere et salvum facere quod perierat. DISCIPULUS: O quid est hoc quod audio, quod tam dulciter resonat in auribus meis, in homine misero et cane abiecto? SAPIENCIA: Quid factum est, quia me non recognoscis? Quomodo sic corruens in terram collapsus es?
Numquid pre dolore nimio alienationem mentis pateris fili my? 0 dilecte my: Ecce ego sum illa etema sapienda, celestis patris filius, misericordie baiulus, demende dux, et legifer pietatis, qui abyssum misericordie omnibus creatis spiritibus ex sua infinitate inconprehensum aperui, teipsum omnesque ad me redire volentes sinu piissimo recepturus. Agnosce vultum meum. Ego enim sum qui paupertatem sustinui ut te ditarem, mortem pertuli amarissimam ut te vivificarem. Ecce hic sto mediator dei et hominum, reservata habens crucis stigmata, interponens ipsa districto iudicio etemi patris et cunctis peccatis tuis. Nunc igitur noli timere.
En ego sum frater tuus, sponsus tuus, paratus misereri et tegere peccata tua et proicere in profundum maris, et sic remittere quasi numquam fuerint, dummodo converti et de cetero cavere tibi volueris. Lavare in sangwine meo, Jn sangwine inquam agni inmaculati amore plenissimi, et roseo colore prefulgenti. Leva de terra caput tuum. Aperi oculos, et animequior esto. Ecce profertur tibi stola prima, datur annulus intelligencie, et calciamenta exhibentur; vitulus saginatus occiditur, nomen amabile redditur, ut sponsa etemi regis sis et appelleris. Etenim non corruptibihbus auro et argento, sed precioso sangwine meo te redemi, et cum tanto labore acquisivi, ut non inmerito debeam gaudere de salute tua, et ad veniam esse facilis.
Mirum est et valde mirandum quod dicere volo, certissima tamen et indubitata fide tenendum. Ecce si totus mundus esset globus igneus, et in medio eius de stipula lini pugillus unus: hic ex sua naturali inchnacione non tam cito flammarum incendia reciperet, sicut abyssus miserationum mearum peccatorem penitentem et converti volentem. Quia in illa accione naturali aliqualis licet minima et inperceptibilis requireretur morula, sed nulla penitus mora inter penitentem et remittentem, inter gementem et gemitus exaudientem. DISCIPULUS: 0 paternarum viscerum pietas inaudita, 0 fraterne fidelitatis dilecdo stupenda, 0 unicum cordis mei gaudium, tu ne illum abiectum perditionis filium dignaris adhuc recipere? Numquid ne reo mortis, omnibus iniquitatibus obnoxio gratiam vis inpendere? 0 gratia singularis, 0 benignitas inenarrabilis, 0 divine misericordie pelagus infinitum, cunctis mortalibus inconprehensum, excedens ingenia, superans vota, denique supergrediens merita universa.
Huius igitur rei gracia flecto nunc genua cordis mei ad te pater misericordiarum, et in terram provolutus prosterno me coram pedibus tuis clementissimis, gracias agens ex intimis precordiis, et peto ut respicias tuum unigenitum filium, quem ex nimia qua nos dilexisti caritate in mortem tradidisti, et ut propter multitudinem dolorum eius omnium iniquitatum mearum obliviscaris. Recordare queso misericordiarum tuarum et promissionum antiquarum. Equidem tu ore tuo sancto quondam mundo per diluvium perdito signum reconsiliacionis tradidisti dicens: Ponam arcum meum in nubibus, et recordabor federis mei vobiscum, et erit signum inter me et terram. Eya respice nunc piissime pater arcum illum tunc prefiguratum, scilicet dilectissimum filium tuum in cruce suspensum. Considera diligentissime quomodo ex omni parte est expansus et protensus, ut libeat dinumerare omnia ossa eius. Ecce qualiter manus ipsius et brachia ceteraque menbra validissime sunt extenta, vulneribus attrita, sangwine perfusa.
Hec queso intuere, et per ipsius vulnera tu nostra sana vulnera, ac dimitte peccata. Memento domine quare misericors et pater misericordiarum dicaris. Nam ex eo videlicet quod omnium miserator misereris et iniuriarum in te conmissarum non memineris atque peccatorum obliviscaris. Non enim propter iustos qui non indigent penitencia, sed propter nos qui peccavimus et inique egimus, misericors appellaberis. Aut numquid solos iustos et innocentes, quorum vita eximia et celibata nobis continue in exemplum relegitur, auricularios a secreto ponere decrevisti, et eos solos gracia et amicicia tua singulariter decorare disposuisti? Aut numquid innocencium dominus tantum?
Nonne et penitencium? Ymmo et penitencium et eorum qui convertuntur ad cor. Nonne ubi habundavit delictum, et gratia superhabundare conswevit? Jgitur ad te patrem misericordiarum confugio, protectionis tue gratiam quero. Jnsuper affectu quoque fervidissimo, amplexu precordiali, 0 fili regis etemi, me inter extenta et nuda constringo brachia tua sangwine cruentata, nolens a te neque vivus neque mortuus umquam separari. Quamobrem 0 dulcis et pie pater remitte michi, Remitte michi propter amorem unigeniti tui peccata mea, quibus iram merui et malum coram te feci; quia tantus est michi pro peccatis dolor, ut potius mille mortes vellem sustinere, quam te pater piissime de cetero umquam offendere.
Omnes namque calamitates quas pacior, seu etiam infernus quem demerui, aut purgatorium sevissimum non tantum pondero, nec me tantum contristant, sicut offensa qua te creatorem meum offendi, Te inquam o do minum meum et deum meum, redemptorem meum et unicum cordis mei gaudium; et quod te contristavi vel aliquam irreverentiam exhibui. Unde et si possem nunc omnes celos replere clamoribus irremediabilibus, et tantam vim cordi meo inferre, ut mille scissuris frangeretur: hoc michi esset optabile pre omnibus solaciis que habui omnibus diebus vite mee. Et quanto micius mecum agitur, tanto amplius lacrimosus animus affligitur, eo quod tam pio amico et patri fidelissimo tam ingratus fui. Sed nunc tu doctrix discipline dei, O etema sapientia, doce me obsecro, qualiter tua stigmata dulcissima et suavisima in corpore meo deferam, qualiter ipsa iugiter in memoria retinere debeam, ut saltem per hoc ostendam celigenis atque terrigenis, quam gratiam referam pro tam innumeris bonis ex superhabundancia pietatis tue largiter michi misero collatis. SAPIENCIA: Teipsum et omnia tua michi offeras, nec oblata aliquando resumas; et non solum a superfluis sed etiam interdum a licitis abstineas: et ecce manus confixas cruci mee exhibuisti. Quod bonum est debes facere; et mala illata equanimiter sustinere; animumque tuum mutabilem, ac sparsas cogitationes debes colligere, et recollectas in me summo bono firmare: et pedes tuos cruci affixisti.
Virtutem animi et corporis non permittas accidiose tepescere, sed ad similitudinem brachiorum meorum iugiter in meo famulatu extendere toto conamine stude. Fessus et fatigatus ex labore quocumque gratias age et patienter sustine. Motusque sensualitatis viriliter restringe: et sic violencie et lassitudini quam crura patiebantur respondebis. Porro caro mea refloreat per carnis tue devotam racionabilemque mortificationem. Sed et dorso meo crucis ex asperitate afficto, dulce reclinatorium ad quiescendum facias, per diversorum incomodorum voluntariam perpessionem. Animum corpore pregravatum semper sursum ad dominum habeas; menbra tuaiustide et sanctificationi exhibeas, sicut ea prius iniusticie exhibere solebas.
Cor promptum tibi sit ad sustinenda omnia adversa pro nomine meo: et sic tamquam fidelis discipulus cum domino suo spiritualiter crucifixus et quodammodo sangwine conpassionis respersus, michi similis amabilisque efficieris. Planctus super extincto fervore devotionis in diversis personis utriusque sexus moderni temporis: quos Cristus per suam passionem revocat ad verum amorem.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.9.13-Gen.9.15 — I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Gen.9.14 — When I bring clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds. Gen.9.15 — And I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature, all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Horologium Sapientiae (Clock of Wisdom) companion
A daily portion of stillness
Chosen Portion delivers one short contemplative reading and a guided moment of silence each day — the ascent, one step at a time.
Chosen Portion is the paced doorway into this collection: it portions the dense mystical treatises into one daily reading plus guided silence, exactly as the 14-day plan teaches.
- Daily bite-sized excerpts from the contemplative classics, never a wall of text
- A built-in timed stillness practice that grows from 2 minutes to 10
- Gentle progression through the tradition — the app remembers where you are on the ascent