She may yet fall if she be assailed with adversities or with prosperities. This union is right delicious; that wot they who have assayed it. And thus it behoveth her to lead, in breaking herself, for to enlarge the place where Love would have his being; and to encumber herself with many beings, so as to [dis]encumber herself to attain her being.. Now understand. Ah, Lord, saith this soul, I am certain that I have nothing more availing than are my horrible faults for which faults you have suffered death, to give me life. What shall I answer in anguish of death? Of this life tasteth none unless he be dead of the life of spirit., These souls, saith Truth, bear the flower of the love of the Deity. This is right, since she hath run that she rest herself in that place; for she may do all that she will, by the true bounty of his divine being. This she seeth in him, of him, who is maker unmade, without touching of anything that is creaturely. I have said before, saith Love, that men dare not speak openly of their usages; without fail, no! Drac Von Stoller's total downloads to date are 1,544,245. Thus saith Love for us: that there be six beings of noble being; that creatures receive being, if they dispose them to all beings, ere they come to perfect being; as I shall tell you, before this book, of the takings of love, end. We have spoken of the influence of the Areopagite on our author. This is the end of that, saith this soul, that men can tell me naught, nor can I pacify myself in this which Love saith of him; so that I say to all, I have the full satisfaction of all my questions in this, that men can tell me naught! And when the soul hath deeply tasted this love, so that this love of God worketh and hath his usages[41] in her soul, then the soul is wondrous light and gladsome, and that is no marvel, for the sweet taste of love driveth out from the soul all pains and bitterness and all doubts and dreads. Now, since I am all evils, and he is all goodness, it behoveth me to have all his goodness before all mine evil be stanched, nor with less may not my poverty be sufficed. And then this I beheld, how the divine nature oned him for us to the nature of man in the person of God the Son. (7) The union of hearing. He is not praised by any direct and conscious effort of the soul, but by indirect modes of love and praise, of which the soul is largely unconscious. [190], Nothing, saith Love, she willeth naught. Chief of these was Walter de Manny, who, with Michael of Northbrook, Bishop of London, was co-founder of the London Charterhouse. For this soul hath in her the mistress of virtues, who is called divine Love; which hath led her, in them, in all, and [hath] oned her to him, so that she is not with herself, nor with virtues.. They are less explanatory and practical than the M.N. even though we had the same, that is said in this writing, by comparison, if it might be so, [that] all should be naught in regard of the greatness of one spark of his bounty, that dwelleth in the knowing of him, beyond our knowledge. I have no life.. A Companion to Marguerite Porete and "The Mirror of Simple Souls." Wendy R. Terry and Robert Stauffer, eds. But this falling maketh not peace to be less, by troubling the conscience, [so] that the soul liveth not in peace by the gifts that be given her from above. Sooth, saith Love, Holy-Church-under-this-Holy-Church! Some such illustration will explain the rhythm of our work and the recurrences of theme, the appropriation of the thought of forerunners, and will vindicate our author from the charges of padding and plagiarism that have been levelled at him and at so many of the medieval creators. The soul, fulfilled of God, breaks out into rapturous praise and aspirations of love (indeed all the latter part of the book is characterised by the triumphal emergence of the affective powers), and is led by Truth, first through a short series of contemplations, given as a means for the liberation of the marred souls from their self-centredness. She knoweth all, saith Love, by virtue of faith, that God is Almighty, all wisdom and all goodness, and that God the Father hath done the work of the Incarnation and the Son also, and the Holy Ghost also. It is after the Death of Reason (though the writer allows her to reappear unawares once or twice) that the method changes. This creature is naked, and she is clothed with the life of glory that we have spoken of. Whoso serveth, he is not free; whoso feeleth he is not dead, whoso desireth he would [have], whoso would [have], he beggeth. Ah, ah, what a thing it is, to think of; who durst ask this, unless his own bounty had made it that Jesu Christ should be poor and despised and tormented for us? And this goodness is given to mankind to be known by my wickedness. And then I said this, that if it might be that he might love another more than me? This I shall tell you how and for why and in what? The treatise addresses thirty-five extracts from the Mirror which are refuted as errors. The first is the death of sin, as it is before said. And in this doing she may have no bitterness, nor by this may she not have dullness nor feebleness of body; no more also may the soul that of him is updrawn., The third is that a soul attend to the affection of love of works of perfection, by which her spirit burns by desires, accepting the love of these works to multiply in her. Oh, what a sweet meaning [is this]; for Gods love understand it all! This doth my Beloved, saith this soul that is such, and thus are the spreadings of divine love without any want. Thus she saveth her by faith without work, for faith surmounteth all works [by the] witness of Love herself. Certainly there are unmistakable points of contact between its teaching and that of the Brethren of the Common Life, Ruysbroeck, Eckhart, Suso even the Gottesfreunde. This is to say, in sooth, that they neither will nor not-will, any of these prosperities nor any of these adversities; for these souls have no will but [for the] thing that God willeth in them. The same features reappear. [234] Therefore it must be taken, as for the time always, of the usages. This fire of love so often described by mystical writers is carefully distinguished here from all psycho-physical phenomena. For all those that be planted of the Father and come into this world be descended of perfect into imperfect, that they may attain to the more perfect. And then I said this, that if I had of my proper condition this [which was] aforesaid, I should love better and rather choose that it went to naught without recovering, than that I should have it, unless it came of him. She may not thence move nor have dis-ease, as long as her beloved is at ease, though any [should] fall into sin, nor for sin that ever was done. [202] This soul, saith Love, liveth in the sweet country of passing peace, there is nothing that may help nor grieve them that live there, neither creature wrought, nor thing given, nor nothing that God commandeth., This, that never was, nor is, nor shall be given, that none here maketh, saith Love, this hath put her at naught. And not only these words but also many more other words that be written before and after seem fable or error, or hard to understand. And [though] the world, the flesh and the enemy, the fiend, and the four elements, the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth tormented her and despised her and devoured her, if it might so be, what might she lose, if God dwelled with her? But this that is said in me or by me, is of divine knowing, Lady Love, saith this soul, you have said it, in me and by me, of your bounty for my profit! We know that the teaching of St Bernard in the addresses on the Canticles and the treatises by Richard of St Victor cannot have been intended for the uninitiated, and, moreover, both St Teresa and St John of the Cross suffered the same accusations as were evidently brought against the theories of our author. This is God over all and there, saith this soul, I find him., O sweet Lady of us, saith Reason, tell us what ye be that speak thus?, I am, saith this soul, this that I am; of the grace of God that am I only, and none other thing than that which God is, in me. [354] And this must we do ere we have the victory over ourselves. This soul hath six wings as have the seraphins, and also she willeth nothing that cometh by means. This description marks him as an Augustinian who holds the possibility of the immediate vision of God; and though he may have learned much from St Bernards affective theology, he does not accept the theories of his mystical theology. The first is the Mirror of Simple Souls, written in the vernacular by Marguerite Porete, a woman condemned as a heretic, and the vernacular (re)trans- lations of this well-known text. [358] And his goodness may not suffer it since he hath so much of worth, that I should dwell a beggar. This weening that she is not, is in her will, which is not hers for herself. And therefore the falling is credited[31] to the sensuality, and not to the holy souls that perfectly have set their will in God, by which love maketh them free for the nobility of his work; therefore it may well be said, not that we be lords free of all, but his love for us [maketh us free]. N. So hear now a little for to show you how love may do all without any misdoing. And when she cometh down therefrom, then is she thrall, falling or fading. What thing it is that giveth this soul and is most noble being that may be had in this life, CHAPTER XV: What thing it is that hath given this soul freedom in enduring of things, CHAPTER XVI: Of the peace of this divine life, and how Mary Magdalen had it when she was in the desert. [186] This soul hath in all places her peace, for she beareth always peace with her, so that for this peace, all places be convenient to her, and all things also. He were purblind that would take it in this wise; but all such words in this book must be taken ghostly and divinely. Perhaps he was one of the unknown fourteenth-century mystics who wrote as disciples of Rolle or Walter Hilton. When Love worketh in the soul and holdeth in her the sparkles of his bright beams, she understandeth well by clarity of that light and by sweetness of that liquor that she hath drunk, [that] the work of love is more worth and draweth more to the union in God than doth her own work. God hath nowhere to put his goodness, saith she, unless he put it in me, for one may have no greater rascal[356] to be made noble by him, nor can he have any [better place] where he may put all. MS. short; in holding back their conscious reflections upon their state. Now see how worthy, and strong and right free is she, and of all things disencumbered, whom Faith and Love govern; but none may come to this unless Faith hallow him. [303] Where lieth the gloss of these words, I ask you? Lord, ye be all might, all wisdom and all goodness, without beginning, without comprehending, without end, and I am all feebleness, all foolishness and all wickedness, without beginning, without comprehending, without measure. Then, the soul ought to die entirely, so that there dwell not in her neither colour, nor savour, nor smell of nothing that God forbiddeth in the Law. Therefore to these souls that be disposed to these feelings, Love hath of himself made this book in fulfilling of their desire, and often he layeth the nut and the kernel within the shell unbroken; that is to say, love in this book layeth to souls the touches of his divine works privily hid under dark speech, so that they should taste the deeper draughts of his love and drink [thereof]. It is, nevertheless, from Methleys version of the Authors Prologue that we derive certain definite indications concerning the three censors who are less fully characterised in the Vatican MSS.[8]. And we shall tell you, saith the Light of Faith, how this humanity dwelleth with them, as thus by [a] similitude: Take this sacrament and put it in a mortar with other things, and pound this sacrament so that you may not see nor feel [aught] of the person that you have put in. MS. bounty unwrought. Bounty used throughout where I write favour, goodness, grace. They fare like the crow that weeneth there be none so fair a bird in the wood as his bride, the crow. Truth, saith this soul. There should nothing abide with her, for she hath naught nor never had, as of herself, anything, but [it] hath had a will to do a fault. Nor they unwill[168] none of all the torments of hell. The Mirrors Of Simple Souls - Translated by MN - 13th Century writings from an unknown Christian Mystic : Peter-John Parisis : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive The Mirrors Of Simple Souls - Translated by MN - 13th Century writings from an unknown Christian Mystic by Peter-John Parisis Publication date 2015-11-28 Topics For nothing may see the high divine things, but that which ought everlastingly to be. Then it behoveth, saith this soul, that I be in certainty that this which I have said is less than naught. The sermons of Eckhart, Suso and Tauler, and their school were as much intended to combat heresy as to edify the spiritual laity. It is a far gone mind,[345] saith Love, by which understanding groweth, that giveth knowing to a soul more perfectly of a thing that men say, than of a thing she saith herself, howsoever good the sayings be in all she saith. for though she were robbed of worship, honour, friends, heart, body, and life, yet would they not rob her of anything if God with her dwell; then may no creature rob her of aught, by no strength that they have., The eighth point. Therefore they see him not glorified, except by understanding, and we see him by virtue of faith, contradicting therein the reasoning of our wits [which tell us] that we see but bread, nor feel nor savour nor smell [aught else]. Charity is so wise a merchant that she winneth over all where others lose, and escapeth from perils where others perish, unto plenteous multiplying of that that is in love. I would only venture to add that, whereas the Areopagite represents the Darkness as a necessary mode of knowing God, to be attained by an elevation of the mind, laborious at times, the author of the Mirror regards the darkness as being of a temporary nature, arising when the spiritual life is well advanced, and being intermittent in its first approaches. I shall tell it you, saith the Holy Ghost. Divisions XV, XVI, and XVII are short interludes, an apology for himself, and an exhortation to discreet secrecy put into the mouth of the Blessed Trinity. For these twain aforesaid unmake this peace, if it may so befall; but not of this soul, for she is in sovereignty. Six wings as have the seraphins, and also she willeth Nothing that cometh by means men dare speak! And then I said this, that I be in certainty that this which I have said less. Sin, as it is after the Death of sin, as it is after the of. It behoveth, saith love, that if it might be that he might love another more me! 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