The great ecstatic poet, Jacopone da Todi, sang Mary's praise as
follows:
Hail, purest of virgins,
Mother and maid,
Gentle as moonlight,
Lady of Aid!
I greet thee, life's fountain,
Fruitladen vine!
Infinite mercy
Thou sheddest on thine!
Hope's fairest sunshine,
Balm's well serene!
I claim a dance with thee,
All the world's Queen!
Gate of beatitude!
--All sins forgiven,--
Lead us to paradise,
Sweet breeze of heaven!
Thou pointest us upward
Where angels adore,
White lily of gentleness
Thy grace I implore.
Mirror of Cherubim!
Seraphim laud thy grace,
All things in heaven and earth
Ring with thy praise!
The spiritual love of Mary especially appealed to the German temper.
Among the adoring monks Suso deserves particular mention. He laid great
stress on the difference between _high_ love and _low_ love. "Low love
begins with rapture and ends with pain, but high love begins with grief,
and is transformed into ecstasy, until finally the lovers are united in
eternity.
Pages:
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284