The divine soliloquies of Gerlac Petersen, Canon Regular of Deventer
By: translated from the Latin by Monialis.
Contributors: Monialis.
Publisher: Longmans, Green and Co.
Published: 1920
Place of publication: London [etc.]
Language: eng
Work titles: Soliloquia divina.
Table of contents: title: CONTENTS; title: LIFE OF THE AUTHOR; title: Gathered from the Chronicles of Windesheim; title: CHAPTER I; title: That he who would escape distraction of mind and would recollect himself within, should always look to the end of all things and refuse to be consoled by anything less than God, and should follow after none but God alone; title: CHAPTER II; title: That a man should often consider his state of exile, that he may take refuge in God ; for united to Him he will feel need of nothing; title: CHAPTER III; title: That in everything we have to do we should always look to the end for which it is done, to the source whence all things spring, and whither they are tending .; title: CHAPTER IV; title: Of the great devotion with which Christ offered Himself once in time upon earth, and still offereth Himself unto the Father in heaven, and now offereth Himself in the holy mysteries of the Altar, to be received by us with like devotion; title: CHAPTER V; title: That virtue is to be practised solely out of regard to God and the truth ; and that annoyance from one's neighbour is to be borne out of pity for him 6; title: CHAPTER VI; title: That the beholding of the truth produceth humility and casteth down the pride and vain self-satisfaction which would lead the soul into darkness 7; title: CHAPTER VII; title: That the highest faculty of our soul, though disposed to eternal things, is yet hindered in various ways : that Christ wills it to become empty, in order that He may establish us in great freedom before Him in divine things by means of conformity to the divine will 9; title: CHAPTER VIII; title: Of the nakedness and purity of the soul in the presence of the eternal Truth, even when it perceives the forms of created things, for it sees them in God. Of the man who is blessed. Of true liberty of soul 11; title: CHAPTER IX; title: That the contemplative life is vigorous and truly free ; that it is the gift of God : that this gift worketh all things in a man who thenceforth glorieth in God alone and therein is truly rich 13; title: CHAPTER X; title: That the beholding of God experienced by the soul maketh it changeless and one with Him, and driveth away strange things; that simplicity bringeth a man to conformity with God as though he were immovable ; and that those who seek their own profit are foolish 15; title: CHAPTER XI; title: Of diligent cleaving to the way of God, which is the Cross. How sweet is the Cross to him who doth not depart therefrom, but who persevereth therein, simply and without seeking his own ease. Of the wonderful effect of this — namely, trust in God 19; title: CHAPTER XII; title: Though the upper region of the mind may be invaded by vices which cause its vision to be clouded, yet the help of God, hidden though it be, is always at hand, and that one must cling to Him and reach forward to Him 27; title: CHAPTER XIII; title: Invitation to gaze upon God. Hindrances, delays, searchings on our part. Colloquy between God, the Angels, and our souls 31; title: CHAPTER XIV; title: The sight of God discloses to the soul that abideth in the divine light His eternal and unchanging love : that the power to conquer the enemies which attack the soul in its inferior part is to be sought by prayer 39; title: CHAPTER XV; title: That righteousness, truth, and the glory of God are to be sought only in the Cross of the Lord, and that they are to be loved without seeking of self or one's own convenience 42; title: CHAPTER XVI; title: He who cleaveth to God in simplicity and purity lacketh nothing, and is to such a degree secure, that under no circumstances can he either be injured or be in want 43; title: CHAPTER XVII; title: General rules for a life lived in the presence of God 45; title: CHAPTER XVIII; title: That the unitive and contemplative life is most pleasing to God, excellent in itself and acceptable to the Holy Trinity : that it is not to be disturbed by activities and external things, which nevertheless must have their place and be attended to 47; title: CHAPTER XIX; title: That a life spent in the presence of God is the only good life : that it is endowed with truth and wisdom, and that it reacheth forth to all things in righteousness and peace 51; title: CHAPTER XX; title: A prayer to Christ for the abiding illumination of His countenance and for true liberty of spirit : with the answer of our Lord 52; title: CHAPTER XXI; title: To him who is naught in himself, God is all in all 54; title: CHAPTER XXII; title: That by true resignation true rest is to be obtained, and also the true wisdom which sufficeth for all things 55; title: CHAPTER XXIII; title: The man who is poor in spirit is indeed truly and spiritually very rich, because by contemplation and the knowledge of God he comes to possess true liberty of soul 58; title: CHAPTER XXIV; title: That in a spiritual man who contemplates divine truth there is wonderful power of rising above all things by reason, and also humility and evenness of mind 61; title: CHAPTER XXV; title: Of the double region within us — namely, the lower, which belongeth to the bodily senses, and the higher, which belongeth to the soul and spirit. Whosoever withdraweth himself from the region of the senses to the region of the spirit, and walketh before God in the spirit, is secure, and cannot be touched or injured by things of sense. Thence it appears what it is to walk according to the spirit 63; title: CHAPTER XXVI; title: How strictly God will require the reformation of our interior as well as of our exterior being, according to His own image and good pleasure 71; title: CHAPTER XXVII; title: That the desire of God is to find joy in us : that our desire is to enjoy God and to take delight in His working in ourselves 74; title: CHAPTER XXVIII; title: The heritage in this life of the truly poor in spirit 75; title: CHAPTER XXIX; title: The excellence and sweetness of Poverty, of the Cross, and of the yoke of Christ : the wonderful divine and wholesome fruits they produce in the soul devoted to them 75; title: CHAPTER XXX; title: That the embrace of the Word, the Divine Spouse of our soul, and the turning of our face to His Face, worketh great and marvellous things in us, if we keep our eye single and our intention pure. How wondrously all vain and troublous things are overcome and dispersed by the manifestation of the Wisdom of God, His countenance supplying what is lacking, enlightening, ruling, perfecting all things 79; title: CHAPTER XXXI; title: That by solid virtue a man is made firm, unchanging, steadfast, and truly free : especially in order that he may be united with the Wisdom of God, whence he seeth all things and judgeth all things as they truly are, and regardeth God alone, all other considerations having been laid aside 87; title: CHAPTER XXXII; title: The kiss of the Divine Word and the embrace of the Eternal Wisdom uplift the soul that longeth after the Face of God. The Word of God liveth and worketh in the soul that seeketh Him 91; title: CHAPTER XXXIII; title: The soul freely returned to itself triumpheth in all things, and beyond all things it tendeth to the Highest Good and beholdeth the Face of the Bridegroom 93; title: CHAPTER XXXIV; title: That contemplation and enjoyment of the Divine Word are hindered by extroversion and disturbance of mind : but assisted when the heart is made empty of desires, when a constant gaze upon God is maintained, and when the soul is led to be less and less sensitive to outward events 96; title: CHAPTER XXXV; title: Whatever troubles us is to be put away from before the Face of Christ, in whose Spirit and Love we ought to walk ; since therein we shall be taught all things and shall be conformed to Him, and shall act towards all creatures in charity, embracing all in God 97; title: CHAPTER XXXVI; title: That everything ought to tend towards union with Christ and abiding with Him, and thus to be brought back to its first beginning. What the Christian life is 100; title: CHAPTER XXXVII; title: That reproof and all such things are to be so received and directed that they may increase in us charity and the gentleness of Christ, for they are the instruments of which He makes use; title: CHAPTER XXXVIII; title: That union with Christ is a most pure and sublime state. All men are to be drawn to God by our compassion, our love, and our prayers 103; title: CHAPTER XXXIX; title: By the renouncing of self-seeking, and by seeking the glory of God and the good of all men, true and unbroken liberality of heart is won, and by this means the soul passes on to the enjoyment of the Truth and of Eternal Love, when it is one with God and all things in all 205; title: Footnotes from the Edition of 1711.