Visions of Sister Hadewijch

wavering being, in whom God always finds faithful persistence in true love and who shall possess you eternally—understand now the three uppermost branches." And I saw and understood.

The tree was Wisdom In mystical literature, "Wisdom" (often Latin Sapientia or Greek Sophia) is frequently depicted as a feminine personification of the Divine or a guide who leads the soul to God.. The first branch of those lowest ones, whose leaves bore red hearts, was the fear of sin and of the omission of perfect virtue. The second branch was the fear that so many people lack the right veneration toward God and that so many stray from the truth, which no one is but He. The third branch was the fear that every human being must die the same death that our Bridegroom original: "Bräutigam." A central term in "Bridal Mysticism" (Brautmystik), where the relationship between the soul and Christ is described using the language of marriage and intense love. died; thus, one must wisely strive for all virtues in order to be able to die this death every hour and to take the cross upon oneself—the cross on which one shall die daily in union with all those who stray and perish This "daily death" refers to the mystical practice of dying to the self and worldly desires to live more fully in Christ..

The first of those middle branches, which bore white hearts on their leaves, was the purity of the body in morals, words, and works. The second was the endeavor to be innocent in every deed and to strive for sincerity original: "Lauterkeit." Refers to a state of being spiritually unmixed or transparent before God. and to arrange one's actions according to the pleasure of our Bridegroom. The third branch was to keep oneself so pure from all defilement of the spirit, the body, and the soul that no vulgarity can enter into one, and neither errors befall one, nor pride original: "Hoffart." A traditional term for spiritual arrogance or the "deadly sin" of pride., nor vain master...