Blessed Henry Suso

Jan 222010
 

[Blessed Henry Suso]
Also known as

  • Amandus
  • Heinrich Seuse
  • Heinrich von Berg
  • Henrik Seuse
  • Servant of the Eternal Wisdom

Memorial

Profile

Born to the German nobility. Joined the Dominicans at age 13. Known as a mystic. Served as prior at several houses. Theological student of Meister Eckhart in Cologne, Germany from 1322 to 1325. Taught in Constance, Switzerland. Spent years imprisoned in a dungeon due to slander and his association with Meister Eckhart, a controversial figure in his day. Great spiritual writer, using the pen name Amandus. Noted preacher in Switzerland and the area of the Upper Rhine. Spiritual advisor to Dominicans and the spiritual community called Gottesfreunde

Given to great austeries, Henry owned a half-length, tight-fitting, coarse undergarment equipped with 150 sharp brass nails, the points facing inward; he used it as his night shirt. After 16 years of this, an angel appeared to him on Pentecost Sunday and whispered that God wanted him to discontinue this practice; he threw his shirt into the Rhine.

Born

Died

Beatified

Prayers

God of wisdom, you called Blessed Henry to follow your Son and gave him the grace to mortify his body. May we follow the crucified Christ and so obtain his eternal consolation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers

Representation

Works

Additional Information

MLA Citation

  • “Blessed Henry Suso“. Saints.SQPN.com. 31 March 2013. Web. 23 May 2013. <>
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