Horologium Sapientiae


Horologium Sapientiae was writted by the German Dominican Henry Suso between 1328 and 1330. The book belongs to the tradition of Rhineland mystics and German mysticism. It was quickly translated into a range of European languages and it was one of the three most popular Spirituality books in the fourteenth and fifteenth century.

Editions and Texts

The book was translated into English as The Seven Points of True Love and Everlasting Wisdom and as Wisdom's Watch. It circulated widely in vernacular languages such as English, as well as surviving in more than 233 medieval Latin manuscripts.

Contents

The Horologium is divided into two books. Book 1 contains 16 chapters and focuses on considerations around Christ's passion whilst book 2 contains 8 chapters.
Book 2 includes a focus upon Eucharistic theology.

Influences

was a follower of Meister Eckhart and, controversially, defended his writings after his condemnation. The book follows the style of Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, recording both Suso's frustrations and disappointments as well as spiritualising ways of dealing with them.
In chapter 9 Suso records an imaginary conversation with God in which he makes a comment about it not being surprising that God has so few friends when religious people encounter so many difficulties. This comment may have influenced traditions which claimed that Teresa of Avila made the quip 'no wonder you have so few friends Lord, when you treat them so badly.'