Heinrich Seuse
Heinrich Seuse, born Heinrich von Berg on March 21, 1295, in Constance, Germany, was a prominent German mystic and member of the Dominican order. He entered the order at a young age, studying philosophy and theology, and was influenced by the notable mystic Johann Eckhart during his studies in Cologne. Seuse's spiritual journey began around his eighteenth birthday, as he dedicated himself to the pursuit of Eternal Wisdom. His mystical practices included self-denial and self-inflicted pain, through which he sought to achieve spiritual clarity and inner peace. As a significant figure in the Friends of God, a religious association focused on holiness, he worked to revitalize religious practices in various convents. Seuse was also an itinerant preacher, sharing his mystical insights across parts of France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. His writings, which are entirely religious in nature, include notable works such as "The Little Book of Truth" and "The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom," with his autobiography, "Leben Seuses," being recognized as the first German-language autobiography. He continued to compile his works into a single volume called "Exemplar" toward the end of his life, leaving a lasting impact on the mysticism of his time.
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Heinrich Seuse
- Born: March 21, 1295
- Birthplace: Constance, Germany
- Died: January 25, 1366
- Place of death: Ulm, Germany
Biography
German mystic Heinrich Seuse was born Heinrich von Berg at Constance, Germany, on March 21, 1295. His father was a nobleman and his mother was a holy woman from whom he took the family name of Sus or Seuse. At the age of thirteen, he entered the Dominican order at Constance where he studied philosophy and theology. Between 1324 and 1327, he furthered his theological studies at a Dominican school in Cologne, where he was taught by Johann Eckhart, a noted mystic. He returned to Constance and was appointed to the post of lector, a position he held until some time between 1329 and 1334. Sometime around 1343, he was elected prior of a convent, most likely at Diessenhofen. Some years later he went to Ulm, where he remained until his death in 1366.
Seuse’s life as a mystic began sometime around his eighteenth birthday. He dedicated himself to what he referred to as Eternal Wisdom, and this dedication dominated his thoughts and actions. Seuse is remembered as an important experimental mystic who practiced self-torture and self- denial. In addition to self- flagellation and other forms of self-destructiveness, he also denied himself food, eating only enough to survive. He was known to have frequent visions and ecstasies which directed him to cut himself to free his inner tensions. According to his own writings, Seuse practiced self-destruction for nearly twenty years.
Seuse became the most important figure in a religious association known as the Friends of God, an organization dedicated to the cultivation of holiness. As such, he diligently worked to restore religious observances in the cloisters. In particular, he was most influential in the Dominican convents of Katherinenthal and Toss, where mysticism already flourished. Seuse was also a well known preacher, and he traveled throughout parts of France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to spread his doctrine.
All of Seuse’s writing is religious in nature. His most famous works include Das Buchlein der Wahrheit (c. 1325; The Little Book of Truth, 1953) and Buchlein der ewigen Weisheit (1328; The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, 1852), both of which describe Seuse’s beliefs about mysticism. Buchlein der ewigen Weisheit became a popular meditation book in the latter half of the fourteenth century and the fifteenth century. However, Seuse is most famous for his authobiography, Leben Seuses, which is credited as being the first German-language autobiography. Near the end of his life, Seuse collected much of his work, including his biography, into one book called Exemplar.