From a Letter of Blessed Henry Suso on Devotion to the Divine Name of Jesus

 

 It is good that in many places that the Solemnity of the Epiphany has been restored to its traditional day. However, it does leave something missing on the Sunday before the Epiphany. It the older liturgies it was the Holy Name of Jesus. The Dominicans at least have preserved this devotion to the Lord’s most Holy Name. This feast was restored to the Roman Missal in 2002 and is celebrated as a Feast in the Western Dominican Province as its titular feast. It may also be celebrated as a Solemnity with 1^st Vespers.  

The almighty and eternal God makes a request of the pure soul: “Place me as a seal upon your heart." Hence the sincere lover of God should always hold in check from the mouth of the soul certain harmful images or ideas. As a result, the heart of the lover is inflamed and roused with love for God.

If in this life the highest perfection is to be continually mindful of God, to long for God in our heart, to speak frequently of God, to fix God's words firmly in our mind, to act or refrain from acting because of God, then we should contemplate God alone and focus all our attention upon God. Let our eyes gaze lovingly upon God, our ears listen to the exhortations of God, and our heart, senses, and spirit lovingly embrace God. When we offend God, let us be reconciled through prayer. When God tries us, let us bear it calmly. When God hides from us, let us search and never stop until we have found God. When we have found God, let us reverently hold fast to God,

Whether we are on the move or at rest, whether we are drinking or eating, that mark of the most glorious name of Jesus should be inscribed upon our hearts. When we have the strength to fulfill no other task, at least let us fix him upon our hearts with our eyes.

Let us turn over his most sweet name in our mouths and while we are awake be so intent upon him that we dream of him while we are asleep. Let us exclaim with the Prophet: "O eternal God! O most sweet Wisdom! How good you are to the soul who seeks you and desires you alone."

This, indeed, is the best spiritual exercise of all, for continuous prayer is considered the crown of all spiritual exercises. Everything else is directed toward it as its goal. What other activity, I ask, is there in heaven other than contemplating, loving and praising God?

Therefore, the more lovingly we impress on our hearts the Lord God, that eternal Wisdom, the more often we contemplate and cling to God with the arms of our hearts, and the more lovingly are we embraced by God in this life and in our future life.