Martyrium Amoris.

XXV.

Galat.5. L. Iustin.
QVi Christi sunt, carnem suam crucifixerunt
cum vitijs & concupiscentijs. sed o anima,
quam suauis tibi hæc crux; quam dulces claui,
quam iucunda extensio, quam acceptus malleus,
quam blanda percussio, quam interfectio leniens,
quam suauis mors! per meditationem commo-
rans in Christi tormentis, te ipsam non vides, sed
in te Deum intueris. conspicis Dominum tuum
passum & dum cum illo vis crucē baiulare ipse in
corde portat cœlum, terramque pugillo tenen-
tem & pro te leuissimè sustinet omne onus. vis
cum illo coronari, & spe gloriæ coronaris. vis cū
illo in ligno sine vestimentis frigere; & nimio a-
moris ardore succēderis. vis cum illo acetum gu-
stare, & vino inenarrabilis dulcedinis potaris. vis
cum ipso tristari, & lætaris. vis cum illo affligi, &
consolaris. cum patiente vis pati, & nimium iu-
cundaris. cum Christo vis in cruce pendere, & te
dulcissimè Christus amplexatur. cum illo vis fa-
ciem, mortis pallore præfusam, inclinare; & caput
tuum Christus eleuans suauissimè osculatur. O
Mors amabilis! O delectabile martyrium! cuius
author est Amor.

[136a] ↓

Christo confixus sum cruci. Gal. 2.¹

Le bras de l'Amour est si doux,
Qu' il ne me blesse de ces cloux.

137 ↓

Martyre de l'Amour.
XXV.
Croys moy, Amour, qu' il m'en faut souuentrire,
Quand les Amants t'appellent vn martyre;
Car s'il est vray, ton martyre est bien doux:
Si c'est vn mal, plus grand ie le desire,
Et ta douleur, ie veux bien qu' elle empire;
Car ie me plains, si ie n'ay de te coups,

Si los tormentos de Amor
Son tan dulces que enamoran
Con poca razon se lloran.

Geneest dijn arm/ lief/ als ghy slaet?
Wat werdet als t'omhelsen gaet?

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Facsimile Images

136

[136a]

137

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Translations

Martyrdom of love.

Those who belong to Christ crucified their flesh together with its vices and desires. But, o soul, how sweet is this cross to you, how attractive the keys, how pleasant the rack, how welcome the axe, how enticing the beheading, how soothing execution, how sweet death! When you dwell in Christ's torments through meditation you do not see yourself², but in yourself you have a vision of God; you see your Lord's passion and while you wish to bear the cross together with Him, He himself carries you in His heart holding heaven and earth in the palm of His hand, and for your sake He bears all your burdens as the lightest of things.
You want to share the crown of thorns with Him and you are crowned with the hope of glory. Without clothing you want to suffer cold with Him on the wood [of the cross] and you are kindled by the overbearing heat of love. You want to taste vinegar with Him and you will drink of a wine of unspeakable sweetness. You want to feel sorrow with Him, and you are glad. You want to be downcast with Him and you are comforted. In His suffering you want to suffer with Him and you receive excessive happiness. With Christ you wish to hang on the cross and Christ embraces you in the sweetest manner. Together with Him you wish to hang your head, your face suffused with the pallor of death, and Christ lifting up your head kisses you in a most pleasing way. O lovable death! O delightful martyrdom! It is love that created you.

I am on the cross together with Christ.

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Literature

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Sources and parallels

Possibly based on, not mirrored: Martyrium amoris. [35] (in: anonymous, Amoris divini et humani antipathia (1628)) [Compare]
Parallel for the pictura (exact copy), the Latin bible quote and the French epigram in:Na Lyden, verblyden [13] (in: Jan van Hoogstraten, Zegepraal der goddelyke liefde (1709)) [Compare]

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References, across this site, to this page:

Martyrium amoris. [35] (in: anonymous, Amoris divini et humani antipathia (1628))
Na Lyden, verblyden [13] (in: Jan van Hoogstraten, Zegepraal der goddelyke liefde (1709))

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Iconclass

The soul is letting itself be nailed to the cross by sacred love, observed by God the Father

God's perfections [11A23]
(rays of) light ~ symbol of God the Father [11C15]
God the Father as bearded old man, usually with crown or tiara or sceptre and/or globe [11C23]
love towards God; 'Amore verso Iddio' (Ripa) [11Q01]
'Martirio' (Ripa) [11Q140]
radiance emanating from persons or things [22C31]
hitting at something [31A2743]
adult woman [31D15]
the soul during lifetime [31G1]
container of metal: bucket, can, canister, drum, tin [41A771]
tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries: hammer [47D8(HAMMER)]
tools, aids, implements ~ crafts and industries: nail [47D8(NAIL)]
Pleasure, Enjoyment, Joy; 'Allegrezza', 'Allegrezza da le medaglie', 'Allegrezza, letitia e giubilo', 'Diletto', 'Piacere', 'Piacere honesto' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56B1(+4)]
Pain, Sorrow, Sadness; 'Dolore', 'Dolore di Zeusi' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56BB1(+4)]
(personifications and symbolic representations of) Love; 'Amore (secondo Seneca)' (Ripa) (+ clothed) [56F2(+123)]
(personifications and symbolic representations of) Love; 'Amore (secondo Seneca)' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F2(+4)]
the erection of the cross: Christ is nailed to the cross which lies on the ground (+ variant) [73D55(+0)]
crown of thorns ~ instruments of the Passion [73D82(CROWN OF THORNS)]
single instruments of the Passion (with NAME) [73D82(HAMMER)]
nails ~ instruments of the Passion [73D82(NAILS)]
single instruments of the Passion (with NAME) [73D82(TONGS)]
proverbs, sayings, etc. (with TEXT) [86(NA LYDEN, VERBLYDEN)]

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Comments

commentary

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Notes

¹

Gal. 2:19.

²

'te ipsam non vides', 'you do not see yourself': 'ipsam' feminine, because of 'anima'.

Martyrium Amoris [67]

Facsimile Images

Translations

Literature

Sources and parallels

References, across this site, to this page:

Iconclass

Comments

Notes