Neroccio de Landi, the Annunciation,

tempera on panel

circa 1480

Yale University Art Gallery

 

Meister Eckhart

comments on on the Heart

 

The soul is entire in every single member. It is true that her first work is in the heart. The heart lies in the middle, and needs protecting on all sides, just as heaven suffers no alien influence and receives nothing from anywhere, for it possesses all things.

—page 138

Just as the essence of the soul is chiefly in the heart (for although she is equally perfect in all members, and as perfect in the least as in the greatest, still her essence and the mainspring of her activities is chiefly in the heart), so the Father is the source and mainspring of all divine activity.

—page 314

St. Paul says, "The highest good is that a man establishes his heart in grace" (Heb. 1 3 : 9) . Three things are to be noted a bout these words. One is where to begin: in the heart. Next, with what? With grace. And why ? In order to remain good. So we begin with the heart. That is the noblest organ in the body, lying in the middle so as to give life to the body: for the bourn of life springs in the heart and its operation is like that of heaven.

—page 325

 

 Excerpts taken from the complete mystical works.