De visione Dei

Of the most reverend father and lord in Christ, Lord Nicholas of Cusa, cardinal priest of the title of Saint Peter in Chains, Bishop of Brixen, to the abbot and brethren of Tegernsee, the book on the vision of God or on the icon.

I will now set forth what I earlier promised to you, most beloved brethren, concerning the facility of mystical theology. For I judge you, whom I know to be led by zeal for God, worthy for this treasure to be opened to you, precious indeed and most fruitful: praying first the Almighty to give me the supernal word and speech, which alone can unfold itself, that according to your capacity I may narrate the marvels which are revealed above every sensible, rational, and intellectual sight. I shall strive, however, in the simplest and most common manner, to lead you by experience into the most sacred darkness, where, when you are, sensing the inaccessible light to be present, each one shall attempt of himself, in the manner granted him by God, continually to draw nearer, and here to foretaste with a certain sweetest libation that supper of eternal felicity to which we are called in the word of life through the gospel of Christ, forever blessed.