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REVELATIONS OF S. MECHTILD.
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Ee\jdations of ^, iHetI)tiltr,
VIRGIN,
TAKEN FROM THE
Jfito §a0hs 0f ^i^r Spiriteal 6raa^
AND
TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN
BY
A SECULAR PRIEST,
Author of " The Book of the Visions and Instructions of B. Angelia of Foligno," "The Life of V. Grignon cle Montfort," etc., etc.
Trahe me post te, in odorem curremus unguentorum' tuorum ; oleum effusum nomen tuum.
§\xx ^abjT of fbc ^acub "^zmt, prag for w<{.
1^011 1) Olt : THOMAS RICHARDSON AND SONS,
26, PATERNOSTER ROW; AN^XpERBY,
1875- A^\
CONTENTS.
Book I.
PAGE
Prologue ... ... ... ... ... ... I
Of the childhood, zeal, and sufferings of Mechtild, the virgin 5
CHAPTER
I. — The Annunciation of the B. Virgin Mary ... 9
II. — Of the twofold Voice of our Lord ... ... 13
III. — Of Christ's most sweet Nativity ... ... 14
IV. — How she prayed for the Congregation ... 17 V. — Of the Purification of the Most Blessed Virgin
Mary, and of Anne, her mother ... ... 20
VI. — Of the Mountain with Seven Steps. — Of the Throne of God, and of the Most Blessed Virgin
Mary ... ... ... ... ... 25
VII. — Of the Name of our Lord, and of His Wounds ... ^^
VIIL— Of the Tree of the Cross ... ... ... 3,^
IX. — Of the Passion of Christ ... ... ... 38
X. — The Passion of Christ, continued ... ... 44
XL — A Hymn of praise and prayer on the Joys of
Christ our Lord ... ... ... 53
XII. — How God the Father received His Son at His
Ascension ... ,,, ... ... 56
XIII. — Of the threefold operation of the Holy Ghost in
the Apostles and in every soul ... ... 62
XIV. — Of the venerable Assumption of the most glorious
Virgin Mary ... ... ... ... 65
XV. — How the most Blessed Virgin was assumed ... 68 • XVI. — Of the Angels, and how men are made their
companions ... ... ... ... 'J2
XVIL— On the Feast of All Hallows ... ... 76
vi Contents,
CHAPTER PAGE
^ XVIII. — Of the least of the Saints, and God's goodness ... 84
XIX. — How our Lord should be praised in His Saints ... 86
XX. — Of the Feast of Dedication ... ... ... 89
XXI. — Of the Most Blessed Virgin, and of the seven
servants who followed her ... ... 93
XXII. — How a man may obtain true holiness ... 96
XXIII. — Of the Joys of the glorious Virgin Mary ... 100 XXIV.— Of the Ave Maria ... ... ...102
XXV. — Of the Ave Maria to be said before Communion 104 XXVI. — Of the Fidelity of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her
Son ... ... ... ... ... 106
XXVII. — How the Blessed Mary may be saluted ... 107
XXVIII. — Of the Salutation of the Blessed Mary ... 112 XXIX. — How the Virgin Mary asked that three Ave Marias
should be said daily ... ... ... 114
Book II.
I. — How God inviteth the Soul ... ... ... 116
II. — Of our Lord's vineyard, which is the Church, and of
four kinds of prayer ... ... ... 119
III. — Of our Lord's Scourge ... ... ... 124
IV. — How our Lord gave her Love to be her Mother ... 125
V. — How she was made one with her Beloved ... 127
VI. — How God adorneth the Soul with holy virtues ... 131 VII. — How our Lord's Heart was seen under the similitude
ofa lamp ... ... ... ... ... 136
VIII. — Of the Cross and our Lord's silken vestment ... 142
IX. — Of her threefold pain ... ... ... ... 144
X. — How she gave all the Saints to drink of the Well of
Mercy ... ... ... ... ... 147
XI. — How she was called by God together with Love, and
of the psaltery of ten chords ... ... ... 149
XII. — Of the Title and usduliicss of this Book ... ... 152
Contents,
Vll
Book IIJ.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. — Of the Ring set with seven stones ... ... 154
II. — Of the Rose which went forth out of the Heart of God 158 III. — That God ought to be praised in three ways IV. — How man should salute the Heart of God v.— How a man should live in accordance with God's
good pleasure VI. — How man should salute the Heart of God VII, — What man should do to atone for his [negligences, and how our Lord cometh in seven ways at the Mass VIII. — How man may drive away sloth IX. — Of the threefold unguent of love X. — How man should recommend his faith to God XI. — Of the five sighs, with which man should go to sleep XII. — Of the Wedding-garment ...
XlII. — In what the soul may be made like unto God XIV. — That God desireth our heart XV. — What is the highest good that man can do
160
165 167
171
177 180 i8i 183 184
185 188
Book IV.
I. — How men may best advance in the religious life ... 190
II. — What best preserves a man in the religious life ... 192
III. — Of three things acceptable to God ... ... 193
IV. — That those who are still alive are most happy ... 194
V. — What man should do when he is in sadness ... 196
VI. — How man should commit all his grievances to God 197 VII. — That whatever the Soul desireth should be sought in
the Heart of God ... ... ... ... \r^i^
VIII. — How Christ supplieth the defects of a man out of His
own fulness ... ... ... ... 200
IX. — In what way man ought to have recourse to God ... 203
X.— Of the three ways ... ... ... ... 204
viii Contents,
CHAPTER PAGE
XI. — That God is ready to receive those that are penitent 205
XII. — A letter sent by Mechtild to a certain Matron ... 207
XIII. — A letter to a Matron, who was her spiritual daughter 2 1 1
Book V.
I. — Of the Charity of B. Mechtild to the dead ... 2 \\
II. — Of a Sister who was sick ... ..• ... 215
III. — Of the soul of an Infant ... ... ... 217
IV. — How, and with what intention, the Lord's Prayer
should be said for the departed ... ... 218
V. — That we can be purged from venial sins by works of charity, but our mortal sins must be blotted out by the Sacrament of Penance ... ... ... 224
VI. — How we ought to pray for those who are captive in
body or in soul ... ... ... ... 226
VII. — How God commended this His handmaid to His own
Mother ... ... ... ... ... 227
VIII. — Of the praiseworthy conversation of Blessed Mechtild 228
Eebelations of B* JHetiitiltr,
VIRGIN,
Taken from the First Book of her Spiritual Grace,
PROLOGUE.
npHE graciousness and humanity of •*• God our Saviour, Who was mani- fested so mercifully unto the human race by His Incarnation, shining forth day by day more and more, are still through His condescension abundantly shown forth even to us, and in us, upon whom the ends of the world have fallen. Therefore, how many marvels God hath worked in His elect, no word of man can explain; how many gifts He hath poured forth upon the soul that loveth Him faithfully, no tongue can tell ; how graciously and with what
Revelations of S. Mechtild.
honeyed sweetness He showeth Himself unto her, she alone meriteth happily to experience.
But in a special manner, how many gifts He hath poured forth on a certain soul that hath loved Him with her whole heart. It is now our desire to relate, so far as our littleness prevaileth, by the help of God.
Now these innumerable heavenly secrets she looked at indeed with the eyes of the soul, but by reason of the littleness, for which she thought herself very vile, she would not tell, save only so far as those who were familiar with her compelled her ; and even those things which she told, partly she subtracted from, partly to God's praise, although hardly compelled even by obedience, she told. These things then, which we learnt from her own narration, we will now write according to our measure, in the name of Jesus, to the glory of the Most High and Worshipful Trinity. Wherefore, most dearly beloved we beg in Christ of every one who shall read this little book, to give thanks to our
Revelations of S. Mechtild,
Lord for all the grace and good that have flowed forth upon this soul, or at any time upon any soul, from Him Who is the well-spring of all good things. If how- ever he find anything set down with not enough of clearness or of literary skill, this in charity let him pardon as to those who have no experience in writing, because as Blessed Augustine saith, it is the nature of a good disposition to love the truth in words, and not the words them- selves.
Although the whole of this book may be said to be about revelations and visions, and although almost in each lesson profit and instruction may be found, yet in order that those who read it may find more easily what thing they look for, it is divided into five parts. In the first of these are placed the revelations concern- ing the feasts throughout the year, and about certain Saints, and especially about the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. In the second part will be found certain facts in relation to the person to whom these things have been shown ; and in these the
Revelations of S. Mechtild.
readers and hearers will find no small devotion, whilst they will be stirred up to love. In the third part are inserted in- structions, relating both to God's praise, as well as to man's salvation. In the fourth are placed instructions almost similar, which are both useful and com- forting to men; whilst the fifth concern- eth the souls of the faithful departed, how, namely, they have been seen and helped by her. All, therefore, on whom God hath poured out the spirit of His charity, that charity, I mean, " which believeth all things, hopeth all things, beareth all things,'' and those also who aspire to the grace of God, let them all receive this book of spiritual grace with a devout mind, in order that they too may merit to obtain all the good things that are written therein and promised by God. If how- ever any one shall find therein aught that cannot be proved by Scripture, although it be not opposed to the Gospel and the Scripture of God, let him commit it to God's grace. Who now, as of old, mani- festeth, when He willeth, to them that
Revelations of S, Mechtild.
love Him, the uncertain and hidden things of His Wisdom and Goodness. We beg also of all who shall read this book, or hear it read, to offer some little praise to Christ for the same happy person, or at least to be grateful for this, that now that the world is growing old, and men are sunk in inveterate torpor with re- spect to every good, God still deigneth by such incitements to renew both it and them.
Of the childhood, zeal, and suffer- ings OF Mechtild, the virgin.
nPHERE was a certain virgin so pre- vented from her infancy with bless- ings, that when as soon as born she seemed to be already about to breathe away her spirit, they brought her in haste to be baptised by a priest, a holy and just man, who was on the point of celebrating Mass. And when he had JDaptised her, he prophesied, as is piously believed, and said: ** Why fear ye? The maiden shall
Revelations of S. Mecktild,
by no means die, but will be a Saint and a religious, and God will work many mira- cles in her, and will consummate the days of her life in a good old age." Now that her baptism was hastened, arose from this, as Christ Himself afterwards revealed to her, namely, that without delay her soul might be dedicated as a temple unto God, and that His grace might wholly dwell in her, and possess her from her mother's womb.
Moreover, when she was seven years old, it came to pass on a certain day, that her mother, together with the little child, went to a cloister not very far from where her parents w^ere then staying. And here, against her mother's will, she re- mained with exceeding joy, and asking of her own accord the sisters one by one to take her into their company, she ob- tained her request, nor afterwards could her parents remove her either by threats or blandishments.
Then straightway in a marvellous man- ner did she begin to grow fervent in God's love and in devotion, and her spirit fre-
Revelations of S. Mechtild,
quently to rejoice in God with exceeding sweetness. Progressing therefore from day to day, she reached the height of all virtue. She was a maiden of marvellous sweetness^ of great humility, of much pa- tience, a lover of poverty, and of exceed- ing great fervour and devotion, making progress above all in charity, with regard both to God and man, she showed herself loving and serviceable unto all. Won- derfully too was she moved with the zeal of affection towards those who were in trouble and temptation, and like a true mother did she minister unto them com- fort and help in all things, so that whoso- ever went to her returned consoled and instructed. By all was she loved exceed- ingly, and every one sought her company, so that from this she seemed to suffer many hindrances. But in the midst of this God began to become familiar with her, even while as yet she was very young.
Lastly, in such profusion had God poured out all things upon her, not only in spiritual and gratuitous, but also in natural
8 Revelations of S, Mechtild.
graces; that is to say, in science and understanding, and in rich gifts of voice, that in all things was she held to be most useful in the cloister, just as if in her our Lord had forgotten none of His good things. Moreover our gracious Lord so continually held His scourge over her, that almost constantly she suffered from pain of the head, and disease of the hair, and exceeding heat of the liver. And all these things most gladly and willingly she bore, counting this alone a pain like that of hell, that ever more and more she desired to enjoy the honeyed sweetness of the grace of God, and to be consoled thereby according to the desire of her heart, and yet was unable, according to her strength, earnestly and fully to cleave to her Beloved, in that happy union by which the soul is made one spirit with God.
Revelations of S, Mechtild,
Chapter I. The Annunciation of the B. Virgin Mary,
/^NCE when the Gospel ^^ Missus est ^^^ Angehcs GabrieV was being read, she saw the Archangel Gabriel, the guar- dian of the most Blessed Mary, the Virgin, coming into Nazareth, and holding in his hands a royal standard, on which were written letters of gold. He was followed by an innumerable multitude of angels, who arranged themselves round the house in which the glorious Virgin lived, form- ing, as it were, a wall from earth to heaven, and in such a manner that within the Angels were the Archangels, and within those the Virtues, and then the rest of the Angelic orders, so that each order surrounded her house like a wall. Then came our Lord, like a Bridegroom from His chamber, beautiful above the sons of men, together with the fiery choir of the Seraphim, who are nearest to
lo Revelations of S, Mechtild.
God. These surrounded our Lord and the Most Blessed Virgin after the manner of a wall and a roof. Now our Lord stood near the Archangel's standard, like unto a Bridegroom most delicate and young, and waited until the Angel Gabriel had reverently saluted the illustrious Vir- gin. Moreover, as soon as the Blessed Virgin had plunged herself into an abyss of humility, and had said, ^* Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to Thy word ;*' straightway the Holy Ghost^ with the expanded wings of divine sweetness, entered into the Virgin's soul, and happily brooding over her, and making her fruitful of the Son of God, He caused her both to become in a marvel- lous manner a mother of a noble burden, and at the same time a Virgin untouched. Thus was the Virgin made the Mother of God and of men, by the witness of the Holy Ghost.
Now when the time was drawing nigh for that most noble banquet, in which our holy maiden was to receive the Beloved of her soul, even Jesus, in the Communion
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 1 1
of His Most Sacred Body and Blood, she heard Him say to her: " Thou in Me, and I in thee, and I will not leave thee for ever." She however did nothing else but try to praise God with all her heart. Then our Lord gave to her His divine Heart in the likeness of a golden cup, marvellously decorated, and He said: " By means of My divine Heart thou shalt always praise Me ; go now and offer the living chalice of My Heart to all the Saints, that they may be happily in- ebriated thereby.'' Then went she to the Angels and offered to them that chalice of salvation, but they did not drink, although they were refreshed thereby. Next she went to the Patriarchs and Prophets, and offered it to them, saying: "Receive Him whom ye have desired, and so long looked for, and make me to long after Him with all my might, and to sigh after Him night and day." After this, she went to the Apostles, and said: "Receive Him Whom you have so ardently loved with your whole heart, and make me fer- vendy to love Him above all things, in
1 2 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
the very marrow of my heart/' Then turning to the martyrs she said: ** Behold Him for Whose love ye have shed your blood, and delivered your bodies unto death ; obtain for me that I may spend all my strength in His service/' Moreover, going to the Confessors she said: "Re- ceive Him for Whom ye have left all things, and have despised the delights of the world, and make me for the love of Him to despise the things of earth, and to mount up to the summit of true religion." 4 Hastening then to the Virgins, she said: ** Receive Him to Whom ye have vowed your virginity, and make me to persevere in chastity of mind and body." And amongst them she saw a virgin who had! lately died, and whom she knew well, for on earth she had been familiar with her, and she asked her if things were as she had told her, while she was yet alive. And she answered and said: *^0f a truth all things are so: only I have found aj hundred fold."
After this she returned to our Lord,! when she had made the circuit of the
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 3
heavenly place; and He took that cup, and placed it in the heart of her soul, and thus was she happily united with God.
Chapter II. Of the twofold Voice of our Lord.
/^N the Sunday Populus Sion while ^^^ they were singing: Auditam faciei Dominus gloriam sociis stcisy she desired to know what was the voice of the glory of the Lord. And our Lord said: "This is the voice of My glory, when the soul, penitent rather from love than from fear, grieveth for her sins, she meriteth to hear from Me these words: *Thy sins are for- given thee ; go and sin no more.' For straightway that a man hath perfect con- trition for the things that he hath done, truly and fully do I forgive him all his sins, and take him into My grace, as if he had never sinned. Secondly, the voice of My glory is when the soul, united with Me by intimate prayer or contemplation,
1 4 Revelations of S, Mechtild,
heareth Me say: * Come, My beloved, show Me thy face/ Thirdly, the soul, when about to go forth out of the body, is thus sweetly invited by Me to her rest: * Come, My chosen one, and I will place in thee My throne, for the King hath desired thy beauty.' Fourthly, on the day of judgment, this will be the voice of My glory, when I shall summon all whom I have chosen from everlasting, and called to the kingdom of beauty and of glory, and shall say: * Come, ye blessed of My Father, receive the kingdom which hath been prepared for you from the beginning of the world/ "
Chapter III.
Of Christ's most sweet Nativity.
/^N the most sacred night of the sweet ^^^^ Nativity of Christ it seemed unto her as if she were on a rocky mountain, on which was seated the Blessed Virgin, who was near her delivery. And when
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 5
the time of her delivery was at hand, the Blessed Virgin was filled with unutterable joy and jubilee, and the light of God shone round about her, so that with amazement she quickly rose, and falling down in her boundless humility to give thanks to God, she bowed herself to the earth, not knowing how it went with her, until she held on her bosom Him Who is the fairest of the sons of men. Then with unutterable joy and most fervent love she took the Child, and imprinted upon it three most sweet kisses, by which she was as closely united with the most Blessed Trinity, as was possible for any one to be united with God, without personal union.
By this mountain is figured the spiritual habit, which seemeth hard and rough in this world, and which Christ and His Mother were the first to show and to deliver unto men as an example of true religion. Moreover, it seemed unto her, tliat her soul sat near the Blessed Virgin, and desired with a great desire to kiss also the lovely Little One. Now the Virgin Mother, after that she had sweetly
1 6 Revelations of S, Mechtild,
* embraced and addressed her Son, gave Him also to her soul to be embraced by her. Then with unutterable love did she take the Boy, and pressed Him to her heart, and saluted Him with these words, which never before had she thought of: "Hail, marrow of Thy Father's Heart, sweetest meat and most blessed refresh- ment of the soul that languisheth, I offer unto Thee the marrow of my heart and soul for everlasting praise and glory/' For she understood by the inspiration of God, how the Son is the marrow of His Father's Heart ; and as marrow is com- forting and healthful and sweet, so hath God the Father given unto us His Son, Who is Himself health and the sweetness of all sweetness, to be our defender and Saviour, and most sweet comforter. More- over the marrow of the soul is that ex- ceeding great sweetness, which she merit- eth to receive from God alone, and to feel by the infusion of love ; and this truly despiseth all things, and with it, all the joys of the world, even if they were to be infused into one man, cannot be compared.
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 1 7
From the face also of the Boy, there beamed forth four rays, which filled the four quarters of the world, by which were signified Christ's most holy conversation and doctrine, which have enlightened the whole world.
Chapter IV.
How she prayed for the Congregation.
/^N the holy night of our Lord's Cir- ^^^ cumcision, as she was offering to God the prayers of the sisters and the homage of her devotion, and as she was praying Him to confer upon them the blessing of the new year, our Lord an- swered her, and said :
"Health and benediction be unto you from My Father, and from Me, Jesus, His Son, and from the Holy Ghost, Who is the sanctification of all your works. I am He of Whom it is written : * Thy years shall not fall' Come over to Me, all ye who desire Me, and learn of Me that I am meek and humble of heart, for every one
1 8 Revelations of S, Mecktild,
who desireth to find rest of heart and body, must needs be meek and humble/' And He added : '* He who wisheth to renew his life, let him do as a bride doth, whose great love it is to receive from her bridegroom little new year's gifts. So, too, let the soul desire to be clothed by Me in new vestments, so that during the whole course of the year, she may go forth in glory, like a queen, before the eyes of all.
"First, then, let her desire to receive from Me a purple garment, that is hu- mility, so that in the same humility in which I came from heaven to earth, in all things she may bow herself humbly down to everything that is vile. Next let her seek for a vestment of scarlet, that is patience, that patiently she may embrace all that is grievous and hard, because for this did I take My Humanity, that T might suffer pains and reproach. Over these let her be clothed with a vesture of gold, that is, with charity, that in the same love in which on earth I showed Myself affable and kind to all, she may present herself
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 9
before all men, friendly and gracious. Moreover, when the year hath run its course, let her ask for this to be renewed afresh,, and more and more let her exer- cise herself in these virtues ; and, as it were anew, let her strive to keep them.
Now, while she was praying, that what- ever in these things was displeasing unto Him, might be circumcised, our Lord made answer and said : " Be ye circum- cised in heart from all thoughts of pride, impatience, and worldly vanity. Be ye circumcised in your mouth from all words of detraction, vain complacency, and rash judgment. Be ye circumcised also in deed from sloth, from lukewarmness in good, and from the transgression of God's commandments, and from disobedience."
By our Lord's words she understood that it is a great crime when a man judg- eth his neighbour. And if it happeneth that he judgeth him unjustly, he will be as guilty as if he had done the evil which he judgeth. But^ if a man hath done that which is said of him, and he who judgeth^ knowing not the intention of him who
20 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
hath done it, formeth his judgment ac- cording to his own heart and intention, then, by that very judgment, he becom- eth as guilty as the man who did that thing; and, unless he wash it away by penance, he will lie under the same penalty as the other.
Chapter V.
Of the Purification of the Most Blessed Virgi^i Mary, and of Ajirie, her mother,
/^N the holy night of the Purification of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, she saw the glorious Virgin Mother herself, carrying in her arms the Royal Child Jesus, clothed in a vesture of blue, like the blue of heaven, covered with flowers of gold ; and on His Breast, and round His neck and arms was written that Name which is sweeter than honey, the Name of Jesus.
And she said unto her : " O sweetest Virgin, didst thou so adorn thy Son, when
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 2 1
thou didst present Him in the temple ?" And our Lady said : " Not so, yet even from the birthday of that same Son of mine, did I delightfully prepare Him, and with joy beyond all thought did I sigh after that day, on which I was to offer my Son to God the Father, as a most accept- able oblation, by which every oblation that hath been offered from the beginning of the world hath been made acceptable to God. And with such great devotion and gratitude did I offer Him, that if the devo- tion of all the saints were transfused into one man, yet could it not be compared with my devotion. But all my joy was turned for me into bitterness at Simeon's words : * Thine own soul a sword shall pierce' *'
Many times also, when I cherished my Son upon my breast, for the exceeding great sweetness of my devotion, I leant my head upon His Head, and shed so many tears, that I watered His Head and His whole Face with the tears of my love. Very often, too, I said to Him this word : *' O health and joy of my soul !" More-
^2 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
over, while she gazed with panthig desire upon the Boy, the Royal Mother, accord- ing as she wished, laid the Boy upon her breast, and she was filled with joy. Yet, when she wished to embrace Him, she embraced herself, but did not touch the Boy.
Then, when they began the Antiphon : Hcep est qucB nescivit tkorum in delictOy she heard the choirs of angels singing in the air with sweet harmony : ** H^c •est qucs nescivitr And through the whole Psalm Benedixisti did those blessed and angelic orders sing in the air for jubilee in alter- nate choirs, the Antiphon, *' Angels, Arch- angels, Thrones and DominationSy Princi- palities, Powers, Virtues!* But when they came to the names of those fiery choirs, the Cherubim and Seraphim^ so sweetly did they sing, that no sound of earth could be compared with it.
Then the most Blessed Virgin stood in the middle of the choir, and held up her Boy in her arms, and there appeared a glory three cubits high above the earth, which surpassed a thousand suns in bright-
Revelations of S. Mechtild* 23
ness, and upon which the Virgin Mother placed her most sweet Son. By the glory is signified the Godhead, because God was the Bearer of Himself on earth, and the Godhead ruled the manhood. Now the glorious Virgin had upon her head the Royal Diadem, which two angels held over her head, and on this the merits and dignities of all the saints were enamelled, as it were, with gold and precious stones ; of all those saints, namely, who had served her in this life with devoutness of heart. And there hung from it jewel-droplets, by which was expressed the grace which God pours forth upon all those who de- voutly serve His Virgin Mother in this life.
There also walked before our Lady the Archangel Gabriel, carrying in his hand a sceptre of gold, on which was inscribed in golden letters, Ave Maria, gratia plena^ Dominus iecu7n ; and by this she knew that he is honoured with a special dignity in heaven, in that he merited above others to salute so marvellously the Mother of God.
24 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
Then the Blessed Virgin stood at the right of her Son, having in her hand a pyx of gold ; and when she asked of her what she had therein, our Lady answered : "It is the Blood of the Heart of God, which I wish to offer to my Son, together with all the toil which I have undergone in His service.'*
Near to the altar she saw Simeon stand- ing, and from his heart there went forth a threefold glory, in shape like a rainbow. By this she understood the humble, strong and fervent desire which he had for God. And she said unto him : " Ah ! obtain for me a true desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ." And to her, Simeon said : " Better and more perfect is it for thee to do God's Will, and to wish what He wisheth."
Then she besought the Blessed Virgin to pray for her, and for the congregation, to her Son, which straightway our Lady did on bended knees.
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 25
Chapter VI.
Of the Mountain with Seven Steps. — Of the Throne of God, and of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
/~\N the Sunday Esto mihiy she heard ^^^ the Beloved of her soul, Jesus, speaking to her in a sweet whisper of love : " Wilt thou dwell with Me for these forty days and nights ?" And the soul said : *^ O, how wiHingly, Lord Jesus ; this is what I wish ; this is what I de- sire."
Then He showed unto her a mountain exceeding high, and of marvellous great- ness, stretching from the East even unto the West, having steps by which ascent was made unto seven fountains. And taking her, He came to the first step, which was called the step of humility, and on it was a fountain that washeth the soul from all the vices that pride hath com- mitted. After this they mounted up the
26 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
second step, which was called that of meekness, and on it was a fountain that washeth the soul from the stains which anger hath wrought. Next they mounted the third step, which was called the step of love, and on it was the fountain of charity, in which the soul is washed from all the sins which she hath committed through envy and hatred. On this step God stopped awhile with the soul. Then the soul fell down at the feet of Jesus, and straightway that most sweet organ, the mellifluous voice of Christ, sounded in her ears, and said : " Arise, My beloved, and show Me thy face." And the whole com- pany of angels and saints who were on the mountain, so sweetly sang together the bridal-song of love with God and in God, and so modulated was the psalmody, that no words of man can describe it.
Then they mounted up the fourth step, which was called the step of obedience. Moreover, there was a fountain thereon that cleansed the soul from all that had been done through disobedience. After this they came to the fifth step, which waa
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 2 7
called the step of self-restraint, and in it was the fountain of liberality, that purgeth the soul from all that had been committed through avarice, in that she had not made use of creatures both for her own service and for God*s praise, as she ought to have done. And soon they ascended the sixth step, which was called the step of chastity, and there was the fountain of divine purity, that purifieth the soul from all the desires of the flesh, which have made her fall. And there she saw our Lord and others clothed in white garments. After- wards they arrived at the seventh step of true magnanimity, in which the fountain was called spiritual heavenly joy, that cleanseth the soul from all sins of sloth. Moreover, this fountain flowed, not with force like the others ; but little by little, and drop by drop, it welled forth, because no man can take his fill of heavenly joy, as long as he is in this life, for it is only, as it were, a drop in comparison with what It is in its reality.
After this the Beloved, with His beloved, went up to the mountain top, where there
2 8 Revelations of S, Mechtild.
was a multitude of angels in the likeness- of birds, having golden bells, and giving forth sweet sounds. On the mountain Itself were two thrones that shone with marvellous splendour.
The first was the throne and seat of the Most High and Undivided Trinity, from which there went forth four rivers of living waters. By the first river she un- derstood was signified the Wisdom of God, by which He governeth the saints, so that they recognize His will in all things, and cheerfully fulfil it. By the second river is figured the Providence of God, by which He provideth all good things for them, and richly satisfieth them with interior bounty and liberality. By the third are shadowed forth the riches of God, with which He inebriateth them with the plenty of good things, so that never do they desire anything so great, that it is not even more abundantly poured out upon them. By the fourth river is typified the Will of God, in which they live so pleasantly in God, satiated with the ful- ness of joys, abounding in delights, of
I
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 29
Ni » li I r I I
which there is no end, and where God wipeth away all tears from the eyes of the saints. The first throne was surmounted by a finial of gold, of such great magni- tude, that it filled the earth, and by this was signified the Godhead, and it was gemmed with precious stones, and by reason of its pure gold it shone forth as the royal canopy of the King of Heaven. It had also many tabernacles, the habita- tions, namely, of the holy patriarchs, and prophets, and apostles, and martyrs, and confessors, and all the elect. But the second throne was that of the Virofia Mother, who, as becometh the Queen, deservedly sat by her King. And this throne, too, had many tabernacles, those, namely, of the virgins who had walked in her footsteps, the holy virgins who wor- thily follow after the Virgin Mother.
Seeing, then, Jesus the King of Glory on the throne of His imperial magnifi- cence, and His Mother on His right hand, 1 for wonder at that most gladsome face on which the angels desire to look, she fainted away within herself altogether, and fell
30 Revelations of S, Mecktild,
down before the throne of the Holy Trinity at the feet of Jesus. Then our Lord raised her up, and laid her sweetly on His Heart. Now, her garments were a little sprinkled with dust about the borders, by reason of something which had occupied her thoughts at vespers, and the Blessed Virgin came and wiped it away.
Thereby she prayed the most Blessed Virgin to praise her Son for her. And straightway our Lady went from her throne together with the choir of virgins, and extolled Him with praise unutterable. The patriarchs also, and the prophetSi praised our Lord with jubilee, saying : " To the Most High Trinity, One God, be one Godhead, equal glory, co-eternal Majesty, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Who subjecteth the whole world to His laws." Moreover, the glorious choir of the apostles sang with exulting joy: *^ From Whom are all things, by Whom are all things, in Whom are all things, to Him be glory for ever ;" for Him they had known on earth, from Wiiom all good things flow^ and by Whom
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 31
all things have been made in heaven and on earth, and in Whom all good things are hidden.
After this the victorious army of martyrs sang, and said: ^*To Thee be honour." Then the order of confessors sang their hymn: " Benediction, and glory, and wis- dom, and thanksgiving, honour and virtue, and power be unto our God for ever and ever.*' And amongst them she saw especially her glorious father, the Blessed Benedict, and he was clothed in a white gar- ment, interwoven with colours like those of the rose. By the whiteness was figured his virginal chastity, and by the rose colour was signified that he was truly a martyr, because with such great labours he had poured forth his sweat in the rigour of his order, and gloriously had triumphed over all.
And when she marvelled that the angels did not sing, our Lord answered : " Thou shalt sing with the angels/' And straight- way the angels sang together with that blessed soul^ and said: ''All the angels praise Thee, O holy Lord, in the highest ;
32 Revelations of S. Mick Hid.
praise and honour become Thee, O Lord !'* After this she besought our Lord, saying : * O only Love, in what doth it please Thee most to be known by men ?'* And our Lord said to her : '* In the goodness, with which I mercifully wait for man, until he be turned to penance. ^Thereupon, imme- diately, I draw him to Me by My grace. But when in no wise he willeth to be con- verted, then, justice requiring it, he must needs be damned." She also asked of God to instruct her, how she might make satisfaction for the members of the Church, ■who, at this time, were heaping so many insults on His own beloved Son. And our Lord answered : " Read Me three hundred and fifty times the Antiphon : * To Thee be praise, to Thee be glory, to Thee be thanksgiving for ever and ever,* for all the insults that are so unduly heaped upon Me by My members."
I
Revelations of S. Meek Hid. 33
Chapter VII.
Of the Nayne of our Lord, and of His Wounds.
TOURING the Mass, Nos autem gloriari ^"^ oportetf our Lord said to her: "At- tend to these words: in quo est salus. In the Cross is true salvation, and out of it no salvation is found. In whatsoever soul, therefore, there is not the Cross, that is, tribulation^ there is no patience; and where there is no patience, there is no salvation. In the Cross, also, true life was given to man, when I, Who am Life Itself, and Who died upon the Cross by the death of love, have quickened the soul that is dead in sins, and given it again to live eternally in Me. By the Cross, too, is it given to a man, as often as he falleth through sin, so often to rise again through penance, and, moreover, there is given to him the resur- rection of the flesh, and eternal liberty." And when they were reading the Epis-
34 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
tie, Dedit illi nomen quod est super omne nomeny she said to our Lord: ** My Lord, which is the sweetest Name that hath been given Thee by Thy Father ?" And our Lord said to her: *' That Name is, The Saviour of all ages. For I am the Saviour and Redeemer of all that is, and that hath been, and that shall be hereafter; I am the Saviour of all who lived before I became Man ; I am the Saviour of those who lived in the time when I, as Man, conversed with men ; I am the Saviour of those who have followed My teaching, and who still wish to walk in My footsteps, even unto the end of the ages. This is that most worthy Name, which was pre- ordained for Me alone by the Father from the beginning of the world, and this Name is above every name/'
Moreover, when her soul gave thanks to God for His most holy wounds, and prayed Him to inflict upon her as many wounds of love as He bore in His own Body, our Lord said unto her: "As often as a man groaneth for love at the remem- brance of My Passion, so often doth he
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 35
gently touch My Wounds, as it were, with a rose of spring, and there leapeth forth a dart of love into the soul of that man, by which he is wounded for his health."
Chapter VIII.
Of the Tree of the Cross,
T IKEWISE, during a certain Mass, ^"^ Nos autem oportet gloriari^ she saw in the middle of the church an exceeding fair tree, that, by its height and widely- spreading branches, filled the whole earth. Now the tree had grown up out of three branches which had sprung together from the earth, and the points of the branches thereof were bent back upon the earth. Under one of the branches were the beasts that fed of the fruit which fell from the tree ; and these typified sinners and men who lived like the brutes ; those, namely, who enjoy the good things of God without gratitude, like brute beasts, never looking
36 Revelations of S. Mecktild.
up in thanksgiving to Him, from Whom all good things come.
Under another branch were men who eat of the fruit of the tree itself, and by these were signified whosoever are just in the Church. On the third were birds which sang exceeding sweetly, and by these were made known the souls of the saints, who sing praises to God without end. The souls, also, of purgatory, came under the likeness of cattle, and were refreshed by the sweet odour of the tree. Now certain birds of a black colour flew round about it, but a thick smoke went forth therefrom, and forced them to fly farther away. By the birds of a black colour she understood that the demons were figured, and all the annoyances of men, which a man shall overcome in no better way than by the memory of our Lord's Passion ; and this was signified by the thickness of the smoke.
There was a priest, also, who celebrated Mass, and he was vested and adorned with the leaves of the same tree, and little branches full of fruit hung round about
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 3 7
liim ; by which was shown forth, that everyone who loveth and worshippeth Christ's Passion, acqulreth the nobler vir- tues thereof, and whatever good he doeth, turneth more fruitfully to his merit. The hearts, also, of the faithful, were fastened and hung upon the branches of the tree after the similitude of burning lamps, and the oil which burned in those lamps flowed from the tree ; by which was pointed out that no man can love God, unless this gift be poured out upon him by the grace of God. Moreover, by this that they were burning, was typified, that every man who wisheth to love God, should recall himself to the thought of His Passion, very often making remembrance thereof, and reflect- ing thereon, for therein will he have mat- ter enough for love, and there is nothing which so assisteth the mind, and maketh It to burn, as the remembrance of the Passion of Christ.
38 Revelations of S, Mechtild,
Chapter IX.
Of the Passion of Christ.
/^N the Parasceve, (Good Friday,) ^^^ while thinking of the innumerable good things which God had done for her, she said unto Him: "O my most sweet God, in what can a man make restitution unto Thee, in that, on this day, Thou didst deign to be taken and bound for men's salvation ?" He answered: ^* If a man of his own free will, and cheerfully, be bound for My sake with the chain of true obedi- ence/'
And the soul said: ** What praise shall he give Thee, for that Thou wert spat upon with the unclean spittle of the Jews, and beaten with cruel buffets ?" Our J Lord said to her: ** I tell thee of a truth, that all who despise their prelates spit on My Face ; if a man desire to make amends to Me for this affront, he ought to love his prelates." I
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 39
And the soul said: ^* What thanksgiving shall he make Thee, O most kind One, for the blows which Thou receivedst ?" He answered: *' By keeping faithfully and strictly to the customs and statutes of his order and religion.'*
And the soul said: "What praise, O most faithful Friend, shall he give Thee for the pain which Thou didst suffer, when the crown of thorns was pressed down upon Thine Imperial Head, so that that delightful Face of Thine, on which the angels desire to look, was all veiled with rosy blood ?" He answered: *' By a man's making strong resistance with all his might when he is tempted ; and as many tempta- tions as he overcometh in My Name, so many precious gems doth he set on My diadem."
And the soul said: "What shall he give Thee, O wisest of masters, for that Thou wert mocked at as a fool, clothed in a white garment?" He answered: "By a man's seeking nothing ornamental, nor precious in his clothes, but only what is necessary."
40 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
And the soul said: '* What thanksgiving shall he make, for that Thou, O only Friend of my heart, wert so inhumanly and cruelly beaten ?'* He answered: ** By persevering with Me for the sake of holy fidelity and patience, as well in prosperity as in adversity.' '
And the soul said: ** What, O most loving One, wilt Thou receive in return for having been fastened to the Cross by Thy Feet ?" He answered : " That a man should pour back into Me all his desires, and if, together with Me, he can- not have desire, yet let him have the will to possess this desire, and then, of a truth, I receive his will.'*
And the soul said: *^ What wilt Thou receive in return for having been fastened to the Cross by Thy Hands ?" He an- swered: '* That he should exercise himself in all good works, and avoid all evil works for My sake."
And the soul said: ** What, O only Sweetness, ought to be offered to Thee in thanksgiving for that Wound of love, which Thou didst receive on the Cross
Revelations oj S. Mechtild. 4 1
for man, when unconquerable love, the very arrow of love, pierced Thy sweet Heart, from which flowed forth Blood and Water for our healing-, and when con- quered by the mightiness of love, Thy spouse. Thou didst die the death of love?" He answered: "That a man should con- form his will to My will, and that My will should always, in all things and over all things, be acceptable unto him."
Our Lord also said unto her: " Of a truth, I tell thee, that if a man shall shed tears out of devotion to My Passion, I will receive them, as if he had suffered for Me."
And the soul said: " Ah ! my Lord, by what kind of devotion shall I be able to come unto these tears?" He answered: *^ I will teach thee. First think, with what friendship and love I went forth to meet My enemies, who sought to put Me to death with swords and staves, as if I had been a robber and a malefactor; but I went forth to meet them as a mother to her child, in order that I might snatch them from the jaws of wolves. Secondly,
42 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
when they smote Me with cruel buffets, as many blows as they gave Me, so many sweet kisses did I give to the souls of those who, even unto the last day, are to be saved by My Passion. Thirdly, when they most fiercely scourged Me, so effica- cious a prayer did I pour forth for them to My Heavenly Father, that many of them were converted. Fourthly, when they pressed the crown of thorns upon My Head, as many thorns as they pressed upon Me, so many gems did I place in their crown. Fifthly, when they fastened Me with nails to the Cross, and stretched out all My Members, so that My bones and inward parts could be numbered, with My whole power did I draw towards Me I the souls of all who have been predesti- nated to life eternal, as before I had said: * When I shall be lifted up from the eardi, I will draw all things unto Me.' Sixthly, when they pierced My Side with the lance, out of My Heart I gave drink out of the | chalice of life to those who through Adam had drunk of the cup of death, in order that they might all be made the children
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 43
of eternal life and salvation in Me, Who am Life."
Moreover, when she received the Body of Christ, our Lord said unto her: '' Wouldst thou see how I am now in thee and thou in Me ?" And she was silent, for she deemed herself unworthy. And straight- way she saw our Lord, as it were, a pellu- cid crystal, and her own soul, as it were, most pure and gHttering water, flowing through all the Body of Christ. Then she marvelled much at the unutterable gift of God, and at His wonderful goodness to- wards her. And our Lord said to her: '^ Remember what Blessed Paul, My Apos- tle, writeth: * I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apos- tle ; but by the grace of God I am what I am. Thus thou, too, art nothing in thy- self, but what thou art, thou art by the grace of God in Me."
Moreover, when, according to custom, the Cross was laid in the sepulchre, she said unto our Lord: "Now, O only One of my heart, bury Thyself in me, and bind me inseparably to Thee." He answered:
44 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
** I will bury Myself in thee ; I wish to be the enjoyment of thy senses, and the ex- ercise of all thy senses and acts."
Chapter X.
The Passion of Christy continued,
T N like manner, on the holy night of the -^ Parasceve, she said in her prayer unto our Lord: *^ My most beloved Lord, in what can I recompense Thee for having on this night been taken and bound for me?" He answered: *^ In desire and good will ; for these two things are, as it were, the heavenly cords with which thou shalt sweetly bind Me to thy soul. For a heart that is of good will, and prepared for every good, easily admitteth Me. More- over, useless thoughts, that come upon it unforeseen, are, as it were, no sin, yet so if, after advertence, the heart dwell not upon them voluntarily and with delibera- tion." And He added: " When I delivered Myself up into the hands of wicked men,
Revelatio7is of S. Mechtild. 45
they bound Me, and did upon Me what- ever they would, yet they could not bind My tongue ; but I, Myself, so bound My tongue, that I would speak no word, save what was useful." Thus ought every man, who hath the power of speaking good or ill, in like manner to bridle his tongue.
Now, about the hour of Prime, as she was meditating how at that hour Christ stood for judgment before the governor, our Lord said unto her: ** Come with Me to judgment." And He took her, and set her before His heavenly Father. Then all the saints, together with all creatures, made complaint over her.
The Seraphim accused her of having often, through sloth, extinguished the divine love within herself, by which she had been set on fire by God, or by the Heart of God. The Cherubim cried out against her that she governed not herself according to the light of the knowledge of God, by which she had been enlightened above the rest of women. The Thrones complained that often she had disturbed their most peaceful King, Who had estab-
46 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
lished His throne withm her, with useless thoughts. The Dominations said that she had not bowed down with due reverence and trembling, as was fitting, before their King and Lord. The Virtues made com- plaint, that she had not exercised herself in due manner in holy virtues. The Arch- angels said that she had not listened, as was meet, to God's sweet talk, nor sent up sweet and loving whispers to her Beloved, by those who were sent unto her as His ministers. The Angels lamented that she made unworthy use of their ministry.
The Blessed Virgin complained that she had been unfaithful to Him Who was both her and God's most sweet Son, and Whom she had brought forth to be a Brother to her. The Apostles cried out together that she had not followed their doctrine with diligent zeal. The Martyrs said that unwillingly had she borne pains and in- firmities. The Confessors accused her of having negligently acted in religion, and in her spiritual exercises. The Virgins complained that she had not loved so lov- ing a Lord with her whole heart. All
Revelations of S, Mechtild. 47
creatures with one voice cried out to- gether, that she had made unworthy use of them.
Then said our gentle Jesus to the Father: ^'For every complaint that hath been objected against her I will answer, for I confess that I am led captive by her love/* And God the Father said unto Him: *' What hath compelled Thee to do this thing?" He answered: *'My elec- tion ; for I have chosen her for Myself from everlasting." Then the soul, trust- ing in the grace of so great an Advocate, confidently took Him in her arms, and said to the Father: " I present to Thee, O worshipful Father, Thy most humble Son, Who hath well paid Thee for whatever I have sinned through anger ; I present Thee also Thy most loving Son, Who is the love of Thy Heart, and Who hath fully supplied for whatever I have been guilty of through hatred. His overflow- ing liberality hath paid whatever I have sinned through avarice ; His holy zeal hath made amends for my sloth ; His exceeding abstinence hath supplied for
48 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
all my intemperance. The purity of His most innocent life for everything I have done wrong, whether by evil thoughts, or words^ or deeds ; His deep obedience, by which He was made obedient even unto death, hath blotted out all my disobedi- ence ; His high perfection hath wholly made excuse for all my imperfection."
About the hour of Tierce, she saw our Lord surrounded with a glory and a splen- dour that cannot be uttered, so that, from the sole of the foot to the crown of His Head, He flowered all over with ornaments of singular beauty ; and this He had re- ceived in reward for having been so in- humanly scourged for us. He had also upon His Head a garland of divers flowers, exceeding fair, of so marvellous a work- manship, that her soul had never seen the like ; this Christ had made for Himself of the divers pains which He suffered in His Head.
About the hour of Sext she saw our Lord carrying His Cross, and all the con- gregation, together with herself, came to Him, and each one laid her grievances and
Revelations of S. Mcchtild. 49
burdens upon the cross, as if they were ereen leaves : and all these our Lord most graciously received, and with great pa- tience and joy carried them together with His Cross. Moreover, all the sisters helped our Lord to carry it.
About None our Lord appeared to her in marvellous glory and majesty, and He had on Him a collar of gold, and attached to it was a golden shield containing all kinds of sufferings ; and it covered our Lord's whole breast, having on the upper part thereof a most pure lily, and on the lower an exceeding fair rose. By this shield was figured the victorious Passion of Christ ; by the lily His innocence ; by the rose His exceeding patience. More- over, when the sisters came up for Holy Communion, our Lord gave to each per- son His own Divine Heart, filled with excellent spices of marvellous sweetness. The spices also sprang up from every part of His Heart like flourishing and flower- ing little plants, so that His Heart seemed to be all of flowers. And each one, as she came up, received the aforesaid shield
50 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
from our Lord, so that the same shield shone with marvellous splendour on each one's breast. And by this was figured that Christ bestowed upon His faithful ones the victory of His own Passion^ that it might be for them as a shield and defence against all their enemies.
Moreover, at the hour when she had to kiss the Holy Cross, at the Wound of the Feet, she was inspired by God, and said: *' Behold, O my Lord, I fix all my desires in Thee, and I fit them to Thy desires, that henceforth, being fully purified, they may never more be mixed up with the things of earth." At the Wound of the Right Hand, our Lord said unto her: ** Here call to mind all thy spiritual duties which thou hast neglected in thy spiritual state, in order that they may be fully restored to' thee by means of My own.'* At the Left Hand, He said: *' Here place all thy pains and adversities, so that in union with My sufferings they may be sweetened, and; rise up before God as a sweet odour ii exceeding patience ; even as a garment"* that hath been laid up in spices exhaletl
Revelations of S, MecJitild, 5-1
the same fragrance, or as a crumb of bread dipped m honey taketh unto itself the sweetness of the same.'* At the Wound of the Heart, He said: " In this Wound of love, which is of sucli mighty compass that it embraceth the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, gather up all thy love into My love, that henceforth it may be perfected, and, like an iron glowing with fire, may be brought into one love with Mine."
About Vespers she saw our Lord, as it were, taken down from the Cross, and the Blessed Virgin holding Him on her bosom, and saying to her: '' Come and kiss the health-giving Wounds of my most sweet Son, Who for the love of thee underwent death. Imprint three kisses on His Heart, and give thanks to Him for that efflux, by which from everlasting He hath flowed out, and still floweth out, and will endlessly flow out upon thee and all His elect. Kiss the Wound of His Right Hand, for It hath been thy helper and fellow-worker with thee in all thy good works ; but kiss also His Left Hand, for in it thou wilt ever
52 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
find all thy refuge. Moreover, kiss the Wound of His Right Foot, in thanksgiving for the fervent desire with which all the days of His -life He ran thirsting after thee. Kiss, too, the Wound of His Left Foot with gratitude, for thou shalt ever find therein the remission of all thy sins. Take, also, three kinds of ointment, where- by thou mayest ceaselessly anoint the Be- loved of thy soul: first, the oil of olives, by which is expressed mercy, that is to I say, by exercising thyself frequently in works of mercy and kindness ; secondly, the oil of myrtles, that joyfully and faith- fully thou mayest bear tribulations and infirmities for the love of God ; thirdly, the ointment of balsam, so that, taking all the gifts of God with gratitude for His ,] praise alone, thou mayest hope for nothing and desire nothing therefrom, but mayest i pour them back upon Him Who is the| well-spring and source of all good things." About Compline the Blessed Virgin came to her, and said: "Take my Son, and bury Him in thy heart." Straightway! she saw her heart in the likeness of aj
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 53
silver sarcophagus, and it had a cover of gold. By the silver was signified clean- ness of heart, but by the gold the love which keepeth and preserveth God in the soul. When, therefore, she had, as it seemed to her, enclosed Christ in her heart, He said unto her: *' Here thou shalt ever find Me in thy heart. And behold I give unto thee a pledge of life everlasting, and to all for whom thou hast prayed to- day."
Chapter XL
A Hymn of praise and prayer on the jfoys of Christ our Lord.
T PRAISE, adore, magnify, glorify and ■■■ bless Thee, O good Jesus, in that in- estimable joy which Thou didst have when Thy most blessed Humanity received glory at the Resurrection from the Father of Divine glory in itself, and imparted the same eternal glory to all His elect in His own Godhead. By this unutterable joy, I
54 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
ask Thee, O most loving Mediator be- tween God and men, to preserve, by Thy grace, this same glory, which Thou didst then give me, unhurt, that in the day of judgment I may assume it with joy."
I praise, adore, magnify, glorify and bless Thee, O good Jesus, in that un- utterable joy, which Thy most holy soul had when it delivered itself up to be the price and the pledge of eternal redemption, both for us and also for that plentiful mul- titude of souls which followed it out of hell with ineffable rejoicings, and which it presented to God the Father. By that unutterable joy, I ask of Thee, O most loving Mediator between God and men, that at the hour of my death Thou mayest be unto my soul a pledge and a price that may suffice to pay all my debt, and do Thou appease for me God the Father, the most just Judge, and lead me with glad- ness before His Presence.
I praise, adore, magnify, glorify and bless Thee, O good Jesu, in that un- utterable joy, which Thou hadst when there was given Thee from God the Father
I
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 55
the plenary power of rewarding, enriching, and honouring, according to the magnifi- cence of Thy bounty, all Thy fellow-sol- diers and friends, whom Thou hast freed so gloriously and triumphantly from the power of the tyrant. By that unutterable joy, I ask Tliee^ O most loving Mediator between God and men, to make me a sharer of all Thy labours and works, and of Thy glorious death and most blessed Passion.
I praise, adore, magnify, glorify and bless Thee, good Jesu, in that unutterable joy, which Thou hadst when God the Father gave Thee all Thy friends for an everlasting possession and inheritance, and when that most gracious petition and will of Thine was fulfilled, in which Thou hadst said: **/ will^ that where I a7n, there also may be My Tniiiister^ so that every joy and every good, which is Thou Thyself, might be theirs without end. By that unutterable joy, I ask of Thee, O most loving Mediator between God and men, to give me that blessed fellowship with all Thine elect, that together with them I
56 Revelations of S, Mechtild,
may have Thee, my only joy and my every good, for myself and for ever.
Chapter XII.
How God the Father received His Son at His Ascension,
/~\N the glorious Ascension-day of ^^^ Christ she saw herself on a certain mountain, and there Love appeared unto her under the likeness of a virgin exceed- ing fair, clad m a green mantle, and Love said unto her soul: ** I am she, whom thou sawest on the holy night of Christ's Nativity, in such marvellous splendour ; I am she, who brought upon earth the Son from the bosom of the Father, and now I have exalted Him above the heaven of heavens." And she added: "Fear not, for greater things still shalt thou see.'* And, of a sudden, her garments were changed into marvellous brightness, and became filled with golden bars, and on each bar there was an image of the King.
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 5 7
And overhead was this inscription: *' He who descended, He it is who ascended above all heavens." She understood, also, that all the works of our redemption were, in a marvellous manner, shown forth in those images.
Moreover, our Lord Jesus was clothed in like garments, save that on the bars of His vestment there was an image of Love as of a queen, and thus God was clothed in Himself, because God is Love, and Love is God. Now Love took God in her arms, and lifted Him up on high, and said: *' Thou art He alone, in Whom I have fully accomplished all the might of my power."
But the soul asked the virgin what her arms were, in which she had carried God. She answered: " My arms are nothing else but my omnipotence and my will ; for I can do all things. But not all things that I can do are expedient, arid therefore in- scrutable Wisdom ordereth and disposeth all things of mine."
There, too, was seen a great army of saints, amongst whom John the Baptist,
58 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
and Joseph, the nursing-father of our Lord, and Simeon, who received Christ in the temple, were the primates, and all of these ascended together with our Lord. The most blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord, was also seen on the aforesaid mountain, clothed in the same vestments as those of love, and underneath them she wore a tunic of red. And she said to the soul: "All my sufferings which I bore together with my Son, and for my Son's sake, I bore in silence and in patience. I had a ceaseless yearning for the little infant Church before God, and often did I bow myself down before His spiritual mercy, and to the desires of a soul that loveth in such a way He can refuse nothing. Therefore it is, that a soul troubleth God more on earth than in heaven.
Then the soul told the Blessed Virgin of the joy which she felt in the Ascension of her Son. And she was answered: *' In that joy, I knew all the joy and blessed- ness which I was to receive in my As- sumption.*'
Then our Lord Jesus, ascending on high
Revelations of S. Mechlild. 59
with jubilee beyond all conception, stood before the Father, and presented to Him in His own Person the souls of all the elect, both of those who were present, and who had ascended with Him, as well as of all those who were to come there here- after, and the works of each, and the suf- ferings and the merits ; so that they who are now in a state of sin appeared in Him in the form wherein they will be hereafter in heaven. Now the loving souls, and those which bear many things patiently for Christ, shone in His Heart with special splendour ; but the rest of the souls shone in the rest of His members.
Then the Father of heaven received His Son with exceeding worthy honour, and said: ** Behold, I give Thee the over- flowing abundance of delights, which Thou didst, in a manner, leave when Thou didst descend into the exile of the world, to- gether with the plenary power of commu- nicating them in all abundance to all the souls which Thou hast now presented to- gether with Thyself.*' Moreover our Lord Jesus offered to God the Father all the
6o Revelations of S, Mechtild,
poverty, disgrace, and pains, all the labour and works of His Humanity, as a nevv- and most acceptable kind of gift never before seen in heaven, although foreseen and foreknown in the Godhead, and all these God the Father so drew into Himself and united them with His Divinity, that it seemed as if He bore them in His own Person. To the Holy Ghost, also, He brought all the fragrance of love, with which His most holy Heart, beyond all reckoning, was burning, and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit with fullest fruit, for in Christ alone has the Holy Spirit perfectly wrought these gifts, according to that of Isaias: "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of knowledge and piety, and He shall be filled with the Spirit of the Lord.*'
Then He gave to the Angelic spirits the milk of His Humanity, which they had never tasted before, that is to say, a new and overfiowinof sweetness in His delicious Humanity, for increase of their joy and
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 6 1
glory. To the Patriarchs and Prophets He gave to drink of that exceeding sweet chah'ce, in which He satisfied all their desires, and made them henceforward to rest in Himself. But as for the Innocents, and those who had died for the truth, like John the Baptist, Jeremias, and many others^ He, as it were, gilded their suffer- ings by lighting them up, and ennobling them in His own glorious Passion and Death. Moreover, many gifts did He bestow upon those who were left on earth, upon the Apostles, namely, and the other faithful, for everlasting knowledge of spiritual consolations, and to inflame them with His love.
Then our Lord turned to the soul, and said: *' Behold I have ascended triumphant and glorious, and all thy burdens I have taken with Me." And in this word she understood that the necessities and tribu- lations of all men are present to Him, and that He Himself fighteth gloriously in us and for us, and getteth Himself the vic- tory.
62 Revelations of S, Meckttld.
Chapter XIIL
Of the threefold operation of the Holy Ghost in the Apostles and in every soul,
/^N the holy Vigil of the glorious feast ^~^^ of Pentecost, as this humble hand- maid of God was desiring to show herself a dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, our Lord said to her : '^ The Holy Ghost worked three things in the Apostles. First, in that He wholly changed them at His coming, setting them on fire with the love of God, so that they who before had been timid and weak, and lovers of them- selves, were made so strong, that they feared not even to die ; nay, they thought it a joy and a glory to bear adversity for the love of God, Secondly, even as fire purifieth the iron, and maketh it like itself, so did the Holy Ghost purge the Apostles from all dross, and sanctify them wholly in Himself Thirdly, even as gold melted by fire, if it be poured into a mould, re-
Revelatio7is of S, MecJitild. 63
presenteth the form of the mould in itself^ so did the Holy Ghost melt the Apostles in the fire of His love, and make them flow into God, and conform them to His image, so that of them that saying of the^ Psalmist seemed fulfilled: '' I have said, ye are gods."
In like manner, let a man who deslreth the advent of the Holy Ghost, implore that these three things may be worked in him: namely, that the. Holy Ghost may defend him by His love against evil, and strengthen him for every good, by taking away from him all human fear, so that for the love of God he may patiently and gladly suffer adversity. Let him pray through the Holy Ghost, that the remis- sion of all his sins may be given him, and that, wholly melted in the fire of the love of God, he may merit wholly to pass into God, and, happily united with Him, to be conformed to Him.
Likewise the Holy Ghost gave the Apostles to drink out of three chalices, whereby He so abundantly filled them, that not undeservedly the people took
64 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
them to be drunken. First, with the Wine of love He so abundantly filled them, that, like drunken men, they gave themselves up to oblivion, no longer desiring honour or any bodily convenience, but seeking the glory of God alone.
Secondly, He made them abound with the wine of Divine consolation and sweet- ness, so that henceforth no earthly joy or comfort could separate them* Thirdly, He inebriated them with the love of hea- venly things as with a cup of nectar, and made them, as it were, mad ; hence, burn- ing with unutterable desire for our Lord, they even desired, if they could, to go through a thousand deaths.
In like manner let the faithful soul ask of the Holy Ghost to give her to drink in^ these three ways: the wine, namely, of the love of God, which may bring forth for-^ getfulness of self, so that she may seek for, herself no honour nor convenience except for God's glory. Let her also pray to be? so filled with the interior sweetness of the Holy Ghost, that never may earthly joy or delight be strong enough to give her plea-i
Revelations of S, Mechtild. 65
sure. Let her pray, too, that she may be inflamed with the love of heavenly and spiritual things, whereby, panting with her whole heart after God, she may look at death and other painful penalties as nothing.
Chapter XIV.
Of the venerable Assumption of the most glorious Virgifz Mary.
/^N the vigil of the glorious Assump- ^^^^ tion of the most sweet Virgin Mary, the handmaid of Christ was fixed in prayer, and it seemed unto her as if she were in a little cottage, where, upon a little bed, lay the most blessed Virgin, covered with fair white linen sheets. Then she said to the Blessed Virgin : '* Whence is this, O Maiden-Mother, that languor can be in thee, since we believe that thou wert alto- gether a stranger to the pains of death .'^" And she answered: "When I was i\\
prayer, and set on fire with the remem- 5*
66 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
brance of all God's good deeds to me, and with a desire of praising and thanking Him, of which men can have no concep- tion, there came upon me a new fire of the love of God, and stirred up within me an unutterable desire of seeing Him, and of being with Him. When that fire of love had increased so much, that I had no more strength of body, I lay down upon my bed, and all the orders of angels ministered unto me. Then the Seraphim helped my love, kindling in me that divine fire more and more. The Cherubim also ministered unto me the light of knowledge, so that I foresaw in my mind all the great things that the Lord, my Son and my Spouse, was about to do for me ; and therefore it was that I said in my prayer, that thel spirit of darkness should not come nigh me, lest peradventure his presence mighty cloud in somewise that heavenly light. The Thrones preserved in me undisturbed the rest which I enjoyed in God. The Dominations stood by me, and served me with the same reverence as that with which princes venerate the queen and mother of'
Revelations of S, Mechtild. 67
their King. The Principalities, by their presence, prevented those who had come to me from venturing either to speak or to do aught that might disturb the quiet of my soul. The Powers drove back the demon-hosts, lest they should dare to ap- proach. The Virtues, for the increase of my honour, stood around me, clad and adorned in my virtues. The Angels and Archangels, by their homage, caused all those who were present to serve me with the greatest devotion and reverence.
And she saw in spirit how the angels flew round about the most glorious Virgin, and the seraphic spirits walked on our Lady's breath. And when she saw the blessed John the Evangelist standing op- posite the most Blessed Virgin, she said to him: "By that gift which thou didst offer unto God, when for His Mother's tender love thou desiredst to be deprived of all who were dear to thee, I ask of thee to obtain for me, that I, for Christ's love, may cast away from me all that is dear, so that I may love Him with my whole heart." And he answered her: " So great
68 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
was the consolation that I drew from the words of my Lord's Mother, that never did I hear from her one word, at which I did not feel special joy/'
Chapter XV.
How the most Blessed Viro^in was assumed.
<i>
/^N the holy night of the Assumption, ^■^^ when she was in choir, it seemed to her as if again she were with the Blessed Virgin, who was lying upon her bed. And behold ! (as it was given to her to under- stand,) the height of infinite majesty bowed itself down into the abyss of holiness, that is to say, the most humble heart of the Virgin, and so abundantly filled it with the torrent of its own Divine delight, that her most holy soul, being absorbed, was wholly transfused into God. And thus did Mary's most holy soul go forth from her body with joy unutterable, a stranger to all pain, and flying exceeding gladly into the arms
Revelations of S, Mechtild. 69
of her Son, and resting with all love and much delight upon His Heart, was borne even unto the throne of the most excellent Trinity, amidst the festal mirth of the Saints. But how God the Father, with the most gracious affection of His whole Fatherhood, then received her soul into His Fatherly Heart, it is impossible for any creature to tell. So, too, was it with the inscrutable Wisdom of God, God the Son; with what exceeding befitting honour He did her filial reverence, and to what a sublime height He stablished her at His Right Hand on the throne of His glory, passeth all thought. Moreover, the Holy Ghost, in His benignity and sweetness, filled her so abundantly with all good things, that all in heaven were filled out of her fulness.
The Seraphic spirits, too, who from the beginning of their creation had burned in the fiery furnace of the Godhead, were yet more inflamed with love by the heat of the Blessed Virgin's charity. The Cheru- bim, full of the brightness of God, were, in a certain manner, lit up with new light ;
70 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
and all the orders of angels and of saints obtained greater glory and new joy for the increase of their rewards from the glory of so great a Queen. Then, in the immen- sity of blessedness, the incomprehensible Trinity flowed in upon her in the fulness of the Godhead, and penetrated her through and through. All full of God, whatever she seemed to do God did in her and by her, so that He saw with her eyes, and heard with her ears, and sung to Himself most sweet and perfect hymns of praise with those virginal lips of hers, and seemed to rejoice and take deh'ght in her virgin- heart, as if in His own.
Now the Queen of glory stood at the Right Hand of her Son, clad in mirror-like vesture, exceeding bright, and in this the good deeds of the Saints shone forth mar- vellously. Wherefore it was that all the Saints came before her throne with glad- ness, and contemplated their own deeds, and henceforward they broke out into new praise, and made exceeding sweet jubilee to God. The Patriarchs and Prophets, when they gazed at their own yearnings
I
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 7 1
and magnificent virtues, and the familiari- ties which they had had on earth with God, discovered that the Blessed Virgin excelled them in all these, because being brighter far than they in grace and virtue, and yearning after God with a closer yearn- ing, she is proved to have been most fami- liar with God. And so all the orders of the Saints came one by one, and gazed at the works of their own perfection in the Blessed Virgin, as in a mirror, and mar- velled in their joy how far she had out- stripped them. For amongst the Apostles she was found to have clung the most faithfully to Christ, and most diligently to have kept His words. Amongst the mar- tyrs was she the most patient and con- stant ; amongst the confessors the most enlightened and enlightening by word, as well as by example. Amongst the vir- gins, not only was she the chastest and the holiest, but she was even the first to cultivate in an eminent degree virginity and the whole religious life. Amongst the meek was she the most meek ; amongst the merciful the most merciful ; amongst
72 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
the humble the humblest ; amongst the perfect she was the most perfect. De- servedly, therefore, has she gone beyond the excellences of all the Saints. And the most Blessed Virgin said: '^ Whoso- ever desireth to be exalted with the high- est honour above all men, let him subject himself humbly to all men ; and he who would be rich above all men, let him spoil himself wholly of his own will ; and he j who seeketh after dignity of the highest glory, in all things let him strive to exer- cise himself in virtues.'*
Chapter XVI.
Of the Angels, and how men are made their companions,
T3EF0RE the heart of S. Michael the handmaid of Christ beheld a golden staircase composed of nine steps, with a multitude of angels surrounding it on either side, so that on the first step were
Revelations of S. Mechtild, "j^,
the Angels, and on the second the Arch- angels, and so upwards, in such a way that on each step there was placed an angelic order. And she understood from heaven, that by staircase is signified the conver- sation of men ; so that, namely, whosoever faithfully, and humbly, and devotedly min- istereth in the Church of God, and also for God's sake serveth the infirm, or pilgrims, or the poor, and all who, showing love one to another, help each other, shall stand on the first step, and be made equal with the Angels. Those, moreover, who, by prayer and devotion, wait familiarly upon God, shall serve Him on the second step with the Archangels. And they who exercise themselves in patience, obedience, and voluntary poverty and humility, and bravely perform all virtues, mount, to- gether with their virtues, to the third step. Those who struggle with their vices and lusts, and treat with contempt the enemy together with all that he suggesteth, shall obtain a glorious triumph on the fourth step along with the Powers. Those, more- over, who, in the Church, are set over
74 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
others, and administer well the office com- mitted unto them, and who watch day and night for the gain of souls, these shall pos- sess the glory of the kingdom in return for their labour, on the fifth step along with the Principalities. They, too, who bow themselves down before the divine Majesty with all subjection, and for His glory reve- rently love every one of their fellow men, nay, even themselves, because they are made in God's image, and who conform themselves to God so far as they can, and bringing their flesh into subjection to their spirit, obtain the mastery over their mind by transferring it to heavenly things, shall exult on the sixth step together with the Dominations. They who diligently wait upon meditation and contemplation, by embracing cleanness of heart and peace of mind, offering unto God a most peaceful dwelling-place, (and these may truly be called the Paradise of God, according to that: ** My delights are to be with the children of men;" of whom also it is said: *' I will walk in them, and make in them My dwelling-place,") shall be made the
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 75
companions of the Thrones on the seventh step. Tliey, moreover, who outstrip others in science and knowledge, and who, by a singular blessedness and with illumined minds, look at God face to face, and by doctrine and enlightenment of others pour back upon God all that they draw from Him, Who is the well-spring of all wisdom, shall be placed on the eighth step of the ladder of ascension along with the Cheru- bim. And they who love God with their whole mind and their whole heart, and who place their whole being in that eter- nal fire, which is God, and who, being made exceeding like unto Him, love Him no longer with their own, but with His love, even as they themselves are loved, and not only Him, but all things in Him and for Him, and who love their enemies and regard them, and whom nothing can separate from the love of God, nay, nor even hinder, for the more that enemies rise up against them, the more mightily do they grow strong in love, — burning there- witli happily in themselves, and setting others on fire, so as, if possible, to make
76 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
all men perfect in the love of God, — weep- ing for the vices and sins of others as if they were their own, because it is the glory of God alone and not their own, that they love and search after. These shall come close to God^ with nothing be- tween Him and them, on the ninth step, along with the Seraphim, between whom and God no others are found.
Chapter XVII.
Oil the Feast of All Hallows.
/^N the vigil of All Saints, when, from ^-^^ labouring at a certain work which had been enjoined her by obedience, she had neglected to go to Mass, she came at length before the elevation of the most Holy Host, and with sadness of heart of- fered her negligence to God. And our Lord said to her: '' I see not that thou hast with thee so great a ransom, that I can absolve thee from sin ?'* And she
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 77
said to Him: "Yes, Lord, I fully trust that Thou canst, and I know that to Thee nothing is impossible." Then our Lord said unto her: *' Fully will I answer for thee in all things to God My Father. Do thou also ask the several companies of the Saints to offer for thee their good merits: the Patriarchs and Prophets, the longing which they had for My Incarnation ; the Apostles, the fidelity with which they re- mained with Me in My tribulations, and by going about and preaching gathered together for Me a faithful people ; the Martyrs, the patience with which they shed their blood for the love of Me ; the Confessors, the holiness by which they pointed out to others, by word and exam- ple, the way of life ; the Virgins, the chastity and incorruptlon through which they obtained a place so near to Me."
During Matins she saw the King of glory sitting on a Throne of crystal purity, with burning ornaments of red coral. At His Right Hand sat the Queen on a like throne, but of sapphire, adorned with white pearls. By the crystal throne of God she
yS Revelations of S. Mechtild.
understood that the inestimable purity of God's worth is signified, and by the coral the rose-red Passion of His Humanity. By the sapphire was figured the heavenly Heart of God's Mother, and by the pearls her virginal purity.
While, therefore, the verse of the second responsory was being sung, namely: Ora pro populoy etc., the most glorious Mother, rising from her throne, was seen to kneel down before the King her Son, and de- voutly pray for the congregation. In like manner each choir of the Saints seemed to do the same thing, when mention was made of them.
Then, during the eighth lesson, the most Blessed Mary again rose from her throne before her Son, and stood with the mar- vellous multitude of holy virgins. And behold ! from that most sweet Heart of hers, in which lieth hidden the fulness of all beatitude, there seemed to go forth a triple little cord of a golden colour, which, passing through the most loving Heart of the Virgin Mother, was stretched out to each of those virgins' hearts, and so it
I
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 79
passed through all their hearts, one by one, until it was bent back from the heart of the last of the virgins, and penetrated through the Heart of God, forming in marvellous shape, as it were, a mystic band. Moreover, the rest of the multi- tude of either sex, who had not been ren- dered sublime by the special gift of vir- ginity, seemed to be led about separately from the Virgins, and separately from these, again, the choirs of the holy Angels. And from every heart of the Saints, as well of the Virgins as of the rest of the multitude, there went forth an exceeding sweet musical tone, as of organs. By this it was given unto me to understand, that there was nothing so little that they had done on earth, in thanksgiving, or prayer, or in deed, or in word, or in thought, that will not sound forth from their hearts with sweet sound and trumpet-like through all eternity to God's praise, and to the in- crease of their own joy and glory. Hence It was brought back to my remembrance that of these it is written: "Then let all •the organs of the Saints sound continu-
8o Revelations of S. Mechtild.
ally/' and that other word: ** Praise Him with timbrel and choir, praise Him with strings and organs." But by the triple little cord which went out of our Lord's Hearty she understood to be signified the love of the ever adorable Trinity, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which, by the intervention of God's most worthy Mother, hath passed with especial sweetness through the loving hearts of virgins that are incorrupt, and hath united them with God, the Scripture also testifying that Incorruption maketh a man near unto God.
Moreover, during the High Mass, while the Gospel was being read, she sought our Lord, according to her wont, and said : *'What, O my sweet and best beloved, wilt Thou have me to do ?" He answered: *' Yesterday, a certain one told thee." Then she remembered that yesterday she had been forewarned by God, that she should beseech the whole multitude of the Saints to offer for her, and being desirous to obtain this, she heard our Lord saying unto her: ** Behold I come at the head of
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 8 1
all the Saints to offer for thee to God the Father. And first of all will I offer that most holy time, when I lay resting for nine months In My Virgin Mother's womb, as a bridegroom on his marriage-bed, for >» that time in which thou didst lie in thy mother's womb, nor yet wert free from the stain of original sin, nor capable of My grace. Next will I offer My most holy Nativity for thy nativity, in which, not as yet washed in the font of baptism, thou wert still an alien to Me. Then, too, will I offer My most innocent infancy and My childhood for the ignorances of thy infancy and childhood, and the fervent zeal of My devout boyhood and youth for the negli- gence of thy girlhood. After this I will offer the whole course of My holy and perfect conversation together with the fruit and love of My Passion, for all thy faults of commission or omission, so that by Me and in Me all thy defects may be sup- plied."
Thus, then, after He had said this, the Lord of hosts went forth, and all the host of heaven followed Him, and He went to
6
22 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
make His offering at a certain altar, which appeared to be adorned with exceeding wonderful and delightful variety of sculp- ture, of cunning workmanship. And she understood that there was laid up therein the treasures of the whole, that is, of the Highest and Incomprehensible Godhead, beyond all price and all reckoning. So,, too, by the sculpture of the altar, she un- derstood to- be signified the inexplicable diversity of the benefits of God, that pass all human understanding. Now there were three steps that went up to the altar afore- said: and the first of these was of gold ; by which was declared that no man can come to God, unless he goeth up to Him by charity. The second seemed to be of the colour of the sky ; by which was meant meditation concerning Divine and heavenly things, because he who hath the will to come nigh to God, must needs frequently endeavour to be lifted up from all earthly preoccupations by meditation. The third step seemed to be green ; by which was marked the verdant intention of the Divine praise, so that, namely, every operation of
Revelatioizs of S. Mechtild, ?>^
ours may be made with such an intention as to desire rather God's praise and glory than our own profit and health. Hence, therefore, about the time of prayer, she saw, also, in the midst of the mystic band, which hath been described above, a plea- sant table, laid out exceeding fair, from which our Lord took His deific Body and Blood of the Sacrament of Himself, and gave to the congregation that were seated with Him at the same table. Then, as a munificent monarch, He gave of the Royal feast, by the ministry of the heavenly princes, to each of the congregation. Now the feast, which she saw, she affirmed to be the same as that with regard to which our Lord had taught her a certain devo- tion before that festival ; namely, that, as a sign of special friendship, He would give to each of the congregation a thousand souls, which, in return for their prayers. He would free from the bonds of sin, and translate into the kingdom of heaven.
$4 Revelations of S. M edit lid.
Chapter XVIII.
Of the least of the Saints^ and God' s goodness.
/^N a certain Saturday, while they were ^~^^ singing the sequence Maize prima sabbatic at the verse Ut fons summce^ she thought how many and how great were the unutterable good things that had flowed forth, and still ceaselessly flow forth, out of Him Who is the well-spring of all good. And our Lord said to her: *' Come and see him who is the least in heaven, and then wilt thou be able to understand the source of goodness."
Now she began to turn over in her mind where she could find such a one, and how she might be able to recognize him. And behold there met her a man clad in a green dress, and his hair was crisp and silvery grey, and he was of moderate stature, exceeding fair in face, and very beautiful. ^^' And she said: '* Who art thou ?" And
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 85
he answered: "On earth I was a robber and a malefactor, and never did I do a good work.'' And she said: ''How hast thou come into this joy ?" He answered: ''AH the evil that I did, I did not out of wickedness, but, as it were, from custom, and because I knew no better, for I was brought up to this by my parents. For this reason, at the last, I obtained God's mercy through penance ; and for a hundred years I was in the place of punishment, and underwent many torments ; and now, by God's gratuitous goodness alone, I have been brought in here to rest." Then he told the handmaid who saw these thinofs all the good which God so mercifully had accomplished in him. And it was a great joy to her that He could have done this, and thus she recognized the source of goodness in this least one, for if God worked such marvels in him, who had done no good, what will He not accom- plish in His just holy ones 1
S6 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
Chapter XIX.
How our Lord should he praised in His Saints,
/^UR Lord said: ^'On the Feast of each ^-^^ Sanit thou canst praise Me for the eternal election, by which I elected them. Secondly, for My admirable vocation, by which I called them to the kingdom of glory ; for whoever could have access to the Divine Majesty, unless I called and drew him ? Thirdly, for the most faithful division of My kingdom with them ; for I have established them all kings and queens together with Me, and have made them with such great care, and so gloriously to reign, that they seem to have received, not the half, but the whole of My king- dom.''
The Saints also may be reminded of the joy with which they rejoice, because they perfectly know God, and see in their glad delight that they themselves have been
Revelations of S. Meek Hid. 87
loved from everlasting-, and chosen out of God's free goodness for such fehcity. For no man is able to look into his friend's heart, and see how that friend is affected towards him, as My Saints can do, who search into the interior of My Heart, and feel with unutterable joy My affection and love towards them. They can be re- minded, secondly, of the exceeding sweet taste which they enjoy, because, when they praise and bless Me, and see My love towards them, it is to them a sweet savour. Thirdly, they can be reminded, that they possess the fulness of their own will, be- cause all that they will, that they can most freely do. So, too, the Saints can be put in mind of that glorious, splendid, and de- licious preparation, which God hath pre- pared for them from everlasting ; namely, that they may be where He is Himself, joint-heirs with His Only-Begotten. Nay, in Himself, in the interior of His own Heart, hath He given them a mansion. Secondly, they can be put in mind of that exceeding sweet influence, by which God floweth in upon them with the whole of
88 Revelations of S. MecJitild.
His divine deliciousness, and they them- selves, in sweet fruition, flow back into Him with all their gratitude. Thirdly, they can be told of that most worthy hon- our, which He hath shown unto them, in that He hath made them to sit at meat with Himself, feeding them and satisfying them without cloyment, with the bright- ness of His own Face surpassing sweet, and inebriating them with the torrent of the pleasure of God, by fulfilling in good things all their desires. Fourthly, they can be reminded of their most faithful guerdon, because there is nothing so small that they have done for His love, or given up, or borne, which will ever be forgotten but all things will be diligently kept in mind by Him, and He will reward them above all merit with most worthy honour. Fifthly, they can be put in mind of their eternal beatitude, for they are certain that their glory and felicity will never fail, but^ together with the mass of their joys and rewards, will yet ever receive new in- crease.
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 89
Chapter XX.
Of the Feast of Dedication.
/^N the Feast of the Dedication of the ^^^ Church, whilst they were singing; at Mass the verse, Deus^ ctd adstat chortLS angelorumy cxaudi preces servorum ttwrtt^n^ she saw in spirit the heavenly Jerusalem, and the throne of God therein, which was of such great magnitude, that it extended from the highest heaven down even into hell, and on the lower part thereof was a great bolt, which pressed down all who were in hell ; and by this she understood that the justice of God was signified, which most justly separated the wicked from God. Now the city itself was built of precious and living stones, that is, the Saints, so that each Saint, together with all his good deeds, distinctly appeared in the wall, like an image in an exceeding bright mirror. Moreover, all the Angels were drawn up before the throne accord-
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ing to their orders and ranks. And when the soul of the handmaid desired to hear her Beloved, the Angels took her gently amongst them, and led her up to the Arch- angels, and then the Archangels led her as far as the Virtues, and so she passed through all the angelic choirs, and came even to the throne of her Beloved. And she fell at His feet and said: ''I salute Thy most holy Feet, with which, in love and desire that is beyond all reckoning, Thou didst rejoice as a giant to run the course of our redemption and salvation." Then she gave thanks for each good thing which God had done to her. After this she said to our Lord: ** What shall I ask now, for to-day we are invited so often to ask, in order that we may find joy also in obtaining our requests ?" And our Lord said to her: *^Pray first for the remission of all thy sins ; for this is very wholesome for a man, and he will obtain therefrom true joy."
Then the soul rose up, and beheld our Lord with outstretched hands sitting upon the throne, and saying: ^' Even as upon
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the Cross with outstretched hands I per- severed until death, so do I still stand as I stretch out My Hands before My Father for man, and for a sign that I am truly ready to take every man that cometh to Me into My embrace. If, then, a man desire to obtain this, if he be prepared for love of Me to suffer all adversity, it will be a sign that he hath come unto My em- brace. Moreover, whosoever shall desire that My ears should reach down to his prayers and grant them, let him be ready for all obedience, for it Is Impossible that the prayers of obedience should not be received by Me."
Likewise, when they were singing the response: Benedic Do7nine domuni istam^ quam cedificavi nommi tuo, she saw all the virtues that are named therein, stand be- fore God, in the likeness of virgins, and amongst them was one who excelled all the rest, and she carried a cup of gold, into which each of the virgins placed aro- matlcal spices, and on bended knees before God offered them unto Him. Whilst she marvelled at this, our Lord said to her:
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'* This is obedience, and for this reason she ofFereth unto Me alone, for in herself she containeth the good of the rest of the virtues, and the virtue of obedience ought to have these virtues in itself. For he who is truly obedient must have his soul, as it were, sound ; that is, must be weak- ened by no criminal sin. He must also have humility, whereby to subject himself in all things to those who are set over him. Sanctity and chastity must also be in him, because he ought to retain clean- ness of heart and body. Strength and victory are needful for him, in order that he may have courage to work well, and. to be victorious in resisting vice. The rest of the virtues, also, it is fitting that he should have ; namely, faith, without which no man can please God, and charity, both to God and to his neighbour ; meekness, which showeth itself gentle and sociable to all ; temperance, in order to cut off all superfluities ; patience, to conquer all ad- versities, and to gather fruit of all that is profitless ; and spiritual discipline, in order strictly to keep his rule.
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And whilst, during all this, she was praying for a certain person, who was bur- dened by her office, it came to pass that she saw her among these virgins, standing before God, and she heard our Lord say unto her : *' Why doth she unwillingly chant to Me, to whom I Myself wish to chant sweetly for everlasting ? More- over, the chant of a single day sung out of obedience, delighteth Me more than all singing that proceedeth from one's own will."
Chapter XXI.
Of the Most Blessed Virgin^ and of the seven servants who followed her,
/^NCE, as she was saluting the most ^^^ Blessed Virgin in the Mass Salve Sancta parens^ and asking that she might obtain from our Lord the remission of her sins, it seemed unto her as if the Blessed Virgin stood before God, and she herself was close to our Lady's feet, touching the
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hem of her garment as it flowed down upon the ground.
And rising up she saw several virgins standing round her, and when she desired to know who they were, the Blessed Virgin said: *^ All these virgins ministered unto me on earth. The first is Holiness, and she ministered unto me in my mother's womb, by filling me with the fulness of the Holy Ghost. The second is Prudence, and she served me in my childhood, so that nothing childish did I ever do con- trary to God's will. The third is Chastity, and she ministered unto me in the Angelic Salutation, when overcome by her love I gave my answer to the Angel. The fourth is Humility, and it was slip who made me the Mother of God, whose handmaid I acknowledged myself to be. The fifth is Charity, and it was she who took the Son of God from His Father's Bosom, and laid Him in my womb, and so filled me to overflowing, that even as the hearts of mothers who are great with child are wont to faint away beneath the burden of their pain, so did my heart oftentimes faint away
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under the burden of its love. And as the hart panteth after the water-springs, so also did I pant after the sight of the Son, whom I bore within me. The sixth virgin is the Zeal which ministered unto me all the works which my Son required to be done to Him, after He was born, so that in Him I accomplished all the Father's will. The seventh virgin is Patience, who ministered unto me from the first hour of my Son's Nativity to the day of His Pas- sion. The Fear of the Lord was my chamberlain, for never did I suffer my feet to slip." Then the soul said: *•' O Lady, obtain for me these virtues." And she answered: " Go to my Son, and ask Him." Now our Lord was sitting on a golden couch, supported by two columns orna- mented, as it were, with sapphire and gold. Then the soul fell at His feet, and prayed for these virtues, that they might be given to her and to all who were tempted. And our Lord assented to her request, assign- ing to her, as it were, the virgins who stood by, and looking, she saw that each one had in her hand a little lance, and it was sharp.
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The sharpness signified the constancy with which vices ought to be resisted ; moreover, round about the little lances were placed golden cymbals, which, when they were moved, made an exceeding sweet sound in the ears of God. The cymbals signified the thoughts which a man resists, thus gaining a victory over vice, and by this he maketh melody in God's ears. And she saw, as it were, numberless multitudes of angels and saints ''j standing around. And our Lord said : *' All these thousands who here stand by, ,] will be the defenders of all who fight for Me against all the snares of the enemy."
Chapter XXII.
How a man may obtain true Jioliness,
(~\^ a certain Saturday, while the Salved ^"^^ Sancta parens was being sung, the handmaid of our Lord saluted the Blessed Virgin, and besought her to obtain for her! true holiness. And our Lady answered:'
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**If thou desirest true holiness, keep thy- self close to my Son, Who is hoHness it- self, that maketh all things holy/' Now as she thought how she mfght do this, the most gracious Virgin replied: " Keep thy- self close to His most holy Infancy, desir- ing that His most innocent Boyhood may make up for all thy sins of commission or of omission during thy childhood. Keep thyself close to His most fervent youth, which flourished in burning love, so that in Him alone the fire of Divine love had sufficient fuel to make amends for all the lukewarmness and sloth of thy youth. Keep thyself close to His Divine virtues, so that thy virtues may therein be enno- bled and exalted. Secondly, keep thyself close to my Son, by directing all thy thoughts, words, and works in Him, so that all the imperfections of thy thoughts, and words, and works may be blotted out by Him, Who never was guilty of any of these things. Thirdly, keep thyself close to Him, even as the bride to the bride- groom, for the bride is fed and clothed out of the bridegroom's goods, and because of
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his love, loveth and honoureth both his friends and his family. Even so let thy soul be nourished with the word of God as with a most excellent food, and with His riches^ that is, by the example of His virtues, which should be imitated so as to cover thee like a vestment and a becoming ornament. To His family, also, that is, to the Saints, keep thyself close, by loving them, and praising God for them, and by very often leading them to thy Beloved, so that they may praise Him together with thee. Thus shalt thou be truly holy, ac- - cording to that which is written : * With I the holy fhou wilt be holy^^ just as a Queen " will be a queen from consorting with her King.** Moreover when, in the sequence Ave Maria, they were singing the word's Salvatoris Christi fe^nplwn extitistiy she reminded the Blessed Virgin that she her- self was the glorious temple of God, full J of light and of delight. Then the Blessed! Virgin took her by the hand, and led hei] to a house exceeding fair, which was buill of square stones deeply laid, and whichl had no window, yet which within was fulW
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of light, and the house had a little gate of red and thick jasper, and on it was a little chain of gold. This house typified the glorious Virgin, and the square stones denoted that in the four elements of which man is made up, she was most deep in her contemplation, and full of light in her knowledge. By the gate was signified that unto all who come to her she is as a mother. By its red jasper her marvellous patience was expressed, while the chain of gold typified her love. And the Blessed Virgin said to her: '^ If thou desirest to become a house of God like unto this, strive to exercise thyself in these virtues." Moreover, the glorious Virgin had in her right hand four rings set with the finest gems, and she placed her right hand on the breast of the soul, and said: " By these gems thou wilt overcome all kinds of temptations. Every temptation taketh its rise from four vices, namely, pride, anger, uncleanness of the flesh, and sloth. If, then, thou art puffed up with pride, oppose to thyself my most devout humility ; if thou art troubled with anger, call to mind
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my gentleness, whereby I was the meek- est of all ; if thou art annoyed by the un- cleanness of the flesh, run and take refuge in my most pure chastity ; if thou art tempted by sloth, fly to my burning love, and thus thou wilt beat back the whole power of the enemy."
* Chapter XXIII.
Of the Joys of the glorious Virgin Mary.
/^NCE, when the glorious Virgin Mary ^^^ appeared unto her, she asked the Blessed Virgin to deign to instruct her as to what honour she should show unto her f on that day. And the Blessed Virgin answered: ** Remind me of the joy which I had when the Son of God, going forth like a Bridegroom from the Heart of the Father, came into my womb, rejoicing as a giant to run his course. Remind me, in the second place, of the joy which I had when going forth from my virginal womb. He was made to me the Son of sweetness
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and of joy. Other sons bring- to their mothers pain and sorrow ; but the Son of God, Who IS sweetness itself, brought to me, His Mother, joy and gladness, and was made exceeding sweet. Thirdly, re- mind me of the joy which I had at the offering of the wise men, in which He was made to me the child of honour, for never was any mother honoured at the birth of her son with gifts such as these. Fourthly, remind me of the joy which I had when I offered my Son in the temple, and when He was made to me the child of cleanness and of holiness, because, even as other mothers are purified in this way, so, too, although I stood in need of no purification, that purification increased my holiness. Fifthly, remind me that in His Passion He Avas for me the son of sadness and of pain. Sixthly, remind me that in His Resurrection He was made to me the Son of joy and exultation. Seventhly, remind me that in His Ascension He was made to me the Son of majesty and of kingly dignity/'
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Chapter XXIV.
Of the Ave Maria.
/^N a certain Saturday, while the Salve ^^^ Sajicta parens was being sung, she said to the Blessed Virgin: "If I could salute thee, O Queen of heaven, with the sweetest salutation that ever the heart of man hath been able to conceive, most gladly would I do so." Then straightway the glorious Virgin appeared to her, hav- ing on her breast the Angelic Salutation' written in letters of gold, and she said: '* Higher than this salutation no man ever] yet hath reached, nor can a man salute me^ more sweetly than he who saluteth me with the reverence wherewith God the Father saluted me by this word Ave, con- firming by His Omnipotence my immunity from sin, that is, from the guilt either of] punishment or of fault. The Son, also, so illuminated me with His Divine Wisdom, that I am the exceeding bright star by
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which the heaven and the earth are h'ght- ened, and this is signified by the name Maria, that is, the star of the sea. The Holy Ghost, too, by penetrating me with His Divine sweetness, made me, by His grace, so full of grace, that every man who ^seeketh grace through me shall find it, and this is signified by the word, gratia plena. So, also, at the word, Dojuintcs tecuniy I am reminded of the unutterable union and operation, which the whole ex- alted Trinity perfected in me, when It so joined in one person the substance of my flesh to the Divine nature, that God be- came man. What I felt in that hour of joy and sweetness, no man can fully ex- perience. By the words Benedicta tu in imilieribiLS, every creature recognlzeth in wonder, and beareth witness that I am blessed and exalted over every creature, whether in heaven or on earth. By the words Benedict us fnictns vent r is tici, is blessed and extolled that most excellent and superexcellent fruit of my womb. Who hath given life to every creature, and blessed it for evermore."
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Chapter XXV.
Of the Ave Maria to be said before Comimmion.
T T came to pass on a certain day, after Matins, whilst she was in prayer, that she began to doubt whether or not the evening before she had said CompUne of our Lady. And being saddened at this, she confessed her neghgence to God, and straightway said her Compline. After this she said five Ave Marias, according to her wont, before receiving the Body of Christ, the several intentions of which we will here write down for the instruction of others. First, she reminded our Lady of that most holy reception, in which she con- ceived her Son in virginal purity at the message of an Angel, and in the abyss of her humility drew Him down to herself from His royal throne; and she prayed our Lady to obtain for her a clean con- science and true humility. Secondly, she
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reminded her of that most sweet recep- tion, in which she received Him, when first she gazed at Him in His Humanity, and recognized Him as very God, praying our Lady to obtain for her true knowledge. Thirdly, she reminded her that at all hours she had been prepared to receive grace, nor ever placed any impediment in its way in herself, praying her to obtain for her a heart always ready for the grace of God. Fourthly, she reminded her of the great devotion and gratitude with which she had been wont on earth to receive the Body of her beloved Son, and had recognized more fully than all others, the greatness of the salvation which accrued to man from this reception, praying our Lady to obtain for her true gratitude. Fifthly, she reminded her of that most loving reception, in which her Son had called her to Himself, praying her to obtain for her grace to go to com- munion with spiritual joy, because if a man were to realize the greatness of the salva- tion which Cometh to him from Christ's Body, he would faint away in himself for very ]o^\ After this, she felt that the
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Blessed Virgin stood before her, and pressed her in a close embrace, but she, beginning to bewail her negligence, asked if the evening before she had said her Compline. And our Lady said to her: " When thou knowest not whether thou hast said it, before my Son it is as if thou hadst not done it."
Chapter XXVI.
Of the Fidelity of the Blessed Vh^giii Mary to her Son,
/^N another occasion, as she was accus- ^^^^ ing herself before God of having never loved His Mother as she ought to have done, our Lord said to her: ''For this thy negligence, praise My Mother for the fidelity with which she served Me most faithfully in all things all her life, ever submitting her own will to My Will in all her actions. Secondly, extol her fidelity, with which she stood by Me most faithfully in all My wants, so that every-
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thing that I suffered in My Body, she suf- fered in her mind. Thirdly, magnify her, because still in heaven she is most faithful to Me, by gaining- for Me sinners so that they may be converted, and souls, so that they may be freed from punishment ; for by her intercessions numberless sinners are converted, and by her mercy number- less souls that had been sentenced by a just judgment to long punishment, are called away and freed from the lire of purgatory.''
Chapter XXVII.
Hozi) the Blessed JMary may be saluted.
TOURING the Mass Salve Sancta pa^ reus, when she was desirous of salut- ing the Blessed Virgin, our Lord said to her: '^ Salute My Mother along with every creature." Now as she was thinking how she might do this, she saw the seraphic spirits come from the south, each of them carrying lighted torches. Then, being in-
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spired by God, she understood that these spirits had come ahke to minister unto and to help her, and along with these she saluted the Blessed Virgin with the love wherewith she loved God above every creature ; with that love, namely, which was so stronof within her durinof the Pas- sion of her only-begotten Son, as utterly to surpass and extinguish all human affec- tion, for while every creature was mourn- ing for the death of the Son of God, she alone, with the Godhead, immoveable and rejoicing, desired her Son to be sacrificed for the world's salvation. Next came the Cherubim with mirrors, whereby she un- derstood that together with these spirits she ought to salute the Blessed Virgin in that most eminent and clear knowledge which above every creature she enjoyed on earth, and by which more clearly than all she now gazeth at the inaccessible light of the Godhead. After this the Thrones brought a throne of ivory, whereby she understood that most peaceful and gentle rest, with which God dwelt in her, and which in every human action, whether fly-
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ing into Egypt with her Son, or returning therefrom, never could be disturbed even for a moment. The Dominations brought a crown of marvellous beauty, wherein were human heads enamelled with won- derful brilliancy, by which was signified that redemption had come to the human race by the Virgin Mary. The Principali- ties carried flowering sceptres, wherein she understood that together with these she ought to extol the glorious Virgin for re- presenting the image of God unstained within herself, and more fittingly than every other creature. The Powers had swords, whereby was typified that God had bestowed on her the greatest power in heaven and on earth, over every crea- ture, especially over the demons, who fear her so very much that they cannot bear even the mention of her name. The Vir- tues had golden cups, from which our Lord poured Himself in gladness, whereby she understood that man should adapt himself to God by virtue, so that God may be able to pour Himself out upon him, and operate in him by His grace. With these spirits
1 1 o Revelations of S. Mechtild.
also she felt herself bound to salute the glorious Virgin, because in all things she was full of grace and virtues. The Arch- angels brought an exceeding fair veil, with which they covered both our Lord and His Mother, by which was figured that familiarity between God and the soul, wherewith the most holy Virgin Mary was in a very singular manner endowed on earth. Moreover, the Angels who stood by their King ministered unto her, by which she understood that she herself ought, along with them, to bless God's Mother, and to praise her for all the ser- vice which, as His most faithful and devout handmaid, she had ministered unto her Son on earth. After this the Patriarchs and Prophets brought caskets of gold, and they were closed. By this was signified their closed and obscure prophecy, which was fulfilled in the Blessed Virgin and in Christ, and was unlocked for us by the Holy Ghost. The Apostles had splendid books richly ornamented, by which was marked their faithful doctrine, the sound of which hath gone forth unto the ends of
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the earth ; yet these the gentle Virgin far surpassed by the doctrine of her example and virtues. Moreover the Martyrs car- ried golden shields In their right hand^ and roses In their left, signifying by this the victory of suffering, and the constancy of patience, wherewith they had shed their blood for Christ's Name and love, and these, too, the Blessed Virgin surpassed by her constancy and patience. The Con- fessors, also, offered censers and vials filled with marvellous odours, by which was sig- nified zeal of prayer and of devotion, and amongst these the Blessed Virgin was found first and most excellent. The Vir- gins, too, carried golden lilies in honour of the Virgin Mother, because by her the illustrious glory of virginity had sprung up on earth. Afterward all the Saints, the very heavens, the earth, and every crea- ture, when called upon together, bowed themselves down towards that happy soul, and offered her the help of their ministry, in order that with them she might worthily salute God's sweet Virgin Mother, who is most worthy of all praise.
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I
Chapter XXVIII.
Of the Salutation of the Blessed Mary.
T came once into her mind, that she had served our Lady all the days of her life less devoutly than she ought to have done. Then straightway she saw our Lord with the Queen Mother sitting on a lofty throne, and our Lord said unto His Mother: " Arise, My neighbour, and give place to this one." And when the soul heard this, she was sore afraid, and began to think that peradventure this was an illusion. Then our Lord said to her: ** Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou art not deceived, nor ever hast thou been deceived in such things." Then, too, the Blessed Virgin took the soul in her arms, and joined her to the embraces of her own Lover. And our Lord received her with marvellous sweetness, and laid her mouth on His own Divine Heart, and said: *^ Here shalt thou draw whatever thou
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^
wishest to offer to My Mother/' And she felt the following little verses, which never before she had either seen or heard, instil themselves into her, as it were, drop by- drop: ** Hail, most excellent Virgin, in that most sweet droplet, which from everlasting flowed into thee from the Heart of the Most Holy Trinity concerning thy happy predestination !'* "Hail, Virgin most holy, in that most sweet droplet, which flowed into thee from the Heart of the Most Blessed Trinity concerning thy happy con- versation!'' **Hail, Virgin most loving, in that sweet droplet, which flowed into thee from the Most Holy Trinity in the Passion and bitter death of thine only One!" "Hail, Virgin most worthy, in that sweet droplet, which flowed into thee from the Most Blessed Trinity, in all the glory and gladness wherewith thou now rejoicest, and shalt rejoice for ever, elect, and pre-elect over every creature in hea- ven and on earth, before the foundation of the world !"
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Chapter XXIX.
How the Virgin Mary asked that three Ave Marias should be said daily,
/^NCE, while she was praying to the ^^ gracious Virgin to deign to be pre- sent at the hour of her death, our Lady answered: " This indeed will I do, but do thou say to me daily three Ave Marias. At the first, pray that, even as God the Father, according to the magnificence of His Omnipotence, hath lifted me up on high to His own most worthy throne, and honoured me with such great honour that after Himself I am the most powerful ixv heaven and on earth, so I, too, may be present with thee at the hour of death, by strengthening thee, and driving far from, thee every power that is opposed to thee. At the second, pray that even, as the Son] of God, according to the pre-excellence o] His inscrutable Wisdom, hath most cun-| ningly adorned me with knowledge and
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understanding, and filled me full thereof, so that above all the Saints I enjoy a greater knowledge of the most Blessed Trinity, and that even as He hath lightened me through and through with all bright- ness, so that as a radiant Sun I light up the whole heaven with my virtue, so, too, at the hour of death, I may pierce through thy soul with the light of faith and know- ledge, lest thy faith be tempted through ignorance or aught of error. At the third, pray that, even as the Holy Ghost poured into me the sweetness of His own Love in its fulness, and made me so exceeding gentle and meek, that after our Lord I am the sweetest and the gentlest, so also I may be near thee at the hour of death, by pouring into thy soul the sweetness of the Love of God, and that it may be so ex- ceeding strong in thee, that all the pain and bitterness of death may be to thee, for His Love, exceeding sweet. Amen.
VIRGIN,
Taken from the Second Book of her Spiritual Grace.
Chapter I.
How God inviteth the Soul,
/^NCE upon a certain Saturday, while ^^^ the commemoration was being made of God's Virgin Mother, the handmaid of Christ desired to praise her, but knew not y with what praise to extol her. Then pros- | trating herself according to her wont at | the feet of Jesus, she saw our Lord, Who had upon His right foot, as it were, a sapphire, and upon the left a granate. Now while she was marvelling at this, our Lord said to her: "Even as the sapphire, by its virtue, driveth out corrupt humours, so do My wounds drive out the virus of j the soul, and purify it from all stains.
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 1 7
And as the granate rejoicetli the heart of man, so do My wounds cause the soul, after the correction of her sins, to rejoice in Me/' Then rapt out of herself, she saw on high the King of glory, and at His right Hand His imperial Mother, while she herself at His left Hand, rested against His bosom, and listened with attentive ear to the ceaseless and mighty beatings of His own sweet Heart. Moreover, the beatings of the Heart of God sounded like so many invitations which thus spake : ** Come and do penance, come and be reconciled, come and be consoled, come and be blessed ; come. My love, and re- ceive all that the Beloved can give to His beloved ; come. My sister, and possess the inheritance of heaven, which I have bought for thee with My precious Blood ; come, My spouse, and enjoy My Godhead."
Now the Virgin Mary had on a vestment of the colour of saffron, on which were red roses, and on these again were golden roses marvellously woven. The saffron colour signified her humility, with which she subjected herself to every creature; the
1 1 8 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
red roses the constancy of the patience with which in all things she was meek and patient, and the golden roses that love of hers, by which she performed all her ac- tions in the love of God. Moreover her under-tunic was green, interwoven with roses of gold, signifying that her whole life had flowered with good works and holy virtues. By the gold was figured love, and that as the tunic was next her body, so love was next her heart. Then that blessed soul saluted the glorious Vir- gin through the Heart of her Son, and praised her through her Son, with more perfect praise than that with which any creature could praise Him. After this she asked our Lord, that He alone might be lauded in her praise, and that she might never seek anything else except His praise. And our Lord said to her: *' Why thinkest thou that it is ordered that the antiphons should be said with heads bowed down, except that the grace, which God poureth out upon the soul, may be ' received in thanksgiving and praise ?" And she saw a tube, as it were, coming out of the Heart
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of God, to her own heart, and then wind- ing back again from her own heart to that of God, by which was signified the praise of God. Now the tube was studded with golden knots, by which were typified those blessed souls, which praise and glorify our Lord in heaven for ever and for ever.
Chapter II.
Of our Lord' s vineyard, which is the Churchy and of four kinds of prayer,
/^N a certain Sunday, while they were singing the Asperges me, Do77iine, she said: ** My Lord, in what wilt Thou now wash and cleanse my heart ?" And straightway our Lord with love unutter- able embraced her whole being, and said: ** In the love of My divine Heart I will wash thee." And He opened the door of His sweet Heart, even the treasure-house of the Godhead, into which she entered as into a vineyard, and she saw therein a river of living water flowing from the east
I20 Revelations of S. MecJitild,
unto the west, and round about the river were twelve trees bearing fruit, that is, the virtues which the blessed Paul enumerateth in his Epistle: charity, joy, peace, patience, longanimity, goodness, benignity, meek- ness, faith, modesty, continence, chastity. This water is called the river of love ; and therefore the soul entered into it, and was washed therein from every stain. In this river there was a multitude of fishes that had golden scales, which signified those loving souls, which, separated from all delights of earth, have plunged themselves in the very well-spring of all good, even in Jesus. In the vineyard there were palm trees, some of which stood erect, while others were bent down to the ground. The palms which stood erect are those who have despised the world with its flowers, and who lift up their minds to heavenly things ; and the palms that were bent down are those wretched ones, who lie in the earthly dust of their own thoughts. Moreover our Lord, in the likeness of a gardener, was digging in the earth. And she said to Him: **0 Lord, what is Thy
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spade ?" And He answered, '* My fear." Now in certain places the earth was hard, in others soft. The hard earth signified the hearts of those who are hardened in sin, and who will not be corrected either by advice or by reproof. The soft earth signified the hearts of those who are soft- ened by tears and true contrition of heart. And our Lord said : "• This vineyard is My Catholic Church, in which for thirty and three years I laboured, and which I watered with My sweat ; do thou labour with Me in this vineyard." And she said, " How ?'* And our Lord replied: '* By watering it.' And straightway the soul ran impetuously to the river, and filled a pail with water, and set it on her shoulders ; and as it was exceeding heavy, our Lord came and helped to carry it with her, and its burden became light. And our Lord said: " Thus when I give grace to men, do all things performed or borne for Me seem light and sweet; but when I take away My grace, then do all things seem heavy unto them." More- over, round about the palms she saw a multitude of angels like unto a wall.
12 2 Revelations of S, Mechtild.
After this the best of masters taught her the Psalm Miserere mei DeuSy in which there are twenty verses, and how these twenty verses ought to be divided into five and five with the antiphon : " O Blessed and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, have mercy, have mercy, have mercy upon us,'* and the verse Mise- rere, The first ^v^ verses for all sinners who, being hardened in sin, refuse to be converted to God, so that God, by His loving Death, may deign to recal them to Himself by true penance. The second five verses for penitents, that they may obtain the forgiveness they desire, and never go back afresh to their sins. The third five verses for the just, who already are making progress in virtue, so that they may persevere therein. The fourth five verses for all the souls in purgatory, who are certain that before long they will drink in the kingdom of the well of living water, and will reign with Christ for ever, so that they may be the sooner set free, and feast with our Lord. During the Mass, moreover, when the Host was being
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 123
elevated, our Lord said to her: ''Behold, I will give My whole Self, with all the good that is in Me, into thy soul's power, so that whatever thou desirest to do with Me, it is wholly in thy power to do." ^ This she refused to accept, but chose rather in all things to do His will. And our Lord said: /' What thou wilt, is in thy power to do." But she, recognizing our Lord's will, said unto Him : '* Nothing for my own use do I desire ; nothing do I seek, nothing do I wish for, save that to- day Thou shouldst be praised by Thyself and through Thyself, as fitly and perfectly as Thou canst possibly be praised." Then she saw, as it were, a harp go forth from the Heart of God, and it had many chords. Now that harp was our Lord Jesus, and the chords were all the elect, who are one with God in love. Then Jesus Himself, the chief Singer of all the singers, struck the harp ; and all the angels chanted with an exceeding sweet sound, and said : *' Praise we the King of kings, One God in three Persons, Who hath chosen thee for His daughter and spouse." Then all
124 Revelations of S. MecJitild,
the Saints sang in God with sweet har- mony, and said: '' Now give we thanks to God the Father for this harmony with which His grace hath enriched us."
Chapter III.
Of our Lord's Scourge,
/^NCE upon a time she saw our Lord ^^^ standing, holding in His Hand a gol- den scourge, and threatening her. Then she fell upon the ground, and embraced our Lord's scourge ; by which was given her to understand, that man ought with gratitude to receive the gifts of God, whether of prosperity or of adversity. Moreover, our Lord lifted her up, and clothed her with a red tunic full of holes, and said to her: "Thus was all My Body everywhere pierced, and torn with pains, so that from the sole of My Foot to the crown of My Head, there was no sound place in Me." By this was foreshadowed that shortly she was to be oppressed with
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 1 2 5
the trouble of infirmity. She saw, also, our Lord holding behind her a chalice of gold, whereby she understood that the sweetness which God will infuse into the soul is not as yet seen nor tasted, but is hidden in God, from Whom all good things proceed.
Chapter IV.
How our Lord gave her Love to be her Mother.
TT came to pass on a certain day, that Love encompassed her, as it were, with a vesture of sunlight. And there approached two beings, Love, namely, and the soul, and they stood in Christ's pre- sence exceeding fair. Now the soul was very desirous to approach nearer, for al- though she could contemplate His Im- perial Person, yet was not this enough for her. Then Love took the soul and led her to our Lord. And the soul bent her- self over the wound of the sweet Heart of
126 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
her only Saviour, and drank therefrom deep draughts of all deliciousness and sweetness, and all her bitterness was changed therein into sweetness, and her fear into security. She also drew forth from the Heart of Christ an exceeding sweet fruit, which she took from the Heart of God and placed in her own mouth, by which was signified that eternal praise which proceedeth from the Heart of God ; for all praise, by which He is Himself praised, floweth forth from Him, Who is the beginning and the end of all good. Then she took another fruit, namely, thanksgiving, for nothing can the soul do of herself, unless she be prevented by God. And our Lord said to her: *'Yet one more fruit I desire from thee above all things, namely, that thou shouldst pour out upon Me alone all the delight of thy heart." Then she said: "O my only Be- loved, how can I do this ?" And He answered: ** My love will accomplish it within thee." Then, with exceeding great gratitude, she said: '' Ah ! even so. Ah ! even so, Love." And our Lord said:
I
1
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**Thou shalt call none other thy mother, and My Love shall be thy mother. And as children suck their mother's breasts, even so shalt thou suck from My Love inward consolation and unutterable health, and My Love shall also feed thee, and clothe thee, and provide for thee in all thy wants, like a mother who provideth for her only daughter."
Chapter V.
How she was made one with her Beloved,
T IKEWISE it came to pass, while she was at prayer, and longing with a fer- vent heart after the Beloved of her soul, that of a sudden the power of God drew her soul so strongly to Himself, that she seemed to herself to sit down by the side of our Lord. Then our Lord pressed the soul against His Heart in a sweet embrace, and filled her through and through so abun- dantly with His grace, that she saw rivu- lets, as it were, flowing forth from all His
128 Revelations of S, Mechtild.
members upon all the Saints, so that all were penetrated with special joy, and they held in their hands lamps, as it were, ex- ceeding bright, filled with that gift which God had poured out upon the soul, and they returned thanks to our Lord with great gratitude and joy for that soul. Then she saw in the Heart of God, as it were, a virgin, exceeding fair, holding a ring in her hand, on which was a diamond, with which, without intermission, she touched the Heart of God. Moreover, the soul asked why the virgin thus touched the Heart of God. And the virgin an- swered: ** I am Divine Love, and this stone siofnifieth the sin of Adam. And as the diamond cannot be broken without blood, so the sin of Adam could not be dissolved without the Humanity and Blood of Christ. For straightway, as soon as Adam sinned, I introduced myself and intercepted the whole of his sin, and by thus ceaselessly touching the Heart of God, and moving Him to pity, I suffered Him not to rest until the moment when I took the Son of God from His Father's Heart and laid]
Revelations of S. MecJitild. 129
Him in His Virgin-Mother's womb. Then I wrapped the Son of God in swaddh'ng clothes, and laid Him in the manger ; after this I led Him into Egypt, I moved Him to all that He did and suffered for man, until I fastened Him upon the gibbet of the Cross, and there I softened by every means His Father's wrath, and joined man to God in an indissoluble covenant of love." And the soul said: ** Tell me, I pray thee, of all the things which Christ suffered for us, which was the one in which He suffered most ?" And Love answered: *' When He was so stretched out upon the Cross, that all His bones could be num- bered. Whosoev^er returneth thanks to Him for this, payeth Him as sweet homage as if He had mollified His wounds with exceeding sweet ointment. So also, if a man return thanks for the thirst where- with upon the Cross He thirsted for man's salvation. He will receive it as if He had refreshed His thirst. Moreover, whoso- ever shall return thanks to Him for having hung nailed upon the Cross, it will be as grateful to Him as if he had loosened Him
130 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
from the Cross and freed Him from all pains.'* And again Love said unto the soul: "Enter into the joy of thy Lord." At this she was wholly rapt into God, so that as a drop of water poured into wine is •wholly changed into wine, even so did this blessed soul pass into God, as if she had been made one spirit with Him. And God comforted her, and said: ''All that ever man can receive will I pour into thee, and as far as it is possible for man, will I mul- tiply My gifts upon thee." And Love said: **Here take thy rest, and repose in the Heart of thy Lover, lest ever thou shouldst be disquieted in prosperity. Here rest in remembrance of the good things which God, thy Beloved, hath done for thee, lest ever thou shouldst be disquieted in adversity."
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Chapter VI.
How God adorneth the Soid zvitli holy virttces.
/^N a certain day, while the Psalm ^^^ Laudate Dominum de ccelis was be- ing read, at the words: Et aqiice quce super coelos S7mt laudent nomen Dominiy she said to our Lord: *' O Lord, what are these waters of which we here sing ?'* And He answered: ** They are all the tears of the Saints, which they have ever shed out of love, or devotion, or compassion, or contri- tion." And straightway she saw that the water which signified the tears of the Saints was exceeding clear, and that its bottom was of most pure gold, having for sand pearls and precious stones, whereby were typified the divers virtues of the Saints, in which they had exercised themselves on earth, namely, prayers, vigils, and other works of zeal. And there was a multitude of fish in the water, playing and moving
132 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
themselves about, by which were signified the desires which move the soul towards God, and the sighs and plaints whereby the soul attracteth God towards herself. For the Saints in heaven contemplate their own virtues, and all their good works in God, for the increase of their joys, and the delight of their heart, although each one in himself hath glory in his own virtues. After this she complained unto our Lord that she had not celebrated the day of her espousals as devoutly, nor cleaved unto Him with as great fidelity, as a bride ought to have done with regard to her only Bridegroom. Then our Lord clad her in a vesture of His own most perfect virtues, and He placed on her head a diadem of gold, and pressed her to Him in the em- brace of love ; and He put His arm round about her. But when the soul marvelled at this, our Lord said to her: *' Between Me and thee there is no darkness." She saw, also, thousands upon thousands of angels standing with reverence before Christ the Kin or. And our Lord said unto the soul: '' Lo ! all these do I give unto
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 133
thee, to serve thee." But she desired that all the ministry they rendered her might show forth the praise and glory of her only Lover. Then straightway she saw tubes, as it were, going forth from the hearts of the angels to the Heart of God, and they made such sweet melody that no ipan can utter it. After this the Heart of Christ opened Itself, and He Himself entered into it^ and shut her therein together with Himself, saying unto her thus: ''The up' per part of My Heart will be for thee the sweetness of the Spirit of God, and con- tinually will it keep dropping into thy soul. To this wilt thou lift up thine eyes with panting desire, and thou wilt open thy mouth to draw in the sweetness of God's grace, as it is said in the psalm: */ opened my mouthy and drew in Thy Spirit! In the lower part thereof thou shalt find the treasury of all good, and the overflowing abundance of desirable thinors. On the eastern side thou shalt find the h^ht of true knowledge, for understanding and ac- complishing all My Will. On the south side thou shalt see the paradise of eternal
1 34 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
riches ; there thou shalt ever sit with Me at table."
And straightway she saw a table set therein, and a cloth exceeding fair laid upon it. By the table was signified bounty, by the cloth piety. At the table our Lord sat, and. the soul ministered to Him with joy many courses ; that is to say, she set before Him divers gifts of God. For as often as she returned thanks for the Divine bounty, for each of God's gifts and for His numberless benefits, so often she placed a course before Him. And she said to our Lord: '^ What do I offer Thee, O my Be- loved, when I pray for my friends }'' He answered: "Thou offerest Me wine ex- ceeding generous, that filleth My Heart with joy.*' And the soul said: ** What do I offer Thee when I pray for sinners ?" He answered: ^* Thou offerest Me wine exceeding sweet, sweeter than honey and the honey-comb, when thou prayest for My enemies, who are in a state of damna- tion, that they may be converted unto Me." And the soul asked: "What do I offer Thee, when I pray for the [Holy]
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 135
Souls?" He answered: "Thou ofFerest Me wine which also gladdeneth My Heart, when thou prayest for those who are in My good will, that they may be the sooner delivered from their pains.'* Then the soul said: '* O most loving One ! how fer- vently do I now desire to offer Thee my heart/' And straightway He took her heart into His Hands, and smelt it, as if it had been a sweet-smelling rose. And the soul said to Him: ** What fragrance dost Thou perceive therein, in which is no good thing ?'* And our Lord answered: " When I am in thy soul, I perceive the sweetness of Myself" After this He said to her: ** On the western side are length of days, eternal peace, and joy without end. On the northern side thou shalt receive eter- nal security, whereby thou shalt overcome all thy enemies, so that no adversary shall any more prevail against thee."
136 Revelations of S. MecJitild.
Chapter VII.
How our LorcTs Heart was seen under the similitude of a lamp.
TOURING a certain Mass when, in ^^ consequence of divers distracting thoughts^ she was deprived of the enjoy- ment of God's presence, she prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and besought her to obtain for her the presence of her beloved Son. And by her intercession, as she be- lieved, she beheld the King of glory, our Lord Jesus, sitting on a high throne, which was transparent with crystal purity. And from the front of the throne there went forth two little streams of exceeding great purity, and these she understood to be the grace of the forgiveness of sins, and of that of spiritual consolation, which, during Mass, are given to every one in a more special and easy manner. Moreover, about the Elevation of the Blessed Host, our Lord rose up from the throne, and seemed
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 137
to elevate with His own Hands His own most Sacred Heart, as it were a lamp, ex- ceeding bright, full, and overflowing. Now this lamp, on every side and all round about it, overflowed with such vehemence, that large drops leaped out above the flow- ing stream, and yet the fulness of the lamp did not seem in anywise to be lessened. By this it was given her to understand, that although grace is ministered more than sufficiently out of the fulness of Christ's Heart to all, yet in Himself it overfloweth with great exuberance in all blessedness, nor doth it ever in anywise suffer decrease. Moreover she saw the hearts of all present fastened, as it were, to the Heart of our Lord, by little strings of lamps ; some of which seemed to stand upright, and to be full of oil, while others were empty, and hung upside down ; wherefore she understood that by the lamps that burnt upright were signified the hearts of those who were present at Mass with devotion and longing desires, while by the lamps that hung down were signified the hearts of those who refused
13S Revelations of S, Mechtild.
to be raised up by devotion. Tlien with a great desire she longed that her own heart might be wholly plunged into the Heart of God: and straightway she knew that it was lifted up out of the midst of the others, and plunged into the Divine Heart.
After this she saw the Divine Heart changed into an exceeding fair house, in which she saw four fair virgins, that is, four virtues, humility, patience, meekness and charity, which appeared — as indeed ** they often did — ^in green vestments. And as she wondered at this, our Lord said: *^ In as much as charity causeth many dry trunks, that is, sinners, to grow green again by its power, and to flower again and bring forth the fruit of good works, for this reason it is just that the virtues should appear dressed in green." And our Lord added: *^Try to fit thyself for familiarity with these virgins, and form friendships with them, if thou desirest to abide with Me in this My house, and to enjoy My presence. By the grace of the Word, when vanity dissolveth thy heart cultivate the virtue of charity, which took
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 139
Me from My rest in My Father's Bosom, and placed Me in the Virgin's womb, and wrapped Me in vile swaddling clothes^ and laid Me in the manger, and compelled Me to suffer many labours in preaching, and, last of all, killed Me by an exceeding bit- ter and shameful death. The remem- brance of such things will utterly take away all vanity from thy heart. In like manner, when pride troubleth thee, call to mind My Humility, for never even in the least thought, or word, or deed, was I proud, but I showed forth an example of perfect humility in all My Saints. So wilt thou overcome pride by humility. More- over, when impatience annoyeth thee, re- member My patience in poverty, hunger, thirst, in many journey ings, in contumelies, and, above all, in death. So, likewise, when thou art troubled by anger, call to mind My meekness, how I was peaceful and meek with those who hated peace, nay, so much so, that even for My very cruclfiers, who, when they had tried every kind of cruelty, and could add nothing more, still in their exceeding fury gnashed
1 40 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
at Me with their teeth, I asked for pardon, and appeased the Father for them, with as great sweetness of heart as if they had never gone against Me ; and so wilt thou be able to overcome all vices by virtues.*' After this, when once upon a time the Congregation went in procession to meet a certain funeral, this handmaid of God al- lowed herself to look at the fields of the broad plain, and having taken great plea- sure therein, she said to our Lord: ** My Lord, what sin have I committed in thus looking about me, and taking delight in the broad fields ?'* He answered: *'Thou hast sinned against obedience, and hast not attended to Me ; moreover/ thou hast neglected to pray for the soul of him who is dead." And she said: "Teach me, O most loving One, how we ought to do for the future, if we should happen to go out." He answered: "First, when ye have gone out of the choir, read the versicle Deduc "tne Dojnine — * Lead me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth ; let my heart rejoice so as to fear Thy Name.* Go out thus in My fear, and take Me for
J
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 141
the companion of thy journey, and also My staff, as it were, that ye, going forth in the way, may both support yourselves, and bless the houses, and the way itself, and all who meet you, with My Right Hand, yea, and they shall be blessed. For when a man hath vain joy, according to his own heart, afterwards he is burdened ; but he who hath My fear shall not be made sad, but shall obtain true joy. Then, when ye come nigh unto the funeral, ye can call to mind that great procession, in which on the judgment-day all shall rise with their bodies, and come to meet Me, and in which I Myself, girt about with glory and majesty unutterable, shall go to meet them with the multitude of all the Angels and the Saints. Ye shall pray also for the soul of him who is dead, that if he is in punish- ment he may be the sooner loosened, or if he is kept away from Me by some impedi- ment, he may be freed therefrom, so that in joy and glory he may be presented to Me on that tremendous day."
142 Revelations of S. Mecktild.
Chapter VIII.
Of the Cross and our Lord' s silken vestment,
/^NCE upon a time, beings in like man- ner rapt in spirit, she saw herself, as it were, in a certain house of marvellous beauty, which well she knew was the Heart of Christ. And falling on the ground she found a large cross upon the pavement, and she sank down upon it ; and lo ! from the middle of the cross there went forth a golden spear and transfixed her. And she heard our Lord saying unto her: ** All the substance of earth could not make glad one soul, but all her salvation and highest glory consisteth in pains and tribulations.'* Then the soul began to be exceeding sad and troubled, in that, although she heard her only Beloved, yet she saw Him not. And when she sought Him with great longing, straightway He appeared to her, standing before her, clad in a vestment of
Revelations of S. Llechtlld. 143
silk, and it was red. And He took her hand, and spoke to her most sweetly. Now when the soul felt the exceeding softness and smoothness of this vestment, she began to think what was signified thereby. And our Lord said unto her: ^* Even as the silken vestment is smooth and soft, so is all pain and all tribulation sweet to the soul that truly loveth God." And the soul said: ** At the beginning of the pain this is so, when the soul toucheth it with exceeding great desire ; but when the pain has grown stronger, it will become to her very burdensome." To this He answered: "True; but as a silken vest- ment, when it is adorned with gold and precious stones, is never thrown aside or hated on account of the heaviness, but is ennobled thereby, and held all the dearer, even so the soul that is faithful will not refuse pain on account of its bitterness, for all her virtues are ennobled thereby, and all her reward is infinitely increased."
1 44 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
Chapter IX.
Of her threefold pain,
A CCORDING to the multitude of His consolation and sweetness, God also multiplieth pains and infirmities in the soul that loveth Him, as the faithful soul of whom we are speaking has often experi- enced. For once upon a time, for more than a month, she suffered from a very- grave weakness of the head, on account of which she was unable to take any sleep or any rest ; moreover, also, she lost all her wonted grace and sweetness and the visi- tation of God, so that she often complained with tears that she could not even think sweetly of God ; and for this reason she fell into such a state of sadness, that at times she cried out in her misery after God her Beloved One, and the sound of her cries was heard throughout the whole house. But when she had remained in this desolation more than seven days, our
Revelations of S. MecJitild. 145
most gracious Lord, Who is ever nigh unto those who are of a troubled heart, poured out upon her and through her such abun- dant consolation and sweetness, that often, from Matins to Prime, and from Prime to None, she remained lost in the enjoyment of God, with her eyes closed, like unto a woman who is dead, during which space of time our kind Lord revealed unto her the wonders of His secrets, and gladdened her greatly with the sweetness of His presence, so that being no longer able to contain herself, she poured forth, like one who is drunk with wine, that interior grace which for so many years she had kept hidden, upon all who came to her, even upon guests and strangers. Wherefore, many communicated their affairs to her, to each of whom, as God deigned to disclose them, she made known the desires of their hearts, and they being glad thereat returned thanks to God. So then her soul dwelt in the Divinity like a fish in the water or a bird in the air. Moreover, it came to pass that S. Peter appeared to her, as if gazing
on her with wonder that the Lord of 10
146 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
Majesty should bow down in such con- descension to her soul. And our Lord said to S. Peter: "Why dost thou marvel, Peter, for both the first and the last of My children are to Me exceeding dear ? You were My first begotten disciples, to whom I showed all benevolence, and all that you wished for you had in Me, according to the desires of your hearts."
After this, as she was praying for the Congregation, she heard an exceeding sweet sound re-echoing in the firmament of heaven from the sound of the disciplines, which at that hour the sisters took for their common salvation. At the sound the holy Angels clapped their hands, and leapt for joy, the devils who were tormenting souls fled far away, the holy souls were loosened from their pains, and the chains of their sins were broken. ^
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Chapter X.
How she gave all the Saints to drink of the Well of Mercy,
A GAIN, on another night, she asked of our Lord in what place it was His will that she should pass the night. And He answered: '* At the foot of this desert mountain." Then she saw a well of mercy thereon, and over it little shields of silver. And our Lord said: *' Give to drink out of this well to all and each of the Saints, ac- cording to thy will." To which she re- plied: *' Do Thou, I beseech of Thee, O my Lord, supply my place, for I am not fit for this work, since I am weak, and infirm." Then the holy angels, taking her place, gave to drink out of that well, first of all, to the glorious Virgin Mary, for the in- crease of all her beatitude ; and as she drank, each drop sounded so sweetly in her throat, that all the citizens of the blessed Jerusalem burst forth into new
148 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
excellent jubilee. Then they gave the Patriarchs to drink, and the Prophets, and the Apostles, and the Martyrs, and the Confessors, and the Virgins, and the widows, and the married, and all the citizens of heaven, who all, in like manner, drank thereof; and each drop they drank sounded most sweetly to God's praise. Next they gave to drink out of the well aforesaid, first of all, to the Apostolic Lord, to the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and all the religious orders ; after these to the Emperor, the Kings and Princes, and lastly, to all who were alive upon the earth, and likewise to the souls in purga- tory. All, indeed, drank thereof, but not all tasted the same sweetness as had been enjoyed by the Church Triumphant.
Revelations of S, Mechtild, 149
Chapter XI,
How she was called by God together with Love, and of the psaltery of te7i chords.
A NOTHER time, having been sweetly called to our Lord Jesus, she saw how Love, under the likeness of a fair virgin, went round about the consistory, singing: ** Alone I have made the circidt of heaven, and I have walked on the waves of the sea!' In these words she understood how Love had subjected to herself the Omnipotence of God's Majesty, and had made, as it were, drunken His unsearchable Wisdom, and had poured forth all His most sweet Goodness, and by wholly conquering His Divine Justice, and changing it into gen- tleness and mercy, had moved the Lord of Majesty to come down to the exile of our misery. At the words also, " And I walked on the waves of the sea^ she understood how all who before the Law and under the Law had clung unto God in their tribula-
150 Revelatio7is of S. Mechtild,
tions faithfully through love, had con- quered all adversity and vice by means of love.
Then again Love sang: "He who sitteth on the globe heareth." By which she un- derstood how all the Saints in jubilee see now all the great things which our Lord has done in them ; namely, with what in- estimable Wisdom He had elected them, how freely He had justified them, and made them worthy by His grace, with how mighty and strong a love He had freed them from every misery, and had turned, not only all good things, but even evil things, to their advantage and salvation. And this praise God accepteth as grate- fully from the Saints, as if not from Him, but from themselves they had all these great and good things, and yet to Him alone gave the glory.
Again, it seemed to her as if Love stood at the Right Hand of God, from Whose Heart there went forth a certain musical instrument of an exceeding sweet sound, and it stretched forth to the heart of that virgin who held a psaltery of ten
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 151
chords, as is said in the psalm: ** On the psaltery of ten strings will I praise Thee." By the ten strings are marked the nine choirs of Angels, and the Sanctifier of all the Saints. Then the soul fell down be- fore our Lord, and lightly touching the first string she praised God, and said: *' Thee God the Father unbegotten ;" on the second she said: "Thee the Son Only- begotten;" on the third: '* Thee the Holy Ghost, the Comforter;" on the fourth: ** Holy and Undivided Trinity ;" on the fifth: "With our whole heart and mouth we confess ;" on the sixth: '* We praise ;" on the seventh: ^* And bless;" on the eighth: *^To Thee be glory;" on the ninth: "For evermore." On the tenth string she could not sing, for as yet she could not reach up to the heights of God. After this she desired that all in heaven and on earth might be made partakers of Divine grace^^and taking our Lord's Hand, she made so large a sign of the Cross, that it seemed to take in the heavens and the earth. By this the joy of the inhabitants of heaven was increased, pardon was given
152 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
to the guilty, comfort to the sad, strength and perseverance to the just, while upon the souls in purgatory was bestowed abso- lution and alleviation of pains.
Chapter XII.
Of the Title and usefulfiess of this Book.
A LMOST the whole of this book hath been written by a person who was familiar with the servant of God, and to whom she was wont to reveal her secrets. It was also written in such a way as that she should not know about it. But when she had learnt this from a certain one, she was made so exceeding sad, that in no way could she be at all consoled. Wherefore fleeing, as was her wont, to our Lord, she laid open before Him her sadness with confidence. Our Lord said to her: ** My Bride, in the freedom of My sweet and bountiful Heart, and in My Goodness, have I shown and revealed these things." And she said: "What will become of this book
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after my death, or what use will spring from it, and what shall be the name or title of the book ?" He answered her: *' All who search therein with faithfulness of heart, shall be made glad therein, and they who love Me shall grow more burn- ing in My Love, and they who are sad shall find in it consolation. Moreover, jt shall be called the Book of Spiritual Grace."
Now all the things which are here writ- ten are, as it were, but few in comparison with those that have been omitted. For many things were often revealed to her by our Lord, which she would never tell. Nay, sometimes, so spiritual was the reve- lation, that it seemed as if in no way it could be explained in words.
VIRGIN,
Taken from the Third Book of her Spiritual Grace.
Chapter I.
Of the Ring set with seven stones.
/^NE day, when the Virgin of Christ ^^^ felt not the presence of her Beloved, and greatly longed for it, she seemed to see, as it were, our Lord standing before her, and that they both spoke many things together. While then they were singing at Mass : Et tibi reddetur votum in Hieru- saleMy she thought how many vows the Saints had offered to our Lord in this world, — the Blessed Virgin and the other virgins their chastity, the Martyrs their precious blood, and the other Saints many labours and much devotion, and she grieved
Revelations of S. Meek Hid. 155
that she herself had nothing that she could ofifer. Then she saw the Blessed Virgin standing at her right hand, who gave her a ring of gold, which straightway she of- fered to our Lord, and which our Lord thankfully received and placed upon His finger. Considering this within herself, she said: ** Oh ! if it could be, that He Himself should give His own ring to thee, as a sign of espousal." And it seemed to her that it would be enough if our Lord would deign to give her a pain in her ring- finger, which she would wish to bear all the days of her life, in memory that Christ had espoused her. Our Lord said to her: *• I give to thee a ring set with seven stones, which thou canst call to mind on the seven joints of thy finger. On the first joint thou canst call to mind My Divine Love, which drew Me down from My Father's bosom, and caused Me to serve thirty and three years in seeking after thee. And when the time of My nuptials was at hand, I was Myself sold by My own Heart's love as the price of the marriage-banquet, and I gave Myself
156 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
for bread, and flesh, and drink. In like manner, at the banquet, I Myself was the harp and the organ, by means of the sweet words of My mouth; and to joyfully enter- tain the guests, after the manner of sports, I humbled Myself at the feet of the disci- ples. On the second joint thou shalt call to mind what kind of dance I, Who was so exceeding fair, performed after the ban- quet, when three times I fell upon the ground, and made, as it were, three such powerful bounds, that all dripping with bloody sweat I shed great drops of blood. In that dance I clothed all My fellow- soldiers in threefold garments, when I ob- tained for them the forgiveness of their sins, the sanctification of their souls, and My Divine enlightenment. On the third, thou shalt remember the love of My hu- mility at the kiss of the bride, when the betrayer came near and kissed Me, at which kiss My Heart felt such strong love pass through it, that had his soul repented, I would have taken it by that kiss to be My bride. For then I joined to Myself all the souls, which from everlasting I had
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 157
predestined to be My brides. On the fourth, call to mind what kind of marriage songs My ears listened to for the love of My Bride, when I stood before the judge, and so much false witness was brought for- ward against Me. On the fifth, remember how becomingly, for thy love, I adorned Myself, when so many times I changed My vestments, for white and purple and scarlet were My vestments, and for a gar- land of roses I wore a crown of thorns. On the sixth, be mindful how I embraced thee, when I was bound to the column: there, for thy sake, I received upon Me the darts of all thine enemies. On the seventh, be mindful how I entered the marriage-bed of the Cross. And as spouses give their bridal clothes to actors, so did I give My vestments to the soldiers, and My Body to them who crucified Me. Then I stretched out My arms, by means of the cruel nails, for thy sweet embraces, singing on My bed of love seven long songs of marvellous sweetness. After this I opened My Heart for thee to enter in,
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even when in dying on the Cross I slept with thee the sleep of love."
Chapter II.
Of the Rose which went forth oiU of the Heart of God.
TOURING a certain Mass, she said to ^^^ our Lord: "O most loving One, teach me how to praise Thee !" Our Lord said to her: "Look at My Heart." And lo ! an exceeding fair rose, having five leaves, went forth from God's Heart, and covered all His breast. And our Lord said: "Praise Me for My five senses, which are signified by this rose." Then she understood that she ought to praise our Lord for His praiseworthy and loving sight, by which He looketh ever on man, even as a father on his only son, never giving way to wrath, but ever regarding him as a friend, as if wishing and desiring that man should always have recourse to Him. Secondly, for His hearing, by which
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 159
His ear is ever bowed down and attentive, so that at the least whisper or groan of men He is more delighted than at many songs from the Angels. Thirdly, for His smell, by which He hath ever a living lik- ing for man, and by which He exciteth the heart of man to delight in Him^ for no man can take delight in a good word, un- less he be prevented by God. And this is why it is written: ** My delights are to be with the children of men.*' Fourthly, for the exceeding sweet taste which is found in the Mass, where He Himself is the soul's sweet food. And in this food He so incorporateth the soul with Himself, that by this union with God the soul is made the food of God. Fifthly, for the loving touch, by which Love touched Him bitterly upon the Cross, fixing the nails m His Hands and Feet, and the spear into His Side ; and even as at the time the soul of whom we are writing was transfixed with grief beyond compare, so now she still remains marked in her hands, and feet, and heart with unutterable jubilee of
1 60 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
love, so that not even for a moment can she forget it.
Chapter III.
That God ought to be praised in three ways,
T N like manner she saw our Lord sur- rounded with unutterable glory ; and He had on His breast a leaf of clear silver, round about which were chasings beyond all price, on which were represented the sufferings of each of the Saints, which they had undergone for Christ. For in the glory of God the Saints contemplate all their good deeds and their own dignities, because there is nothing so small that they have done for His love, or suffered in thought, word, or deed, for which they will not receive an everlasting reward, while they themselves will glorify God for all His gifts. And she said to our Lord: *' O most sweet and loving One ! in what is it most Thy pleasure that I should
Revelations of S. Mechtild. i6i
exercise myself?" He answered her: *• In praise." She said: ''Teach me, then, that worthily I may praise Thee." Then our Lord taught her three ways, as it were three beats of music, and said : " First thou shalt praise the Omnipotence of the Father, by which, in the Son and in the Holy Ghost, He worketh according to His Will, and Him, no creature, however immense, whether in heaven or in earth, can contain. Next thou shalt praise the inscrutable Wisdom of the Son, which He commu- nicateth fully, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, according to His Will, which no creature can fully grasp. Lastly, thou shalt praise the graciousness of the Holy Ghost, which, together with the Father and the Son, He abundantly com- municateth according to all His Will, in which, also, no creature can fully share. The second way, or beat, is that in which thou oughtest to praise Me for every grace and gift that flowed out of the abundance of My goodness upon My Virgin Mother, who was more abundantly filled with every grace and good, than ever was any other
II
1 62 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
creature. Give thanks, also, for every grace given to all the Saints vrho now stand in the presence of My Majesty and gladness, and gaze with jubilee upon Me, the Well-spring of all good. The third way IS, that thou oughtest to praise Me for every grace and gift that flowed forth from Me upon all mankind: upon the good, whom I sanctify and confirm by My grace; upon sinners, whom I invite to penance^ and from whom I mercifully wait for good ; and also upon all the souls, which, by My grace, I daily loose from purgatory, and lead into the joys of heaven." At the first beat, it seemed to her that she ought to say: " To Thee be glory ;'* at the second: '^ Rightly they praise Thee ;" at the third: *• From Whom are all. things." After this, in accordance with the desire of the soul, the ornament which was on the breast of her Lover Jesus divided itself, and the soul entered into the sweet Heart of Christ, and there being made, as it were, one spirit with her Beloved, beyond doubt tasted and saw what it is not lawful for men to utter.
Revelations of S, MecJitild, 163
Chapter IV.
How man should salute the Heart of God,
nPHERE once appeared to the servant of Christ an angel of the Lord^ who drew from her heart, as it were, a scroll, on which were written in her own blood the words: "God is faithful, and in Him there is no iniquity." And also: " I would rather die than be separated from Thee by sin ;" and this scroll he joyfully presented to our Lord. Now in the morning, having been troubled with distractions, she had, in resisting them, thought of these words, and the Angel said to her: **To day thou hast thought of these words. Know, then, that as often as a man, in resisting his thoughts and desires, resolveth rather to die than to consent to sin, straightway this will be accepted before God, as if that man had carried out that resolution into effect." Then, falling down at the feet of our Lord, she complained that she had
164 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
wasted the whole time of her life in use- less living, and resolved that for the future, if it were possible for her to live until the last judgment-day, she would wish to live in the greatest pains and sorrows in which ever man hath lived upon the earth. And our Lord said to her: "For all that thou hast neglected, salute My Heart in the Divine goodness, for it is the well-spring and origin of all good, and from it all good proceedeth. Secondly, salute My Heart \ in the exuberance of grace which hath flowed therefrom, still floweth, and will flow upon all the Saints, and the souls of such as are to be saved. Thirdly, salute that sweet vein of My most tender Heart, which so often hath burst and poured itself out upon thy soul, and in- ebriated it with the torrent of My Divine pleasure."
Revelations of S. Mechtild, 165
Chapter V. X^
How a man should live in accordance with Gods good pleasure,
A GAIN, it came to pass on a certain ^^^^ day, that it seemed to her as if a dove sat on the bosom of our Lord, which signified the simple, who receive the gifts of God with a simple heart, and neither discuss the works of God or of man, and in these God taketh exceeding great de- light. Now, when she desired to know how she ought to rule herself, she under- stood that it should be according to the conversation of Christ, which was divided into four parts. For, first, Christ was fer- vent of heart ; so too, she herself, when alone, ought always to keep her mind fixed on the consideration of His Godhead, or on the operation of His Humanity, or in meditating on what God has done in His Saints, or in all those on whom He has poured out His mercy. Secondly, Christ
1 66 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
was friendly and gentle to all, doing no harm to any man by a biting word. So, too, ought her word always to have to do with the actions of Christ, or the examples of the Saints, or the utility of her neigh- bours. Thirdly, Christ was of use in all' His works in the healing of the body, as well as in the healing of the soul. • So, too, ought she to try to perform all her works zealously, with a prudent and merry heart. Fourthly, Christ was most patient in all His persecutions and sufferings: so she also ought to be patient with regard to all pains and injuries, bearing them with gen- tleness. As a sheep which is at pasture keepeth always bleating, but when dragged to be butchered is dumb: so, when it perceiveth no grievance, ought the faith- ful soul to fear, and when troubled in body or soul, to feel always safe. Then she prayed our Lord to instruct her how to live each hour according to His good pleasure. Our Lord said to her: " In the- morning, when thou risest, offer thy heart to Me, in order that I may pour into it My Divine Blood. At the Mass thou
Revelations of S. Mechlild. 167
oughtest to be with Me, as if at a banquet, where all meet together and none is ex- cepted, but where all bring with them their own provisions, that is, their prayers. At that banquet I, the Lord, enrich poverty with the liberality of the divine majesty of all virtues, and take away the afflictions of all." And the soul said: "Tell me what Thou doest when I pray or read psalms." Our Lord said to her: ** I listen ; and when thou workest, I rest, and the more zealously thou labourest, the more sweetly do I re« pose in thee. When thou eatest, I labour, for thou feedest on Me, and I on thee ; when thou sleepest, I watch and guard thee."
Chapter VL .
How man should salute the Heart of God, X
/^N the morning, when first thou risest, ^^^ salute the flowering and loving Heart of thy sweet Lover, from which all good, all joy, all happiness hath flowed forth in
1 68 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
heaven and on earth, still floweth forth, and shall flow forth for ever, and endea- vour to plunge thine own heart therein with the whole strength of thy heart, and say: " I praise, bless, magnify, glorify, and salute the most sweet Heart of Jesus Christ, my most faithful Lover ; I give thanks to Thee for the faithful guardian- ship with which Thou hast protected me during this night, and hast ceaselessly paid for me to God the Father, all the praise and thanksgiving, and all that I owed Him. And now, O only Beloved of my soul, I offer Thee my heart as a flowering rose, the pleasantness of which may attract Thine eyes the whole day, and the fra- grance of which may delight Thy Divine Heart. I offer Thee, also, my heart, that Thou mayest use it as a cup, from which Thou mayest drink the sweetness of Thine own Self, together with all that Thou may- est deign to work in me during this day. Moreover, I offer Thee my heart as a pomegranate, of exceeding sweet savour, and fit for Thy royal banquet, by eating which Thou mayest so transfer it into
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 69
Thyself, that for the future it may happily feel itself within Thee ; and, at the same time, I pray that every thought, word, work, and all my will may be this day directed according to the good pleasure of Thy most gracious Will/* And our Lord added : " Then sign thyself with the sign of the Cross, and say: ^ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Holy Father, in union with the Love of Thy most loving Son, I com- mend to Thee my spirit.' Repeat this word at each of thy actions, when thou beginnest them, or when thou enterest the choir, and beginnest the Hours, or when thou wishest to pray ; and have confidence in God, that the work which thou art then doing can never perish. Commend, also, thy sight, both inward and outward, to the Wisdom of God, and pray that He may give thee the light of knowledge, whereby thou mayest be able to recognize and fulfil His Will, and all His good pleasure. Thy hearing, too, commend to the Divine Mercy, that it may give thee understand- ing of all the things which thou art to hear
1 70 . Revelations of S. Mechtild.
during the day, and guard thee from see- ing and hearing what is hurtful to thee. Thy mouth, also, and thy voice, commend to God's faithfulness, and pray that He may pour into thee the taste of His own Divine Spirit, whereby all that thou may- est utter during the day may have for thee a good savour, and that He may open thy mouth to praise and give Him thanks, and guard thee from all sin. Moreover, commend thy hands to God's fatherly care, and pray that He may sanctify and fulfil thy works, and draw thee away from every evil deed. Thy heart, also, com- mend to God's love, and pray that He may draw it with all sweetness into His own Heart, and so set it on fire with His love, that never more may it be able to feel earthly joy or delight. In like manner, at Mass, offer thy heart to God, and before the Secret, cleanse, prepare and free it from all earthly things, that it may be able to receive the outflowing of the Heart of God, which ceaselessly influenceth and filleth the hearts of all present*
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 171
Chapter VII. X
What man should do to atone for his negli- gences, and how our Lord cometh in seven ways at the Mass,
A NOTHER time, as she was praying to our Lord for a certain person, and was inquiring of Him what He would accept in satisfaction for her negh'gences, she received the following answer from our Lord: ** Let her say thrice the Psalm * Laudate Dominum omnes gentes' Once in the morning let her say it, and let her take the true Jesus in her right hand, and present Him to God the Father, together with all the works of His Infancy and Boy- hood, to supply for all tlie good actions she neglected to perform in her childhood. Let her read it a second time at Mass, and taking Jesus, her Lord, as the Spouse of her soul, let her accuse herself before God of never having shown either love or fidelity or due reverence to so great a
172 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
Spouse, and let her call to mind how many good things she hath freely received from Him, when she was poor and nothing at all, and yet how He hath made her abound in all good things. Then let her offer to God the Father that most burning. Love which bloomed in Christ, together with all virtue, during His glorious youth."
Then, remembering her own poverty, she said to our Lord: " Ah ! how poor and vile a spouse I am, who would not have had even a ring wherewith to plight Thee | my troth, had I not received it from Thee." Straightway, He showed her a ring of so great a size, that it encircled both our Lord and the soul, and it had on it seven precious gems. By these seven gems she understood to be signified the seven ways in which our Lord deigneth to come in the Mass. The first way is that in which our Lord cometh in such great lowliness, that there is no one present so wicked, to whom He will not humbly bow Himself down and come to him, if so be that the wicked man desireth Him. The second way is that in which He cometh with such great patience,
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 173
that there is no sinner there or enemy of His, whom He will not patiently bear with, and if he desire to be reconciled with Him, gladly forgive him all his debts. The third way is that in which He cometh in the Mass, with such great love that there is no one present so cold and obstinate, whom He is not able, if that man deslreth it, to inflame with His love and soften his heart. The fourth way is that in which He cometh with such bountiful liberality, that there is none so poor, whom He can- not abundantly enrich. The fifth way is that in which He offereth Himself to all as such sweet, and delicious, and all-sufficing food, that there is none so sick or so hun- gry there, who may not be refreshed by Him, and abundantly satisfied. The sixth way is that in which He cometh with such brightness, that there is no one whose heart is so blind and darkened that it can- not be enlightened and purified by His Presence. The seventh way is that in which He cometh in tlie Mass so full of holiness and grace, that there is none pre- sent so slothful and indevout, who may
1 74 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
not be roused from his torpor and luke- warmness/and stirred up to devotion.
Again, a third time, let her read once the psalm *' Laudate Domlnum.*^ Let her read it at Vespers, and taking her Lord Jesus, and with Him all His perfect con- versation, let her present Him to God the Father for all the negligences of her life, praying that by Him full satisfaction may be made for all her imperfections. More- over, if she desire sufficiently to recover all that she hath lost, or vitiated, or neg- lected, let her often approach to the most noble and worthy Sacrament of Christ's Body, Which containeth in Itself all good, and is the source in which all grace is to be found.
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 175
Chapter VIII.
'How man may> drive away sloth,
/^NCE in the summer time, when this ^^^ pious and devout virgin was yearning in a wonderful wiay after heavenly things, she saw certain of the sisters slothful and asleep at Mass, and burning with zeal for justice, and at the same time carried away by the love of piety, she said to our Lord: " Ah ! Lord God, why is it that wretched man is so weak, that even when he is present at the Divine Mysteries, he cannot keep from sleep ?" To this our Lord made answer: " If men thought of hea- venly things, or even of the pains of hell, they would drive away sleep far from them." And she said: **To those to whom it is not given to do this, what ought they to do ?" He answered: ** If a man had a friend who was very dear to him he would grieve if he were kept far away from friendly intercourse with him. Who-
176 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
soever therefore thinketh how faithful and loving a friend I am, when he shall come to Me I will open to him all my secrets, so that he will wish or desire to know nothing else, and his heart will be justly stirred up to take delight in Me. More- over, whosoever shall think how I shall be to him the sweetness of every taste, ac- cording to all the desire of his heart, and how powerful and free he himself will be in My free bounty, the thought of this will deservedly drive away sleep from such a man. Wherefore, let a man receive with gratitude all the gifts of God, and give thanks for each, and from day to day make progress in virtue, until he abound in every good/^
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 177
Chapter IX.
Of the threefold ungtient of love.
/^NCE, when she had prayed for a cer- ^^^ tain person, who had complained to her that she felt no devotion in communi- cating, she gave her the following doctrine from God: ** When thou desirest to com- municate, if thou feelest thy heart luke- warm with regard to prayer, nor hast any desire or love, as it becometh thee to have, cry with thy whole heart to God, and say: * Draw me after Thee, we will run to the odour of Thy ointments.* At the word 'draw,* think how mighty and immense hath been that love, which hath led the Almighty and Eternal God to so shameful a punishment as that of the Cross ; and desire that He Who said, * If I shall be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things unto Me,* may draw thy heart, with all the powers of thy soul, to
Himself, and make thee to run with love 12
I yS Revelatiojis of S. Mechtild.
and desire to the odour of those ointments which have flowed in such abundance from the noble spice-chest of His Heart, that they have filled heaven and earth. The first unguent is made of water of roses, which Divine Love extracted from the noblest of all roses, namely, our Lord's breast, in the still of charity. Use this unguent to wash the face of thy soul, and think diligently, if thou findest any stain of sin, how thou mayest pray and desire that it should be washed away in the fountain of His mercy wherein He washed the thief upon the Cross. The second unguent is that ruby wine, namely. His most holy Blood, which the wine-press pressed out upon the Cross, and brought forth together with water from His Heart's rosy wound ; and ask that thy face may be coloured there- with, so that thou mayest be rendered fit and worthy for so great a banquet. The third unguent is the supereminent and superaffluent sweetness of God's priceless Heart, which not even the bitterness of death could lessen, and which is called the unofuent of balsam. This un^^uent sur-
I
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 79
passeth every odour of spice, and is good for all languor of soul. Ask that this un- guent may be poured out upon thy soul from the Heart of God, so that thou may- est taste and feel how sweet our Lord is, and having tasted His sweetness, mayest grow fat, and be enlarged, and comforted, and be made one body with Him, Who gave Himself to thee through such mighty love. And when thou feelest no sweet- ness from any of the things aforesaid, ask that this may be brought about in thy sweet Lover Himself, and that at least thy tastelessness may be tasteful to Him, and that all thy lukewarmness may glow in Him, and that He alone may be glorified in all thy works now and for the time to come."
1 80 Revelations of S. Mechtild.
Chapter X.
How man should recommend Ids faith to God.
T F any man shall recommend his faith to God in the following way, he shall obtain from God the grace never to be tempted at the end of his life as to the true faith. First, then, let a man recom- mend his faith to the Omnipotence of the Father, and pray to Him that he may be so confirmed by the power of the God- head, as never to be able to fall away from the right faith. Secondly, let him commit it to the inscrutable Wisdom of the Son of God, and pray that he may be so lit up with the light of Divine knowledge, as never to be seduced by the spirit of error. Thirdly, let him recommend it to the benevolence of the Holy Ghost, with the supplication that his faith may so work, in Him, all things through love, as to merit to be found perfect and consummate at the hour of death.
I
Revelations of S. Mechtild. 1 8 1
Chapter XI.
Of the Jive sighs ^ with which man shotcld go to sleep.
^^NCE upon a time, she saw her own ^-^^ soul in the likeness of a leveret that seemed to sleep, but with its eyes open, in our Lord's bosom. And she said to our Lord: ** O my Lord God, grant unto me that, like this litde animal, when I sleep with my body I may watch before Thee in my mind." Our Lord answered her: *' As the hare is said to ruminate and to sleep with its eyes (open), so ought man, when he goeth to sleep, to ruminate on this verse: * Let my eyes take sleep, but my heart, let it watch before Thee; let Thy right Hand protect Thy servants who love Thee ;' or let him meditate something about God, or speak with God, and thus, when he falleth asleep, his heart will watch before Me, and if any evil happen to that man in his sleep, if he feel anything trou-
1 8 2 Revelations of S. Mechtild,
bling him, it is a good sign that he will never be separated from Me. Likewise, when man wisheth to sleep, let him draw a sigh, as it were, from My Divine Heart, in union with the praise which flowed forth from Me upon all the Saints, to supply for the praise with which every creature is bound to praise Me. Secondly, let him sigh again in union with that gratitude which the Saints draw from My Heart, and with which they give thanks to Me for the gifts bestowed upon them. Thirdly, let him sigh for his own sins, and the sins of all mankind, in union with that Passion by which I took away the sins of all. Fourthly, let him sigh in affection and desire of all the good which man stands in need of for the praise of God, and his own service, in union with that Divine desire of Mine, which I had on earth for man's sal- vation. Fifthly, let him sigh in union with all the prayer which poured forth from My Divine Heart upon all My Saints for the salvation of all, both living and dead,