Chapter IV
"I saw . . . as it were in the time of His Passion . . . And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity filled my heart with utmost joy"
IN this moment suddenly I saw the red blood trickle down from under the Garland hot and freshly and right plenteously, as it were in the time of His Passion when the Garland of thorns was pressed on His blessed head who was both God and Man, the same that suffered thus for me. I conceived truly and mightily that it was Himself shewed it me, without any mean.
And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity fulfilled my heart most of joy. And so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there. For the Trinity is God: God is the Trinity; the Trinity is our Maker and Keeper, the Trinity is our everlasting love and everlasting joy and bliss, by our Lord Jesus Christ. And this was shewed in the First Shewing and in all: for where Jesus appears, the blessed Trinity is understood, as to my sight.
And I said: Praise the Lord! This I said for reverence in my meaning, with mighty voice; and greatly was astonished for wonder and marvel that I had, that He that is so reverend and fearful will be so homely with a sinful creature living in wretched flesh.
This Shewing I took for the time of my temptation, - for I thought by the permission of God I should be tempted of fiends before I died.
Through this sight of the blessed Passion, with the Godhead that I saw in my understanding, I knew well that It was strength enough for me, yea, and for all creatures living, against all the fiends of hell and spiritual temptation.
In this Shewing He brought our blessed Lady to my understanding. I saw her spiritual, in bodily likeness: a simple maid and a meek, young of age and little waxen above a child, in the stature that she was when she conceived. Also God shewed in part the wisdom and the truth of her soul: wherein I understood the reverent seeing in which she saw her God and Maker, marvelling with great reverence that He would be born of her that was a simple creature of His making. And this wisdom and truth: knowing the greatness of her Maker and the littleness of herself that was made, - caused her to say meekly to Gabriel: Lo me, God's handmaid! In this sight I understood truly that she is more than all that God made beneath her in worthiness and grace; for above her is nothing that is made but the blessed Manhood Of Christ, as to my sight.