UECF logoUnited Evangelical Christian Fellowship Church (UECF)130 Ferris Pl, Westfield, NJ
Chapter 29 of 33

ANOTHER

ANOTHER

AND as a bride: He hath decked me with a crown. Beloved brethren, now hear a little, if it please you, concerning the crown of the most holy virgin Agnes, wherewith Christ crowned her in Heaven. The crown is an ornament of the head and a sign of very great dignity: which is due especially to kings and to the sons and daughters of kings because of the nobility of their birth; or also to certain great personages in token of victory, or learning, or holiness: or exceeding virtue. Whence of the holy martyrs in particular we read and sing: “A crown of gold upon his head: set as a sign of holiness.” But who shall worthily describe the beauty of this crown? Methinks that no mortal man can know it, unless he to whom God reveals this mystery: or he who by His grace attains the kingdom of God after death. This golden crown surpasses all the glory of this world and the splendour of both kings and princes, and the mitres of both nobles and prelates; for it is not wrought of earthly material: but prepared in the heavenly workshop by God, it shines with ever fresh brightness. And what better and more worthy for our fancy can we understand by this crown; than Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself the giver of eternal glory? For He is the essential reward and crown of all the saints: the beginning and end of all good things. He is supreme happiness, supreme bliss: supreme beauty, sovereign sweetness. He is eternal truth, eternal wisdom: eternal goodness, eternal majesty. He is the most pleasant source of life; Who by His presence rejoices and inebriates all the citizens of Heaven: in mercy saves and crowns; by grace justifies and enlightens: by glory beatifies and satisfies. He draws all things to Himself, fills all things by Himself, exalts above all, and most superabundantly recompenses; giving to each a golden penny for his few labours: and for a brief struggle a golden crown to be possessed most fully with the angels in life eternal. To have this crown we ought all to toil and strive to overcome: as all the saints before us have done and have overcome; who now reign with Christ: and bear on their heads crowns of triumph for the hard labour of the conflict. Who however do not attribute to themselves the victory over the enemy; but with all reverence and gratitude lay down their crowns before the throne of God in the presence of the Lamb: and with boundless exultation and harmonious voice chant and say: “Blessing, brightness, wisdom, praise, honour, glory, salvation, virtue, victory to our God for ever: Who hath led us through many tribulations to the happy obtaining of this glorious crown.” This golden crown with its aureole most blessed Agnes merited to receive abiding firm and constant in her passion for faith and chastity; giving herself up to death: that she might receive a crown of glory, never to be forfeited. What more lovely than this crown, what more pleasant, what more sublime, what more blissful; than most clearly to contemplate the King of angels with all the saints in Heaven?

O virgin of Christ despiser of the world, who hast chosen to serve Christ in chastity: rejoice in the hope of the glory to come. If thou desirest to wear a golden crown in Heaven; bear now Christ always in thy heart: always in thy mouth, always in thy work. Turn thine eyes away from the world: lift up thy soul to Jesus in Heaven. Be fervent in His praise, humble and vile in thine own eyes; frequent in prayer, ready in service, prudent in word: patient in pain, silent in reproaches, cheerful in contempt; simple in raiment, modest in manners: guarded in all thy ways. Do not neglect Christ in any work or moment of time under Heaven: Who never turns His eyes away from thee in whatsoever place thou mayest be. Look upon St. Agnes as if dwelling in the body: and showing thee an example of chastity. So holy, so chaste, so devout, so modest, so dignified, so guarded was most blessed Agnes in this life: that she did not lift her eyes to the idols of the gentiles, or to the spectacle of their games: or to the glittering of gold or silver: nor did she covet the beauty or the friendship of any mortal man; but bearing God in her mind, holding Him by faith, loving Him with her heart, praising Him with her mouth: with the whole desire of her soul she raised her eyes constantly to Heaven; where she knew was Christ her Spouse, the best treasure of her heart: One to be loved and embraced above all things desirable.

Therefore in order to excite still greater devotion, let us take pleasure in contemplating the beauty of the crown of most blessed Agnes: which decked with lovely flowers affords wondrous delight to chaste minds. For it has three silver circlets in honour of the holy Trinity: containing three garlands woven of flowers of most beautiful colour and sweetest odour. He who has ears to hear: let him hear and understand what these things mystically signify. Maidens rejoice in lovely dresses and flowers; soldiers in golden armour and shields: clerics in books and studies, monks in hymns and psalms; seculars in worldly things, princes in luxuries: spiritual men in things divine. But no delight is greater and sweeter: than to exult in God and in works of true virtue wrought to the honour of God. Leaving aside then things dangerous and perishable: with the chaste and sacred virgins let us examine with our inner eyes the unfading flowers in the crown of most blissful Agnes.

The first circlet contains a garland of white flowers and pure lilies: begotten and born in the valley of humility. These flowers designate holy and devout meditations on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ born of the pure and holy Virgin Mary; wrapped in clean swaddling clothes, placed in a narrow manger, suckled at her virginal breasts: honoured by angelic praises, visited by devout shepherds; made known by a brilliant star, sought, found and worshipped by holy kings: worthily venerated by the same with three gifts, the presentation of gold, incense and myrrh; embraced by holy Simeon in loving arms: by the widow Anna with heart and mouth supremely blessed and praised. In all these good things heard, read and meditated what else is found: but a garden full of flowers and lilies with many sweet herbs? Truly all these shine, flower, glow: are brilliant, sweet smelling and delightful. These flowers of the nativity of Christ and the ever virginity of blessed Mary His Mother have so sweet an odour, so wondrous a taste: so great a beauty, so strong a heat, that they drive all temptation and carnal love from the languid soul; all anger and wrath, all envy and pride: all sloth and luke-warmness, all hardness and trouble; all sadness and distrust, all wickedness and deceit: all turpitude and diabolical suggestion; whether from man or woman, whether from youth or ancient, whether from rich or poor: because for all was Christ born, for all He suffered and was crucified; that He might save all, cleanse all from sins: and deck them with the flowers of virtues.

And in this garland there are five lilies very necessary to virgins for the safeguard of chastity: to wit, modesty, silence, sobriety, solitude and the cloister. These strongly guard the virgin’s court: and render her crown more bright. Listen O virgin to a virgin: commending holiness. “The virgin,” he saith, “thinketh on the things that are the Lord’s that she may be holy in body and in spirit in Christ Jesus Our Lord.” Who is this Jesus, Whom holy virgins so love: as to leave even their parents? This is Jesus of Nazareth, the only-begotten of God the Father, the Son of the Virgin Mary, the Spouse of Agnes: the lover of chastity, the guardian of virginity. He is the comforter of the poor: the protector of widows, the receiver of orphans: Who speaks to virgins in the Canticle of canticles. “I am the flower of the field and the lily of the valleys: I am the visitor and indweller of holy minds.” Wherefore, virgin of Christ, if thou wilt worthily please the heavenly Bridegroom: strive to have within virginal flowers and pure lilies: and to guard all thy senses from deceptions without. Beware of the hawk, O simple dove: flee the wolf, meek little lamb: beware of the serpent approaching thee, chaste maiden: lest by the windows of the body he enter the chamber of the heart: and the purity of thy conscience be corrupted by heedless sight or evil hearing: or by thy other senses always prone to evil. Therefore the greatest care must be taken with regard to places, persons, times, conversations, greetings, gifts: laughter, joking, sight, adornment, banquets, vain songs.

These and many other blandishments has the world: which alas it offers its lovers who run with blinded mind to the torments of hell. O foolish joys of the world: after which follow eternal lamentations. For all things beautiful and pleasant shall perish without delay: when the hour of death shall have come.

But these earthly and carnal delights are poisonous to virgins: they are to be dreaded by the modest, shunned by the devout: hated by religious, very greatly feared by the young: severely chastised in the older and the careless. For the true disciple of Christ and lover of chastity hides herself from the sight of men lest she displease God: lest she lose the comfort of the Holy Ghost lest haply it prove a danger and a stumbling-block to herself and others: and she become the laughing stock of the devil, who was the companion of angels. Therefore the more closely confined she remain in watchfulness and the discipline of the Order: the more beautiful lilies shall she have in her halo and golden crown. And when the virgin recluse, intending and desiring to please God alone, has removed and cleansed herself from all worldly cares and gossip: then by the breathing of the grace of Christ the sweet odour of a good life as the odour of myrrh and incense shall be shed from her: and many daughters of Sion still given to the world, hearing of the holy life of the enclosed nun, will be encouraged also to leave all the vanity of the world for the sake of Christ: to attain with the virgins the beauty of the golden crown. O how wisely dost thou act, daughter of Sion: who spurnest the perilous world; resolvest to espouse and ever to cleave to the King of angels: and hastenest to enter to the heavenly nuptials. Enter, enter the cloister of virgins, where thou mayest learn to do the will of the Lord thy King: and make ready thy heart watching with thy companions, praying and awaiting the blessed coming of thy Bridegroom from Heaven. Assuredly if thou dost persevere in what thou hast begun: it shall be without doubt as thou hast often longingly besought of the Lord thy God.

The second circlet of this golden crown contains a garland woven of red flowers, beautiful to see, delicious of odour, wondrous to hear, comforting to the heart. These roses designate chastisement of the flesh, contempt of the world, compunction of heart: and holy meditation with affection of intimate compassion towards the Passion of Our Lord. These roses grow amid thorns and briars and nettles: that is, amid divers temptations of the flesh and vexations of men; who disturb others now by harsh words, now by evil conduct: and often trouble the devotion of the peaceable man. Woe to them: and well is it for those who suffer annoyance from the perverse. These roses therefore are called red or purple: because they bring pain and blushing to bashful minds. Nevertheless they give forth a sweet fragrance, if they are roughly bruised: because humble minds answer sweetly and lovingly, when they are reproved and despised by the passionate: and they render the greatest thanks to God: that they have deserved to be wounded and pricked by the thorns of their neighbours. These roses set over the fire and burnt, give forth a sweet water profitable for medicine; likewise the mild and humble enkindled by the fire of the Holy Ghost piously intercede for the injurious and the envious: and often pour forth tears with groaning. Truly great are the merits of the patient, great the trophies of virgins; great with God and illustrious are the honours of the continent: to whom an eternal reward with a crown of gold, more brilliant than all the stars, shall be rendered in Heaven. O virgin meek and humble: very much canst thou merit in distresses borne for the name of Christ. For as often as thou dost patiently endure a harsh word or injurious action; so often dost thou beget and bring forth red roses from thorns: and addest fresh lustre to thy crown. These roses are found in great plenty among the holy martyrs and the virgins dedicated to God; who armed with faith, enflamed with love, and girdled with patience, shed abundantly for Christ their rose-red blood: and rejoicing in sovereign glory have merited to receive eternal triumphal crowns, brilliant with roses and lilies. Whence we read of St.Tiburtius a noble martyr of Christ; that commanded to walk barefoot upon live coal: he trusting in the Lord Jesus approached without fear: and making the sign of the cross stood upon the glowing embers unharmed: and with joyous soul replied to the judge: “In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I seem to be walking upon rose blossoms: for the creature itself obeys the command of the Creator.” Hence also of St. Dorothy a noble virgin and martyr it is most beautifully related: that praying a while before the hour of her passion she merited to receive from the Paradise of her heavenly Spouse Jesus Christ three most lovely roses with three sweet smelling apples: which by a child of angelic beauty she graciously sent to Theophilus a philosopher who had mocked her and an unbeliever. And when he saw them, he was converted and became a believer; and burning with the heat of faith, speedily following Dorothy by the palm of martyrdom, he joyously entered Paradise: as the beautiful bride of Christ Dorothy had promised him.

Let no one then despair of gaining those blushing roses: as if they were set afar off and were difficult to find. For they can be diligently sought and profitably found by all Christians and especially by religious and devout persons both day and night, both winter and summer: but they must be kept with care. For in reading the Passion of Christ and the sufferings of the holy martyrs, red roses are sought in the Church books: in meditation and prayer they are found: by living justly, soberly, chastely and piously they are gathered and preserved. And these red roses are to be sought more in time of trouble near the mount of Olives in a garden apart from the crowd: which Jesus and His disciples entered to pray. Who then taken by the Jews, bound, buffeted, scourged, crowned, crucified, wounded, and bleeding as it were from all His body: appeared more ruddy than any rose, dyed and empurpled with the red of His own precious blood. O how many red roses did the most meek Jesus bring forth from each of His bruises and wounds; sweeter and more lovely than all spices. For the more often these roses are beheld, the more roughly they are bruised, the longer they are revolved in the mind: the more mightily they give forth odour, sweeten, flower, redden, grow and dilate. For the roses of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, brought forth in the rosary of His Passion and crushed by the Jews in Jerusalem as in a mortar, surpass the sufferings of all the holy martyrs and virgins: in worth, greatness, sweetness, beauty, and fullness of all graces, from the rising of the sun, even to the bounds of the whole world. And these roses are very precious and suitable and lovely to deck the crown of every devout soul; so that they cannot be valued at any worldly price, or bought of merchants: or found in the stores of physicians. Where then can they be seen and obtained? Not in the market, but in the choir: not in the square, but in the Church: not in warfare, but in the cell: not in tumult, but in silence: not in laughter, but in mourning: not in feasting, but in fast. However they are found especially by despisers of the world who daily take up their cross, and very soon by those who seriously meditate upon the Passion of Christ: and they are very plentifully gathered during Mass. For they mightily refresh sorrowful souls: and comfort those that are cast down by adversity. But it behoves the devout soul to have a great watchfulness over herself: lest the cunning thief the devil come of a sudden into this garden of roses with his most wicked lies: and if he find the casket of the heart open, take thence the sweet roses of Christ: and silently cast in instead fetid nettles and black coals. Where is Jesus now, where the cross, where the nails, where the lance: to drive the malignant foe from thy casket? Arise and watch: cry and pray: call upon Jesus, worship the Crucified. Mark thee with the sign of the holy cross against the foe of all virtue: seize the spear of the soldier Longinus against the terror of the raging lion: shut thy heart against the poison of the serpent: strengthen it with the three nails of the Lord as with three strong bolts: that so easy an entry to the secret of thy heart may not lie open to the cunning and rabid enemy.

The third circlet contains a garland woven most beautifully of blue and emerald flowers: sweet-smelling above all the herbs of the field, full of heavenly mysteries. For rightly do these flowers pertain to the beauty of the virginal crown: which keep purity with virgins. And if they are well understood: they aid not a little the virtues of religious: who have utterly forsaken earthly things. Therefore the blue flowers which have the appearance of the colour of the sky, designate the contemplation of heavenly glory and the great desire of the perfect and recluses: who forgetting all lower and perishable present goods, meditate the eternal: and ceaselessly pant for the presence of God and the fellowship of the angels: where all things are quiet, pleasant, and perfect. These often enkindled in prayer desire with blessed Paul to be loosed of the bond of the body; and with Elias to be carried to Heaven in a fiery chariot: and happily to be presented to Christ in His Kingdom; where they may ever rejoice and feast in the sight of God: praising and singing with the holy angels without any hindrance or fatigue the sublime praises of the sovereign Trinity unto everlasting eternities. These flowers, to wit, meditations of heavenly joys, greatly adorn the crown of every sacred virgin and faithful soul heartily loving Christ: and eagerly thirsting for God the living fountain. These sacred flowers are chiefly found and read in the gospel meadows and gardens of the Saviour: in meditation on the joys of the Lord’s resurrection, and ascension, and the coming down of the Holy Ghost: and on the miracles gloriously wrought by the apostles of Christ in the primitive Church in the name of Jesus. In like manner from a special devotion flowers of heavenly gladness are gathered on the various feasts of the most blessed Virgin Mary, and on the festivals of other saints: when there is concerning them in the Church devout singing, reading, and celebration: and longing thought on the eternal glory of the saints. For so often do flowers of heavenly brightness arise, grow, and sweeten in the contemplative soul suspended in God: as often as the mind is touched and enkindled by the memory of heavenly glory: and sighs and pants for the presence of Christ and the saints. Whence often from fervent desires it looks upward: and from the inmost heart cries out with Elias and prays: “It is enough for me, O Lord, take away my soul: for better is one day in Thy courts above thousands of the joys of this life.” But again it is to be considered that these noble roses then fall from the crown of the devout soul, are soiled and wither: when the mind commences to take pleasure in vain and curious things below, or is frivolously occupied without: and weighed down by a certain sloth, neglects to meditate on heavenly things which are ever preferable to visible: and better than all the treasures of the world. Whence also blessed Paul encouraging his disciples on to the flower-bearing fatherland says: “Seek the things that are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God: mind the things that are above not the things that are upon the earth.” Why? Because the fashion of this world speedily passeth away: and nothing lasts under the sun that can satisfy the heart of man.

There are also in the virginal garland many very beautiful flowers of a yellow and a dark blue colour having the glow of fire: agreeable to the sight, sweet to the odour: soft and yielding to the touch. These belong to the active life: and signify the compassionate affections of the heart for the succour of the weak and sickly; and the sweet discourses from the mouth of the prudent man to console the sad and burdened: lest they faint in their temptations and daily toils. For thus the law of God prescribes and brotherly love demands: that the strong carry the weak, the prudent instruct the ignorant: the mild restrain the passionate, the fervent arouse the lukewarm: the joyous comfort the sad, the grave reprove the dissolute: the discreet restrain the over-eager, the humble repress the proud: the simple keep in the curious, the constant keep back the frivolous; the silent reprove the talkative: that he may rather edify his hearers by his silence than by a flow of words. From these yellow flowers a most sweet odour often breathes; which strengthens weak souls with spiritual remedies: that they may make greater progress in virtue. Hence it is that St. Paul adorned with many flowers of virtue: exhorts his disciples to gather the flowers of charity, saying: “By charity serve one another, for we are members of one another.” And again, “Bear ye one another’s burdens: and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ.” These flowers of brotherly compassion and instruction are found most fully in the field of Our Lord’s preaching: to wit, in the sweet sermons of Christ and in the eight beatitudes; in the mystic parables, and the happy revelations of the heavenly kingdom: in various signs on the sick and the possessed: in pity for the needy and poor; in kindness for sinners and the penitent: in meek words to the hard and perverse; in blameless life and humble service and want with His disciples: in weariness of His tender body, and long nights passed in devout prayer: on high mountains and retired places: suitable for meditating on heavenly joys. Behold as many as were His sacred discourses so many beautiful flowers: as many as His mystic parables, so many splendid roses. And when Jesus spoke to the apostles of the kingdom of God and the angels: then He showed His friends ethereal flowers in heavenly secrets. And when He gave them a new commandment that they should love one another; and washed their feet instructing them by word and example: then He shed among them a fragrance of most excellent odour from the yellow flowers.

O what a stupendous sign Jesus wrought: when He showed Himself to all as an example of true humility. O wonder above all wonders; that the most holy of all the saints and the most high of all lords should become the lowest servant of all His servants: that the sovereign majesty freely lowered itself below simple and poor men, His guests, saying: “I am in the midst of you as he that serveth: for I came not to be ministered unto: but to minister. If I being your Lord and Master have washed your feet: you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” What more, Lord? One ought to pray for another: to teach by example, to injure no man: to wish to do good to all. These flowers of brotherly compassion and pious assistance greatly adorn the crown of virginal purity and the life of religious observance: both in the contemplation of heavenly secrets and in the visiting of a sick neighbour. For then the flowers of virtue shed a sweeter perfume among brethren, and grow more luxuriantly, when the devout contemplator abandons the angelic ranks for a while: and joyfully goes to serve the sick and needy, as if he saw Christ in person. For when the studious reader of the Scriptures, or the diligent writer of books being called closes the volume and puts down the pen from his hand: and at the sound of the bell at once arises and goes to choir: or hastens without delay to the common labour of the community; then in the garden of his heart by the grace of the Holy Ghost fresh flowers begin to arise, to grow and to become glorious with the fruits of obedience: and they shall be reckoned to him unto very great merit and the more beauteous adorning of his crown. But the lover of solitude and the contemplator of devout meditation must be on his guard against frivolities and rumours: lest by long occupation and unnecessary conversations he lose the sweetness of the mystic ointment: and a slight infection of vinegar and gall destroy the taste of honey. For who is so devout in prayer, so studious in holy reading, so strenuous in toil; who so speedily recollects himself within; as easily as he inclines to things exterior? Who so quickly mends what has been broken; as easily as he breaks anything? Who so soon cleans away stains; as easily as he falls into filth? Therefore O virgins of Christ, O religious servants of God: stand upon guard over your heart and mouth; lest your senses be corrupted by various desires of the world: which bring no profit to them that walk therein with many dangers and distresses. Behold with numberless deceits and snares: the world is full. Therefore according to the word of Christ, it behoveth to watch and pray against temptations and tribulations arising from every side: and not to fail in well doing as long as strength is there and the time for meriting grace abounds. For it is not a matter of losing a shoe lace, to forfeit the grace of God: to neglect the time of penance: to spend the days idly: and to spurn everlasting life for a little pleasure. Think over the boundless goodness of Christ towards the human race, what great good things He did, what great evils He suffered: and what great rewards He has promised to His elect after the conflicts of this life. Have a good trust in the Lord always; and fly to the divine assistance in every need: and in the time of tribulation do not lose heart, nor cease from prayer. You may take a noteworthy example of patience and perseverance from St. Agnes, Christ’s virgin and martyr: a child indeed in body, but an ancient in soul: small of stature, great in merits, weak in sex, most strong in faith: stripped of her garments, adorned with virtues: who to overcome the devil and his fellows: fled to Christ with devout and earnest prayers. And when the human rabble did not cease but by the instigation of the devil made ready a great fire; she biding fearless in the midst of the flames, prayed with outstretched hands: praised Christ with heart and mouth; and desired to attain by the palm of martyrdom her Bridegroom: Whom she loved above all with a most sincere love. For the boundless love of Christ was more mighty in one frail maiden: than the fury of the tyrant armed with sword and fire. Therefore did she merit to have this golden crown adorned with three flowering garlands; because she spurned the world, tamed the flesh: overcame the devil, mocked the tyrant: spurned rewards, conquered pains, and dying for Christ by a most blissful end attained the glory of Christ. Now let us all together pray and call on Our Lord Jesus Christ, the lover of chastity, of innocence and of all purity; that He teach us to imitate the angelic life in frail flesh: and with the holy virgins especially to love, venerate and preserve chastity of mind and body. Amen.

O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, flower of all virtues, most chaste lover of virgins, most mighty foe of the demons, most unrelenting extirpator of vices, graciously look upon my weakness, and by the intercession of Thy most blessed Mother the Virgin Mary, and of Thy beloved Bride St. Agnes, venerable virgin and martyr, grant me the aid of heavenly strength that I may learn to despise all earthly things, and to love heavenly, to resist vice, and not to yield to temptations, firmly to cleave to virtue, to flee honours, to shun pleasures, to mourn past sins, to avoid the occasions of evil, to refrain from bad habits, to converse with the good and to persevere in good, that by the gift of Thy grace I may merit to possess the crown of eternal life with St. Agnes and all Thy saints for ever in Thy kingdom. Amen.

A certain brother of our house often suffered from headache: and he was therefore sometimes obliged to leave the choir. But he had a special devotion to the venerable virgin St. Agnes our Patroness: overflowing with the sweetness of much compassion. And so he desired with great eagerness of heart to visit her holy relics at Utrecht: which are preserved there with honour in the Cathedral Church of St. Martin in a silver casket covered with gold. It came to pass therefore that he went with his Prior to visit the aforesaid place of great veneration and arriving at the above mentioned Cathedral which is fitly adorned with many relics of saints: he begged the sacristan that the casket of most blessed Agnes should be shown him which he had long desired to see in the vehemence of his devotion. Then the guardian of the sacred relics replied: “I may not easily open the precious casket of St. Agnes; but I will willingly show you the ancient reliquary of the holy virgin: in which her sacred relics long rested to the praise and honour of God.” And hearing this the brother was glad and consoled: awaiting until the venerable casket should be presented to him. And when it was seen and opened; he reverently bowed and kissed the holy case, and placed his head inside it with confidence: hoping that by the merits of St. Agnes relief would be at once given him. This done therefore he rendered most heartfelt thanks to God and the virgin St. Agnes: that with his own open eyes he had merited to see these things. From which time and henceforth he was not only delivered from the former pains in the body: but also he made progress in soul in great devotion; and closed well the remainder of his life by a sweet and happy death in fervour of spirit.

When another brother had been reading in the refectory on the eve of St. Agnes; it befell him by accident that as he was afterwards taking his meal alone a fish bone broke in his mouth and so firmly stuck in his palate: that he could neither draw out nor spit out its point. Wherefore becoming very sad, and fearing that loss of voice threatened him from this injury: he awaited patiently for the Vespers of St. Agnes which were to be solemnly sung in choir. And when the cantor had commenced aloud the responsary Pulcbra facie: and the assembled choir with joyous voice continued the rest devoutly singing and praising to the honour of St. Agnes; the injured brother also began to sing, and suppliantly to invoke St. Agnes his beloved and kind Patroness: that she would succour him in this hour and free him from this misfortune. And, O wondrous clemency of God and how ineffable is His virtue and power: Who forsakes not them that hope in Him from whatsoever trouble they shall call upon Him. For as soon as he sang these words with the choir, Intercede pro nobis omnibus: he felt a little tickling in the palate of the throat, and he began to cough a little: and in a moment with the saliva of his mouth he spat out the fish bone without any harm to his throat. Then being made very joyful he gave thanks to God and the virgin St. Agnes: that he had merited to be heard and cured so speedily. And when Vespers were over, he remained silently in the choir, prostrating himself humbly upon her footstool, kissing the wooden pedestal from inmost affection of heart: congratulating himself in secret upon so great a benefit vouchsafed him by the merits of St. Agnes. Then wishing to assure himself more of the actual fact; he looked for the fish bone which had dropped from his mouth: and he found it fallen on the floor. Taking it with him to his cell, he set it near a picture of St. Agnes: as a perpetual reminder of her special love. By whose holy patronage may the merciful Lord deign to defend us from every danger always and everywhere: and to keep us in a good way with all those commended to us in prayer. Amen.

There was in the city of Zwolle a certain citizen by name Hermann de Oever, a rich and honourable man, compassionate and merciful towards the poor: and a faithful procurator of the sick and the needy in the hospital of the Holy Ghost. He on the occasion of a certain disturbance in the city against him and some other fellow townsmen: fled to our monastery on the Mount of the virgin St. Agnes for shelter. And because of his worth and goodness he was received and treated kindly: with much charity and brotherly goodwill. And after a short time had passed, he learnt to say the Confiteor and to serve the priest at Mass: although he was now an old man and quite ignorant of letters. And this he did with such diligence and devotion: that when others were otherwise occupied he would willingly and cheerfully serve priests at Mass two or three times in one day. And it was especially our venerable Father William Vorniken, at that time Prior of our house, a special lover of St. Agnes: that he often served with great affection, clothed in a surplice behind in the Church during the High Mass, while the choir was singing.

But it happened one day that he lost some money out of the cell where he dwelt: over which he was very much grieved wondering who had done this. For he had not yet resigned his own: but he lived among the brethren within the cloister as a guest and faithful friend. For during the midday meal some one, a stranger and unknown, secretly entered his cell by the open window: robbed as much as he pleased and quickly departed. When dinner was over and Hermann after the thanksgiving entered his cell; looking for his money he did not find it: and very much saddened he said complaining to one of the lay brothers, Brother John de Eme with whom he was familiar: “O good dear brother John, are there thieves here in the house?” Who said: “Certainly not, good Hermann.” Then he made known the theft that had been committed on him saying: “I have lost the money which I had in my cell: and which has now been secretly stolen during dinner.” To whom brother John comforting the distressed man replied: “Do not think, good friend, that any of our brothers or of the servants of this house has done this. But haply some strange visitor who entered the orchard, being tempted has done it: as we have sometimes experienced before when clothing has been secretly stolen.” But hearing these things our venerable Father and Prior William was exceedingly sad: and all the brethren grieved for the loss of the good man from shame for the theft. Then some of our brothers better known to him comforting and encouraging him to patience, said to him: “O most dear Hermann be patient now in this: for haply Our Lord God does not wish that you trouble your heart any more about this money. You should make then now a virtue of necessity: and offer it to God and St. Agnes for the salvation of your soul. And if afterwards it befall you to get it again; that you do not wish to keep back any of it: but that all should go to the worship of God and the service of St. Agnes.” He did with a good soul and a pious intention what was counselled him: freely vowing everything to God, and the blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Agnes the Patroness of our Church, which had been consecrated a short while before. When this votive offering had been accomplished: after three days there came a good messenger from Zwolle sent by Master John Haerlem then rector of the devout Beguin Sisters saying: “Brethren, be not anxious and troubled for the lost money: with the favour of God you will soon receive it again.” Hearing this Hermann rejoiced: and with him our Prior and the whole community. But who the thief and burglar was, a cleric or a layman: is still unknown. For it is hoped that he repented, and secretly begged Master John to send it all back to the monastery: which also he faithfully did without mentioning any name. But with this money regained two sets of vestments were bought and made to the honour of St. Agnes: and one silver gilt chalice inscribed with the title Hermann de Oever on the foot of the chalice.

A certain brother of our house celebrating in the Chapter House at the altar of the virgin St Agnes, by the snare of the devil was on a sudden tempted during Mass concerning the faith and the sacrament of the body of Christ: wherein very often he had great consolation and devotion. Feeling therefore that a grave question was arising: he turned himself speedily to the merciful Lord Jesus Christ with groaning and a right intention of faith praying. And at once he heard within a divine answer addressed to him. “Believe thou as St. Agnes, Caecilia, Barbara, and other holy virgins believed: who suffered for Christ and doubted of no doctrine of faith.” When he heard this: the temptation ceased and the questioning doubt. And very often afterwards he turned over these words against any suggestion of the devil: “Believe as Agnes, Caecilia, and Barbara: and thou shalt never err in the Catholic Faith. For there are as many true witnesses: as there are holy words in the Bible.”

Another also of our brothers communicated out of devotion at the same place and altar: he was infirm and had long been accustomed to walk bowed down, supporting himself on crutches. But after the celebration of the Mass by the power of Christ, and the merits of St. Agnes, he became so strong: that he left his crutches there after the Mass: and then passed to the choir and the community rejoicing and upright. And a certain brother being astonished at this event: piously began to question: what the sick man had done and thought during the Mass. And the man who was healed replied: “I thought and turned over the words of the holy Gospel: which Luke narrates of Our Lord Jesus Christ: ‘And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: and virtue went out from Him, and healed all.’ ” A good faith then and the power of the sacraments with the prayers of the saints can still heal the weak in mind and body; that they may become fervent in the love of God, and more ready for every good work: and obedient to their prelates without delay. These be the miracles of eternal salvation: which Christ in His great clemency still often works with the devout.

It happened likewise once in Lent that a certain brother was asked to celebrate Mass about the fifth hour in the morning for the guests and the whole family of our household; as was usual for the good custody of those who laboured in the offices: and for those setting out on a journey near or far. And that brother piously agreed: and from charity willingly did as he was requested. It was then the feast of St. Gregory, Pope, whom the brother loved with a special devotion: because on his feast he first entered the school to learn the alphabet with other children. When therefore he had arrived at the altar he began to think what Mass he should say: of the fast or of St. Gregory. It immediately entered his mind, “Thou hast not yet said the Mass of St. Agnes this week: for the special cause commended to thee. Read now therefore the Mass of St. Agnes with the collect of St. Gregory: and afterwards thou shalt sing his Mass in the choir with the whole community with a gladsome heart.” He did so therefore with a good confidence: fulfilling his vow to St. Agnes our Patroness most highly beloved of Christ. While then nearly all were gathered in the Church and were hearing Mass: there befell the danger of a great fire in our farm house, unknown to any one. But the loving and merciful Lord saw to it very well: that the fire was speedily quenched. For a certain lay oblate of ours by name Matthias, going out of the Church after the elevation, came upon the spot: and put out the commencement of the fire. The which we are confident should be ascribed to the merits of St. Agnes: of whom in particular at that time a Mass was being read, to beseech the Lord for a pious cause. For God Who preserved blessed Agnes unharmed praying in the midst of the flames with outstretched hands: He on that day in loving goodness saved our house with all its utensils unburnt by her prayers and merits. For one of the laics entered the Church with the others to hear Mass; and he had neglected to put out a lantern under the roof of the house: which, having burnt its cord, fell upon the straw lying there and set it on fire. But the compassionate Lord seeing all and heeding in mercy the prayers of the poor: vouchsafed that this danger should be met by another in good time as was said above. And our devout and dearly loved Father, Brother Theodoric Clive, the third venerable Prior of our house, hearing that the danger of fire had befallen, and by the favour of God had immediately ceased: at first was seized with terror: and no wonder. Then he was comforted and gave thanks to God that so grave a peril had not spread: but had been at once removed. When then the news of the fire reached the ears of the others: the brother who on the same day celebrated the Mass of St. Agnes, went privately to his Father Prior: and humbly told him: “Dear Father let us give thanks to God and St. Agnes our Patroness: because her Mass was read to-day for a special cause: and I am sure that she prayed for us, and the Lord delivered us from that fire.” Then the good father and pious shepherd rejoicing greatly, as a chaste lover of St. Agnes, enjoined special prayers upon the brethren; and ordered that greater alms should be distributed to the poor: for so marked a protection from the fire at the time, and from all evil to come. Amen.

A certain man stole a horse from the pasturage of our monastery of Mt. St. Agnes; which he took with him beyond a mile from our monastery: thinking that he was safe and that he would return prosperously to his home with his spoils. Coming therefore to a certain town he bound the horse with a cord to a post in the hedge at a cross road: and entering an inn sat there to drink and rest a little. Meanwhile, however, the horse standing outside alone, and seeing nobody there, becoming somewhat restless, because he was in a strange district, and violently taken away from the place of his dwelling: began to move his head constantly hither and thither, and to kick with his heels. And he tugged so long this way and that at the rein with which he had been bound: that at last he broke the knot of the fastening. And when he found himself free and untied, and waiting a long time did not see his rider: and because it is natural to an animal tied up to love liberty and to return to his accustomed stable: he at once turned his head to the straight road by which he had come: and running swiftly alone by the leading of God arrived safe at the monastery gate. And standing quietly there and awaiting in the place known to him: he was easily recognized by our porter and farm labourer, and gladly brought in: for which may God be blessed for ever.

O most blessed Agnes ever worthy of honour, we attribute this to thy merits: because in many of our needs we have experienced thy patronage. Therefore we proclaim and devoutly invoke and praise Christ in thee: giving thanks to God always for all His blessings mercifully bestowed upon us. Amen.

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