Chapter 9
THE REVELATION OF DIVINE LOVE
reverent awe, rejoicing in what I had seen, and desiring, as far as I dared, to see more, if it were His will, or to see the same thing for a longer time.
In all this [visionary experience] I was greatly moved with charity toward my fellow Christians. I wished they might see and know what I was seeing, as a comfort to them. For this whole vision was shown to all in general.
Then I said to those who were with me, "Today is my judgment day." I said this because I was sure I was going to die, and the day a person dies he is judged in particular, and fixed as he shall remain forever, as I understand it. My reasons for saying this were that I wanted them to love God better, and I wanted to remind them that life is short, as they could see by example in me.
All this time I was sure I was going to die, and it was somewhat of a marvel and a wonder to me, for it seemed to me this vision was shown for one who should live.
What I say of myself I say in the person of all my fellow Christians, for I was taught by the spiritual showing of our
Lord that He intends it so. And therefore I beg you all for God's sake, and advise you for your own profit, stop looking at the nobody to whom this revelation was shown. Intently, wisely and meekly look at God, who because of His courteous love and unending goodness wills to show it to all of us in general, for our comfort. For it is God's will that you receive it with as great joy and delight as if Jesus had showed it to all of you.
Chapter 9 Of the meekness of this woman, who keeps always in the faith of holy Church; and of how one who loves his fellow Christians for God, loves all things.
Receiving the showing doesn't make me good, unless I love God better as a result. And to the degree that you love God better than I do, the vision is more profitable to you than to me. I'm not saying this to those who are wise, for they al-
THE FIRST SHOWING
ready know it well. I'm sating it to you who are simple, for your ease and comfort, for we are all one in love. For in truth, it was not shown me that God loved me any better than He loves the least soul that is in grace; I am certain that there are many who have never had a showing or a vision, who have had nothing but the common teaching of holy Church, who love God better than I.
For if I look just at myself I am really nothing, but if I consider myself in general, I am in hope, because I am united in charity with my fellow Christians, and in this oneness are grounded the lives of all men who shall be saved. For as I see it, God is all that is good, God has made all that is made, and God loves all He has made. He who loves all his fellow Christians in general, for God, loves all that is, for in that part of mankind that shall be saved is included all, that is to say, all that is made and the maker of all. For in man is God, and God is in all, and he who loves this way loves all.
I hope by the grace of God that whoever beholds it thus shall be truly taught and greatly comforted, if he needs comfort.
I speak of those who shall be saved, for at this time God showed me no others. But in all things I believe as holy
Church believes, preaches and teaches. For the faith of holy Church that I had beforehand understood and, as I hope, by the grace of God deliberately kept in use and custom, stood continuously in my sight. I chose and intended never to receive anything that might be contrary to it. With this intention I beheld all this blessed showing as one in God's meaning.
All His revelation was shown in three ways, that is to say, by what I saw with my eyes, by words formed in my understanding and by spiritual insight. The spiritual insight
I neither can nor may show as openly and fully as I would like to, but I trust in our Lord God Almighty that He shall, of His goodness and for your love, make you understand it more spiritually and sweetly than I can or may tell it....!