Capitulum VII
The Vision of Divine Judgment
The disciple experiences a terrifying prophetic vision of the Ancient of Days seated in judgment.
At another time, when the sun was hidden behind clouds, which had previously shone very brightly, and the frost of night had imposed silence with its smiling flowers, while a small boat was tossed about by the roaring waves in the middle of the sea: fear and trembling came over me, said the disciple, and darkness enveloped me. I sat alone and began to reflect on all my years in the bitterness of my soul. In an indescribable way, a prophetic vision appeared to my mind's eye, in which it is written that thrones were set up and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his garment was like snow, white as wool, and the hair of his head was like clean wool. His throne was a flame of fire, and its wheels were burning fire. A fiery river flowed out from before him, and from his mouth a sharp, double-edged sword proceeded. Overwhelmed and struck with great terror, every hair on my body stood on end.
The Exposure of the Sinner
The disciple confronts the reality of his own sins before the judge and warns others against spiritual complacency.
I could see all my sins and the offenses of my youth, from the smallest to the greatest, clearly before me, with everyone watching. However, the messengers pressed on, hurrying to bring me—guilty and sorrowful—before the angry judge. When the king, sitting in royal majesty, raised his face, the unbearable fury of his heart was like a father’s face, not for the purpose of destroying your sons, but for correcting them, so that it might seem similar to hell. Who then can see your terrible face, stripped of all hope? I urge everyone, especially sinners, not to let themselves be caught in your silence. You remain silent, and you pretend not to see your sins.
The Harmony of Fear and Love
God explains the duality of His nature as both terrible to the wicked and loving to the just, calling for a balance of fear and love.
When your hand seizes the judgment, you repay vengeance to your enemies and to those who hate you you will repay. How can I ask how your most excellent goodness can be true, when you are so terrible? Indeed, I am terrible to sinners, but I am lovable to the just and to those who love me. I am God who does not change; according to my quality and diversity, I will be seen as different. It is fitting for my chosen ones in this world to maintain both fear and love continually, so that fear may always keep the soul from harmful excesses, and love may lift it up to heavenly things. Regarding the changes of this world, and how the soul should conduct itself in them.
Read the original Latin
Alio quodam tempore, cum sol esset sub nubilo qui prius admodum clare refulserat, et gelu noctis ridentibus flosculis silencium inposuisset, procellisque tonantibus navicula in medio maris iactaretur fluctibus: timor et tremor inquit discipulus venerunt super me, et contexerunt me tenebre. Sedebam solitarius, cepique recogitare omnes annos meos in amaritudine anime mee. Quodam igitur modo ineffabili, oculo intellectuali proposita fuit visio illa prophetica, in qua legitur, quod throni positi sunt, et antiquus dierum sedit; vestimentum eius quasi nix candidum, et capilli capitis eius quasi lana munda. Thronus eius flamme ignis accensus. Fluvius igneus rapidusque egrediebatur a facie eius, et ex ore eius gladius ex utraque parte acutus procedebat. Stupefactus igitur et nimio terrore percussus, inhorruerunt omnes pili carnis mee.
Omnia namque peccata mea et delicta iuventutis mee a parvo usque ad magnum, cunctis cernentibus coram me aperte videbam. Cogentibus autem nunciis et festinantibus, merentem ac dolentem ante iratum iudicem perduxerunt. Cum vero rex in inperatoria maiestate sedens, faciem elevasset, et ardentibus oculis furorem pectoris intollerabilis est paterne faciei tue ad emendandum non ad perdendum filios tuos severitas stupenda, ut inferno similis esse videatur. Quis ergo tuam faciem terribilem omni spe privatam videre poterit? Swadeo proinde omnibus hominibus maxime peccatoribus, ne se silendo tuo usquequaque conmittant. Taces etenim et te peccata videre dissimilas.
Cum vero arripuerit iudidum manus tua, reddis ultionem hostibus tuis, et hiis qui oderunt te retribuis. Quomodo queso 0 piissima bonitas verum esse poterit te esse amabilem, cum sis tam terribilis? SAP1ENCIA: Terribilis quidem sum peccatoribus, amabilis autem iustis ac me diligentibus. Ego deus qui non mutor; secundum tamen qualitatem et diversitatem me aspiciendum dissimilis videbor. Electos meos in hoc mundo timorem pariter et amorem iugiter habere expedit, ut et timor semper animam sollicitans a noxiis retrahat excessibus, et amor letificans erigat ad superna. De vicissitudine visitadonis divine, et qualiter anima debet se tunc tenere.
Horologium Sapientiae (Clock of Wisdom) companion
A daily portion of stillness
Chosen Portion delivers one short contemplative reading and a guided moment of silence each day — the ascent, one step at a time.
Chosen Portion is the paced doorway into this collection: it portions the dense mystical treatises into one daily reading plus guided silence, exactly as the 14-day plan teaches.
- Daily bite-sized excerpts from the contemplative classics, never a wall of text
- A built-in timed stillness practice that grows from 2 minutes to 10
- Gentle progression through the tradition — the app remembers where you are on the ascent