XXVI. De coelestibus confessorum et poenitentium gaudiis.

XXVI. De coelestibus confessorum et poenitentium gaudiis.

But I saw another light, much greater and of infinite brightness, whose end I could not perceive; for it radiated such brilliance from itself that I couldn't gaze upon it, because it was beyond human understanding. This light also adhered in such a way, just as one region extends to another, since this was its beginning and source. And in this, I felt the presence of every kind of delight, every kind of music, and the voices of those singing psalms, along with the joys of joys and the magnitude of all happiness; because I knew that the souls of certain saints, who had severely and harshly punished their bodies in this life, and also the souls of other saints, who had surrendered their bodies for the love of life through martyrdom, were there; but I could see none of them except as if through a mirror, for I was unable to gaze upon that same brightness. And from these, I saw some as if through a mirror, who were clothed like a white cloud, which appeared purer than the purest ether, like gold woven in. They wore a kind of crown on their heads, as if made of pure gold, and their shoes appeared to be made of crystal, reflecting a purity beyond that of the clearest waters. And they were touched by a certain most delightful breeze, coming from the hidden depths of Divinity, carrying the fragrance of all herbs and flowers; and then they would produce the sound of the sweetest symphony, and their voices resonated like the voices of many waters. But I couldn't see the other decorations of theirs, which were very numerous. For these people, having grasped God through the highest and most profound faith and devotion, and because they embraced Him fully in good works and the strongest deeds while living in their bodies in this world, they loved God and attained the beauty of that surpassing glory, and they experienced infinite joys in the delights of that same glory. For because of their observance of the legal commandments, which are rooted in the purity of justice, they, while living in a secular and active life, had fulfilled them, as if they were clothed in the garment of a bright cloud; which appeared purer than the purest ether, and which, because of their love for the same commandments, which they had diligently observed, shone like gold woven into fabric. But also because of their clear compunction, through which each sin was mourned in their hearts with pure knowledge, their head's ornament, namely the crown they wore, was like it was made of electrum; and because of the paths of the secular commandments, which were established in the law of God for those living in the world, in which they walked rightly and purely, their shoes appeared crystalline, reflecting a purity beyond the purity of the clearest waters. And because of the sweet generosity of their almsgiving, through which they had compassionately offered mercy to each person's misery, and also in the equal commandments that God had established for them, they had done good works where they clothed the naked, refreshed the hungry and thirsty, visited the sick and imprisoned, and performed similar good deeds. They were sometimes touched by the sweetest breeze coming from the hidden Divinity, which carried the fragrance of all herbs and flowers; and because of the devotion with which they brought forth good fruits through their voice and actions, with deep sighs and tears, they produced a sound of the sweetest symphony, and their voices resonated like the voices of many waters. These people, while living in the world and clothed in their bodies, led a secular life and existence, dwelling in the flesh alone and not in the spirit, fulfilled the law of justice with righteous deeds, all in the fear of their Creator. But the other adornments and meanings of these things are hidden from my sight and understanding.