XXVII. De coeleslibus obedienlium gaudiis.

XXVII. De coeleslibus obedienlium gaudiis.

I was also considering in that same clarity, as if through a mirror, those who were adorned like the dawn with a more beautiful and brighter splendor than the sun, and dressed in the noblest gems; they also emitted the sweetest air, like the fragrance of balsam and all kinds of perfumes. They wore crowns on their heads, decorated like the most noble hyacinth, and they were dressed in shoes distinctly adorned with precious pearls. Their voice also had the sound of all kinds of music, and they sang new songs without tiring. But they were sometimes illuminated by a light that was both most clear and most pure, coming from the hidden depths of the Divine; it was so great and so bright that no eye could see it, no ear could hear it, and no human heart could conceive it. But I couldn't focus on the other ornaments, which were very numerous. For they rejoiced in the companionship of that glorious light and in the delightful joys of His happiness, because of their devotion to faith and their unwavering strength in good works. And since they had completed the beginning of their good will, with a zeal for righteous deeds, where they had left behind their own will through labor and sweat, they were clothed in a more beautiful garment, adorned like the dawn and brighter than the splendor of the sun, with the noblest gems; and because they had practiced the obedience that is the flower of all holiness, they had maintained abstinence from carnal desires, where they had exhibited the fragrance of life and the example of holy virtues to others, and that same garment emitted a most delightful air, like the scent of balsam and all kinds of perfumes. But because they had extended a trusting hope to God regarding all their labors in their hearts, they wore crowns on their heads, adorned like the most noble hyacinth, and because they had maintained stability on the right path of spiritual journeys, they were clothed in precious garments distinctly decorated with pearls. Because they humbly and devoutly praised God in their voices of jubilation, their song had the sound of all kinds of music, and due to their unceasing service in the divine office of their hearts and mouths, while living in their bodies, they graciously contemplated each virtue without weariness, singing new songs always. And since they imitated the angelic service with all their mental and bodily effort, as well as with their voices and good deeds, they praised God in their singing, obedient to the commands of their elders, through prayers and silence, and other good works of this kind, living a contemplative life, continually persevering in the self-control of carnal desires, they were sometimes illuminated by the most brilliant and pure light that came from the hidden Divinity; which was so great and so clear that no eye could see it, no ear could hear it, and no human heart could conceive it, as has been stated. But those who lived in their bodies in this world had withdrawn from their own material nature, in which they were conceived and born, and had submitted themselves to a spiritual life through true obedience, serving their Creator with complete devotion and humble submission, in contempt of the world and its pleasures. However, the remaining ornaments and their meanings were hidden from my sight and understanding.