XXIX. De quibusdam coelestibus marfyrum gaudiis.

XXIX. De quibusdam coelestibus marfyrum gaudiis.

I saw others standing as if on a certain sea, reflecting a similar clarity as previously mentioned, like through a mirror, which neither remained nor had moisture like water; but it only radiated a most brilliant light from itself. And they were dressed as if in garments of deep red hyacinth, adorned above their shoulders and around their feet with what looked like the most precious stones. They also wore crowns that shone like pure gold, and they had distinct decorations around their heads, as if they were made of the brightest mirrors, and their footwear was adorned like precious stones and beryl. But they also held palms in their hands, as if they were clear water shining brightly, in which many miracles of God appeared like reflections in mirrors. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of thunder, crying out and saying: 'The ancient serpent opposed God, and for this reason he was cast into hell; but he gathered the members of the human form to himself, so that they might communicate with him, and through them he persuaded men to kill one another.' But so that the sins of humanity might be taken away, the Lamb, namely the Son of God, was clothed in flesh and was slain. Now, therefore, let those who are slain for the same Lamb come, and let them pour out the blood of their bodies into the blood of that Lamb. In this voice, the aforementioned souls rose up from the sea, and like drops of blood, they were poured out upon the earth, and thus all heavenly harmony was stirred by a new song, in testimony of the Lamb who was slain. And whenever that voice cried out in the same way, as has been said, the same souls, with blood poured out, were lifted up to new songs, as has been demonstrated above. But I couldn't see the other many ornaments of these things. And because they had anxiety in their martyrdom, they trampled it down with the strength of their minds, where, by their steadfastness, they cast off the softness of instability, and they grasped an ardent love for God, as if they stood above the sea, which neither flowed nor had moisture like water; but it radiated only the greatest brilliance from itself. But since they were bound in His blood, they worshiped God with great confidence, dressed in garments of a deep red color; and because they had endured great labors for divine worship, which they had also completed everywhere, having made themselves a sacrifice to God, they disregarded the members of their bodies and subjected them to various tortures, while the same garment adorned their shoulders and wrapped around their feet, decorated as if with the most precious stones. They carried the height of hope in wisdom, as they gazed everywhere upon the purity of faith and the brotherly love it inspires, while also extending compassion to others, praising God in their hearts. While they bore patience within themselves, they did not spare their own bodies; and therefore, they wore crowns that shone like purest gold, and like the brightest mirrors, distinct around their heads. They also traveled the paths of God in patience and in the pouring out of His blood; therefore, they were clothed with shoes adorned like emeralds and beryls. But they held victory in their works, pure and untainted by any contagion of deceit, in which they received many examples of steadfastness and patience, and they gazed upon God with the full intent of their minds; therefore, they also held palms in their hands like the clearest water, in which many miracles of God appeared as if in mirrors. The voice from heaven testified to all these things, revealing both the Devil resisting God and being submerged in hell, showing that some men were joining themselves to him, persuading them even to commit murder; but in order for that man to be rescued, he cried out for the Son of God, incarnate and slain, urging that those who had suffered death for the Son of God should demonstrate their witness through his martyrdom. In this voice, those exalted in their victory were crying out about the torments they suffered at the hands of the wicked and unbelievers, calling for their punishment by the just judgment of God. Therefore, the entire heavenly host, renewed in the joy of praise, honors the passion of the Son of God, which has been renewed through the sufferings of these martyrs; and whenever divine majesty touches their sufferings, they glorify the passion of the Lamb by renewing their own sufferings. These people, clothed in their bodies in this world, not only abandoned their own desires, but also subjected their very bodies to many and various torments for the glory of God, yielding to tyrants without giving in, and offering their limbs piece by piece in martyrdom to death. However, the remaining ornaments and their meanings are hidden from my sight and understanding.