XXX. De coelestibus virginum gaudii^.

XXX. De coelestibus virginum gaudii^.

In that same clarity, just as mentioned before, I seemed to see through the air as if through a mirror. It had a purity greater than the purity of the clearest waters, and a brightness surpassing the brightness of the sun, emitting from itself a fragrance that had the freshness of all the greenery of the herbs and flowers of paradise and the earth, just as summer has the sweetest scent of herbs and flowers. In this air, I seemed to see some people as if through a mirror. They were adorned as if in a most brilliant garment woven with gold, and like precious stones from their chest down to their feet, in the manner of a hanging belt; they also emitted a most fragrant aroma like that of spices. But they were also adorned with belts, as if made of gold and precious gems and pearls, surpassing human understanding. They wore crowns on their heads, intricately woven with gold, roses, and lilies, and were distinctly surrounded by the finest gems. When the Lamb of God gave His voice, the sweetest breath of the wind came forth, coming from the secret of the Divinity, touching His pipes; so that all kinds of harps and instruments resonated with the same Lamb; and therefore this song, except for those bearing the same crowns, was sung by the angels, while others listened and rejoiced in it, just as a man rejoices when he sees the splendor of the sun that he has never seen before. And their shoes were so bright, it was as if they had been taken from a living spring. But sometimes they walked as if above golden wheels, and then they also carried harps in their hands, with which they played; and then they also understood and spoke a foreign language that no one else knew. No one else knew it, nor could they speak it. I couldn't bear to look at the many beautiful ornaments that were there. For while they lived in the world in a physical way, they had faith in their Creator, which they knew, and they adorned themselves with good works. They were blessedly at peace in the joys of that clarity, and because they had disregarded the airy varieties of carnal pleasures in the purity of their minds, they ascended in the love of the true sun above the legal precepts. They possessed an air that had a purity surpassing the purity of the clearest waters and a radiance greater than the brightness of the sun, as has been said above. But also because of the sweetest desire they had demonstrated to God and to others in the purity and flourishing of their virginity, they spread a good fragrance of many virtues everywhere, ignited by the ardor of the Holy Spirit. They felt the breath of the same air that contained all the greenery of the herbs and flowers of paradise and the earth, which was full of the scent of all green things, just as summer has the sweetest fragrance of herbs and flowers. And because they had acted in the commendable and lovable name of virginity, they were adorned in a most radiant garment, woven like gold and resembling the most precious stones, from their chests down to their feet, in the manner of a hanging belt; and this garment emitted a great fragrance, like the scent of perfumes. In their hearts, they wisely offered glory and honor to God, and by the mortification of their bodies, they consistently renounced childish and frivolous things; they bore the signs of their commitment to chastity, which elevated them above other men and above the precepts of the law, strengthening themselves with sighs of heavenly desires and with the courage and subtlety of virtues, as if they were men without flesh and blood; they had a sense of modesty in their hearts and on their faces regarding all carnal duties, and thus they wore on their heads crowns woven of gold, roses, and intricate lilies, and like precious stones, they were distinctly adorned. And because they had inclined themselves to the gentleness of the incarnate Son of God, and since their minds had ascended to such a height that they had vowed their virginity to God, and had observed it with dignity and holiness, the Lamb of God rejoices and gives His voice to them, and the sweetest breath of the wind, coming from the secret of Divinity, touches the signs of their crowned virginity, so that the song of the Lamb resounds, which does not happen for others who lack those same signs, although those who hear it rejoice. But since they had followed those footsteps in which God willed for man to be made through an ancient plan, their shoes were so bright that they seemed to have been taken from a living fountain. Because they walked wisely and humbly everywhere, they extended their pure chastity in their bodies toward the sight of God, and with generous giving, they compassionately helped everyone in need. Singing to God with voice and heart, and reflecting on divine miracles, they transcended human nature through the renunciation of carnal pleasures. While they were in their bodies, they imitated the angelic order, serving God in the uniqueness of their virginity, and in this way they offered themselves entirely as a holocaust through good and holy works. But the other ornaments and meanings of them are hidden from my sight and understanding.