Videbatur a sponsa in iudicio diuino vnus demon et vna anima consimilis forme horribilis animalis. Et dampnabatur illa anima, quia semper perseuerauerat in malo nec in fine penituit. Et qualiter Christus est caritatiuus et pius bonis et districtus malis et qualiter anima alia ascendebat vt stella clarissima.
The Vision of the Damned Soul
The bride witnesses a divine judgment where a demon claims a soul that has mirrored his own malice and rejection of God.
In the divine judgment, the bride saw what appeared to be two demons, identical in every limb. Their mouths were open like wolves', their eyes were like glass burning from within and flaming, their ears hung down like a dog's, their bellies were swollen and stretched out too far, their hands were like a griffin's, and their legs were without joints; their feet looked mutilated and as if they had been cut off at the middle. Then one of them said to the Judge, "Judge, assign this soul to me as my spouse, for she is just like this soldier and matches me perfectly!" The Judge replied, "Tell me, what justice and reason do you have for claiming her?" The demon replied, "I ask you first, since you are just: when an animal is found to be similar to another, isn't it common to say that this animal is of the lion kind, or the wolf kind, or something of that sort?" Now I ask: what kind does this soul belong to, and whom is it like—the angels, or the demons?" The Judge replied, "It's not like the angels, but like you and your own kind, as is clear enough." Then the demon said, as if mocking, "Since this soul was created from the warmth of your anointing—that is, your love—it was once like you." Now, however, having rejected your sweetness, this soul has become mine by a threefold right: first, because it is like me in its disposition; second, because we share the same taste; and third, because we both have one and the same will. The Judge replied, "Even though I know everything, tell me for the sake of this bride of mine standing here how that soul is similar to you in its disposition." And the demon said: Just as we have matching limbs, we also have matching actions. We have eyes that are open, yet we see nothing good. For my part, I refuse to see anything that has to do with you or your love. In the same way, she didn't want to see what she could have seen—things that concerned you and the salvation of her soul—but instead, she only paid attention to temporary and delightful things. We also have ears, but we don't listen for our own progress. In the same way, she refused to hear anything concerning your honor, and for me, all your ways are just as bitter. Therefore, the voice of your sweetness and goodness will never reach our ears for our comfort and growth. We have our mouths open, because just as she kept her mouth open to all the pleasures of the world but closed to you and to your honor, so I, too, have my mouth open to your offense and to causing you trouble; and I would never hold her back from your evil, if it were possible for you to be troubled or changed from your glory. This person’s hand is like a griffin’s claw, because they held onto whatever worldly things they could get right up until the moment of death, and they would have held onto them even longer if you had allowed them to live. I would hold onto everyone who falls into my power just as firmly, and I would never let them go, unless your justice took them from me against my will. Their bellies are swollen because their greed has stretched out without measure. It was being filled, yet it was never satisfied. For such was its greed that, if it could have gained the whole world alone, it would have gladly worked for it, and would have even wanted to reign above in the heavens. I have that same kind of greed. For if I could possess every soul in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory all by myself, I would gladly snatch them up. And if only one soul remained, I wouldn't set it free from torment, because of my own greed. Their hearts are just as cold as mine, because they had no love for you and your warnings never meant anything to them. In the same way, I have no love for you; in fact, because of the envy I feel toward you, I would gladly let myself be killed by the most bitter death and endure that same torture over and over, just to see you killed, if it were possible for you to be killed. Our legs, too, lack joints, because our will is singular. For from the beginning of my creation, my will was immediately set against you, and I never wanted what you wanted. In this way, their will was always contrary to your commands. Our feet are as if crippled, because just as we use our feet to get around for the sake of the body, so we must use our affection and good works to move toward God.1 This soul never wanted to move toward you with affection or through action, just as I haven't. Therefore, we are alike in every way regarding the arrangement of our members. We also have a similar taste, because although we know you are the highest good, we still don't taste how sweet and good you are. Therefore, since we are alike in all things, judge us accordingly for union! Then one of the angels answered before the Lord, saying, "Lord God, ever since this soul was joined to a body, I have followed it and never separated myself from it, as long as I found anything good in it." But now, I leave it like a sack emptied of all good. Finally, she had three evils: first, she treated your words as lies; second, she held your judgment to be false; and third, she considered your mercy to be nothing—in fact, this mercy of yours was as good as dead before her. This soul was also married, and it had only one wife and didn't join itself to any other woman; yet it kept this marital faithfulness not out of divine love and fear, but because it was so attached to the flesh of that wife that it had no desire to be joined with anyone else.2 He also attended Mass and took part in divine services, not out of devotion, but so he wouldn't stand out or be noticed by other Christians. They also went to church with others, but with this intention and for this reason: that you might grant them physical health, worldly riches, and honors, and also that you might protect them from what people call misfortune. Lord, you gave this soul everything in the world, and even more than it served you for. For you gave it beautiful children, you gave it physical health and riches, and you kept it safe from the misfortune it feared. In justice, you gave her the fulfillment of her own desire, to the point that you repaid her a hundredfold for everything, and nothing went unrewarded. Therefore, I now leave her empty of every good. Then the demon replied, "So, Judge, since she followed my will and you repaid her a hundredfold for everything she was owed by you, judge us to be joined together!" Isn't it written in your law that where there is a shared will and a shared matrimonial intent, a legal union can be formed?3 That is how it is between us. For their will is mine, and mine is theirs. Why, then, are we denied this mutual union? The Judge replied, "Let the soul reveal her will, and how she feels about this union with you." It answered the Judge: "I would rather be in the pain of hell than enter the joy of heaven, so that you, God, might not have any consolation from me." You are so hateful to me that I care less about my own torment, as long as you don't find comfort in it." Then the demon said to the Judge, "I have that same will." “I would truly rather be tormented forever than enter your glory, if it meant you would find consolation in it.” Then the Judge said to the soul: "Your own will is your judge, and by it you'll be judged."
The Weight of Hypocrisy
The Judge exposes the soul's hypocrisy and the demon's envious malice, while a beautiful star ascends to heaven.
Then the Judge turned to me as I watched all these things and said, "Woe to this one, for he was worse than a thief!" For he had sold his soul, thirsted for the filth of the flesh, and cheated his neighbor. Because of this, the voices of men cry out for vengeance against him, the angels turn their faces away from him, and the saints flee from his company." And then a demon, approaching that soul which was like him, said: "Judge, look at us—here is one, and here is another: as for me, I am evil and unredeemed, and beyond redemption, because of my own malice; but this one is like another version of me, because they were redeemed and made themselves like me by obeying me more than you." So, judge them to be mine!" The Judge replied, "If you had humbled yourself even now, I would have given you glory; and if that soul had asked for mercy at the very last moment of its life with the intent to change, it would never be in your hands." But because she obeyed you by persevering to the very end, it’s only just that she should be yours forever. Nevertheless, the good things she did in her life—if there are any—will restrain your malice, so you can't torment her as much as you would like. And the demon said, "Then she's mine!" So, as the saying goes, her flesh will be my flesh—even though I'm not carnal—and her blood will be my blood." The devil seemed to rejoice greatly at this, and he began to clap his hands. The Judge asked him, "Why are you rejoicing so much, and what joy is it to you that a soul is lost?" Speak up, while this bride of mine standing here listens!" For although I know all things, answer anyway for the sake of this bride, who cannot grasp spiritual truths without a likeness."4 Then the demon said, "When that soul burns, I burn more and more fiercely, and when I have set it on fire, I am all the more inflamed." But because you redeemed it with your blood and loved it so much that you, being God, gave yourself for it, and yet I was able to deceive it—in that, I rejoice." The Judge replied, "Your malice is great." But look around! I'm letting you see." And look, a most beautiful star was ascending to the heights of heaven, and seeing this, the demon fell silent.
The Contrast of Love and Malice
The Lord contrasts the demon's intense envy with His own redemptive love, inviting the chosen soul into eternal joy.
The Lord asked him, "What is she like?" The demon replied, "She is brighter than the sun, just as I am blacker than smoke." She is full of every sweetness and divine love, and I am full of every malice and bitterness." And the Lord said, "How does this sit with you, and what would you be willing to give to have her placed in your power?" The demon replied, "I would gladly give every soul that has been in hell from Adam until this very hour in exchange for her." I would still be willing to suffer a pain so bitter—as if the points of countless swords were fixed into a single column, point next to point, and so densely packed that there wasn't even the space of a needle between them—and I would gladly pass through all of that, from the highest heaven down to hell, if only that soul could be given into my power. The Lord answered: "Your malice toward me and toward my chosen ones is great." But I am so full of love that, if it were possible for me to die again, I would gladly suffer that same torment for every single soul and for every unclean spirit—just as I once suffered on the cross for all souls—so that not one unclean spirit would remain." But you are so envious that you don't even want a single soul to come to me. Then the Lord said to that good soul, who appeared like a star: "Come, my chosen one, into the joy you have longed for!" Come into the sweetness that will never end! Come to your God and Lord, whom you have so often longed for!" I will give you myself, in whom is every good and every sweetness. Come to me from the world, which is like sorrow and pain, because there is nothing in it but misery. And then the Lord, turning to me—for I was seeing all these things in spirit—said to me: Look, daughter, these things happen in an instant with me; but because you can't grasp spiritual realities without a likeness, I'm showing them to you this way so that humanity may understand how strict I am with the wicked and how merciful I am to the good.
The Finality of Hardened Hearts
Another soul is presented for judgment, and its own hardened heart and refusal of grace lead to its final departure from God.
A certain soul was brought before the Judge, followed by four Ethiopians who said, "Look, here is our prize!" We followed her and tracked all her ways, and now she's fallen into our hands. What should we do? The Judge asked them, "What case do you have against her?" The first Ethiopian replied, "You, God, have said: 'I am just and merciful and patient over sins.'" But this soul placed itself in predestination, as if it had been created for eternal damnation." The second Ethiopian said, "Lord, You have said that a person ought to be just with their neighbor and not cheat them." But this one cheated their neighbor; they borrowed and took whatever they could, with no intention of paying it back." The third said that a person shouldn't love a creature more than the Creator. “But this one loved everything except you.” The fourth said that no one can enter heaven unless they desire and seek God with their whole heart. This soul desired nothing good, nor did any spiritual things please it; instead, whatever it did for you, it did only so that it wouldn't be noticed by Christians as not being a Christian. Then the Judge said to the soul, "What do you have to say for yourself?" It replied, "My heart is hardened, and I wish you evil and not good, you who are my Creator and Redeemer." Nevertheless, I am compelled to speak the truth. I am like one born prematurely, blind and lame, despising the warnings of my mother." “Therefore, my conscience tells me that I must follow into punishment those whose ways and plans I followed on earth.” And so, with the greatest tears, she departed from the sight of God.
The Blessed End of Brother Algot
The chapter concludes with a biographical note on the suffering and eventual glorification of Brother Algot.
At the end of this revelation, there is an account of Brother Algot, the Prior of Skara, who was blind for three years and suffered from kidney stones before passing away in a blessed state. For when Saint Bridget was praying for him, that he might be healed, she heard a response in her spirit: "He is a shining star." It doesn't profit the soul to be darkened by the health of the body. For he has already struggled and finished his course, and nothing remains but for him to be crowned. This will be a sign for you: from this hour, the pains of the flesh will be lightened, and your soul will be entirely set on fire with my love.
Read the original Latin
Videbatur a sponsa in diuino iudicio stare quasi duos demones consimiles in omnibus membris. Quorum ora erant aperta quasi luporum, oculi quasi vitrum intus ardens flammantes, aures dependentes quasi canum, venter tumidus et nimium protensus, manus quasi grifi, crura sine iuncturis; pedes erant quasi mutilati et quasi ad medium abscisi.
Tunc vnus eorum ait ad iudicem: "Iudex, iudica hanc animam michi consimilem istius militis michi in coniugem ad meam coniunccionem!" Respondit iudex: "Dic, qualem iusticiam et racionem habeas ad eam!"
Respondit demon: "Ego quero a te primo, quia iustus es: nonne, vbi aliquod animal simile inuenitur alii, solet dici hoc animal leonini generis vel lupini vel aliquid huiusmodi? Nunc ego quero, cuius generis sit anima ista aut cui similis, angelis vel demonibus."
Cui ait iudex: "Non est similis angelis sed tibi et tuis consimilibus, sicut satis patet." Tunc quasi deridendo ait demon: "Cum hec anima de ardore vnccionis, idest caritatis tue, creata fuit, similis erat tibi.
Nunc autem contempta tua dulcedine facta est mea triplici iure: primo quia similis est michi in disposicione, secundo quia similem gustum habemus, tercio quia vnam habemus ambo voluntatem."
Respondit iudex: "Licet ego omnia scio, tamen propter istam sponsam meam, que astat, dic quomodo similis est tibi dicta anima in disposicione!" Et demon ait:
"Sicut conformia habemus membra, sic eciam conformes habemus actus. Nos enim habemus apertos oculos; nichil tamen boni videmus. Ego quippe nichil volo videre, quod ad te et tuam dileccionem pertineat.
Sic nec ipsa videre voluit, cum potuit, quod ad te et salutem anime pertineret, sed sola temporalia et delectabilia attendebat. Nos eciam habemus aures sed non audimus ad profectum nostrum.
Sic et ista nichil, quod ad honorem tuum pertinuit, audire voluit et michi similiter omnia tua amara sunt. Ideo vox dulcedinis et bonitatis tue numquam intrabit in aures nostras ad consolacionem nostram et profectum.
Nos habemus ora aperta, quia sicut ipsa os suum apertum habuit ad omnia mundi suauia sed clausum ad te et ad honorem tuum, sic et ego habeo os meum apertum ad offensionem tuam et turbacionem; et numquam continerem eum a malo tuo, si possibile esset te turbari vel a gloria immutari.
Manus istius quasi grifi, quia quidquid de temporalibus optinere potuit, vsque ad mortem tenuit et tenuisset diucius, si permisisses sibi viuere vlterius.
Sic et ego omnes, qui in manus potestatis mee veniunt, tam firmiter tenerem, quod numquam relinquerem, nisi ex iusticia tua auferrentur a me inuito. Venter eius tumidus est, quia cupiditas eius protendebatur absque mensura.
Implebatur enim et non saciebatur. Tanta quippe fuit eius cupiditas, quod, si sola totum mundum optinere potuisset, libenter laborasset et adhuc supra in celis regnare voluisset.
Consimilem eciam cupiditatem habeo ego. Nam si omnes animas in celo et in terra et in purgatorio solus optinere possem, libenter raperem. Et si superesset vna sola anima, hanc propter cupiditatem meam non dimitterem liberam a tormento.
Pectus quoque eius frigidissimum est sicut et meum, quia nullam caritatem habuit ad te et numquam sapiebant ei monita tua.
Sic et ego nulla caritate afficior circa te; ymmo ex inuidia, quam habeo ad te, libenter me amarissima morte semper occidi permitterem et semper ad idem renouari supplicium ad hoc, vt tu occidereris, si possibile esset te occidi.
Crura eciam nostra sunt sine iuncturis, quia voluntas nostra vna est. Nam a principio creacionis mee voluntas mea statim mouebatur contra te et numquam volui, quod tu. Sic eius voluntas semper fuit tuis preceptis contraria.
Pedes nostri quasi mutilati sunt, quia, sicut cum pedibus proceditur ad corporis vtilitatem, sic cum affectu et opere bono proceditur ad Deum.
Sic ista numquam voluit procedere ad te cum affectu nec opere, sicut nec ego. Ideo in omnibus sumus consimiles in disposicione membrorum.
Habemus eciam similem gustum, quia, licet sciamus te summe bonum, non tamen gustamus, quam dulcis et bonus es. Ergo, sicut similes sumus in omnibus, sic iudica nos ad coniunccionem!"
Tunc respondit coram Domino vnus angelorum dicens: "Domine Deus, postquam ista anima corpori iuncta fuit, ego semper eam sequebar nec separaui me ab ea, quamdiu aliquid boni in ea reperii. Nunc autem relinquo eam quasi saccum vacuum ab omni bono.
Ipsa denique habuit tria mala: primo, quod verba tua reputabat pro mendacio; secundo tenuit tuum iudicium pro falsitate; tercio misericordiam tuam habuit pro nichilo, ymmo hec misericordia tua quasi mortua fuit ante eam.
Ista anima fuit eciam in coniugio nec habuit nisi vnam vxorem nec se miscuit alteri femine, et hanc fidelitatem matrimonii ipse seruauit non propter diuinam caritatem et timorem, sed quia sic tenere diligebat carnem illam vxoris, quod non affectabat cum alia carne copulari.
Audiebat quoque missas et interfuit diuinis non propter deuocionem, sed vt non esset segregatus et ne notaretur ab aliis christianis.
Accessit eciam ad ecclesiam cum aliis hac intencione et ea racione, vt ei dares sanitatem corporis, diuicias mundi et honores necnon et vt conseruares eum a casu, quod ab hominibus infortunium appellatur.
Domine, huic anime totum retribuisti in mundo et plus quam seruiuit. Nam dedisti ei filios formosos, dedisti sanitatem corporis et diuicias, seruasti eum ab infortunio, quod timuit.
Dedisti ei ex iusticia effectum cupiditatis sue in tantum, quod pro vno centum rependisti sibi et nichil irremuneratum remansit. Ideo relinquo eam nunc vacuam ab omni bono."
Tunc demon respondit: "Ergo iudex, quia sequebatur voluntatem meam et in centuplum rependisti ei omne, quod debebat habere a te, ideo iudica nos ad coniunccionem!
Numquid non in lege tua scriptum est, quod, vbi vna voluntas et vnus sensus matrimonialis fuerit, ibi coniunccio legalis fieri potest?
Sic inter nos est. Sua enim voluntas est mea et mea est sua. Cur ergo a coniunccione mutua defraudamur?" Respondit iudex: "Aperiat anima voluntatem suam, qualiter sibi de coniunccione tua videtur."
Que respondit iudici: "Magis volo esse in pena inferni quam venire in gaudium celi, ne tu Deus habeas de me consolacionem. Tantum enim michi odiosus es, quod minus curo de cruciatu meo, si tu non consoleris."
Tunc demon ait ad iudicem: "Talem voluntatem ego eciam habeo. Mallem quippe in perpetuum cruciari quam venire in gloriam tuam ad hoc, vt tu haberes inde consolacionem."
Tunc iudex ait ad animam: "Voluntas tua est iudex tuus et secundum hanc iudicium sustinebis."
Et tunc iudex conuersus ad me, que hec omnia videbam, dixit michi: "Ve isti, quia peior fuit latrone! Habuit enim animam suam venalem, carnis sitiuit immundicias, proximum suum defraudauit.
Ideo voces hominum clamant super eum vindictam, angeli auertunt ab eo faciem, sancti fugiunt consorcium eius." Et tunc demon appropinquans ad animam illam sibi similem dixit:
"O iudex, ecce ego et ego: ego, quia malicia mea malus et non redemptus nec redimendus, iste vero est quasi alius ego, quia redemptus est et assimilauit se michi, obediendo magis michi quam tibi. Ideo iudica eam michi!"
Cui iudex: "Si tu", inquit, "adhuc humiliares te, ego darem tibi gloriam, et si anima ista in vltimo puncto vite petiuisset veniam cum proposito emendandi, numquam staret in manibus tuis.
Sed quia perseuerando vsque ad finem obediuit tibi, ideo iusticia est, vt sit eternaliter tua. Verumptamen bona, que fecit in vita sua, si tamen aliqua sunt, restringent maliciam tuam, ne possis eam cruciare, quantum velis."
Et demon: "Ergo mea est! Propterea, sicut dici solet, caro eius erit caro mea, licet carnalis non sum, et sanguis eius sanguis meus erit." Et multum letari videbatur de hoc dyabolus et cepit plaudere manibus.
Cui dixit iudex: "Quare tantum letaris et que est tibi leticia de anime perdicione? Dic audiente ista sponsa mea, que astat! Quia licet ego omnia nouerim, tamen propter istam sponsam, que spiritualia absque similitudine capere non potest, responde!"
Tunc demon ait: "Cum anima ista ardet, ego plus et plus atrocius ardeo, et cum eam incendero, ego magis incendor. Sed quia redemisti eam sanguine tuo et tantum eam dilexisti, vt te ipsum Deum pro ipsa te dares, et tamen eam decipere potui, in hoc ego gaudeo."
Respondit iudex: "Malicia tua magna est. Sed circumspice! Permitto enim te videre." Et ecce stella pulcherrima ascendebat ad superiora celi et videns hanc demon obmutuit.
Cui dixit Dominus: "Cui est illa similis?" Respondit demon: "Ipsa est splendidior sole, sicut ego nigrior fumo. Illa est plena omni dulcedine et dileccione diuina et ego plenus sum omni malicia et amaritudine."
Et Dominus: "Quomodo sedet hoc in animo tuo et quid dare velles ad hoc, quod ipsa daretur in potestate tua?" Respondit demon: "Omnes animas, que sunt in inferno ab Adam vsque ad hanc horam, libenter darem pro ea.
Et adhuc tam amaram penam pati vellem, tamquam si cuspides gladiorum innumerabilium infigerentur in vna columpna, cuspis iuxta cuspidem et tam densissime, vt non esset distancia vnius acus inter cuspides, et ego inter hec libenter transirem a summo celi vsque ad infernum, vt illa stella daretur in potestate mea."
Respondit Dominus: "Malicia tua magna est ad me et ad electos meos. Ego autem sum sic caritatiuus, quod, si esset possibile me iterum mori, libenter vnum tale supplicium paterer pro vnaquaque anima et pro vnoquoque spiritu immundo, quale semel passus sum in cruce pro omnibus animabus, ita vt non remaneret vnus spiritus immundus.
Sed tu ita inuidus es, quod non vis, quod eciam vna anima sola veniret ad me."
Tunc Dominus ait ad illam bonam animam, que videbatur vt stella: "Veni, electa mea, in gaudium, quod desiderasti! Veni in dulcedinem, que numquam finietur! Veni ad Deum tuum et Dominum, quem tociens desiderasti!
Ego dabo tibi me ipsum, in quo est omne bonum et omnis dulcedo. Veni ad me de mundo, qui similis est dolori et pene, quia in eo non est nisi miseria." Et tunc Dominus conuersus ad me, que hec omnia in spiritu videbam, dixit michi:
"Ecce filia, hec in vno puncto facta sunt apud me, sed quia tu sine similitudine spiritualia capere non potes, ideo tibi sic ista ostendo, vt intelligat homo, quam districtus sum malis et quam pius bonis."
Anima quedam presentabatur iudici, quam quatuor Ethiopes insequebantur dicentes: "Ecce preda! Sequebamur eam et omnes vias eius notauimus, et iam cecidit ad manus nostras. Quid faciemus?" Quibus iudex: "Quid cause habetis contra eam?"
Respondit primus Ethiops: "Tu, Deus, dixisti: 'Ego sum iustus et misericors et prestabilis super peccata.' Hec autem anima posuit se in predestinacione, tamquam creata esset ad eternam dampnacionem."
Secundus Ethiops dixit: "Tu, Domine, dixisti, quod homo deberet esse iustus cum proximo suo et non defraudare eum. Hic autem defraudauit proximum, mutuauit et recepit, quidquid potuit, nullam habens voluntatem restituendi."
Tercius dixit, quod homo non deberet diligere creaturam super creatorem. "Hec autem omnia preter te dilexit." Quartus ait, quod nullus potest intrare celum, nisi qui desiderat et querit toto corde Deum.
"Hec autem nichil desiderabat boni nec aliqua spiritualia placuerunt ei, sed que faciebat pro te, solummodo ne notaretur a christianis non esse christianus, faciebat."
Tunc dixit iudex anime: "Quid dicis de te ipsa?" Respondit: "Induratum est cor meum et cupio tibi malum et non bonum, qui es creator meus et redemptor. Verumptamen coacta dicam veritatem. Ego sum quasi abortiuus cecus et claudus, contempnens monita matris.
Ideo iudicium meum dicit michi consciencia mea, vt illos sequar in penis, quorum mores et consilia sequebar in terris." Et sic cum maximis lacrimis egressa est a conspectu Dei.
In fine huius reuelacionis habetur de fratre Algoto, priore Scarensi, qui tribus annis cecus et laborans calculo fine quieuit beato.
Nam beata Birgitta orante pro eo, vt sanaretur, audiuit in spiritu responsum: "Ipse est stella fulgida. Non expedit, vt sanitate corporis denigretur anima.
Iam enim certauit et consumauit et nichil restat, nisi vt coronetur. Et hoc erit tibi signum, quod ab ista hora alleuiabuntur dolores carnis et anima tota inflammabitur caritate mea."
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin 'mutilati' suggests a state of being maimed or lacking the necessary limbs for movement; 'crippled' captures the sense of being unable to walk toward the intended goal.
- 2 ↩The Latin 'diligebat carnem' and 'affectabat... copulari' emphasize that the motive for fidelity was purely carnal attachment rather than spiritual virtue.
- 3 ↩The Latin 'sensus matrimonialis' refers to the mutual consent required for a valid marriage; 'intent' or 'mind' captures the sense of shared purpose here.
- 4 ↩The Latin 'absque similitudine' refers to the necessity of using imagery or parables to convey divine realities to the human mind.
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