Hec reuelacio facta domine Birgitte incepit in Neapoli statim post mortem domini Karoli militis, filii sui, et continuabatur visio ista per viagium Iherosolimitanum interpolatim, donec accessit ad Iherusalem, et ibi fuit finita in ecclesia Sancti Sepulchri Domini. Et continet in se allegaciones factas in iudicio diuino coram Christo iudice per virginem Mariam et per angelum pro parte anime dicti militis et allegaciones factas contra ipsam animam pro parte dyaboli et sentenciam Christi iudicis pro liberacione eius.
The Mother's Vigil
The Virgin Mary explains to Bridget how she protected the soul of her son, Karolus, at the moment of his death.
The Virgin Mary speaks to Lady Bridget: "I want to tell you what I did for the soul of your son, Karolus, when it was separated from his body." I acted just like a woman standing by another woman in labor, helping the infant so he wouldn't die from a hemorrhage or suffocate in the birth canal; I was also on guard, making sure the infant's enemies in the house couldn't kill him. I did the same. I stood near your son Charles just before he breathed his last, so he wouldn't hold onto any worldly love in his memory that might lead him to think or say anything against God, and so he wouldn't neglect anything pleasing to God or commit any act that could in any way be contrary to the divine will and harmful to his soul. I also helped him in that narrow space—the moment his soul left his body—so he wouldn't have to endure such harsh pain in death that he might become unstable and fall into despair, and so he wouldn't forget God in his final moments. I also protected his soul from his mortal enemies—the demons—so that none of them could touch it; instead, the moment it left his body, I took it into my own care and defense. With that, the whole crowd of demons fled in haste and retreated, because in their malice they had wanted to swallow her up and torment her forever. As for how the judgment of his soul took place after Karolus died, that will be shown to you completely when it pleases me. A few days later, the Virgin Mary appeared to Lady Birgitta while she was awake and praying, and said:
The Divine Tribunal
Bridget is granted a vision of the divine judgment, where Christ sits as Judge and the soul of Karolus stands before Him.
"By divine goodness, it's now permitted for you to see and hear how the judgment was carried out over the aforementioned soul when it departed from the body." And what happened then in a single moment before the incomprehensible majesty of God will be shown to you in detail, through intervals and by way of a physical likeness, so that your mind may be able to grasp it. At that same hour, Lady Birgitta saw herself caught up into a great and beautiful palace, where she saw the Lord Jesus Christ sitting before a tribunal like a crowned emperor, surrounded by an infinite army of angels and saints; and near Him, she saw His most worthy mother standing and listening intently to the judgment. A certain soul also seemed to be standing before the Judge in great fear and dread, naked like a newborn infant and almost entirely blind, so that it saw nothing; yet in its conscience, it understood what was being said and done in the palace. An angel stood at the judge's right hand near the soul, and a devil at its left, but neither of them touched or pulled at the soul.
The Accusation and Defense
The devil accuses the soul of sin, while Mary and the angel defend it by highlighting the knight's love for God and his mother's prayers.
Then at last the devil cried out, "Listen, you all-powerful Judge!" I complain to you that a certain woman—who is both my mistress and your mother, whom you love so much that you have made her powerful over heaven and earth and over all of us infernal demons—has done me an injustice regarding this soul that stands here now. By all rights, as soon as this soul left the body, I should have taken it for myself and presented it before your judgment alongside my own. Look, righteous Judge: that woman, your mother, took this soul into her own hands—almost before it had even left the man's body—and brought it under her strong protection to your judgment. Then Mary, the Mother of God and virgin, replied: "Listen, devil, to my answer." When you were created, you understood the justice that existed in God from eternity, without beginning. You also had free will to do whatever pleased you most, and although you chose to hate God rather than love Him, you still clearly understand what ought to be done according to justice. I tell you, then, that it was my place, not yours, to present this soul before God, the true Judge. While this soul was in the body, it had a great love for me, often reflecting in its heart on the fact that God deigned to make me his mother and chose to exalt me in glory above all created things. From this, he began to love God with such charity that he would say in his heart: 'I rejoice so much that God holds the Virgin Mary, his mother, as the dearest of all, that there is no creature or bodily pleasure in the world that I would accept in exchange for that joy;'1 In fact, I would prefer that joy over all earthly pleasures, and if it were possible for her to be moved even a tiny fraction away from the dignity she holds before God, I would rather choose to be tormented in the depths of hell forever than to see that happen. For that reason, may infinite thanks and everlasting glory be given to God Himself for the blessed grace and immense glory He bestowed upon His most worthy Mother. So, devil, look now at the intention with which he departed. What do you think? Which was more just: that his soul should come under my protection before the judgment of God, or that it should fall into your hands to be cruelly tormented? The devil replied, "It isn't my right for that soul to fall into my hands before the judgment has taken place, since it loves you more than itself." But even though you showed that soul grace before the judgment, as justice demanded, still, after the judgment, their own deeds will judge them and hand them over to me for punishment. "Now, Queen, I ask you: why did you drive all of us demons away from his body the moment his soul was departing, so that none of us could cause him any horror or strike any fear into him?" The Virgin Mary answered, "I did this because of the burning love he had for my body, and because of the joy he felt in the fact that I am the Mother of God." That is why I obtained this grace from my Son: so that no evil spirit might approach his body, wherever he was, and even where he is now. After this, the devil says to the Judge, "I know that You are justice and power itself." You don't judge injustice any differently for the devil than for an angel. Therefore, adjudge this soul to me. Because in the wisdom I possessed when you created me, I had written down all his sins. I had also kept all his sins within that malice of mine which I possessed when I fell from heaven. For when this soul first reached the age of discretion, where it already understood well that what it was doing was sin, its own will drew it toward living more in worldly pride and carnal pleasure than in resisting such things. The angel replied, "As soon as his mother realized that his will was leaning toward sin, she immediately began to help him with works of mercy and constant prayers, so that God might deign to have mercy on him and keep him from drifting away from Him." Because of these works of his mother, he finally gained a holy fear, so that whenever he fell into sin, he hurried immediately to make his confession.
The Stripping of the Accuser
The devil's evidence against the soul is systematically dismantled as his records of sin are destroyed by the power of contrition and intercession.
The devil replied, "I must recount his sins." And immediately, wanting to begin right then, he started to cry out and wail, searching diligently within himself—in his head and in every limb he seemed to possess—and he appeared to tremble all over, shouting in great agitation: Woe to me in my misery! How I've lost all my long labor, for not only has the text been forgotten and wiped away, but the very material on which everything was written has been burned up. The material, however, signifies the times in which he sinned, which I no more recall than the sins written within them.2 The angel replied: "His mother’s tears, long labors, and many prayers accomplished this. God, moved with compassion by her groans, granted her son such grace that he obtained contrition for every sin he committed, making a humble confession out of divine love. That is why those sins are forgotten and overlooked in your memory."3 The devil replied, claiming he still had a sack full of the very records of sins the knight had intended to correct but never bothered to, and he insisted on tormenting him until he had made satisfaction through punishment. These were, in fact, the very sins the knight had never bothered to correct during his life. The angel replied, "Open the sack and ask for judgment on the sins for which you believe you must punish him." At this, the devil cried out like a madman, "I've been stripped of my power." For not only has the sack been taken from me, but also the sins that filled it. The sack was, in fact, his sloth—the place where I gathered all the reasons why I had to punish him, because he had neglected so much good on account of that sloth.4 The angel replied, "His mother's tears have stripped you, broken the sack, and destroyed the record." Her tears were so pleasing to God." The devil replied, "I still have more to bring up here, namely, his venial sins." The angel replied, "He obtained the desire to go on pilgrimage from his homeland, leaving behind his possessions and friends, visiting holy places through many hardships, and he completed this by also preparing himself in such a way that he was worthy to receive an indulgence from the Holy Church." He also wanted to appease God, his Creator, by amending his sins. So, all those charges you said you wrote down have been forgiven." The devil replied, "I still have to punish him for all those venial sins he committed, which is why they haven't been wiped away by indulgences." There are thousands upon thousands of them, and they are all written down on my tongue." The angel replied, "Stick out your tongue and show me the writing." The devil answered with a loud wail and a shout, like a madman, saying, "Woe to me; I don't have a single word left to say." For my tongue has been cut out at the root, along with all its power." The angel replied, "His mother accomplished this through her constant prayers and labor, because she loved his soul with all her heart." Therefore, it pleased God to forgive all his venial sins, committed from childhood until his death, because of her love; and that is why it is said that your tongue lost its power.5
The Triumph of Grace
The devil's final attempts to claim the soul are defeated, and Christ delivers the sentence of liberation.
The devil replied, "I still have one thing tucked away in my heart that no one can take from me." It is this: he acquired some things unjustly, and he never intended to make restitution for them." The angel replied, "His mother has made satisfaction for such things through her alms, prayers, and works of mercy, so that the rigor of justice has inclined itself toward the gentleness of mercy." God gave him a perfect will to make full restitution to everyone from whom he had unjustly taken anything, without holding back any of his own goods, according to his ability. God accepted this intention as if it were the act itself, because he wasn't able to live any longer. Therefore, his heirs must make restitution for these things as best they can. The devil replied, "If I don't have the power to punish him for his sins, I still ought to discipline him, because he didn't practice good works and virtues to the best of his ability when he had a sound mind and a healthy body." For virtues and good works are the treasures that one ought to carry along to such a kingdom—that is, to the glorious kingdom of God. Permit me, then, to make up for what he lacks in virtuous works through suffering." The angel replied, "It's written that to the one who asks, it will be given, and to the one who knocks with perseverance, it will be opened." Listen, then, you devil! His mother knocked persistently at the door of mercy for him with loving prayers and works of piety, shedding many thousands of tears for more than thirty years, so that God might deign to pour the Holy Spirit into his heart, that her son might willingly offer his own goods, his body, and his soul to the service of God. God did exactly that. For this soldier had become so ardent that he found no pleasure in living for anything other than following the will of God. And look—after being entreated for so long, God poured His blessed Spirit into his heart. The Virgin, however, the Mother of God, gave him from her own virtue whatever he lacked in spiritual armor and the garments belonging to soldiers who must enter the kingdom of heaven to stand before the supreme Emperor. The saints, too, who are placed in the heavenly kingdom and whom this soldier loved while he lived in the world, have added their own consolation to him from their merits. For he gathered treasure just like those pilgrims who daily trade fleeting goods for eternal riches. Because he acted this way, he'll gain eternal joy and honor, especially for that burning desire he had to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem. And because he fervently desired to willingly lay down his life in battle, so that the Holy Land might be brought back under Christian rule and that glorious Sepulcher of God might be held in the reverence it deserves, had he been sufficient for such a task. And so, devil, you have no justice to make up for the things he didn't personally complete himself." The devil replied, "He still lacks the crown." For if I could manufacture anything to add to his imperfection, I would gladly do it." The angel replied, "This is certain: all who overcome themselves—by truly repenting of their sins, by willingly conforming themselves to the divine will, and by loving God with their whole heart—will obtain the grace of God." It also pleases God himself to give them a crown, drawn from the triumph of his own blessed human body, provided they have been purified according to the rectitude of justice. And so, devil, it’s entirely inappropriate for you to have any hand in crafting his crown. Hearing this, the devil cried out impatiently, roaring, "Woe to me, for all my memory has been taken from me!" I no longer recall how this soldier followed my will, and what’s more amazing, I’ve even forgotten the name he went by while he lived." The angel replied, "Know that he's now called 'son of tears' in heaven." The devil, however, shouted back, "Oh, how cursed is that sow, that pig, his mother, who had such a bloated belly that so much water was poured into her that every space in her womb was filled with the fluids of tears!" May she be cursed by me and by my entire company!" The angel replied, "Your curse is an honor to God and a blessing to all His friends." Then the Judge, Christ, spoke, saying, "Get away, you enemy, devil!" Then He said to that soldier: "Come, you, O my chosen one!" And so, the devil fled at once.
The Lesson of Intercession
Bridget offers a prayer of thanksgiving, and the angel explains the broader purpose of the vision for the faithful.
Then the bride, seeing this, said: "O eternal and incomprehensible power, you are God himself, and Lord Jesus Christ!" You pour all good thoughts, prayers, and tears into human hearts. You hide your gracious gifts, yet you bestow glorious rewards for them eternally. May honor, service, and thanksgiving be yours, therefore, for everything you have created! O my sweetest God, you are most dear to me, and truly dearer to me than my own body and soul! The angel also spoke to the same bride of Christ at that time, saying: "You must know that God showed you this vision not only for your own comfort, but also so that His friends might understand how much He deigns to do in response to the prayers, tears, and labors of those who, with perseverance and good will, pray and labor for others out of love." You should also know that your son, this soldier, wouldn't have received such grace if he hadn't, from his childhood, held the desire to love God and His friends, and if he hadn't been willing to amend his life whenever he fell into sin.
Read the original Latin
Virgo Maria loquitur domine Birgitte dicens: "Ego tibi dicere volo, qualiter ego feci illi anime filii tui Karoli, quando separabatur a suo corpore.
Feci quidem sicut mulier alteri mulieri parienti astans, vt iuuaret infantem, ne ex fluxu sanguinis moreretur et ne in illo arto spacio, per quod exiret, infans suffocaretur, cauens eciam, ne infantis hostes, qui in eadem domo essent, ipsum interficere possent.
Simili modo ego feci. Ego quippe steti prope eundem filium tuum Karolum, paulo antequam emitteret spiritum, vt carnalem amorem non sic in memoria haberet, quod propter eum aliquid Deo contrarium cogitaret vel loqueretur, nec aliqua Deo placencia vellet omittere neque illa, que possent esse quomodolibet diuine voluntati contraria, vellet perficere ad sue anime nocumentum.
Ego eciam taliter iuui eum in illo arto spacio, idest in exitu anime sue a corpore, vt non tam duram penam in morte sustineret, quod ex ea inconstans fieri posset aliqualiter desperando, et ne Deum in morte obliuisceretur.
Ego eciam custodiui taliter animam eius ab ipsius mortalibus inimicis, idest demonibus, quod nullus eorum eam tangere posset, sed statim, cum egressa fuit a corpore, accepi eam in meam custodiam et defensionem.
Quo facto tota turba demonum festinanter fugit et recessit, qui ex sua malicia ipsam cupiebant deglutire et eternaliter cruciare.
Sed qualiter post mortem ipsius Karoli factum est iudicium anime eiusdem, dum michi placuerit, prorsus ostendetur tibi."
Deinde post aliquorum dierum interuallum ipsa eadem virgo Maria apparuit eidem domine Birgitte vigilanti in oracione dicens:
"Tibi iam licitum est ex diuina bonitate videre et audire, quomodo factum est iudicium super animam supradictam, quando de corpore egressa fuit.
Et quod tunc factum fuit in vno momento coram incomprehensibili maiestate Dei, monstrabitur tibi seriose per interualla similitudine corporali, ita vt ea capere valeat tuus intellectus."
In eadem igitur hora domina Birgitta in quoddam palacium magnum et pulchrum raptam se videbat et Dominum Ihesum Christum pro tribunali ibi sedentem quasi coronatum imperatorem cum infinito famulancium exercitu angelorum et sanctorum, et prope eum videbat suam dignissimam matrem stantem et ad iudicium diligenter auscultantem.
Videbatur eciam coram iudice quedam anima astare in magno timore et pauore et nuda sicut infans tunc natus et quasi totaliter ceca, ita quod nichil videbat; in consciencia tamen intelligebat, quid in palacio dicebatur et agebatur.
Angelus autem quidam stabat ad dexteram partem iudicis prope animam et quidam dyabolus ad sinistram eius, sed neuter eorum animam tangebat vel attractabat.
Tunc denique dyabolus clamauit dicens: "Audi tu, iudex omnipotentissime! Ego coram te conqueror, quod vna mulier, que vtrumque est mea domina et tua mater, quam tu tantum diligis, quod eam potentem fecisti super celum et terram et super omnes nos demones infernales, ipsa quippe michi iniusticiam fecit de ista anima, que nunc hic astat.
Ego enim secundum iusticiam, postquam egressa fuit de corpore hec anima, statim debui michi eam assumere et cum mea societate ante tuum iudicium presentare.
Et ecce, o iuste iudex, illa mulier mater tua animam istam, quasi antequam exiret de ore hominis, manibus suis apprehendens in sua forti tutela ad tuum iudicium protulit."
Et tunc Maria, Dei mater et virgo, respondit sic: "Audi tu, dyabole, responsionem meam. Quando tu creatus fuisti, intelligebas illam iusticiam, que erat in Deo ab eterno et sine principio.
Habuisti eciam liberum arbitrium faciendi, quod tibi magis placeret, et quamuis pocius elegisti Deum magis odire quam diligere, bene tamen intelligis semper, quid secundum iusticiam fieri debet.
Dico igitur tibi, quod ad me pertinebat pocius quam ad te ante Deum verum iudicem istam animam presentare.
Nam dum hec anima in corpore erat, magnam caritatem habuit ad me, reuoluens hoc sepius in corde suo, quod me Deus suam matrem dignatus fuit facere et quod super omnia creata me sublimiter voluit exaltare.
Et ex hoc tanta caritate cepit Deum diligere, quod in corde suo dicebat sic: 'In tantum ego gaudeo, quod Deus virginem Mariam, matrem suam, habet super omnia carissimam, quod nulla creatura vel corporalis delectacio est in mundo, quam ego in permutacionem illius gaudii reciperem;
ymmo illud gaudium omnibus terrenis delectacionibus preferrem et, si possibile esset, quod ipsa in vno puncto minimo a dignitate, in qua est, a Deo remocior fieri posset, ego magis michi in permutacionem eligerem in profundo inferni eternaliter cruciari.
Et idcirco sit ipsi Deo pro benedicta gracia illa et immensa gloria illa, quam dedit sue dignissime matri, infinita graciarum accio et gloria sempiterna.
Ergo, o dyabole, vide modo, cum quali voluntate iste abiit. Quid ita tibi videtur, vtrum magis iustum erat, quod anima eius in meam veniret defensionem ante iudicium Dei aut in tuas manus impie crucianda?"
Respondit dyabolus: "Non est mei iuris, quod illa anima in meas manus veniret, que te diligit plus quam se, antequam iudicium factum sit.
Sed quamuis dictante iusticia illam graciam ante iudicium secum fecisti, tamen post iudicium opera eius in manus meas ipsam iudicabunt puniendam.
Nunc, o regina, interrogo te, quare nos omnes demones a presencia corporis sui in illo exitu anime ita expulisti, quod nullus nostrum ibi facere posset aliquem horrorem vel incutere illi aliquem timorem."
Respondit virgo Maria: "Hoc ego feci pro illa ardenti caritate, quam ipse habuit ad corpus meum, et pro illo gaudio, quod habuit ex hoc, quod ego sum mater Dei.
Ideo illam graciam impetraui a filio meo, quod nullus malignus spiritus corpori appropinquaret, vbicumque erat et eciam vbi nunc est."
Post hec loquitur dyabolus ad iudicem dicens: "Ego scio, quod tu es ipsa iusticia et potencia. Tu non magis iudicas iniusticiam dyabolo quam angelo. Adiudica ergo michi istam animam.
In illa enim sapiencia, quam habui, quando me creasti, scripseram omnia peccata ipsius. Custodiueram eciam omnia peccata eius in illa malicia mea, quam habui, quando cecidi de celo.
Nam quando primo anima ista ad illam etatem discrecionis peruenit, quod iam bene intelligebat esse peccatum illud, quod faciebat, tunc propria voluntas ipsum trahebat ad viuendum magis in mundana superbia et carnali delectacione quam talibus resistere."
Respondit angelus: "Quando primo eius mater intellexit ipsius voluntatem esse flexibilem ad peccatum, statim ipsa succurrebat ei misericordie operibus et precibus diuturnis, vt ei Deus misereri dignaretur, ne ab ipso se elongaret.
Propter ista denique matris sue opera optinuit diuinum timorem, ita quod, quocienscumque cecidit in peccatum, confestim ad faciendum confessionem properauit."
Respondit dyabolus: "Me oportet peccata sua narrare." Et statim volens incipere in eadem hora clamare cepit et plangere et in se ipso diligenter inquirere in capite et in membris cunctis, que videbatur habere, totusque videbatur tremere et ex turbacione magna clamauit:
"Ve michi misero, quomodo perdidi meum longum laborem, quia non solum oblitus est textus et abolitus, verum eciam materia tota combusta est, in qua omnia fuerunt scripta.
Materia autem significat tempora, in quibus peccauit, que non magis recolo quam peccata in eis scripta."
Respondit angelus: "Hoc fecerunt lacrime et longi labores multeque oraciones matris sue, ita quod Deus compaciens suis gemitibus dedit eius filio talem graciam, scilicet quod pro quolibet peccato, quod commisit, contricionem optinuit, humilem confessionem faciendo ex diuina caritate, et ideo illa peccata oblita et neglecta sunt in tua memoria."
Respondit dyabolus, asserens se habere adhuc saccum plenum illis scripturis, quibus supradictus miles proposuerat, quod peccata sua emendaret, sed non curauit, cruciare eum, quousque per penam fuisset satisfactum. Que quidem peccata idem miles adhuc emendare non curauit in vita sua.
Respondit angelus: "Aperi saccum et pete iudicium super illa peccata, pro quibus te oportet eum castigare."
Quo dicto clamauit dyabolus sicut amens dicens: "Ego sum spoliatus in mea potencia. Nam non solum ablatus est michi saccus, verum eciam peccata, quibus erat repletus.
Saccus quippe erat segnicies, in quo omnes causas posui, pro quibus oportebat me ipsum punire, quia propter segniciem multa bona omisit."
Respondit angelus: "Te spoliauerunt lacrime matris sue et ruperunt saccum et destruxerunt scripturam. In tantum Deo lacrime eius placuerunt."
Respondit dyabolus: "Adhuc habeo hic aliqua proferre, videlicet eius venialia peccata."
Respondit angelus: "Ipse optinuit voluntatem de sua patria peregrinare, dimittens bona et amicos, in multis laboribus sancta loca visitando, et hec compleuit se eciam ita parando, quod dignus fuit a Sancta Ecclesia indulgenciam consequi.
Desiderabat quoque per peccatorum emendacionem Deum, creatorem suum, placare. Vnde omnes ille cause, quas iam dixisti te scripsisse, sunt indulte."
Respondit dyabolus: "Adhuc oportet me tamen pro omnibus illis venialibus, que commisit, ipsum punire, et ideo per indulgencias minime sunt deleta. Sunt enim milia milium, que omnia in lingua mea sunt conscripta."
Respondit angelus: "Extende linguam et monstra scripturam!"
Respondit dyabolus cum magno eiulatu et clamore sicut demens et dixit: "Ve michi, ego non habeo vnum verbum ad dicendum. Nam michi radicitus lingua abscisa est cum viribus suis."
Respondit angelus: "Hoc fecit mater eius assiduis oracionibus et labore, quia animam eius dilexit toto corde.
Ideo placuit Deo propter ipsius caritatem omnia peccata eius venialia indulgere, que ab infancia vsque ad mortem commisit, et ideo lingua tua suis viribus dicitur caruisse."
Respondit dyabolus: "Adhuc vnum habeo in corde meo diligenter custoditum, quod nullus potest abolere. Hoc est, quod iniuste aliqua acquisiuit, ea reddere non attendens."
Respondit angelus: "Pro talibus mater sua elemosinis, oracionibus et misericordie operibus satisfecit, ita quod iusticie rigor se ad misericordie blandiciem inclinauit,
deditque ei Deus perfectam voluntatem sine omnium bonorum suorum parcitate omnibus plene satisfacere iuxta facultatem suam, quibus aliquid iniuste abstulerat.
Istam enim voluntatem accepit Deus pro effectu, quia diucius viuere non valebat. Oportet igitur heredes suos pro talibus satisfacere, prout possunt."
Respondit dyabolus: "Ergo si non habeo potestatem puniendi eum pro peccatis, tamen oportet me ipsum castigare, quia non exercuit opera bona et virtutes, quando plenum sensum et sanum corpus habuit, iuxta posse suum.
Virtutes enim et opera bona sunt illi thesauri, quos secum ad tale regnum ferre deberet, scilicet ad regnum Dei gloriosum.
Permitte ergo me illud supplere cum pena, quod sibi deficit in virtuosis operibus."
Angelus respondit: "Scriptum est, quod petenti dabitur et pulsanti cum perseuerancia aperietur. Audi igitur tu, dyabole!
Mater eius caritatiuis precibus et pietatis operibus ad portam misericordie perseueranter pulsauit pro eo, plus quam triginta annis fundendo milia multa lacrimarum, vt Deus cordi eius Sanctum Spiritum infundere dignaretur, ita quod bona sua corpusque et animam idem filius suus ad Dei seruicium libenti animo exhiberet.
Sic eciam fecit Deus. Nam ita ardens iste miles effectus erat, quod ad nichil aliud placeret ei viuere, nisi vt Dei voluntatem sequeretur. Et ecce Deus sic diu rogatus in ipsius cor suum benedictum spiritum infudit.
Virgo vero mater Dei dedit illi ex virtute sua, quidquid sibi deficit in armis spiritualibus et indumentis, que pertinent ad milites, qui debent intrare in regno celi ad summum imperatorem.
Sancti eciam in celesti regno collocati, quos iste miles in mundo viuens dilexit, de suis meritis ipsi consolacionem addiderunt. Ipse namque thesaurum congregauit sicut illi peregrini, qui cotidie caduca bona commutant in eternales diuicias.
Et quia ipse sic fecit, ideo gaudium et honorem perpetuum optinebit et specialiter pro illo ardenti desiderio, quod habuit, peregrinandi ad sanctam ciuitatem Iherusalem
et pro eo, quod desiderauit feruenter vitam suam libenter bellando exponere, vt Terra Sancta reduceretur ad dominium christianorum ad hoc, vt illud gloriosum Dei sepulchrum in debita haberetur reuerencia, si ad tantum opus sufficiens extitisset.
Et ideo tu, dyabole, nullam iusticiam habes illa supplere, que ipse personaliter non perfecit."
Respondit dyabolus: "Adhuc deficit ei corona. Nam si ego possem aliquid ad eius imperfeccionem fabricare, hoc libenter facerem."
Respondit angelus: "Hoc certissimum est, quod omnes, qui se ipsos vicerint de inferno, peccata vere penitendo et diuine voluntati se voluntarie conformando ipsumque Deum toto corde diligendo, graciam Dei consequentur.
Placet quoque ipsi Deo ex triumphali sui benedicti humani corporis corona eis coronam dare, si secundum iusticie rectitudinem purgati fuerint. Et ideo tibi, o dyabole, minime conuenit ad eius coronam aliquid fabricare."
Tunc dyabolus hec audiens clamauit impacienter rugiens et dixit: "Ve michi, quia tota memoria mea michi ablata est! Iam enim non recolo, in quibus iste miles meam secutus est voluntatem, et quod est mirabilius, eciam oblitus sum, quo nomine, dum vixit, vocabatur."
Respondit angelus: "Scito, quod modo in celo vocatur 'filius lacrimarum'."
Dyabolus vero clamans alte respondit: "O, quam maledicta est illa scrofa seu porca mater eius, que tam prolixum habuit ventrem, quod tanta aqua in ipsam infusa fuit, quod omnia ventris eius spacia impleta fuerunt humoribus lacrimarum! Sit ipsa maledicta a me et a tota mea societate!"
Respondit angelus: "Tua malediccio est honor Dei et omnium amicorum suorum benediccio."
Tunc autem loquebatur iudex Christus sic dicens: "Recede tu, inimice dyabole!" Deinde dixit illi militi: "Veni tu, o mi electe!" Et sic statim fugit dyabolus.
Tunc sponsa hec videns dixit: "O, eterna virtus et incomprehensibilis tu ipse Deus et Domine Ihesu Christe! Tu omnes cogitaciones bonas cordibus infundis oracionesque et lacrimas. Tu occultas tua graciosa dona, conferens pro eis eternaliter premia gloriosa.
Sit igitur tibi honor et seruicium et graciarum accio de omnibus, que creasti! O, dulcissime Deus meus, tu es michi carissimus et vere carior michi quam corpus et anima mea!"
Angelus quoque tunc loquebatur eidem sponse Christi dicens: "Tu scire debes, quod hec visio non solum pro consolacione tua a Deo tibi monstrata est, sed eciam vt amici Dei intelligere possint, quantum ipse facere dignatur pro amicorum suorum oracionibus et lacrimis et laboribus, qui pro aliis caritatiue orant et laborant cum perseuerancia et bona voluntate.
Scire eciam debes, quod iste miles filius tuus talem graciam non habuisset, nisi quia ab infancia voluntatem habuit diligere Deum et eius amicos et in peccati casibus se libenter emendare."
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin 'caritas' is rendered as 'charity' here to reflect the theological virtue of love, as it describes the soul's orientation toward God.
- 2 ↩The speaker here is likely the devil, referring to the 'material' (the record of sins) that has been destroyed, and thus claiming he no longer remembers the sins themselves.
- 3 ↩The term 'compaciens' (moved with compassion) is used here to describe the divine response to the mother's intercession.
- 4 ↩The Latin 'segnicies' refers to a spiritual lethargy or sloth, a failure to act on the good one is called to do.
- 5 ↩The Latin 'ipsius caritatem' refers to the mother's love mentioned in the previous section (50), which interceded for the soul of her son.
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