De pena moderata non valde malorum
From Darkness to Joyful Light
The soul leaves torment behind as stench, darkness, and fear give way to light, safety, and overwhelming joy.
So the soul, now turned around, followed the angel who was going ahead of her, and when they had not gone far, The stench vanished. And with the darkness destroyed, Light appeared. And with fear put to flight, a quick sense of safety returned. And with her past sadness laid aside, the soul was filled with joy. And there was such joy that she marveled at how quickly she had been changed, and she said:
The Soul's Prayer of Astonished Praise
The soul prays to the Lord, marveling at her swift change from blindness and sorrow to sight and peace.
My Lord, please, show me — I beg you — what is this I feel, that I'm so quickly changed? I was blind, and now I see. I'm sorrowful and glad. I suffered through that whole road, that unbearable stench. But now I smell no evil at all; I was afraid. and deeply terrified. But now I'm rejoicing and at peace.
The Angel's Blessing and the New Way
The angel blesses the soul, attributes her change to the Most High, and calls her to follow by another way.
The angel answered him and said: Blessed are you — don't be amazed. This is the changing work of the right hand of the Most High.✦ For we must return to our own region by another way; so bless God and follow me.✦
The High Wall and the Multitude in the Rain
The travelers see a high wall and, below it, a great multitude enduring rain, wind, hunger, and thirst, yet having light and no stench.
As they went on, they saw an exceedingly high wall. And below the wall, on the side from which they themselves had come, there was a very great multitude of men and women enduring rain and wind. And they were very sorrowful, enduring hunger and thirst; nevertheless they had light. and they did not perceive the stench.
The Moderately Wicked and Their Coming Rest
The soul asks who these resting souls are, and the angel explains they are the wicked who were not greatly evil but failed to give alms, so they endure rain for a time before being led to good rest.
The soul asked, however — 'Who are these who remain in such rest?' the angel answered. 'These are the wicked. but not greatly so. Indeed, they strove to live honorably — but they did not share their earthly goods with the poor as they ought to have; and so for several years they deserve to endure the rain; and then they are led to a good rest.'
Read the original Latin
Conversa ergo anima sequebatur se precedentem angelum; et cum non longe pergerent. fetor evanuit. et destructis tenebris. lux apparuit. fugatoque timore cita securitas rediit. et deposita preterita tristicia. anima repleta est gaudio. et leticia; ita ut semet ipsam tam cito mutatam miraretur dicens.
'Domine mi indica mihi obsecro. quid est quod tam cito me mutatam sentio? Eram namque ceca et modo video. tristis et leta sum. passa per totam viam illam intolerabilem fetorem. nunc vero nullum malum sentio odorem; timida eram. et valde formidolosa. nunc autem gaudens sum et secura.'
Respondens angelus dixit ei. 'Benedicta sis ne mireris. hec est namque mutatio dextere excelsi. Per aliam enim viam debemus redire in regionem nostram; tu ergo benedic deum et sequere me.'
Euntes autem viderunt murum nimis altum. et infra murum ex illa parte qua ipsi venerant. erat plurima multitudo virorum ac mulierum. pluviam ac ventum sustinentium. Et illi erant valde tristes famem et sitim sustinentes; lucem tamen habebant. et fetorem non sentiebant.
Interrogans autem anima. 'qui sunt isti qui in tali morantur requie;' angelus respondit. 'Isti sunt mali. sed non valde. honeste quidem se observare studuerunt. sed bona temporalia pauperibus non sunt largiti sicut debuerunt; et ideo per aliquot annos merentur pati pluviam; et tunc ducuntur ad requiem bonam.'
Scripture echoes
- ↩Ps.76.11;Ps.78.10 — Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you shall gird on yourself. Ps.78.10 — They did not keep God's covenant, and in His law they refused to walk.
- ↩Matt.2.12 — And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their own country by another road.
Visions of Tondal (Les Visions du chevalier Tondal) companion
Tondal came back and changed how he lived daily. That's the whole point.
Chosen Portion builds the daily practice Tondal's vision demanded: a morning reading that keeps eternity in view.
The Visio was written 'for the edification of many' as a spur to daily amendment of life, and Chosen Portion supplies that daily spur with a morning reading and evening examen.
- A daily portion from historic texts on living well and dying well
- The complete 27-chapter Visions of Tondal in modern readable English
- A built-in daily examen prompt — 2 minutes at day's end