T H E B O O K O F D IV I N E

C O N SO L A T I O N O F T H E
B LESSED A N G EL A OF
F O L IG N O T R A N SL A T E D
FR O M T H E IT A LI A N BY M ARY G .

ST EEG M AN N I N T R O D U C T I O N BY
A L G A R T H O R O LD

CH ATT O AN D W IN D U S L ON D ON
N EW YO R K : D U F F I EL D a
s? CO .

I 9 9
O
 C O NT EN TS

TR EAT ISE I
PA E
G

OF THE C ON VERSION AN D E N ITE N C E OF THE BLE SS E D

P

A N GEL A OF FO L I G NO AN D HE R M A N Y AN D
OF

D I VER S T EM TATIONS
P

T REAT ISE I I
OF THE E VA N GEL I C A L D O CT R IN E SET FO RT H BY
THE BLE SS E D A N GELA
I : How it may be known that God hath entered
into the soul
H OW the spiritual man is deceived
H OW , be ing lodged Wit hi n the soul ,
God
worketh alik e upon the
affections and the will
,

H OW that O ur perfection doth consist in know

ing our own wretchedness and God s mercy ’

V The necessity of a constant consideration and

.

pro fou nd knowledge Of Christ C ru cifi ed

v ii
 i
wrii C ONTE NT S
C R AP PA GE
How all the ways of the Passion must be
digested within t he heart or at least be
,

repeated by the mouth

How the soul may speedily and easily find
God by means of devout pure constant
, , ,

humble and fervent prayer

,

Of the Book Of Life which is Christ

, ,

wherein man l earn et h to know God and

man himself and all things needful for
,

man s welfare
O f the great poverty of Christ
H OW Christ revealed Himself poor in powe r
How Christ laid aside His wisdom and His
own nature
How poverty of S pirit is despised by many
O f the humility and contempt of our Saviour
Jesus Christ
O f the constant and many su fferings which
Christ did bear in divers ways
O f the many and divers cruelties used towards
Christ
How th at we should foll ow the infallible
Guide and R edeemer upon the straight
road which He hath shown unto u s
 C ONTE NT S ix
PA E
G

O f how pleasing unto G od is the se rvice

’
of the poor who serve for love s sake
,

Without looking for a reward

XV III An exhortation to take comfort and to
.

follow the example O f perfection set

fort h by Christ the C ru cifi ed
Wherein the soul may s ee how that the
Divine Wisdom hath used infinite care
and dil igence in saving us through mercy ,

yet not o ffending against j ustice

O f prayer of the which there are three
,

kinds corporal m ental and super

, , ,

natural outside o f which it is n o t

,

possible to find G od
How the heart must be 8 iven whollYunto
praye r and n ot unto othe r exerc i ses
XXII How that we should submit our wills
.

unto the Will o f G od and how tha t

,

prayer is necessary for the obtaining of

all mercies

XXIII The greater the temptation the greater must

.
,

be likewis e the perseverance in prayer

XXI V O f the humility and example
. of Chr ist
the C ru cifi ed
1: CO NT E NT S

C R AP PA E
G

O f how greatly true humility quickeneth

the understanding of the soul in
knowing its own vileness and the
Divine Goodness
XXV I How humility doth cause us to see the
.

multi tude of our sins and that an

humble life doth work c o ntrary to
them
XXV II O f charity and how that we should fear
.
,

o u r love is not O f the true kind and cloth

n ot ful fil the condit ions needful

XX VIII The soul is united with God in three

.

several ways whereby it is furnished

,

with a weapon t o control the love o f

G o d and of it s neighbour

XXIX . Of the various properties of love

The more perfect man is the more ,

earnestly doth he endeavour t o do

that which is desired ordered and
, ,

counselled o f God
XXXI How that love created and excited by
.

the vision of the Supreme Being doth

make u s t o love G od and His creatures
according unto their conditions
 C ONTE NT S xi

CR AP
. PA GE
XXXII The love of G od is never idl e and per
.
,

su adet h us to do penance as long as

life and as harsh ; it telleth us to do

it as often as is convenient and doth ,

perform many other profitable things

xxx m . The way to find the love of God isb y
constant untiring , devout and ardent
,

prayer and the rea ding Of the Book

,

of Life
XXXIV O f t he p roPert ies of lovers and of the
'

sign s of love
XXXV How that each person should desire
. to

perfo r m his penance as secretly as

possible and in a seemly manne r

XXX V I O f three be n
. efits derived from the
most holy trib ulation
XXXV I I How the trib ulations which lie in
.

poverty contempt and suffering are

, ,

in many ways m ost profitable

XXXV III . Of the most sweet gifts of God ,

poverty contempt and suffering ;

, ,

and of other perfections

XXXIX Of . the many signs an d e ffects of love
which are caused by the S acrament
of the Euch arist
 TREAT ISE I I I

OF THE M A N Y V ISI O NS AN D C ONSO L ATIONS RE C E I V E D

B Y THE BLE SS E D A N GEL A OF FO L I G N O
PA E
G

First V ision and Consolation wherein she beheld

,

God inasmuch as He is all goodness ; whence

cometh hatred O f this life and the desire to
enj oy God
Second V ision wherein she beheld God inasmuch
,

as He is beauty wherefore all created beauty

,

seemed deformed and hideous unto he r

Third Vision wherein she beheld G od inasmuch
,

as He is invincible omnipotence in all things ,

which gave unto her the grace to be of benefit

both to the present and to the fut ure genera
tions Moreover she beheld likewise the deep
.
,

humility of God
Fourth V ision and Consolation wherein she beh eld
,

God inasmuch as He is supreme wisdom ,

whereby she did learn to j udge of all things

without error
Fifth Vision wherein she beheld G od inasmuch
,

as He is supreme j ustice and something yet

,

higher still ; whereby she O btained the appro

b at ion of the heavenly j udges
 C ONTE NT S xiii
P AG E

Sixth Vision and Cons olation w herein she beheld

, _

God inasmuch as He is Love whereby she ,

was transformed in the divine love

I
. Seventh Vision wherein she beheld God in tmhree
, ‘nn w
-

p sqns
gr ,
but she b eheld Him darkly
,
; and this
vision did inspire her with perfect and holy
hope and full assurance
C Eight h Vision and Consolation wherein she beheld
,

God as clearly as is possible in this life in the ,

which vision she acquired strength in good

intentions and in the perfect delight in God
Ninth Vision wherein it was certified u n t O her
,
‘

that in her visions and heavenl y conversations

she had not been deceived
Tenth Vision and Consolation wherein it was ,

further certified unto her that she had not

been deceived in he r conversations

H ERE BEG IN THE CONSO L ATIONS WH I C H SHE o n) H AV E

WHE N T H IN KIN G U P ON THE PASSION OF C HR IST
First Consolation of the Passion of Christ
Second Consolation O f the Passion of Christ .

Third Cons ol atio n f the

o Pas sio n of Christ
‘
xiv C ONTEN TS
PA GE
Fourth Consolation of the Passion of Christ
Fifth Consolati on of the Passion of our Lord
Sixth Consolation of the Passion of our Lord
Christ
Seventh Consolation of the Passion Of our
Jesus Christ

H ERE BEG IN TH E CONSO L ATIONS AN D V ISIONS WH IC H

SHE D I D H AV E OF THE SAGRAM EN T o r
THE A LTA R
First Vision of the S acrament of the Altar
Second Vision of the Sacrament Of the Alta r
Third Vision of the Sacrament of the Altar
Fourth Vision of the Sacrament of t he Altar '

Fifth Vision Of the Sacrament of the Altar

Sixth Vision of the Sacrament of the Altar
Seventh Vision of the Sacrament of the Altar

H ERE BEG IN THE V ISIONS WHERE IN S HE WAS G O M

F O RT E D B Y THE B LESS E D V I RG IN

First V ision of the Blessed Virgin

Secon d Visi on of t he Blesse d Virgin
 C ONTE NT S XV

H ERE BEG IN THE V ISIONS W IT H WH I C H SHE WAS

C O M FO RTE D C ON C ER N IN G HE R C H I L D RE N WH O
S H O U L D FO LL O W AFT ER C HR IST
First V ision concerning her childr en
Second Vision concerning her children
Third Consolation concerning her children
Fourth Consolation concerning her children
Instruction and Consolation received from
concerning her tribulations
A further Consolation given unto her of God
An Illumination O f the u nderstanding given
her of God concerning the way and the
of salvation
The last writing of the Bless ed Angela of Foligno
The testament and last admonition of the Blessed
Angela of Foligno which She gave u nto her
children she being nigh unto death
,

The p assin g a w ay of the Bles sed An gela

 I L L U ST R A T I O N S

B . A N GEL A DA FO L I G NO Fron tirpiecc

Af ter til e f r es co by P ier an ton io M cz C/z ur c/z o
f
'

z as t n r :

Sta Al
.
ma , F ol ign o
.

PA GE

FAC SI M I LE O F T HE TIT LE P A GE or T HE I 5 3 6 E D ITION xxxi

FAC SI M I LE or A P A GE F RO M T HE TEXT O F T HE I 5 36
E D ITION (verso o f fol . c lx i ) . xx xiii ,

F AC SI M I LE or A E SI G N RE P RE S E NTIN G T HE A D O RA
D

TION OF T HE M A G I F R O M T HE 1 5 3 6 E D ITION
,

( t
r c o
e f a i g c n con cl us ion o
f tex t) x xx v

FAC SI M I LE OF A D E SI G N RE RE S E NTIN G T H E C RU C I
P

FI XION FRO M T HE I 5 3 6 E D ITION ( e t f l l i g

,
r c o o ow n

prev ious derign ) x xxv n

XV II
 I N T R O D U C T IO N '

HAT is the secret and so potent attraction o f the

Saints i R enan sa ys somewhere that he wo ul d
have given every t hing he had t o have see n S t M ary of
.
.

Egyp t pacing the desert in ecstasy half sta rved and turned
,
-

t o the semblance of Nebuchadnezzar And R enan l iberally .

discounted the value n ot only of Theology b ut also o f the

, ,

particular vi rtue the loss o f which had dr iven that Saint

,

to such an unusual mode O f life The I nterest in sanctity

.

evidently survives theological and ethical pre occ upations -

.

Indeed t o day the S aint is perhaps an obj ect of higher

,
-

intrinsic interest to unbelievers t han t o the faithful .

For to the fait hful he 1 3 pri marily useful eithe r as b ein g ,

e ffi cacious in various troubles of life o r on a highe r plane ,

~

as a sort o f spiritual age n t O btaining graces fo r his clients

, .

0 admirabil e commer cium B ut like everything else this

, ,

celestial intercours e suffers from the defects of it s qualities .

.

I do not wish to be understood as making light of super ,

st i t i on
. The humblest blossom of that luxuriant garden
is of infi nite value nor do the roots o f o u r most highly
,

rati onalised opi n ions grow outside it Neve rtheless the .

important position o f the Saint in the Catholic economy

x ix
xx I NTR OD UC T I ON
does tend t o conceal his real personalit y from his w or
shippers He inevitably tends t o be considered more as a
’

means t o an end tha n as an obj ect intrinsically worthy of

,

contemplation In these circumstances the actual his

.

t orical value o f his personality is apt t o be obscured by

legend and fancy Legend of course if at all contempo
.
, ,

ran eo u s is o f the highest value as illustrating his effect on

, ‘

'

thos ew ith w hom he came I n contact We could ill spare .

in the life of St Franc is the Wolf of Gubbio

.

. Modern .

devoti onal fancy is less illu minative It throws no l ight .

upon the character of St An thony o f Padua t o learn that .

‘
centu ries after his death he r ecover ed some papers lost b y
that dev out man King Charles I I What then is it that
'

constitutes the intr insic interest o f the Saint when his

sup er natural valu e has gone i
"

One r eason I t hink for this interest is that the Saint

, ,

r epre sents in a quite unique manner the satisfaction o f a

, ,

desire which all men more or less obscurely feel Ever .

Since man emerged from a mid t he labyrinth o f irrat io n al

‘

forces which until his appearance determined the evol a

, , ,

t iOn of life on the planet he has S ought forpower Powe r

, .

at fi r st over the hostile or indi fferen t nature which su r

ro u n ded him over the stream the S park o f fire the wild
'

, , ,

b ear then over his fellow men and at length when he -

, , ,

began t o turn his gaze inwards over himself It is notice , .

able that all the really pr imitive myths divinised various

aspects of power celebrated the triumph of fo r ce As the
, .

social ar t S b egan to develop and among them of sheer

'

, ; ,
x x ii I N T R OD UCT I ON
The Saint is al so more than t he ascetic As ceticism is a .

r efusal a l imitation a constraint —in a word a ne gation

, , ,

and the Saint is eminently positive Moreover alth ough .

,

ne gative qualities might impose on the imagination and

create interest they would not inspire the personal devo
,

tion that is invariably felt for him The positive quality .

of the Saint is love e xp ressing itself in j oy

,
Thus he .

is a fascinating combination of the familiar and the u n

familiar for if few of us are ascetics we have most o f u s
, , ,

some experience of love But the Saint drinks from the

.

Castalian S pring of his interior life While we hand about

the Divinity to each other in treacherous and remarkably
earthen vessels ”
His love is n ot as ours at the mercy of
.

circumstances it is not susceptible of betrayal o r death for

, ,

he has found his treasure beyond time and S pace where ,

neither satiety no r caprice can co r rupt n or can rivals ,

break thr ough and steal .

There have been all kinds of S aints from St Paul the , .

,

fi r st hermit to Father Damian but the active Sain ts

, ,
”
seem less interesting than the contemplative Ce r .

t ainl y the Fathers of the Dese rt are very seductive They .

lived in caves or on the t 0 ps of pillars supporting their ,

e xistences on r oots and brackish wate r while they exh aled ,

their souls in a hymn of timeless ecstasy like Shelley s sky ’

lark Solitude w as t o them as water t o the fi sh and they

.
,

preferred the society of b easts t o that of men St Paul

.
. .

had his attendant lions and St Anthony Abbot spent

, .

twenty years in a tomb with s erp ents w ho tu rn ed into evil

 xxii i
Spiri ts by night and in these unusual circumstance s he
, , ,

came on e of the most important perso n alities o f his gene

ration The e xt ernal conditions Of their e xistence were
.

often grotes q ue almost always terrible Their i n ner S pirit

,
.

Was the most precious thing humanit y po ssesses For .

when everything else has failed a man he ar rives if his , ,

courage holds out at the joys o f the spirit The forces

, .

manifested in his e xp erience which succeeded in the l on g

,

run in eluding his dominating grasp answe r S ubmissively t o ,

the cal l of his mi nd I n contemplation Like fabled Adam .

naming the d ocile beasts he s i ts in their midst assigning t o

, ,

each I t s p ost and due perspective in the panorama o f life .

For he has arrived if without the help o f metaphysical

,

analysis by experience at the conviction that nothing is

, ,

real but thought which is the fi rst — and perhaps the last
word o f philosophy Mystics and contemplatives of East
.

an d West o f all creeds and rites have borne substantial

witness t o this truth This is n o doubt the r eason why

.

alike t o the popular imagination as in the t r eatises o f

theolo gians the contemplative life is extolled at the ex

pense of active virtue For t o all of u s there com e
.
, ,

moments when we are aware of a psychological need mor e ,

profound more u r gent than the desire for action Befor e

, , .

certain works of art or occasional aspects of nature or it

, ,

may be at the exquisite Climax o f some mood o f intimat e

personal emotion a delicious paralysis S teals over the will
,

we feel th at we have done enough In the calm tha t

, .

foll ows the whirlwind and ea r thquake of volition n ow it ,

x xiv I NT ROD UC TI ON

s eems defi n itely s tilled we are cons cious o n l y of the

, ,

beauty o f the situation o n which we ga z e we have no ,

desire t o modify it we o nl y wish t o ga z e o n fo r ever

,
The .

aesthetic sense has entirely replaced ethical striving .

Bles sed Angela of Foligno was a true daughter of t his

a ncient line Born in 1 2 4 8 she entered the family of S t
.
,
.

Francis as a Tertiary Hermit and became t hrough the , ,

S piritual autobiography which S he dedicated t o he r c o n ,

fessor Fra Ar naldo one of its most striking illustrations , .

S t Francis and his

. Knights of the R ound Table
seem from the first to have struck a new note in me dieval
r eligion The Monastic Order whether Benedictine
.
,

o r Cistercian wrapped in the aloofness o f its splen d

, id
Cloisters frequently governed by abbots who were great
,

feudal lords represented it might be said the aristocratic

, , ,

p rinciple in spirituality The aims of the monks were .

lofty unintelligible no doubt to the vill eins Of the soil

, ,

w ho were their dependents they fed and educated th eir

humble neighbours but their own life remained exclusive , ,

a thing apart S t Francis brought the spiritual life down

. .

t o the people the o ol o m in u to and he did so —here was

pp , ,

his splendid or i g i nality— without lowering the valu es o f

w hat he brought within their reach The religious de .

mocracy that he created remained a n aristocracy o f the

soul His logic was ama z ing because so simple In most
.
.

m en thought and action move on di fferent planes

, with
1 “
I i st su n t frat res m ei m i l i t e s T ab u l z ro t o n dx .
”
Sp ec .

P erfe c .
, p .
72 .
 I NTR OD UCTI O N

them action implies at least so m e degree of co mp r o mise

b ut when St Francis strip p ing himself o f his father s
’
.
,

cloak and fl ying naked t o the Bishop s arms proclaime d

,
’
,

the divine royalty o f p overt y t hat most unusual pheno

'

menon was seen — a man s thought and action in perfect ’

harmony Something of t hat divine simplicity o f that

.
,

exquisite unison of thought and will is what constitutes ,

the Franciscan S pirit distinguis hi ng all his authentic

,

children and not least of them the simple woman w ho

, ,

unfolds her Wonderful e xp eriences in this small volume .

We know little O f her life Born within thi r ty years of

.

St Francis death she entered on the life o f penance after

.
’
,

a youth passed in moral disorde r She lived in solitude .

with a religious companion in the neighbourhood o f t he

Church of the Friars Minor at Foligno until the year o f
'

,
”
her death in 1 3 0 9 Her Visions which are o f the most
.
,
.

touching and beautiful description appear t o have been all ,

of the kind described by mys tical theologians as intel

”
lectual that is to say they were u n ac co m p aniedb y any
,

sensib le manifestations S ome of them indeed as S he

'

.
, ,

notes herself occurred during S leep They are an e xtra

, .

or dinary blend o f na ive candour and passion They indi .

cate with an accuracy which I feel tempted t o ascribe at

,

times to the editing of the possibly more analytical Fra

Arnaldo the moments Of W hat may be call ed the dia
,

l e c t ical process o f san ct ifi cat ion The p oin t of dep art u re .

o f her conversion was a purely sel f regarding dread of the -

penalties of sin the contemplative mood o f the love Of

xxv i I NTR OD UC T I ON

G od, to which she ultimately attained absorbed all the ,

I nte rvening emotional categories This little book may in

.

fact be called in the Hegelian sense o f the term the Logic

, ,

o f sanctity It is certainly one of the most impo rtant

.

documen t s we have of medieval psychology and illus ,

trates in a very rem arkab l e manner the completeness of that

S t em o f M st ici w hié h w as at once the root and the
E y ig
blossom of the medieval intellect Only in Angela the in .

t ell ect is hidden under a succession of emotional moments ,

which develop by their own spontaneous dialectic Ou t o f

the whole mood of which each Of them is the passing but
necessary exp ression That . the finest and ,

o n the whole perhaps ,

has ever been It .

is far from being exclusively Christian Deriving from the .

lecture halls of Al exandria as well as from the hills of

,

Galilee it has come down t o u s through a series o f gr eat

,

experimentalists who have furnished to those of like mi n d

,

w i t h themselves it s j ustification in thei r ow n e xp erience .

It is the classic Catholic Mysticism as the Roman ,

Church has always understood and still unders tands

the term .

Few systems o f thought have swayed the imagination

m ore profoundly R emaining a true Mysticism by nature
.

o f it s goal the
”
, Beat ifi c Vision it has succeeded in in
,

co r orat in i
'

p g n itself the ethical aspirations of Western

energy It thus mediates between the passive ecstasy of
.

Hindu Pantheism and the restless volitio n al activity of the

white r ace .
 I NTR OD UCT I ON
The dogma o i the Incar n ation has here been of t he
greatest service The U nknown and U n knowable All is
.

contemplated by the Catholic Saint in the person o f

Christ The dogma gives him a lens with which he c an
.

focus the ra ys of D ivinity and u nite them in a shaft of

light on which he can ga z e without faltering In this way .

he is provided with an ine xhaustible o b j ect adequ at e t o his

,

mind and will On the one hand he can neve r know t he

.

tragedy of satiety for although he may faint with fatigue

, , ,

his o bj ect is inexhaustible and o n the other his wi l l is n o t

, , ,

ruled ou t as an ill usion but fortified by the prospect of

,

an infi nite perspective of effort and achievement For .

Catholic Mysticism may perhaps be best summed up in ,

the phrase by which a great philosopher of our day has

described life itself as a creative evolution The acts o f
,
.

Virtue of Faith Hope an d Charity o f a S aint are not

, , , ,

waste of time or of merely negative use ; they do n ot

merely serve the purpose of Withdrawing him from
temptation they actually constitute the spiritual life
,

within him like the words of consecration in the M ass

, ,

they c r eate in his hea rt the Divinity which they assert .

The m ystic gradually passes beyond this mood into that

'

profound and eternal r est o f the soul which theologians

,

call the Beat ifi c Vision and which is according t o the

, ,

teaching of Aquinas enj oyed by some still in life with

,

an even greate r intensity than by othe r s w ho literally

”
sleep in the Lord .

The Roman Church has eve r r ega r ded Ca tholic Myst i

x xviii
c ism as the kernel of the Dcporitum F idei o f which she
’

is the gua r dian ; It was for it S he fought through the long

and wearisome controversies which brough t to the birth
a t Ni cea the ort hodox dogma of the Incarnation For as .
,

h as been said without that dogma Catholic Mysticism

, ,

w ould h ave missed it s S pecific and characteristic note

.

an d wo u ld have become a mere variant o f Neo platonist

-

theurgy The inh er ent tendency that all Mys ticis m has
.

to Pa n theism indeed to Nihilism would have inevitably

, ,

asserted itself Nothing short of faith in the descent o f

.

the Infi nite into the finite could have saved the wavering
lines of human personality turned inwards to gaze upon
,

itself All inclu ding that personality wo u ld have become

.
, ,

an unstable illusion the web O f Maia woven by the fall s

,
.

c io u s dre ams of human desire And European religion at

.
,

least at the point of its highest individual development ,

woul d have been indistinguishable from Buddhism When .

Schopenhauer drew his parallel between Catholic and

B uddhist Mysticism he failed to see the enormous differ
,

ence made by belief in the dogma of the M an god It -

.

is perhap s not Without significance that he dwells so much

o n the value in that connection of M a dame Guyon whose ,

Q uietist tendencies resting ultimately on a Docetic view

,

o f the Incarnation were the cause of her di f

, ficulties w ith
B ossuet .

At first sight p erhaps the visions o f the Blessed Angela

may seem to have only an archaic value for us The world .

in w hich she lived seems SO rem o t e fro m ou r s the circum

' '

'

,
x xx I NTROD UC T I ON
with the Dialo go of S t Catherine o f Siena and the
.

Fioretti of S t Francis among the attempts t o p op u

.
,

l arise Mysticism which represented a t oo little known

,

side o f that complex movement which we call the

Renaissance.
 e Z 0 6 110
‘
t o nel l
ua e Ii con tiene Ia coh uerfi one/ pe
'

q
nitcn tia / t ent a tio n e/ dott rinaz Vifioni/ 6c
d a f l m d ll b at aAn e
'

in in e c o a t io o s e
g
la de Folignimc uament e t ra/
dutto dc latino in lim
ua
g
viu in u Q
l i l hf m a
d mi difsc in verii
‘

e / c n o

t at he11011 e altravia dritta, chaq uellachi

Ie uifali mici vefi igi: per chc i quefi av ia
g .

m
non cafca trigam o): q ucflza parola in w e:
-

ritaBC guide Chiarcz af p volte 86 mo" m m

t i parlarimifu detta. Amen .

fconofe vifioni 85 confo lauoni

r
‘ ‘ ‘

I I
-
ni
dellab eats Augeladc Foligni.

Dm
'

nes i
t : in
b imus am iI
e erimu
‘

g
re t rib n al fi ue bonfi
u
b l fii) rel fi ne ma I
capt uri q d
’

i i
Facs m l e of p a g e of ori g i n al
A B OO K R
P OF I TA B L E A ND D E VOUT
WH I C H C ONTAI N ETH T H E C ON VE R S I ON ,

PE N I TE N C E
, T E MPTAT I O N ,
DO CT R I NE,

V IS I ON S AN D D I VI NE C O N S O L AT I ON S
,

OF T H E B L ES S ED A N G E LA OF FO L I G NO ,

N E WLY T RAN S L AT E D O UT OF T HE
L AT I N I NTO T H E VU L G A R TON GUE
1 53 6
 PR EF A C E B Y T HE O LD I T A L I A N
T R A N SL A T O R

Un to al l R eader s B elov ed in J es us Cbr is t

f LTHOU G H in the Ho l y Gospel our most loving

Lord hath plentifully S hown un t o us t he mea ns
and the way whereby we may attain unto the p erfection
of Christian life yet hath His consoling spirit (giver o f all
,

comforting and S piritual grace) nevertheless not ceas ed ,

nor eve r will cease to reveal unto u s conti nually by means

,

of His most worthy instruments — the which are saints

and devout persons — divers ways and conditions of fin ding
the most perfect and consummate union possible unto
wayfarer s in this life And although by the facility o f
.

printing there hath been put forth an infinite number of

boo ks so many that they do obscure the sun of j ustice
,

upon earth (seeing that there are more evil books than
goo d) because by reason of their perverse j udgment and
,

voluptuous desires men do delight more in imagining

and in hearkening unto hu rtful t hi ngs rather than unto
’
w holesome ones and because through the world s abuses
,
xl i
d
 xlii P RE FAC E
evil men are more favoured than are good men yet cannot ,

m alice overcome wisdom neither can the many overcome ,

the few For this reason also hath God elected th e

.
, ,

weak to confound the S trong and thus in ou r ow n times ,

hath He inspired many women of exalted spirit and they ,

did lead most holy and exemplary lives walking upon the ,

short and st raight roa d Amongst these is t he Blessed

‘ '

Angela of Foligno who although a woman (and therefore

, ,

of the weaker sex) did nevertheless by means of her

, , ,

humble patient and steadfast despising of the things of

,

t his world and by her chosen and beloved poverty over ,

come all the st ron g an d powerfu l of her time U nto .

‘

whomsoever shall truly read and prudently consid er

them her conversion penitence temptation and doctrine
, , , ,

( as set forth in this book ) will be of exceeding profit f

,or .

walking in the way and service o f God until he at t ain et h ,

unto the happiness o f glory This b ook hath already .

been printed in Latin divided into thr ee t r eatises , ,

namely— of penitence Of visions and o f doctrine But

, , .

because it was neither elegant nor lea rned in that

language it was neither read by scholars nor understood
,

by the S imple and for this reason hath it been deemed

,

. well to translate it into the vulgar tongue that it may be ,

universally unde rstood and be profitable unto a greater

number o f persons The writer hath not sought to put
.

it into elegant langu age n or yet into the Tuscan o r the

,

courtly tongue but only t o render it intel li gi ble Where

, .

fore each o n e is e xhorted t o read it solely for his profit and

 R
P EF A CE xl iii
for the good of his so u l which he will the more obtain
,

the more he doth carefully read and digest and put into ,

practice that which he hath read and digested Fo r it is .

n ot the readers but the doers o f good works w ho attain

, ,

unto grace And although it is t o be believed that the

.

writers of that time put down everything in the order in

which it pleased God to recall it unto the memory of the
Blessed Angela yet hath it seemed more convenient in
,

this translation into the vulgar tongu e t o put the treatis e

of doctrine into the second place the which in Latin is ,

given the third place and t o put here as third treatise

,

that of the visions and consolations which in Latin hath ,

the second place This hath been done because these

.

consolations and visions are things most high and it ,

hath seemed right t o leave them unto the last t o be read

by those who are more perfected and instructed and ,

first t o set down her teaching (which is like w ise that o f

Jesus Christ) as being more universally profitable and
, ,

especially unto beginners The treatis e of doctrine is

.

further divided into several chapters which was n o t done ,

previously in order that it may be more easy and less

,

wearisome unto the r eader because certain o f the chap

,

ters were exceeding long Each o n e is n ow prayed and

.

exhorted that (for his ow n good) he weary n ot of reading

this most excellent book wherein he will find pointed
,

out that straight highroad (the road o f poverty of pain , ,

and of contempt) whereby it is eas y t o find God and

, ,

from which none can excuse themselves as they might do

xliv PR E F AC E
from the contemplation o f the incomprehensible Trinity .

And I t Wi ll be unto him a j oy to hear and know of those

sufferings and other ills which Christ and the saints did
willingly endure for our sakes piously praying God that
,

He will open the treasur es of His mercy unto all Amen

. .
2 THE B L ES SE D A N G E L A
with my S ins and unto whom I could full y confess myself .

In that same night did the Blessed Francis appear unto me

and say Sister if thou hadst prayed unto me sooner
,

thy prayer wou ld have been sooner granted that whi ch

”
thou hast asked hath been done Upon the next morn.

ing therefore I went into the church of Saint Francis and

, ,

found there a friar preaching in Saint Feliciano which ,

friar was chaplain unto the bishop and did hold his au t ho
rity and to him I did determine to make my confession
immediatel y that the sermon should be ended Where .

fore I did confess myself most fully and was absolved of all
my sins And I n this confession I did feel no love but
.
,

onl y bitterness shame and pain

, , .

The third step w as that I did consequently pe rsevere in

the performance of the penance imposed upon me and as ,

yet I was fi l l ed with pain and misery without any other

consolation .

Fo urthly I did begin to consider and t o know the

'

divine mercy which had granted me the aforesaid grace

and saved me from hell Here did I begin t o be en
.

lightened and I did now weep and lament more t han

heretofore forcing m ys elf to do more severe penance of
, ,

the which I wi l l not sp eak here .

The fifth was that being thus enlightened and finding

, ,

nothing save faults in me I did condemn myself as one

, ,

who knew and w as most assuredly convinced that she was

worthy of h ell ; whereat I did again weep bitterly It .

must be understood however that b et w een t he one step

, ,
'
 OF FO L I G NO 3

and another there w as a S pace of time and I did ever weep ,

and dolefully lament and there was nothing else vouch

safed unto me only I did have some consolation in that I
,

could weep but truly it was a bitter consolation

,
.

t Sixt hl y t her e was given unto me a constant an d certain

, .

illumination o f grace whereby I w as made t o know my

,

sins so profoundly that having offend ed the Creator I

, ,

saw that I had likewise o ffended the creatures made for

me Therefore I did recall unto my memory all the sins
.

which I had committed and in the confession (which I did

make unto the Lord my God) I did most p rofoundly
ponder over them Wherefore I did b eseech all the
. ,

saints with the B l essed Virgin that they would intercede

, ,

for me and I did pray the merciful Lord (who had vouch
,

safed unto me so many good things) that He w ou l d have ,

pity upon me and seeing that I did know m y self to be

, ,
“

dead in sin that He would raise me to life again through

,

His grace Moreover I did pray all creatures (seeing how

.
,

that I had o ffended them inasmuch as I had o ffended the

Creator) that they would not accuse me b efore Go d
, . .

Thus did it appear unto me that al l creatures and all t he

saints did have compassion upon me wherefore with a ,

greater fire of love did I apply m yself to prayi ng unto G od

more than w as customary .

The seventh was that by an especial grace l did begin

,

to gaze upon the Cross whereon I did behold (as much

,

w ith the eyes of my heart as with those of my body)

J esus
Christ w ho had died for us and I did feel great grief at,
4 THE B L ES SE D AN GELA
that sight n otvvit hst an din g that this vision and medita
,

tion were as yet but little understood of me .

The eighth w as that as I did gaze upon the Cross I was

,

granted a greater understanding how that Christ had died

for our sins Whereupon I did so clearly perceive all
.

mine own sins and with such exceeding great grief that I
, ,

did feel that I mys elf had crucified the Lord N evert he .

less I did not yet know how great a blessing w as the

Passion of Christ nor did I understand as clearly then as I
,

afterwards did how that He had redeemed me from my

,

sins and converted me unto repentance and had died for ,

me In this beholding of the Cross I did so burn with

.

the fire of love and re morse that standing before the ,

Cross I did divest myself o f everything and did thus o ffer

,

myself unto Him And although I feared greatly I did

.
,

nevertheless promise t o observe perpetual chastity and not

to offend with any of my members accusing my members,

one by one of past sins An d I did pray Him that He

.

would make me t o keep this my promise that is t o pre , ,

serve chastity and to keep gu ard over my thoughts fo r

upon the one hand I did greatly fear to promise and upon ,

the other hand the aforesaid fire compelled —me and I ,

had no power t o resist .

Nint hl y there w as given unto me the desire to seek o u t

,

a nd know the way of the Cross that I might stand at its

,

foot and find refuge there where all sinners find refuge .

Unto which end I w as e nl ightened and instru cted after

this manner that if I did desire t o find the way and come
 OF FO L I G NO 5
a
Cu n t othe Cross I must first pardon all those who had
-
,

offended me and must then put away from me all earthly

,

things not only out of mine a ffections but likewise in very

,

deed and all men and women friends and kindred and
, ,

every other thing but more especially my possessions ,

must I put away and even mine own self And I must ,
.

give my heart unto Christ (w ho hath done me such great

good) electing to walk upon the thorny path which is the
, ,

path o f tribul ation So then I did begin to put aside the .

best clothing and garments which I had and the most

delicate food likewise the covering for m y head But as
, ‘
.

yet it was a shameful and a hard thing for me to do s eeing ,

that I did n ot feel much love for G o d and w as living with

mine husband Wherefore w as it a bitter thing fo r me
.

when any offence was said or done unto me but I did bea r ,

it as patiently as I w as able In that time and by God s ‘

.
’

will there died my mother who w as a great hindrance , ,

unto me in following the way of God my husband died

likewise and in a short time there also died all my chil
,

dren And because I had commenced to follow the

.
_

aforesaid way and had prayed God that He would rid me

of them I had great consolation of their deaths albeit I
, ,

did also feel some grief Wherefore because that God .

,

had shown t his grace unto me I did imagine that my heart ,

was in the heart o f God and that His will and His heart
were in my heart .

Tenthl y see king t o know from G o d w hat thing I could

,

do the w hich w o u l d be most acceptable unto Him He did

, ‘ ' ,
 6 THE BLESSED AN GE L A
of His mercy many tim es appear unto me both sleeping ,

and waking and appearing fastened upon the Cross He

,
-

did bid me gaze upon His wounds and in a marvellou s ,

manner He did make me to know how that He had borne

all things for me and this happ en ed m an y times And r
.

when He had show ed u n t o me one by one all the things

'

which He had borne for me He said What canst thou , ,

do for Me that will suffice Likewise did He appear

unto me many times when I was awake but in a manner ,

more pleasing than when I w as asleep (although I did

always perceive His great grief and su ffering) and He ,

showed unto me the pain s of His head and the hairs

plucked from His eyeb rows and His beard counting over ,

unto me all His scourgings and showing them unto me in

the places where they had been inflicted saying unto m e , ,

Al l this was for thee ”

Then did I most clearly recall
.

unto my memory all my sins by the which it seemed unto

,

me I had wounded Him afresh and therefore had caus e

fo r great lamentation and I did doubtless feel much more
,

sorrow than before Thus showing His Passio n unto me

.
'

He did say ,
What canst thou do for Me that will
suffi ce Then did I weep and shed such burning tears
that they did burn my flesh wherefore it behoved me t o
,

lave it with cold water that it might be c o oled .

The eleventh was that because of my sins I was moved

,

to do penance more severely of the which it is not meet t o

,

speak here And as I reflected and did oblige myself to

.

wish to do this it seemed unto me at last that I coul d n o t

,
 OF FO L I G NO 7

sufficiently do penance the whiles I was possessed of

worldly things wherefore 1 n o rder the more freely to do
,

this and to come unto the Cross as I had been inspired to

do I did determine most certainly to forsake everything
, .

The which determination Was marvellously sent unto me

b y G od after this manner In mme 1 m ag1 n at 1 on I did
‘ '

cherish a gr eat desire to b ecome poor and such was my zeal ,

that o ft t im es l did fear t o die before I could attain unt o

'

this state of poverty Upo ri the other hand I was assailed

' '

by temptations the w hich did w hisper unto my thoughts

,

that 1 was youthful and t hat be gging for alms might lead
me in t o great dan ger and shame and that if I did t his I
‘ ' ‘ ’

should be forced t o die of hunger , cold and nakedness , .

Moreover all my friends did dissu ade me from this thing '

But at last the Divine mercy did send a certain great

‘

illumination i nto mine heart wherefrom I did derive a ,

certai n assurance the which as I b elieved then and do

, ,

believe now I shall not lose even in eternity Wherefore

,
.

I did dispose and determine that even though I should b e ,

forced to die of hunger cold and shame because such a

, , ,

thin g was pleasing or might be pleasing unto God — I L

would by no means leave from my purpose even though I ,

were certain that these aforesaid evils should befall me ,

choosing to die will ingly for the love of God rather than
to fall short of mine intention So then I did resolve l n .

good earnest .

The twelfth was that I did afterwards pray unto the

,

Blessed M other o f Christ and the Blesse d John the ' ’

8 THE BLES SED ANGELA
Evangelist that (for the sake of the su ffering which they
had endured) they would obtain for me a certain sign
,

whereby I might always keep in memory the Passion of

Christ .

The thirteenth was that persevering in the aforesaid

, ,

p r ayers and desires a dream was granted unto me wherein

,

was showed me the Heart of Christ and it was told me

,

that in that Heart there is no falsehood because therein all

,

things are true And it seemed unto me that this sign w as

.

sent because I had mocked at a certain preache r .

The fourteenth w as that being once at prayer Christ

, ,

did show Himself unto me as I kept vigil more clearly and

,

giving me greater knowledge of Himself than heretofore .

Then it was that He did set me free a nd it was after this

,

manner Firstly He did question me ; then He did say

.
,
”
unto me Put thy mouth into the wound in My side
,
.

Then methought that I did put it there and did drink the
blood which was running fres hl y from out of His side and ,

in the doing of this it was given me to know that I w as

cleansed And here I did begin to receive great consola
.

tion albeit I grieved when I d id meditate upon the

,

Passion Then I did pray the Lord that He would cause

my blo od t o be shed and poured out for His love s sake as ’
,

His had been shed for me and I did desire that for His love
,

al l my members should su ffer a ffl iction and death more ,

vile and more bitter than His Passion Wherefore I b e

.

thought me and did seek to find one who should put me to

death in order that I might su ffer for the sake of His faith
,
10 THE BLES SED ANGELA
all t hings because metho ught I could not keep any thing
fo r myself without greatly o ffen di ng Him w ho did thus
enlighten me Nevertheless I w as yet su n k in bittern ess
.

because of my sins neither did I know if the things which

,

I did were pleasing unto God but with much weeping I

cried saying
, Lord even tho ugh I be condemned
, ,

nevertheless will I not cease from doing penance and I ,

have put away all things from me in order to se rve Thee .

But being as I have said still sunk in bitterness because o f

, ,

my sins and not yet feeling any divine sweetness whatso

ever I w as changed ou t of this state in the manner he r e
,

a fter written down .

The si xteenth was that I did come again into the church
,

to ask of God that He would bestow some mercy upon me .

And whilst that I was praying and saying the Paternoster

.

God did implant that Paternoster in mine heart with so

clear an understanding of the Divine goodness and m 1 n e
own unwort hiness that I could in no way describe it .

Each word was written upon mine heart and I did speak
it with great and enduring contrition and compunction .

S o that although I wept because of my sins and mine u m

,

worthiness (the which I did here perceive) I did never ,

t hel ess have great consolation and did begin to taste some

what o f the Divine sweetness because in t he Paternoster I

,

did see the Divine goodness better than in any other

thing and here likewise did I find it best But because
,
.

my sins and mine unworthiness were showed unto me in

the afo r esaid prayer I did begin to be so greatly ashamed
,
 II
that I did n ot presume t o raise mine eyes either t o heaven
o r t o the Cru cifix o r any other t hing but did co mmend
, ,

myself unto the Blessed Virgin that she should implo r e

,

and obtain mer cy for me and forgiveness of my sins seeing ,

that I w as yet sunk in the bitterness of sin Oh ; sinners

.
,

how beset with diffi culties and fu ll of heaviness is the way

o f the so u l unto repentance How art thou bound with
strong chains and thy feet shackled How evil are thine
helpers or rather they w ho hinder thee the world the
, , ,

flesh and the devil

,
Ye must know that I did halt in each
o n e o f these aforesaid steps a good space of time before

that I was enabled to move from the one unto the other
albeit I did not remain equally long in each but in some ,

more and in some less time .

Then at the seventeenth step were these things made

manifest unto me that the Blessed Virgin had obtained
,

for me the grace of a more than human faith wherefore

did it seem unto me that until that time my faith had been
almost dead when compared with that which had been
,

newly given unto me Likewise did it seem unto me that

.

the tears which I had hitherto wept had been shed almos t
unw illingl y when compared with those which I now shed .

Wherefore I did now lament for the Passion of Christ and

fo r t he su fferings of His Mother more earnestly than I had
done be fore And now everything which I did howso
.
,

ever much o r great did seem unto me but of li t tle ac

,

count And I did d esire to do greater penance and I did

.
,

fil l mine whole heart with Christ s Passion because unto

~
’
,
12 THE BLES SED ANGELA
me had been vouchsafed the hop e that I might thereby be
redeemed I did now moreover begin to find consolation
.
, ,

in dreams for I did have fair and pleasant dreams so that

, ,

I was thereby consoled . I did likewise now begin to feel

the sweetness and consolation of God within mine heart ,

and outwardly in my body continually both sleeping and,

waking but because I did not yet feel any assurance my ,

j oy w as mingled wi t h bitterness neither di d my heart

,

take any rest but ever desired further mercies from

,

God .

The eighteenth was that I did at last begin t o have the

,

understanding and the visions and the words of God and ,

I so greatly delighted in prayer that I did forget to eat .

Wherefore did I wish that there were no need for eating ,

in order that I might be ever at prayer This desire did .

occasion a certain temptation not to eat o r if I did eat , , ,

that I should eat but a small quantity But I perceived.

this to be a snare and there w as such a great fire of love

in mine heart that I did never weary of being upon my
knees or of doing other penance After t his I w as filled
, .

with a yet greater fire and fervour of Divine love in such ,

a degree t hat if I did hear any man speaking of God I did

cry aloud and even had there been one with an axe ready
,

to kill me I could not have refrained The first time that

.

this happened unto me was when I did sell the little piece
of land which was mine to give the money unto the poor
(this was the best possession w hich I had) but in t he b e
'

ginning I did mock at myself for this crying as one mock eth ,
 or FOLIGNO 1 3

at Pet ru ccio then I perceived that I could by no

1

manner of means do otherwise Wherefore it did o ft . l

times happen that hearing God spoken of I did cr y aloud
'

, , ,

albeit that I was in t he company of other pe rsons no ,

matter who they might be And when those persons did

.
'

sa y unto me that I w as disordered in that I should do such

a thing I did answer that I was sick and overwhelmed and
, ,

that I coul d not do othe rwise Neither could I convince.

those who spoke evil a gainst me because o f t his thing but ,

I did feel greatly ashamed When I beheld the Passion of

.

Christ painted i n a picture I could scarce contain myself ,

but was seized with a fever and fell 1 nto a sickness ; for the
which reason my companion did hide such pictures of the
Passion from me whenever it was possible in order that ,

I might not behold them During the times of these .

cryings I did have many illuminations understandings , ,

visions and consolations o f the which several will be

, ,

written down in the following treatises .

CHAPTE R I
OF HE R MAN Y AN D VA R IO U S TEMPTATI O NS
IN order therefore that I might not feel myself exalted by
, ,

the magnitude an d the number of the revelations visions , ,

1
P et ru c c io w a e i den t l y so m e n o t ed p e r s o n age o f t he t i m e
s v
,

w h se i de t i t
o it i i m o s s i b l e n ow t t ra
yn
ps c e o
1
4 T HE B L ES SED AN GE L A
and con versin gs with G od and that I might n ot be puffed
,

up with the delight thereof the great tempter w as sent

,

unto me who did a ffl ict me with many and divers t em p t a

,

tions wherefore was I affl icted both in my soul and in

,

my body The torments of the body were verily numbe r

.

l ess and were administered by many demons in divers

ways so that I do scarce believe that the su fferin gs an d
,

infirmity of my body could be written down There re .

mained n o t one of my members the which w as not

grievously tormented neither w as I ever without pain ,

without infirmity or without weariness Al wa ys w as I

, .

weak and feeble and full of pain so that I w as compelled

, ,

t o be almost continually lying down All my limbs were

.

as though beaten and with many troubles did t h e demons

,

affl ict me Thus was I perpetually sick and swell ed and

.
,

in all my limbs I did suffer pain so that it w as diffi cult for

,

me to move myself Nevertheless was I not weary of

.

lying still neither was I yet ab l e to eat su fficient In

,
.

short the su fferings of the body were great but those of

, ,

the soul were beyond all comparison more bitter and more
numerous and all were inflicted by the same demons I
, .

can o nl y liken myself unto one who is hanged by the ne ck ,

his hands tied behind his back and his eyes bound and w ho ,

is left hanging by a rope upon the gallows and although

he ha t h no help or remedy or support he doth nevert heless
,

continue to live in that torment and cannot die And I .

do affirm that even more despe r ately and with greater

c ru elty w as I affl icted by demo n s for they hanged my soul
,
 or FOIJI G NO 1 5

and all it s strength w as overwhel med and depa r ted from

it And seeing how that I had no power to Op p os e them
.
,

my grief w as so great that at times I was scarce able to

weep for rage and for grievous sufferin g Moreover I .
,

wept without o b t ain in g rel ief and ofttimes w as my rage

r

so great that I coul d scarce refrain from ren din m s l f

g y e

an d b eat 1 n
g myself most grievously thus causing my h ead ,

and all my members to swell When my soul beheld itself

.
'

c ast do w n and all it s virtue depa rted from it then it made ,

great lamentation and then did I cry unto m y God

, .

After this I did endure another torment f or every ,

vice w as r e awa kened w it hin m e Not t hat albeit t e

-
.
-

awakened— they had power t o overcome my reason but ,

they did occasion me much tribulation And not only .

did I remember those vices which as sailed me in times

past but many others which I did never before know
,

entered into my body and did in fl ame me and cause me the

utmost su ffering But because they had no lasting power
.

o v er m e they did affo

.
rd me great cons olation when they
b egan t o weaken and le ave me This was the work of the
.

demons into whose hands I p erceived I had been de - .

livered but when I do remember how t hat God w as

,
v
-

a ffl icted here b elow and in poverty I would that mine

.
,

o w n su fferi n gs might be increased twofold .

At t im es w as l thrown into a most horribl e darkne ss of

'
‘

S pirit by t he demons wherein it dida p p ear th at all h 0 pe

,
-

of goo d w as withdrawn from me Then those vices which .

were de ad inwardly in the soul were revived outwardly

16 THE BLES SED AN GELA
in the body both those which I did never before feel and
,

those which I did have aforetimes And I did su ffer so

.

greatly that I w as constrained to put actual fire upon my

body in order that it might quench the burning of desire
and this I did continue t o do until my confessor forbade
me And when I w as in that darkn ess of spirit methought
.

I would have chosen rather to be roasted than to endure

such pains Wherefore did I cry aloud and call upon
.

death desiring that it should come in any form whatso

,

ever if onl y Go d would permit me to die And unto G o d .

did I say Lord if Thou wilt send me into hell , I pray

,

Thee tarry not but do it instantly and since Thou hast

, ,

abandoned me make an end of it n ow and plunge me into

,
”
the depths .Presently I perceived that t his w as the work
of demons and that such vices exist not in the soul for ,

never would I have consented thereto Howsoever the .

,

body doth su ffer violence and so great is the grief and

,

pain that if it should endure the body would not be able t o

b ear it Moreover the soul doth find that all its strengt h
.
,

hath been taken from it and albeit it cloth in no wise con

,

sent unto vice yet can it n ot resist And seeing that it

, .

doth act contrary to the will of G od it loseth all hope of ,

being able to resist and is tormented by those vices .

Among others God did permit one vice to enter into

,

me the which I had never known before but I did clea rly ,

perceive that it entered into me by Divine permission and ,

it w as so great that it did exceed all the others Upon the .

other hand w as there given unto me a certain virtue ,

1 8 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
that I was worthy of the nethermost depths of hell It .

must be known that this humility brought no content

ment unto my soul neither any understanding of divine
,

truth and goodness but was a certain humble dej ection the
,

which was the cause of innumerable evils For I did per .

c eiv e the b acksli ding of both soul and body o n account of ,

which I did know in my soul that I was su rrounded by

demons Then was God hidden from me in all His
.

power and grace neither could I by any manner of means

,

recall Him unto my mind because He would not permit

,

it Thus did I perceive myself to be condemned but I

.
‘

co u ld not believe t hat I had been mine own damnation

.

,
,

because I did more grieve and lament for having o ffended

my Creato r than for any other thing For t his reason did .

I strive with all my memb ers against the demons that I ,

might overcome the aforesaid vices b ut I was n o t a b le , ,

neither could I find any remedy or any way whereby I

might escape o r help myself so deep did I perceive ,

myself t o have fa l len Wherefore was I ofttimes plunged

.

into t he a b yss of this h umility wherein I did behold my,

S ins and t he superabundance o f mine iniquities but I did ,

see n o way whereby they might be made manifest and

'

k nown unto all And in order that I might make known

.

my dissembling and my s1 n s i t came into my mind t o go

,

throughout the cities and open places with meat and with
fishes hanging about my neck and to cry This is that
, .

woman full of evil and of dissembling slave of all vices

, ,

an d 1 n i u it ies w ho did good de eds that she might obtain

q ,
 or FOLIGNO 1
9
honour amongst men And especially when I caused it
to be told unto those whom I had hidden to mine house
that I did eat neither fish nor meat and when— being the ,

while full of greediness gluttony and drunkenness — I did

, ,

feign to desire naught save what was needful I did dili .

gently make an outward S how of beingpoor but I caused ,

many sheets and coverings to be put there where I lay

d ow n to sleep causing them to be taken up in the morn
,

ing in order that none might see them Behold , there .

fore the devil of my soul and the i niquity of mine heart

,

hearken unto a daughter of hypocrisy and pride a deceiver ,

and an abomination of God who did fei gn to be a child of

prayer I w as given over to pride and to the devil but I
.
,

did feign t o have God in my soul and His consolation in

my chamber whereas I had the devil alike in my soul and
,

in my chamber And know ye that during all the time

.
,

of my life I have studied how that I might obtain the fame

of S anctity but ve rily I say unto you that through the
,

iniquity and the hidden dissembling of mine heart have I

deceived many and have been the murderer of many
,
'

”
souls and o f mine ow n soul likewise
, .

Then b ein g still sunk in this abyss I did turn me

, ,

towards these my brothers (who are called sons) saying ,

Henceforth oh my sons ye wil l no longer believe in

, ,
'

me do ye not see how that I am possessed of the devil

Pray ye that t he j ustice of God may compel the demons
to go forth out of my soul and t hat t he y may make mani
'

fest thei r most evil works in order that God may be n o

f
20 THE BLES SED ANGE L A
more dishonoured by me See ye not that all that which
.

I have told unto you is false See ye not that if there

were no iniquity whatsoever in the world I should fil l it ,

out of the abundance of mine own iniquity Wherefore

must ye no longer put faith in me neither must ye wors hip
,

this living image but p ray that the j ustice of Go d may

cause it to be cast down and broken asunder so that it s ,

devil ish work s may be made manifest its lies and it s

,

painted and gilded words the which I did colour over and
,

conceal with divine words in order that I might be adored

and honoured as a t hi ng of God Pray ye finally that the
.

devil may go forth out of t his idol and that by this woman
,

the world may be no longer deceived And I will pray

.

unto the Son of God (whom I dare not na m e) tha t if it

pleaseth Him not t o S how forth my sins Himself that He ,

wil l cause the earth t o witness unto them by O pening and

swallowing me up making of me such an example that
,

men and women will say Lo how w as she painted in

,

false colours and a dissembler within and without l 3’

At times I had a mind to put a rope about my n eck ,

verily a strong band and to cause myself to be dragged

,

through the city and the open places crying : This is

,

that woman w ho during all the time of her life hath

”
showed the false in p l ace o f the true and that all persons
,

then should say B ehold a miracle of God for He hath ,

caused this woman t o reveal her sins of her ow n self and

t o declare her iniquities which have heretofore been
hidden Yet did this n ot suffice unto my soul for I ,
 OF FOLIG N O 21

was fallen into a desperation such as had never before been

seen in this world the cause thereof being that I did
,

despair of God and all His benefits by reason of having

made conflict betwixt me and them For which reason .
,

also w as I certain that in the whole world there was n o

,

person more full o f all manner o f wickedness and more

worthy of condemnation than w as I And all that which .

had been given me o f God had been granted for the in

creasing o f my despair and my condemnation Where .

fore pray ye unto God that He tarry n o longer fo r my ,

head is already breaking my body fainteth and mine eyes

, ,

are dimmed because of the abundance of my tears And .

lastly all my members are loosened and can no more give

,

proof of the wickedness of my soul but I do rej oice that

,
”
it hath been made manifest in part And all this did
.

I perceive in mine humility Thou must know however

.
, ,

thou who hast written down these matters that what ,

thou hast written is but a small thing in comparison with

all mine iniquities and mine abuses for I was yet very ,

young when I did begin to do wrong These and other .

like things w as I constrained t o say when I w as sunk in -

the aforesaid humi lity .

After this came pride Then w as I filled with wrath

.

and vanity with melancholy and bitterness and all pu ffed

, ,

up with pride Thereto was added another bitterness

.

concerning the benefits which God had bestowed upon

me because I remembered n o more any good thing o f
,

them whatsoever but only remembered injuries and

,
22 THE BLES SED ANGELA
'

dolorous grief marvelling that there had been any virtue

,

whatsoever in me and doubting whethe r in truth there

had ever been any N either did I perceive any reason
.

Wherefore God should have permitted this arid for this ,

cause w as all goodness shut away from me and hidden .

The temptation of this thought did make me to be filled

with pride an d anger most bitter sadness and affl iction
,

and a grief greater tha n I can declare so that if all the ,

wise men of the world and all the saint s of paradise had
given me every assurance to comfort me and had p ro
m ised me every blessing which could be named not even ,

they could have done aught for me or rendered me any

help if God had not changed my soul and worked
,

di fferently within it Neither should I have believed in

.

them but all would have worked together t o increase

,

mine anger affliction s adness and pain more than I could

, , ,

possibly declare Wherefore if God would but have

.
,

liberated me from these torments and temptations in lieu ,

thereof would I willingly have su ffered every ill and would

have borne all t he in fi rm it ies and suffering whi ch have
ever been known and verily do I believe that they wo ul d
,

have been less hard for me to bear than were the aforesaid
torments Wherefore have I ofttimes said that if only I
.
,

might be set free from them I would gladl y have endured ,

every form o f martyrdom This state of torments and .

temptations did begin some li t tle while before the time of

the p on t ifi c at e o f Celestino and did last more than t w o '

years du r ing the which I w as ofttimes tormented n or am

, ,
 or FOLIGNO 23

I even yet entirely fr eed albeit I do now feel it but

,

seldom and that only outwardly not inwardly as hereto

, ,

fore But when I am in that state I do perceive that in

.

betwixt that evil humility and that pride there is a great

purging and purifying o f the soul by which and through ,

which is acquired that true humility Without which none

can be saved so that the greater the humility the ,

greate r is likewise the purification Thus came I to know .

that betwixt those two aforesaid extremes my soul must

be burned and martyred and through the knowledge of
,

mine o ffences and my sins (which knowledge it did o b tain

through that same true humility) my soul became purged
both o f pride and o f demons Fo r the which reason doth
.

it come that the poore r the soul is made and the more pro
fou n dl y humiliated the more doth it abase and purify
,

itself in order that it may b e cleansed And in no other .

way can a soul be cleansed save by deep humi l iation and by

being most profoundly implanted and r ooted in veritable
and true humility .

Her c en deth the C on v er s ion , P en iten ce,

, an d Temptation
f
o the B les s ed Ang ela f
o F al ig n a.
 T R E A T I SE I I

O F T HE E V A N G E L ICA L DO CT R I N E SET -
F OR T H
B Y T HE B L E SSE D A N G E L A

CHAPTE R I
H OW IT MAY BE KN OWN THAT G OD HATH
ENTE R ED I NTO THE SO U L
IT must be known that God cometh sometimes unto the
so u l when it hath neither called nor prayed unto nor
, ,

summoned Him And He doth instil into the soul a fire

.
:

and a love and a sweetness not customary wherein it doth ,

greatly delight and rej oice and it doth believe that this
hath been wrought by G od Himself there present but ,

this is not certain Presently the soul doth perceive that

.

Go d is inwardly within itself because,

— albeit it cannot
behold Him within — it doth nevertheless perceive that
His grace is present with it W herein it doth greatly de
,

light Yet is not even this certain Presently it doth

. .

further perceive that God cometh unto it with most sweet

words wherein it delighteth yet more and with much
, ,

rej oicing doth it feel God within it yet do some doubts

24
26 THE BLES SED ANGELA
“

the Soul that God dwelleth within it there is given unto it

'
,

a disposition so perfec t t hat it doth most entirely and

verily agree with the soul in all things and in every way
-

do all the members of the body agree with the soul and do
tru ly form one cause together with it neither do they
rebel against the will o f the soul bu t do perfectly desire
,

those things which are of God but which nevertheless

, , ,

they had not heretofore in any way desired And this .

disposition is granted unto the soul through grac e

.
‘

whereby it doth perceive that the Divine Being hath '

"
entered into it and hath granted it the assu ran c e an d the
,

desire o f God and of those things which are of God a fter ,

the manner of the true love wherewith God hath loved

us Thus doth the soul feel that God is mingled with it
.

and hath made companionship with it .

Fu rther when Go d cometh unto the soul it is some

, ,

times given unto it to behold Him and it beholdeth Him

,

devoid of any bodily s hape or form and more clearly than

,

doth one man behold another For the eyes of the s oul
.

do behold a S piritual and not a b odily pres ence of the ,

which I am not able t o speak because words and imagin a

tion do fail me And in very truth the soul doth r ej oic e
.

in that sight with an ineffable j oy and regardeth naught

else b ecause this it is which doth fi ll it with most
,

in estimable satisfaction This searching and beholding

.

(whereby God is seen in such a m anner that the soul can

b ehol d; n au ght else) is so profound that much doth it
,

grieve me that I cannot make manifest aught whatsoeve r

-
 or .
FOLIGNO 2
7
of it s eeing that it is not a thing the which can be touched
,

o r imagined o r j udged o f .

Moreover the soul doth kn ow in many other ways that

,

God hath without doubt entered into it of the which '

ways I will now Speak of two On e is an holy unction .

which doth so instantly revive the soul make m eek al l the ,

'

m emb ers of the body and cause them to agree together

,

with the soul that they cannot be touched or o ffended by

,

anything whatsoever the which coul d even in the sma l lest

degree agitate the soul TherefofEdoth it feel and hea r
.
‘

that God speaketh within it and by means of this great ,

and in all ways unspeakable unction the soul doth under

stand vvit h the utmost certainty that God is within it ,

because no saint nor any angel in Paradise would have

power t o grant this But seeing ho w that it i s a thing the
.

which cannot be expressed it grieveth me that I can find,

no words wherewith to describe it in comparison of that

which it truly is Wherefore I pray God that He wil l
.

pardon me for this is not o f mine own will and if I were

, ,

able and if it were pleasing unto God I would make mani ,

fest somewhat of His goodness .

The other way whereby the soul knoweth that Go d is

within it is by an embrace which He doth give unto the
~

soul There is neither father nor mother nor son nor

.
, ,
'

any other person whatsoever who can embrace the obj ect
,

beloved with so gre at a love as that wherewith God em

b racet h the soul For He do th em b race it with such love
. .

and draw it unto Himself with such sweetn ess and gentle .
28 THE BLES SED ANGELA
ness that methinketh there is not a man in the world w ho
can declare it n o r e xpress it nor believe it unless he hath
, ,

himself exp erienced it and although he might perchance

divine somewhat of this love yet could he n o t possibly,

know it as it trul y is Of a suret y God doth implant

.
,

most sweet love in the soul the whi ch doth make it burn
,

for Christ alone . And it beareth with it so great a light

(whereby it u n derst an det h the fulness of the goodness of
God which it exp erien cet h within itself) that it hath
understandi n g of much mo r e than it feel et h within itself .

Then hath it the assurance and certitude that Christ

dwel leth within it but all that we can say is as nothing
in comparison with that which it really is Then the .

soul hath n o more tears whether of j oy o r of sorrow or

,

o f any othe r kind seeing that when the soul hath tears it
,

is in a lower state .For God poureth into the soul an ex

c eedin great sweetness in a measure so abundant that it
g ,

can ask not hing more — yea verily it would be in Paradise

, ,

if this sho ul d endure its j oy being so great that it fi llet h

,

the whole body ; and all inj ury which the soul su ffereth ,

whethe r by deeds or words is esteemed as naught and is

,

turned into sweetness .

Because of this change in my body therefore I w as not , ,

always able to conceal my state from my companion or

from the other persons with whom I did consort because ,

at tim es my countenance w as all resplendent and rosy and

mine eyes shone like unto candles and at othe r times I w as,

pale as death according as t he visions did va r y My j oy

, .
 OF '

FOLIGNO 2
9

did endure fo r many days and some joys have I the which
,

I do thin k I shall never lose for I hold them to be full

,

and perfect n or am I now without them Wherefore

, .
,

when sadness cometh upon me I do instantly bethink me

,

of those j oys and am in no ways distressed There are so .

many other ways whereby the soul knoweth that God

dwell eth within it that I can by n o manner of means
relate them .

Thro u gh the aforesaid things and w ays the soul doth

know that God hath entered into it but it hath not yet ,

been told in what manner it do t h lodge Him there And

’

all that hath been said is much less than was said when the
soul did lodge the Pilgrim who is God because now hath
, ,

it come to so full an understanding of the divine goodness

and in fi n it u de that when I do reflect:within myself I do ,

sometimes perceive most clearly that those persons w ho do

best know God (Who is infinite and unspeakable) are those
who do the least presume to S peak of Him considering that ,

all which th ey do say of Him , or can possibly say is as ,

nothing compared with What He truly is Wherefore if .

,

any preacher did verily understand divine things (as I

have sometimes heard them declare they do) they would
not be able t o S peak of them neither would they presume
,

to say aught whatso ever of God but would remain silent

,

and dumb And hecause Go d is so much greater than the

.

mind and all other things we are not able by any means
,

whatsoever to measure n or speak n or think of Him see

, , ,

ing that His goodness cann ot perfectly be explained This .

30 THE BLES SED ANGE L A
doth not happen b ecause the soul hath lost all bodily
s ense , or hath cast o ff the body itself but because it ,

u n derstan det h without t he aid of the senses Wherefore , .

when m an perceiveth these things with his understanding

he falleth into so great an amazement that (in so far a s it
may be expressed in bodily words) if some preacher were
in this state and it behoved himto speak of God how ever
'

worthy and able he might be he would say unto the ,

people Get ye gone for I know not how t o speak unto

, ,
”
you of God Wherefor e do I believe and decla re that all
.

that which hath been said either in writin g o r by the

'

mouths of men since ever the world began hath in n o wise

described the true nature of the divine goodness but is as ,

the half of a millet seed compared with the whole world .

But when the soul is assured of Go d and is refreshed by

His presence the body doth likewise receive health and
,

s a t isfaction and nobilit y and is refreshed together with

,

t he so u l albeit in a less degree

'

,
Then do reason and the .

s oul thus refreshed S pe ak unto the body and unto the

, ,

s enses saying
,
Behold how great are the benefits God
hath bestowed upon thee through me and bethink thee ,

how infinitely greater are those which have be en promised

and wil l be faith full y paid if thou wilt only follow me .

Consider likewise how m any and how great benefits we

have already lost thou an d I because thou hast not c om
, ,
»

formed unto me but hast gone contrary unto me Where

, .

fore must thou in future be in all ways obedient unto the

”
thin gs o f God And imm ediatel y t he body doth submit
.
 or FOLIGNO 31

itself unto the soul and the senses unto reason and per ,

c eivin g how that it sharet h in the delights of the soul it

.

maketh answer thus M y delights have heretofore been

b odily and vil e because I am a body but thou who wert
,

o f great nobility and able t o e n

. j oy divine delights thou ,

Shouldst not have yielded unto me causing u s both t o lose ,

”
S uch great benefits Thus doth the body lament against
.

t he soul and the senses against reason with a long but

, ,

most sweet lamentation and perceiving the delights of the

'

soul t o be greater than it had imagined it doth render ,

obedience in all things .

CHAPTE R I I
H OW TH E SPI R ITU AL MAN rs DECEI V ED
T H E R E are divers ways whereby spiritual persons may be
deceived One way and the chief o n e is when the love
.
, ,

within t he so ul is not pure but is mingled with a love

,

which is personal and sel fi sh— that is t o say with man s ,

’

own will Then hath he certai nl y somewhat of the love

.

of the world and the world fl at t eret h him and praiseth

, (

him But all worldly flattery and praise on account of

.

devotion is false and the person whom the world doth

,

single o u t and prai se seemeth t o be more fervent 1 n

devotion and his tears fl ow more abundantly and tha t
, ,

sweetness an d fea r and t r emblin g are increased which do

32 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
come in spiritual love which is n o t pure And these .

things are not done inwardly in the soul but outwardly in

the body neither doth pure love enter into the soul
, ,

wherefore the sweetness speedily fadeth and the man

forgetteth himself yea he ofttimes turneth to bitterness
, .

All these things have I proved within mine ow n self and ,

I should not be able to discern these aforesaid things save

that mine ow n soul hath attained unto the certain know
ledge o f truth For when love is pure it doth in all ways
.

deem itself dead unto the senses ; and it doth consider

itself as nothing and it doth die in God and putrefy and ,

it doth reverence God and humble itself neither doth it

,

remember how that it was praised n or it s own good .

Yea it doth find itself so downcast and so full of evil that

,

it doth not believe it can be entirely saved by any saint

whatsoever only by G od alone Yet it doth ofttimes
, .

more readily pray for assistance unto the saints rather

than unto God not daring because of it s unworthiness t o
,

pray unt o Go d Himself albeit it im p l oret h help from the

,

Holy Virgin and all the othe r saints And w hen it is

.

praised by an y person it deem et h such praise to be a

mockery and a j est And this love is pure and cometh
‘

direct from God and is impl anted within the soul to ,

Whom hath been thereby revealed its ow n defects and

God s goodness Wherefore the tears which are n ow shed
’
.

and the sw eet n eSS w hich is enjoyed do never occasion

'

bitterness but assurance and sweetness and through this

,

aforesaid love doth Christ enter into the soul and the soul
,
34 THE BLES SED ANGELA
it can neither see nor remember aught el se and t her eafter ,

it c ometh immediately to the understanding of His divine

g o odness. Then doth it see the one and the other t o

ether in a wa y t he W hich cannot be described but S ince

g ,

even this su flicet h not God doth excite it t o yet gre a t er

,

zeal and p erm it t et h tribulations .

But the sentiment wherein He doth n o t permit the soul

t o be deceived is poverty of spirit and ve r ily I have heard
, ,

p overty of spirit so much commended in the divine words

of God (and with such great and good proofs thereof) t ha t
it cloth in all ways surpass our understa n din g Verily .
,

G o d spa ke thus unto me : If po verty had not been a

“

most noble thing (said G od) I myself would not have

”
assumed it . Certain it is that pride can only e xist in
'

those w ho do poss ess something or w ho believe them selves

,

t o have something . For this reason because they did ,

believe them selves to be possessed of something came t he ,

pride and the fall of the first man and the angel neit her
the angel nor the man did possess anything in themselves
o f the mselves for God alo ne hath this and humility is
, ,

found alone in those who are poor and who are persuaded
that they do po ssess nothing Wherefore is poverty a
.

most excellent thing and God Himself did cause His

,

dearly beloved Son to be more poor than any man ever

was before or will be hereafter and albeit He is greater
than can be declared yet did God nevertheless make Him
,

as poor as tho ugh He were naught And unto sinners and .

mortal men in whom was no true l ight this thing did seem
 or FOLIGNO 35

foolish ness but unto the wise and unto men o f u n der
,
.

s tanding it did seem j ust the contrary For whosoever .

hath poverty can never be ruined neither can he fall ,

through deception and if any person were truly to per

,

c eive the benefits o f poverty he wo u ld love God and if he ,

were but to consider the immeasurable value of it he

would no longer be able to keep any worldly possessions '
,

and whosoever were to see how greatly God loveth tru e .

poverty wo ul d retain nothing for himself The proof of

, .

this is the proof of divine wisdom which first maketh us

,

to see our faults and b elieve ourselves poor in all merit and
goodness and thus honestly t o esteem ourselves for what
,

we rea ll y are And in consequence we do make ourselves

.

p oor and do love that same poverty and those who love,

it are enlightened by the gift of grace (which is given unto

those who do perceive the benefits of poverty) Then .

doth it make us to see the divine goodness in order that

we m ay all love Go d and whosoever loveth doth esteem
,

himself as possessing not hi ng And as a man loveth so

.

doth he work and thu sdoth he lose all confidence in him

,

self and trusteth in G od alone ; wherefore because he ,

co n fi det h himself entirely unto Go d he is e nl ightened by

,

G o d Himself and all doubts fall away from him Whoso .

ever knoweth this truth cannot be deceived either by

demons o r by any othe r t hi ng whatsoever because in this ,

poverty of S pirit the soul receiveth a clear and perfect

comprehension and hath a most enlightened understand
ing of all the matters o f this life so that it can n ever be
,
3 6 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
deceived the whiles it doth po ssess this truth Wherefore .

do I know that pover t y is the mother of all virtues and the

revelation of the di vi ne w isdom For seeing how that
.

the divine wisdom hath by the Incarnation t aught u s

mortals to be blessed it hath taught us more by poverty
,
'

of spirit Wherefore is all the wisdom o f this world

.

nothing worth if it hath not this t ruth in it but turneth ,

unto damnation ; and thus likewise are all the wise men
nothing whatsoever if this truth is not in them but they ,

fall into damnation Finally it must be understood that

.
,

when the soul knoweth n ot this truth it worketh with the

S pirit of vainglory and the hope of reward .

CHAPTE R I I I
H OW B EI N G LODGED WITH I N TH E SO U L GOD WO R KETH
, ,

ALI KE U PO N TH E U N DE R STAN DI N G TH E AFFECTI O NS

, ,

AN D TH E WILL
T HE soul therefore heareth and u n derst an det h onl y
, ,

those matters into the inner meaning of which it can

penetrate For when the soul is illumined by the pre
.

sence of God and doth repose in God s bosom and God in

’

it then is it exalted above itself and heareth and rejoiceth

,

and doth rest in that divine goodness concerning which

,

none can report because it is above all intelligence and all

manner of speech and above all words But herein doth
.
 or FOLIGNO 37

the soul swim in joyfulness and in knowledge and thus , ,

enlightened it c o m p rehen det h the meaning of all the

,

di fficult and obscure sayings of Christ It doth likewise .

comprehend how and wherefore in the soul of Christ there

existed su ffering without any relief whatsoever For .

which reason mine own soul (the which was i l lumined as ,

hath been already said and wholly absorbed in the Passion

,

o f Christ) did likewise experience such great su ffering that

here neither was there any relief When therefore it

, ,
.
, ,

r emembered the suffering of Christ s soul it could find ’

,

nowhere any more joy which doth not happen when it

,

remembereth the passion of the body because then grief ,

is foll owed by joy It u n derst an det h these r easonings by

.

virtue of it s aforesaid exaltation it u n derst an det h mo r e ,

over that the sufferings in Christ s soul were S ha rp even

,
’

while He was yet in His mother s womb as S harp as were

’
,

afterwards His su fferings upon the Cross saving only that ,

as yet He had had n experience thereof Through the

o .

judgments and the unspeakable things of God doth the

soul further understand that by the presence of Go d it is
exalted even unto Himself .

Ofttimes doth God work within the soul in many mar

vellons ways which none save He alone could perform
, .

Sometimes the soul is suddenly exalted unto God with

such joy that if it were to endure I do think that the
, ,

body would not be able to bear it but would lose all its
, ,

members and it s sensation God doth ofttimes treat thus

.

with the soul and in the soul and when the soul des i r eth
,
3 8 THE BLES SED ANGELA
to hold Him fast He doth instantly depart There re .

m ain et h nevertheless great j oy and assurance in the soul

'

, , ,

verily such great j oy that it doth in no wise doubt tha t

God is yet present but there is naught which I can liken
,

unto that seeing and hearing nor am I able to describe it

,
.

These revelations however and exaltatio ns and delights

, , ,

or joys do not always happen after t he same manner but

, ,

in divers ways and almost alw a ys accompanie d with so m e

t hin g ; yet none o f them can be described The
‘

n ew .

revelations and visions are at one time thus and di fferent

at another time so is likewise the delight the j oyfulness ; ,

and t he happiness Of al l this I can say n o more— in

.

t r uth were I t o speak o f them by reason of mine u n

,
’

worthiness it would be speaking ill Spoiling faultily de , ,

scribing yea even reviling them rather than making them

, ,

manifest as I should I am blinded and darkened in spirit

.

and without truth ; wherefore oh my sons hearken unto , ,

my words with suspicion as unto the words of an evil

person and take ye good heed of everything neither
, ,

believe ye in any saying of mine save those which are like

unto the sayings of Jesus Christ and which do wo rk ,

inwardly and lead unto the imitation of Him .

Fo r the present oh my sons I take no delight in w riting

, , ,

but do continually bewail my sins and their redemption ,

the which w as effected through the Passion of Christ the

Immaculate ; yet am I constrained t o write unto you
b ec aus e of the letters which ye send unto me Wh fl efo re .

do I n ow write unto y ou that which is newly imp ress ed

 f
or FO L IGNO 39

upon mine heart Ye must know the r efore oh my sons

.
, , ,

that there is only one thing necessa ry unto us which is ,

God to find God an d w hol ly fix o u r minds upon Him

, ,
.

This is necessary unto us But in order that ou r minds

.

may be the better fixed upon God 1 t i s needful that we

S ho uld cast o ff all perverse and useless habits all super ,

fl uons fam iliarity with men and women of whatsoever

nature all superfluous knowledge and the desire to hear
,

m any new things all superfluous labours and occupations

, .

An d b riefly it is needful that m anshould put awa y from

, ,

himall things which do distract his mind Then must .

he instantly plunge into the abyss of his wretchedness and

b ethink him what things he hath done in ti m es past what ,

he is doing in the present and what he will do in the future

, ,

and how t hat his fate in the next world will be ac cor ding
unto his deserts Then co meth death which will be unto
.
,

all eterni t y And no day and no night must pass Whe rein
.

he doth not think u p o n t hese t hi ngs Wherefore must he

a
.

constantly think and meditat e and u se all his endeavour

t o comp r ehend the mercy o f G o d how that He did most
,

mercifully ordain that Christ Jesus should suffer all this

wr etchedness with him and he must take heed that he
,

never forgetteth this great benefit .

4 0 T HE BLES SED ANGELA

CHAPTE R I V
H OW THAT OU RPE RFECTI ON D OTH CON SIST IN
'

KN OWIN G
‘

OU R OWN W R ETCH EDN ESS AN D G OD S ’

M B RC Y

OU R perfection doth certainly consist in knowing G od and

ourselves there is nothing in t he whole world whereof I
do still delight to write or speak save these two things ,

namely the knowledge of G od and of ourselves For t hi s

, .

must a m an lie ever within the prison o f his ow n self ; an d

if he ob t ain et h n o p r ofit from this he must seek another
,

p rison .

Oh m y beloved sons eve r y vision every revelation all

,
, , ,

sweetness and emotion all knowledge all contemplation

, ,

ava ileth not hing if man knoweth not God and himself ;
for which reason I tel l ye truly that without this know
ledge all those other things will profit you nothing what
soever Wherefore do I marvel that ye desire t o have
.

letters from me I perceive not in what manner my

words can bring you comfort seeing that I write of naught
,

else save o f this knowledge for I take n o mo r e delight in

,

speaking o f other things — yea I have even imposed upon

,

myself silence concerning any other matters I do b e .

seech you therefore that ye pray unto God that He will

, ,

grant this light unto all generations and that it may

remain unto you for ever .

That the knowledge of God is necessary unto us can be

p r oved and made manifest because that which we strive
,
4 2 THE B L ES SED ANGELA
this consideration of Christ crricifi ed t o wo r k out o u r ow n
salvation fo r God Him self so exalted (and so fa r removed
, ,

and strange unto us) did u se su c h dilige nce 1 n obtaining

,

o u r redemption and sal vation that I t is o u r bo unden duty

t o take heed for ourselves and ou r salvation an d t o fu rther

t he will of God s howing penitence for o u r S ins

,
.

The knowledge therefore doth a fford u s in fi n ife profit

, ,

in many ways but chie fl y in that we are saved thr ough

,

His Passion and a r e filled With His great love ‘

CHAPTE R V
THE N ECESSITY OF A CON STANT CO NSIDE RATI O N AN D
’

P R OFO U N D KN OWLEDGE OF CH R IST C RU CIFIED

A CO N STA NT consid eration and a profound kn owledg e o f
Christ cr ucified are here necessary for as w e behold so ,

do we love an d the more we do behold o f the Son of

,

God Jesus Christ the C ru cifi ed t he more p erfectly and

, ,

purely do we love Him and for love do become o n e with

Him And according as we do become o n e with Hi m
.

th rough lOv e so do we likewise share in the su fferings

,

which the soul witn esseth in God the Man of S orrows ,

.

An d seeing that we do love according as w e See and know ,

so doth the soul lament according as it beholdeth the

suffe rings Of its Belov ed and doth su ffer with His su ffer
,

in g . Likewise the more inti mately any p erson know eth

,

this M an of So r rows the more doth he love Him and

,
 OI FOLIGNO
"
’

43

suff e r with His su fferings and thro ugh g rief 1 s made o n e

,

with Him wh om he loveth And as the soul 1 3 made on e

.

with this most sweet Christ through love so is it likew ise

'

united w ith Him through suffe r ing and all this cometh
about through perfect vision and the knowledge of Go d ’
‘

and of ourselves In truth moreover sinc e the soul b e

.
, ,

holdeth the in fi n it u de O f the divine maj esty (of the w hich

I will not speak for fear I S hould rather disgrace it than
Speak o f it worthily) and since it beholdeth upon the
, ,

other han d t he vileness and great unworthiness of sin

’

ne rs (w hose friend and kinsman t he m o st sublime God

h ath deigne d t o be and for their sake moreover hath
‘

, , ,

borne the most shame ful death) it d oth sincerely trans ,

for m itself I n the love of the Son of God Jesus Christ ; ,

and the m Ore it knoweth and doth profo u ndly and l n

:

w ardl consider and behold Him the more dOt h it then

y ,

enter into His love When it further beholdeth the

.

sinners and the creature full of faults it perceiveth and ,

discerneth that these faults are so numerous that its c o m - t

prehension of them is as nothing in comparison with

their numbe r When however bei ng illumined by the
.
, ,

divine light the soul recogn iset h that it hath itself been
,

t he only cause of such great and sublime su ffering as

Christ Jesus did bear fo r it s sake and refl ec t et h upon the ,

in fi n it u de o f t he divine goodness which for the sake of so

vile a creature did so abase itself tha t it became mortal
man and w as torm ented wi th gr eat and i mmeasurable
sufferin -
and t hi s t only once but c ontinually the
g n o
s
,
44 T HE BLES SED AN GELA
while He did live — and how in the end He w ho w as the
Creator of heaven and earth was willing to die a shameful
deat h w hen the soul perceiveth and u n derst an det h this
'

it is itself overwhelmed with grief and the more clearly -

it doth perceive an d t he more profoundly it doth con

,
t

sider the more is it moved unto yet greater grief

, .

More deeply moved yet is the soul when it perceiveth

how by reason of his S ins miserable man is deprived of
, ,

all good things and benefits that he hath merited eternal ,

su ffering and is despised and derided of that sublime

,

Divinity and of the angels and demons and of all crea

,

tures and that in order to raise man up again from ou t

, ,

of this adverse poverty the most high God Christ Jesu s

, , ,

the most rich in all things did make Himself poor for o u r ,

sake ; how He the most b eat ifi c and most j oyful did

, ,

make Himself most wretched in order that through His -

infinite su ffering He might redeem man and save him

from everlasting and unspeakable pain The soul doth .

perceive moreover how the God O f Glory worthy above

, , ,

all things to b e praised did make Himself obedient and

,

humble will ing to b e despised mocked at and revil ed

, , ,

seemingly of no ac cou n t a n d thus reputed and He did ,

this in order that despised man might thereby be made

glorious and honourable When the soul doth well con .

sider and more clearly perceive these things the more ,

‘

doth it incline itself unto Him and suffer with His su ffer
ing For the more clearly the soul doth know Go d and
.

His exaltedness His mercy and infinite goodness and

,
 OF FOL IGNO 45

w o rthiness (which things 1 t maketh known unto man and

proveth them by means of their effect) and the more
-

clearly it beholdeth the w retchedness o f man his faults , ,

his unworthiness his in gratitude in fi rm it ies and vileness

, , , ,

the more deeply is it moved towards the love of Christ

and the grief of His PaSsion and is t ransformed into the
,

likeness thereof w herein c o n sist et h all the perfection of

,
'

man .

It hath thus been made clear therefo r e that the , ,

knowledge of God and of ourselves is absolutely necess a ry

a n d above all other things profitable Wherefore must .

w e constantly dwell upon such knowledge day and night , ,

and the more profound man s cont emplation of the afore

’ '

said things the more perfectly can he transform himself

,
"

into the likeness of Christ both in s orrow and in love as

, ,

hath already been said .

CHAPTE R V I
H OW ALL TH E WAY S OF THE PASSI O N M U ST BE DI GESTED
WITH I N THE H EA RT O R AT LEAST BE R EPEATED B Y
,

THE M O UTH
M Y beloved son I do entreat thee
, ,
a nd wi th all m ine heart
do supplicate thee that thou turn not away the eyes Of
,

thy soul from gazing upon this God this M an of Sorrows ,

.

For this sight and this consideration do enlighten the so u l s

and inflame it with love and the fervour of devotion ,

46 THE BLES SED ANGELA
keeping it there fixed An d if thine eyes sho uld stray do .
,

thou u se all thine endeavour to b ring the m back and hold

them there with good attention Further do I exhort
. .

and pray thee that if thy mind be not exalted to behold

,

the M an of So rrows t hou do inquire and meditate upon

,

all t he w ays of t he Passion and the Cross And even if .

tho u art not able t o do this with thine heart at least with ,

thy mouth shalt thou earnestly and diligently repeat

t hose t hi n gs which belong unto the said Passion because
, ,

when a thing is O fttimes spoken with the mouth it cloth

in th e en d impart warmth and fervo ur unto t he heart
, ,
.

If any person w ere perfectly to behold this One so O ften ,

c alled the M an of Sorrows as He truly w as and were t o , ,

con sider how He became most poor and despised and ,

u o n e v er
p y side filled w ith un speakable and unceasing pa in
and grief consumed and cast dow n for our sake (which
,

beholding cometh only of grace) he would assuredly ,

follow after Christ and cheerfully bear alike poverty

, ,

scorn reviling and un ceasing pain

, , .

None can excuse themselves for not having found and

obtained divine mercy for the Lord is generous and cloth ,

most abundantly give it unto all who do seek and desire

it I desire Oh my son that thou fill t hine heart with
.
, ,

naught else save with God uncreated and the knowledge

and love of Him and that naught else be found therein
,

save G o d uncreated Nevertheless if thou canst not .

,

have this do tho u hold fast to the love and knowledge of

, ,

Christ c rucified and if this should be taken from thee

, ,
 OF '
FOLIGNO 47

. then rest thou not oh my son un t il thou has t ve rily

, ,

fil led thine heart with on e of these two things whic h do ,

entirely fill and s atisfy both heart and mi n d Wherefore .

,

my son do thou hold fi xedl y unto me and believ e m y

,
.

words concerning that which is needful u n t o h im w ho

would follow the way Of Go d and draw nigh unto God ,

and enj oy His benefits in this world and the next .

Before all t hi ngs it is necessary that he S hould know God

in v ery truth and not only outwardly and superficial ly
, ,

as though it were through the colour of writing or the ,

so und o f words or the likeness of some creature ; which

,

manner o f knowing Him accordi ng to the common way ,

of speech is assuredly a sim p l e knowledge of God But

, a .

man must know Him in very truth he must understand

His supre m e worthine ss His supreme beauty sweetness
, , ,

exaltedness virtue goodness liberality mercy and pity

, , , , , ,

and he must understand that God is the S upreme good

and highest of al l True it is that these things are under
.

stood Of a wise person otherwise t han of a simple person ,

for the wise doth verily unders tand the ma tter as it is ,

whereas the simple u n derst andet h it only as it doth

appear outwardly It is like unto a precious stone which
.

hath been fo und and which the wise and the simple do
covet in di fferent ways The S i mple man knoweth not
.

its virtue and desir eth to possess it onl y for its beauty and
its b rightness and for no other reason but beyond the
,

S plendour and the b right n ess o f the precious stone the ,

wise m an kn oweth its virtue and its worth an dw hen he ,

 8 THE BLES SED AN GELA
”

hath fou rid it he l o v et h it with the utmost intelligence

and fe rvour In like manner doth the wise sou l seek t o
.
t

i
know G od n ot o n l y according to the outward appear
,
'

ance and with only careless reflection but using all it s ,

endeavour to know Him in very truth to taste of His ,

supr eme goodness and to know His worth For not only .

is He good but He is t he Supreme Goo d — and knowing

,

Him man doth in all ways love Him for His goodness
,

and lovin g Him s eeketh to possess Him — and He who is

, ,

supremely good giveth Himself unto the lover and the

, ,

soul feel et h Him and tasteth Of His sweetness and en

o et h that greatest O f all delights Then doth the soul
j y .

participate in that supreme good the which is supreme ,

love it entereth into it with a ffection and being ‘

enamoured of the love of it s Beloved it des i reth t o hold ,

Him fast wherefore it em b rac et h Him and presseth Him

,

u nto itself it u n it et h itself with God and draweth Him

unto itself with the utmost sweetness of love Then by .
,

the virtue; of love is the lover transformed in the beloved

,

and the b eloved is transformed in the lover and like unto ,

hard iron which 80 assu m et h the colour heat virtue an d , , ,

form of the fire that it almost turneth into fire so doth ,

t he so u l , united with God through the perfect grace of

»

divine love itself almost become divine and transformed

,

in Go d N eve rt hel ess it changeth not its own subst ance

.
,
’

but its whole life is transformed in the love of God and

-

thus doth it almost become divine in itself .

Behold how greatly it do t h profit us to possess a know

,
t
5 0 THE B L ESSE D ANGELA
ing m edit at in g an d S tudying continually in the Book of
, ,
.

Life which Book is the whole life of Ch rist during the

,

time that He did live this mortal life .

G od the Father dearly beloved hath shown and set

, ,

forth unto the soul the form manner and way whereby , , ,

it may obtain the knowledge o f God Himself through

love God the Father most high wise and all knowing
.
, , ,

hath given us His beloved Son as a S ign and as ensample .

Wherefore my dear children if ye are eager for the light

, ,

o f divine grace if ye will free your hearts from all cares

, ,

if ye will escape all hurtful temptations if ye wil l perfect ,

yourselves in the way o f God and set your feet verily upon
this way then haste ye to fly unto the Cross of Christ for
, ,

verily there is no other way reserved unto the sons of God

whereby they may find God and having found Him , , ,

keep Him save the way o f the life and death of Christ
,

crucified This do I hold to be the Book of Life unto

.
,

the reading o f which (as I have already said) none can ,

attain save by continual prayer For continual prayer .

doth ill u m I n e exalt and transform the sou l and illumined

, , ,

b y that light and uplifted by prayer it doth clearly b e ,

hold the way prepared for it and trodden already by the

feet of the C ru cifi ed Thus walking upon this way with
.

an awakened heart not only do we escape from the heavy

,

cares of this world but we are uplifted above ourselves

,

and do taste of the divine sweetness — and being thus u p

lifted we are kindled with divine fire and burning with , ,

love we are made one w ith God And all this cometh of
, .
 OF FOLIGNO 51

gazing upon the Cross through the medium of continual

prayer.

Wherefore my beloved so n haste thee unto this Cross

, ,

n d pray that He who died upon it for thy sake will so

n l ight en thee that thou mayst fully know both Him and

thyself and that profoundly knowing thine own faults

, , ,

thou mayest raise thyself unto the divine sweetness rising ,

from a love of thy faults unto the divine mercy and cast
ing away all falseness Fo r seeing how that the in com
.

prehensible and incomparable God hath adopted thee ,

who are so fu l l o f sin and hath elected thee to be His son

, ,

deigning to be thy Father thou shalt not S how thyself u n

,

grateful but thou shalt study how l n all ways t o obey the
,

commands O f SO marvellous and loving a Father For if .

the Father s will is n o t fulfilled in His la w ful sons how

’
,

shall it be fulfil led in the unl awful Unlawful sons are

they w ho by reason of the evil desires of the flesh do
, ,

b r eak loose from the discipline of the Father and lawful ,

sons are they w ho by reason of their ardent love do

, ,

endeavour t o follow their Master in poverty su ffering , ,

and disgrace And these three things my beloved sons

.
, ,

must ye know and take for the foundation and completion

of all perfection because through these three things is
,

the soul illumined purged and perfected and made

, , ,

ready for the divine transformation .

I do repeat therefore that all the perfection o f man

, ,

—
and the knowledge of God and of himself that is to say ,

the u nde r standing o f the immensity of God in all per

'
52 THE BL E SSE D ANGELA
fec t ionand goodness and of his own nothingness — this
,

manifestation and knowledge of G o d an d of himself is only s

granted unto the lawful sons o f God who do pray truly , ,

and fervently do read and meditate in the Book of Life .

Unto these true sons doth God the Father open and
present the Book of Life which is the life of Jesus Christ
, ,

G od and Man within which Book they will find al l things

,

that they can possibly desire t o know Herein can they .

learn of the blessed wisdom of God which maketh not

proud and herei n will they find set forth all doctrine
,

needful fo r themselves or for O thers If thou dost desire

.
,

therefore t o be well enlightened and instructed read this

, ,

Book of Life and if thou goest slowly and dost n o t read

,

lightly nor pass things over thou wilt be enlightened and

,

instructed in all things necessary for thyself and for others

according to their condition And if thou dost carefully
.

read and meditate using no haste thou wilt be kindled

, ,

and consumed by the divine fire in such a degree that

thou wilt hold all tribulation to be the greatest consola
tion and wilt deem thyself to be utterly unworthy o f
,

suffering tribulation And what is more if any human

.
,

praise or prosperity should come unto thee through some

talent which God hath bestowed upon thee thou shalt ,

not be pu ffed up with pride nor raise thyself o n high for ,

if thou readest the Book of Life thou wilt see therein and
verily comprehend that this thing cometh not of thin e
o w n merit This is one of the signs whereby man may
.

know that he hath the grace of God that he groweth n o t ,

 OF F OLIGN O 53

puffed up o r haughty whatsoever may happen but t e ,

main et h ever hu mble

’

Ye see then my son how before all things ye must

, ,

endeavour to attain unto a veritable knowledge of G od

and of thyself which knowledge is not attained save
,

through constant and fervent praye r and diligently read

ing in the Book O f Life Amen . .

CHAPTE R V I I I
OF THE B OOK OF LIFE WH ICH IS CH R IST WHE R EI N MAN
, ,

L EAR N ET H TO KN OW GO D AN D MAN H I MSELF AN D ALL , ,

TH I N GS N EEDFU L FO R MAN S WELFA R E ’

YE must know, therefore , that this Boo k of Life is naught

else save Jesus Christ the So n O f God who is the In
, ,

carnate Word and the Wisdom o f the Father and He ,

appeared amongst us in order that we might be in

st r ucted by means of His life His death and His teach
, ,

ing For which reason it b eho vet h u s t o see what w as

.

the manner of life and conversation which He did

practise whiles He did dwell within this mortal body .

His life is an ensample and a pattern for every mortal

w ho desireth to be saved But His life was naught save
.

a most bitter penance which did ever accompany Him

,

throughout His mortal life SO that from the hour wherein

,

the soul o f Christ w as created and placed in His mos t holy

body within the womb of the V irgin u n defi l ed until tha t ,
54 THE B L ES SED ANGELA
last most holy hour whe r ein His soul depa rted from His
body by cruel death upon the Cross He w as never without ,

t his companionship Of penance But it was n ot thus .

with the other saints n or with the apostles n o r the

,

Blessed Virgin .

The compa nions which God the Father in the Highest

did in His most wise dispensation give unto His Beloved
Son in this world were these Firstly the most perfect
.
, ,

complete and continual poverty ; secondly the most

, ,

perfect complete and continual contempt ; thirdly the

, , ,

utmost su ffering These were the companions who did

.

accompany Christ du r ing the whole of His life in orde r t o

furnish an ensample unto us that we may choose love, ,

and endure these same companions until we die For .

this is the way whereby the soul must reach unto God ,

and other direct road is there none Needful is it there .

,

fore and seemly that the members of the body S houl d

,

follow the same road which had been taken by the head ,

and that the same companions which had accompanied

the head should likewise accompany the members .

CHAPTE R IX
OF TH E G R EAT PO V E RTY OF CH R IST
T HE first companion o f Jesus Christ the Book of Life and ,

our salvation was therefore constant supreme and per

, , , , ,

fect poverty This poverty w as of three degrees : one

.
 OF FOLI G NO 55
was g r eat the second w as yet greater and w as joined w ith
,

the first but the third kind j oined with the first and the
, ,

second made up the most perfect poverty

,

The first degree of this perfect poverty o f Christ w ho ,

is the Book the Way and the Leader of the soul was that
, , ,

He deigned to be poor in all the temporal things of this

world Thus did He ow n neithe r land no r vineyard
.
, ,

no r ga r den n or other possessions He had neither gold

, ,

nor silver n o r money whatsoever nor any other t hing of

, ,

His own neither would He consent t o accept of the

,

things of this wo r ld aught save what did su flic e to succour

Him in the depths of His great poverty and supply the
needs o f His body that is t o say hunger thirst and want
, , , , ,

cold and heat great weariness austerity and hardship

, , .

Yet of bodily necessaries would He accept naught that

w as delicate o r pleasant t o the taste but o nl y coarse ,

and common food such as w as found in those places and

provinces whe r ein Christ di d live as liveth a beggar ,

without house or habitation .

The second degree of Christ s poverty w as greater than’

the first seeing that He did desire t o be poor in friends

,

and kindred and in all fami l iarity with the great and
powerful and finally in all worldly friendship Where
, .

fore did He n ot possess nor desire t o possess any friend

, ,

whatsoever of His ow n n or yet o f His mother or His

,

putative fathe r Joseph or His disciples For this reason

, .

did none hesitate t o kick Him strike Him and scourge , ,

Him and to sp ea k hurtful words unto Him And He

, .
56 THE BLES SE D ANGELA
deigned t o be born of a poor and humbl e m other and to
be brought up subject unto a poor carpenter His putative ,

father He did likewise d eprive Hi mself of the love and

.

familiar intercourse of kings and rulers of priests and ,

sc ribes and of the love of friends and kindred— so that

,

neither for His mother s S ake nor for any other person
’
, ,

would He leave undone aught the which could be pleas ing

unto His Al mighty Father or according unto His w ill .

Amen .

CHAPTE R X

H OW CH R IST R E V EALED H I MSELF POO R I N POWE R

T HE third and supreme degree of poverty was that He
'

did p ut away from Him His ow n nature Fi rstly b e .

,

cause He made Himself poor and needy laying aside His ,

o w n power He the Omnipotent unto whom naught w as

, , ,

impossible desired to appear and to live in the world as a

,

man weak infirm and impotent in order that beside the

, , , ,

human miseries the helpless childhood and other burdens

,

w hi ch He did take upon Himself for o u r sake He who w as ,

w ithout blame or Sin might appear as but a feeble man .

V erily He endured much weariness in His j ourneyings ,

visitations and disgrace

, .

An d what is more not only did sinful man rise up

,

against Him but even the elements and senseless bodies

,

r eceived power from their Creator to cause Him suffering

and a ffl iction , and as though He had no power t o res ist
, ,
5 8 THE BLES SED ANGELA
host would have come down and would in an instant
,

have cast all things into the depths of the sea If He had .

not verily granted them the power and had not shown
Himself as being helpless and weak there is no manner of ,

doubt that no single creature would have been able to

do hurt unto it s Creator yea it would have abhorred
, ,

such a deed .

A yet greater thing was 1 t that He did submit Himself

unto the elements unto cold and heat hunger and thi r st
, , ,

and other insensible creatures concealing His power and

,

despoiling Himself thereof in the likeness O f man in ,

order that He might teach us weak and wretched mortals

with what patience we ought to bear tribulation He de .

riv ed Himself of power in order that He might save man

p ,

and by the glory of the resu rrect I On did He make him

strong to resist and to endure .

A thing even greater still was that He did give the,

devil power over Him that He might be tempted and led

into danger and persecuted even unto death in order ,

that He might thereby liberate man from the devil s ’

power .

Thus did the invincible Lord of all become a sufferer

the Creator of all things became impotent ; the strong
King became weak Neither did He O ppose the devil
.
,

but became subj ect unto him to all insensible creatures

, ,

t o t rib u l at I On I n j ury and pain to all manner o f grief

, , ,

and afliic t io n thereby putting to confusion us miserable

,

wretches who do esteem ourselves so tender that not

,
 OF FOLIGNO 59

only do we refuse all v ol u n t ary t rib u l at io n and penitence

but as often as we can we do put away from us those tribu
l at io n s and affl ictions which are sent unto u s by divine
command murm uring against Go d most iniquitously
,
‘

CHAPTE R XI
H OW CH R IST LAI D ASIDE H IS WISDOM AN D H IS OWN N ATUR E
S ECON DL Y He did lay aside His own nature making
, ,

Himself poor in wisdom because He desired to appear as

a simple man one senseless and vain in the S ight of men
, .

He appeared not as a philosopher or a doctor of many

words or as one who disp u t et h n o isil y nor yet as a scribe
'

, ,

reno w ned for wisdom and learning ; but in the utmost

S implicity did He talk with men showing unto them the
,

way of t r uth in His life His virtues and His miracles

, , .

Seeing how that He is the Wisdom of the Father the ,

Creator and Inspirer of al l learning He might have used,

all the subtilty O f knowledge and of argument and had , ,

He desired He might have shown forth His wit and

,

O btained glory but with such sim plicity did He declare

the truth that He w as esteemed of almost all people to be
not only simple and foolish but even ignorant and vain
,
.

Herein did He S how unto u s the way of truth that is to

’

say that neither in learning nor in wisdom should we take

,

glory unto ourselves for being pu ffed up with t hi s pride

,
60 THE BLES SED ANGELA
we seek to obtain the name of master before men an d t o .

cover ourselves with vainglory .

Thirdly He did lay aside His o w n nature in tha t He

,

did make Hi mself poor of the fame of His holiness good ,

ness and innocence Which thing is exceeding marvellous

, .
,

because He did so walk in the way of j ustice that not only

did very few persons esteem Him holy but He was held to ,

be a sinner and the friend of sinners a destroyer seducer, , ,

and conspirator against His country and albeit He was ,

working out our salvation upon earth He w as reputed ,

and condemned as a blasphemer and numbered amongst

thieves and evil doers He might have revealed Himself
-
.

in al l the fame of holiness so that He would have been

,

universally held to be the greatest of all saints and on e in

whom there was no sin but He did choose to take u pon
Himself the sins of us all and the fame of holiness did He
give unto His servant John He who was the chief of all
.

saints and king of all virtues in whom was united all

, ,

goodness He did this thing and did deign to put away

, ,

from Him all His fame of holiness (saving o nl y the truth

o f His teaching life and j udgment) and t o become poo r
, , ,

in order that He might lay bare our hypocrisy For we .

do seek glory in the sight of men we do feign to possess

those good things which we have not we do endeavou r
t o beg for ourselves the fame of holiness and innocence ,

falsely denying our wickedness and with lie s attributing

,

unto ourselves good works lawfull y and u nl awfully as

, ,

often as we can
62 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
those disciples did suffer hunger and thirst and t rib ril a
,

tion for He w as not their Master in order that He might

be set above them but that He might be the first amongst
,

them to su ffer afliict io n and be cast down ; and so humble

w as His intercourse with them that He did minister unto

them as they sat at meat even washing their hands and

,

their feet .

Alas how great is our folly " The migh t y Lord and
,

King of kings was despised and rej ected o f men but we ,

do ever seek to be exalted and preferred and t o live in ,

liberty free from all yoke whatsoever Neither doth His

, .

love constrain us to be subj ect and obedient unto any

person but we do always desire to be set above the O thers
, .

Not thus n ot thus oh Christ didst Thou act for Thou

, , , ,

knewest that the j udgment would be hard exceedingly ,

for those in authority and power will su ffer great tor

ments and of their lives their deeds their sins and of
, , , ,

those in subj ection unto them will they be required t o

render the most strict account .

Thus will our pride be confounded by the Book of Life ,

who is Himself an ensample And we do desire to su b

.

ect ourselves unto those set in authority over u s (as He

j
hath ever done) not doing aught according unto our own
,

will but submitting for love of Him who submitted unto

,

all things for o u r sake And for our safety will we not
.

only endure the S tate of subj ection but fleeing from all , ,

preferment we will seek with whole hearts and fervent

,

desire to be in subjection and an hu mble state .

 OF FOL IGNO 63

Such then w as the supreme constant and perfect

, , , ,

poverty of Jesus Christ our Saviour who albeit He w as , ,

Lord of all riches did nevertheless choose to be poor

,

amongst u s that He might teach u s the love of poverty

, .

An d verily He was poor in possessions in will and in ,

S pirit beyond man s comprehension and all for the deep

,
’
,

love wherewith He loved u s He was poor in riches and .

needy o f all worldly t hings He w as poor in friends and

power poor in worldly wisdom in the fame Of holiness
, ,

and in all dignities And finally being poor in all things

.
, ,

He preached poverty and said that the poor were blessed

and should judge the world Upon the other hand He .

did condemn the wealthy and their riches and abundance ,

saying that they did deserve condemnation He did .

preach this in deed and by word o f mouth and by e xample ,

with all His might .

CHAP TE R XII
H OW PO V E RTY OF SPI R IT IS DESPISED B Y MAN Y
O H, the shame oh the pain o f it " In these da y s is
, ,

poverty of spirit thrust fort h and put t o fl ight by almost

all persons And what is worse and yet more detestable
.

is that those same persons w ho do read o f it in that Book

,

of Life and understand and preach and glorify it do ,

utterly rej ect it in deed and will and in all their acts and
intentions And this they do because the wo rld hateth
.
64 THE BLES SED ANGELA
that poverty and God loveth and approveth it choo sing
, ,

that most blessed thing for Himself and for His followers .

But what man is there what woman or other creature

, , ,

who in these days could declare themselves accompanied

by such glorious companions as those by whom Christ
elected to be accompanied ? Blessed is he whose re
en t an c e hath led hi m to follow Christ s example and
’
p
ch oose poverty in this world .

Alas alas we do hear and know and steadfastly believe

, ,

in what manner the Son of G od (our Creator and Re

deemer the Master given unto us for an i l lumination and
,

an ensample) was clothed with what food and drink He

,

was satisfied with what garments He w as adorned in

, ,

what palaces and chambers He was lodged by what ,

family and friends He was surrounded what learning and,

knowledge He did pursue and what goods of this w orld

,

He did enj oy All this do we know yet nevertheless

.
, ,

even whilst we do say we are Christians desiring to be so ,

called— b y no manner of means will we share Christ s ’

poverty neither do we desire to be like unto Him

, .

Although with words do we say many t hi ngs glorifying

poverty yet in actual deeds and works we do blaspheme
,

against that condition of Christ and the perfection of His

poverty Woe unto us who together with so great an
.
, ,

ensample teacher and master do truly thrust away from

, , ,

u s our o w n salvation turning from it and from His

,

teaching to seek after the abundance of this world and ,

are left empty at the last Wherefore neither ou r penance

66 THE B L ES SED ANGELA

CHAPTE R XII I
OF TH E H U M ILITY AN D CO NTEMPT OF O UR SAV IO UR
JES U S CH R IST
T HE second companion by whom Jesus the Son of God , ,

w as continually accomp a nied whiles He did live upon the

ea rth w as the voluntary and perfect contempt dej ection , ,

ignominy and shame which He did choose constantly to

,

endure in this world FOr He did live as a base se r vant

.

who had been sold and not redeemed ; scarce even as a

se rvant either but rather as o n e w ho was reputed evil and
,

wicked knowing that He w as to be mocked with insults

, ,

covered with scorn derided bound and scourged and

, , ,

that finally without j ustice and without defender He

was to be led forth together with thieves and sinners
, ,

and with them condemned and S lain dying an ignominious

,

de ath Whiles He did live He did ever rebuke with

.

words and deeds whosoever desired to do Him worldly

honour fl eeing from the honour o f this world and endur
,

ing shame the which He did accept willingly yet never

, ,

o f His own self giving either cause or occasion for it .

For almost all persons did persecute the Giver of the

world they did deride and mock at Him without reason ,

and without cause Even fr om His cradle and swaddling

.

clothes did they begin to persecute Him driving Him ,

forth into a barbaro u s country And when He was grown

.

’
t o man s estate they did call Him S amaritan and idolater ;

some did even assert He was possessed a glutton seducer, , ,

 OF FOLIGNO 67

and a false prophet saying : Behold the devourer and

,

drinker of wine w ho is neither a prophet nor j ust who

, ,

perfor meth miracles not by the power of God b u t casteth

'

,
”
o u t devils through the prince of devils Others did lead .

Him unto the S ummit of a mountain that they might cast

Him down others took stones wherewith t o stone Him .

Beside these t hings were there divers rumours against

Him divers injuries mockings and calumnies and evil re
, , , ,

ports that He did blaspheme Much sorrow and su ffer

.

ing did they prepare for Him both in words and deeds ,

driving Him forth from their habitations and presentl y ,

they did basely take Him and bind Him and bring Him
before divers judges and councils Some spat in His face.
,

others did kick Him ; others put His white robes upon
Him others crowned Him with thorns smote Him and , , ,

kneeling down before Him mocked at Him , Othe r s did .

smite Him upon His head with rods and veiling His face ,

they did deride Him in all manner of ways Others beat .

Him with whips others did gnash their teeth at Him ,

like unto dogs hungering for blood cursing and rebuking ,

Him as a malefactor Finally He was led naked unto His

.
,

Passion He w as forsaken of all His disciples ; one of

.

them had de nied Him another had betrayed Him the

, ,

others were fled and He remained alone and naked in the

,

midst of the multitude Seeing how that it was a feast

.

day the people were all gathered together and as an evil

, , ,

doer betwixt evil —doers they did raise Him on high and
did cruelly slay Him And as He hung there dying
.
, ,
68 THE BLES SED ANGELA
we ep n and praying certain of them did deride and
,
“
mock at Him saying ,
Ah thou that destroyest the
, ,
”
Temple " and others reviled Him saying He saved , ,

othe rs Himself He cannot save Others did cast lots

'

fo r His raiment others gave Him vinegar to drink

mingled with ga l l o ffering it unto the dying who humbl y
,

did impl ore water wherewith t o quench His thirst .

Othe rs did pierce His dead S ide with a spear and when ,

He w as b rought down from the Cross He lay naked upon

the ground lac king even a sepulchre until on e came and
, ,

sought Him and took Him up and buried Him Some

, .

there were w ho did speak against Him saying We re , ,

”
member what that deceiver said Some did conceal the
.

resu r rection others denied it And thus in life in death

, .
, ,

and after death He did receive naught save continual

'

scorn and ignomi ny and baseness and all this did He ,

s eek and endure in order that man might attain unto

the glory of the R esurrect ion and be exalted unto the
supremest glory .

For this reason w as the Son o f G od given unto us for a

pattern and an ensample a teacher and master that we
, ,

might learn to despise the glory of this world an d n ot , ,

t

only that we might not seek after it b u t t hat we mi ght ,

‘

refuse it even though it were O ffered unto u s For He .

sought n ot His ow n glory but that Of the Father ; yea

, ,

He did even despise and refuse it and He w ho w as de ,

scended from heaven did humble Himself even unto the

fe et of His disciples ma king Himself like unto a servant
,
‘
70 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
thereof he must bear t he p u n ishm en t And not only
,
‘

with patience shall he bear it but with j oy of soul and,

body and t hi s especially for t w o reasons Firstly b e

, .
,

cause that shame confusion and pain which he endureth

, ,

is pleasing unto G o d and unto his neighbour according

, ,

unto t he ordin at io n of divine justice And if he hath

‘

n o t committed that evil either in word or in de ed t hen ,

must he bear and endure all confusion S hame and pain , , ,

if God hath permitted it And he must bea r it with an

.

hundred times greater patience and cheerfulness than he

would have done in the first case because that pain con , ,

fusion and S hame do but serve t o increase the grace and

, ,

the greater the merit of the g r ace the greater is likewise ,

the gift and reward of glory

Without any doubt it is by thus enduring shame and
confusion (which do come without sin) that t he holy
' '

so uls and the friends of God do grow in grace and are

made perfect in the s ame manner as poverty and othe r
,

a ffl ictions sent of God do make perfect thos e who endu r e

them For Christ did love shame and refuse honour in
.

order that He might show unto His friends how they

could grow in virtu e and in grace
'

For this reason therefore doth this second companion

, ,

ever accompany us through life an d if we would clearl y ,

~

behold the beginning middle and ultimate end of the life

, ,

o f Jesus Christ the Son of God we must be all humility ,

and must live in the world without honour despised and ,

rej ected of the wo r ld and the love r s thereof .

 OF FOLIGNO 7 1

CHAPTE R XI V
OF TH E CO N STANT AN D MAN Y S UFFE R I N GS WH ICH
CH R IST DID B EA R I N DI V E RS WAY S
H IS third companion w as that of the which He had
the most e xperience and which did endure continually .

This w as sup r eme s u ffering the which did instantly

,

affl ict His soul when it was j oined unto His body .

For in that moment whe r ein His soul was united with
His human body it w as instantly filled with supreme
knowledge Wherefore w as Christ possessed of under
.

standing even in the womb of the Virgin mother He .

did instantly begin t o feel the utmost suffering ; He

possessed a universal and singula r knowledge foresight , ,

consideration and understanding of all the pains which

,
‘

His soul and body were presently t o undergo and bear ,

for our sake and as though nigh unto death He was

, , ,

filled with such agony and sadness that His body did
give forth a bloody sweat which dropped even upon the
earth foreshowing the bitterness of death and His soul
, ,

did lament in it s great afliict ion albeit His body felt

,

n ot so great a su ffering as when it w as m ore nigh unto

it s Passion . That holy soul did foresee the knives of

those most evil tongu es and the S harp and cutting
,

words of each especial tongue He knew and did con

.

st an tl consider by whom and when and how and in

y , , ,

what degree He was t o be a ffl icted sco ffed at put t o

, ,
72 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
death and slain and for this end He knew that He was
,

born into the world and therefo re could not escape ,

su ffering He did foresee how He S hould be sold

.
,

betrayed taken bound deni ed fors aken derided

, , , , , ,

beaten accused reviled cursed scourged judged re

, , , , , ,

j e ered and condemned

, how He should b e led to the,

Cross like unto a thief divested of His raiment and left ,

naked crucified and done to death and pierced with a

,

S p ear He did kn ow mo r eover O f all the blows and

.
, ,

scourgings the holes of the nails and the drops of blood

, ,

and how many tears He S hould shed ; He knew of the

sighs and weeping and dolorous lamentations of Himself
and His mothe r all things Were foreseen by that sac r ed
soul of Jesus Christ All this lay before Him and He did
.

meditate thereon which meditation could doubtless not

,

be without exceeding great sadn ess an d supreme su ffering

b oth O f heart an d mind Whe refore was the whole life .

of Jesus Christ filled with the u t m ost su fferin g sadness , ,

and affliction .

Beside all thi s the Lord Jesus Ch r ist veri table Book
, ,

of L ife did endure countles s othe r su ffe rings For

, .

w hen He was b o rn He w as not washed neither cradled ,

upon fe athers not wr a p ped in S kins ; but He was laid

upon S traw in a stable He did he in a hard manger b e ,

twixt beasts of burden Thus from the moment of His .

birth did the you ng and tender infant begin to endure

the a ffl ic t ions of the body He wande r ed forth with the .

s w eet and tende r Virgin His mother and with the ol d , ,

74 T HE B L E SSED ANGELA
He loved with a surpassing love and n o t as man loveth
,
.

He did lament for the whole human race lost cast down , ,

and condemned but He did also bestow especial com

,

passion and love upon each person in particular And .

n ot only did He lament for the sins o f all persons in

general but likewise for each especial sin according to

, ,

it s sum and nature and for the punishment which He

,

knew of a certainty that each on e had deserved o r would ,

dese rve hereafte r How soever many men the r e have

.

been therefore and whether they be now S inne r s or will

, ,

be hereafter and howeve r many grievous sins each man

,

hath committed or hath yet t o commit so many so rrows

,

hath Christ borne which sorrows proceeded from His

,

surpassing mercy and compassion And seeing how that

.

the numbe r o f men and their sins and the punishments

the y must endure or have already endured is infinite ,

it is manifest that He beareth a most sup r eme and in

finite sorrow for love o f us .

Christ did of a certainty love His elect with a deep

and ine ffable love continually feeling within Himself
, ,

acco r ding unto the measure of each one the offences ,

they had committed or were hereafter to commit feeling ,

likewise the punishment they should su ffer for such

o ffences Wherefore did He lament for them taking
.
,

compassion on them and all the while bearing their pains

,

with the utmost grief With such great grief and com
.

passion w as the most sweet Jesus afflicted for our sake

that He was the r eby constrained to bear the torments
 OF FOLIGNO 75

of the Cross a horrible death and infinite su ffe ring in

, ,

order that He might o ffer satisfaction for ou r o ffences ,

that He might r edeem u s and libe r ate u s from punish

ment .

Without doubt Christ did likewise endure sorrow

for Himself deeply bewailing Himself because o f the
,

dolorous and unspeakable pains w hi ch He did clearly

behold coming upon Him without fail and because He ,

beheld Himself sent into the world by the Father unto

this end that in His ow n person He might bear the grief
,

and pain of all His elect no r w as it possible for Him t o

escape the bearing o f the aforesaid pain and grievous
sorrow If any person did know of a certainty that ex
.

ceedin g g r eat and unbearable grief and su ffering w as

about to fall upon him and that he would have such

suffering without intermission eve r before his eyes ,

without doubt he would feel compassion for himself and

the greater he expected the su ffering to be and the more ,

clearly he did understand and know it the greate r would

,

be his misery All this did Christ feel more deeply than
.
,

we can describe but this example hath been given in ex

,
'

planation because of the d u lness Of the human u nder

standing
Christ did moreover suffer grief for His most merciful
, ,

Father the L ord of mercy and of all pity whom He

,
'

loved with an infinite love He saw that God His Father

.
,

whom He so greatly loved w as moved to such co mpassio n

,

and mercy for us that He was willing t o send His dearly

7 6 T HE BLESSED AN GELA
beloved Son to su ffer death for our sake Christ did su ffer
,
.

for His exceeding great grief and therefore in o rder that

-

, ,

the Father s will might be fulfille d He did humilia t e Him

’
,

self and was obedient even unto the death of the Cro ss .

Suffering like unto this cannot by any means be ex

plained Therefore I can only say that the unspeakable
.

su ffering whi ch Christ did endu re w as concede d per ,

m it t ed and assigned unto Him by the ine ffable wisdom of

,

the Divinity which divine dispensation unspeakable and

, ,

eternal unspeakably and eternall y one with Christ did

, ,

ordain that He should endure thi s supreme su ffering .

And the more admirable t his divine dispe nsation the ,

sharper and m ore intense were Chr ist s su fferings where ’

,

fore hath there never been any mind so great that it w as

'

able to understand these su fferings .

This divine dispens ation was the true cause and origin
of all su ffering wherein it all b egin n et h and endeth And
, .

j ust as it is impossible for any mind to comprehend the

infinite charit y o f Christ (here made manifest) b ecause
a

, ,

by His own death He hath redeemed us SO is it im

, ,

possib l e to comprehend the infinite su ffering which He

had to endure and for which He did lament And this .

su ffering did proceed from the ine ffable light with which
He was filled It is certain that by this enli ghtening
.
,

Christ by making Him one with this divine dispensat i on

,
“

and transforming Him with divine illumination in His

su fferings this divinity and ine ffable light did inflict up on
,

Him such p ain that no words can suffice to desc ribe it .

7 8 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
sorrow for His disciples knowing how they and the ,

women w ho had followed Him from afar were lamenting

with exceeding deep grief and seeing how that He loved ,

them with a great love He did grieve that they were

,

scattered apart and in tribulation .

Beside these su fferings Christ did also endure many

others .

CHAPTE R XV
OF THE M AN Y AN D C RU ELTIES
D I V ERS U SED

TO WARD S CH R IST
HE who doth well consider the matter wi l l find that
Christ Jesus the So n o f God w as pierced and wounded
, ,

with four kinds o f knives and spears .

Firstly there was the perverse and continuous cruelty

,

inflicted wilfully upon Him by obstinate hearts for they ,

did diligently seek meditate and conspire in what manner

, ,

they coul d most dishonourably and with the greatest

cruelty drive Him from the earth He and His name and ,

all those whom He w as come t o save and all those w ho ,

followed Him .

Secondly there w as the wickedness anger hatred and

, , , ,

mal ice borne Him by those w ho crucified Him As .

many therefore as were the evil thoughts perverse in

, , ,

tention s and wicked designs conceived against Him so

, ,
 or FOLI G NO 79

many also were the knives and spears which did pierce the
soul of Christ .

Thirdly there was the malice and falseness o f the

,

tongues which spake against Him ; for as many as were

the accusations evil counsels deridin gs mockings blas
, , ,
‘

phemies maledictions false witnesses and fa lse j udg

, , ,

ments even so many pains did His soul endure

,
.

Fourthly there was the most cruel deed of the Passion

, ,

most c r uelly in fl icted upon Him the which is manifest ,

unto whos oever doth meditate upon the whole matter

thereof And certain is it that as often as He w as
.
,

dragged hither and t hither His hair and beard plucked

, ,

as often as He w as bound S pit at and scourged even so

”

, ,

many were the di fferent su fferings which He did endure .

But especially did He su ffer from the nails for they did ,

u se nails of the largest kind rough and square and there

, ,

with did they most cruelly pierce through His hands and
feet And by thus piercing them quite through and
.

utterly laming them men did most cruelly fasten them

,

upon the Cross This kind o f nail did cause pain worse
.

than any other ; and even had they been simply passed
through His hands and feet and not driven into the wood ,

they would have occasioned the most acute pain But .

not content eve n with spreading o u t His hands and feet ,

with stretching His bones and sinews and drawing all the
joints of His body asunder making Him fast unto the,

hard wood they did also raise the Cross on high exposing
, ,

Him naked in the air and the Wind unto the gaze of all ,
86 THE B L E SSE D AN GE L A
people And the weight of His body did thus hang from
.

His hands and rest upon His feet so that He felt more
,

acutely the h ardness of the nails and the blood flowed

,

unceasingly from the wounds they made .

Thus He died in the greatest suffering and thus w as ,

accomplished all the wickedness of men And in order .

that this same Jesus God and M an might manifest

, ,

somewhat o f this intense su ffering (and not for His own

sake but for us j ust as for us He was bearing it and that
, , ,

we might enter fu l ly into that su ffering) He cried aloud ,

saying My God my G o d why hast Thou forsaken me

, , ,
.

It was n ot possible tha t He should be forsaken o f G o d ,

seeing that He Himself was God but inasmuch as He ,

cried that He was forsaken He did bear Witness unto His

manhood .

Thus He showed forth the un speakable and surpassing

pain which He endured for our sake and without doubt ,

God did sha re that pain with Christ who bore it Where .

fore for ou r s ake alone did He cry aloud that He might ,

make it clear unto us that He was bearing that supreme

su ffering for us and n ot for Himself which did provok e
,

and move Him frequently to grieve and lament .

But n one must imagine that He o nl y su ffered when He

w as o n the Cross because the formation and organisation
of the body the infusion into it of t he soul and union o f
,

the Word did take place at one and the same time This
, .

union marvellous beyond belief and t hi s soul full o f

,

ine ffable wisdom do in themselves represent all those

,
82 THE BLES SED ANGELA
Christ did feel this pain the more acutely because He
Himself was t he true God ; wherefore every a ffliction
and inj ury done unto Him was a boundless o ffence inas ,

much as it was not done unto man alone but unto the ,

true Go d For this reason had He cause for infi ni te

.

lamentation inasmuch as He did endlessly grieve over

,

every wickedness and affl iction done unto Him .

Whiles that He w as su ffering all these things the

' '

Saviour o f the world Christ Jesus G o d and Man did

, , ,

neither threaten nor curse neither did He defend or

,

vindicate Himself nor excuse Himself when He was

,
.

accused He hid not His face when it was spat upon ;

.

He withdrew n ot His hands and arms when they were

‘

stretched upon the Cross He sought not to escape

, ,

death but wholly and in all ways did He deliver Him

self into the hands and u nto the will of men in order ,

that because o f their iniquity the work of redemption

, ,

might be fulfilled no t withstanding their opposition and

,

ingratitude .

The most wondrous thought of all is that in this ,

dreadful deed of the Passion committed against the

Inn ocen t One He did furnish an example o f patience ;
,

He taught the truth unto those who slew Him and with ,

cries and tears did pray unto the Father for them and in ,

return for this greatest of sins (for the which the whole
world and human nature deserved to perish) He did ,

bestow upon them the greatest benefits Thus by th e .

pain and suffering which they inflicted upon Him did

 or FOLIGNO 83

He save us from pain and su ffering He opened the gates

of Paradise unto those Who crucified Him and unto all
others reconciling them unto the Father and such grace
, ,

did He obtain for us that we are thereby become the Sons

of God This reconciliation was effected through that
.

self same deed for the which the whole w orl d an d every
-
.

creature was worthy of damnation for His sake because ,

the creature had been found guilty of committing such

a great Si n against its creator .

Oh pity " Oh mercy immense " Oh incredible b e

, , ,

n ign it y which did cause such infinite grace to abound

there where o nl y infinite iniquity had hitherto abounded

V erily this mystery hath no end but hath been ordained
, ,

by that infinite Goodness and M ercy in order that we

might have an e xample of endurance in al l tribulations
an d adversity and to teach u s not only that we should
,

never render back evil unto o u r enemies but that for love ,

o f Him we should do good unto them If some patriarch.

or prophet o r other saint or even one of the angels had

, , ,

given us such an example we should of a certainty ascribe

,

much merit unto it but that the infinite wisdom o f God

should have appeared amongst us incarnate that the in ,

fallible truth (which can neither d eceive nor be deceived)

should have given us such an ensample of life is a thing
to be on no account passed over carelessly but with all ,

heed and diligence it must be followed with the utm ost

perfection .

We know w e have heard and all the day long do we

, ,
84 T HE '
BLE S SED ANGELA
speak and discourse of how the Son of God did spend His
whole life in su ffering and how that He not o nl y patiently
,

bore the tribulations which chanced to fall upon Him ,

but that never having committed sin He did choose it

, , ,

and o f His ow n will did take it upon Him Yea He .

,

so ught trib ulation and having found it He loved it and

,

submitted Himself unto it showing His endurance in ,

words and deeds and p r eaching that all they were blessed
,

who endured it likewise Neither did He only with

.

empty words praise and glorify these afflictions of body

and soul patiently borne for God s sake but He did ’
,

actuall y bear in His ow n body and soul that which none

other has ever borne And He saith that through thes e
.

tribulations He did enter into His kingdom and His glory ,

a ffirming that by no other way or means save that of

.

su ffering p ain and tribul ation is it p ossib l e t o attain unto

, ,

grace eternal .

CHAPTER XV I
H OW THAT WE SH O U LD FOLLOW TH E I NFALLIBLE
G U IDE AN D R EDEEME R U PON THE ST RAIG HT R OAD
WH ICH H E HATH SH OWN U NTO U S
VE R I L Y this is the true and straight road pointed out by
,
'

G o d and foolish exceedingly is he who doubteth o r w ho

, ,

reckoneth n ot (seeing how that the Son of God did walk

86 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
and truly miserable are we who not only s eek to escape
-
,

those worldly pains and a ffl ic tions which are the r emedy
an d cure for sin but we do even refuse the assistance of
,

ou r most wise physician Jesus Christ If the supreme .

wisdom of God ordaineth that there should come a little

cold we do immediately draw nigh unto the fire and do
, ,

cover ourselves with many garments if it chance to be

ho t or scorching then we seek the cold
,
if our head o r
our stomach do hurt we cry and weep and sigh and run
,

unto the physician ; we seek remedies we lie softly in ,

bed eat delicate food and in order that the pains may be
, ,

relieved we do weary God and the saints with constant

,

prayers w ith promises and vows o f fasting pilgrimages

, , ,

and atonements Thus merely that we may be spared

.

those pains and affl ictions which are profitable unto us and
are sent from God we do all these and many other things
,

which we would not do for the remission of our sins or

the good of ou r soul If God doth further permit that
.

fo r our profit we should su ffe r adversity or inj ury at the

hands of some man we are instantly troubled and moved
,

thereat we grow angry and lament and do j udge that

,

person wickedly speakin g evil against him and if we can

, ,
‘

we do take revenge Fleeing from har m and inj ury we

.
,

do refuse as far as we are able all suffering afll ic t io n or , ,

adversity which the Eternal God our heavenly Physician , ,

hath sent unto us and nothing will w e endure with

,

patience or resignation .

How many things are done and how much money is

 or FOLIGNO 87

in
order to avert those pains a ffl ictions and ad
'

S ent
p , ,

versit ie s which G od in His mercy sendeth or rm it t et h

p e

to fall upon us " It would doubtless be more salutary

and meritorious were we to accept and endure these things
willingly instead of choosing other penances and a ffl ictions
for ourse lves It is b etter to wait for God and patiently
.

to bear that which He sendeth ; He is the heavenly

Physician who sendeth affliction and adversity to purge
and teach and make perfect the soul and He knoweth ,

better than sick and ignorant man Wherefore are those .

afflictions and penances which we ourselves seek and ,

choose often if not always an excuse for vainglorious

, ,

ness but those w hi ch man is apparently forced to bear of

,

necessity and against his will are those which are s ent by
divine dispensation and those should be borne with great
,

patience and willingness albeit their heavenly source is

,

hidden from him .

Wherefore do I say and counsel you oh my children , ,

that ye shall endure cold and ice heat and scorching , ,

ve r min and sweatings pains in the head or stomach or

,

othe r parts of the bo dy (saving however that which , ,

'

concerns the maintenance the r eof) n o t b ein g curious to ,

'

seek remedies save in urgent necessity for they hinder

, ,

the goo d o f the soul I say unto you moreover that

.
, ,

when God ordereth o r p erm it t et h poverty the death ,

of friends oppressions persecutions and shame beatings

, , ,

and rapine to fall upon us that we should not bewail our

,

selves but inasmuch as they are given and administered

88 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
by the sup r eme Physician ou r S aviour w e should n ot
, ,

only bear them with patience but for His love and o u r
,

o w n great good we should accept them very willingly .

For if we do gladly and readily accept them of ou r ow n

free w ill it is an act fa r mo r e meritorious than if we
,

accepted them o nl y t o do penance albeit o f ou r ow n will ,

.

Oh wr etched that we are what more can we say ?

, ,

Not only do we seek to escape the pains afll ict ion s and , ,

adversities sent unto u s by a most wis e and merciful

,

God (and like unto what He bore Himself) but we do ,

endeavour day and night t o enjoy bodily luxury and

softness diligently seeking worldly consolations and c o n
,

t in u all y begging fo r vain delights Verily this is not the

.
,

way of Jesus Christ the Saviour of all How shall a

, .

miser able soul w ho is ever seeking consolation in the

world approach Him w ho is the way and the example o f
suffering ? Of a truth the wise soul who desireth t o
,

live wisely should regard naught els e in this world save

suffering ; yea if it did gaze upon Jesus it s Beloved and
'

possessed naught save on e drop of love it should seek for ,

no other gain and no other state in this world save His

that is t o say the state of pain anguish and tribulation
, , , .

And this should be it s whole consolation not only in ,

earthl y temporal and bodily things but in spiritual

, , ,

things likewise .
9 0 THE BLES SED ANGELA
way whereby I may through su ffering reach God and be
in God namely by that w ay whereon walk ed Jesus Christ
, ,

o u r Head By that way must go hand and arm and foot

.

and all the other members ; and thus through worldly

poverty w ill the soul at last attain unto eternal riches
through scorn and shame w il l it attain unto supreme
‘

honour and glory and through a little penance (per

,

formed with grief and pain) will it come to possess the

greatest blessing with the greatest j oy and consolation .

Nevertheless the soul is bound to adore God for Him

,

self For He is worthy of b eing infinitely loved and

.

served by all creatures with the utmost reverence b e ,

cause o f His great and surpassing goodness t o whom he '

,

honour and glory for ever an d ever Amen . .

Glory therefore unto the omnipotent God whom it

, , ,

hath pleased to call u s into being and create us in His

own likeness we ourselves being nothing To Him the
, .
,

all merciful be honour power and glory for it hath

-

, , , ,

pleased Him to redeem and exalt us we who were ,

miserable wicked lost and damned because of the

, , ,

su fferings pain contempt and poverty which His So n

, , ,

did endure .

Glory also unto the most merciful and piti ful God ,

whose mercy and goodness w as so unfailing that He did

give His kingdom unto miserable unworthy sinners in , ,

order that man might without fail attain unto it .

Praise and glory likewis e unto our most sweet G od

, , ,

who of His pity did give us His kingdom and make us to ,

 or FOLIGNO 9 1

gain the fell ow ship ian d enj oyment of Himself through

tribulation pain contempt and poverty If we were
, , , .

able to purchase His kingdom with wealth with gold

.

, ,

silver an d p r ecious stones with l u xu ry kn ow l edge and

, , ,
‘

power the kingdom of heaven could not be gained by all

, ,

inasmuch as we are not all alike and do not all possess

these things But it hath pleased Him to grant that
.

His kingdom ma y be gained with things all persons may

possess at all times and of which we may easily have an
abunda nce For there is n o person whatsoeve r who can
.

n o t be p oo r fo r love of Christ and who cannot work and

‘

do penance at least in his heart and endure contempt

'

, .

Certain is it that n o man can pass through this life with

out encountering some of these things which if he , ,

beareth them patiently and cheerful ly for Christ s sake ’

,

will make him w orthy of the kingdom of God .

Blessed be God moreover in that He hath not set the

, ,

long and heavy endurance of these things as the price '

wherewith His kingdom may be gained but only the ,

span of this life so that the eternal kingdom may verily

be bought with a moment of time And surely even .
,

though we had to wait thousands of years and long

centuries for the love of God and such a kingdom even
.

t ho ugh they were years most grievous and bitter yet ,

should we nevertheless accept them with boundless joy

and longing with hands clasped in deepest g ratitude "
,

How much more therefore should we rejoice for that

, ,

the merciful God hath ordained and permitted that t he

9 2 THE BLES SED ANGELA
aforesaid t hings need be endured o nl y for the brief space
o f this o u r mortal l ife

Blessed be God who by His o w n word hath promised

,

unto u s these gifts and blessings appearing visibly unto ,

u s in His own person to give u s assurance thereof and ,

confirming them by His example Wherefore there t e .

m ain et h no manne r of doubt that with the brief labours ,

a ffl ictions and penances of this short life we may gain His

,

kingdom for He hath directly promised it unto u s and ,

what is more hath confirmed the promise by His ow n

,

example He desired tribulation and not otherwise tha n

.
,

through the endu r ance of supreme su ffering and con

tempt did He wish t o obtain possession o f that kingdom
which was truly His by inheritance .

Come ye oh my children hasten unto the Cross o f

, ,

Christ take upon yourselves this pain contempt and

, , ,

poverty and enter with all your might into the Passion
,

of Christ w ho so loved u s that for o u r sakes oh ye chil

,
.

dr en o f Go d w as He willing t o su ffer a most bitter and

,

ignomi nious death and He did this only that He might

«

thereby redeem u s and furnish unto u s an e x ample of

how we should bear hard things fo r love of Him Doubt .

les s the perfection and the true sign of sonship is t o love

G od and one s neighbour And inasmuch as this holy
’
.

Man of Sorrows did so faithfully and purely love u s that

He had no pity upon Himself but wholly gave Himself ,

up t o suffering fo r love o f u s so doth He desire that His

,

lawful sons should likewise do acco r ding as they are able

,
.
94 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
with me because our countless iniquities were the cause
of so much suffering; And albeit ye have not o ffended
God as deeply as have I (who am all sin) yet weep ye none ,

the less for it is not ye yourselves who have resisted sin

, ,

but the grace of God which hath preserved and defended

you through the merits of the Cross of Christ There .

fore ye saints and innocents ye should not lament your

, ,

state less than do I the sinner For the greater the

,
.

grace which hath been vouchsafed unto you the greater ,

is your debt and since ye have not been as thankful as

ye should b e ye have in some degree sullied your lives
,

and have lost somewhat of your puri t y Wherefore .

must ye all lament and weep and raise the eyes of your
minds unto that Cross because in gazing upon the Cross
( unto the which the soul cannot attain save by constant
prayer as hath already been said) are we granted full
,

knowledge of o u r sins we are overcome with grief and

,

contrition because of them and are given the light o f ,

profound humility Of a certainty when in ga z ing u pon

.
,

the Cross the soul beholdeth all it s sins in general and

each one in particular and how for all together and each
,

in pa rticular Christ was cru cifi ed an d a fflicted it is

,
~

overwhelmed with sadness and is thereby moved t o

punish and reform itself with all it s members and its
,

SC II SC S .

Obse rve then ye sons of the blessed God and behold

, , ,

in Christ crucified the principal example of life and ,

from Him learn t r ue perfection Behold the Boo k of .

 or FOLIGNO 95

Life namely the life and death of Christ crucified the

, , ,

Man of Sorrows through ga z ing upon His Passion and

Cross the soul at t ain et h unto the knowledge of its sins ,

and through profound humility unto knowledge of the

heart .

The soul doth likewise behold an d kn ow the multitude ’

o f it s sins and how grievously it o ffen det h God in all its

,

members Al so doth it behold above it the manifesta

.

tion of divine mercy that is to say it perceiveth how

, ,

Christ crucified did endure cruel pain in all the members

of His body because of the sins of each of our members
, .

Thus by means of the Cross it may reflect how greatly

and in what manner it hath o ffended God Firstly by .
,

the head : man doth wash comb and anoint his head , , ,

doing also divers other things to render himself pleasing

unto men and then he perceiveth how because of this
,

his sin Christ hath done penance in His o w n head and

,

hath borne grievous pains To make reparation for .

man s washing combing anointing and twisting of his

’
, , ,

hair Christ s most holy head w as shorn o f it s hair it w as

,
’
,

pierced by the crown o f thorns beaten with rods and ,

ade all bloody with His blood In l ike manner the .

soul beholdeth the other members (as Christ Himself as ,

though unwittingly in certain visions and sayings doth

,

almost mur mur and lament against us counting over all ,

the members ) and not only doth it behold the multitude

,

of sins committed by each member but likewise the ,

grievousness thereof .
9 6 THE BLES SED AN GELA
V erilywhen the soul m edit at et h upon the C r oss the
,

infinite grievousness o f sin is made plainly manifest then

doth it comprehend that it s guilt could never have been
wiped away it s o ffences forgiven and its punishment r e
,

m it t ed if Christ had not done such great penance for its

misdeeds which is a surpassing great matter to think
,

upon Moreover the soul will read in t his Book (more

.
,

clearly than in any other book whatsoever) o f divine

justice and o f how impossible it is for sin ever t o remain
unpunished .

CHAPTE R XIX
WHE R EI N TH E SO U L MAY SEE H O W THAT TH E DI V I N E
WISDOM HATH U SED I NFI N ITE CA R E AN D DILIGEN CE
I N SA V I N G U S TH R O U G H ME R C Y Y ET N OT OFFEN DI N G
,

AGAI NST J U STICE

T HE soul doth also p erce ive how God the Father willed
that His Son should su ffer the pains of death and the
torments of the Cross rather than that the sins o f the
human race should remain unpunished In this Book .

doth it see moreover how infinite was the goodness and

, ,

pity of Christ ; He had such great compassion o n u s

that perceiving that neither we ourselves nor any other
,

creature whatsoever could offer sufficient satisfaction for

o u r sins He did Himself o ffer satisfaction for us in order
,

that we might not be left in damnation and torments

ete r nal .
98 T HE B L ES SED ANGELA
inj ury committed against Him did promise eternal glory ,

unto those same sinners who crucified Him .

Upon the Cross doth the soul likewise behold the in

finite humility o f Christ than which none can be greater
, ,

seeing that He the King of Glory suffered so vile and

, ,

ignominious a death It beholdeth how the torments

.

o f the Cross procured for u s liberation and redemption

from hell the gaining of Paradise and reconciliation

,

with the Father They did likewise furnish u s with an

.

example and instruct i on i n v1 rt u e and in steadfastness

against enemies and obtained for us the reward o f ever
,

lasting j oy And in this way alone can we wretched

.

sinners b e saved .

Wherefore is it plain that we may read an m fi n it y of

things in this blessed Book because verily it is the Book
,

of Jesus Christ the infallible Truth t o whom he glory

, ,

for ever and ever Amen . .

CHAPTE R XX
OF P R AY E R OF THE WH ICH TH E R E A R E TH R EE KI N DS
, ,

CO R PO R AL MENTAL AN D S U PE R NATU R AL O UTS IDE OF

, , ,

WH I CH IT IS N OT POSSI BLE TO FI N D G OD
F O RASM U CH therefore as the knowledge of Go d uncreate
, ,

and of Christ crucified is needful and seeing that without ,

it we cannot transform our minds in His love it b ehovet h ,

u s to read diligently in that aforesaid B o ok of Life that ,

 OF FOLIGNO -
99

is t o y the
sa life
,
and death of Jesus C hr ist And whereas .

this reading or rather knowledge cannot possibly be ac

'

, ,

quired without devout pure humble fervent attentive

, , , , ,

and constant prayer (not with the lips alone but with
'

the heart and mind and all the strength) , something must
.

be said of prayer as well as of the Boo k of Life

, .

It is through prayer and in prayer that we find God .

There are divers kinds o f prayer but in these three kinds ,

alone is God to be found The first is corporal the .

,

second mental and the third supernatural

, .

Corporal p ray er i s that which is always accompanied by

the sound of words and by bodily exercises such as kneel ,

ing down asking pardon and bowing oneself This kind

, , .

do I continually perform ; and the reason thereof is ,

that desiring to exercise myself in mental prayer I w as

, ,

sometimes deceived and hi ndered therefrom by idleness

and sleep and did thus lose time For t hi s reason do I
,
.

exercise myself in corporal prayer and t his corporal ,

prayer leadeth me unto the mental But this must be .

done very attentively Therefore when thou sayest the

.

Paternoster thou must consider well that which thou

,

sayest and n o t rep eat it in haste in order to say it a

, u ,

certain number of times as do those vain women who ,

perform good deeds for a reward .

Mental prayer 1 3 when the meditation of God fi ll et h

the mind so entirely that it thi n keth on naught else save
o n God Bu t when some other reflection entereth into
/
the mind it asketh n ot that it should be mental prayer '
1 00 THE BLESSED AN GELA
'

because that prayer doth hinder the t on gu e fro m p er

forming it s o ffi ce and it cannot speak »? So completel y is
the mind fi ll ed w it h Go d that it can concern itself with
'
'

naught else neither think of anything save o f Go d

,
.

Hence from this m ental prayer proceedeth the super

natural .

Supernatu ral prayer is that during which the so ul is so

exalted by this knowl edge or meditation or fulness of , ,

:
God that it is uplifted above its own nature and under
standeth more o f G od t han it otherwise cou ld naturally
'

And u n de r standing it kn oweth ; but that which it

‘

knoweth it cannot e xplain because all that it p erceiveth

,
-

and feel et h is above its ow n nature I) .

In th ese t hree de grees of pray er therefo re man

'

,
n
,

l earn et h t o know G o d and himself And knowing Him .

,

he loveth Him a nd lo ving Him he d eSiret h to possess

,

Him and this is the sign o f love for he who lov eth not ,

on l a part o f himself but the whole t r an sfo rm et h him

'

y , ,

s elf in the thing beloved

-
.

But because this tr ansformation endureth n o t fo r ever ’

the soul seeketh and exam in et h all other means whereby

it may transform itself in its Beloved in order that this
’

union may be r epeated Wherefore must it be known .

'

that the divine wisdom hath ordered al l thi ngs and given
unto each its appointed place For this reason hath the .
-

ine ffable wisdom ordained that no man sho uld attain unto
men t al p ray er who hath not previously exercised himself
‘

in co rporal p ray er neither doth it permit the s uper

J
,
102 THE B LES SED ANGELA
profit by the fruits o f true prayer and not to lose them
utterly The reason wherefore we are tempted during
.

prayer is because ou r hearts a r e n ot wholly given unto

God .

Pray therefore and pray often because the more often

, , ,

thou prayest the more wilt thou be e nlightened and the

more deeply and clearly and nobly wilt thou perceive the
supreme Good and that which is supremely good an d
, ,
'

the more d eeply and excellently thou pe rceivest it the

more w ilt thou love it and the more thou lovest it the
,

more wilt thou delight in it and be able t o comprehend

it Then wilt thou attain unto the fulness o f light and
.
,

wilt thou know that which heretofore thou couldst n ot

know .

An example o f this most glorious prayer and of the

doctrine and form thereof and of how we should earnestly,

persevere in this same prayer is given unto u s in Jesus ,

Christ who hath taught us both by words and deeds t o

,

pray in divers ways By words did He teach us when He

.

said unto His disciples Watch and pray that ye ente r

, ,
”
n o t into tempt ation And in like manner in many
.

ot her parts o f the Holy Gospel thou wilt find how He

instructed u s in this venerable act o f prayer the which , ,

as He hath signified unto all He holdeth most dear , .

Thus hath He many times admonished u s upon this

matte r as on e w ho truly loveth u s and desireth ou r good
'

.
,

And n o excuse remaineth unto us for inasmuch as He ,

said Ask an d y e shall receiv e the result of o u r prayer

,
' ”
,
 or FOLIGNO 19 3

doth depend up on ourselves He desireth also that we

.

should pray unto Him in order that moved and drawn ,

thereto by His example we may love this above all other

,

The Gosp el saith that when He did pray for a great

while the sweat ran down upo n the ground like unto
drops of blood Wherefore hold thou this example of
.

rayer ever before thine eyes and see that thou foll ow est
p ,

it closely seeing that He prayed not for Himself but for

, ,

thee.

There w as also that prayer of supplication when He

said Father if it be possible let this cup pass from Me ;
, , ,
”
nevertheless not My will but Thine be done
,
.

CHAPTE R XXII
H OW THAT WE S H O U LD S U BMIT O UR WI LLS U NTO TH E
WILL OF GOD AN D H OW THAT P R AY E R IS N ECESSA RY
,

FO R TH E OBTAI N I N G OF ALL ME R CIES

T H O U seest therefo r e that when ou r Saviou r Christ
, ,

prayed He did submit His will unto that of the Father

,
.

Do thou foll ow His example Afterwards He prayed .

again when He said Father into Thy hands I

, ,
”
commit My spirit But wherefo re should I repeat
.

more things seeing that His whole life was a prayer in

, ,

asm u ch as He was continually engaged in making known

19 4 THE BLES SED ANGELA
and manifesting both Go d and Himself Shal l w e say
. .
'
,

that Christ prayed in vain Then wherefore art thou

neglectful seeing that nothing is ob t ai ned without
,

prayer ? Forasmuch as Christ true God and M an ,

.

prayed not for Himself but that thou mightest have an

-
,
.

example of true prayer it is needful that thou shouldst

,

pray if thou desirest aught For w it hou t p rayer canst

.
.
w

thou obtain n othing If He who was actually God would

.

accept nothing without having prayed and asked for it ,

how darest thou miserable creature hope to rece ive

, ,

without supplication and prayer ? “

N ow thou knowest well tha t without the d ivine light

and grace none are saved through the divine l ight d ot h
,

man start o u t and progress upon the right way There .

fore if thou desirest this divine light thou must pray ;

and if thou hast begun to make progress and desirest
the light to be increased in thee thou must pray ; ,

and if thou hast attained unto the highest p erfection and

desirest t o be yet more enlightened l n order tha t thou
mayest remain in that state thou must pray Pray if ,
.
,

thou desirest faith pray if thou desirest hope ; pray

if thou desirest charity o r poverty or obedience o r
, , ,

chastity pray if thou desirest any virtue whatsoever .

The way in which thou must pray is this thou must

read the Boo k of the Life of Christ Jesus which life w as ,

poverty su ffering contempt and true obedience When

, , , .

thou shalt be fully entered into this life and shalt have
profited thereby thou w il t b e afll ict ed by many t rib u l a
,
o
1 06 THE BLE SSED ANGELA
thee ; for when thou ceasest to pray thou givest place ,

unto the enemy Therefore the more thou art tempted

.
,

the more must thou persevere in prayer So metimes .

,

however prayer is the cause of thy being tempted as

, ,

when demons do en deavou r to hinder it But t ake no .

heed of aught save of prayer so that thou mayest always

,

be worthy of being freed from temptation For through .

prayer art thou enlightened through prayer art thou set

,

free from temptation through prayer art thou cleansed

, ,

and through prayer art thou united with God Prayer .

is nothing else save the manifestation o f G od and of

oneself and this manifestation is perfect and true humilia
,

tion for humility consisteth in the soul beholding God

, ,

and itself as it should Then is the soul in a State of

.

deep hum ility and the deeper the humility the greater
,

is the divine grace which springeth th erefrom a n d in

c reaset h there .

The more the divine grace humbleth the soul the more ,

quickly doth this same grace increase and sprin g afresh

o u t of the depths of that humility And the more the
.

grace increaseth the more deeply doth the soul abase

itself in true humility th r ough the continuance o f true
praye r Thus do grace and light divine grow ever
.

within the soul and the soul is ever prostrate in true

,

humility duly reading and meditati ng upon t his Life

,

of Christ .

Man s perfection consisteth in knowing the g r eatness of

’

G o d and his o w n nothingness

'

But how he at t ain et h

.
 or FOLIGNO m7

unto this through gazing upon that Book of Life hath

already been said Therefore oh my so n cast away
.
, ,

fr om thee all slothfulness and negligence I certainly .

desire thee oh my son and do e xhort thee that thou

, , ,

w at c hest s an d prayest no less and dost no fewe r good

works when thou art deprived of the grace and fervour

of devotion than in times when thou ob t ain est that
grace of devotion V erily it is pleasing unto God if in
'

.
,

the fervour of grace thou dost pray and watch labour

, ,

and perform other good works .

In al l way s pleasing and acceptable unto God oh my ,

sdn is thy sacrifice when grace and fervour being with

, ,

held from thee thou dost watch and pray and do good
, ,

works n o less than when thou didst enj oy grace Where .

fore my so n if the divine fervour and ardour doth

, ,

sometimes constrain thee t o watch pray and o ffer praise , , ,

(b it with all thy might whilst the fire burneth within

thee .
.

When it so happeneth that God dep rivet h thee of

warmth and fervour (whether because of thine ow n fault ,

as is most often the case or whethe r for the augmenting

,

and strengthe ni ng o f grace in thee) thou must n evert he ,

less watch pray and do good works as heretofore An d

, ,
.

if temptation or tribulation (whereby the children of

God are purged and punished) should fall upon thee and
grace and fe rvour be withheld do thou endeavour none ,

the less t o perform the aforesaid good works and strive

that thou mayest over come Keep t hyself in subj ection .
1 08 THE B LES SED ANGELA
by cons tant prayers vigils , tears an d im p ort u n it ies so
’

'

, , ,

t hat G od in His mercy will at last igive t hee b ack

.
- - '
'

thy warmth and fe rvour D O thy part for G o d will .

,

assuredly do His .

Constant ready and insistent prayer is very acceptable

, ,

unto G o d Therefore do thou persevere in p r ayer and

.
,

concern n ot t hy sel f with other occupations im mediately :

when thou beginnest t o feel mo re than commonly filled '

with God And see that thou givest n ot thys elf unto
.
'

any occup ation or thought b efore thou hast l earn t t o

separate thyself from all others Take heed likewise unto
, .

thy fervours and thy spirit , w hi ch rusheth forward eagerl y .

before thou canst follow it Inquire and see the be

'
.

ginni ng middle and end o f the road it w ou l d t ake and

, ,
f
,

t hb u shalt follow I t o nly so far as ; it keepeth u n t o t he

. .
.

way of the Book of Life An d t ake heed of tho se w ho .

'

sa they have t he s irit o f libert y ; for they do ope nl y

y p
'

oppose the Book of the Life of Christ the which is ,

written according t o t he law He being the founde r of t

,

t he law w ho liveth fo r ever and eve r Am e n '

. .
,

CHAPTE R XX I V
E XAMPLE OF CH R IST
‘

or T HE HU M I L IT Y AN D

TH E C RU CIFIED
‘

VAI N is all prayer w it ho u t hu m ilit y ; for afte r prayer , '

hu m ility is the thing m ost needful unt o man Be hol d .

1 10 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
word and deed I have not shown you an example of
”
humility believe Me not
, .

Y et another time did He set us an example of humi l ity

and bid us do like w ise and obey Him For after that He .

had washed the disciples feet with His ow n hands He

’
,

said : Know ye what I have done unto y ou If I then ,

your Lord and Master have washed your feet ye also

, ,

ought to wash o n e another s feet I have given you an

’
.

example that ye should do as I have done to y ou V erily

, .

I say unto y ou the servant is n ot greater than his lord

, .

”
If ye know these t hi ngs happy are ye if ye do them
,
.

The S aviour of the world hath verily shown meekness

and lowliness o f heart to be the root and foundation of
all virtue Thus neither abstinence n or the hards hip o f
.
,

fasting nor poverty nor vileness of raiment n or outward

, , ,

show o f good works nor the performing o f miracles can

,

avail aught without humility o f h eart U nited with .

that abstinence would be blessed and right then wo u ld

, ,

hardship and poorness of raiment be blessed and living ,

and stable wo u ld be the works builded upon this fo u n da

tion .

This lowliness of heart is mother of all the virtues ,

whence springeth even the exercising of these virtues ,

as the tru n k and branches spring from the r oot So .

precious is this virtue of humility and so firm it s fo u n da

tion (upon which is built up the whole perfection of the
spiritual life) that the Lord did especially desire that
,

we should learn it direct o f Him And inasmuch as it .

 OF FOLIGNO III
is the root and the safeguard of all virtues the Virgin ,

Mary forgetful of all the other virtues of body and soul

,

which she possessed did trust onl y in this one aflirm in g

, ,

that God was m ade man of her expressly because of her

lowliness of heart saying For He hath regarded the low
, ,

estate of His handmaiden for behold from hencefort h

, ,
”
all generations shall call me blessed .

In this humility must ye build your foundations oh ,

my sons and in all ways establish yourselves in order

, ,

that ye may show yourselves as members j oined unto the

Head by a natural unity and in Him find true peace ,

unto the which n o soul can attain excepting it be founded

in this humility without which all those virtues whereby
,

we strive after G od are as nothing .

CHAPTE R XXV
OF H o w G R EATL Y T RU E H U MILITY Q U ICKEN ETH TH E
U N DE R STAN DI N G OF TH E SO U L I N KN OWIN G ITS OWN
V ILEN ESS AN D THE DI V I N E G o o D N Ess
T H IS lowliness of heart which Christ desired that we
should learn o f Him oh my beloved is a certain mar
, ,

vello n s and clear light which doth open and quicken the
soul in knowing its own vileness and nothingness and
the greatness o f the divine goodness The better a man
.

perceiveth all this the more perfect will be his knowledge

'
1 12 THE BLESSE D ANGELA
of himself Therefore perceiving and knowing himself
.
,

to be nothing and empty of all good he will more ,

earnestly o ffer praise and prayer unto the maj esty o f the
divine goodness which he s eeth and co m p rehen det h
through this humility and here is vi rt ue born in him
,

through the grace Sent him of G o d .

The greatest and chief of all Virtues is charity which ,

is love towards G od and one s neighbour

’
And this love .

S pringeth from that light for when the soul perceiveth

itself to be nothing and G o d inclined towards such vile
,

nothingness and abasing Himself and uniting Himself

thereunto it doth so violently burn with love for Him
,

that through t hi s burning love it is made one with G od .

And being thus transformed by love what creatu re is ,

“

there who would not love unto the utmost of his power P
Verily the soul thus transformed through love of it s
Creator loveth all creatures created by Him according as
is seemly ; fo r it p erceivet h G o d in all His creatures
'

and beholdeth how greatly He loveth them The soul .

rejoiceth thereat a n d at the good fortune o f it s neigh

bour and grieveth and l am en t et h at his evil fortune ; and

,

being kindl y disposed it p resu m et h not to j udge him or

despise him when misfortune falleth upon him F or .
,

i llumined by the aforesaid light it beholdeth itself and

,
‘

knoweth itself t o be in a plight as bad or even worse

than that which hath befallen its neighbour And if the .

soul is not fallen yet it knoweth that it had n o power of

,

its elf to resist but that it had b een helped by the grace
,
~
11
4 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
angelic conversation pure holy and peaceful Because
, , , .
,

also this precious virtue 0 f hu m il it y rendereth the soul

, _

kindly unto all welcome and loving and especiall y unto

, ,

the elect of God w ho have to b e converted These are

’

given us for an example and a light for through their ,

meekness they are the more easily converted And that

, .

man may enjoy inward peace let him not be disturbed

by any adversity whatsoever so that he say truly with the ,

apostle Who shall separate u s from the love o f Christ P

,

air repar abz t n o: a cbar itate C lm rti P

' '

Q
Oh my sons cease n ot from searchin g u n t il ye S hall
,

have found that foundation without which all works fall

into ruin and none can make p r ogress upon the way of
God This search is verily important an d n ee dfu l in
.
.

asm u c h as without humi l ity all other virtues are nothing

worth Hearken unto the desire of the eternal King
.
,

Jesus Christ w ho hath so ardently prayed y o u that ye

,

should learn this virtue of Him R est upon this fo u n da .

tion and re fl ect upon your own vil eness and nothingness .

Hearken unto the wish of the eternal Truth and Wisdom ,

who concealeth the value o f humility from t he wise o f

this world a nd revealeth it unto babes preaching it and ,

S howing it forth in examples .

My desire after which I do hunger and t hi rst is that ye

should plunge yourselves into the depths of the divine
g oodness for if y e trust in the immensity thereof and
,
-

have a knowledge of yourselves ye will possess a solid ,

foundation in h u milit y Then will y e not b e so inclin ed

.
 OF FOLIGNO ” 5

to strife and contention but ye will be rather as the

,

deaf w ho hear no t and as the dumb w ho open not their

'

mouths and in consequence thereof ye will be true

,

members of Christ of whom the apostle saith that they

,
'

enter n ot into strife o r any cont est of the flesh .

Of how many good things is this humility the cause

Those who are fill ed with it are calm quiet pleasing , ,

unto God and abounding in grace and this are they b e ,

cause o f their inward and outward peacefulness When .

they hear any hard thing spoken against themselves or

a ain st so m e truth they seek not to excuse themselves
g
'

but only answer b riefly and with a low voice even unto ,

those who do falsely accuse them and they will confess

,

their ignorance and be ready to give way rather than

contend .

CHAPTE R XXV I
H OW H U MILITY D OTH CAU SE U S TO SEE THE M U LTI
TU DE OF O UR SI NS AN D THAT AN H U MBLE LIFE DOTH
WO R K CO NT R A RY TO THEM
T HIS silence proceedeth from naught else save from that
twofold overwhelming namely by the divine immensity
, ,

and its own vileness and the soul is thus overwhelmed

in the aforesaid light of humility .

But I pray ye where is this hu m ility P Where is this

, ,

vileness ? Where is this light ? Whe r e is this silence ,

1 16 THE BLES SED ANGELA
and by what may we attain unto these aforesaid t hin gs
Of a certainty we m ay attain unto them by fervent pure , ,

constant and earnest prayer and by reading the Boo k of

,

the Life of Jesus Christ that is reflecting upon His life

, ,

and death And when the soul refl ect et h upon His su fi er
.

ings it is given unto it to know the multitude o f it s sin s

,

and how it hath o ffen ded God with all its members and ,

it humbleth itself in consequence as hath already been ,

said .

Wherefore do I pray you that ye be always of one mi n d ,

tha t there be no divisions or sects amongst y o u but that in ,

your souls there b e that which maketh all discord to agree

under one wi l l and this is lowliness Lowliness regardeth .

n o t any su fficiency o f knowledge o r of common sense but ,

only inclineth the soul to perceive its faults and wre tc h ed

ness t o make accusation and j udgment against itself in
,

order to convince itself of its o w n sins that it may en

deavo u r to remedy them Lowliness doth not hold itself
.

t o be superior to any neither persuadeth any to think

,

themselves superior t o others ; it doth n o t make m en im

portant o r contentious of speech albeit its life offen det h
,

all w ho are opposed unto this SI m p l icit y .

Therefore oh my children I do desire that your liv es

’

, , ,

O u r tongu es s ilent in this lowliness of babes and the zeal

y ,

o f y o ur discreet compassion should be as a clear mirror

unto the adversaries o f this life Oh my beloved if I .

,

should hear it said o f y o u that lowlin ess had made you t o

b e o f on e heart and o n e mind my soul wou ld b e at p eace
,
1 1 8 THE BLES SED AN G ELA
m it t edagainst u s and if we forgive them we shall attain
,

unto the state o f charity in unity .

Know ye my children that like as love containeth all

, ,

worth and g oodness so hate containeth all unworthiness

, ,

sin and evil Wherefore my dear children there I s

, .
, ,

nothing in this world neither man nor devil nor any

,

other thing which I do fear as greatly as I fear love

,
.

Fo r love p en et rat et h the soul more than any other thing ,

neither is there anything which doth so fill the mind and

the whole heart a s doth love so that if the soul hath not
the arms Wherewith to protect itself it may easily fall ,

into evil and su ffer great ruin I am not speaking here .

o f wrongfu l love the which must be eschewed by all and

,

shunned as a thing perilous and diabolical but I am ,

Sp eaking o f good and S piritual love such as exist et h b e ,

twixt God and the soul o r betwixt o n e neighbour and

,

another .

That this is true is plainl y proved For if the love .

which the soul b eareth u n t o G o d be not armed with ‘

great wisdom and discretion but moveth with u ndue ,

'

fervour then doth it either presently ce ase or it is

, ,

deceived or it tendeth unto some unseemly end For

, .

things w hereI n 1 8 no order are neither good nor healthful

and for this reason are there many persons who believe
they are filled with the love of God whereas they are ,

filled with hatred of Him and do love instead the world ,

the fl esh and the devil

,
.

When therefore any man loveth God because He can

, ,
 OF FOLIGNO 11
9

save him from bodily in fi rm it ies and tribulations and

from temporal perils he loveth himself and God in a
,

manner u n b efi t t in g placing himself before God who

, ,

S hould be loved before all other t hings One man loveth .

everything fo r himself and thus maketh a god of himself

and his ow n heart not loving G od save for his ow n sake
, .

Another loveth all worldly things for himself and for the
profit o f himself and his body he loveth his kindred for
his ow n profit and for the honour which they do him .

He loveth men and saintly and S piritual pe r sons in order

,

that he may cover himself with the mantle of their

holiness albeit He loveth them n o t for their good ness
, .

Verily such love is n ot pure b ecause the fru it t hereof is

, ,
t

the del ighting of the fl esh and the body with all manner ,

o f vice and concupiscence Others are there who love

.

bodily attainments and talents and would know how to

,

read and sing for the pleasure of others They delight .

,

moreover in great and profound learning in order that

, ,

in argument they may overcome learnedly and with

much reasoning ; yet n ot o u t o f charity but that they ,

a with pride correct others and be exalted in thei r eyes

y .

There are also some w ho b elieve they love God and ,

w ho do love Him b ii t with a feeble and imperfect love

,
.

These love God in order that He may forgive them their

trespasses and liberate them from hell and give them
the glory of Paradise and not because of His goodness
,
.

Others love God for the sake of having divine consolation

and sweetness spiritual thoughts and delights Others
, ,
.
1 20 THE BLES SED ANGELA
lo ve Him in order that He may love them Some love .

their kindred and friends from a desire that they should

b e spiritual and goo d that they may n o t be ashame d
,

because of them but may derive profit and honour

, .

S o me love God in order that He may give them unde r

standing knowledge and intelligence of b ooks and tha t
, , ,

they may b e able to sp eak spiritually ; yet not for t he

honour and profit of others b ut t hat they themselves
,

may be more loved and honoured They love to be .

S piritual that they may be esteemed spiritual and be be

loved O f t he spiritually minded b ut it is for their o w n
,

S piritual honour and profit t hat they do this They love .

t o be poor patient obedie nt and outwardly humble and

, , ,

virtuous in order that they may appear more virtuous

,
-
,

than other persons desiring t hat none may seem b etter

,

th an themselves or even approach unto their perfecti on

,
.

And inasmuch as they desire t o have none equal unto

.

th em th ey are in t his matter like unto Lucifer w ho

, .
,

desired that no creatu r e should b e equal unto him .

Others there are w ho desire that their fame should be

nois ed abroad in order that they may be comme n ded
.

as saints alike by good and evil p ersons They do p r aise .

both tho se who are S piritual and those who are n ot in ,

order that they may not be accus ed of j udging b oldl y .

Some do love the devout per sons who come unto them
with a spirit u al and perfect love wholly loving the m in
,

Go d Nev ertheless this love doth sometimes incre ase

.
,

t oo greatly and if it b e not ar med with the weapons o f

,
1 22 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
occasioned by their love At first reason doth dissuade
.
,

them therefrom for as yet it hath not been entirely

,

overcome by love but love groweth and reason b egin n et h

t o b e obscured and the S pirit is weakened and co m m en c et h

to believe that it is n o Sin and in n o wise hurtful unto the

soul to touch the thing beloved Wherefore doth it .

permit this and so doth it begin to do wrong and to fall

,

from the stat e of perfection little by little as reason is ,

obscured by love And according as it sin ket h it b e

.

g in n e t h to esteem as naught those things which are

dangerous and t o say This may we do for we mean n o

, , ,
”
evil and it is not a great sin S o gradually these things
.

come t o be considered lawful and the love increasing , ,

more and more on e su b m it t et h entirely unto the will o f

,

the other each doing what the other desireth and n ot

,

opposing any reason t o the contrary Hence it followeth .

that the lover obtaineth all hi s desire and because of the ,

aforesaid disorder he cannot refuse if he be invited unto

evil doing and if he be n ot invited then doth he invite
-

knowing that it is pleasing unto the beloved .

Then do they refrain from prayer from abstinence , ,

from solitude and from all the other virtues which they
,

did formerly practice imitating divine love in t his most

,

miserable worldly love And sometimes this love in

.

c reaset h t o such a degree that neither the words n o r the

presence of the beloved do give the satisfaction they did

at first But loving more ardently each desireth to know
.
,

if the beloved be wounded by the sword o f love as deeply

 OF FOL IGNO 1 23

as is
the lover and then it is that they fall into peril
, .

Then are they confident and S ure one of the other and ,

because they are satisfied neither with words nor with

presence both lover and beloved are inclined unto all
,

Fo r this reason do I say that I fear love more than all

things for herein are all evils committed Wherefore
, .

take ye heed thereof as of a serpent, .

Because of evil love therefore do I fear good love

, ,

betwixt o n e person an d another for good love oft turneth

,

into evil in the aforesaid manner .

CHAPTE R XXV I II
TH E SO U L I S U N ITED WITH G O D I N TH R EE SE VE RAL
.

WAY S WHE R EB Y IT IS F UR N ISHED WITH A WEAPON

,

TO CO NT R OL TH E LO V E OF GOD AN D OF ITS
N EIGH B O UR
IF the love of God be not directed with discretion and
protected by its weapons it turneth unto evil The
,
.

'

weapons wherewith the good love of G od and one s ’

neighbour may be controlled are given unto man in the

transformation o f the soul .

Now this transformation is a threefold one some

times the soul is transformed in the will of God some ,

times with God and sometimes within God and God

,

within it .
12 1
4 THE BLES SED ANGELA
The first transformation is when the soul useth all its
endeavour to imitate the life of Christ crucified for herein ,

is made manifest the will o f God Himself .

The second is when the soul is united unto Go d and

loveth God ; not only because it so vvill et h but because ,

it hath great knowledge an d j oy of G o d the which how , ,

ever ir is able to explain and set forth in wo rds

, . .

The third is when the soul is so entirely made one

with G od and God with it that it know eth and en j oy et h
,

with God the most high t hings the which c an n ot possibly,

b e set forth in words n or imagined save by him w ho

,

feel et h them .

Therefore the first doth n o t control the love of lovers

,

as perfectly as it should (albeit it hath much control) ,

because it can stil l b e deceived The second if it be .

,

very alert is su fficient to control love But the third is

, .

supreme in the r uling of love b ecause this third together

, ,

with the second is perfectly instilled into the soul and

,

is given unto it by grace An d this third and the second

.

( albeit not perfect ) do nevert heless

,
produce c ert aI n

wisdom by means of which the soul is enabled to control

both the l ove o f God and o f the soul For the know
'
.

ledge and the sweetness and the fervou r which came

of the grace of God do so rule the soul and fill it with
this wisdom that love endureth and doth continue as it
began and doth not Sho w it sel f forth as an examp l e w ith
'

laughter and dancing or other like gestures .

In like manner doth it behave wisely and sob erly in t he

1 26 THE BLES SED ANGELA
furnace t o be turned into lime If the stone b e touched .

by the fire it cracketh noisily b ut if it be baked it maketh,

n o noise Thus the soul cloth in the beginning seek

.

divine consolation but when it hath been ove rwhelmed

,

thereby it groweth weak and crieth out against Go d

, ,

lamenting and saying Lord why hast Thou sent t his

, ,

weakness upon me i
Great audacity however is born o f that assurance
, ,

which the soul hath of G od It knoweth o f a certainty .

th at God loveth it deeply and cloth sometimes favour it

by giving it marvell ous and ineffable consolations ; but
these must n ot be demanded with importunity Never .

t hel e ss if G od gl v et h t hem they are n o t t o be refused for

, ,

they draw the soul nigh unto the beloved they are it s ,

food they do cure its weariness and through them is

, ,

it uplifted and drawn unto seeking loving and being , ,

united with it s beloved .

In this state is the soul contented with consolations ,

but through the deprivation thereof doth love increase

and begin t o seek fo r the belov ed And when it fi n det h .

him not it falleth sick and is no more contented with

'

c on so l at io n s b ecau se it seeketh its beloved alone

,
An d .

the more consolation knowledge and other S uch t hings

, ,

that it hath the more doth love increase and the more
, ,

sick and weary doth it become if it be not in the presence

o f its beloved .

But when the soul is united and placed in the seat of

truth which truth is the seat of the soul it crieth n o
, ,
 OF FOL IGNO 1 27

more neither doth it murmur against God ; it groweth

,

no more weak nor falleth sick b ut is filled with marvellous

, ,

wisdom and ripeness and becometh stable and orderly ,

and is so strengthened that for love of its beloved would

it go even unto death inasmuch as it possesseth in abun
,

dance the qualities needful for that union .

And G o d Himself maketh the soul to grow in order ,

that it may hold all that which He desireth to put into

it And the soul beholdeth this thing and perceiveth
.
,

that all other things are as nothing if they come not

from this .

Then the soul esteemeth as nothing all that it had

been heretofore in comparison with what it is now ; it
regardeth not anything created it careth neither for
,

death nor infirmity neither for honour nor disgrace and

, ,

so peaceful and full of comfort is it that nothing can rouse

I t ; it hath lost all desire and it cannot work for when it

,

s eeth the aforesaid Visions it can do nothing whatever .

Thus it appeareth that God doeth all things according

t o His wisdom and in an orderly and see m ly manner ;

for we fall not sick even when He is absent and thus ,

do we conform unto His will Although He be absent

.

we seek Him n ot but are satisfied with what He hath

,

ordained and trust wholly in Him .

But when these visions are withdrawn from the sou l

( because none are allowed in this present life t o continue

therein) there is given and doth remain unto it a new

,

and ardent desire t o perform without t rouble the works

 THE BLES SED ANGE L A
of penitence more vigorously th an heretofore and ,

assuredly this state is more sublime than was the other .

And the love now kindled is perfect and causeth the

loving soul to imitate it s B el oved Christ crucifi ed whose
, ,

sufferings did endure all the time th at He l ived this

mortal life Thus He began continued and ended He
.
, ,

w as ever upon t h e Cross of poverty grief contempt and, , ,

obedience and all the other hard deeds o f penitence

, .

Whosoever loveth another perfectly useth all his en

deavo u r t o m ak e himself one with that person following
r

his example and doing those things which please him .

Likewise whosoever loveth Jesus G o d and Man will , ,

endeavour to transform himself in Him fo l lowing His ,

example and doing that which he believet h will please

Him and in his manner of life seeking t o be as like unto
,

Him as possible .

CHAPTE R XXX
TH E M OR E PE RFECT MAN IS TH E M O R E EA R N ESTL Y
,

D OTH H E EN DEAV O UR TO DO THAT WH ICH IS

DESI R ED O R DE R ED AN D CO U NSELLED OF GOD
, ,

T HE more perfect a man is and the more he loveth God ,

the more doth he strive t o do these things which God

did which He desireth commandeth and co u n sell et h
, , ,

should be done and to avoid those things which displease

,

Him And he must do this all the da y s of his life fo r

.
,
 THE BLES SED ANGELA
This vision of the Supreme Being aw aken et h a love
corresponding unto itself The Supreme Being in cit et h
.

us to love everything which hath its being from Him all ,

good things and well made things and teacheth us to

,

love all creatures rational and irrational for love of

, ,

Him and everything whatsoever it may be which hath

, ,

its b eing from Him and which He loveth doth He incite

,

u s also to love . Especiall y doth He teach u s to love

those creatures in which we perceive He taketh an
especial delight for when the soul fi n det h that Supreme
Being y earn et h in love towards His creatures then will,

it also yearn towards them .

The sign manifest of those who stand in the friendship

o f the Supreme B eing is that they are true followers of
,

His only Son that they keep the eyes of their mind ever
,

fixed upon Him ready to love and follow Him and in all
, ,

things to transform themselves in the will of the Beloved ,

namely the only begotten Son o f the Supreme Being

,
.

CHAPTE R XXXI
H OW THAT LO V E C R EATED AN D E X CITED B Y THE
V ISI ON OF THE S U P R EME BEI N G D OTH MAKE U S TO
LO V E GOD AN D H IS C R EATUR ES ACCO R DI N G U NTO
THEI R C ON DITI ON S
T H U S the love created and excited by the vision of the
Supreme Being maketh us to know and love Him to know ,
 OF FOLIGNO 1 31

and love His creatures a ccording unto their conditions ,

and more or less according unto the inclination of the

Supreme Being for in no wise may it overstep the bounds
,

of His w i l l Y et everything that is love is to be feared

.

unless this love is given unto the soul by the Supreme

God but when God sendeth the V I SIO n of the Supreme
Being together with love due and su fficient unto Him
, ,

then is it safe and even though it have other visions and

,

revelations it doth not change .

Moreover those w ho have had this ine ffable Vision of

,

Go d are not only able to resist the sword of every u m

lawful love but this close thinking upon God su fficeth
,

t o cast o u t the wickedness of every other k ind of love .

The aforesaid vision of the Being uncreate doth n ot

o nl y bestow love uncreate but it leaveth within the soul
,

a love uncreate which p rev en t et h the soul from working ,

inasmuch as it is wholly absorbed by the Vision ; but

that which worketh is the love uncreate It should be
.

supposed that when this vision is given unto the soul ,

the soul worketh and desireth to be united as closely as

possible w ith the Supreme Being ; but then the love
uncreate worketh within the soul and persuadeth it to
forsake all creatures that it may be more Closely united
with itself Wherefore doth this love uncreate do the
.

works of the other love The principle of such a love is

.

t o illuminate and t o awaken fresh desire

,
And Verily
.
, ,

the new love is the stronger and for this the soul worketh
,

no thing But the love uncreate is the on e which worketh

.
11 3 2 T HE B L ES SE D ANGELA
all the good which we perform whilst the evil which we
,

do cometh o f ourselves All goo dness cometh from love

.

uncreate not from ourselves

, .

An d this is true humility and undoing o f ourselves ,

that we should Verily neal ise that we ourselves can work

no good thing ; and whos oever feel et h this hath the
spirit of truth .

CHAPTE R X XXII

TH E LO V E OF GOD IS N E V E R I DLE AN D PE RS UADETH

,

U S T O D O PENAN CE AS LON G AS LIFE AN D AS HA R SH ;

IT TELLETH U S TO D O IT AS OFTEN AS I S CON V EN IENT ,

AN D D OTH PE R FO R M MAN Y OTHE R P R OFITABLE TH I N GS

T HE love o f God is never idle fo r it cons traineth us t o

,

follow in the way of the Cross And the S ign o f the

.

working of true love is that it su ggest et h unto the soul

the way of the Cross and maketh it to do penance long
,

and hard as life itself the which it must bear as it con

,

ven ien t l can

y .

Thi s true love hath no smile upon its lips it behaveth

n ot unseemly in eating and drinking n or doth it exhi b it
,
”
any vain j oyful ness or say I a m under n o law but it
, ,

is always subj ect unto the law and where there is none ,

then doth it make one for itself .

When love shall have followed the way of the Cross

and shall have done penance unto the u t m o st o f its _
1 3, T HE B L ES SED ANGELA
which much hath already been said and whence we obtain ,

that knowledge o f G od which it is needful for us t o have

if we wo ul d also have His love as hath already b een set ,
'

forth .

Oh my beloved take comfort and see that we love G o d

, ,

and wholly transform ourselves in Him fo r this Christ ,

G o d uncreate G o d incarn ate is all love and therefore

, , ,

loveth all and desireth to b e wholly loved Wherefore .

doth He desire that His children should b e wholl y trans

formed in Him through love .

I pray y o u oh ye spiritual children chosen through

, ,

love ye who live in the grace and charity of the good and
,

pe rfect God I pray y o u transform yourselves with the

,

p erfection of love True is it that we are all sons of G o d

.

by creation but His elect S piritual children are they in

,

whom the G od o f love hath planted His love and in

whom He delighteth because He fi n det h His ow n like
,

ness in them whi ch likeness in the soul o f each o n e o f

,

the sons o f G od is formed there solely through the grace

o f God and the perfect love divine And perfect is he .

who hath already transformed his manners and life in the

likeness o f the life of Christ w ho lived in this world poo r
,

and despised and full o f suffering .

God therefore whose nature is noble desireth t o

, , ,

possess the whole heart of His son and n o t only a part

thereof and He desireth it immediately and without
, ,

companionship o r hind r ance o r anything contrary what

s oever But He is so merciful unto the soul that if it
.
 OF P OL I G N O 1 35

giveth Him its whole heart He accepteth it wil lingly and ,

if it giveth Him only a part He accepteth also the part ,

albeit His perfect love longeth naturally for the whole and
n o t only a part .

We kn ow tha t the bridegroom w ho loveth his bride

cannot endure that she should have any other companion
either O penly o r in secret In like manner cannot God
.

endure it B ut well do I know that if any person were

.

to understand an d taste of that divine love of God who

was made man and crucified for us and who is the Supreme
Good he would give himself wholly unto Him he
, ,

wo uld take hi mself away n ot only from other creatures ,

but also from his own self and would love this loving
,

God with his whole heart and transform himself entirely

,

in G od the Supreme Love

, .

Wherefore if the soul desireth t o attain unto this per

,

fec t io n of perfect love which giveth itself wholl y and

,

cloth not se rve God for sake o f the reward which it hopeth

t o receive from Him o r because of the future life but

, ,

giveth itself unto G od and serveth Him for His own sake ,

who is essentia l ly good in Himself and worthy of being

loved for Himself then the soul must enter by the
,

straight way and must walk thereon with the feet of pure
love upright fervent and orderly
, , ,
.

But the first step to be taken by the soul who entereth

upon this straight way and desireth t o draw nigh unto
G o d is to learn to know God in very truth and not only
,

outwa r dly as though by the colou r of the writing (as

,
1 36 THE BLES SED ANGELA
hath be en already said) For as we know so do we lov e
.

therefore if we know but little and darkly if we do ,

reflect and meditate upon Him only superficially and

fl eet in gl y we shall in consequence love Him but little
, ,

as hath been said afore .

CHAPTE R XXXI V
OF TH E P R OPE RTIES OF LO V E R S
T HE R E are t hree properties p eculiar unto lovers of which
it is needful to know Likewise certain signs of love
.
,

whereby each may know whether he be a true lover o r not .

The first property is to b e truly transformed in the will

o f the Beloved. To me it seemeth that His wil l is His life ,

which He show et h forth in His o w n self herein doth He

S how us poverty suffering and contempt which we must
, , ,

all e xperience indeed and w hen the soul is strengthened

,

and practised in these t hi ngs neither vice n or temptation

can enter into it .

The second propert y is to be transfo r med in the

properties of the Beloved of which I will at p r esent
,

mention three only The fir st is love ; that is to love

.
,

all creatures according as is seemly The second is t o .

be humble and gentle The third (which is given by

.

G od unto His lawful children) is st ea dfastness ; for the

n earer the soul is unto G od the less doth it change in
,
1 3 8 T HE BLES SED AN GELA
The fou r th and last is that the lover doth strive to ,

make himself like unto the beloved If the beloved be .

poor he striveth to be poor ; if the beloved be reputed

,

vile then he seeketh to be vile also if the beloved be in

,

grief he seeketh t o be a S harer of that woe in order that

, ,

the condition of o n e may be like unto that o f the other .

Of a truth I do hold that true and perfect love cannot

exist betwixt rich and poor honourable and Vile sorrowful , ,

and j oyous because these conditions are widely different

,

o n e from another and there can be no perfect love b e

,

twixt them because one doth not share the condition of

t he other Love is a true virtue which not o nl y maketh
.
,

things l ike unto each other but also u n it et h them and it ,

always leadeth the soul unto its like and not unto it s
opposite .

Of a certainty did Jesus Christ the Eternal Love , ,

possess all these signs He submitted His will unto man s

.
’

will and even unto death was He obedient unto those

,

who slew Him albeit He could have overthrown them

,

by only raising His hand Moreover He forsook all .

fr iendship His kindred and His mother and His ow n flesh

,

and blood for man s sak e leaving them and going t o His
’
, ,

death upon the C r oss He did also reveal unto u s His.

”
secrets saying ,
I have not call ed y o u servants Sec
, ,
.

Moreove r He desired t o make Himself like unto man

, ,

taking upon Himself true humanity and mortality b e ,

coming like unto man in all t hings s aving only sin ,

.

Therefore ought we also to do all these things fo r His

 OF FOLIGNO 1 39

sake ; otherwise love goeth halting upon our side and ,

doth great wrong unto that passionate Lover Where .

fore let u s make ourselves like unto Him in all things (in
which He made Himself like unto ou r wretchedness) ,

doing penance in that poverty contempt pain and con

, , ,

t rit io n o f heart in which He always lived . Of a truth ,

if on e person alone were t o perform all the acts of penance

which are performed by all the men in the world they ,

would not suffice to repay the sma l lest drop of sweat

which Christ shed fo r us nor w o u l d t hey be enough to
,

merit the least of the j oys o f Paradise promised unto us ,

n o r to give satisfaction fo r t he least of the mortal sins by

’

u s committed nor yet to repay G od for our creation

,
.

CHAPTE R XXXV
H OW THAT EACH PE R SON SH O U LD DESI RE TO PE RFO R M
H IS PENAN CE AS SEC R ETLY AS POSSIBLE AN D I N A
SEEM L Y MAN N E R
E ACH pe r son should endeavour t o do his penance as
secretly as possible and if he cannot do this then should
,

he desire to do it and he mu st do his penance in public

,

and endeavour not t o be observed If we neglected

.

good works for this r eason we should seem lukewarm and

fearful and we ought t o neglect them in n o wise whatso
,
’
eve r In these matters have we our Master s example
. ,
1 4 9 T HE BLES SE D ANGELA
for He did many things which were never written down
n o r noised ab r oad Moreover for our sake He did many
.
,

things in public n or di d He cease from doing good ev en

,

though He was seen o f men .

And although we may find it hard t o do penance

(which however seemeth unto me to be necessary) let
, , ,

u s at least make a virtue of necessity and bear p atiently

and willingly those tribulations which are sent u s of

God .

There is no doubt that when men are troubled out

w ardl and inwardly it is a S ign that they are loved of
y ,

the Beloved Those things which G o d the Father loved

.

and chose and gave unto His o nl y dearly b eloved Son ,

doth this only Son choose and give unto His dear children .

God the Father chose for His Son poverty contempt and , ,

suffering persecutions and a fflictions these things ou t

, ,

w ar dl and inwardly did the S on of God endure

y
weariness fear an xiety and agony and other things so
, , , ,

innumera ble that tongue cannot tell nor heart imagine

them .

Let u s study then how t o bear worldly tribulations

, ,

with patience yea even with cheerfulness b ecau se

, , ,

herein lieth the S ign that the Beloved delighteth in u s

and hath chosen us and will give us the pledge of His
inheritance .

When ye su ffer think only upon the su fferings o f ,

the Man o f Sor r ows and all your ow n griefs will be ,

healed .
1 42 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
tribulation were known there would be great strife and
,

thieving o f trouble and each woul d forcibly take away

,

from the other the causes of tribulation which proceeding

,

would greatly grieve Him w ho is the light of tribul ation .

M ay His tru e consolation comfort us neath the burden of

tribulation t o whom be glory fo r ever and ever
,
.

CHAPTE R XXXV I I
H OW THE T R IB U LATI ON S WH ICH LIE I N PO VE RTY ,

CONTEMPT AN D S U FFE RI N G A R E I N MAN Y WAY S

,

M OST P R OFITABLE
I H OLD that the tribulations which lie in poverty con ,

tempt and su ffering are very profitable for us and meet

,

for o u r endurance .

The reason thereof is this : it is needful that man

~

should know himself and G o d N ow the knowledge o f

.

G od pre su pp o set h a knowledge of self and therefore

-

man must consider and diligently observe Him who is ‘

o ffended and w ho it is who giveth offence Through .

this consideration is granted grace upon grace l ight upo n ,

light and vision upon Vision and hereby cometh he

, ,

unto a more ample knowledge of God The better he .

knoweth the more doth he love the more he loveth the

,

more powerfully doth he work and this work is the S ign

,

and measure o f love Fo r herein is it shown i f the love be

.

p ure true , and upright that is to say if he loveth and

, , ,
 OF FOL IGNO 1 43

worketh with due e ffect and endureth those three things

which Christ who loved him did endure and practise all
the days of His life .

Therefore he who loveth Christ must love and practise

,

those things for inasmuch as He who was all wisdom did

choose them fo r Himself He did thereby show them t o
,

be meet for u s .

CHAPTE R XXXV III

OF THE M OST SWEET GIFTS OF GOD PO V E RTY CONTEMPT
, , ,

AN D S UFFE R I N G ; AN D OF OTHE R PE R FECTI ON S

T HESE are the sweet gifts o f God and whosoever doth
,

fully obtain them may know himself to be perfected and

consummated in the most sweet God Jesus Christ and, ,

Jesus Christ to be perfected in him through transforma

tion And the more perfect man is in these things the
.
,

more wholl y will he b e transformed in Jesus Christ .

The first is the love of poverty whereby the soul

,

putteth away from itself the love o f every creature for

it desireth n o t the possession o f any save of the Lord
Jesus Christ it tr usteth not in the help of any creature
,

whatsoever in this life and thus doth love of Him not

only reign alone in the heart but is also shown forth
,

in the works.

The second is the desire to be despised scorned and, ,

hated of every creature and the wish that every creature

,
1
44 THE BLES SED AN GELA
should esteem the soul worthy of dn race so that none ,

should have compassion on it It should desire likewise.

to be cherished in the heart of none save of God alone ,

and by Him alone to be held in good repute .

The third is the desire to feel all the su fferings burdens , ,

and griefs borne by the heart an d body of the most sweet ,

Jesus Christ and His tender mother and tha t all creatures ,

should inflict upon the soul those same unending woes .

And if it feel et h not able t o desire these three things it ,

may know itself to be very far removed from the likeness

o f Christ For these three thi n gs were with Him in all
.

places at all ti mes and in all His deeds and likewise with
, , ,

His mother that is to say they did bear the utmost

, ,

poverty su ffering and contempt

, ,
.

The fourth is that each person should deem himself

.

unworthy of so much g ood ; that he should know that

he could never have these things of his own self and the
more abundantly he hath them the more must he deem ,

himself to lack them for whoso thinketh to possess the

,

t hing b eloved doth thereby lose the B eloved Himself .

Wherefore must we never dee m ourselves to have attained

unto it but must ever consider that we are begin ning
,

anew that we have as yet achieved nothing and have

,

obtained none of these things .

The fifth is that the soul should strive constantly to

,

reflect how these things were always in the Lord Jesus

Christ ever imploring God with fervent prayers that He
,

would clothe it s heart anew and give it these com panions ,

1 46 THE BLES SED ANGELA

CHAPTE R X XXIX
OF THE MAN Y SIG N S AN D EFFECTS OF LO V E WH ICH
A R E CAU SED B Y THE SAC RAMENT OF THE E U CHA R IST
I COME now unto the Sacrament o f love and grace which
is called the Eucharist and hereof will I say so m ething
,

more than what hath already b een said .

This Sacrament hath t o arouse devout p r aye r in u s and

make that the power thereof worketh for g oo d in us It .

doth l ik ewise g r ant u S deep humility o f heart and moveth

u s with the desire for true love and charity And I doubt
.

not ,
but a m ve ry certain that n o soul who beholdeth
,

and con t emp l at et h t his hol y Sacrament coul d not be so

insensible unto love that it would not be instantly filled
with it re fl ecting how greatly it had been loved in this
,

Sac r ament .

V e r ily it seemeth unto me that this Sacrament this

,
-

holy M ystery must b e considered with great diligence by

,

those w ho desire t o celebrate and receive this sacrifice ;

the soul must n o t pass hastily over this meditation but ,

must dwell upon it carefully and earnestly And albeit .

the t hings which may be said of this Sacrament cannot

be expounded or set fo rth methinketh they can be re
,

du ced unto seven points or meditations the which

, ,

should be considered one by one .

Firstly this hol y M ystery is new and above all things

,
 OF FOLIGNO
marvellous and far beyond o u r understanding Al beit
, .

this Mystery w as shown of old as is set down in the Holy ,

Scriptures and is ancient as regardeth its form it is never

, ,

t hel ess new as regardeth the e xhibition of the Sacrament

whereby the creature receiveth grace and new strength .

Fo r well do we know and by faith do we hold without

.
,

any doubt that at the holy words ordained and first

,

spoken by Christ Himsel f and which He commanded ,

should be likewise spoken by the priest His m inister

.

, ,

the bread and wine do through infinite divine power sub

st an t iall become Christ Therefore doth this substance
y .

of bread and wine by transubstantiation become the

body of Christ and Christ God and Man entereth by
, , ,

consecration into that Mystery The colour taste virtue .

, , ,

shape and all the qualities of that same bread and wine
,

do still remain yet n o t in Christ but through the divine ,

power over their own natures For the colour is in itself .

,

and the taste and shape and other qualities are all in
themselves .

Whe r efore in very truth this new thing is very great

, ,

which the divine wisdom worketh of it s supreme charity ,

infinite power and great goodness which the Creator

, ,

doth work in His creatures and there are moreover , , ,

many other special new t hings which the body and blood ,

o f Christ work in His friends and His elect But let n o .

man marv el thereat nor at other things which are done

,

in the Sacrament for he must remember the power of

,

Him w ho doeth th em Neither let him marvel how the

.
1
4 8 THE BLES SED ANGELA
Sacrament can be upon ma ny altars at the sa me t ime
.

upon this side of the sea and upon that and he r e and ,

also in other places For He saith Y e u nderstand Me

.

not and this have I done without you and have worked
,
.

without y ou and unto Me is nothing impossible I am

, .

He who made you what ye are but n ow for y ou r o w n ,

t

good can ye n o t understand If I had desired I could .

,

have made you strong t o understand b u t t his have I

'

done in order that by your faith ye may b e deserv in g ;

'

for there would have been no m erit t herein if ye had ~

seen Clearly wherefore it w as done B elieve therefore .

, ,
”
and doubt not .

Secondly this Sacrament is above all things gracious

,

and kindleth love For that which moveth Him w ho

.

ordained this most holy S acrament was the greatest of

all things and n ot less was the profit which S hould p ro
,

c eed theref r om I know not what name I should give it

.
,

save that of immeasurable love because of His bound

‘

less love did He institute this S acrament .

B ecause of His great l oVe towards us did He ent er into

the S acrament and will abide therein until the end of the
wo rld This He did not only in m emory of His dea t h
.
'

which is our salvatio n but that He might ever an d always,

r emain nigh unt o us And whosoever will enter into this

.
.

deep Mystery must needs hav e good eyes Christ knew .

at His last supper that He must presently dep art bodily ;

.

wherefore overcome b y the love which always u n it et h

,

the lover and the beloved He did instit u te thi s Sacra ,

I 50 THE BLES SED ANGELA
treatment the Cross the hard nails and the other things
, ,

then being prepared for Him For this reason when .

,

praying after supper He did sweat drops of blood and

, ,

not only a little bu t so that it ran down upon the ground

,
.

Nevertheless He refrained not from instituting this

,

Sacrament and giving Himself unto us .

This Sacrament is therefore most proper as a , ,

memorial of His grievous and bitter Passion and the

shedding of His blood for us miserable sinners Where .

fore did Christ say AS often as ye shall do this ye do it

, ,

in remembrance of Me ”
And what soul is there w ho .

could behold these su fferings and not itself be trans

formed in suffering Of a certainty not one saving onl y ,

he who remembereth not the cruel su fferings of Christ s ’

heart .

Fourthly this Sacrament is above all things worthy

,

and venerable to b e regarded with the utmost reverence

,

and humility because He w ho ordained this sacrifice was

,

Jesus Christ God supreme and uncreate

,
.

The soul w ho considereth this sacrifice hath not o nly

to consider Him who ordained it but likew ise that which ,

is contained in that Sacrament For herein is contained .

G o d uncreate invisible and omnipotent He who doeth

, , ,

all things who is most merciful and j ust Creator of the

, ,

heavens and the earth of all things Visible and invisible ;

,

and this is the chief thing upon which we need here

reflect .

There is also a lesser thing j oined together with this

 OF FOLIGNO 151

great thing for herein is found G od made Man which ,

is t o say divinity and humanity united in O

, n e person .

So that sometimes in this present life the soul receiveth

greater delight from this lesser thing than from the
gr eater ina smuch as it is better able to receive and
,
'

understand t he l esser thing which it beholdeth in God

'

incarnate For the soul is a creatu re which liveth by

.
,

it s flesh and all the memb ers o f it s body wherefore doth ,

it in this life delight in God uncreate whom it beholdeth ,

in human form and Christ the Creator and the creature

, ,

Deity and soul with the fl esh and blood and all the
,

members o f His most holy body .

Of a certainty the soul he r e beholdeth the u nion of

many things herein contained and from the lesser— that ,

is t o say from
,
the hu manity — is it led unto the divinity ,

and in like manne r fro m the divinity unto the huma nity .

For which reason doth the soul w ho well c onsidereth

it behold here the ine ffable divinity in which are all the ,

treasures o f wisdom and knowledge and incorruptible

riches In that divinity it beholdeth likewise the only
.

j oys which do satisfy o u r minds and many other things ,

unsp eak able doth it find .

Moreover it beholdeth here the most Precious Soul

,

and the holy immaculate oblation with all the virt ues
, ,

and gifts of the Holy Spirit It beholdeth here the

1

most precious bo dy o f our R edeemer the blood with ,

which we we r e saved and given new life together with ,

other unspeakable things which should all excite in u s

,
1 5 2 T HE BLES SED AN GELA
the utmost r everence For here verily is He whom all .

the dominions o f heaven adore whom all t he celestial ,

sp irits do fear and b efore whom the strongest powers of

,

the heavens do tremble If we did but behold Him as .

they do with what reverence and h umility should we

,

look upon and receive that S acrament " What soul is '

there so proud who when it considereth the aforesaid

, ,

things doth not humbl e itself in heart and b ody in the

'

'

p r esence of that S acrament

Fifthly this Sacra ment is ab o ve al l things profitable
, ,
,

an d above all thing s high and Sp IrI t u al an d it u p raise th ,

us unto heavenly things .

This Sacrament was ordained by the most holy Trinity

in order tha t It might bi nd unto Itsel f t hat w hich It .

most greatly loved that It might draw the soul unto

,

Itself u nto God an d aw ay fro m all created things

, ,

j oining it together with God uncreate ; and thus did

It bestow upon the soul S pi ritual and divine love a n d
mortify and p u rify it from its sins It Was ordained by .

the mo st holy Trini t y in order that It might uni t e and

incorporate Itself with us and us with It and It desireth ,

that we should rece1v e the S acrament in order t hat

He may r eceive us ; It desireth that we should bear
it in or der that He may b ear us fo rt ify u s and com , ,
,

fort us .

What soul is there so wretched the r efore w ho if it , , ,

'

wel l considereth the matter will refuse t o let itself be ,

drawn nigh unt o su ch a Lord seeing how t hat such clear

, ,
‘
1 54 THE BLESSED ANGELA
found in this S ac r ament For this reason is it the
.

Supreme Goo d uncreate which is the Divinity and it

, ,

is the supreme good created which is the humanity o f,

Christ Jesus Therefore should we ofttimes praise it

.
,

because the holy angels cease not to extol it saying ,

'

Holy holy holy

, ,
”
And not only the holy angels but
.
,

all the saints and the blessed do see and hear and stand
ever before it , and within it Of a cert ainty they do .

stand within this sacrifice in God the infinite Good for

,

these blessed ones are h ere ever in the presence of God

uncreate the Supreme Good and of G od made Man
, , ,

w ho is found in this most admirable S acrament .

And in this Mystery do they receive new sweetness and

j oy and o ffe r n ew praise an d thanksgiving And I do
,
.

think this is b ecause of the union and understanding

which they have for inasmuch as they do communicate
with the Head and the m embers that is w ith Jesus , ,

Christ with God th e Head and His faithful t hey do see

, , ,

and hear and understand that Christ rej oiceth greatly in

this most high Mystery herein manifesting and showing
,

forth His goodness and he r ein taketh He singula r pleasure

, ,

fo r and in the good o f His foll owers and friends with ,

whom He is j oined together by means of this sacrifice .

For this reason also do the saints and angels rej oice with
Christ in this Mystery with new j oy and p r aise and
,

thanksgiving For that which pleaseth Christ pleaseth

.

these l ikewise Christ rej oiceth also to be in this S acra

.

ment with men yea He d elighteth t o be with the sons

, ,
 OF F OLIGNO 1 55

of men And all the blessed of the c hu rch t riu m p han t

. .

do rej oice bec ause of the good and the profit which the
holy souls in the church militant do receiv e through this
Sacrament Wherefore should the whole church rejoice
.

and praise God for such great blessings and benefits ,

giving Him great thank s and honour .

Therefore Whosoever meaneth to come unto this most

,

holy Sacrament must consider to whom he cometh how ,

he cometh and for what reason For he cometh unto a

, .

certain good thing which is itself all good and the cause
,

of all good the giver maker and possessor of all good ;

, , ,

yet it is itself the only good without which there can be ,

none other This good thing su fficeth and fill et h every

»

thing satisfying all the saints and holy spirits all those
, ,

who are j ustifi ed by grace and all the souls and bodies of
,

the blessed w ho reign in everlasting glory Man cometh .

t o receive this good thing which is God made Man , ,

in whom are all and who is above all beings Oh Good

,
.
,

Supreme unconsidered unknown unloved but found

, , , ,

by those w ho with their whole hearts entirely do desire

thee
If man therefore doth o nl y consider and r egard the
, ,

morsel which he eateth with his body if he beholdeth it ,

n o t with his soul and doth not me di tate and reflect before
,

he receiveth this great good which is eternal and infinite , ,

if he receiveth it unwo rthily then it bringeth ete r nal ,

death unto both soul and body But if he recei veth it .

worthily it overcometh death and gain et h life blessed

,
1 56 THE BLES SED ANGELA OF FO LIGNO
and eternal and without he receiveth this he hath n o
,

life Christ saith Except ye eat the flesh of the Son

‘

.
,

o f M an and drink His blood ye have no life in you

”
.
,

We should therefore approach that table and that

, ,

great and good thing with the utmost reverence fear , ,

and trembling but above all with e xceeding great love

, , .

And the soul S hould approach unto this Sacrament

humbly ex al t ed an d adorned for it goeth unto that
, ,
'

which is the height of all beauty and perfect glory ,

supreme holiness happiness blessedness exalt edness and

, , , ,

nobility all S weetness and all love and which hath the
, ,

sweetness of love without end

"

Thus should the soul go t o receive the Sacrament in ,

order that it may itself be received It should be pure .

,

that it may be purified a l ive that it may be quickened ,

j ust that it may b e j ustified ; ready that it may be

, ,

incorporated with God uncreate who was made man and ,

that it may be one with Him unto all eternity Amen . .

1 58 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
astonished locked in and alone My heart w as all
, .

wrapped up in that j oy and I b ecame as on e dumb and

did lose my speech Wherefore did it happen that when
.

my companion came she believed that I w as about to die

but she did onl y weary me and was an hindrance unto me .

Once before t hat l had finished giving all I possessed

,
r

unto the poor (albeit but little then remained for me t o

give) when I w as persevering in these matters it chanced
, ,

that o n e evening when I Was a t prayer meth ought I did

feel nothing whatso ever of G od Wherefore I lamented
and prayed unto God saying ,

Lord that which I do I do only that I may find

, ,

Thee ; wherefore having done it do Thou grant me the

, ,
”
grace that I may find Thee .

And many other similar things did I say in my prayer ,

and this answer was vouchsafed unto me What de ,

sir est thou

Then I said I desire neither gol dnor silver ; y ea ,

if Thou wouldst give me the whole world I would n o t

”
accept it seeing that I desire Thee only
,
.

Then did He say unto me Strive diligently and make ,

‘

thyself r eady for when thou hast accomplished that

,

whic h thou art now doing the whole Trini t y will de ,

scend u nto thee ”

.

Many other things were also promised unto me which ,

did ease me of my tribulation and fill me with divine

sweetness And from tha t hour I did await that the thing
.
'

which had be en told me should be immediately fulfilled .

 OF FOLIGNO 1 59

And I related this unto my companion with some doubt

fulness seeing that great things had been told and
,

promised unto me ; nevertheless they had left me with

that divine sweetness and gentleness .

After this I went unto the church of Saint Francis ,

near unto Assisi and the promise was fulfilled by the

,

way as I went t hither Nevertheless I had not yet

.
,

finished giving all things unto the poor but there w as ,

little yet remaining This had happened because of the

.

death of a noble and holy m an t o whom this matter had ,

been entrusted and who ha d not been able to accomplish

it He had been converted by God s grace through our
.
’

admonitions and was about t o deprive himself of all he

,

had and give his possessions unto the poor But he died .

upon the way Nevertheless God did perform many

.
,

m iracles by means o f him and his tomb is held in

,
,

reverence .

As I went unto S aint Francis therefore I prayed by , ,

the way An d am o n gst other prayers I did ask the

.
,

Blessed Francis that he would implore God for me that ,

I might se rve well his Order unto which I had but ,

lately renewed my promises and that he would obtain ,

for me the grace that I might feel somewhat o f

Christ but above al l that He would make me become
, ,

poo r and end my days in pover t y For this cause (namely .

,

t o have the lib erty of poverty) had I j ourneyed unto

Rome to pray the Blessed Peter that he would obtain for

,

me the grac e of tr ue poverty An d thus through the .

,
1 60 THE BLES SED ANGELA
merits of the Blessed Peter and the Blessed Francis the
gift of true poverty w as vouchsafed unto me by divine
mercy even as I w as asking for them in prayer as I wa lk ed
,

by the way .

Now when I w as come t o i t hat place which lieth b e

tween Spello and the narrow r oad which leadeth upward
unto Assisi ; and is beyo nd Sp ello it was said unto me
,
-

Thou hast prayed u nto My servant Francis and I ,

have not willed to send t hee another messenger I am

‘

the Holy Spirit who am come unto thee t o bring thee

,
~

such consolation as thou hast never b efore tasted And .

I will go with thee even unto Saint Franci s I shall be

withi n th ee and but few of thos e who are with t hee will
perceive it I will bear thee company and will speak
.

with thee all the way I will make no end t o my speaking

and thou wilt not be a ble t O at t en d unto any save unto
'

Me for I have bound thee and will not depart from thee
,

until thou comest for the Second time unto Saint F rancis .

Then will I depart from thee in so far as this present con

solation is concerned but in no other man ner will I ever
,
”
leave thee and thou shalt love Me
, .

Then began He to Speak the following words unto me ,

Which did persuade me t o love after this manner

My daughter who art sweet unto M e m y daughter ,
'

who art My temple ; M y b el ov ed daughter do thou love

“

Me for I do greatly love thee and much more than thou

,
“

lovest Me ”
And very often did He say unto me
. Bride
and dau ghter sweet a rt thou unto Me I love thee bette r
, ,
1 62 THE B L ESSED AN G E L A
'

for u s albeit He was so great and glorious And He did

,
.

expound unto me His Passion and the other things which

He did for o u r sake then He did add BehOld now if , ,

”
there be aught in Me save love He did grieve for that
.

in these times He could find n O p erso n upon whom He '

could pour o u t His grace and He did repeat t hat He

,

would S how far greater mercy unto whosoever should

love Him at this present time than He had shown unto
the saints and the blessed ones hitherto .

Then did He begin again t o say unto me My b e ,

loved daughter w ho is sweet unto Me love thou Me for , ,

Love M e
'

I do love thee more than thou lovest Me "

.
,

M y b eloved for boun dl ess is the love which I bear unto

,
”
the soul who loveth Me without any sin Methought .

He did desire t o be loved with that same love which He

bore u nto the soul according unto the power and virtue
,

o f the soul and that if only the soul itself would desire
-

this He wou ld bring it to pass

,
.

Again He said unto me My b eloved and My b ride

, ,

love thou Me " All thy life thy eating and drinking
,

and sleeping and all that thou dost is pleasing unto Me ,

”
if o nl y thou lovest Me And He said
. I will do great ,

things through thee in the sight of all people ; thou

shalt be known and glorified so that many S hall praise
,
”
My name in thee .

These and other similar things did He say unto me .

Then when I heard these words I did count over my

,

S ins and consider my faults and how that I was not

,
 OF FOL IGNO 1 63
'

worthy of such great love And I did begin t o cast

.
'

doubt upon these words wherefore my soul said unto

,

Him who had S poken unto it If Thou wert truly “

the Holy Spirit Thou wouldst not speak thus unto me ,

for it is neither right nor seemly seeing how that ,

I am weak and frail and might grow vainglorious

”
thereat .

He answered me R e fl ect and see if thou couldst be

,

vainglorious because o f all these things for the which thou

art now grown proud and see if thou couldst not per
”
c eiv e the folly of thy words by thi nk ing o f other things .

So then did I endeavour to grow vainglorious t hat I ,

might prove if what He had said were true and I b egan

t o gaze at the Vineyards that I might learn the folly of
,

my words And w hereso ever I looked He said unto me

.
,
”
B ehold and see this is My creation and thereat did I
, ,

feel th e most ineffable sweetness .

In the meantime I had rememb ered all my sins and ,

on my side I b eheld nothing save sins and wrong doing -

so that I did feel greater humility than I had ever felt

before Then did He tell me that I was beloved that

.
,

the Son of God and of the Virgin Mary had inclined

Himself unto me and was come t o speak with me .

Wherefore Christ said unto me

If all the world came now unto thee thou couldst ,

n ot S peak with others for when I come unto thee there ,

”
cometh more than all the world But in order to calm
.

my doubts He said : I a m He who was crucified for

“
1 64 T HE BLE S SED ANGELA
th ee and for thy sake did I endure hunger and thirst and
, ,

so greatly have I loved thee that I did shed My blood for

”
thee and He expounded unto me all His Passion and
,

said Ask mercy fo r thyself and for thy companions and

for all whom thou w ilt fo r I am much more ready to give
,

”
t han thou art to receive .

Then did my soul c ry aloud saying I will not ask, , ,

for I am not worthy and I remember all my S ins

And it said further If Thou who hast spoken with
,
“

me from the beginning wert truly the Holy Spirit Thou ,

wouldst n ot have told me such great things ; and if

Thou wert v erily within me then my j oy would be so
f
,

great that I could not bear it and live .

Then did He make answer : Nothing can exist nothing ,

can be done save according unto My will At present I .

will only giv e t hee j oy in the measure in which thou hast

'

it U nto another have I given les s j oy than this and he

.
,

fell upon the ground neither hearing nor seeing Y et

, .

will I give thee this sign that thou mayest know w ho I

,

am : go now and endeavour to speak with thy com

panions and think o f any thing that thou wil lst either ,

good or evil and thou wilt see that thou canst not t hink
,

o f aught else save of God Fo r I am He w ho alone can

.

bind the thoughts And all these things do I u n t o thee

.
,
”
not because of thy merits but of My goo dness ,
.

Whilst He was speaking all the evils I had committ ed

,

returned into my memo ry more clearly than be fore ,

wherefore did I more than ever deem myself worthy of

1 66 THE BLES SE D ANGELA
both body and mind And I beheld ; and if thou
.

seekest t o know what I beheld truly I can only say that ,

it w as a thing full of great maj esty ; and more than this

can I n ot say save that it seemed unto me to b e full
,

of all goodness Then He departed with great gentle

.

ness n ot suddenly but slowly and gradually Of

, .

the words which He S pake unto me the greatest are ,

these
Oh m y daughter w ho art sweeter unto Me t han I
’

am unto thee temple of My delight , thou dost possess

,

the ring of My love and art promised unto Me so that ,

henceforth thou shalt never leave Me The blessing of .

the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon thee
, ,
'

and thine understanding .

Then cried my soul If only Thou wilt not leave me

, ,

I will commit n o mortal sin

And He answered me That say I n o t unto thee
, .

Then as He was departing I did ask a blessing for my ,

companion and He replied

,
Unto her will I give ,
”
another blessing and so He dep arted And at His
,
.

dep arture He would not that I should prostrate mysel f

before Him but that I should stand upon my feet But
,
.

after that He was gone I fell down upon a seat and began
to cry with a loud voice clamouring and call ing without
,

any shame and uttering these words Oh Love hereto , ,

fore have I never known Thee w hy l eavest Thou me in ,

'

this manne r And more than this I could n o t say fo r

'

my voice was so su ffocated with crying that scarce could

 OF FOL IGNO 1 67

I pronounce even this wherefore w as it n ot heard by the

,

p ersons around me .

This clamouring and crying did come upo n me as I

ente r ed into the door o f the church of Saint Francis .

Here w as I ove rwhelmed again and began t o make a

noise and call aloud in the pres ence of all the people ,

that those w ho were come with me and did know me did

stand afar off and were ashamed b elieving that I did it
,

for another reason So was I left with the certainty that

.

it was Go d who had S poken with me and because of His

sweetness and the grief of His departure did I cry aloud ,

desiring t o die And seeing that I did not die the grief
.
,

o f being separated from Him was so great that all the .

j oints of my limbs did fal l asunder .

After these things I departed from Assisi and with great ,

comfort did I go upon my way speaking of Go d And

,
.

with much di fficulty did I hold my peace ; neve rth eless I

strove t o abstain from tal king b ecause of the company
, .

Then said Christ unto me I will give thee a S ign by

,

the which thou mayest know that I am Christ who have

talked with thee This sign is the Cross and love of God
.

which I do place within thee and which shall be with thee

”
for ever . And immediately I felt the Cross and the
love o f G od within my soul and S prea di ng throughout my
body so that I did actual ly feel it co rporally and feeling
,

it my soul was dissolved in God s love

,
’
.

When I was returned I stayed within the house and I ,

1 68 THE B LES SED ANGELA
felt a sweetness so p eacefu l qu iet and great that I kno w ,
"

not how to describe it Wherefore did I lon g for death .

,

and becaus e of the afor es aid peace and sweet j oyfulness

was life a greater grief unto me than I can say 5 1 longed '

fo r deat h t hat I might attain unto that delight o i the

' -

which I now felt something and b ecaus e of this did I ,

wi sh to depart from this world Life w as a greater gri ef .

unto me than had b een the deaths of my mother and my

'

children more h eavy t han an y other grief o f w hich I can

,

bethink me .

Thus did I remain eight days within the h o use all '

feeble And I cried , Lord have mercy upon me and

‘
.
,

ran t t hat I may remain no longer in t his world rO

”
F m
'

g .

this time forth I w as oft en aware of indes cribable odours

but these and other things can I not explain so great was ,

the sweetn ess and j oy which I did feel in t hem : The “

voice S pake unto me many other times but never at any ,

great length nor with so much sweetn ess o r deep meaning

,
.

Being r eturned therefore from Assisi as I have said

, , , ,

and lying in mine house my companion (who was o f

'

marvel lous si mplicity purity and virgi nity) h eard a voice

, ,

saying The Holy Spirit is in t he cell

,
”
Then She ca me .

unto me and began t o seek round asking o f me Tell , ,

me what aileth thee for three times have I been hidden

,
”
to come unt o thee And I answered . I am glad of ,
“

th at which hath been b idden thee

'

”
And from that .

time forth I relat ed unto my companion many o f these

secret things .
1 70 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
their goodness and all their beauty w as from Him and in
Him ; He was the whole and Supreme Good wi t h all ,

beauty and so grea t a j oy had I in His words that I paid

,

n o heed t o any creature .

Again He said unto me Infinite is the love which I

,

bear thee but I do n ot reveal it unto t hee— yea I do

, ,

even conceal it ”
.

Then answered my soul Wherefo r e hast Thou such

,

love and j oy in me who am hateful inasmuch as I have

,
'
,

offended Thee all the days of my life i

To this did He make answer S o great is the love I
,

bear thee that I n o more remember thy sins albeit Mine ,

”
eyes do see them for in thee have I much treasure .

Then did my soul feel an assurance so true that it

doubted no more It felt and saw that the eyes of G o d
.

w ere searching within it and it had such j oy in those eyes

,

that neither man nor saint come down from heaven could
declare it When Hetold me that He concealed much
.

love because I w as n ot able t o bear it my soul answered 5

, ,

If Thou art God omnipotent make Thou me able t o

,
”
bear it .

Then He made answer finally and said : If I Were t o

do as thou askest thou wouldst have here all that thou
,

desirest, and wouldst no longer hunger after Me For '

thi s reason will I not grant thy request for I desire that ,

in this world thou shouldst hunger and long after M e

”
and shouldst ever be eager t o find Me .
 OF FOLIGNO 1 7 1

TH I R D V ISI O N WHE R EI N SH E BEHELD GOD INASM U CH

,

AS H E IS I N V I N CIBLE OM N IPOTEN CE I N ALL TH I NGS ,

WH ICH GAV E U NTO HE R TH E G RACE TO BE OF BEN EFIT

B OTH TO THE P R ESENT AN D TO THE FUTUR E GENE RA
TI O NS M O R EO VE R SHE BEHELD LI KEWISE THE DEEP
.
,

H U MILITY OF GOD

UPO N a ce rtain occasion it was told me saying I w ho , ,

speak with thee am the divine Powe r w ho bring unto ,

thee divine grace The grace is this I desire that thou

.

shouldst b e o f benefit unto all men who shall behold thee

and not onl y unto these but likewise unto all who shal l
,

think of thee and remember thee and hear thee spoken

of. Neve rtheless thou wilt be of the greatest benefit unto
,
”
those into whom I have most fully entered .

Then albeit the soul rej oiced greatly I t saId I de

, , ,

sire not this grace for I fear that it would be hurt ful unto
,
”
me and make me to be vainglorious .

But the Lord answered With this hast thou naught

,

t o do for it concerneth thee not and thou hast only the

,

care thereof See that thou servest it well and renderest

.

it again unto Him t o whom it belongeth

Then my soul saw and understood that in this way it
could b e neith er pe rturbed nor hurt And the Lord said
.

”
also unto me Much am I pleased by thy great fear
,
.

After this I went into the Church and there did the
,

Lord speak most sweetly and graciously unto me whereat ,

all my mind did greatly rejoice and take comfor t He .

1 72 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
said ,
M y beloved daughter and many other things ,

better still and added

,
No c r ea t ure can console thee
, .
,

o nl y I alone w ho desire to reveal My power unto thee

,
”
.

An d immediately the eyes of my soul were Op en ed and i

I beh eld the p l en it u de o f God whereby I did compre ,

hend the whol e world both here and beyond the sea and
, ,

the abyss and all things else ; and therein did I behold
’

n aught save t he divine power in a manner assuredly in

describable so that through e xcess of marvelling the soul

,

cri ed with a lou d voice saying This whole world is

, ,

full of G od I Wherefore did I now compr ehend that

'

the world is but a small thing ; I saw moreover tha t , ,

the power o f God w as above all things and that the ,

whol e world w as filled with it .

Then said He unto me I have shown thee something

,
”
o f My power the which I did so well understand that
,

it enabled me better t o understand all other things He .

“
said also ,
I have made thee to see something o f My
power behold n ow and see Mine hu mility ”
Then Was .

I given so d eep an insight into the humility of God t o

'

wa r d s man and all other things that when m y soul re

memb ered His unspe akable pow er and comprehended
His deep humility it marvelled greatly and did esteem
,

itself to be nothing at all for in itself it beheld nothing

,

save pride .

Thus did I be gin to think within mysel f and t o esteem

myself in eve ry way unwo rthy o f the Holy Commu nion ,

wherefore did I refuse t o communicate .

1 74 THE BLE S SED ANGE L A
upon it There I beheld the ineffable fulness of God ;
.

but I can rel ate nothing of it save that I have seen the
,

plenitude o f divine wisdom wherein is all goodness

,
.

In t his plenitude I saw that it is not lawful to seek

o r de sire t o know that which the divine wisdom is going
.

to do , for this is a forestalling and dishonouring o f it .

When I see persons therefore who seek t o know such

, ,

things I am persuaded that they do err

,
.

From the time when I beheld this vision it hath been

given me t o understand and j udge all spiritual persons
and things when I hear them spoken of But I j udge .

n o t with that j udgment to make use of which is always

t o err ; but with another and true j udgment whereby ,

I understand whence I have the consciousness o f sin in

j udging .

I can say nothing more concerning this vision save ,

that the o n e word table remained in my memory I .

have said tha t I n the first elevation I was placed at a

table But of the things which I beheld o n that table
.
,

I can say nothing save what I have already said .

FIFTH V ISIO N WHE R EI N SHE BEHELD G O D I NASM U CH A

'

, s

H E IS S U P R EME J U STICE AN D SOMETH I N G YET HIGHE R

,

STILL ; WHE R EB Y S HE OBTAI N ED TH E APP R OBATI O N OF

THE H EA VEN L Y J U DGES

B EI N G one da y at prayer I asked o f Go d (not because I

,

doubted or desired in this manner to kn ow more of God) ,

 OF FOLIGNO 75

Wherefore oh Lord didst Thou create man an d where

, , ,

fore having created him didst Thou permit so much

, ,

su ffering to be laid upon Thee as was borne by Thy Son

because o f our sins ? For surely Thou mightest have
created us with double the amount of virtue we do
possess n ow and thus couldst Thou have ordained it
,

exceeding well that we should have b een gra teful and

pleasing unto Thee without those su fferings
.
.

Hereupon w as I given to understand that the reason

wherefore G od had done and permitted this was that
because in this way His goodness could be more clearly
made manifest unto u s and also becau se it was thus made
,

more suitable unto our needs Yet did this not su ffi ce
.

me for the full understanding thereof inasmuch as I ,

knew of a certainty that God could have acted otherwise

.

if He had so pleased .

Another time when I w as exal t ed in spirit I per

,
'

,
'

c eiv ed that this quest had neither beginning nor end so ,

that when the soul found itself thus in darkness it in

'

st an t l
y desired to turn back but it was not able neither ,

was it permitted to advance And being in this u n

.

certainty and anxi ety I was exalted yet higher still and
,

enl ightened that I might behold the ine ffable power of

G od .

Here w as seen the will j ustice and goodness of God

, , ,

and in these vi r tues I clearly beheld that which I had

sought to know Thus w as my soul brought forth out
.

of the darkness whe r ein it lay upon the earth ; for in

1 76 THE BLES SED ANGELA
this ill umination it was raised up straight and I stood
upon my feet even upon the tips o f my toes in such
, ,

bodily agility and renewed life as I had never hitherto

e xperienced Moreover there came upon me such a
.
-

fulness of charity a nd with so great a j oy did I under

,

stand that power w il l and j ustice of God ; that not only

, ,

w as I satisfied concernin g the questions I had a sk ed but ,

likewise concerning all creatures , even the demons and

the damned for I felt I was called to save them one
,

and all .

But inasmuch as this was a supernatural thing I cannot

S how it forth in words albeit I perfectly understood that
,

God coul d have saved us in ano ther manner if He had de

sired Neve rtheless I could not see how His power and
.
,

goodness could possibly have be en better manifest ed or

more plainly set fo rth than in this manner From that .

time onwards I did feel myself so contented and safe that

if I ha d known o f a certainty that I was to be damn e d
1
,

I S hould o n no account have bewailed myself nor should ,

I for this reason have s t riven and studi ed l ess to worship

and honou r Go d tha n I had done before so clearly had ,

I understood His j ustice and the righteousness of His

j udgments Wherefore was my soul filled with so great
.

a peace quietness and firmness that never do I remember

, ,

any other so complete and herein have I continued .

After I had seen the power of God His will and His , ,

j ustice I was up lift ed yet higher still and then I n o

, ,

longer beheld the power and will of God as before But .

1
7 8 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
How deep is the meaning of this saying But all this
turneth unto the profit of the bless ed for the soul who
,

hath attained un to a knowledge of the divine j udgment s

and u n derst an det h them wil l through t his knowledge of
,

G od d erive profit from all things .

SIXTH V ISION AN D CON SOLATIO N WHE R EI N SHE BEHELD

,

G OD I NASM U CH AS HE IS LO VE WHE R E B Y SHE WAS

,

T RANSFO R MED I N THE DI V I NE LO V E

M ETHO U G HT o n e time in Lent that I was exceeding

parche d and la cking in devotion wherefore I p rayed God
,
'

that He would give me something of Himself because all ,

goo dness was dried up within me Then were the eyes

.

o f my soul opened and I beheld love a dvanc ing gently

toward me and I beh eld the b eginning but not t he end
, .

U nto me there seemed o nl y a continuation and eternity

thereof so t hat I can describe neither likeness nor colour
, ,

but immediately that t his love reached me I did b ehold ,

’

all these things more clearl y with the eves of the so ul

than I could do with the eyes of the body .

This love came towards me after the manner of a

sickle Not that there w as any actual and measurab l e
.

like ness but when first it appeared unto me it did not

,

give itself unto me in such abundance as I expected but ,

part o f it w as withdrawn Therefore do I say after t he

.
,

m anner o f a S ickl e Then w as I fill ed with love and in

.
 OF FOL IGNO 1 79

estimable satiety ; but although it did well satisfy me ,

it did generate Within me so great an hunger that all

my members were loosened and my soul fainted with
longing to attain unto the remainder .

Then did I refuse either to see or to hearken unto any

creature ; I s pake not but my soul S pake within me
,
'

crying ou t and beseeching that love would not make it

thu s t o faint for love s sake because it held life t o be
’
,

but death .

Then did I first invoke the Blessed Virgin and after ,

wards the holy apostles that they would go with my soul

,

and beseech and imp l ore the Most High that He woul d
no longer cause it to suffer this death but that He wo ul d
,

permit it to attain unto that which it desired namely , ,

unto the remainder of righteous love Likewise in this .

faintness I did pray unto the blessed Francis and the

holy Evangelists and did make earnest su pp licat io n an d
cry unto them inasmuch as I was drawn nigh unto them
,

through the love which I felt And believing myself to

.

be all love I s aid

,
Many are there who t hi nk they do
,

dwell in love and they dwell in hatred and many on t he ,

contrary think they dwell in hatred and they do verily

”
dwell in love But my soul sought to know this of a
.

certainty and God permitted me to feel it so clearly that

,

I was whol ly content For I was so filled with this love

.

that after t hi s happened I do not believe I could ever

have been without it nor could I believe any creature
,

who said othe rwise ; even had it been an angel I woul d

1 80 THE BLE SSED ANGELA
not have believed it but would have answered Thou
, ,

art he who is fallen from heaven .

And methought that I beheld in myself two sides as ,

though a road had been made through me ; upon the

one side I saw t his love and all goodness (the which w as
o f God and not of me) and upon the other side I saw
,

myself all dried up Where there was nothing good

, .

Wherefore I considered that the thing I loved proceeded

not from me albeit I w as in love but that it came from
, ,

God alone in whom all love w as j oined together

,
.

Then gave He unto me greater and more ardent love

than before and I desired to go unto this love Thus
,
.

were there two loves that of which I have already

,

spoken and which w as so great that I knew not that any

co u ld be greater until there came upon me a mortal love
, ,

and betwixt this love and that other mortal love a great
heat There is a certain middle place of the which I can
.
-

sa
y noth ing so deep was it so full of j o
, y and,
unspeakable
delight .

Then do I wish to hear nothing of the Passion neither ,

would I that God should be named before me because ,

when I hear Him named it excit et h in me so much de

v o t io n that I faint and a m distressed for love of Him ,

and all lesser things do trouble me In comparison with .

this I do esteem as nothing all that is related in the

Gospel of the Life of Christ or in other places for in God
, ,

do I behold greater and yet more incomparable things .

Since He hath left me I am remained as co n t en t ed as '

1 82 THE BLES SED ANGELA
beheld Him so distinctly But love did I n ot see here
.

so fully ; rather did I lo se that which I had before and

was left Without love Afterwards I did see Him darkly
.
,

and this darkness w as the greatest blessing that could b e

imagined and no thought could conceive aught that
,

would equal this .

Then was there given unto the soul an assured faith a ,

firm and certain hope wherein I felt so sure of God that

,

all fear left me For by that blessing which came with

.

the darkness I did collect my thoughts and was made so

sure of God that I can never again doubt but that I do
o f a certainty possess Him Thus is my hope now made
.

certain fo r now do I see so clearly that what I see can

,

neither be told by the mouth nor imagin ed in the heart .

And by that blessing (most certain and including also ,

that darkness) have I attained unto all my hope and ,

inasmuch as now I see clearly I have all that I desired

,

to have or to know .

Here likewise do I see all Go od ; and seeing it the

, , ,

soul cannot think that it will depart from it o r it from

the Good or that in future it must ever leave the Good
, .

The soul delighteth unspeakably therein yet it beholdeth ,

naught which c an be related by the tongue or imagined

in the heart It seeth nothing yet seeth all things
.
, ,

because it beholdeth this Good darkl y— and the more

darkly and secretly the Good is seen the more certain is ,

it and excellent above all t hings Wherefore is all other

,
.

g ood whic h c an be seen or imagined doubtless less than

 “
or FOL IGNO 1 83

this because all the rest is darkness And even when

, .

t he soul see th the divine wer wisdom and will of God

po , ,

(which I have seen most ma rvellously at other times) it ,

is all less than this most certain Good Because this is .

the whole and those other things are but p art of the
,

whole Another di fference is that albeit those othe r

.
,
“

things are unspe akable yet they do bring gr eat j oy

,

which is felt even in the body .

But seen thus darkl y the Good bringeth no smile upon

,

t he lips n o fervour or dev otion o r love into the heart

'

, ,

fo r the body doth not tremble o r become moved o r dis

tress ed as it doth at other times And the cause thereof .

is that t he soul seeth and n ot t he body which rep oset h

, , ,

and sleepeth and the to n gue is m ade d u m b and cannot

,

speak Al l the many and unspe akable kindnesses which

.

Go d h ath shown unto me all the sweet words and all

,

other divine sayings and doi n gs are so much less than

'

this which I have seen clearly through t he darkness that ,

I do put no hope in t hem Yea even if it were possible

.
,

that all thes e were not true it would in no wise lessen

,

the hope which I have in this and all other good .

Unto this mo st high power of beholding God in

effab l through such great darkness w as my spirit u p
'

y
lifted but three times only and n o more and although
I beheld Him countless times and always darkly yet , ,

never in such an high manner and through such great

dar kness .

And when upon the one hand my body is wasted by

1 84 THE B L ES SE D AN G ELA
infirmity when the world with its thorns and bitte r ness
,

chaseth me forth and demons do likewise afflict me with

,

much vexation and do continually persecute me and

,

molest me (because they have power over me and b e

cause God hath given me soul and body into their hands ,

so that I do almost seem to behold them falling bodily

upon me) up on the other hand God doth draw me unto

,

Himself with that Good which I beheld through the

darkness in which darkness I did doubtless behold the
,

Holy Trinity And to me it seemeth that I am fixed

.

in the midst of It a nd that It draweth me unto Itself -

more than anything else the which I ever b eheld o r any ,

blessing I ever yet received so the r e is nothing which ,

can be compared unto It .

Al l that I say of this seemeth unto me to b e not hing ,

I do even feel as though I offended in speaking o f it for ,

so greatl y doth that Good exceed all my wo r ds that my

speech doth appea r to blaspheme against it .

When I behold and am in that Good I remember ,

nothing of the humanity of Christ of God inas much as ,

Hevvas man n o r o f aught else that had shape or form ;

s
i
'
‘

and albeit I seem to see nothing yet do I see all things , .

When however I am separated from that aforesaid

, ,

Good then is it given unto me to see Christ who draweth ,

me with such gentleness that sometimes He saith Thou ,

art I and I am th ou
,
”
I see those eyes and that face so
.
,

gracious and so pleasing which em b racet h and draweth ,

m y rso u l unto itself w ith infinite assurance And that .

1 86 THE BLE SSE D ANGELA
those hands and feet cannot be described and when I ,

see Him I do desire never t o de part from Him but draw ,

nearer unto Him wherefore is my l ife but as death and

, ,

the more I do remember Him the less can I speak for

, ,

then my tongue is tied When I leave Him the wicked

.

ness which I find c om p ell et h me to desire Him yet more ,

and because of this m v desire and the weariness of waiting

am I plunged into mortal pain but in this vision is my
,

soul uplifted and consoled by the most sweet G od to ,

whom be honour and glory for ever and ever .

EIG HTH V ISIO N AN D CONSOLATI O N WHE R EI N SHE B E

,

HELD GOD AS CLEA R LY AS IS POSSIBLE I N THIS LIFE ,

I N THE WH ICH V ISI O N SH E AC Q U I R ED ST REN GT H I N

G OOD I NTENTION S AN D I N TH E PE RFECT DELIGHT
I N GOD

B EIN G thus exalted in S pirit during the time of Lent ,

therefo r e I was j oined with God in a manner othe r than

,

was customary for me Methought I w as in the midst

.

o f the Trinity in a manner higher and greater than was

,

usual for greater than usual were the blessings I re

,

c eiv ed and continually were there given unto me gifts

,

full of delight and rej oicing mo st great and unspe akable

,
.

All this was so far b eyon d anything which h ad heretofore

happ ened unto me that verily a divine change took place
'

in my soul w hich neither saint no r angel could describ e

,
 or FOLIGNO 1 87

or exp l ain This divine change or operation w as so

.
, ,
"

p r ofound that n o angel o r o ther creature howsoever ,

w ise, could comprehend it wherefore do I say again

,

that it seemeth unto me t o be evil speaking an d bl as -

p hem
y if I do try to tell of it .

Here am I drawn forth g i t of all things wherein I did

formerly take delight such as the life and humanity of
,

Christ and the consideration of those most deep com

p anions whom God had greatly loved from all eternity
and had given unto His Son Likewise did He (11311 1; me
.

fo r t h from the aforesaid delight that 1 3 t o sa

, y the ,

poverty su ffering and contempt borne by His Son

, ,

(wherein I w as accustomed to find my repose an d my

bed) also was I withdrawn from that darkness in the ,

vision of which I had so greatly rej oiced And finally .

I was drawn ou t of all former states with so much unction

and in sleep that I could in no wise comprehend it and
, ,

do only know that now I have n ot those t hings .

In these divine b enefits and operations which were

ac complished in my soul God did first present Himself
,
“

unto it thus ineffably in His work s the ndid He manifest

»

and reveal Himself full y unto the soul bestowing upon it ,

great gifts with indescribable clearness and certainty

,
.

There are two ways where i n God show et h Himself

unto the soul One way is when He show et h Himself in
.

t im at el y and it dot h then know Him to be present a s

, ,

He is present in every creature and in everything that

hath being ; as much in demo ns as in good a n gels in ,
1 88 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
hell as in Paradise in adul tery and murder in all good
, ,

works and in all things which exist both beauteous and

, ,

ill favoured When I have this unity therefore I do

-
.
, ,

r ej oice in God no less when I see a bad angel and an evil ,

deed than when I see a good a ngel or deed and in this

manner do th He most often present Himself unto my soul .

And this presentation doth bring enlightenment with ,

great truth and divine grace so that when the soul ,

b ehol deth this it cannot o ff end in any way 4 .

Moreover this enl ightenment bringeth many divin e

,

benefits unto the soul ; for example when it becometh ,

aware that God is already present it do th deeply humble

itself and is confused by reason of its sins Al so it t e .

c eivet h much w isdom and divine consolation with great

j o
y .

God show et h Himself in another and more special

manner very di fferent from the foregoing which like
, ,

wise giveth j oy but di fferent from the former j oy For

,
.

here He draweth all the soul unto Himself and worketh

many divine things in it with much greater grace and
,

an unspeakable depth of j oy and enlightenment so that ,

without any o t her gifts this presentation of G od is the

,

blessing possessed by saints in the life eternal .

Of the gifts received by saints in the life eternal how ,

ever some have mo r e and some less B ut of these it is

,
.

impossible to spea k as I have already said because my

, ,

words are so feeble that they do deface a nd blaspheme

ra t he r than justly describe I will only say that amongst
.
1 90 T HE BLE S SED ANGELA
soul whereby God doth manifest Himself ( fan man in ,

n o wise S eak or even stammer But inasmuch as my

p .

soul is ofttimes uplifted to know the divine secrets I do ,

u nder stand wherefore the Holy Scriptures were writte n ,

what they do appear to a ffi rm and deny that which is,

ea sy and that which is difficult and why s o me derive n o

,
»

profit from them and why those who do not observ e

,

them are condemn ed and those who do observe them

are saved by th em Thus have I an advantage in know
.

ing these t hings and after learning the secrets of God I

,

can speak some few words with cer tainty ; yet are my
words outside of those divine and ineffable workings and ,

in no way do the y approach nigh unto them but rather ,

do they spoil and blaspheme as I have always said

, .

Therefore do I say that if all divine consolations all ,

S piritual j oys all heavenly delights which ever were in

,

this world— if all the saints w ho have lived from the

beginning of the world until n ow were to expound and
S how forth God if all the worldly delights both good
, ,

and evil which eve r existed were all to be converted into

,

on e g ood and spiritual j oy which sho ul d endure until I

were made perfect I would not even that I might o b

, ,

tain all this give or exchange even for the space of the
,

twinkling of an eye that j oy which I have in the u m

speakable manifestation of Go d .

These things have I spoken that I might in some way

instil into the hearts of men the conviction that this
unspeakable blessing is infinitely above all those aforesaid
 or FOL IGNO 1
9 1

things And I possess it not only for the space of the

.

opening and shutting of an eye but ofttimes fo r a good

,

while In that way do I have it with much effect but

.
,

in another way— that is to say with less e ffect— do I ,

have it almost continually And albeit I do feel a littl e

.

of both grief and j oy from without yet within my soul ,

there is a chamber into which there entereth no sort of

grief or j oy of any virtue whatsoever nor anyt hing that ,

can be named or e xpressed But into it there entere t h

.

that greatest Good and in that ma nifestation of G o d

,

( wh ich I do blaspheme in thus naming it seeing that I ,

have no word wherewith to speak of it perfectly) lieth

the whole truth .

In Him therefore do I understand and possess all

, ,

truth that is in heaven and earth and hell and in all ,

creatures ; and so great is the truth and the cert ainty

that were the whole world to declare the contrary I
wo u ld not believe it yea I should mock at it For I
, , .

behold Him w ho is everything ; I perceive how surely

in Him are all created things ; I likew ise perceive how
that He hath made me capable of perfectl y understanding
the aforesaid matters in a way better than there had been
until I saw in that great darkness wherein I did so re
j oice For I do behold myself t hus alone with G od
.
,

Wholly clean wholly pure wholly sanctified wholly u p

, , ,

right wholly assured and wholly celestial in Him and

, , ,

when I am in this state I do remember naught else .

Once when I w as in that state the most high God ,

1
9 2 THE BLE S SED AN GELA
S pake thus unto me Daughter of divine wisdom ,

perfect temple of delight j oy of j oys ; daughter of ,

true peace in thee rep oset h the Holy Trinity and

,

the whole truth and thus thou holdest Me and I hold

,
”
thee .

One of the operations of the soul vouchsafed unto it

by our Lord G o d is that with great rej oicing I do most
fully understand how God entereth into the most holy
Sacrament of the Altar together with that most high ,

and noble company But when I remain outside of that .

state I do perceive myself to be full of Sin obedient unto ,

sinfulness unj ust unclean wholly false and earthly

, , , .

Nevertheless I do stay quiet having in me a divine and

, ,

constant unction above all which I have ever felt in all

,

my days .

I came not unto that aforesaid state of mine ow n self

but I w as led and drawn thereunto by God ; so tha t ,

albeit of mine own self I should not have known how t o

desire or ask for it I am now in that state continually
,
.

Ofttimes is my soul uplifted o f God without my will or

consent and when I am not hoping or t hinking to re
,

c eive aught from Him my soul is suddenly exalted and ,

dominated by Him And when thus exalted I under .

stand the whole world and do believe myself in heaven

with God instead of upon the earth This state is far .

more excell ent than any other I have exp erienced ; it

is so full of satisfaction so clear ennobling and enlarging , , ,

that I never felt an y other state appro aching unto it .

1 94 THE BLE SSED ANGELA
ever that could b e done or said could it henceforth be
separated from God .

Then did my soul exclaim and say Oh most sweet

, ,
”
Lord w ho can separate me from Thee ? and I heard a
,

voice make answer that nothing could separate me from

Him because of His grace .

Al l these things did I hear S poken by G o d in a manner

more wondrous than I can describe It w as l ikewise
.

told me that the aforesaid unspeakable manifestation o f

G od is that Good enjoyed by the saints in the life eternal ,

and that this Good is naught else save this but othe rwise
'

experienced and so di fferent from the other that the

lowest of t he saints w ho hath the least in the life eternal
hath yet more than can be given unto any soul before the
death of the body .

This is what my soul hath underst ood in that marvellous

manifestation of God .

N INTH V ISIO N WHE REIN IT WAS CE RTIFIED U NTO HE R

,

THAT I N HE R V ISION S AN D HEAV EN LY CON VE RSATION S

SHE HAD N OT B EEN DECEI V ED

UPO N a certain occasion at the Feast of the Blessed

,

Virgin Ma ry some little while after my conversion I did

, ,

pray the Bl essed Virgin that she would implore her Son
to grant me grace whereby I might know that I had not
 or FOLIGNO 1
95

been de ceived in the conversations which had been held

with me Then came unto me a heavenly voice promising
.

me that my request should be granted and saying fur ,

ther : God hath shown Himself unto thee hath spoken ,

w it h t hee an d hath endowed thee with understanding

'

o f Himself ; take heed therefore that thou neither

, ,

speakest beholdest nor hearken est unto anything what

, ,
”
soever save according u nto His wil l I perceived that .

these things were said unto me with much discretion and

ripe wisdom The aforesaid conversations had left me
with great j oy and the hope of obtaining that for which
I had asked and the foregoing words did moreover
, , ,

tell me that God would gr ant the grace that everyt hing
I did should be done w ith His per mission
I began therefore to do the three things which had
, ,

been told unto me Accordingly my heart was uplifted

.

from all things earthly and fixed on God And nothing .

that I did or ate or spa ke prevented my heart from

, ,

being always fixed on God ; neither could I see or ,

’
think o r feel save according unto God s will When I
, ,
.

had been engaged in prayer and desired to go and eat

and drink I did humbly ask permission and He answered
, , ,

Go and eat with the blessing of the Father Son and , ,

”
Holy Spirit And thus did He give me permis sion
. ,

sometimes immediately and sometimes later .

This lasted three days and three nights Finally I b e .

held God in S pirit during Mass at about the tim e of the

,

elevation o f the Body of Christ After this vision there .

1 96 T HE BLE S SED ANGELA
remained unto me an indescribable sweetness and great
j oy which I do think will never fail me all the days of
,

my life And in this vision was I assured of all that I

.

had asked there remained unto me no doubt whatsoever ,

but I was fully satisfied and persuaded that I had not

been deceived in the foregoing conversations .

TENTH V ISI ON AN D CONSOLATIO N WHE REI N IT WAS

,

F URTHE R CE RTIFIED U NTO HE R THAT SHE HAD N OT

‘

B EEN DECEI VED I N HE R CO N V E R SATION S

UPON another occasion whilst I was at prayer ex ,

c eedin g pleasant words were spoken unto me after this

manner
Oh my daughter who art far sweeter unto Me than
,

I am unto thee thou art the temple of My delight and ,

the heart o f the Omnipotent God resteth upon thy

”
heart .

Together with these words there came upon me a feel

ing of the utmost j oy such as I had never before ex
,

erie n c ed inasmuch as all the members of my body felt

p ,

it And as I did prostrate myself at these words it w as

.
,

further told m e
The Omnipotent God loveth thee more dearly than
any other woman of this city He rej oiceth in thee and
.

in thy companion Do ve both strive therefore that

.
, ,

your lives be as a light unto all who desire to follow your

1
9 8 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
And verily I did then perceive that every creature w as
full of Him Again He spake unto me saying
. I can , ,
“

do all things I can make thee to see Me as when I talked

,
”
with My disciples and yet to feel Me not .

This w as not said unto me in actual words but my ,

soul comprehended that which He said and many things ,

greater still and thus it felt them t o be true Y et in

,
.

order t o be clear whether that which was said w as ve rily

true my soul cried
,

Forasmuch as Thou art Almighty God and the

things Thou tellest me are true give Thou me a sign ,

whe r eby I may be sure thereof and release me from this

,
”
great doubt .

Then I b esought Him that He would give me some

tangible s1gn something which I could see ; such a s
,

putting a candle into my hand or a p r ecious st one or

'

, ,

some other thing or that He would give me any sign

,

He pleased promising Him that I would show it unto

,

no person save unto w hom He should desire Then He .

replied
This sign that thou seekest is one that would o nl y
give thee great joy when thou didst behold or touch it ,

but it would n o t free thee from doubt and thou mightest ,

be deceived by that sign Therefore will I give thee

.

another S ign bett er than the one thou seekest and which
, ,

will be for ever with thee and in thy soul thou shalt
"

always feel it The sign shall be t hi s thou shalt be eve r

.

fervent in love and t he love and the e nl ightened kn o w

,
 OF FOL IGNO 1
99
ledge of God shall be ever with thee and in thee This .

shall be a certain sign unto thee that I am He because ,

none save I can do this And this is a sign which I will

.

leave in thy soul the which is better for th ee than that

,

which thou didst ask of Me My love do I leave in thee

.
,

so that for love of Me thou wilt endure tribulations ,

and if any person speak o r do evil unto thee thou wilt be

grateful declaring thyself unworthy of so much mercy
, .

Such is the love which I bare unto y ou all for whose ,

sake I patiently and humbly endured all things Thus .

thou shalt know whether or not I am in thee if when any ,

person shall speak or do evil unto thee thou art n ot o nl y

,

patient but even desirous that they should hurt thee

,

and be grateful unto them And this is a certain sign of

.

the grace o f God And behold I do now anoint thee

.
,

with an ointment whe r ewith a saint called Siricu s and

”
many other saints were anointed .

Then did I immediately feel that ointment and so ,

sweet was it that I longed for death and that I might ,

die with all manner of bodily torments The torments .

suffered by the ma rty r s w ho had died for Christ did I

esteem as naught and I desired that fo r love of Him my
,

torments should b e more terrible than theirs and that ,

the world should cry ou t upon me with insults and re

v ilin gs .

Moreover I rej oiced greatly in praying for those w ho

,

might work me these evils and I marvelled not at the

,

saints w ho prayed for their murder ers and persecutors ;

200 THE BLE SS ED ANGELA
fo r only ought we t o pray unto God fo r th em but
n ot
,

we should beseech Him t o grant them especial grace .

Therefore was I very ready t o pray fo r those w ho did me

evil to love them with a great love and to take com
, ,

passion upon them In that anointing I did f eel such

.

sweetness both within and without that I never felt the

like before and I have n o words wherewith I can S how
,

forth the least part o f it .

This consolation was different and of a nature u nl ike ,

the others For in the others I had desired immediately

.

t o quit this world but in this my desire was that my

,

death should be grievou s and prolonged with all manner ,

o f torments and that my m embers should su ffer all the

,

tortures of the world Y et all this seem ed but a small

.

thing unto me for my soul knew well that every torment

,

was but a small thing in comparison with the blessings

promised in t he life eternal My soul knew o f a certainty .

that it w as thus and if all the wise men of the world had
,

told me the contra ry I should n o t have believed them

,
.

And if I shoul d swear that all w ho walked upon the afore

said way would be saved I should believe that I S pak e ,

the truth .

This S ign did G od leave so firmly implanted in my

sou l with so bright and clear a light that methi nketh
, ,

I could endure any martyrdom This sign moreover .

, ,

leadeth continuall y upon the straight way of salvation ,

that is t o say it leadeth unto love and the desire to su ffer

,

for love o f God .

202 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
Afte r this He did show His Passion unto me more fully
, .

Then I beheld Him poor o f kindred and of friends and ,

m oreover so poor o f Himself that having regard unto

,

His humanity He w as no t able to help Himself

,
.

Again after this it pleased Him t o make me under

stand more things concerning His Passion than I had ever
hith er to heard related Then did I understand how in
.

His Passion Christ saw that the hea rts o f those wicked
and obstinate men were all turned against Him He saw
how all the members carefully destroyed His name and ,

how they used great attention and diligence to destroy

I t speedily ; He saw the subtlety the cunning mac hi na
,

tions with whi ch they conspired against Him and He ,

saw their evil designs their slanders rage and fury and
, , , ,

the plans and preparations which they had made in order

that they might most cruelly afiiic t Him Of a certainty .
,

the cruelty o f the Passion was very great inasmuch as ,

He foresaw all the pam the injury and shame

,
.

My soul beheld far more of the Passion than I have

will t o say yea rather will I keep silence Therefore
, ,
.

did my soul then cry aloud saying ,

Holy Mary mother of Him w ho is thus afflict ed

, ,

give me something o f this Passion of the Son o f God for ,

thou hast seen more of it than hath any o t her saint Thou .

hast seen Him with the eyes both of thy body and thy
mind and most intently hast thou observed Him because
, ,

thou hast loved Him more than

'

And my soul
cried again saying Is there here any saint w ho can tell
, ,
 OF FOL IGNO 19 3

ru e aught concerning this Passion o f which I do hear

,

nothing spoken n o r any mention made in the manner

, ,

in which my soul hath seen it For so great is it that

I myself cannot describe it My soul hath seen the
.

Passion of Christ to be so great that e ven if Saint Mary

,

saw it in many respects more plainly than did any other

saint ot even she and far less any other—cou l d de
n ,
—
scribe ir And if there be any w ho can describe it
.
,

m et hink et h it is Thou w ho hast borne it

When I had thus seen the Passion of the So n of God ,

I fell into a much greater grief than ever before and if ,

my hea r t had failed me then it would have been n o

marvel for when I do even n ow remember me of these
,

things I begin to grieve seeing that I have lost that

,

strength of mind which did formerly keep me joyful ,

wherefore fo r a long time have I felt n o j oy .

SECO ND CON SOLATIO N OF THE PASSION OF CH R IST

A N OTHE R time there were shown unto me the bitter

suffering in the soul of Christ the which was so awful
,

that heart cannot imagine nor tongu e describe it And .

’
forasmuch as I b eheld such su ffering in the Virgin s
Son my soul w as most grievously afflicted and my own
,

su ffering w as great er than I had ever felt before .

Seeing how that I could find no case or joy in this

meditation my soul did perceive many causes and
,
20
4 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
reasons fo r that bitter Su ffering Firstly because that .
,
'

soul w as m ost hol y and entirely without sin fo r which ,

reason it deserved no punishment whatsoe ver Then .

,

b ecause He endured it for love O f us and we ungrateful

'

, , ,

hostile and unworthy did despise and mock at Him even

, ,

whilst He was redeeming u s through His Passion Then .

,

b ecause the sin O f those who crucified Him was exceeding

great and that Soul which did hate and utterly abho r
,

all sin grieved more over t hi s than over any other sin .

There were moreover many persons w ho committed

, ,

this sin because both Jews and Gentiles w ho we r e

,
'

gathered together for t he Feast did conspire against Him ,

causing Him the utmost grief Al so because of the deep .

malice and wickedness of His adversaries whose whole ,

endeavour w as to destroy Him His memory and His , ,

name and also His elect disciples He su ffered likewise

, .

because He had compassion upon those disciples w ho

fell from faith and He endured p ersecu t l on for their
,

s akes He su ffered likewise because He had compassion

.

upon His most unhappy mother and because He found ,

Himself in great trouble without any help or consola

tion And fi n all y He su ffered above all things because
.
-

that most noble soul was dolefully assailed upon every

side ; every person was u nto Him a cause of grief ; His
Soul felt pain and anguish from all the pain and anguish
inflicted upon th at most holy virginal and delicate B ody , ,
.

And all these things together were laid upon that o n e

most holy Soul .
2 06 THE BLES SED ANGELA
showed unto me His throat an d His arms whereupon ,

my grief was instantly changed into j oy so great and so

di fferent from all ot her j oys that I neither saw nor felt
aught else ; fo r the beauty of that throat was a thing
most great and ine ffable Then I understood that His
.

beauty proceeded from His divinity .

Naught else did He show me saving that most co mely

an d gracious throat the beauty whereof cannot be
,

likened unto any thing or any colour in the world save ,

’
only unto the clearness of Christ s body which I do
,

sometimes behold when it is raised on high at the

elevation .

FO URTH CO NSOLATIO N OF THE PASSIO N OF CH R IST

UPON the fourth day of the great week I was meditating

with grief upon the death o f the Son of G o d striving t o
,

empty my mind o f all other things in order that my soul

might be the more absorbed in this Passion and Death .

Being therefore wholly occupied with the endeavour

, ,

and desire to cast o u t every other matter from my mind

in order that I might the more speedily and completely
think o nl y upon this I heard the divine voice saying
,
”
within my soul My love for thee was no deceit
,
This .

word was as a shock of mort al p ain unto my soul for the ,

eyes of my mind Were instantly opened and I saw that

,

what He sa id was very true I saw the working and

.
 OF FOL IGNO 29 7
effect of that delight I saw all that the Son o f God had
done for the sake of this love and I saw what Christ Cruci
, .

fi ed had borne in life and in death for the sake of this

deep and unspeakable love Wherefore did I understand
.

that it w as indeed true that His love for me had been

no deceit o r j est but love most perfect and profound
, .

Then did I perceive j ust the opposite in myself that is ,

to say I knew that I loved Him deceitfully and not

,

t r uly For this reason did I su ffer such mortal pain and
.

intolerable grief that methought I was about to die .

Then were other words spoken unto me which did ,

make mine anguish greater still and the words were

these
“
Agam I say unto thee My love for thee was n o
,

deceit My service o f thee w as not feigned nor was My

, ,

feeling for thee one of enlargement

-

Then cried my soul saying Oh Master that which

, , ,

Thou sayest is n ot in Thee is wholly in me ; for never

,

have I loved Thee saving deceitfully I have served Thee

.

with lies and I have never desired to draw nigh unto Thee
in very truth for fear lest I might feel those burdens
which Thou didst feel and bear for my sake Wherefore .

have I never served Thee sincerely and for Thine own

sake but with negligence and duplicity
,
.

N ow when I perceived how that He had loved me

sincerely how that He bore in Him all the signs of true
,

love and how that He had drawn nigh unto me to such

,

a degree that He was become Man in order that He

20 8 THE BLE S SED ANGELA
might more completely b ear and feel in Himself all our
su fferings I did feel such exceeding great anguish that
,

my ribs seemed disj ointed and methought mine heart

would burst asunder R eflecting moreover upon thes e
.
, ,

words My feeling for thee was n ot on e o f enlarge

,
” “
ment I did hear Him say further unto me
,
I know ,

”
thy soul more intimately tha n it knoweth itself and ,

these words did increase mine angu ish inasmuch as ,

the more I p erceived how intimately God did know

me the more did I realis e that I myself had become
,

enlarged .

After this He spake certain words u nto me which did

manifest and show forth His boundless love saying ,

If there were any person w ho desired to feel Me in

his mind I would n o t withdraw Myself from him
,
and
unto whomsoever did desire t o behold Me would I
wil lingly S how Myself and with whomsoever did desire
,
”
to S peak unto Me would I j oyfully converse .

These words did arouse in me the desire never to feel

or say or do aught which should offend G od And this .

is what God desireth and especially seeketh in His sons

and His elect ; for He hath called and chosen them in
order that they may t hi nk see and S peak according unto
, ,

His wi l l and that they may take heed to do nothing con

,

t rary thereunto Thus was it set forth and told unto

.

me
Those who love My poverty su ffering and contempt
, ,

are My lawf u l sons and Mine elect whose thoughts are ,

210 THE BLES SED ANGELA
At t his sight my bowels were so pierced with com
passion that verily I seemed all transformed in the pain
o f the C r u cifi ed both bodily and ment ally
,
And with .

a sharper knife still was I pierced at the sight of the c ruel

and violent dissolution o f all His limbs where methought
,

His sinews were loos ened and undone and His bones dis
placed and so likewise at the sight of the open wounds ,

for in these did I behold a great secret of the Passion

and of the hardness and cruelty o f t he tortures He had
b o rn e .

The sight o f the crucifi ed b ody o f the good and b e

'

loved Jesus did awaken such great compassion that in all

my inward parts and my bones and j oints did I feel new
pain and I lamented afresh with terrible anguish
,

As I stood thus absorbed in su ffering and as though

transformed in t he pains o f the C ru cifi ed I heard Him
,

S peak again concerning the devout persons and the fol

lowers o f His Passion and those w ho had taken com
,

passion u pon Him I heard Him give thanks unto them

'

and say
Bless ed are all ye of my Father w ho hav1n g had
, ,

compassion upon Me and passed through tribulation

'

with Me and followed after My life have merited t o

,

wash your robes in the most precious blood of the Lamb .

Blessed are ye w ho su ffer with Me who am crucified

,

and a ffl icted with boundless su ffering in order that I

may o ffer satisfaction fo r you and r edeem you from
immense bitter and endless torm ents and w ho have
, , ,
 OF FOLIGNO 21 1

rendered yoursel ves worthy of it by thus bearing with

Me poverty suffering and contempt Blessed are ye
, , .

w ho shall remember and b e pitiful of My Passion which ,

is the Miracle of all ages the salvation and life of the

,

lost and the sole refuge of sinners — for thereby shall ye

shar e in the kingdom the glory and the resurrection
,

which I have purchased by that same Passion and ye ,

shall verily be co heirs with Me for ever and ever

-
.

Blessed are ye of My Father and of the Holy Spirit yea , ,

verily blessed and ye S ha l l therefore have the blessing

,

which I shall give at the last j udgment inasmuch as ye ,

did n ot repulse Me when I came unto Mine own place ,

as did My persecutors b u t of your comp assion did re

,

c eiv e Me into the lodging of your hearts as a desolate

pilgrim ; when I hanged naked upon the Cross hungry , ,

thirsty and sick and pierced by nails ye did su ffer with

, , ,

Me in My death and desired to be in all things My

companions Herein have ye verily accomplished the
.

works of mercy wherefore in the last dread hour ye

,

shal l hea r it said Come ye blessed of My Father inherit

, , ,

the kingdom prepared fo r you from the foundatio n of the

world Upon the Cross I did hunge r and at least through
.
’
,
”
your compassion did ye give Me to eat and then He
‘

added mos t marvellously the remainder of His saying ,

and I cannot possibly describe the burning love which

shone upon these blessed ones from the eyes of that
blessed Face of God made Man Jesus Christ ,
.

After this He S pake again saying Oh verily and in

, ,
“
21 2 THE BLES SE D ANGELA
all ways blessed are ye for if upon the Cross I did pray
unto My Father with tears and cries for those w ho
crucified and tormented Me excusing them and saying
, ,
’
Father forgive them for they know n ot what they do
, , ,

what shall I say for y ou w ho have had compassion upon

,

Me and have been My faithful compa nions when I shall ,

b e n o longer upon the Cross but j udging the world in

,

glory and happiness

Thus did I remain unspeakably consoled and mine ,

a ffection for the Passion of the Son o f God was greater

than I can express .

And many other words S pake He more than I can ,

know o r declare all of which did kindle my love and

,

inflame it unto the utmost .

SI XTH CO NSOLATI O N OF THE PASSIO N OF OU R LO R D

JES U S CH R IST

A N OTHE R time when I was praying and meditating with

great grief and compassion in mine hea rt upon t he
Passion o f ou r Lord Jesus Christ I did bethink me ove r,

and over again of how great w as the iniquity o f all my

S ins seeing that before God could b e appeased or I could
,

b e reconciled unto Him o r obtain remission of those

,

sins it was needful that the So n of G od should n ot only

,

pray with tears and supplication but that He should die ,

for this upon the Cross .

21
4 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
himse lf t o obey in all that the phys ician commandeth
him S o here likewise is it needful to do naught else
.
,

nor t o spend money for medicine but only t o S how ,

himself unto the Physician by the a c knowledgment of

his S ins to do that w hi c h the Physician ordereth and to
,

take heed that he oppose Him not in any way .

My soul did comprehend that the medicine was

i
'

Christ s blood which He giveth freely wit hout price

’
, ,

and it c ost et h nothing unto the s ick sinner save this

disposing of himself and the Physician Christ giveth ,

him health and healeth him of his infirmity .

Then were all my sins shown unto my soul and I pe r ‘

c eived that each member had it s special spiritual in

fi rm it y Wherefore hearing what had been said the

.
, ,

soul did instantly endeavour to S how forth all the sins

which it had committed with the di fferent members of
the body and with all its ow n strength and powers ,

say i ng
Oh Lord Master and Physician of eternal health "
,

Oh my G od f0 rasm u c h as by only showing forth unto

i

Thee my in fi rm it ies and diseases Thou hast consented to

heal me and because oh Lord I am very sick and have
, , ,

no part in me that is not corrupt and defi l ed I wretched

‘

, ,

that I am will S how Thee oh Lord all mine in fi rm it ies

, , ,

a nd all the sins of all my memb ers and of all the parts
of my soul and body
Then did I begin and point the m all out saying Oh , ,

Lord most merciful Phy sician l o ok upon mine head an d

, , ,
 OF FOLIGNO 215

see how o fttimes I have adorned it w ith the emblems of

pride how I have many times deformed it by curling
,

and braiding my hair and have committed numerous

,

other sins L ook O h Lord upon my wretched eyes

.
, , ,

full of uncleanness and envy

In like manner I strove to numbe r and show forth all
the sins of min e other memb ers And when He had .

hearkened thereunto with great patience the Lord ,

Jesus Christ did gladly and j o y q y m ake answer that

He had healed these things o n e after another— and then ,

taking pity upon my soul He said ,

Fear not My daughter neither do thou despair for

, ,

even wert thou tainted with a thousand deadly diseases ,

wert thou dead a thousand times yet could I give thee a ,

medicine whereby thou mightest be healed of everything

if thou wouldst only apply it unto thy heart and soul .

For the in fi rm it ies of thine head which thou hast told

and shown unto Me and for which thou a rt displeasing
'

unto God and grievo u s unto thyself which in fi rmit ies ,

thou hast incurred by washing combing anointing , , ,

colouring adorning and braiding thy hair by setting

, , ,

thyself up in pride and see king vainglory for which ,

things thou dost deserve to be cast into the uttermost

parts of hell to b e humbled in all eter nity and reputed
,

as on e most vile for thes e in fi rmit ies have I given satis

,

faction and done penance I sn fi ered the most grievous

.

pain inasmuch as My hair w as plucked ou t and my head

pierced by sharp thorns wi t h a rod was it smitten and
216 THE B L ESSED ANGELA
covered with blood it endured all manner of mockery
,

and sco r n and with t he vilest o f crowns w as it crowned

,
.

For the infirmi t y o f thy face which thou hast con ,

tracted likewise by washing and anointing it by showing ,

it unto miserable men and seeking their favour I have ,

made and ordained a medicine For these sins have I .

al so given satisfaction for wicked men did S pit in M y

,

Face making it all filthy and stained it was swollen and

,

deformed by rude and heavy blows and a vile clot h w as

hung before it .

Moreover for thine eyes with which thou hast looked

, ,

at vain and hurtful things and hast delighted in ga zing

at many things which were Opposed unto G od have I ,

given satisfaction shedding copious and bitter tears from

,

My eyes which were veiled and filled with blood .

For the ears wherewith thou hast offended G od by

hearkening unto vain and hurtful things and taking de
light therein I have done great penance hearkening unto
, ,

many grievous t hings such as false accusations slanders

, , ,

insults curses mockings lies and blasphemies and finally

, , , ,

—
the wicked j udgment S poken against Myself but above
all I did penance in hearkening unto the weeping of M y
'

most loving and lowly mother who grieved for Me with ,

exceeding great grief .

Because of the sins of thy mouth and throat where ,

with thou didst take delight in feasting and drunken

nes s and in the sweetness o f delicate meats My mouth ,

hath be en dry and empty hungry and thirsty it hath , ,

21 8 THE BLES SED ANGELA
medicine su flicien t to heal all the passions and S ins of the
,

hear t— that is to say water to cool evil desires and loves

, ,

and blood for the remission of anger sadness and enmity , ,

.

For the sins of thy feet wherew ith thou hast sinned ,

through vain running and dancing and loose walking

about for thy pleasure My feet were not onl y twisted and
,

bound but were nailed upon the wood of the Cross in

,

place of shoes laced and adorned with cut leather I ,

had feet all bleeding and covered with the blood which
flowed from My whole b ody .

For the sins of thy whole body wherewith thou hast ,

sinned by giving it up to delights repose and dreams , , ,

taking pleasure therein in divers ways My body w as ,

fastened upon the Cross terribly scourged and stretched

, ,

out thereon after the manner of a S kin ; I was closely

fastened upon the hard wood until I w as bathed in a
bloody sweat which ran down even upon the ground ;
and finall y I suffere d here the most dreadful torments ,

crying aloud sighing weeping and lamenting until I

, ,

died sl ain by cruel men for the sins of thine ornaments

,

and thy needless vain and curious raiment I w as hung

, ,
.

naked upo n the Cross and vile men stripped o ff My tunic

,

and My vest and cast dice for them before Mine eyes .

And naked as when I was born of the Virgin in the c old

, , ,

the wind and the air I was exposed and stretched ou t on

,
.
,

high in the sight of all men and women in order that I ,

'

m ight be the m or e easily see n and mocked a t and mi ght

'

suffer t he greater shame .

 OF FOLIGNO 219

Because of the sin of thy wealth wherewith thou hast ,

done evil by acquiring wrongfully Spending and saving

, ,

it I have been poor possessing neither palace nor house

, , , ,

nor hut wherein I might be born or where I might dwell

,

during My lifetime in death I should have had no

se pulchre wherein I might rest (but should have been left
a prey unto dogs and birds) if one had not been moved
through compassion O f My misery to receive Me int o his
own sepulchre My blood and My life have I given unto
.

perverse and sinful men ; nothing whatsoever have I

kept for Myself but in life and death have I desired to
,

be and to remain poor for ever .

B ut wherefore should I say more 3 Howsoever thou

mayest discourse thou canst not find any sin any disease
, ,

o f the soul for the which I have not brought the true
,

medicine and given su flicien t satisfaction for all sinners

and for all the infinite torments and grievous pains which
the wretched soul ought to suffer in hell But if thou .

remainest not in thy neglectfulness thou needest lament

no longer if only thou dost here su ffer with Me and have
,

compassion upon Me alw ays and be My companion in ,

poverty ignomin y and contempt as long as thou livest

, ,
.

Mary Magdalene who was sick had all these things and
, ,

desired to be wholly liberated from them Wherefore was .

She healed of all her in fi rm it ies— and in like manner can

”
all persons who have these t hings find health as she did .

The C ru cifi ed One spake further unto me and said

. When these My sons who through Sin have departed
,
2 20 THE BLES SED ANGELA
from My kingdom and made themselves sons of the devil ,

do return unto the Father He hath great j oy of them and

,

show eth them His exceeding great del ight in their return .

’
So great is the Father s j oy at their conversion that He
b est ow et h upon them supernatural grace the which He
,

giveth not unto virgins who through sin have n ot departed

from Him And t his He doth because of the boundl ess
.

love whi ch He beareth them and b ecause Of the pi ty

,

which He hath of their wretchedness also because the y

do grieve for that they have o ffended so great a Maj esty
and do know themselves t o be worthy of hell .

Because o f these t w o reasons even he who hath been

,
”
the greatest sinner may find the greatest grace and mer cy .

Afte r this the Lord spake unto me again and said

Whosoever desireth to find grace must not lift his eyes
from the Cross whether I do grant and permit him to
,

live in j oy or whether he live in sorrow

,
.

SE VENTH CON SOLATIO N OF TH E PASSIO N OF O UR LO R D

J ES U S CH R IST

UP ON another occasion as I w as gazing at the Cross with

,

the C ru cifi ed and was loo king at the C ru cifi ed with my

,

bodil y eyes such a fervent love was suddenly kindled in

,

my soul that even the members of my body felt it with

great j oy and delight I saw and felt that Christ em
.

braced my soul with th e arm wherewith He w as crucified ,

222 THE BLESSED ANGELA

E E BE G I N T HE C O N SO L A T I ON S A N D VI SI ON S
H R
WH IC H SH E D I D HA V E OF T HE SA CR A M E N T
OF T HE A L T A R

T HE first vision w as that upon on e occasion whilst Mass

,

w as being said and as I was S triving to think w ith devotio n

,

o f t he humility o f Go d and of His Supreme goodness

(in
that it pleased Him t o come unto u s in the Sacrament o f
the Al tar) I w as e xalted in S pirit and Obtain ed a new and
,

clear understanding of how G od com et h in the aforesaid

S acram ent .

Firstly it w as told me that by virtue O f His divine

, ,

power the body o f Christ could be upon every altar a

, ,

thing n ot t o be compr ehended in t his present life And .

alth ough much is said in the Scriptur es o f that power ,

those who read do nevertheless under stand but little of

”
it
.
“
But those w ho feel something o f Me said G o d
'

, ,

do understand more of it ; nevertheless neither the,

former nor the latt er do ful ly understand but the time

,
”
cometh when ye shall understand .

After this I was e n lightened and did comprehend in a

m anner clearer than had been shown me either before or
afterwards how God cometh in this Sacrament I b e
, .

held how Christ cometh together with a most beauteous

company at whose beauty I marvelled greatly And
,
.

desiring to know who they were it was told me that they

,

were the thrones That company was most bright and

'

.
,
 OF FOLIGNO 223

was an exce eding numerous multitude so that if I had

n o t known that God doeth all things with measure I ,

sho u ld have deemed it to b e without number or measure ,

but innumerable for it could not be measured either in

length or breadth but was ine ffable
, .

SECO N D VI SI O N OF THE SAC RAMENT OF THE ALTA R

B EI N G in the church o f Foligno at the Feast of the
Angels 1 n September I desired to communicate and I
, ,

prayed unto the holy angels especial ly unto S aint Michael

,

and the seraphim saying

,

Oh ye ministering angels w ho have received power

,

and O ffice from God that ye may administer Him unto

others by showing forth His knowledge and love I do ,

b eseech you that ye present Him unto me such as the

Father of Mercies did give Him unto men such as He ,

desireth that I should receive and worship Him — that is

to say as one poor su ffering despised wounded bleeding
, , , , , ,
”
crucified and dead upon the Cross
,
.

Then did the angels reply unto me with infinite

graciousness and sweetness
Oh thou who art pleasing unto God behold He hath
, ,

been administered unto thee and is present with thee ,

and moreover it is given unto th ee to administer and

,
”
present Him unto the others .

And verily I did then have Him present with me and

, ,

I did of a certainty b ehold Him with mine eyes in that

22
4 THE BLES SED ANGE L A
Sacrament in the manner as I had prayed — that is t o say ,

p oo r suffering bleeding crucified and dead upon the

, , , ,

Cross At the S ight of such a grievous vision I did then

.

feel a pain so exceeding sharp that methought mine heart

woul d burst On the other hand however I w as filled
.
, ,

w ith j o and gladness because of the presence of the

y
angels and if I had n ot myself beheld them I should
, ,

never have believed that angels were so pleasing or that ,

they could have filled the soul with so much j oy .

Now whilst the Mass was being said there was a priest ,

who w as celebrating near unto the time o f the Com

munion And as he was taking the Body of Christ and
.

breaking the Ho st I heard a voice weeping and saying

,
.

Al as many are there w ho b r eak Me in pieces and w ho

,

do even draw bloo d from My back " I did therefore

think that the priest was not in a state meet for receiving
the Body of Christ and I prayed saying Grant that
, , ,

he may not be such a o n e and instantly it w as answered

,
”
me He shall n ot be thus ete r na ll y
, .

TH I R D V ISI O N OF THE SAC RAMENT OF THE ALTA R

A N OTHE R time I was in church hearing Mass and about ,

the time of the elevation o f the Body o f Christ (when the

congregation kn eel et h down t o adore it) I w as uplifted ,

in S pirit and the Blessed Virgin appeared unto me in a

,

vis ion an d said

226 THE B L ESSED AN G ELA
sweetest love and when it burneth in the soul then know
, ,

I that G o d is verily there likewise because none other ,

can produce this e ffect Then do all my members feel

.

as though they were loosened and disj ointed and when ,

they are thus loosened they do make a noise This do I .

feel chiefl y during the elevation of the Body of Christ ,

and especially in my hands which be come disj ointed and

,

fa ll apart .

FO URTH V ISI ON OF THE SAC RAMENT OF THE ALTA R

A N OTHE R time when I came t o communicate a heavenly

, ,

voice S pake unto me and said Oh beloved in thee is ,

”
all good and thou g oest t o receive all good
,
.

Whe r eupon I b egan t o think If all good is in thee, ,

wherefore goest thou to receive it U nto this came an

answer immediately Although all good is in thee it
, ,

will not be e ffaced by that which tho u art now going t o

”
receive . And as I drew nigh unto the Communion ,

N ow is the Son of “
the voice spake again and said ,

Go d upon the altar according both unto His divinity

,

and His humanity and with Him is a multitude o f

,

”
angels.

And forasmuch as I desired greatly to behold Him with

the an gels G od w as then shown u nto me I saw Him
,
.

n ot in any form whatsoever but I beheld plenitude and ,

beauty— that is to say I beheld all goodness And it

, .
 OF FOLIGNO 2 27

was told unto me Beloved thus shalt thou stand before

, ,
”
Him in the life eternal and the comfort my soul derived
,

therefrom cannot be described .

When I communicate the Host sw el l et h in my mouth

,

for a little time after I have received it and it hath a ,

taste neither of b r ead no r o f mea t such as we do eat but ,

it hath quite another taste which resem b l et h nothing in

the world Moreover the Host is not hard as heretofore
.
, ,

and doth n ot go down my throat in little pieces but it ,

goeth down whole and it is so sweet that I would

,

willingly hold it in my mouth for a great while if I had

not heard it said that man should swallow it instantly .

Thus it goeth whole down my throat with that taste Of ,

an unknown meat and— saving that it IS the custom

,

there is n o need to drink anything after it in order to

swallow it more easily And as it goeth dow n my throat
.

it p rodu cet h in me a great feeling of pleasure which is ,

apparent outwardly in the body for it maketh me so to ,

tremble that scarcely can I hold the cup .

/ Now when I do make the S ign o f the Cross and place

,

my hand upon mine head saying In the name of the

, ,
”
Father I feel nothing new But when I place my hand
, .

”
upon my heart saying and of the Son I do instantly
, , ,

feel such love and consolation that methinketh I have

found Him there .

This would I n ot have related or caused to be written

down like the other things had I not been advised there
unto.
22 8 THE BLES SED ANGELA

FIFTH V ISI ON OF THE SAC RAMENT OF THE ALTA R

DUR I N G a certain time of sickness I greatly desired to

co m municate at the Feast o f the Angels and forasmuch ,

as there was no person to bring me t he most holy Body r

o f Christ I began t o grieve exceedingly

,
.

Then in the midst of my grief an d desire for C o m

,
‘

munion behold I began to reflect upon that same Feast

, ,

of the Angels upon their praise giving and how

,
-
they do ,

praise the Lord continually ; and I reflected upon the

office of the angels which is to praise God to serve
, ,
r

Him and minister unto Him And behold I w as then

.
,

suddenly exalted and I saw before me a great multitude

,

of angels ; and they led me unto an altar and said unto

”
me This is the altar of the blessed angels
,
And upon .

the altar did they S how unto my soul Him whom the
angels praise that is t o say th ey S howed Him who is all
, ,

praise ; and they said

In Him who is now upon the altar is the true p erfec
tion and complement of the most worthy sacrifice which
thou seekest Wherefore prepare thyself worthily t o
.

r eceive Him for He hath espoused thee with the ring of

,

His love and the marriage hath already been celebrated ,

but now wilt thou see a new way of accomplishing the

”
marria ge .

I cannot describe the great j oy which I had of this fo r ,

my soul felt it all in very truth seeing that it w as more

,
2 30 THE BLES SED ANGELA

SE V ENTH V ISI ON OF THE SAC RAMENT OF THE ALTA R

A N OTHE R time whilst Mass was being celeb rated I w as

uplifted in S pirit and I did question the Lord saying
, ,

Behold Lord Thou art in this S acrament of the

, ,

Altar but tell me where are Thy faithful ones

,

Then opened He mine understanding and made

answer Where I am there are My faithful ones
, ,

with Me .

Then I perceived that I t w as so and I comprehended ,

clearly that in every place where He w as there should I ,

be also But this being is not the being within G od

.
,

but the being which is outside of Him And it is He .

alone w ho is in every place and c om p rehen det h all

things .

I have many times seen the Body of Christ in divers

forms in this Blessed Sacrament For sometimes I have .

seen the throat of Christ more splendid and beauteous

than the sun and by that b eauty was it certified unto me
,

that God Himself was here seeing that I t was in c om ,

arab l greater than the sun both in beauty and quantity

p y ,

wherefore doth it greatly gr i eve me that I cannot make

it manifest Sometimes I have seen two eyes of great
.

splendour and so large that I b eheld nothing of the

,

Host save the edge thereof .

At the sight of both these things was I refreshed with

so much joy that I cannot compare the o n e with t he
 OF FOLIGNO 23 1

other because both are

, so great that I do thi n k I shall
neve r lose th em .

HE R E BE G I N T HE VI SI O N S WHE R E I N SHE W AS
C O M FO R T E D BY T HE B L E SSE D V I R G I N

FI R ST V ISI O N OF THE BLESSED V I R GIN

UPON o n e occasion I was exalted in spirit although I w as
no t then at prayer but as it was after dinner I had sat
,

me down t o meditate and therefore I was not thi n king

,

about it in any way And suddenly my soul w as uplifted

.

t o behold and contemplate the Blessed Virgin Mary in

glo ry ; and beholding a woman placed in such nobility ,

glo ry and dignity as w as S he I was filled with marvellous

,

delight and the sight did produce in me most immense

,

j oyfulness The glorious Virgin was praying for the

.

human race and so great was her exaltedness humanity

, , ,

and virtue that she was wholly ineffabl e wher efor e w as ,

my joy unspeakable .

And as I gazed at these things Jesus C hrI St did sud ,

den l y appear in that place seated beside her I n glorified

,

humanity And as I gazed at Him (albeit I knew how

.

His flesh had been tormented lacerated reviled and , , ,

ignominiously c r ucified and miraculously know n all the

,

heavy su fferings inj uries sco flin gs and vilenesses borne

, , ,

for o u r sake) I did in n o wise grieve indeed it is im

, , ,

possible t o describe the delight I had ther eof and my ,

 ‘
232 THE BLES SED ANGELA
Speech failed me so that methought I w as abo ut to die
,
'
‘

I say moreover that it was unto me an e xceeding g r eat

, ,

grief that I did not die so that I might speedily attain

,

unto that unspeakable thing which I beh el d .

This vision endured for th r ee da y s in succession and I ,

was not hindered from eating albeit I ate but little My , .

body did lie down in constant weakness and I spake not

’

at all N ot hin g el se did hinder me but when I heard

.
n
,

God spoken o f I could not contain myself for my im

mense j oy .

SECON D V ISI ON OF TH E BLESSED V I RGI N

W HEN I w as in the church of the Brothers Minor at

Foligno upon the mo r ning of the Feast of the Purification
o f the Blessed V irgin a voice spake unto me saying
, , ,

This is the hour wherein the Virgin Mary came into

"

the Temple with her Son This t hing did my soul

-

hear with exceeding great love thereupon it was exalted

and I beheld our Lady entering that place My soul .

advanced t o meet her with great reveren ce and love but

because it feared some w hat t o approach near unto her ,

o u r Lady did greatly reassure it and holding out her ,

Son towards me she said , Oh lover of my Son take

, ,

Him And with these words she placed her beloved

Son in mine arms And as I gazed upon Him His eyes
.
,

appeared t o be fast closed as though He were asleep and ,

He was wrapped in clothes or rather swad dl ed ,

.
23
4 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
it saw that G od accepted my o ffering with so much j oy
fulness and graciousn ess .

Yet another time did I behold the glorious Vi rgin

M ary and she e xhorted me t o go unto Communion ,

giving me her blessing and relating unto me the su fferings

o f compassion which S he had fo r her So n .

Here end the Vis ion : f

o tbe Sacramen t o f tbe Al tar .

HE R E BE G I N T HE VI SI O N S W I T H WH IC H SH E
W AS C O M FO R T E D C O N C E R N I N G H ER C H I L D R E N
WH O SH O U L D FO LL O W A FT E R C H R I ST
FI R ST V ISI O N CON CE R N I N G HE R CH I LD REN

B EI N G exalted upon o n e occasion and drawn and absorbed

,

into the Light uncreate I beheld that which cannot be

,

related And as I rem am ed in that state the r e appeared

.
,

unto me the image of the blessed Go d made Man Christ ,

C ru cifi ed as though He had been but then lifted down

,

from the Cross and His blood issued forth from His
,

wounds as fresh and red as though it were at that ve ry

moment first bursting from the new made wounds In -
.

all His j oints moreover there appeared such a dissolution

, ,

of the sinews (caused by the cruel st r etc hing upon the

Cross) that the bon es s eemed all t o be loosened from their

proper plac es .
 OF FOLIGNO 235

At t his sight my bowel s were pierced with anguish and

I griev ed more than I had ever grieved before And as .

I stood thus plunged in grief there suddenl y appeared

,

a round the C ru cifi ed a multitude o f my children w ho were

devout and given unto preaching and t o following the
example of poverty contempt and su ffering of Christ
, ,

C ru cifi ed The Blessed Jesus called them unto Himself

‘

.
,

and drawing each o n e unto Him He embraced him and ,

made him t o kiss the wound in His S ide and clasping him ,

close with His ow n hands He laid his head there in that

,

place And because of the j oy born in my soul at this

.

sight I did forget the aforesaid sorrow

, .

The degree of my children however w as differ ent on e

, ,

from another for some did He press less and some more
,

into His side ; some did He place there often and some
were wholly absorbed into His side whence there appeared ,

o n their lips the redness of red blood and the mouths o f ,

some were adorned with this blood and their faces all
coloured with it according unto their aforesaid degrees
,
.

An d bestowing upon each on e His liberal blessing He ,

said
Oh ye blessed sons discover ye the way of the Cross
,

that is t o say the way of M y poverty contempt and

, ,

su ffering For in these times especially do fellow workers

.
-

abound and ye have I most especially elected in order

,

that through you and your preac hing and example may
be discovered and made manifest My truth which hath
”
hitherto been trodden upon and hidden by the world .
 T HE BLES SED
’

2 3 6 ANGELA
Then did my so u l unde rstand that in like m an n er as my ‘

children had been pressed upon His side according to the i r

different degrees so also unto each o n e were these words
,

diversely addressed In no wise is it possible to describe

.

the exceeding great love which shone in t hat blessed Face

and esp eciall y in t hose Ey es of God made Man the Lord
‘ '

Jesus Christ upon these child r en as He pressed them upon

,

His sacred wounds and which was moreover revealed in

,

all the S igns words and benedictions made and p ro

, ,

n o u n c ed over them .

SECON D V ISI ON CONCE R N I N G H E R CH ILD REN

UP O N another occasion when I was walking in a certain ,

procession I fel t t hat s ame unfathomable attraction o f

,
' '

the Word U ncreate in the aforesaid ine ffable manner .

An d I beheld the blessed God Three in One dwell ing in

’

, ,

the minds of my sons and transforming them diversely

in Himsel f according unto their degrees to b ehold which ,

thing was verily like unto being in Paradise " For so

“

tenderly and lovingly did He descend upon them that I

wearied not of gazing at them and so full and sweet so , ,

cordially spoken w as the blessing which God U ncreate

poured out upon these children that it is altogether
indescribable Then Called I unto my children sayin g
.
,

Oh my sons be ye as a burnt sacrifice wholly con

, ,
”
sumed both in m in d an d body '
.
238 THE BLES SED ANGELA
greater than I can say These children did appear unto
.

me to be so entirely transformed in God that now I do

b ehol d scarc e aught else save Christ C ru cifi ed and not yet
glorified so wholly do my children seem t o have been
,

absorbed and transubstantiated into Him .

TH I R D CONSOLATI O N CO N CE R N I N G HE R CHI LD R EN

DUR I N G that same procession as we were approaching

,

unto a chu r ch of the Blessed Virgin behold the Q ueen of

, ,

Mercy and Mother of all Grace herself arose and inclining ,

herself unto these child r en in a new and gracious man ner ,

she bestowed o n them blessings sweeter than all other

blessings kissing them all upon the breast some more and
, ,

some less ; and some did she embrace with her a r ms as

shekissed them Of so great a charity was she that
.
,

being apparently all luminous — she did seem to absorb

those children into that infinite light within her ow n
breast Y et it seemed unto me that I beheld no arms o f
.

fl esh but a certain miraculous light into which as hath

, ,

been said she absorbed them with a most great and tender
,

love .

FO URTH CONSOLATI ON CON CE R N I N G HE R CHILD R EN

UPON that same day amongst many other things which I

,

saw wh ilst Mass was being celebrated there appeared unto

, ,
 or FOLIGNO 2 39

me the Blessed Francis all glorious offering me his

, ,

customary salutation the which is

, The peace of the
Most High be with thee ”
His manner of saluting is
.

always to speak in a voice pious humble gracious and

, , ,

a ffectionate
.

Then did he praise greatly unto me the ardent in

tentions of some of my sons and their z eal in observing
the poverty of the Order But he desired that it should
.

increase w ith the work and he said

May the eternal perfect and abundant blessing
,

(which I have received from God Eternal ) descend upon

the heads of these beloved children of mine and thine .

See that thou b iddest them live according unto the

way of Christ showing it forth fearlessly both in word
,

and deed ; for I a m with them and the Eternal God

is their Helper .

With so much a ffection did he then praise thes e chil

dren for their good intentions comforting them with
,

the promise that they should assuredl y make good pro

gress and that he would help them in his own i mten
tion and blessing them so lovingly that he appeared
,

as though he would rend himself for love of them .

Many other things did I behold concer n ing myself

and my children all of which I cannot describe But
,
.

this will I say that I have seen and clearly comprehended

,

that the blessed God doth most tenderly overshadow

us and likewise His sweet Mother and they are ready
, ,

to bear the burden of our penitence asking onl y that ,

2
49 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
ye oh my sons should be shining examples of splendi d
, ,

gentleness in su ffering poverty and derision They

, , .

desire moreover t o see you dead unto this life so that

, , ,

your h abitation be in heaven and your b ody al one in

this world An d as a dead man is n ot mov ed eithe r
.
.

b y ho n ou r o r beauty so must ye be in all ways u n

'

changeable and outside of all worldly fear and ye must

preach unto others rather for the m ort ifi cat io n of your
ow n lives than for the sake of making contentious dis

course They do likewise de sire that in all your deeds

.

your whol e intention should be fixe d in heaven in the

ble ssed Chr ist C ru cifi ed .

Thus whether outwardly ye work or S peak or eat ye

, ,

are inwardly one with Him who desireth that y e should

continually bear Him about with you in every place and
land and that He should ever direct all your actions
, .

An d I pray that He who hath deigned to ask this thing

o f you will likewise deign t o fulfil His desire in you ,

thr ough the merits of His most holy M other the V irgin ,

Mary .

I N ST RU CTI O N AN D CO NSOLATI O N R ECEI VED F R OM

GOD CON CE R N I N G HE R T R I B U LATI ON S

O N CE I besought God that He would give me something

of Himself and He made for me the S ign of the Cross
, .

Then I prayed Him that He would S how me who were

2
4 2 THE B L E SSED ANGELA
sick and the patient with many others who had suffered
, ,

tribulation and were destined unto salvation .

Understanding thus the reasoning and e xp lanation ,

every word did greatly delight me Yet all had He bidden

‘

and all did He equal ly ca l l His children In these words .

was it notified unto me that virginity poverty sickness , , ,

loss of children and possessions and other tempor a l goods ,

and finally that all tribulations were se nt by God unto

His children for their good albeit at that t i me they did
,

n ot know this and could not understand it For this .

reason there were many greatl y troubled in the beginning ,

but afterwards like true sons they endured everything

, ,

with patience and tha nk sgiving .

Such are those who most commonly att ain unto eternal
life nor is there any other way But those w ho are bidden
, .

unto the S pecial table whom God maketh t o eat out of

,

the same dish an d drink out of the same cu pwith Himself ,

are those who desire and strive t o know w ho is this good

Father and Lord w ho hath bidden them to the feast and ,

Who s eek to please Him by the imitation of HiS most holy ‘

C ross and by voluntarily taking upon themsel ves poverty ,

co nt empt ignominy and a ffl iction F or unto such sons as

'

.
,

these doth God send many tribulations the which are ,

sent un to them as an especial grace in order t hat they may

”
eat o u t of one dish with Him For at that table said
.
,

I was called to drink the cup of the sha meful

-

“
Christ ,

Passion which w as made sweet unto Me thr ough your

,

love although I t w as of its el f exceeding hard and bitter

, .
 OF FO L IGNO 2
43

R ecognising this grace and m eré y therefore alb eit th ey

, ,

do find the tribulations bitter these sons do nevertheless

,

esteem them supremely sweet because of the love grace , ,

honour and w o rt hin esstcon t ain ed there i n Therefore are .

they now not a ffl icted by their troubles and the greater ,

their tribulations the m ore delighted are they and the

closer do they feel the mselves unto God Wherefore do I .

say an d a ffirm that the children of Go d do feel the divine

sweetness mingled with persecutions tribulation s and ,
“

penances all of which w as set forth unto me in ihe afore

,
f

said preachi ng Countless times have I experienced this

.

'
,

and I could not reveal or decl are t he sweetness I felt or

the tears of exceeding great j oy that I shed when I w a s

troubled o r reviled b y my brethren my friends or my , ,

kindred .

D uring a time of great sickness as I was lyi ng ven

,
y
weak there did again appear unto me God made Ma ir
, ,

Jesus Christ the Consoler and methought that He had

,

great compassion on me and said unto me I am come

to serve thee The se rvice which He rendered me was
t o stand before my bed showing Hi m
,
self to be so pleasing
and so gracious that it is a thing wholly u nspeakable .

And I beheld Him more clearly with the eyes of my mind'

than it is possible to behold any person with the eyes of ‘

the body and so great w as my j oyfulness and su p rerne

,

delight that it can in no wise be expres sed or declared ,

because I t is wholl y ine ffable .

Again upon a certain Hol y Thu rsda y I said u nto my

,
2 44 THE BLES SED ANGELA
companion Let us seek Jesus Christ the C ru cifi ed and ,

let u s go unto the hospital for perchance we shall find

,

Him amongst those poor su ffering and a ffl icted ones

, .

So we took the cloths we wore upon our heads (not having

aught else) and giving them unto the servant of the hos
,

pital we bade her sell them and With the money buy
,

something for the poor of the hospital t o eat And .

albeit she feared t o do it tell ing u s that we should cause

,

ourselves to be reviled yet because of our great impor

,

t u n it y she went and sold those poor little cloths and

.

purchased fish with the money unto which we did add ,

the bread which had been given unto us for the love of
G od for ou r ow n sustenance After this we washed the
.

feet of the p oor women and the hands of the men but ,

especially those o f a leper which were all p u t r efi ed and

spoiled and full o f corruption Afterwards we did drink
.

the water wherewith we had washed him and that drink ,

w as so sweet unto u s that we tasted o f it s sweetness all

the way as we returned until we arrived at this place .

And because a scale from those sores had got into my

thro at I endeavoured t o swallow it as though I had re
c eived it in communion ; and at last I did swallow it ,

and I found it to be so sweet that I can in no wise

describe it.

This have I told because although man is troubled in

,

the beginning by the penances a ffl ictions and tribulations

,

he has accepted of God yet doth he at last find exceeding

,

great consolation therein .

2
46 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
I bel ieve this seeing that I am full of tr ibul ation and do
,

see m to be forsaken of God i ‘

The voice made answer When thou thinkest thyself

t o be most forsak en then art thou most clearly b e
,

loved and nearest unto the eternal Go d ”

An d again he .

added : A fath er who hath but one dearly bel oved son
doth administer unto him delicate meats in moderation ,

and p erm it t et h him not to drink pure wine but he doth

mingle the wine with water and p erm it t eth him to eat
nothing hurtful in order that his food may do him no
,

hurt but always good And God doth likewis e mingling

.
,

t emptations and grievous tribulations with His conso

l atio n s and keeping the soul in these tribulations and
,

temptations for if He did not do this it would plunge ,

into intemperate enj oym ents as into a sea and would

be drowned Wherefore as I have s aid when the soul
.
, ,
”
seemeth to be most forsaken then is it most loved ,
.

Then were my tribulations somewhat tempered but ,

not wholly taken away for I did not yet feel disposed t o
,

confess and communi cate But in a short time they were

.

all taken away and thus was it told me

“
It pleaseth Me that thou shouldst communicate
because if th ou rec eivest Me thou hast already received
,

Me and if thou receiv est Me not thou hast received Me

, ,

nevertheless Communicate therefore wi t h the bless

.
, ,

ing of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit And
, , .

do it for reverence of Almighty G od of Sa int Mary t he ,

Virgin and of S aint An th ony whose F east it is to day ;

,
-
grace which thou hast never had before .

Th ere w as vou chsafed unto me accor dingly the grace

to confess and the d esire to communicate and I did ,

Now whil st Mas s was being said I perceived mysel f

,

be SO full of sins an d sho r tcom ings that I could not s pea k ,

an d I t hought that t he Communion which I then d esired

wo ul d b e a j udgment upon me Nevert he less th ere w as

.

prese ntly gran ted me su c h an admirable disposition that

I was able to pla c e mysel f wholl y In Chm t Then I .

en tered I nto Him with a faith and securi ty such as I ha d

never before expe rienced ; I placed myself in Him and
in His merits as though I were dead with an admirable
,

cer tai nty that He would raise me up to life again Wher e .

fore I communicated in His faith and there was grant ed

,

unto me a ma rvell ous feeling which left in me a peace

whe re b y I was given to understand an d t o feel that all
tribul ation which had happened u nto me w as for my
go od And this Comm u nion whi ch I r eceived did bring
—
my soul in fai t h unto t his perception and de ire that is
s

t o say I d esired to give myself wholly un to Christ be cause

,

He hath given Hims el f unto us Wherefore do I take

.

new delight in the longing for martyrdom an d I desire ,

so much t hat I rejoice when grie f and tri b ul ation more

than usual do fal l upon m e Hen ce do I concl ude that in
.

the end Go d co ns ol et h every troubled soul .

Thus I do rememb er me that being one time aflIict ed

,
2
4 8 THE B L ES SE D AN G E L A
and behaving myself forsaken I hea r d it said unto me,

Know thou beloved that thou art n ot forsa k en— yea

, , ,

rathe r is G od neare r unto thee and thou unto G o d in

”
t ribulation than in times more prosperous .

Then cried my soul If it be t r ue tha t I am neare r

unto God in tribulation may it please Him t o tak e away
,

all my sin and through the merits of His Passion to give

me free absolution to give also His blessing unto me and
,

unto my companion and lik ewise unto the brother who

,
”
hath written down th ese things And the answer w as
.

given me saying Thy sins have been taken away and I

, , ,

bless you with the fl esh of that Hand which was nailed
”
upon t he C ro ss
’

Then I beheld that Hand st r etched out in blessing

over our heads and I rej oiced greatly at the sight o f that
Hand because verily it w as a j oyous thing to s ee it And
, .

unto u s th ree He gave His blessing saying The blessing

,

o f the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon
”
y ou and,
may ye keep it through all eternity More .

over He said unto me Say unto thy brother the writer

,

that he should seek to make himself little and fo r asmuch ,

as he is greatly beloved of Almighty Go d he must st rive ,

t o love Him yet more .

Thus in many ways did He deign t o con sol e m e He ,

who con sol et h all w ho are in tribulation unto Whom be ,

honour and glory for ever and eve r .

259 ,
THE BLES SE D AN G E L A
honourably in fai r raiment and furnishing him with
books and who after that the son hath been instructed
, ,

by an inferior master procureth that he shall be trans

,

ferred unto a better one and advanced higher If this .

scholar then behaveth negligently and careth nothing for

, ,

the knowledg e he hath learnt b ut returneth unto a vul gar ,

state and vile occupations and unto work of great fatigue ,

and labour so that nothing remaineth unto him o f all

,

that he hath learnt the father must assuredly feel great

,
”
perturbation and indignation at his so n .

N ow su ch a so n is he w ho is first instructed by preaching

an d the Script u r es and afterwards especially enlighten ed
,

by God and unto whom it is given thr ough especial light

, .

and divine inspirati on to kn ow and understand how he

should follow in the way of Christ which lear ning Go d
fir st caused him t o b e sho wn by others and did then
.

Himsel f instru ct him by His especial light and doctrine ,

which cannot be taught save by God alone And this .

He doeth that the man may know how to direct hi mself ,

an d may als o b e as a light unto others But if such a

man declineth unto negligence debasing hi msel f an d
.

,
.

growing fat and despising the light which he hath and .

the divine doctrine and inspiration then G od will take ,

a w ay from him that light and that grace an d will curse

him instead This was I commanded t o have written
.

down in order that I might tell it unto a brother unt o

w hom I made co n fes sion be c ause it w as a matt er which
’

concerned him .
 OE FOLIGNO 25 1

In another heaven ly conversation w as I told that there

,

is a certain generation which kn oweth God only through

the manifold goodness of the good things He hath done
unto them and that these know Him but little And I
, .

was told that there is another generation of men who ,

albeit they know God through the aforesaid good t hings ,

do nevertheless know Him much better through His good

ness which they experience in themselves .

,
In yet another conversation I heard a voice crying and
saying Oh how great are they How great are they
, ,

Not the great readers of My Scriptures but those w ho ,

do them and fulfil them ; for the whole of the divine .

Scriptures are fulfilled in the example of the Life of

”
Christ Jesus .

Once when I w as at prayer I said unto God I know ,

O Lord that Thou art my Father for Thou ar t my God ;

, ,

t each Thou me therefore that which Thou wouldst have

, ,

me do and instruct me in that which pleaseth Thee for

, ,

I a m r eady to obey Thee

N ow reflecting upon these words from morning even
u nt il the hour of tierce I b eheld and heard but that
, ,

which I beheld and heard am I in no wise able to declare .

Bu t it was a most unspeakable abyss and it was shown ,

me what it was who dwelt therein and who dwelt n ot

,

therein And God said

.

Of a truth there is no othe r st r aight way than that

which followeth My footsteps for upon this road none
,
”
a r e deceived .
25 2 THE BLESSED ANGELA
And this hath been told unto me many times in truth
and great clearness Amen . .

Her e en d the Vis ion : an d C on rolatiom f

o be
[

B less ed [Ing e/a f F élzgn o

'

o .

THE LAST W R ITIN G OF THE B LESSED AN GELA OF FOLIGN O

T H IS is the last writing and the last lette r given by our

Mother the Blessed An gela of Foligno before she fell
, ,

sick unto death and which she said was the last o f he r
,

letters She foresaw her happy passing away a long time

.

befo r e it happened wherefore with great a ffection did

,

she constrain her writer to write thus saying ,

Oh my God Jesus Christ make me worthy that I

, ,
‘

'

may know Thy most high mystery which hath been ,

wr ought by Thy most ardent charity That is t o say .

,

the most high and profound m ystery o f Thy most holy

Incarnation w hich Thou hast wrought for o u r sake and
,

which hath been the beginning of our salvation for it ,

doeth two things unto u s Firstly it fi l l et h u s with love

.
,

and secondly it maketh u s to be verily certain of o u r

,

salvation .

Oh how unspeakable is this charity " Trul y there is

,

none greater than t his that my G o d the Creato r of all

, , ,

should have become a c r eature in order that He might

2 54 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
fourth is the glory o f Thy R esurrection The fifth is the .

e xaltation of Thine admirable Ascension .

The first is love unspeakable Oh love supreme and .

transformed " Oh love all too ine ffable " Blessed b e

Thou o h Lord because Thou makest me to u nderstand
, ,

that Thou wert made man Oh how glorious is this ;

'

knowledge and understanding , that I do see and know

th at Thou art born in me V erily this understanding is
.

full of all delight and sweetness Oh Thou Admirabl e .

One how admirable are the m ysteries which Thou hast

,

wr ought for me
The second mystery w h ich Thou hast wr ought fo r u s
maketh us ce rtain of the way of life For Thou tookest '
.

o u r fl esh upon The e and w ast b orn and didst live in s uch

wi se that we do possess Thy teaching and example oh ,

Jesus Christ w ho wast born unto poverty s u ffering and

, ,

contempt and therein didst live and die

, .

The third is the m ystery o f Thy death for thereunto .

,

wast Thou born that by dying for us Thou mightest work

,

ou r redemption There are five things t o b e considered

.
'

in this death o f Christ Firstly the declaration and

.
,

operation of o u r salvation ; secon dl y our strengthening ,

and our victory over our enemies ; thirdly the fulness ,

and superabundance of the divine love as manife st ed by ,

that same death fourthly that He hath fi ll ed u s with a

,

most high most lo ving and profound truth whereby we

, , ,

may know see and understand how God the Father

, ,

hath shown forth glorified and declared His Son ; an d

,
“
 or FOLIGNO 25 5

fi ft hl y ,
that hereby we may know also how the Son of -

God did make manifest the Father by the obedience ,

which He did observe throughout His whole life even ,

unto the bitter death of the Cross and hath given satis
,

faction for the whole human race Make me wort hy .

,

oh Thou G o d U ncreate t o know the depths of Thy love

,

a nd the unfathomable extent of Thy ardent cha rity

make me worthy t o understand the ineffable charity
'

which Thou didst communicate unto us when Thou

'

didst show unto u s Thy Son Jesus Christ in this flesh

and when this Thy Son did make Thee manifest unto u s .

Oh marvellous indescribable and joyful love in Thee is

, , ,

all savour and sweetness and all delight the contempla ,

tion whereof exal teth the soul above the world making ,

it able to stand alone in j oy peace and rest

, .

The fou rth mystery is in t hetriumphant Resur rection ,

i n the which t w o things chiefly are to be considered The .

first is that His resurrection giveth us h0 pe of o u r own

,

and the second is that it maketh u s perfectly to know the

,

S piritual res u rrection which G od worketh of His grace

when He raiseth up a dead man t o life again and r esto reth
the sick t o health Oh most high unsp eakable unknow n
.
, ,

and ine ffable mystery wherein Thou hast shown the

fulfil ment of ou r perfection make me oh Lord worthy
, , ,

o f knowing this most high mystery .

The fifth is t he mystery of the Ascension Mak e me .

,

o h Lord wo rthy and capable o f understanding the most

,

high mystery of Thine Ascension whereb y was fulfilled

,
256 T HE BLE SSED ANGELA
the whole of our salvation Oh Jesus Christ then was it
.
,

that Thou didst give us possession of Him w ho is Thy

Father and ours
“
These five mysteries are the school of true scholars ,

and the veritable school where we learn continual prayer .

Therefore oh Lord make me to know and unders tand

, ,

the supreme charity through which Thou didst create

and rede em me Oh Thou Incomprehensible One
.
,

make me able to understand Thine inestimable and

ardent charity and that burning love through which
Thou hast chosen the human race unto all eternity to
attain unto the vision of Thysel f and through which Thou ,

oh Most High hast deigned to look upon us Make u s

, .
,

o h Lord,
t o know o u r faults that w e may escape the

punishments wherewith Thou ha st threatened those

who are ungrateful and who know not Thee nor Thine
”
ine ffable mysteries and benefit s .

Beside these things she spake of seven S piritual gifts

,

and benefits conferred upon u s by the di vine goodness ,

and she said

Oh most sweet Lord make me able to understand
.

th ese seven gifts which Thou hast bestowed upon us

amongst the multitude of Thi ne other gifts " The first
gift is the ine ffable creation The second is the admi t
.

able election whereby Thou hast deigned to exalt us unto

Thy glory The third is the inestimable gift vouchsafed
.

us w hen Thou didst send Thy Son to give us life The

'

fo u rth is the most high gift of Thy goodness whereb y

,
2 58 T HE BLES SED ANGELA
Thy Face be rewarded according unto t hei r love and ,

there is nothing which leadeth the contemplative unto

contemplation saving true love alone Oh Marvellous .
,

One ho w marvellous are the things which Thou w orkest

,

in Thy children " Oh Supreme Good o h In com p re -

he n sib l e Goodness and Ardent Charity " Oh Person ,

Divine w ho hast deign ed to grant us substance in the

,

midst of Thine ow n Substance " Marvellous above all

othe r thin gs which Thou w o rkest in Thy children Oh ,

hidden and marvellous thing there is no human unde r

,

standing which faileth not b efore this substan ce but ,

through divine grace and light do we feel it And thi s I s .

the pledge of t hose who do verily live solitary and all ,

the choirs of angels are herewith occupied And in this .

t ru e occupation are engaged all true contemplatives w ho ,

shall afterwards be solitary and separated from the earth ,

having their conversation in heaven Thanks be unto .

”
God for ever and ever Amen . .

Her e endetb the l as t w r z tm g gi venby the Bl essed

Angel a of F al igna l
u n to i ef childr en

TH E TESTAMENT AN D LAST ADM O N ITI ON or THE B LESSED

AN GELA or FOLIG N O WH ICH SHE GAV E U NTO H E R
CH ILDR EN SHE BEI N G N IG H UN TO DEATH
,

THAT which I n ow sp eak unto you oh my children I , ,

spea k for n o othe r r eason save for t he love o f God and .

,
-
 or FOLI GNO 259

because I did promis e unto y ou that I woul d not willingly

carry away with me beneath the earth aught of what I do
know which might be profit able unto you .

“
That which I am about to say is not of myself but ,

wholly of G od because it hath pleased His divine good

,

ness to give into my care all His sons and da ughters w ho

are in t his world both here and beyond the sea 1 have
'

, .

been as careful of them as I w as able and I have gri eved ,

for them and have suffered more sorrow because of them

than ye would readily believe Oh my God now do I .
,

render them unto Thee again and I pray Thee that of ,

Thine ine ffable charity Thou do protect them from all

evil and do keep them in the way of all goodness in ‘

the love of povert y contempt and suffering and in the

, , ,

transformation and imitation of Thy life and perfection ,

which it hath pleased Thee to S how forth in word and

deed and actual life .

Oh my beloved sons I do exhort you in this my last

, ,
«

e xhortation t hat ye strive to b e little and truly humble

«
.

and meek not only in outward works but in the depth

,

o f you r hearts in order that ye may be tr ue scholars and

,

disciples of Him who said Learn of Me for I am meek , ,

’
and lowly of heart .

Have no care for power or honou r s or being p r eferred , ,

before others , but strive ye t o be of no account in order

that Christ may e xalt you in t he perfection of merits and
in His grace B e ye so hu mble that ye do perpetually
.

esteem yourselves as nothing C ursed are thos e sel f

.
.
”
2 60 THE BLES SED ANGELA
su ffi c ien c es i
which make souls proud such as power , ,

honour and preferment — fl y ye from them for in them , ,

lieth great deception and danger And greater decep .

tion still is there in S piritual self su ffi cien cy even than in -

the worldly— that is to say in know ing how to speak of ,

G od in understanding the Scriptures in performing great

, ,

penances and keeping the heart busied over spiritual

t hings For the spiritually self su ffi c ien t do often fall
.
-

into error and are more di ffi cult to correct than those

w ho have W orldly self su ffi c ien cy Esteem yoursel v es
-
.
,

therefore as nothing as not hi ng known or nothing u m

, ,

known Of a tr uth the soul can possess no better insight

.
,

o r knowledge than to perceive its ow n nothingness a nd

t o remain within its own p r ison .

Strive ye oh my sons to possess charity without which

, , ,

there is neither salvation nor merit Behold God saith '

.
, ,

Al l My things are thine Who is there who deserveth .

’

this t hat all God s t hings should be his ? V erily there

,
’ ‘ ’

is naught else that deserveth this save the most ardent

charity .

Oh my sons fathers and brothers see that ye love o n e

, ,

anothe r amongst yourselves and that ye have t r ue charity

and love for if it hath this the soul deserveth to i nherit ,

the divine possessions And I do exhort you that ye .

desire not o nl y to have this charity amongst yourselves ,

but likewise unto all people For I say unto y ou that of a .

certainty my soul hath received more pro fit from weeping

and lamenting ove r the sins of my neigh b our than over
26 2 THE BLES SED ANG E L A
When S he had made an end of saying these things S he ,

placed her hand upon the head of each person saying ,

Blessed be ye both o f the Lord and of me oh m y

,
«
,

children ye and all the othe rs who are not here present
, .

And even as it hath been signified and shown fo rt h unto

me by the Lord even so do I gi ve this eternal blessing
,

unto you who are p resen t a n d unto t hose w ho are absent z ,

and may that same Christ Himself give it unto y o u with

'

the Hand whereby He w as nailed upon the Cross Amen ”

. .

TH E PASSI N G AWAY OF THE B LESSED AN GELA

A B O UT the Feast o f the Nativity of o u r Lord Jesus Chris t

at which time she p assed away u nto Christ) as she l ay
( . ,
.

”
very sick she said The Wo rd is made Flesh and aft er
, , ,

a long S ilence as though S he were returni ng from some

,

other place she sa id Oh every cr eature fai l eth and the

, ,
“
, ,

whole of the angelic understanding sufficeth not t o co m

My soul is washed
”
prehend this Then she added
.
,

an d cleansed in t he bloo d o f Jesus Christ the whic h w as ,

as fresh and wa r m as though I t had but this mome n t

issued from the body of the C ru cifi ed .

After this she said Christ Jesus the Son o f Go d hath

, ,
.

n ow presented me unto the Father and these words have ,

been S poken unto me

,

Oh bride and fair on e oh thou w ho ar t beloved o f

,

Me with perfect love o f a truth I would n ot that t ho u

, .
 OF FOLIGNO 263

shouldst come unto Me with these exceeding great

su fferings but I wo ul d thou shouldst come with the
,

utmost rej oicing and with j oy unspeakable even as it is ,

seemly that the King should lead home the bride whom
He hath loved so long and clothed with the royal robe , .
’

And he showed me the robe even as the bridegroom ,

show et h it unto the bride whom he hath loved a long

time It was neither of purple nor of scarlet nor of

.
,

sendal nor of samite but it w as a ce rtain marvellous light

, ,

which clothed the soul And then He S howed unto .

me the Bridegroom the Eternal Word so that now I do

'

, ,

understand what thing the Word is and what it doth

mean— that is t o say this Wor d which for my sake ,

w as made Flesh And the Word entered into me

.

and touched me throughout and embraced me saying , ,

Come My lo ve My bride beloved of Me with true

, , ,

delight—com e for all the saints do await thee with ex

,
'

ceedin g great j oy And He said again unto me I will

’
.
,

n ot commit thee in charge unto the blessed angels or

othe r saints that they should lead thee unto Me but I ,

will come personally and fetch thee and will raise thee
unto Myself for thou hast made thyself meet fo r Me and
,

pleasing unto My Majesty .

’

N ow when she w as nigh unto the time of her passin g

aw ay (being the day before it) she did often repeat , ,

Father into Thy Hands I do commend my soul and

,

my S pirit ”
Once after r epeating these wo r ds she said
.
, ,

u nto u s w ho were present

26
4 T HE BLESSED ANGELA
Now hath an answer unto those words been given ;

unto m e and it is this : It is impossible that in death

,

thou shouldst lose that which hath been impressed upon

thine hea r t in life Then did we say unto her Wilt
.
’
,

thou then depart and leave us P And she made answer

, ,

A long time have I hi dden it fr om y ou but n ow will ,

I conceal it n o longer I say unto y ou that I must needs

.

”
depart .

And upon that same day ceased all those sufferings

with which fo r many days p r eviously she had been
grievously tormented in all her limbs both within and ,

without and a fflicted in many ways And she did then

, .

lie in such repose of the body and cheerfulness of S pirit

that she appeared as though she already tasted somewhat
o f the j oy which had been promised unto her .

Then did we ask of her Whether that aforesaid j oy had

yet been granted unto her and she replied that the above ,

mentioned j oy had commenced .

And in this repose of body and cheerfulness of S p 1 r1 t

S he lay very j oyft until the hour of Compline on the
'

S aturday surrounded by many of the brethren w ho did

,

administer the Holy Mysteries unto her An d up on .

that same day that is to say upon the Octave o f the

, ,

Innocents at the last hour of the day she gently fell

,

asleep and rested in p eace And that most holy soul was .

set free from the fl esh and being drawn into the abyss,

of the divine in fi n it u de it received from Christ it s , ,

Bridegroom the garment of innocence and immortality

, ,
Pr i n t ed by B A LLAe Nz , H A N S ON 61“ C o .

E di b
n u rg h 67° Lo d on
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