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MUCH OF THE I.Nl- ORMATIO.V CONTAINED IN THE CITY
OF GOD CAME TO MARY OF AGREDA DIRECTLY FROM THE
QUEEN OF HEAVEN, SOME OF IT FROM THE HOLY ANGELS.
AND PART OF IT IMMEDIATELY FROM GOD. ALL OF IT
PARTAKES OF THAT INTELLECTUAL AND ABSTRACTIVE
CHARACTER, WHICH ABSOLUTELY EXCLUDES IMAGINARY
AND VISIONARY ILLUSIONS.
MYSTICAL
lCity of God
THE MIRACLE OF HIS OMNIPOTENCE
AND THE ABYSS OF HIS GRACE
THE DIVINE HISTORY AND LIFE OF THE VIRGIN
MOTHER OF GOD
OUR QUEEN AND OUR LADY, MOST HOLY MARY
EXPIATRIX OF THE FAULT OF EVE / n 1
AND MEDIATRIX OF GRACE CV^c>(J
Manifested In these later ages by that Lady to her handmaid
SISTER MARY OF JESUS
Superioress of the convent of the Immaculate Conception of the town
of Agreda, of the province of Burgos in Spain, under
obedience to the regular observance
of the seraphic father
SAINT FRANCIS
For new enlightenment of the world, for rejoicing
of the Catholic Church, and encouragement of men.
Translation from the Original Authorised Spanish Edition
BY
FISCAR MARISON
Begun on the Feast of the Assumption
1902
CONTENTS
BOOK ONE
CHAPTER I.
THE MOST HIGH BEGINS TO PREPARE IN MOST HOLY MARY THE
MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION; THE EVENTS OF THE NINE
DAYS PRECEDING THIS MYSTERY, ESPECIALLY THE HAPPENINGS
OF THE FIRST DAY 23
CHAPTER II.
THE LORD ON THE SECOND DAY CONTINUES HIS FAVORS IN PREPA-
RATION FOR THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD IN THE MOST
HOLY MARY 33
CHAPTER III.
WHAT FAVORS THE MOST HIGH CONFERRED ON MOST HOLY MARY
ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE NOVENA BEFORE THE INCARNATION 40
CHAPTER IV.
THE MOST HIGH CONTINUES HIS FAVORS TO MOST HOLY MARY ON
THE FOURTH DAY 47
CHAPTER V.
HIS MAJESTY MANIFESTS NEW MYSTERIES AND SACRAMENTS TO-
GETHER WITH THE WORKS OF THE FIFTH DAY OF THE CREATION
TO MOST HOLY MARY, AND HER HIGHNESS CONTINUES TO PRAY
FOR THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD 53
CHAPTER VI.
THE MOST HIGH MANIFESTS TO MARY, OUR MISTRESS, ADDITIONAL
MYSTERIES AND SHOWS HER THE WORKS OF THE SIXTH DAY
OF CREATION 61
vii
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER VII.
THE MOST HIGH CELEBRATES A NEW ESPOUSAL WITH THE PRINCESS
OF HEAVEN IN ORDER TO INAUGURATE THE NUPTIALS OF THE
INCARNATION. HE ADORNS HER FOR IT 68
CHAPTER VIII.
OUR GREAT QUEEN, IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, PLEADS FOR THE
HASTENING OF THE INCARNATION AND OF THE REDEMPTION OF
MAN, AND HIS MAJESTY YIELDS TO HER PRAYER 77
CHAPTER IX.
THE MOST HIGH RENEWS ALL HIS FAVORS AND BENEFITS IN THE
MOST HOLY MARY AND, AS THE ULTIMATE PREPARATION FOR
THE INCARNATION, MAKES HER SOVEREIGN AND QUEEN OF ALL
THE UNIVERSE 85
CHAPTER X.
THE BLESSED TRINITY SENDS THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL AS A MES-
SENGER TO ANNOUNCE TO MOST HOLY MARY THAT SHE IS
CHOSEN AS THE MOTHER OF GOD 92
CHAPTER XI.
MARY LISTENS TO THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLY ANGEL ; THE MYSTERY
OF THE INCARNATION IS ENACTED BY THE CONCEPTION OF THE
ETERNAL WORD IN HER WOMB 100
CHAPTER XII.
OF THE FIRST ACTS OF THE MOST HOLY SOUL OF CHRIST OUR LORD
IN THE FIRST INSTANT OF HIS CONCEPTION AND OF THE CORRE-
SPONDING ACTS OF HIS MOST PURE MOTHER 116
CHAPTER XIII. •
AN EXPLANATION OF THE STATE IN WHICH MOST HOLY MARY
FOUND HERSELF AFTER THE INCARNATION OF THE DIVINE WORD
IN HER VIRGINAL WOMB 129
CHAPTER XIV.
OF THE ATTENTION AND CARE WHICH THE MOST HOLY MARY
BESTOWED UPON THE FRUIT OF HER WOMB AND SOME
HAPPENINGS IN REGARD TO IT 146
CONTENTS ix
CHAPTER XV.
MOST HOLY MARY IS INFORMED OF THE WILL OF THE LORD, THAT
SHE VISIT HOLY ELISABETH ; SHE ASKS SAINT JOSEPH FOR
PERMISSION TO GO, REMAINING SILENT ABOUT ALL THAT HAD
HAPPENED TO HER 154
CHAPTER XVI.
THE JOURNEY OF THE MOST HOLY MARY ON HER VISIT TO SAINT
ELISABETH AND HER ENTRANCE INTO THE HOUSE OF ZACHARLAS 162
CHAPTER XVn.
THE SALUTATION GIVEN TO SAINT ELISABETH BY THE QUEEN OF
HEAVEN, AND THE SANCTIFICATION OF JOHN 174
CHAPTER XVni.
MOST HOLY MARY ARRANGES THE ORDER OF HER DAILY EXERCISES
IN THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS ; SOME INCIDENTS IN HER
INTERCOURSE WITH SAINT ELISABETH 187
CHAPTER XIX.
OF SOME CONVERSATIONS, WHICH MOST HOLY MARY HELD WITH
HER ANGELS IN THE HOUSE OF SAINT ELISABETH, AND OF
OTHERS, WHICH SHE HELD WITH HER COUSIN 197
CHAPTER XX.
SOME SPECIAL FAVORS WHICH MOST HOLY MARY CONFERRED UPON
SEVERAL PERSONS IN THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS 207
CHAPTER XXI.
SAINT ELISABETH ASKS THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN TO ASSIST AT
HER CONFINEMENT AND IS ENLIGHTENED CONCERNING THE
BIRTH OF JOHN 214
CHAPTER XXII.
THE BIRTH OF THE PRECURSOR OF CHRIST AND WHAT THE LADY
MARY DID ON THIS OCCASION 221
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE GOOD COUNCIL AND INSTRUCTION, WHICH MOST HOLY MARY
GAVE TO SAINT ELISABETH AT HER REQUEST, SAINT JOHN IS
CIRCUMCISED AND RECEIVES HIS NAME; ZACHARIAS PROPHESIES 230
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIV.
MOST HOLY MARY LEAVES THE HOUSE OF ZACHARtAS AND RETURNS
TO HER HOME IN NAZARETH 244
CHAPTER XXV.
THE JOURNEY OF MOST HOLY MARY FROM THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS
TO HER HOME IN NAZARETH 251
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE DEMONS HOLD A MEETING IN HELL IN ORDER TO TAKE COUNSEL
AGAINST MOST HOLY MARY 258
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LORD PREPARES MOST HOLY MARY TO MEET LUCIFER IN BATTLE
AND THE DRAGON BEGINS TO PERSECUTE HER 268
CHAPTER XXVIII.
LUCIFER WITH ALL HIS SEVEN LEGIONS PERSISTS IN TEMPTING
MOST HOLY MARY; SHE CONQUERS THE DRAGON AND CRUSHES
HIS HEAD 287
BOOK TWO
CHAPTER I.
SAINT JOSEPH BECOMES AWARE OF THE PREGNANCY OF HIS SPOUSE,
THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS FILLED WITH ANXIETY, AS HE
KNOWS THAT HE HAD NO PART IN IT 301
CHAPTER II.
THE ANXIETIES OF SAINT JOSEPH INCREASE; HE RESOLVES TO
LEAVE HIS SPOUSE, AND HE BETAKES HIMSELF TO PRAYER ON
THIS ACCOUNT 312
CHAPTER III.
THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH IN HIS SLEEP
AND MAKES KNOWN TO HIM THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNA-
TION — HIS BEHAVIOR THEREAFTER 322
CHAPTER IV.
SAIKT JOSEPH ASKS PARDON OF THE MOST HOLY MARY, HIS
SPOUSE, AND THE HEAVENLY LADY CONSOLES HIM WITH
GREAT PRUDENCE 332
CONTENTS xi
CHAPTER V.
SAINT JOSEPH RESOLVES TO DEVOTE HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO THE
SERVICE OF MOST HOLY MARY ; THE BEHAVIOR OF HER MAJESTY,
AND OTHER PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE OF MARY AND JOSEPH. . . 343
CHAPTER VI.
SOME OF THE SAYINGS AND CONVERSATIONS OF MOST HOLY MARY
AND JOSEPH REGARDING DIVINE THINGS; OTHER WONDERFUL
EVENTS 353
CHAPTER VH.
THE MOST HOLY MARY PREPARES THE SWADDLING-CLOTHES AND
THE LINENS FOR THE DIVINE INFANT WITH ARDENT LONGINGS
TO SEE IT BORN 363
CHAPTER Vni.
THE EDICT OF CESAR AUGUSTUS IS PUBLISHED, COMMANDING ALL
SUBJECTS OF THE EMPIRE TO REGISTRATE ; AND WHAT SAINT
JOSEPH DID WHEN HE HEARD OF IT 374
CHAPTER IX.
THE JOURNEY OF MOST HOLY MARY FROM NAZARETH TO BETHLEHEM
IN THE COMPANY OF THE HOLY SPOUSE JOSEPH AND OF THE
HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS 382
CHAPTER X.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR IS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY IN BETHLEHEM,
juDA 393
CHAPTER XI.
THE HOLY ANGELS ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD IN DIF-
FERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND THE SHEPHERDS COME
TO ADORE HIM 411
CHAPTER XII.
WHAT WAS CONCEALED FROM THE DEMON CONCERNING THE MYSTERY
OF THE BIRTH OF THE INCARNATE WORD, AND OF OTHER
HAPPENINGS UNTIL THE CIRCUMCISION 420
xii CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIII.
THE MOST HOLY MARY IS INFORMED OF THE WILL OF THE LORD,
THAT HIS ONLYBEGOTTEN SON BE CIRCUMCISED, AND SHE
CONFERS ABOUT IT WITH SAINT JOSEPH : THE MOST HOLY NAME
OF JESUS IS BROUGHT FROM HEAVEN 432
CHAPTER XIV.
THE DIVINE INFANT IS CIRCUMCISED AND RECEIVES THE NAME
JESUS 446
CHAPTER XV.
THE MOST HOLY MARY REMAINS IN THE PORTAL OF THE NATIVITY
UNTIL THE COMING OF THE MAGI KINGS 455
CHAPTER XVI.
THE THREE KINGS OF THE ORIENT COME TO ADORE THE WORD MADE
MAN IN BETHLEHEM 467
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MAGI KINGS RETURN ONCE MORE TO SEE AND ADORE THE INFANT
JESUS : THEY OFFER THEIR GIFTS ON TAKING LEAVE, AND RETURN
BY A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO THEIR HOMES 478
CHAPTER XVIII.
MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DISTRIBUTE THE GIFTS RECEIVED
FROM THE MAGi; AND THEY REMAIN IN BETHLEHEM UNTIL
THEIR DEPARTURE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT
JESUS IN THE TEMPLE 485
CHAPTER XIX.
MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DEPART WITH THE INFANT JESUS,
IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE LAW, BY PRESENTING HIM IN THE
TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM 496
CHAPTER XX.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE AND
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT OCCASION 506
CONTENTS xiii
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LORD PREPARES THE MOST HOLY MARY FOR THE FLIGHT INTO
EGYPT; THE ANGEL SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH; AND OTHER
MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH 516
CHAPTER XXn.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH BEGIN THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT; ACCOM-
PANIED BY THE ANGELIC SPIRITS, THEY ARRIVE AT THE CITY
OF GAZA 529
CHAPTER XXni.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY FROM THE CITY
OF GAZA TO HELIOPOLIS IN EGYPT 539
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE HOLY TRAVELERS, JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH, ARRIVE IN EGYPT,
AND AFTER SOME WANDERINGS THEY COME TO HELIOPOLIS,
WHERE GREAT MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT 549
CHAPTER XXV.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIVINE WILL, JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
SETTLE DOWN TO DWELL NEAR THE CITY OF HELIOPOLIS AND
■ THEY REGULATE THEIR DAILY LIFE DURING THEIR BANISH-
MENT 558
CHAPTER XXVI.
OF THE WONDERS WHICH THE INFANT JESUS, MOST HOLY MARY
AND JOSEPH WROUGHT AT HELIOPOLIS IN EGYPT 568
CHAPTER XXVII.
HEROD RESOLVES TO MURDER THE INNOCENTS: MOST HOLY MARY
IS AWARE OF THIS. SAINT JOHN IS CONCEALED BY HIS
RELATIVES 575
CHAPTER XXVIII.
AT THE AGE OF ONE YEAR THE INFANT JESUS SPEAKS TO SAINT
JOSEPH AND REQUESTS HIS MOTHER TO CLOTHE HIM AND
ALLOW HIM TO WALK. HE COMMENCES TO CELEBRATE THE
DAY OF HIS INCARNATION AND OF HIS BIRTH 583
xiv CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE MOST HOLY MOTHER CLOTHES THE INFANT JESUS IN THE
SEAMLESS tunic; SHE PUTS SHOES ON HIS FEET. THE DOINGS
AND OBSERVANCES OF THE LORD 591
CHAPTER XXX.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH RETURN TO NAZARETH AT THE COMMAND
OF THE LORD 601
What tHe Universities of Europe, the Religious
Orders and Learned Men Say of the
"Ciudad de Dios."
FORTY years after the first appearance of the
"Ciudad de Dios" the great universities of Europe
were called upon to give their opinion about this
great work. All the faculties, except the Jansenistic
members of the Sorbonne at Paris, published highest
recommendations. At the same time the learned men
and teachers of each religious order that maintained
institutions of learning in Europe, were asked to con-
tribute their opinions. The following religious orders
complied : The Augustinians, Benedictines, Carmelites,
Dominicans, Jesuits, Cistercians, Basilians, Trinitarians,
Mercedarians, Minims, Hieronymites, Premonstraten-
sians, Reformed Augustinians, Theatines, Minors of the
Regular Clergy, all unanimously endorsing the favorable
decision previously published by the University of Sala-
manca. To the approbation of nearly all the Univer-
sities and Religious Orders, were then added the high
eulogiums of other learned men, great divines, bishops
and princes of the Church and of the Popes and the
Roman Congregations. As a sample of what these wit-
nesses said concerning the wonderful "Ciudad de Dios,"
we here select the official approbation of the University
of Louvain, one of the great Universities of Europe,
XV
xvi TESTIMONIES
After pointing out that God's power of giving private
revelations to whom He chooses, must not be circum-
scribed, and after referring to some general rules in
regard to private revelations, the document proceeds to
say:
"Now, while abiding the decision of the Church con-
cerning the revelations, which are given us under the
title of The City of God, we, having read the whole
work, say and are of the opinion, that the faithful can
read it without danger to their faith and without damage
to the purity of morals; for there is not found anything
within it, which could lead to relaxation or to indiscreet
rigor; but on the contrary, we have come to the conclu-
sion that it will be most useful for enlivening and aug-
menting the piety of the faithful, the veneration of the
most holy Virgin, and the respect for the sacred
mysteries."
"The strong and the weak, the wise and the ignorant,
and in fine, all the world will gather richest fruit from
the reading of these books: for they contain what is
most sublime in theology and in a style so simple, easy
and perspicuous that, in order to enter deeply into an
understanding of the holy mysteries, no more is necessary
than to read them with sound judgment."
"Combined with this simplicity are found many doc-
trines and valid proofs, free from contradictions and not
easily found in other writings. This History explains
more than a thousand difficulties in holy Scripture, in
a manner equally natural and wonderful. At every step
are encountered exquisite interpretations, until now un-
known, and which had been hidden beneath the mere
TESTIMONIES xvii
letter, but are laid open in these writings and brought
to the light. In short, the whole work is a beautiful
web of scripture passages which, though spun from its
different books, are directly and specially woven into a
whole for the purpose intended by the Venerable Mother."
"In addition thereto the instructions given by the most
holy Virgin at the end of each chapter contain the purest
morality, instruct, entertain, and at the same time sweetly
inculcate the love of virtue and abhorrence of vice, paint-
ing them in the most vivid and natural colours. They
do not only convince the intellect, but they contain such
a special unction, that they enkindle a sacred ardor in the
soul. In meditating upon them one certainly will expe-
rience a delight not met with in ordinary writings; and
the more they are read the greater is the delight expe-
rienced. Finally, the whole work contains something so
unwonted and attractive that, once begun, the reading of
it can scarcely be relinquished."
"The novelty and variety found in these writings
delight and recreate the reader beyond all that is pleasant
in the world, at the same time instructing him and in-
spiring him with new fervor. All can easily persuade
themselves that, if the interior life of Christ our LxDrd
and of the most holy Virgin was not just as described in
these books, it could certainly have been like it ; and that
it would have been well worthy of Them, if it was as it
is there depicted. All that is there said is befitting the
majesty and humility of Christ, and in correspondence
with the holiness of the Virgin and the dignity of the
Mother; since there is found nothing in the whole work
which was not worthy of both one and the other.
"Notwithstanding all this, we should not at all won-
xviii TESTIMONIES
der if the book met with men who are disposed to be
critical ; for what book is there which can hope to escape
the opposition of the people of our times ? God has not
even provided that the sacred Scriptures should be free
from such attack among the greater part of the learned
of this world. The whole philosophy of the pagans
causes them to join the number of those who are opposed
to the cross of Christ crucified; and among that number
are also the libertines of our day."
"Of course there are certain points in this work which
might give rise to apparent difficulties, and some of them
occurred, and do occur, to us. But, in accordance with
what we have said of the excellence and usefulness of
this work, we have come to the conclusion that these few
passages must not hinder us from giving it the com-
mendation already given; besides, we must confess that
we might possibly be ourselves mistaken in making these
objections."
"This seemed to us the most reasonable course, since
in this book there is something more than human. Any-
thing so excellent and sublime cannot be ascribed to an
over-excited imagination, since the whole work is con-
sistent throughout. Nor can it be believed to be the
work of a perverted mind, for, with a constant equa-
nimity, it treats of the most deeply hidden and abstruse
matters without involving itself in any contradictions;
though often also it descends to innumerable minute and
particular circumstances."
"There are contained in this work such noble, such
devout circumstantial and pertinent discourses, as cannot
be the result of mere discursive thought. Nor can it be
attributed to the demon; for, from beginning to end, it
TESTIMONIES xix
suggests and breathes nothing but humility, patience and
endurance of hardships."
"Therefore, just as 'Ciudad' must without a doubt be
attributed to the venerable Mother of Agreda, who is
claimed as its author, so she cannot have composed it
without particular help from on high. Our conclusive
opinion is, that the City of Grod, for the good of the
public, and for the advantages to be derived therefrom,
should be brought forth to the light. This is our judg-
ment, which we submit entirely to the supreme decision
of the Holy See, to whom alone belongs the right of
finally judging such writings."
Louvain, 20th of July 1715.
(Signed) Hermann Damen,
Doctor, Professor Ordinary and
Regent of the Theological
Faculty, Don of Saint Peter,
President of the College of
Arras, Censor of Books, etc.
Anton Parmentier,
Doctor, Professor Ordinary,
Regent of the Theological
Faculty, President of the Great
College of Theologians, etc.
APPROBATIONS
THE first Pope officially to take notice of "Ciudad
de Dios" was Pope Innocent XI, who, on July 3,
1686, in response to a series of virulent attacks
and machinations of some members of the Sorbonne,
known to be Jansenists, issued a breve permitting the
publication and reading- of the "Ciudad de Dios." Similar
decrees were afterward issued by Popes Alexander VIII,
Clement IX and Benedict XIII. These decrees were
followed by two decrees of the Congregation of Rites,
approved by Benedict XIV and Clement XIV, in which
the authenticity of "Ciudad de Dios" as extant and writ-
ten by the Venerable Servant of God, Mary of Jesus, is
officially established. The great pope Benedict XIII,
when he was archbishop of Benevent, used these revela-
tions as material for a series of sermons on the Blessed
Virgin. On Sept. 26, 1713, the bishop of Ceneda, Italy,
objecting to the publication of the "City of God," was
peremptorily ordered by the Holy Office to withdraw his
objections as interfering with the decree of pope
Innocent XI for the universal Church.
The process of canonization of Mary of Agreda was
promoted by the Spanish bishops and other eminent men
of the Church soon after her death in 1666. It has re-
sulted so far in securing her the title of Venerabilis, thus
clearing the way to her beatification, for which, let us
hope, God will soon raise a promoter among the many
pious and eminent men who hold in esteem her writings
xxi
xxii APPROBATIONS
and have learned of her holy life and of the miracles
wrought at her tomb.
The Redemptorist Fathers published a new German
translation in 1885, which was approved and highly
recommended by the Bishop of Ratisbon in the follow-
ing terms :
"We take pleasure in giving our episcopal approba-
tion to the annotated translation of the Spanish original
"Ciudad de Dios" of Mary of Jesus and recommend this
book, which will surely edify all readers and be the occa-
sion of great spiritual blessings."
Ratisbon, September 29, 1885.
^Ignatius, Bishop of Ratisbon.
Notable is the high recommendation of the Prince-
Archbishop of Salzburg, Apost. Legate, Primate of Ger-
many, etc.
"According to the decrees of Pope Innocent XI and
Clement XI the book known as 'Ciudad de Dios' written
by the Venerable Servant of God, Maria de Jesus, may
be read by all the faithful."
"A number of episcopal approbations, the recommen-
dations of four renowned universities, namely, of Tou-
louse, Salamanca, Alcala and Louvain, and of prominent
members of different orders, coincide in extolling the
above-named work. The learned and pious Cardinal
D'Aguirre says that he considers all the studies of fifty
years of his previous life as of small consequence in com-
parison with the doctrines he found in this book, which in
all things are in harmony with the Holy Scriptures, the
Holy Fathers and Councils of the Church. The Ven-
erable Superior-General of St. Sulpice, Abbe Emery,
adds: "Only since I read the revelations of Mary of
Agreda do I properly know Jesus and his Holy Mother."
APPROBATIONS xxiii
"We therefore do not hesitate — in granting our epis^
copal approbation to — "Ciudad de Dios" — and wish to
recommend it to the faithful and especially to our
clergy."
iji Franz Albert,
Archbishop.
Archiepiscopal Chancery, Salzburg.
September 12, 1885.
A more recent official approbation of "Ciudad de Dios"
is from the Bishop of Tarazona, prefacing the new edi-
tion of 1911-1912.
"We, Dr. James Ozoidi y Udave, by the grace of God
and of the Apostolic See, Bishop of Tarazona, Admin-
istrator Apostolic of the Diocese of Tudela, etc., etc.
Having charged the priest Don Eduardo Royo,
chaplain and confessor at the convent of the Immacu-
late Conception of Agreda, carefully and exactly to
compare the manuscript which is to serve as copy for
the printing of the new edition of the "City of God"
now about to be published by the religious of the above-
named convent, with the authenticated autograph
manuscript of that work there preserved, — and hav-
ing ascertained by a personal revision of a great part
of the manuscript that the said priest has diligently
and faithfully fulfilled this charge imposed upon him
by us:
We now therefore certify that this present edition
of 'Ciudad de Dios,' with the exception of a few mere
orthographic modifications, is entirely conformable to
the autograph of that work as composed and written
by the Venerable Mother Mary of Jesus of Agreda.
Tarazona, April 7, 1911.
[Diocesan Seal] iJiJames^ Bishop of Tarazona.
xxiv APPROBATIONS
Finally follows the official approbation of the Right
Reverend Bishop of the Fort Wayne Diocese, where this
English translation is published.
Rome City, Ind., Aug. 24, 1912.
The Rev. George J. Blatter,
Dear Rev. Father: —
My Imprimatur is herewith granted to your English
translation of the work entitled 'Ciudad de Dios.' Will-
ing you every blessing, I remain.
Devotedly in Domino,
iJiH. J. Alerding, Bishop of Fort Wayne.
The author has made use of capital letters in the text slightly at
variance with common usage, in order to avoid complication and se-
cure greater clearness. The paragraph numbers are those of the
newest Spanish edition of "Ciudad de Dios" in 1912. In the abridg-
ment they vary slightly.
City of God is divided into three Parts and eight Books. Part I
contains Books 1 and 2. Part II contains Books 3, 4, 5 and 6. Part
III contains Books 7 and 8. As circumstances compel a serial publi-
cation of the four volumes, the author judged it best to head these
divisions as follow :
The Conception, Books 1 and 2.
The Incarnation, Books 3 and 4.
The Transfixion, Books 5 and 6.
The Coronation, Books 7 and 8.
%f)t Sncarnatton
€|)e ^p^tttit^ of tije %iit of tfte I^olp iWotfter
of <0oD from tf)e incarnation of tf)e 2Dtbtne
9^orti in |)er birginal ^om£i to tf)e lUeturn
of tfje i^olp f amilp from €0ppt.
INTRODUCTION
1. When I was ready to present before the throne of
God the insignificant results of my labors in writing the
first part of the most holy life of Mary, the Mother of
God, I wished to subject it to the scrutiny and correction
of the divine light, by which I had been guided in my
shortcomings. I was very anxious to be consoled by the
renewed assurance, and benign approval of the Most
High, and to know, whether He wished me to continue
or to abandon this work, which is so far above my low-
liness. The Lord responded saying : "Thou hast written
well, and according to our pleasure; but We desire thee
to understand, that in order to manifest the mysteries
and most high sacraments of the rest of the life of our
only and chosen Spouse, Mother of our Onlybegotten,
thou hast need of a new and more exalted preparation.
It is our wish that thou die to all that is imperfect and
visible, and that thou live according to the spirit; that
thou renounce all the occupations and habits of an earthly
creature and assume instead those of an angel, striving to
attain in them a still greater purity and an entire con-
formity with what thou art to understand and write."
2. In this answer of the Most High I understood, that
such a high perfection of life and habits and such an
unwonted exercise of virtues was proposed and required
of me, that, full of diffidence, I became disturbed and
fearful of undertaking a work so^ arduous and difficult
for an earthly creature. I felt within myself great re-
pugnance rising up in the flesh against the spirit. The
3
4 INTRODUCTION
spirit called me with interior force, urging me to strive
after the disposition, which was required of me, and
advancing as argument the pleasure of the Lord and the
benefits accruing to myself. On the other hand the law
of sin (Rom. 7, 23), which I felt in my members,
opposed the divine promptings and discouraged me by
the fear of my own inconstancy. I felt a great distaste,
which deterred me and a great pusillanimity which filled
me with fear. In this excitement I began to believe, that
I was not capable of treating about such high things,
especially as they were so foreign to the condition and
estate of a woman.
3. Overcome by fears and difficulties, I resolved not
to continue this work, and to use all possible means to
adhere to this determination. The common enemy knew
my fear and cowardice, and, as his utmost cruelty is
more aroused against the weak and disheartened, he made
use of this very disposition to attack me with incredible
fury. It seemed to him, that I was left without help in
his hands. In order to conceal his malice, he sought to
transform himself into an angel of light, pretending to
be very solicitous for my soul and for my welfare.
Under this false pretext he perfidiously deluged me with
his suggestions and doubts; he represented to me the
danger of damnation and frightened me with punish-
ments similar to those of the chief of the angels
(Is. 14, 12), since I had sought in my pride to compre-
hend, what was above my powers and in opposition to
God himself.
4. He pointed out to me many souls, who, professing
virtue, were deceived by some secret presumption and by
yielding to the insinuations of the devil ; and he made me
believe, that in so far as I sought to scrutinize the secrets
of the divine Majesty (Prov. 25, 27), I could not but be
INTRODUCTION 5
guilty of pride and presumption, thus being- already
judged. He urged very strongly, that the present times
were ill suited for such matters and sought to confirm
his assertion by what happened to some well known per-
sons, who were found to labor under deceit and error.
He reminded me of the dread of the spiritual life in
others; how great would be the discredit, which would
arise by any mistake of mine and what evil effect it would
have on those of little piety; all this I would know by
experience and to my regret, if I persisted in writing-
about this matter. And as it is true evidently, that all
the opposition to the spiritual life and the small esteem
in which the mystic virtues are held, is caused by that
mortal enemy, so, for the purpose of doing away with
Christian devotion and piety in many souls, he succeeds
in deceiving some and in sowing the cockle among the
good seed of the Lord (Matth. 13, 25). Thus he causes
confusion and obscures the true sentiment concerning it,
making it more difficult to distinguish the darkness from
the light. I am not surprised to see him succeed therein,
as the true discernment is the special work of God and of
those, who participate in his true wisdom, and do not
govern themselves only by earthly insight.
5. It is not easy during this mortal life to discern true
prudence from the false; for often also the good inten-
tion and zeal warp the human judgment, when counsel
and light from on high are wanting. I had occasion to
learn this in the execution of that which I am about to
undertake : for some persons, well known as devout, not
only those who loved me on account of their piety and
desired my welfare, but also those who were less loving
and considerate : all alike at one time wished to deter me
from this undertaking, and also from the path, which I
was going, as if I was proceeding upon it by my own
6 INTRODUCTION
choice. Their fear of drawing discredit or confusion
upon those who were striving after piety with me, or
upon rehgion or my neighbors, and especially upon the
convent in which I lived, caused them anxiety and to me,
affliction. I was much enamoured by the security, which
the ordinary paths of the other nuns seemed to offer ; I
acknowledge, that this suited more my own insight and
my inclination and desires, and was urged upon me still
more by my timidity and my great fears.
6. Cast about upon these impetuous waves, my heart
sought to reach the port of obedience in order to re-
assure me in the bitter sea of my confusion. To add to
my tribulation, it began to be rumored about in our
order, that my spiritual father and superior, who had for
many years directed my soul and who well understood
my interior trials, who moreover had commanded me to
write the preceding part of this history, who would most
likely encourage, quiet, and console me, was suggested
for removal to a higher office. The suggestion was not
acted upon, but it occasioned his absence for many days,
and the dragon took advantage of all this in order to
pour out against me the furious river of his wrath
(Apoc. 13, 15). Thus, though in vain, he exerted all
his malice, on this occasion and others, to entice me from
obedience and deprive me of the guidance of my superior
and master.
7. In addition to all the contradictions and temptations
already mentioned, and many others not possible to de-
scribe, the demon sought to deprive me of my health,
causing many aches, indispositions and disorders of the
whole body. He harassed me with insurmountable sad-
ness and conflicting thoughts; he seemed to confuse my
understanding, hinder correct thinking, weaken my will
power, and sift me in body and soul. And it happened
INTRODUCTION 7
that in the midst of this confusion I committed some
faults, which were serious enough in me, although they
were committed not so much in malice as from human
fraility. Nevertheless the serpent sought to use them
for my destruction more than any other means ; for thus
having interrupted the flow of good works, his fury was
let loose to cause still greater faults in this embarrass-
ment by inveigling me to exaggerate my guilt. To this
he drove me by impious and most insidious suggestions,
seeking to persuade me, that all that I had experienced in
the path which I had trodden, was false and erroneous.
8. As these insinuations, on account of the faults com-
mitted and on account of my continual consternation and
fears, began to appear plausible, I resisted them less than
others ; and it was only through the special mercies of the
Lord, that I did not fall entirely from all belief and hope
in a remedy. But I found myself so entangled in diffi-
culties and surrounded by darkness, that I may say, the
groanings of death encompassed me and the sorrows of
hell engulfed me (Ps. 17, 5) inspiring me with dread of
extreme peril. I resolved to burn the manuscripts of the
first part of this divine history and to desist from writing
the second. The angel of satan, who inspired me with
this resolution, induced me also to withdraw myself from
the whole undertaking: to put an end to the pursuit of
the spiritual life, to neglect my interior life, and not to
communicate about it with any one. Thus would I be
able to do penance for my sins, appease the Lord, pro-
pitiate Him, and retain his friendship. In order to make
sure of the effects of his concealed malice he proposed,
that I make a vow not to write any more on account of
the danger of being deceived and of deceiving; but that
instead, I amend my life, retrench my imperfections and
embrace penance.
8 INTRODUCTION
9. With this masque of seeming virtue the dragon
pretended to establish his damnable counsels and cover
himself with the skin of a sheep, while in reality he acted
as a bloodthirsty and devouring wolf. He persevered
for some time in this attack and all alone I remained for
fifteen days in a night of darkness, without relief or con-
solation either human or divine : without the former,
because I was without the help and the counsel of obedi-
ence, and without the latter, because the Lord had inter-
rupted the flow of his favors, his enlightenments and
continual inspiration. Above all was I distressed by
despair of salvation and in it, the persuasion, that death
and the danger of my eternal damnation was approach-
ing; all this was instigated and fostered in me by the
enemy.
10. But as the aftertastes of his temptations are so
bitter and end but in despair, the very disturbance, by
which he upset the whole republic of my powers and
acquired habits, made me more wary of fulfilling any-
thing which he urged on me and proposed to me. He
availed himself of the continual fear, which tormented
me with the dread of offending God and of losing his
friendship and when, in my doubts, I applied myself to
works of piety, he sought to draw me away. This very
fear however made me hesitate at what the astute dragon
had tried to convince me of and in this uncertainty I
deferred giving assent to it. My high regard for obedi-
ence also, by which I had been ordered to write, and the
contrariness of that which I felt in my interior, helped
me to resist and to recoil at his suggestions. Above all
the assistance of the Most High defended me and
permitted not the beasts to snatch my soul, which amid
sighs and groans confessed Him. I cannot describe in
words the temptations, combats, troubles, dismays and
INTRODUCTION 9
afflictions, which I suffered in this battle: for I saw
myself placed in such a state, that in my judgment there
was really no greater difference between my condition
and that of the damned, except that in hell there is no re-
demption, while in mine it was still possible.
11. One day, in order to get some respite, I cried out
from the bottom of my heart saying: "O woe is me, that
I have come to such a state ! and woe to my soul, which
finds itself therein! Whither shall I turn, since all the
portals of my salvation are closed?" Immediately a
strong and sweet voice gave answer within myself:
"Whither dost thou wish to go outside of God himself?"
By this answer I perceived that my cure was at hand in
the Lord, and at the breaking of this dawn I began to
raise myself from the depth of the confusion, into which
I was cast, and I felt a powerful increase in the fervor of
my desires and in the acts of faith, hope and charity. I
debased myself in the presence of the Most High and, in
firm confidence in his goodness, I wept over my faults
with bitter sorrow. I confessed them many times and
sighing from the depth of heart, I began to seek again the
former light and truth. And as the divine Wisdom
comes forth to meet those by whom it is invoked
(Wis. 6, 17), it advanced toward me in delight and
cleared away the night of my confusion and tormenting
afflictions.
12. Presently that bright day broke, which I had de-
sired so much ; the quiet possession of peace returned ;
I enjoyed the sweet love and vision of my Lord and
Master, and with it I again perceived, why I should
believe, accept and esteem the benefits and favors, which
his mighty arm wrought in me. I gave Him thanks as
far as was in my power ; and I saw, who I was and who
God is ; that a creature by itself can do nothing, that it
10 INTRODUCTION
is nothing, because sin is nothing. I saw also what man
can do when raised up and assisted up by the divine right
hand, being much more than can be imagined by our
earthly faculites. Humbled in the perception of these
truths and in the presence of the inaccessible light,
(which is vast and strong, without deceit or falsehood),
my heart flowed over in sweet affections of love, praise
and thanksgiving. For now I understood, that He had
guarded and defended me, so that in the confused night
of temptations my lamp might not be extinguished
(Prov. 31, 18) ; and in the depth of my gratitude I
annihilated myself to the dust and humiliated myself
as a worm of the earth.
13. To make this benefit more certain, I immediately
heard an interior exhortation, without knowing clearly
from whence it proceeded ; while it severely reprehended
me for my disloyalty and my wrongful ways, it at the
same time admonished and enlightened, instructed and
corrected me. It furnished me with a deep understand-
ing of good and evil, of virtue and vice, of what was
secure, useful and beneficial, as well as their contraries;
it laid open to me the way of eternity, gave me a knowl-
edge of the means and of the end, of the value of life
everlasting, and of the miserable unhappiness and the so
little considered ruin of endless perdition.
14. In the profound knowledge of these two extremes,.
I confess that I was dumbfounded and cast about be-
tween the fear of my dreadful infirmity and the desire
of reaching the happiness, of which I was unworthy on
account of my demerits. I was full of the thought of
the kindness and mercy of the Most High ; and the fear
of losing Him : I beheld the two different ends awaiting
the creatures: eternal glory and eternal misery; and it
seemed a small matter to me to suffer all the pains and the
INTRODUCTION 11
torments of the world, of purgatory and hell itself, in
order to attain to the one and to avoid the other. And
although I perceived, that the divine help is assured
to those who seek to make use of it, yet as I also saw
by this light, that life and death are in our hands
(Eccli. 15, 18), and that our weakness or malice may
prevent the proper use of grace, and that the tree will
lie for all eternity as it once has fallen (Eccles. 11, 3),
on this account I was overcome by the deepest sorrow,
which penetrated my heart.
15. This sorrow was increased by a most severe
answer or inquiry, which came from the Lord. For
while I found myself thus annihilated in the conscious-
ness of my weakness and danger and by the thought of
having offended his justice, so that I dared not raise my
eyes toward Him, He met my speechless sorrow by the
advances of his mercy, saying to me in answer to them :
"Which dost thou wish, my soul? Which dost thou
seek ? Which of these ways wilt thou choose ? What is
thy resolve ?" This question was an arrow to my heart :
for although I knew for certain, that the Lord knew my
desires better than I myself, the delay between the ques-
tion and the answer was incredibly painful to me; I
wished, if possible, that the Lord should anticipate my
answer and should not show Himself ignorant of the
response, which I would give. But, impelled by great
emotion, I made response in words coming from the in-
nermost of soul, and said; "Lord and omnipotent God!
The path of virtue, the way of eternal life do I chose,
this do I desire, and in this do Thou place me; and as I
do not merit it in thy justice, I appeal to they mercy, and
I offer for myself the infinite merits of thy most holy
Son and my Redeemer, Jesus Christ."
16. I was made aware, that this highest Judge re-
12 INTRODUCTION
membered the promise, which is given to the Church,
that He would grant all that is asked in the name of his
Onlybegotten (John 16, 23), that in Him and on his
account my petition was granted and its fulfillment
hastened according to my poor wishes. Certain conditions
were made and proposed to me by an intellectual voice,
saying to me interiorly: "Soul, created by the hand of
the Almighty, if thou wishest, as one of the elect, to
follow in the path of the true light and attain the position
of a most chaste spouse of the Lord, who calls thee, it
is befitting, that thou observe the laws and precepts of
love. The first thing required of thee is, that thou reject
entirely all earthly inclinations, renouncing all and every
affection toward the transient things, so that thou have
no love or affection toward any created being, no matter
how useful, beautiful or agreeable it may appear to thee.
Cherish no created image, harbor no earthly affection;
let thy will rest in no created object, except in so far as
thy Lord and Spouse shall command thee for the well-
ordering of thy love, or in so far as thou canst be aided
thereby to love Him alone."
17. "And when, after thus reaching this perfect abne-
gation and renunciation of thyself, thou shalt have freed
and disentangled thyself from all earthly things, seek
the Lord, raising thyself with the swift wings of the
dove toward the high habitation, in which He, in his
condescension, wishes to place thy spirit; so that there
thou mayest live in his presence and have a secure dwell-
ing-place. This great Lord is a most jealous Spouse and
his love and emulation are strong as death (Cant. 8, 6).
He wishes to adorn thee and set thee in a secure place,
in order that thou mayest not issue from it, or leave his
presence for another, where thou findst Him not or en-
joyest not his caresses. He, with whom^ thou art to con-
INTRODUCTION 13
verse without mistrust, wishes to sign thee with his own
hand, and this is a most equitable law, which the spouses
of the great King must observe; for even those in the
world observe it, in order to show their faithfulness. It
is due to the nobility of thy Spouse, that thou observe
a behavior corresponding to the dignity and position
conferred by Him, wtihout descending to anything not
befitting this estate or making thee unworthy of the
adornment lavished upon thee for entrance into his bridal
chamber."
18. "Next I require of thee, that thou despoil thyself
with diligence of the vestments torn by thy faults and
imperfections, soiled by the effects of sin, and made
odious by the inclinations of nature. His Majesty wishes
to wash off the stains, to purify and renew thee with his
beauty, but under condition, that thou never lose sight
of the poor and despicable vestments of which thou hast
been divested, so that in the memory and knowledge of
this benefit, thou mayest spread the odor of sweetness
for this great King by the nard of thy humility
(Cant. 1, 11), and so that thou mayest never forget the
return, which thou owest to the Author of thy salvation.
Thus will He, by the precious balsam of his blood, purify
thee, heal thy wounds and enlighten thee copiously."
19. "In addition to all this" (this voice continued to
say) "in order that thus forgetting all earthly things
thou mayest be coveted by the highest King, seek to
adorn thyself with the jewels, which He in his pleasure
has prepared for thee. The vestments, which shall cover
thee, are to be whiter than the snow, more brilliant than
the diamond, more resplendent than the sun and yet they
will be at the same time so delicate, that they will easily
be spoiled by any negligence, making thee abominable in
the sight of thy Spouse. But if thou preserve them in
2-3
14 INTRODUCTION
the purity which He desires, thy steps will be beautiful
as the Prince's daughter (Cant. 7, 1), and his Majesty
will be pleased with thy sentiments and thy words. As a
cincture of thy vestment He will give thee the knowledge
of his divine power and his holy fear, in order that, hav-
ing bound thy inclinations, thou mayest direct thyself by
his pleasure. The jewels of thy necklace, which adorn
thy neck, signifying thy humble submission, shall be the
costly stones of faith, hope and charity. As a clasp for
thy hair (which are the high and exalted thoughts and
thy heavenly intelligences), thou wilt have from Him the
infused science and wisdom, and the embroideries of thy
vestments shall be all the beauty and richness of the vir-
tues. Thy diligence in performing what is most perfect
shall serve thee as sandals, and they laces shall be the
avoidance and restraints, that thou wilt use in order to
keep from evil. The rings, which will beautify thy
fingers, shall be the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost; and
the beauty of thy face shall be the participation of the
Divinity, which on account of his holy love, shall shine
therefrom. Thereto thou shalt add the coloring of con-
fusion for having offended Him, in order that it may
make thee ashamed of offending Him in the future, com-
paring at the same time the coarse and sordid habits of
the past with those that now adorn thee."
20. "And because thy own merits would make but a
poor and miserable return for such a high espousal, the
Most High wishes to ratify this contract by singling out,
as if for thee alone, the infinite merits of thy Spouse
Jesus Christ, and He makes thee a partaker of all his
possessions and treasures in the heavens and upon earth.
For all belongs to this supreme Lord (Esther 13, 11),
and of all this thou shalt be mistress as his spouse for
thy own use and for the greater love of Him. But
INTRODUCTION 15
remember, soul, that in order to obtain such a g^ft, thou
must hide all this within thyself, without ever losing thy
secret; for I warn thee of the danger of soiling thy
beauty with the least imperfection; but if at any time
thou committest such an imperfection out of weakness,
rise from it at once, like a strong one, and acknowledg-
ing it, weep over the small fault as if it had been the most
grievous."
21. "And in order that thou mayest have a dwelling-
place and habitation befitting such a great estate, thy
Spouse does not wish to set thee any limit, but it is his
pleasure, that thou dwell in the infinite regions of his
Divinity and that thou roam about and disport thyself
through the illimitable fields of his attributes and per-
fections, where the view of the intellect is without re-
stramt, where the will is delighted withoilt shadow of
misgiving, and where the inclinations are satiated without
bitterness. This is the paradise always delightful, where
the most beloved brides of Christ find their recreation,
where they gather the fragrant flowers and myrrh, and
where the infinite is found for those that have renounced
the imperfect nothing. There will thy habitation be
secure ; and in order that thy intercourse and companion-
ship may be in correspondence with it, I desire that thou
converse with the angels, holding them as friends and
companions, and copying from them, during their fre-
quent conversations and intercourse with thee, their vir-
tues by faithful imitation."
22. "Take notice" (continued the voice) "O soul, of
the greatness of this benefit; for the Mother of thy
Spouse and the Queen of heaven adopts thee anew for her
daughter, receives thee as her disciple, and assumes the
place of a Mother and of a Teacher toward thee. Through
her intercession dost thou receive those special favors and
16 INTRODUCTION
they are all granted to thee that thou mayest write her
most holy life. On this account thou hast been pardoned
without thy merit, and that, which otherwise thou
wouldst not have reached, has been conceded to thee.
What would become of thee, O soul, if it were not for
the Mother of mercy? Thou wouldst already have
perished, if her intercession had failed thee; poor and
useless would have been thy works, if, by divine con-
descension, thou hadst not been selected to write this
history, but the eternal Father chose thee for his daugh-
ter, in view of this work, and for a spouse of his Onlybe-
gotten Son; and the Son received thee to his close em-
braces, and the Holy Spirit selected thee for his enlight-
enments. The document of this contract and espousal is
written and imprinted on the white parchment of the
purity of mo^t holy Mary : there the finger and the power
of the Most High have written it; the ink is the blood of
the Lamb; the executor is the eternal Father; the tie
which binds thee to Christ is the Holy Spirit ; the bonds-
men are the merits of the same Jesus Christ and of his
Mother ; for thou art but a vile worm, having nothing to
offer and being expected to give merely thy free consent."
23. So far the admonishing voice, which I heard. Al-
though I judged it to be that of an angel, yet whether
such it was, I could not ascertain clearly, for I did not
perceive it in the same way as at other times. Such mani-
festations and disclosures accommodate themselves to
the dispositions of the soul at the time of their reception,
as for instance it happened to the disciples at Emmaus
(Luke 24, 16). Many other experiences I had in order
to overcome the opposition of the serpent against the
writing of this history, but it would draw out this intro-
duction too much to mention them now . I continued my
prayers for some days, asking the Lord to govern and
INTRODUCTION 17
direct me in order not to make a mistake, and represent-
ing to Him my incapacity and timidity. His Majesty
persisted in exhorting me to ordain my life toward all
purity and the greatest perfection, and in urging me to
continue in it after having begun. And especially the
Queen of the angels intimated to me her will many times,
and with great sweetness and tenderness commanded me
to obey Her as her daughter and write her most holy
life, which I had commenced.
24. To all this I wished to add the security of obedi-
ence. Without saying anything of that, which I had
heard from the Lord and from his most holy Mother, I
asked my confessor and superior what he would direct
me to do in this matter. He answered by commanding
me under obedience to continue and to write the second
part of this history. Finding myself thus compelled both
by the Lord and by obedience, I returned again to the
presence of the Most High, where I found myself one
day in prayer, and, renouncing my whole self and recog-
nizing my insignificance and liability to err, I prostrated
myself before his Majesty and said : "My Lord, my Lord,
what wishest Thou to do with me?" Whereupon I re-
ceived the following intelligence.
25. It seemed to me, that the divine light of the blessed
Trinity showed me my own self full of poverty and
defects, and severely reprehending me for them, fur-
nished me at the same time with the highest doctrine and
salutary directions for a perfect life, and for this purpose
God purified and enlightened me anew. I became aware
that the Mother of grace, most holy Mary, standing
before the throne of the Divinity, was interceding and
pleading for me. With such assistance my confidence
took new life and profiting by the clemency of such a
Mother, I addressed myself to Her and spoke to Her only
18 INTRODUCTION
these words : "My Lady and my Refuge, consider, as a
true Mother, the poverty of thy slave." It seemed to me
as if She heard my prayer and speaking with the Most
High, She said: "My Lord, I wish to receive this use-
less and poor creature anew as a daughter and adopt her
as my own." (Truly this was the act of a most liberal
and mighty Queen!) But the Most High answered:
"My Spouse, for such a great favor as this, what does
this soul bring in return ? She does not deserve it, being
a useless and destitute, worm, and thankless for our
gifts."
26. O wonderful power of the divine word! How
shall I describe the effects produced in me by this answer
of the Allpowerful? I humbled myself to the depth of
my nothingness and I was filled with the knowledge of
the misery of creatures and of my own ingratitude
toward God. My heart sank within me in sorrow for my
sins and in the desire of obtaining the unmerited happi-
ness of being the child of that Sovereign. I raised my eyes
full of dread to the throne of the Most High and my
visage was transported in fear and hope ; I turned toward
my Advocate, and desiring to be admitted as her slave,
since I did not merit the title of daughter, I spoke from
the bottom of my heart without forming any words ; and
I heard the great Lady say to the Lord :
27. "Divine Lord and my God, it is true, this poor
creature has nothing to offer to thy justice, but I offer
for her the merits and the blood, which my most holy
Son poured out for her and with it I present also the
dignity of Mother of thy onlybegotten Son, which I re-
ceived from thy ineffable kindness, all the works, which
I performed in thy service in having borne Him in my
womb, and nourished Him with the milk of my breast,
and above all I offer Thee thy own bounty and Divinity ;
INTRODUCTION 19
I earnestly entreat Thee to consider this creature as my
adopted daughter and disciple for whom I will stand
security. Under my guidance She will amend her faults
and perform her works according to thy pleasure."
28. The Most High, (may He be eternally praised for
hearing the petition of the great Queen interceding for
the least of his creatures), yielded to these prayers, and
immediately in the joy of my soul I felt immense effects,
such as are impossible to describe ; with my whole heart I
turned toward all the creatures of heaven and earth, and,
not being able to contain my exultation, I invited them to
exalt for me and with me the Author of grace. It seemed
to me that I addressed them in the following words : "O
ye inhabitants and courtiers of heaven and all ye living
creatures, formed by the hand of the Most High, behold
this marvel of his liberality and mercy and bless and
exalt Him for all eternity, since He has raised from the
dust the most vile of the universe and has enriched the
most destitute; He has honored the most unworthy,
though He is the highest God and the powerful King.
And since you, sons of Adam, here see the poorest orphan
succored, the greatest sinner pardoned ; issue forth from
your ignorance, raise yourself from your listlessness and
renew your hope; for if his powerful arm has assisted me,
if He has called and forgiven me, all of you can hope for
your salvation ; and if you wish to assure yourselves of
it, seek, seek the protection of the most holy Mary, ask
Her for her intercession, and you will find Her to be the
Mother of ineffable mercy and clemency."
29. I turned also to this most exalted Queen and said
to Her : "Aye, O my Lady, now I do not call myself an
orphan, since I have a Mother, and a Mother, who is the
Queen of all creation ; I shall not any more be ignorant,
since I have as Teacher the Mistress of divine wisdom.
20 INTRODUCTION
not poor, since I have as Lord Him, who is Master of
all the treasures of heaven and earth; I have a Mother,
who protects me; an Instructress, who teaches and cor-
rects me; a Mistress, who commands and governs me.
Blessed art Thou amongst all women, wonderful among
all creatures, admirable in heaven and on earth, and let
all confess thy greatness with eternal praises. Since it is
not easy or possible for the least among creatures, the
lowest worm of the earth to give Thee any return : re-
ceive it then from the divine right hand and in the divine
vision, where Thou standest in the presence of God en-
joying Thyself through all eternity: I shall remain thy
acknowledged and bounden slave, praising the Almighty
as long as my life shall last, since his liberal mercy has
so favored me, as to give me my Queen as my Mother
and Teacher. Let my loving muteness praise Thee, since
my tongue has not words or terms adequate for doing
it ; for all of them are strained and limited."
30. It is not possible to describe what the soul feels
during such mysterious favors. They were the source
of great good to my soul, for immediately I was made
aware of a perfection of life, and of works for which I
fail to find terms. But all this, the Most High told me,
was given to me on account of the most holy Mary and in
order to write her life. It was intimated to me, that by
ratifying this blessing, the eternal Father chose me to
manifest the sacraments of his Daughter ; that the Holy
Spirit poured out his light and inspirations that 1 might
declare the hidden gifts of his Spouse ; and that the most
holy Son appointed me to manifest the mysteries of his
most pure Mother Mary. And in order that I might be-
come capable of this work, the Holy Trinity enlightened
and bathed my soul in a special light of the Divinity and
the divine power touched up my faculties as with a
INTRODUCTION 21
pencil, furnishing them with new habits for the perfect
execution of this work.
31. The Most High also commanded me to strive to
imitate with all my heart, according to my weak powers,
all that I should understand and write about the heroic
virtues and the most holy operations of the heavenly
Queen, guiding my life according to her example.
Knowing how unfit I am for the fulfillment of this obli-
gation, the same most kind Queen offered to me anew
her favor, help and instruction for all that the Lord
commanded and pointed out to me. Then I asked for
the blessing of the most holy Trinity in order to begin
the second part of this heavenly history. I felt that all
three persons of the Godhead conferred their blessing
upon me. Issuing from the trance, I sought to wash
my soul in the Sacraments and, full of contrition for
my sins, in the name of the Lord and of obedience, I
set myself about this work for the glory of the Most
High and for his most holy Mother, the ever immaculate
Virgin Mary.
2)2. This second part comprises the life of the Queen
of the angels from the mystery of the Incarnation to
the Ascension of Christ our Lord into heaven, which is
the principal and the most important part of this history,
for it includes the whole life and mysteries of the Lord
himself with his Passion and most holy Death. I wish
only to remark here, that the graces and blessings
conceded to most holy Mary in preparation for the
Incarnation, began to flow from the moment of her
Immaculate Conception ; already at that time, in the
intention and the decree of God, She was the Mother of
the Word. But in the measure as the realization of the
Incarnation drew nigh, the favors and gifts of g^ace con-
tinued to increase. Although they seemed to be all of
22 INTRODUCTION
the same kind and nature from the beginning, yet they
continued to augment and increase; and there are not
terms new and varied enough to equal in their signifi-
cance these increases and advances in the blessings con-
ferred. Thus it becomes necessary in this narrative to
measure all by the infinite power of the Lord, who,
giving much, retains enough to give infinitely more,
while the capacity of each soul, and especially the soul
of the Queen of heaven, is in its way infinite, being
able to receive ever more and more. And this happened
with the soul of holy Mary, until She arrived at a summit
of holiness and participation of the Divinity, to which no
other creature has attained nor will ever attain in all
eternity. May the Lord himself enlighten me, that I
may follow up this work according to his divine pleasure.
Amen.
BOOK ONE
BOOK III, I OF II PART
Contains the most Exquisite Preparations of the Almighty for the Incar-
nation of the Word In Mary most Holy; the Circumstances Accom-
panying this Mystery; the Exalted State, In which the Blessed
Mother was placed; her Visit to Saint Elisabeth and the
Sanctlficationof the Baptist: Her Return to Nazareth
and a Memorable Battle of the Virgin with Lucifer
CHAPTER I.
THE MOST HIGH BEGINS TO PREPARE IN MOST HOLY MARY
THE MYSTERY OE THE INCARNATION ; THE EVENTS 0?
THE NINE DAYS PRECEDING THIS MYSTERY, ES-
PECIALLY THE HAPPENINGS OF THE FIRST DAY.
1. In order that her most faultless life might be to all
an example of the highest holiness, the Most High had
placed upon our Queen and Mistress the duties of a spouse
of saint Joseph which was a position requiring more inter-
course with her neighbors. The heavenly Mistress,
finding Herself in this new estate, was filled with such
exalted thoughts and sentiments in the fulfillment of her
duties, and ordered all the activities of her life with such
wisdom, that She was an object of admirable emulation
to the angelic spirits and an unparalleled example for
men. Few knew Her and still fewer had spoken with
Her : but these happy ones were so filled with that celestial
influence of Mary, that with a wonderful joy and with
unwonted flights of spirit they sought to express and
23
24 CITY OF GOD
manifest the light, which illumined their hearts and
which they knew came from Her. The most prudent
Queen was not unaware of these operations of the Most
High; but neither was it yet time, nor would her most
profound humility as yet consent to their becoming
known to the world. She continually besought the Lord
to hide them from men, to make all the favors of his right
hand redound solely to his praise, and to permit Her to
be ignored and despised by all the mortals, in as far as
his infinite goodness would not be offended thereby.
2. These prayers were accepted by her divine Spouse
with great benignity and his providence arranged all
things in such a manner, that the very light, which
incited men to proclaim her greatness, at the same time
caused them to be mute. Moved by divine power, they
refrained from expressing their thoughts, inwardly prais-
ing the Lord for the light, which they felt within them-
selves. Filled with marvel they suspended their judg-
ment, and leaving behind the creatures, they sought their
Creator. Many turned from sin at the mere sight of
Her; others amended their lives; all were affected at
seeing Her and experienced heavenly influences in their
souls. But immediately they forgot the source of these
influences; for if they could have remained in her pres-
ence, or could have retained the memory of her image,
and if God had not prevented it by a mystery, nothing
would have been able to divert their attention from Her
and all would have sought Her without wavering.
3. In such fruitful occupations and in augmenting the
gifts and graces from which all this good proceeded, our
Queen, the Spouse of Joseph, busied Herself during the
six months and seventeen days, which intervened between
her espousal and the Incarnation of the Word. I cannot
pretend to refer even briefly to her great heroic acts of
THE INCARNATION 25
all the virtues, interior and exterior, to all her deeds of
charity, humility, religion, and all her works of mercy,
the alms and benefactions ; for this exceeds the power of
the pen. The best I can do is to sum up and say : that
the Most High found in most holy Mary the fulfillment
of all his pleasure and of his wishes, as far as is possible
in the correspondence of a creature with its Creator. By
her sanctity and merits God felt Himself as it were
obliged, and, (according to our way of speaking), com-
pelled, to hasten his steps and extend the arms of his
Omnipotence to bring about the greatest of wonders con-
ceivable in the world before or after: namely the Incar-
nation of the Onlybegotten of the Father in the virginal
womb of this Lady.
4. In order to proceed with a dignity befitting Himself,
God prepared most holy Mary in a singular manner
during the nine days immediately preceding this mystery,
and allowed the river of his Divinity to rush impetuously
forth (Psalm 45, 5) to inundate this City of God with
its floods. He communicated such great graces and
gifts and favors, that I am struck dumb by the perception
of what has been made known to me concerning this
miracle, and my lowliness is filled with dread at even the
mention of what I understood. For the tongue, the pen,
and all the faculties of a creature fall far below any pos-
sibility of revealing such incomprehensible sacraments.
Therefore I wish it to be understood, that all I say here
is only an insignificant shadow of the smallest part of
these wonders and ineffable prodigies, which are not at
all to be encompassed by our limited words, but only by
the power divine, which I do not possess.
5. On the first day of this most blessed novena the
heavenly Princess Mary, after a slight rest, according to
the example of her father David and according to the
26 CITY OF GOD
diurnal order and arrangement laid out for Her by the
Lord, left her couch at midnight (Psalm 118, 62), and,
prostrate in the presence of the Most High, commenced
her accustomed prayer and holy exercises. The angels,
who attended upon Her, spoke to Her and said : "Spouse
of our King and Lord, arise, for his Majesty calls Thee."
She raised Herself with fervent affection and answered :
"The Lord commands the dust to raise itself from the
dust." And turning toward the countenance of the
Lord, who called Her, She added: "Most high and
powerful Master, what wishest Thou to do with me?"
At these words her most holy soul was raised in spirit
to a new and higher habitation, closer to the same Lord
and more remote from all earthly and passing things.
6. She felt at once, that She was being prepared by
those illuminations and purifications, which at other times
She had experienced in some of the most exalted visions
of the Divinity. I do not dwell on them, since I have
described them in the first part (Part I, 620-629). The
Divinity manifested Itself not by an intuitive, but by an
abstractive vision; however so clearly, that by it She
understood more of this incomprehensible Object, than
what the blessed see and enjoy by intuition. For this
vision was more exalted and more profound than the
others of that kind ; since this heavenly Lady made Her-
self more capable day by day and, because She made such
perfect use of graces, She disposed Herself for ever
greater ones. Moreover, the repeated enlightenments
and visions of the Divinity continually enabled Her
to respond more and more befittingly to its infinite
operations.
7. In this vision our Princess Mary learned most high
secrets of the Divinity and of its perfections, and espe-
cially of God's communications ad extra in the work of
the: incarnation 27
creation. She saw that it originated in the goodness and
liberality of God, that creatures were not necessary for
supplementing his Divine existence, nor for his infinite
glory, since without them He was glorious through the
interminable eternities before the creation of the world.
Many sacraments and secrets were manifested to our
Queen, which neither can nor should be made known to
all; for She alone was the only One (Cant. 6, 8; 7, 6),
the chosen One, selected by the highest King and Lord
of creation for these delights. But as her Highness in
this vision perceived this impulse and inclination of the
Divinity to communicate Itself ad extra with a force
greater than that which makes all the elements tend
toward their center, and as She was drawn within the
sphere of this divine love, She besought the eternal
Father with heart aflame, that He send his Onlybegotten
into the world and give salvation to men, since in this
manner He should satisfy, and, (speaking humanly),
execute the promptings of his Divinity and its perfections.
8. These petitions of his Spouse were very sweet to
the Lord, they were the scarlet lace, with which She
bound and secured his love. And in order to put his
desires into execution He sought first to prepare the
tabernacle or temple, whither He was to descend from
the bosom of the eternal Father. He resolved to furnish
his beloved and chosen Mother with a clear knowledge
of all his works ad extra, just as his Omnipotence had
made them. On the first day therefore, and in this same
vision. He manifested to Her all that He had made on
the first day of the creation of the world, as it is recorded
in Genesis, and She perceived all with greater clearness
and comprehension, than if She had been an eye-witness;
for She knew them first as they are in God, and then as
they are in themselves.
28 CITY OF GOD
9. She perceived and understood, how the Lord in
the beginning (Gen. 1; 1, 5), created heaven and earth;
in how far and in what way it was void, and how the
darkness was over the face of the abyss; how the spirit
of the Lord hovered over the waters and how, at the
divine command, light was made, and what was its
nature; how, after the darkness was divided, it was
called night and the light day, and how thus the first
day was made. She knew the size of the earth, its
longitude, latitude and depth, its caverns, hell, limbo and
purgatory with their inhabitants; the countries, climes,
the meridians and divisions of the world, and all its
inhabitants and occupants. With the same clearness She
knew the inferior orbs and the empyrean heaven; how
the angels were made on the first day ; She was informed
of their nature, conditions, diversity, hierarchies, offices,
grades and virtues. The rebellion of the bad angels was
revealed to Her, their fall and the occasion and the cause
of that fall, though the Lord always concealed from Her
that which concerned Herself. She understood the pun-
ishment and the effects of sin in the demons, beholding
them as they are in themselves ; and at the conclusion of
the first day, the Lord showed to Her, how She too was
formed of this lowly earthly material and endowed with
the same nature as all those, who return to the dust;
He did not however say, that She would again return to
it; yet He gave Her such a profound knowledge of the
earthly existence, that the great Queen humiliated Her-
self to the abyss of nothingness ; being without fault, She
debased Herself more than all the children of Adam with
all their miseries.
10. This whole vision and all its effects the Most High
arranged in such a way as to open up in the heart of Mary
the deep trenches that were required for the foundations
THE INCARNATION 29
of the edifice, which He wished to erect in Her: namely
so high a one, that it would reach up to the substantial
and hypostatic union of the human and divine nature.
And as the dignity of Mother of God was without limits
and to a certain extent infinite, it was becoming that She
should be grounded in a proportionate humility, such as
would be without limits though still within the bounds
of reason itself. Attaining the summit of virtue, this
blessed One among women humiliated Herself to such
an extent, that the most holy Trinity was, as it were, fully
paid and satisfied, and (according to our mode of under-
standing) constrained to raise Her to the highest position
and dignity possible among creatures and nearest to the
Divinity itself. In this highest benevolence his Majesty
spoke and said to Her :
11. "My Spouse and Dove, great is my desire of
redeeming man from sin and my immense kindness is
as it were strained in waiting for the time, in which I
, shall descend in order to repair the world; ask Me con-
tinually during these days and with great affection for
the fulfillment of this desire. Prostrate in my royal
presence let not thy petitions and clamors cease, asking
Me that the Onlybegotten of the Father descend in
reality to unite Himself with the human nature." Where-
upon the heavenly Princess responded and said : "Lord
and God eternal, whose is all the power and wisdom,
whose wish none can resist (Esther 13, 9), who shall
hinder thy Omnipotence? Who shall detain the im-
petuous current of thy Divinity, so that thy pleasure
in conferring this benefit upon the whole human race
remain unfulfilled? If perhaps, O my Beloved, I am a
hindrance to such an immeasurable benefit, let me perish
before I impede thy pleasure ; this blessing cannot depend
upon the merits of any creature ; therefore, my Lord and
2-4
30 CITY OF GOD
Master, do not wait, as we might later on merit it so
much the less. The sins of men increase and the offenses
against Thee are multiplied ; how shall we merit the very
blessing, of which we become daily more unworthy? In
Thee thyself, my Lord, exists the last cause and motive
of our salvation; thy infinite bounty, thy numberless
mercies incite Thee, the groans of thy Prophets and of
the Fathers of thy people solicit Thee, the saints sigh
after Thee, the sinners look for Thee and all of them
together call out to Thee ; and if I, insignificant wormlet,
on account of my ingratitude, am not unworthy of thy
merciful condescension, I venture to beseech Thee, from
the bottom of my heart, to speed thy coming and to
hasten thy Redemption for thy greater glory."
12. When the Princess of heaven had finished this
prayer. She returned to her ordinary and more natural
state ; but anxious to fulfill the mandate of the Lord, She
continued during that whole day her petitions for the
Incarnation of the Word and with the deepest humility
She repeated the exercises of prostrating Herself to the
ground and praying in the form of a cross. For the
Holy Ghost, who governed Her, had taught Her this
posture, by which She so highly pleased the most blessed
Trinity. God saw, in the body of the future Mother of
the Word, as it were the crucified person of Christ and
therefore He received this morning sacrifice of the most
pure Virgin as an advance offering of that of his most
holy Son.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN GAVE ME.
13. My daughter, the mortals are not capable of un-
derstanding the ineffable operations of the arm of the
Omnipotent in preparing me for the Incarnation of the
eternal Word. Especially during the nine days, which
THE INCARNATION 31
preceded this exalted sacrament was my spirit elevated
and united with the immutable being of the Divinity. I
was submerged in the ocean of his infinite perfections,
participating in all those eminent and divine effect, which
are beyond all presentiment of the human hearts. The
knowledge of creatures communicated to me penetrated
into their very essence, so that it was more profound and
piercing than that of all the angelic spirits, though their
knowledge of creation, on account of the beatific vision,
is altogether admirable. Moreover the images of them
all were impressed upon my mind to be used by me
according as I desired.
14. What I wish of thee today is to take notice how
I used this knowledge and to imitate me according to
thy power with the help of the infused light, which thou
hast received for this purpose. Profit by the knowledge
of creatures by making of them a ladder to ascend unto
God thy Creator ; so that thou mayest seek in all of them
their first beginning and their last end. Let them serve
thee as a mirror from which the Godhead is reflected,
reminding thee of his Omnipotence and inciting thee to
the love, which He seeks in thee. Be thou filled with
wonder and praise at the greatness and magnificence of
the Creator and in his presence humiliate thyself to the
dust. Shun no difficulty or suffering in order to become
meek and humble of heart. Take notice, my dearest,
that this virtue of humility was the firm foundation of
all the wonders, which the Most High wrought in me;
and in order that thou mayest esteem this virtue so much
the more, remember that of all others, it is at the same
time the most precious, the most delicate and perishable ;
for if thou lose it in any respect, and if thou be not
humble in all things without exception, thou wilt not
be humble in anything. Remember thy earthly and cor-
32 , CITY OF GOD
ruptible nature, and be not ignorant of the fact, that the
Most High has providentially formed man in such a way
that his own existence and formation intimate and re-
hearse the important lesson of humility never allowing
him to be without this salutary teaching. On this
account He has not formed him of the most excellent
material, and has concealed the noblest part of his being
in the sanctuary of his interior (Exod. 30, 24), teaching
him to weigh as in a balance on the one side, the infinite
and eternal existence of the Lord, and on the other, his
own ignoble material existence. Thus he is to give unto
God what belongs to Him, and to himself what belongs
to his own self (Matth. 22, 21).
15. Most zealously I attended to this adjustment, be-
coming an example and guide therein to all the mortals.
I wish that thou also do it in imitation of me, and that
thou zealously study to acquire the humility, which
pleases the Most High and myself, who desire thy true
advancement. I wish that thy perfection be built up in
the deep trenches of thy own self-knowledge; in order
that the deeper its foundations are laid, to so much the
higher and more exalted perfection may rise the edifice
of thy virtue. Thus thy will shall find a most intimate
conformity with that of the Lord, who looks down from
the eminence of his throne upon the humble of the earth.
CHAPTER II.
THE LORD ON THE SECOND DAY CONTINUES HIS EAVORS
IN PREPARATION FOR THE INCARNATION OE THE
WORD IN THE MOST HOLY MARY.
16. In the first part of this history (Part I, 219), I
mentioned, that the most pure body of Mary was con-
ceived and perfectly formed within the space of seven
days. The Most High wished to work this miracle, in
order that this most holy soul might not have to wait so
long as the souls of ordinary mortals. He wished it to
be created and infused before the usual time, (as it also
really happened), in order that this beginning of the
reparation of the world might have some similarity to
the beginning of its creation. This correspondence again
took place at the coming of the Redeemer so that, having
formed the new Adam, Christ, God might rest as one
who had strained all the powers of his Omnipotence in
the greatest of his works; and that He might enjoy the
most delicious Sabbath of all his delights. And as these
wonders necessitated the intervention of the Mother of
the divine Word, who was to give Him a visible form,
and as She was to unite the two extremes, man and God,
it was proper that She should bear relation to both.
Her dignity was inferior only to that of God and supe-
rior to all that was not God ; to this dignity belonged also
a proportionate knowledge and understanding, as well of
the highest essence of the Divinity, as also of all the
inferior creatures.
17. Following up his intention, the supreme Lord con-
33
34 CITY OF GOD
tinued the favors, by which He wished to dispose most
holy Mary for the Incarnation during nine days, as I have
begun to explain. On the second day, at the same hour
of midnight, the Virgin Mary was visited in the same way
as described in the last chapter. The divine power raised
Her up by the same elevations and illuminlngs to prepare
Her for the visions of the Divinity. He manifested
Himself again in an abstractive manner as on the first
day, and She was shown the works performed on the
second day of the creation. She learnt how and when
God divided the waters (Gen, 1, 6), some above and
others below, establishing the firmament, and above it
the crystal, known also as the watery heaven. Her in-
sight penetrated into the greatness, order, conditions,
movements and all the other qualities and conditions of
the heavens.
18. And in the most prudent Virgin this knowledge
did not lay idle, nor remain sterile ; for immediately the
most clear light of the Divinity overflowed in Her, and
inflamed and emblazoned Her with admiration, praise and
love of the goodness and power of God. Being trans-
formed as it were with a godlike excellence. She produced
heroic acts of all the virtues, entirely pleasing to his
divine Majesty. And as in the preceding first day God
had made Her a participant of his wisdom, so on this
second day, He made Her in corresponding measure a
participant in the divine Omnipotence, and gave Her
power over the influences of the heavens, of the planets
and elements, commanding them all to obey Her. Thus
was this great Queen raised to Sovereignty over the sea,
the earth, the elements and the celestial orbs, with all the
creatures, which are contained therein.
19. This sovereignty and supreme power belonged to
the dignity of most holy Mary on account of the reason
THE INCARNATION 35
mentioned above ; and besides for two other special ones ;
the first: because this Lady was the privileged Queen,
exempt from the common law of sin and its conse-
quences: therefore She was not to be put in the same
general class with the insensate sons of Adam, against
whom the Omnipotent armed the creatures (Wisd. 5, 18)
for vengeance of his injuries and for the punishment of
their frenzy. For if they had not in their disobedience
turned against their Creator, neither would the elements
nor their dependencies have been disobedient toward
them, nor would they have molested them, nor* turned
against them the rigor and inclemency of their activity.
And if this rebellion of the creatures is a punishment of
sin, it could not justly extend itself to the most holy
Mary, who was immaculate and without fault. Nor was
it just, that She should be less privileged than the angels,
who were not subject to these consequences of sin, or
deprived of the dominion over the elementary powers.
Although most holy Mary was of corporeal and terres-
trial substance, yet She raised Herself above all corporeal
and spiritual creatures, and made Herself Queen and
Mistress of all creation. In this, therefore, She deserved
so much the higher credit, as it was the rarer and the
more precious. More must be conceded to the Queen
than to her vassals, more to the Mistress than to the
servants.
20. The second reason is, because her most holy Son
was Himself to obey this heavenly Queen and his Mother.
Since He was the Creator of the elements and of all
things, it follows naturally that they should obey Her, to
whom the Creator subjected Himself, and that they
should be commanded by Her. Was not the person of
Christ himself, in so far as his human nature was con-
cerned, to be governed by his Mother according to the
36 CITY OF GOD
constitution and law of nature? This privilege of sov-
ereignty tended also greatly to enhance the virtues and
merits of most holy Mary, for thereby that which in
ourselves is usually done under constraint and against
our will, was performed by Her freely and meritoriously.
This most prudent Queen did not use her sovereignty
over the elements and the creatures indiscriminately and
for her own alleviation and comfort ; but She commanded
the creatures not to suspend their activities and influences
in as far as they would naturally be painful and incon-
venient' to Her. For in these things She was to be like
her most holy Son and suffer conjointly with Him. Her
love and humility did not permit Her to withhold and
suspend the inclemencies of the creatures in her regard,
since She knew how valuable suffering is and how
estimable in the eyes of the Lord.
21. Only on some occasions, when She knew that it
was not for her benefit but necessary for her Son and
Creator, the sweet Mother restrained the force of the
elements and their influences, as we shall see farther on
during her journey to Egypt and on other occasions,
where She most prudently judged it proper, that the
creatures recognize their Creator and reverence Him,
or protect and serve Him in some necessity (Infr. 543,
590, 633). What mortal will not marvel at the knowl-
edge of such a new miracle? To see a mere earthly
creature, yet One clothed with the sovereignty and
dominion of the whole creation, esteem Herself in her
own eyes as the most unworthy and insignificant of the
creatures, and, in these humble sentiments, command the
wrath of the winds and all the rigors of the natural
elements to turn against Her and under obedience fulfill
her command ! In obeying Her, however, these elements,
full of reverence and courtesy toward such a Mistress,
THE INCARNATION 37
yielded to her wishes, not in vengeance of the wrongs of
their Creator, as they do in regard to the rest of the
children of Adam, but in order to respect her commands.
22. In the presence of this humiUty of our invincible
Queen, we mortals cannot deny our most arrogant vanity
and presumption, or rather our audacity, since, seeing
that on account of our insane outrages we merit the
furious rebellion of the elements and of all the harmful
forces of the universe against us, we complain of their
rigor, as if their molestations were an injury. We depre-
cate the rigor of the cold, we complain of the exhaustion
of heat; all painful things we abhor, arid we condemn
with all energy these ministers of divine justice and seek
our own comforts and delights, as if they were to last
forever and as if it were not certain that we are only
drawing therefrom a heavier punishment of our faults.
23. But returning to the consideration of the knowl-
edge and power given to the Princess of heaven and the
other gifts preparing Her worthily for the position of
Mother of God, we can understand their excellence, for
we see in them a certain infinity or boundlessness, par-
ticipating of the Divinity, and similar to that which was
afterwards possessed by the most holy soul of Christ.
For She not only knew all creatures in God, but compre-
hended them in such a way as to master them and at
the same time reserve capacity for knowing many others,
if there had existed more to be known. I call this knowl-
edge an infinity, because it seems to partake of the quali-
ties of infinite knowledge and because, in one and the
same action of her mind and without successive ad-
vertence. She saw and perceived the number of the
heavens, their latitude and profundity, their order,
motions, qualities, their matter and form; the elements
with all their changes and accidents: all of these She
38 CITY" OF GOD
knew at the same time. The only thing the most wise
Virgin did not know was the immediate end of this
knowledge until the moment of her consent and the ful-
fillment of the ineffable mercy of the Most High. She
continued during these days her most fervent prayers for
the coming of the Messias, according to the command of
the Lord. And He had given Her to understand that
He would not tarry, as the time destined for his arrival
was at hand.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN
GAVE ME.
24. My daughter, from what thou art going to learn
of the favors and blessings conferred upon me in prepa-
ration for the dignity of Mother of God, I wish thee to
perceive the admirable order of his wisdom in the cre-
ation of man. Take notice, therefore, that his Creator
made him out of nothing, not in order to be a slave, but
in order to be the king and the master of all creation
(Gen. 1, 26), and in order that he make use of creatures
in sovereignty, command and mastery; yet at the same
time man was to recognize himself as the image of his
Maker and the work of his hand, remaining more de-
voted to God and more submissive to his will than the
creatures to man; for all this was demanded by justice
and reason. And in order that man might not be with-
out information and knowledge of the Creator and of
the means of perceiving and executing his will. He added
to his natural light a greater one, more penetrating, more
limpid, more certain, more free and extensive, namely the
light of divine faith, by which man might know the
existence of God and of his perfections, and conjointly
THE INCARNATION 39
with these, his works. Furnished with this knowledge
and dominion man was established in good standing,
honored and enriched, having no excuse for not devoting
himself entirely to the fulfillment of the divine will.
25. But the foolishness of man disturbs this order and
destroys this harmony, when, being created as the lord
and king of creatures, he enslaves himself, subjecting
himself to them, and degrading his dignity in using visi-
ble things not as a prudent master, but as an unworthy
vassal. For he debases himself beneath the lowest of
creatures, by losing sight of the fact that he is their
superior. All this perversity arises from the use of crea-
tures not for the service of the Creator through well
ordered faith, but for the indulgence of the passions and
the delights of the senses. Hence also arises man's great
abhorrence of those things which are not pleasing to the
senses.
26. Thou, my dearest, look faithfully toward thy Cre-
ator and Lord and in thy soul seek to copy the image of
his divine perfections : lose not the mastery and dominion
over creatures, let none of them infringe upon thy
liberty; but seek to triumph over all of them, allowing
nothing to interpose itself between thee and thy Creator.
Subject thyself gladly, not to the pleasurable in creatures,
since that will obscure thy understanding and weaken thy
will, but to the adverse and the painful resulting from
their activity. Suffer this with joyous willingness, for
I have done the same in imitation of my Son, although
I had the power to neutralize their molestations and had
no sins to atone for.
CHAPTER III.
WHAT FAVORS TH^ MOST HIGH CONFERRED ON MOST
HOLY MARY ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE NOVENA
BEFORE THE INCARNATION.
27. The right arm of the Most High, which threw
open the doors of the Divinity to most holy Mary, con-
tinued to enrich and adorn at the expense of his infinite
attributes this most pure spirit and virginal body which
He had chosen as his tabernacle, as his temple, and as
the holy city of his habitation. And the heavenly Lady,
engulfed in this vastness of the Divinity, winged her
flight day by day farther away from earthly things, and
transformed Herself more and more into a heavenly
being, discovering ever new sacraments in the Most High.
For as He is the infinite Object of desire, although the
appetite is satiated with that which is received, always
more remains to be desired and understood. Not all the
hierarchies of the angels, nor all men together, have
attained such preferment in blessings, mysteries and
sacraments as this Princess attained, especially as regards
those due to Her as Mother of the Creator
28. On the third day of preparation at which I have
now arrived, having again been prepared as on the first
day, the Divinity manifested Itself anew in abstractive
vision. Too slow and inadequate are our powers for
understanding the increase of the gifts and graces, which
the Most High then lavished on heavenly Mary; and at
this juncture I am at a loss for words to explain even
the least portion of what I perceived. I can only express
40
THE INCARNATION 41
myself by saying, that the divine wisdom and power pro-
ceeded in a manner worthy of Her, who was to be the
Mother of the Word, so as to ensure, as far as is possible
for a creature, that likeness and proportion, which was
due to the divine Persons. Whoever has even a faint
understanding of the distance which lies between the two
extremes, the infinite God and the limited human crea-
ture, can comprehend so much the better, what is neces-
sary to bring them together and establish a proportion.
29. More and more the Queen of heaven reflected his
infinite attributes and virtues; more and more brilliantly
shone forth her beauty under the touch of the pencil of
the divine Wisdom and under the colors and lights added
to it from on high. On this day She was informed of
the works of creation as they happened on the third day.
She learned when and how the waters, which were be-
neath the firmament, flowed together in one place
(Gen. 1, 9), disclosing the dry land, which the Lotd
called earth, while He called the waters the sea. She
learned in what way the earth brought forth the fresh
herbs, and all plants and fructiferous trees with their
seeds, each one according to its kind. She was taught
and She comprehended the greatness of the sea, its depth
and its divisions, its correspondence with the streams
and the fountains, that take their rise from it and flow
back into it; the different plants and herbs, the flowers,
trees, roots, fruits and seeds ; She perceived how all an<i
each one of them serve for the use of man. All this our
Queen understood and penetrated with the keenest insight
more clearly, distinctly and comprehensibly than Adam
or Solomon. In comparison with Her all those skilled
in medicine in the world would appear but ignorant even
after the most thorough studies and largest experience.
The most holy Mary knew all that was hidden from
42 CITY OF GOD
sight, as Wisdom says (Wis. 7, 21); and just as She
learned it without any fiction, She also communicates it
without envy. Whatever Solomon says there in the
book of Wisdom was realized in Her with incomparable
and eminent perfection.
30. On some occasions our Queen made use of this
science in order to exercise her charity toward the poor
and needy, as will be related in the sequence of this his-
tory (No. 668, 867, 868, 1048; III. 159, 423). She had
it under perfect control, and it was as familiar to Her as
the well-trained musician is with his instrument. The
same was true of all the rest of the sciences, whenever
She found it desirable or necessary to make use of them
in the service of the Most High. For She was Mistress
of all of them more perfectly than any of the mortals who
ever did excel in any art or science. She was versed in
the virtuous qualities and activities of the stones, herbs
and plants, and in Her was true what Christ our Lord
promised to the Apostles and first Christians, that
poisonous draughts would not hurt them. This privi-
lege belonged to the Queen as a sovereign, so that neither
poison or any other thing could ever injure Her or
cause Her any harm except with her permission.
31. These privileges and favors the most prudent
Princess and Lady always kept concealed, and She made
no use of them for Herself, as I have said, desiring not
to be deprived of a share in the suffering, which had been
chosen by her most holy Son. Before conceiving Him
and becoming his Mother, She was inspired with divine
knowledge and science concerning the passibility of the
Word made flesh. And when She became Mother She
saw and experienced this truth in her Son and Lord him-
self and therefore She gave a greater license, or rather
a more strict command, to creatures to afflict Her, since.
THE INCARNATION 43
She saw the resuhs of this activity in their own Creator.
Hence, as the Most High did not wish his only and
chosen Spouse to be continually molested by the crea-
tures, even though She herself desired it, He often
restrained them and neutralized their operations, so that
the heavenly Princess, unhindered by them, might occa-
sionally enjoy the delights of the most high King.
32. There is another special favor, which the most
holy Mary received for the benefit of the mortals on the
third day and in that vision of the Divinity; for during
this vision God manifested to Her in a special way the
desire of his divine love to come to the aid of men and
to raise them up from all their miseries. In accordance
with the knowledge of his infinite mercy and the object
for which it was conceded, the Most High gave to Mary
a certain kind of participation of his own attributes, in
order that afterwards, as the Mother and Advocate of
sinners. She might intercede for them. This participa-
tion of the most holy Mary in the love of God and in
his inclination to help Her, was so heavenly and powerful '
that if from that time on the strength of the Lord had
not come to her aid. She would not have been able to
bear the impetuosity of her desire to assist and save man-
kind. Filled with this love and charity. She would, if
necessary or feasible, have delivered Herself an infinite
number of times to the flames, to the sword and to the
most exquisite torments of death for their salvation. All
the torments, sorrows, tribulations, pains, infirmities She
would have accepted and suffered; and She would have
considered them a great delight for the salvation of
sinners. Whatever all men have suffered from the be-
ginning of the world till this hour, and whatever they
will suffer till the end, would have been a small matter
for the love of this most merciful Mother. Let therefore
44 CITY OF GOD
mortals and sinners understand what they owe to most
holy Mary.
33. From that day on, we can say, the heavenly Lady
continued to be the Mother of kindness and great mercy,
and for two reasons : first, because from that moment She
sought with an especial and anxious desire to communi-
cate without envy the treasures of grace, which She had
comprehended and received; and therefore such an ad-
mirable sweetness grew up in her heart, that She was
ready to communicate it to all men and to shelter them
in her heart in order to make them participants of the
divine love, which there was enkindled. Secondly, be-
cause this love of most holy Mary for the salvation of
men was one of the principal dispositions required for
conceiving the eternal Word in her virginal womb. It
was eminently befitting that She should be all mercy,
kindness, piety and clemency, who was Herself to con-
ceive and give birth to the Word made man, since He
in his mercy, clemency and love desired to humiliate Him-
self to the lowliness of our nature, and wished to be born
of Her in order to suffer for men. It is said : like begets
like : just as the water partakes of the qualities of the
minerals through which it flows; and although the birth
of Christ originated in the Divinity, yet it also partook
of the conditions of the Mother as far as was possible.
She therefore would not have been suitable for concur-
rence with the Holy Ghost in this conception, in which
only the activity of the man was wanting, if She had not
been endowed with perfections corresponding to those of
the humanity of Christ,
34. The most holy Mary issued from this vision with
ever increasing fervor, and during all the rest of the day
She occupied Herself in the prayers and petitions com-
manded Her by the Lord. The heart of her Spouse was
THE INCARNATION 45
wounded with love, so that (according to our mode of
thinking) He already longed for the day and the hour
when He should rest in the arms and recline at the breast
of his Beloved.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY QUEEN GAVE ME.
35. My dearest daughter, great were the favors which
the hand of the Most High showered upon me in the
visions of the Divinity, vouchsafed me during the nine
days before his conception in my womb. And although
He did not manifest Himself intuitively and altogether
unveiled, yet He did it in an exalted manner and with
such effects as are reserved to his wisdom. In the re-
membrance of what I perceived in this vision, I rose to
the true perception of the position which God held in
comparison to men and men in comparison to God; my
heart was inflamed with love and was torn with sorrow;
for I realized the immensity of his love towards mortals,
and their most ungrateful oblivion of his incomprehensible
goodness. Many times would I have died at the thought
of these extremes, if God himself had not comforted and
preserved me. This sacrifice of his servant was most
pleasing to his Majesty and He accepted it with greater
complacency than all the holocausts of the old Law ; for
He beheld my humility and delighted in it very much.
Whenever I performed these exercises. He showed great
mercy to me and to my people.
36. These sacraments, my dearest, I manifest to thee
in order to encourage thee to imitate me, as far as is
possible will thy weak forces aided by grace. Look
upon the works, which thou hast learnt of, as a pattern
and example to be closely followed. Meditate much, and
weigh over and over again as well in the light of grace
2-5
46 CITY OF GOD
as in that of reason, how exactly mortals ought to cor-
respond to this immense kindness of God and to his
eagerness to assist them. Compare at the same time the
heartless obduracy of the children of Adam. I wish
that thy heart be softened in affectionate thankfulness
toward the Lord and melted in sorrow at these unhappy
proceedings of men. I assure thee, my daughter, that
on the day of the general adjustment, the cause of the
greatest wrath of the just Judge shall be man's most
ungrateful forgetfulness of this truth ; and the confusion
of men on account of this wrath shall be such, that on
that day they would of their own accord cast themselves
into the abyss of pain, if there were no ministers of divine
justice to visit this retribution upon them.
Z7. In order to avoid such an abominable fault and
in order to forestall such a horrible chastisement, renew
in thyself the memory of the blessings, which thou hast
received at the hands of his love and infinite clemency;
and remember that God has distinguished thee in prefer-
ence to the souls of many generations. Do not make the
mistake of considering these great favors and special
gifts as conferred on thee for thyself alone: they were
conferred also for the sake of thy brethren : for the divine
mercy is extended to all men. Therefore the return,
which thou owest to the Lord, must be made first for
thyself and then for thy brethren. And because thou art
poor, offer up the life and merits of my most holy Son,
and with them, all that I have suffered by the forces of
my love. Thus wilt thou make thyself pleasing to God
and tender some recompense for the ingratitude of
mortals. In all these things exercise thyself repeatedly
many times, remembering in the meanwhile what I
thought and felt in similar acts and exercises.
CHAPTER IV.
THE MOST HIGH CONTINUES HIS FAVORS TO MOST HOLY
MARY ON THE FOURTH DAY.
38. Still the favors and most exalted mysteries of the
Most High toward our Queen and Lady in preparing Her
for approaching dignity of Motherhood continued. The
fourth day of this preparation had arrived and at the
same hour She was again raised to the abstractive vision
of the Divinity. But this vision was accompanied by
new effects of exalted enlightenments in this most pure
Soul. The divine power and wisdom has no bounds or
limits; to his operations only our will, or the limitation
of our created nature, offers resistance. But in the will
of most holy Mary the divine power found no hindrance,
for all her works were executed with plenitude of holi-
ness and entirely according to the pleasure of the Lord,
drawing Him on, as He himself said, and wounding his
heart with love (Cant. 4, 9). Only in so far as most
holy Mary was a mere creature was the power of the
divine arm limited; but within these limits it could act
without bound or restriction, and without measure, offer-
ing Her the waters of wisdom from the purest and most
crystalline founts of the Divinity.
39. The Most High manifested to Her in this vision,
by most special enlightenments, the new Law of grace
which the Redeemer of the world was to establish, the
Sacraments contained in it, the end for which He would
leave them in his new Church of the Gospel, the gifts
and blessings prepared for men, and his desire, that all
47
48 CITY OF GOD
should be saved and that all should reap the fruit of the
Redemption. And so great was the wisdom, which the
most holy Mary drew from these visions, wherein She
was taught by the highest Teacher and the Corrector of
the wise (Wis. 7, 15), that, if by any means man or angel
could describe it, more books would have to be written
of this science of our Lady than all those which have
been composed in this world concerning all the arts and
sciences, and all the inventions of men. And no wonder
her science was greater than that of all other men: for
into the heart and mind of our Princess was emptied and
exhausted the ocean of the Divinity, which the sins and
the evil disposition of the creatures had confined, repressed
and circumscribed. It was concealed within its own
source until the proper time, which was no other than
the hour in which She was chosen as Mother of the
Onlybegotten of the Father.
40. Joined with the sweetness of this divine science,
our Queen felt a loving, yet piercing sorrow, which this
very science continued to renew. She perceived in the
Most High the ineffable treasures of grace and blessings,
which He had prepared for mortals and She saw the
weight of the Divinity as it were inclined toward the
desire of seeing all men enjoy them eternally. At the
same time She saw and considered the wicked disposition
of the world, and how blindly mortals impeded the flow
of these treasures and deprived themselves of participa-
tion of the Divinity. From this resulted a new kind of
martyrdom full of grief for the perdition of men and of
the desire of remedying such lamentable loss. This
caused Her to offer up the most exalted prayers, peti-
tions, sacrifices, humiliations and heroic acts of love of
God and of men, in order that no one, if possible, should
henceforth damn himself, and that all should recognize
THE INCARNATION 49
their Creator, and Redeemer, confess Him, adore and
love Him. All this took place in this very vision; but
as these petitions were of the same kind as those already
described, I do not expatiate on them here.
41. In conjunction therewith the Lord showed Her
also the works of creation performed on the fourth day
(Gen. 1, 14-17). The heavenly Princess Mary learned
how and when the luminaries of heaven were formed in
the firmament for dividing day and night and for indi-
cating the seasons, the days and the years; how for this
purpose was created the great light of heaven, the sun,
presiding as the lord of the day, and joined with it, the
moon, the lesser light, which reigns over the darkness
of the night. In like manner were formed the stars of
the eighth heaven, in order that they might gladden the
night with their brilliance and preside with their various
influences over both the day and the night. She under-
stood what was the material substance of these luminous
orbs, their form, their size, their properties, their various
movements and the uniformity as well as the inequality
of the planets. She knew the number of the stars, and
all their influences exerted upon the earth, both in regard
to the living and the lifeless creatures; the effects and
changes, which they cause in them by these influences.
42. This is not in conflict with what the Prophet says,
(Psalm 146, 4), that God knows the number of the stars
and has called them by their names; for David does not
thereby deny to his Majesty the liberty of conceding to
a creature that as a privilege which He possesses by
nature. It is plain, that since this knowledge is com-
municable and since it would contribute to Mary's excel-
lence, it should not be denied to Her. Has He not con-
ferred upon Her greater favors, and has He not made
Her the Queen of the stars and of all other creatures?
50 CITY OF GOD
And this knowledge was as it were only a sequel of her
dominion and sovereignty over the powers, influences
and movements of all the celestial orbs, since they were
commanded to obey Her as their Queen and Lady.
43. In consequence of this command, which the Lord
gave to the celestial orbs and in accordance with the
dominion which most holy Mary obtained over them, She
possessed such power, that if She commanded the stars
to leave their positions in heaven, they would obey Her
instantly and would hasten to the regions which She
chose to designate. The same is true of the sun and
the planets : all would pause in their course and suspend
their operations to execute the command of Mary. I
have already said above (No. 21) that sometimes her
Highness made use of this sovereignty; for, as we shall
see farther on, it happened a few times in Egypt, where
the rays of the sun are exceedingly strong, that She com-
manded the sun to moderate its heat and not to molest
or fatigue the infant God, its Master. And the sun
obeyed Her therein, causing inconvenience and suffering
to Her, because She wished it, and yet respecting the
tender years of the Sun of justice, whom She held in her
arms. The same happened also with other stars, and on
a few occasions She detained the sun in its course, as I
will mention later.
44. Many other hidden sacraments the Most High mani-
fested to our great Queen in this vision, and what I have
said and will say of all these mysteries, leaves me dissat-
isfied and with a heart as it were torn asunder : for I see,
that I can say little of that which I understand and, in
proportion, I understand still less of what really did
happen to the heavenly Lady. Many of the mysteries
concerning Her are reserved for the last day, when her
most holy Son shall proclaim them, since now we are not
THE INCARNATION 51
capable of receiving their revelation. The most holy
Mary issued from this vision still more inflamed and
filled with the Divinity, entirely transformed by the
knowledge of God's attributes and perfections; and her
advance in virtues kept pace with her progress in divine
favors. She multiplied her requests, her fervent sighs,
and her meritorious works, in order to hasten the Incar-
nation of the Word and our salvation.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE HEAVENLY QUEEN GAVE ME.
45. My dearest daughter, I wish that thou busy thyself
much in meditating and pondering upon that which thou:
hast understood of my doings and sufferings at the time,
when the Most High gave me such a deep insight into
his goodness, which drew Him as with an infinite force
to enrich men, and when He showed me the want of cor-
respondence and the dark ingratitude of the mortals.
When I turned from the consideration of this most
liberal condescension of the Most High, to the perception
and understanding of the foolish hard-heartedness of the
sinners, my soul was pierced with an arrow of mortal
anguish, which remained for life. And I wish to tell
thee of another mystery: many times the Most High in
order to heal the affliction and consternation of my heart
in this sorrow, sought to console me by saying : "Accept
Thou, my Spouse, the gifts, which the blind and ignorant
world in its unworthiness despises and is incapable of
receiving and understanding." With these words the
Most High was accustomed to set free the currents of
his divine bounty, which rejoiced my soul more than
human powers can comprehend, or tongue explain.
46. I desire, therefore, that thou, my friend, be now
my companion in the sorrow which I suffered and which
52 CITY OF GOD
is so little noticed by the living. In order to imitate me
therein and in the effects of this most just g^ief, thou
must deny thyself, forget thyself entirely, and crown
thy heart with the thorns of sorrow at the behavior of
mortals. Weep thou in seeing them laugh at their
eternal damnation, for such weeping is the most legiti-
mate occupation of the true spouses of my most holy Son.
Let them seek their delight only in the tears, which they
pour out on account of their sins and those of the igno-
rant world. Thus prepare thy heart in order that the
Lord may make thee a participant of his treasures; not
in order to become rich, but in order that his Majesty
may fulfill his most generous love toward thee and in
order that souls may find justification. Imitate me in all
that I teach thee, since thou knowest that this is my
desire in favoring thee.
CHAPTER V.
HIS MAJESTY MANIFESTS NEW MYSTERIES AND SACRA-
MENTS TOGETHER WITH THE WORKS OE THE FlETH
DAY OF THE CREATION TO MOST HOLY MARY, AND
HER HIGHNESS CONTINUES TO PRAY FOR THE INCAR-
NATION OF THE WORD.
47. The fifth day of the novena, which the most blessed
Trinity celebrated in the temple of most holy Mary, in
order that the eternal Word might assume human shape
in Her, had arrived. Just as in the preceding days She
was elevated to an abstractive vision of the Divinity,
and, as the veil fell more and more from the secrets of
the infinite wisdom. She discovered new mysteries also
during this day. For the preparations and enlighten-
ments emitted ever stronger rays of light and divine
graces, which flashed into her most holy soul and emptied
the treasures of infinity into her faculties, assimilating
and transforming the heavenly Lady more and more to
a likeness of her God in order to make Her worthy of
being his Mother.
48. In this vision, showing Himself to Her with in-
effable signs of affection, the Most High spoke to the
heavenly Queen and manifested to Her additional secrets,
saying : "My Spouse and my Dove, in the secret of my
bosom thou hast perceived the immense bounty, to which
my love for the human race inclines Me, and the treas-
ures, which are secretly prepared for their happiness : so
powerful is this love in Me, that I wish to give them
my Only begotten for their instruction and salvaltiort.
S3
54 CITY OF GOD
Thou hast also seen something of the small returns, of
their most listless ingratitude and contempt, in whieh
men hold my clemency and love. Yet, although I have
shown thee part of their malice, I wish, my friend, that
thou shouldst once more know in Me, how small is the
number of those who are to know and love me as my
chosen ones ; and how great and extended is the number
of the ungrateful and the reprobate. The innumerable
sins and abominations of these impure and defiled men,
whom I have foreseen in my infinite knowledge, retard
my bounteous mercy and have locked up the treasurehouse
of my Divinity, making the world entirely unworthy of
receiving my gifts."
49. The Princess Mary, through these words of the
Most High, was instructed in the great mysteries re-
garding the number of the predestined and the reprobate ;
and also regarding the hindrances and impediments by
which sinful men delayed the coming of the eternal Word
as man into the world. Having present before Herself
the vision both of the infinite bounty and equity of the
Creator and of the measureless iniquity and malice of
men, the most prudent Mistress, inflamed by the fire of
divine love, spoke to his Majesty and said :
50. "My Lord and infinite God of wisdom and incom-
prehensible sanctity, what mystery is this, which Thou
hast manifested to me? Without measure are the mis-
deeds of men, so that only thy wisdom can comprehend
them. But can all these and many more, perhaps, extin-
guish thy bounty and love, or vie with them? No, my
Lord and Master, it must not be so; the malice of men
must not detain thy mercy. I am the most useless of
all the human race; yet on its behalf I remind Thee of
thy fidelity. Infallibly true it is, that heaven and earth
will come to naught, before thy word can fail (Is. 51, 6),
THE INCARNATION 55
and it is also true, that Thou hast many times given thy
word through the holy Prophets; and Thou hast prom-
ised them by word of mouth, a Redeemer and our salva-
tion. How then, my God, can these promises fail of ful-
fillment without conflicting with thy infinite wisdom; or
how can man be deceived without conflicting- with thy
goodness ? In order to induce Thee to fulfill thy promise
and to secure them eternal felicity through thy incarnate
Word, I have nothing to offer on the part of mortals nor
can any creature oblige Thee ; and if this blessing could
be merited, then thy infinite and bounteous clemency
would not thereby be glorified. Only through thy own
Self can this obligation be imposed upon Thee, for only
in God can a sufficient reason be found for his becoming
man: in Thee alone was the reason and the motive for
our creation, and therefore in Thee alone also the reason
for our reparation after our fall. Do not seek, my God
and most high King, for merits, nor for a greater motive,
than thy own mercy and the exaltation of thy holy
name."
51. "It is true, my Spouse," answered the Most High,
"that on account of my goodness I bound Myself to the
promise of vesting Myself in human nature and of dwell-
ing among them, and that no one could merit in my sight
such a promise ; but the ungrateful behavior of men, so
abominable in my sight and in my justice, does not merit
the execution of this promise. For though I seek only
their eternal happiness as a return of my love, I perceive
and find only obduracy, by which they are certain to
waste and despise the treasures of my grace and blessing.
They will yield thorns instead of fruit, great insults for
benefits, and base ingratitude for my unbounded and gen-
erous mercy; and the end of all these evils will be for
them the privation of my vision in eternal torments.
56 CITY OF GOD
Take notice of these truths recorded in the secrets of my
wisdom, my Friend, and weigh these great sacraments;
for to thee my heart is laid open, so that thou canst see
the justice of my proceeding."
52, It is impossible to describe the hidden secrets,
which most holy Mary then saw in the Lord; for She
perceived in Him all the creatures of the past, present
and the future, and the position of each one in creation,
the good and bad actions and the final ending of each one.
If She had not been strengthened. She could not have
preserved her life under the effects and feelings caused
by the knowledge and insight into these hidden sacra-
ments and mysteries. But as his Majesty, in these new
miracles and blessings had such high ends in view. He
was not sparing but most liberal with the beloved One,
whom He had chosen as his Mother. And as our Queen
derived this science from the bosom of God itself. She
participated also in the fire of his eternal Charity, which
inflamed Her with the love of God and the neighbor.
Therefore, continuing her intercession. She said :
53. "Uord and eternal God, invisible and immortal, I
confess thy justice, I magnify thy works, I adore thy
infinite Essence and hold in reverence thy judgments.
My heart melts within me with tenderest affection, when
I perceive thy unlimited bounty toward men and their
dark ingratitude and grossness toward Thee. For all of
them, O my God, Thou seekest eternal life; but there are
few who are thankful for this inestimable benefit, and
many who will perish by their malice. If on this ac-
count, O my eternal Good, Thou relinquishest thy under-
taking, we mortals are lost; but while Thou, in thy
divine fore-knowledge, perceivest the sins and the malice
of men who offend Thee so much, Thou also foreseest thy
Onlybegotten made man and his works of infinite price
THE INCARNATION 57
and value in thy sight ; and these will counterbalance and
exceed the malice of sin beyond all comparison. Through
this Godman let thy equity be conquered and on his
account give us Him now! and in order to urge my
petitions upon Thee once more in the name of the human
race, I unite myself with the spirit of this Word, already
made man in thy mind, and pray for his coming in fact
and for the eternal life of men through his hands."
54. At this prayer of most pure Mary, the eternal
Father (in our way of speaking) represented to Himself
his Onlybegotten as borne in the virginal womb of this
great Queen; and He was moved by her humble and
loving petitions. His apparent hesitation was merely a
device of his tender love in order to enjoy so much the
longer the voice of his Beloved, causing her sweet lips
to distil most sweet honey (Cant. 4, 11) and her
emissions to be like those of paradise (Cant. 4, 13).
And to draw out still more this loving contention, the
Lord answered Her: "My sweetest Spouse and chosen
Dove, great is that which thou askest of Me and little is
that which obliges Me on the part of men ; how then shall
such a singular blessing be conferred on those unworthy
ones? Leave Me, my friend, to treat them according to
their evil deserts." Our powerful and kind Advocate re-
sponded: "No, my Master, I will not desist from my
importunity; if much I ask, I ask it of Thee, who are
rich !n mercies, powerful in action, true in thy words.
My father David said of Thee and of the eternal Word :
"The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent : Thou
art a priest forever according to the order of Melchise-
dech" (Ps. 109, 4). Let then that Priest come, who is
at the same time to be the sacrifice for our rescue; let
Him come, since Thou canst not repent of thy promise;
for Thou dost not promise in ignorance. Let me be
58 CITY OF GOD
clothed, O my sweet love, with the strength of this Man
God, which will not allow me to put a stop to my impor-
tunity, until Thou give me thy blessing as to my father
Jacob" (Gen. 2>2, 26).
55. In this contest (just as it once happened to Jacob)
our Lady and Queen was asked, what was her name;
and She said: *T am a daughter of Adam, formed by
thy hands from the insignificant dust." And the Most
High answered: "Henceforth Thou shalt be called:
Chosen for the Mother of the Onlybegotten." But the
latter part of this name was heard only by the courtiers
of heaven, while to Her it was as yet hidden until the
proper time. She therefore heard only the word
"Chosen." Having thus protracted this amorous con-
tention according to the disposition of his divine wisdom
and as far as served to inflame the heart of this elected
One, the whole blessed Trinity gave to Mary, our most
pure Queen, the explicit promise, that They would now
send into the world the eternal Word made man. Filled
with incomparable joy and exultation by this fiat, She
asked and received the benediction of the Most High.
Thus this strong Woman issued forth from the contest
with God more victorious than Jacob; for She came out
rich, strong and laden with spoils, and the One that was
wounded and weakened (to speak in our way) was God
himself; for He was drawn by the love of this Lady to
clothe Himself in that sacred bridal chamber of her
womb with the weakness of our passible nature. He
disguised and enveloped the strength of his Divinity, so
as to conquer in allowing Himself to be conquered, and
in order to give us life by his death. Let the mortals see
and acknowledge, how most holy Mary, next to her most
blessed Son, is the cause of their salvation.
56, During this vision were also revealed to this great
THE INCARNATION 59
Queen the works of the fifth day of the creation in the
manner in which they happened; She saw how, by the
force of the divine command, were engendered and pro-
duced in the waters beneath the firmament, the imperfect
reptiles, which creep upon the earth, the winged animals
that course through the air, and the finny tribes that glide
through the watery regions. Of all these creatures She
knew the beginnings, the substance, the form and figure
according to their kinds ; She knew all the species of the
animals that inhabit the fields and woods, their condi-
tions, peculiarities, their uses and connections ; She knew
the birds of heaven (for so we call the atmosphere),
with the varied forms of each kind, their ornaments,
feathers, their lightness; the innumerable fishes of the
seas and the rivers, the differences between the whales,
their forms, composition and qualities, their caverns and
the foods furnished them by the sea, the ends which they
serve, the use to which they can be put in the world.
And his Majesty especially commanded all these hosts of
creatures to recognize and obey most holy Mary, giving
Her the power to command all of them, as it happened
on many occasions to be mentioned later on (No. 185,
431, 636). Therewith She issued from the trance of
this day and She occupied Herself during the rest of it
in the exercises and petitions, which the Most High had
pointed out to Her.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE HEAVENLY LADY GAVE ME.
57. My daughter, the more complete knowledge of the
wonderful operations of the arm of the Almighty in
raising me during the abstractive visions of the Divinity
to the dignity of Mother, is reserved for the predestined
when they shall come to know them in the heavenly
60 CITY OF GOD
Jerusalem. There they shall understand and see them
in the Lord Himself and with that special delight and
astonishment, which the angels experienced, when the
Most High revealed these things to them for his exal-
tation and praise. And since his Majesty has shown
Himself so lovingly generous toward thee, giving thee
in preference to all the generations of men, such great
knowledge and light concerning these so hidden sacra-
ments, I desire, my friend, that thou signalize thyself
above all creatures in praising and magnifying his holy
name for the works of his powerful arm in my regard.
58. At the same time thou must strive, with all thy
power, to imitate me in the works, which I performed by
the aid of these great and wonderful blessings. Pray
and sigh for the eternal salvation of thy brethren, and
that the name of my Son may be extolled by all and
known to the whole world. Thou must establish the habit
of this kind of prayer, by a constant resolve, founded
upon firm faith and unshaken confidence, and by never
losing sight of thy misery in profound humility and self-
abasement. Thus prepared, thou must battle with
the divine love for the good of thy people, firmly con-
vinced, that the most glorious triumphs of divine love
may especially be looked for in its dealings with the
humble, who love God in uprightness. Raise thyself
above thyself and give Him thanks for the special bless-
ings conferred upon thee and for those conferred upon
the human race. Transformed by this divine love, thou
wilt merit other gifts, both for thyself and for thy
brethren ; and whenever thou findest thyself in his divine
presence, do thou ask for his benediction.
CHAPTER VI.
THE MOST HIGH MANIFESTS TO MARY, OUR MISTRESS,
ADDITIONAL MYSTERIES AND SHOWS HER THE WORKS
OF THE SIXTH DAY OF CREATION.
59. While the Most High continued the proximate
preparation of our heavenly Princess for the reception of
the eternal Word in her virginal womb, She, on her part,
persevered without intermission in her fervent sighs and
prayers to hasten his coming into the world. When the
night of the sixth of these days, which I have begun to
describe, had arrived, and when She had previously been
elevated by still more profound illuminations, She was
again called and invited in spirit to the abstractive vision
of the Divinity. Although this happened in the same
manner as at other times, yet it was accompanied by more
heavenly effects and by a more profound insight into the
attributes of the Most High. She remained nine hours
in this trance and issued from it at the third hour. Yet,
although the high vision of the essence of God ceased at
that hour, the most holy Mary continued to enjoy another
kind of vision and prayer. This was indeed inferior to
the first, but in itself was most exalted and more excel-
lent than that experienced by any of the saints or the
just. The gifts and favors so far described partook more
and more of the divine during the last days preceding the
Incarnation, without at the same time being a hindrance
to the active occupations of her married state, for here
Martha had no right to complain, that Mary forsook her
in her ministrations (Luc. 10,40).
60. Having seen God in this vision She was immedi-
ately shown the works on the sixth day of the creation of
2-6 61
62 CITY OF GOD
the world. She witnessed, as if She Herself had been
present, how at the command of the Lord the earth
brought forth the living beings according to their kinds,
as Moses says (Gen. 1, 24), Holy Scripture here refers
to the terrestrial animals, which being more perfect than
the fishes and birds in life and activity, are called by a
name signifying the more important part of their nature.
She saw and understood all the kinds and species of
animals, which were created on this sixth day, and by
what name they were called: some, beasts of burden,
because they serve and assist man, others, wild beasts,
as being more fierce and untamed; others, reptiles, be-
cause they do not raise themselves or very little from the
earth. She knew and comprehended the qualities of all
of them: their fury, their strength, the useful purposes
which they serve, and all their distinctions and singular-
ities. Over all these She was invested with dominion and
they were commanded to obey Her. She could without
opposition on their part have trodden upon asps and
basilisks, for all would have meekly borne her heel. Many
times did some of these animals show their subjection to
her commands, as when, at the birth of her most Holy
Son, the ox and the ass prostrated themselves and by
their breaths warmed the infant God at the command of
his blessed Mother,
61. In this plenitude of knowledge and science our
heavenly Queen understood perfectly the secret ways of
God in making all creation serve for the benefit of man,
and how much man owes to his Creator on this account.
And it was most proper that She should possess this
knowledge and understanding, so that with it She might
be able to give fitting thanks for these blessings. Neither
men nor angels have done so, failing to correspond and
falling short of their duty in this regard. All these voids
THE INCARNATION 63
were filled by the Queen of all, and She satisfied for the
debt of gratitude, which we could not or would not pay.
Through Her, divine equity was duly satisfied, consider-
ing Her as a medium between itself and the creatures.
By her innocence and gratitude She became more pleasing
to his Majesty than all the rest of the creatures. The
mysterious advent of God into the world was thus being
prepared: for the last hindrance was removed by the
sanctification of Her, who was to be his Mother.
62. After seeing the creation of all the irrational
creatures. She became aware, how the most blessed Trin-
ity, in order to complete and perfect the world, said:
"Let us make man to our image and likeness"
(Gen. 1, 26), and how by virtue of this divine decree the
first man was formed of the earth as the first parent of all
the rest. She had a profound insight into the harmonious
composition of the human body and soul and of their
faculties, of the creation and infusion of the soul into
the body and of its intimate union with the body. Of the
structure of the human body and all its parts. She
obtained a deep knowledge: She was informed of the
number of the bones, veins, arteries, nerves and ligatures ;
of the concourse of humors to compose the befitting
temperaments, the faculties of nutrition, growth and loco-
motion ; She learned in what manner the disturbances or
changes in this harmony caused the sicknesses, and how
these can be cured. All this the most prudent Virgin
understood and comprehended without the least error,
better than all the wise men of the world and better than
even the angels.
63. The Lord manifested to Her also the happy state
of original justice, in which He placed the first parents
Adam and Eve; She understood their condition, beauty
and perfection of innocence and grace, and for how short
64 CITY OF GOD
a time they persevered in it. She perceived how they
were tempted and overcome by the astuteness of the
serpent (Gen. 2, 51), and what were the consequences
of their sin ; and how great were the fury and hate of the
demon against the human race. At the vision of all
these things our Queen made great and heroic acts of
virtue, highly pleasing to God. She understood, that
She was a daughter of these first parents and that She
descended from a nature so thankless to its Creator. In
the remembrance of this She humiliated Herself in his
divine presence, thereby wounding the heart of God and
obliging Him to raise Her above all that is created. She
took it upon Herself to weep for the first sin and for all
the rest, that followed from it, as if She Herself had been
guilty of them all. Hence, even at that time, that first
sin might have been called a fortunate fault, which caused
tears so precious in the eyes of the Lord, and which
earned us such sureties and pledges of our Redemption.
64. Rendering worthy thanks to the Creator for the
magnificent work of the creation of man, She reflected
deeply on his disobedience, the seduction and deception
of Eve, and She inwardly resolved to yield that perpetual
obedience, which these first parents had refused to their
Creator. So acceptable in his eyes was this subjection,
that his Majesty in the presence of the heavenly courtiers
decreed the immediate fulfillment and execution of that,
which was prefigured in the history of the king Assuerus,
by whom the queen Vashti was repudiated and deprived
of royal dignity on account of disobedience, while the
humble and gracious Esther was raised to her place
(Esther?, 2).
65. There was an admirable similarity between that
event and these mysteries ; for the exalted and true King,
in order to show the greatness of his powers and the
THE INCARNATION 65
treasures of his Divinity, had prepared the great banquet
of his creation, and having spread the liberal repast for
all the creatures, invited the guests, that is the human
race, by the creation of its first parents. Vashti, our
mother Eve, disobeyed, failing to submit herself to the
divine command, and now amid the wonderful acclama-
tion and jubilee of the angels, the true Assuerus ordered
the most humble Esther to be on that day elevated to
Sovereignty over all creation, this Esther being none
other than the most holy Mary, full of grace and beauty,
chosen among all the daughters of men as their Restor-
atrix and the Mother of his Christ.
66. In the plenitude of this mystery the Most High
infused into the heart of our Queen a new abhorrence
of the demon, such as filled Esther toward Aman
(Esther 7, 10) ; and thus it happened, that She thrust
him from his position of superiority and command over
the world. She crushed the head of his pride, hanging
him on the gallows of the Cross, where he had hoped to
destroy and conquer the Godman, but was himself chas-
tised and overcome by it. Toward all this the most holy
Mary was instrumental, as we shall relate in its place
(Vol. Ill, 653). Just as the envy of the dragon against
the Woman, that is this heavenly Lady, commenced in
heaven, when he saw Her clothed with the sun
(Apoc. 12, 4, Part I, 95) ; so this strife continued until
he was deprived of his tyrannous dominion. Just as the
most faithful Mardocheus was given the position of the
proud Aman (Esther 6, 10) ; so also was honored the
most chaste and faithful Joseph, who continually urged
Her to pray for the liberty of her people. This was the
constant subject of conversation between Joseph and his
most pure Spouse; for this very purpose was he raised
to the summit of sanctity, and to the exalted dignity of
(^ CITY OF GOD
holding the sealing ring of the highest King
(Esther 8, 2), whereby he received authority to com-
mand the Godman himself, as is related in the Gospel.
Having experienced all these mysteries, our Queen issued
from her vision.
INSTRUCTION, WHICH THE HEAVENLY QuEEN GAVE ME-
67. Wonderful, my daughter, was the gift of humil-
ity, which the Most High conferred upon me in the event
described by thee. And since his Majesty does not reject
the prayers of those, that dispose themselves to receive
it, I desire that thou imitate me and be my companion in
the exercise of this virtue. I had no part in the sin of
Adam, for I was exempted from his disobedience; but
because I partook of his nature and by it was his daugh-
ter, I humiliated myself in my estimation to nothingness.
In the light of this example then, how far must those
humiliate themselves, who not only have had a part in
the first sin, but also have committed other sins without
number? The aim and motive of this humiliation more-
over, should not be to remove the punishments of those
sins, but to make restoration and recompense for the
diminution and loss of honor, which was thereby occa-
sioned to the Creator and Lord.
68. If a brother of thine should grievously offend thy
natural father, thou wouldst not be a loving and loyal
daughter of thy father, nor a true sister to thy brother,
if thou wouldst not grieve for the offense and weep not
over his ruin as over thy own ; for to the father is due
reverence and to thy brother thou owest love as to thy-
self. Consider then, dearest, and examine in the proper
light, how much difference there is between thy Father
who is in heaven and thy natural father, and how all of
you are his children, bound together by the strictest
THE INCARNATION 67
obligfation of brethren and of servants of one true Master.
Just as thou wouldst shed tears of humiliation and con-
fusion at some ignominious fault of thy natural brother;
so I wish that thou do it for the sins, which the mortals
commit against God, sorrowing for them in confusion
as if thou wert responsible for them thyself. That is
what I did at the thought of the disobedience of Adam
and Eve and of all the evils, which ensued therefrom to
the human race. And the Most High was pleased with my
charitable interest ; for most agreeable in his sight are the
tears shed for the sins, which are forgotten by those, that
have committed them.
69. At the same time see thou bear ever in mind, that,
no matter how great and rare are the favors received
from the Most High, thou do not despise the danger of
sin nor contemn the solicitous and humble performance
of the ordinary duties of precept and charity. For these
do not oblige thee to leave the presence of God: faith
teaches thee, and inspiration should govern thee, to bear
Him with thee in all occupations and places, quitting thy-
self and thy inclinations, but fulfilling in all things the
will of thy Lord and Spouse. Do not allow thyself to be
led in these sentiments by the trend of thy own inclina-
tions, nor by that which seems to agree with thy own
interior liking and taste; for many times the greatest
danger is hidden beneath this cloak. In such doubts and
hesitations let holy obedience be thy umpire and master ;
through it thou canst decide securely, and thou wilt need
no other criterion for thy actions. Great victories and
advances in merit are connected with the true submission
of self and subjection of our own judgments to those of
others. Thou shouldst never wish to retain for thyself
the power to will or not to will : then thou shalt sing of
victories and overcome thy enemies.
CHAPTER VII.
THE MOST HIGH CELEBRATES A NEW ESPOUSAL WITH
THE PRINCESS OF HEAVEN IN ORDER TO INAUGURATE
THE NUPTIALS OF THE INCARNATION. HE ADORNS
HER FOR IT.
70. Great are the works of the Most High, for all of
them were and are executed with the plenitude of knowl-
edge and goodness, ordained in equity and number
(Wis. 11, 21). None of them is faulty, useless or in-
effectual, superfluous or vain ; all are exquisite and mag-
nificent, finished and executed according to the full meas-
ure of his holy will. Such He desired them to be, in
order that He might be known and magnified in them.
But in comparison to the mystery of the Incarnation, all
the works of God ad extra, although they are in them-
selves great, stupendous and marvelous, more to be ad-
mired than comprehended, are only a small spark, issuing
from the unfathomable abyss of the Divinity. This great
sacrament of vesting Himself in a passible and mortal
nature is pre-eminently the great work of his infinite
power and wisdom and the one which immeasurably ex-
cels all the other works and wonders of his powerful
arm. For in this mystery, not merely a spark of the
Divinity, but that whole vast volcano of the infinite God-
head, broke forth and communicated itself to men, unit-
ing Itself by an indissoluble and eternal union to our
terrestrial human nature.
71. If this wonderful sacrament of the King is to be
measured only by his own vastness, it follows that the
Woman, in whose womb He was to become man, de-
served to be so perfectly adorned with the plenitude of
68
THE INCARNATION 69
his treasures, that no gift or grace within the range of
possibility be omitted, and all these gifts be so consum-
mate, that nothing is wanting to them. As all this was
reasonable and altogether befitting the greatness of
the Omnipotent, He certainly fulfilled it in the most holy
Mary, much better than king Assuerus did with the
gracious Esther (Esther 2, 9), when he raised her to his
magnificent throne. The Most High visited our Queen
Mary with such great favors, privileges and gifts, that
the like was never even conceived in the mind of creatures,
and, when She issued forth in the presence of the cour-
tiers of this great King of the eternal ages (I Tim. 1, 17),
they recognized and exalted in Her the power of God,
at the same time understanding, that He, who chose to
select a woman for his Mother, knew also how to make
her worthy of assuming that position.
72. The seventh day of this mysterious preparation
for the approaching sacrament arrived, and in the same
hour as already mentioned, the heavenly Lady was called
and elevated in spirit, but with this difference, that She
was bodily raised by her holy angels to the empyrean
heaven, while in her stead one of them remained to rep-
resent Her in corporeal appearance. Placed into this
highest heaven. She saw the Divinity by abstract vision
as in other days; but always with new and more pene-
trating light, piercing to new and more profound myster-
ies, which God according to his free will can conceal or
reveal. Presently She heard a voice proceeding from
the royal throne, which said : "Our Spouse and chosen
Dove, our gracious Friend, who hast been found pleasing
in our eyes and hast been chosen among thousands : We
wish to accept thee anew as our Bride, and therefore We
wish to adorn and beautify thee in a manner worthy of
our design."
70 CITY OF GOD
73. On hearing these words the most Humble among
the humble abased and annihilated Herself in the pres-
ence of the Most High more than can be comprehended
by human power. Entirely submissive to the divine pleas-
ure and with entrancing modesty, She responded: "At
thy feet, O Lord, lies the dust and abject worm, ready
is thy poor slave for the fulfillment of all thy pleasure in
her. Make use, O eternal Good, of this thy insignificant
instrument according to thy desire, and dispose of it with
thy right hand." Presently the Most High commanded
two seraphim, of those nearest to his throne and highest
in dignity to attend on this heavenly Virgin. Accom-
panied by others, they presented themselves in visible
form before the throne, and there surrounded the most
holy Mary, who was more inflamed with divine love than
they.
74. It was a spectacle worthy of new wonder and
jubilee for all the angelic spirits to see in this heavenly
place, never touched by other feet, an humble Maiden
consecrated as their Queen and raised to the closest
proximity to God of all the created beings; to see that
Woman, whom the world ignored and held in obliv-
ious contempt, so highly esteemed and appreciated
(Prov. 31, 10) ; to see our human nature in its first fruits
receiving the pledge of superiority over the celestial
choirs and already assuming its place among them. O
what a holy and just envy must such a strange wonder
have caused in the ancient courtiers of that heavenly
Jerusalem! What thoughts rose up within them in praise
of its Author! What sentiments of humility did it awaken
in them, subjecting all their high understandings to the
decrees of the divine Will ! They saw that He was holy
and just, who exalted the humble, who favored human
lowliness and raised it above the angelic choirs.
THE INCARNATION 71
75. While the inhabitants of heaven were lost in their
praiseworthy admiration, the most blessed Trinity,
(according to our imperfect mode of understanding and
speaking), conferred within Itself, how pleasing in its
sight was the Princess Mary, how perfectly and com-
pletely She had corresponded with the blessings and
gifts confided to Her, how adequately She had augmented
the glory of the Lord; and how free She was of any
fault, defect or hindrance, that might compromise the
dignity of her predestined Motherhood of the Word.
Accordingly the three Persons of the Trinity resolved to
raise this Creature to the highest position of grace and
friendship of God, such as no creature had ever or would
ever attain ; and then and there They gave to Her more
than to all the rest of creatures together. The most
blessed Trinity was pleased and rejoiced in seeing that
the supreme holiness of Mary was such as had been con-
ceived and determined for Her in the divine intellect.
76. In correspondence with this holiness, and as a
completion of it, and as a testimony of the benevolence
with which the Lord wished to communicate to Her ever
new influences of his Divinity, He ordained and com-
manded, that most holy Mary be visibly clothed and
adorned with mysterious vestments and jewels, which
should symbolize the interior graces and privileges of a
Queen and of a heavenly Spouse. Although such bridal
adornment had already been conferred upon Her before
that time, when She was presented in the temple
(Part I, 436) ; yet now this was done under new and
wonderful conditions; for it was to serve as the imme-
diate preparation for the miracle of the Incarnation.
77. Presently therefore, upon the command of the
Lord the two seraphim clothed most holy Mary with a
tunic or ample robe, which, as a symbol of her purity and
72 CITY OF GOD
grace, was so exquisitely white and resplendent, that if
one single ray of the light so profusely emitted by it
would flash into the world, it would by itself give more
refulgence than all the stars combined, even if they were
all suns; and in comparison with it, all the light, which
is known to us, would appear as darkness. While the
seraphim vested Her, the Most High gave Her a pro-
found understanding of the obligation entailed thereby:
namely, that She must make a befitting return to his
Majesty, by proportioning her faithful love and the ex-
alted perfection of her actions to that, which She had
now learnt. Nevertheless, the purpose, for which the
Lord intended these blessings, that is his Incarnation
through Her, continued to be hidden to her mind. All
the rest of the mysteries our Lady understood and for
all of them She humiliated Herself with ineffable pru-
ence, and She asked the divine assistance for corre-
sponding to these favors and blessings.
78. Over this robe the same seraphim placed a girdle,
as a symbol of the holy fear, which was infused into Her.
It was very rich, with jewels of extreme refulgence and
beauty. At the same time the fountain of light bursting
forth from the Divinity enlightened and illumined the
heavenly Princess, so that She understood the exalted
reasons, why God should be feared by all the creatures.
With this gift of fear of the Lord She was appropriately
girded, as befitted a Creature, who was to treat and con-
verse so familiarly with her Creator as his Mother.
79. Presently She perceived, that the seraphim
adorned Her with most beautiful and abundant hair,
held together by a rich clasp, more brilliant than pure
and polished gold. She understood, that in this em-
bellishment was conceded to Her the privilege of
spending her whole life in exalted and divine thoughts,
THE INCARNATION 73
inflamed by the subtlest charity as signified by the gold.
In connection with this privilege She was established
anew in the habits of unclouded wisdom and science,
exquisitely binding" up the hair of exalted thoughts by an
ineffable participation in the wisdom and science of God
himself. Sandals or shoes were also given to Her, to
indicate, that all her steps and movements would be most
beauteous (Cant. 7,1), tending always to the high and
holy aim of the greater glory of the Most High. And
these shoes were laced with the especial grace of anxious
diligence in doing good both before God and man
(Luke 1, 39), as it happened when She hastened to
visit saint Elisabeth and saint John; and thus this
Daughter of the Prince issued most beautiful in her
footsteps (Cant. 7,1).
80. Her arms were adorned with bracelets, filling Her
with magnanimity for undertaking great works in par-
ticipation of the divine magnificence; and thus She
always extended them toward courageous deeds
(Prov. 31, 19), Her fingers were embellished by rings,
in order that in smaller or more inferior matters She
might act in a superior manner, exalted in aim and pur-
pose and in all respect making her doings grand and
admirable. To this they added a necklace, set with in-
estimable and brilliant jewels and containing symbols
of the three most excellent virtues of faith, hope and
charity in correspondence with the three divine Persons.
Conjointly with this gift they renewed in Her the habits
of these most noble virtues, which She would especially
need in the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption.
81. In her ears they hung earrings of gold, filigreed
with silver (Cant. 1, 10), thus preparing her ears for
the message, which She was shortly to hear from the arch-
angel Gabriel, and at the same time they furnished Her
74 CITY OF GOD
with knowledge in order that She might listen attentively
and give discreet and acceptable answers to the divine
proposals. Thus would the pure silver of her innocence
resound in the ears of the Lord and re-echo, in the bosom
of the Divinity, those charming and sacred words : "Fiat
mihi secundum verbum tuum." "Be it done to me ac-
cording to thy word" (Luke 1, 38).
82, Then they spread over her garment inscriptions,
which at the same time served as embroidery or borders
of the finest colors mixed with gold. Some of them bore
the legend: "Mary, Mother of God;" others: "Mary,
Virgin and Mother." But these inscriptions were not
intelligible to Her, nor were they explained to Her, but
their meaning was known to the holy angels. The differ-
ent colors symbolized the habits of all the virtues in the
most excellent degree and their active exercise, surpassing
all that was ever practiced by the rest of the intellectual
creatures. And as a complement of all this beauty, they
furnished Her as if with lotions for her face, by illumi-
nating Her with the light drawn from the proximity and
participation of the inexhaustible Being and perfection
of God himself. For as She was destined actually and
truly to shelter within Her virginal womb the infinite
perfection of God, it was befitting, that She should have
received it beforehand by grace in the highest measure
possible to a mere creature.
83. In this adornment and beauty our Princess Mary
stood before the Lord so beautiful and charming, that
even the supreme King could desire Her as Spouse
(Ps. 44, 12). I do not detain myself here in repeating
what I have already said, what I will yet say in this
history about her virtues ; I only say that this adornment
was accompanied by new features and effects altogether
divine. All this was proper to the infinite power and to-
THE INCARNATION 75
its immense perfection and sanctity, which offer to our
comprehension ever new fields of speculation. And when
there is question of this ocean of perfection in most holy
Mary, we certainly can hope only to skirt its shores. My
understanding of that which I perceive, is always preg-
nant with vast fields of thought, on which I cannot
expatiate.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY
GAVE ME.
84. My daughter, the work-shops and treasure-rooms
of the Most High are those of a divine Lord and omnip-
otent King, and therefore without number or limit are
the riches and treasures which they contain for the en-
dowment of his chosen brides. He can enrich innumer-
able others just as He has enriched my soul, and yet
infinitely more will remain. Although He will give to no
creature as much as He has conferred upon me, it is not
because He is not able or does not wish, but because no
one will dispose himself for his grace as I did. But the
Almighty is most liberal with some souls and enriches
them so munificently, because they impede his gifts less,
and dispose themselves better than others.
85. I desire, my most beloved, that thou place no ob-
stacle to the love of thy Lord ; but I wish, that thou
dispose thyself for the jewels and gifts, intended for thee
in order to make thee worthy of his bridal chamber.
Remember that all the just souls receive this adornment
from his hands, though each one according to the degree
of the friendship and grace, which makes them capable of
receiving them. If thou wishest to attain the highest
purity of that perfection and become worthy of standing
in the presence of thy Lord and Spouse, strive to be
7e CITY OF GOD
robust and strong in love ; and thou knowest, that this is
augmented in the same degree, as mortification and self-
abnegation are practiced. Thou must deny thyself and
forget all earthly things; thou must expel all thy mean-
ings toward thyself and toward visible things, in the
divine love solely thou must increase and advance. Wash
and purify thyself in the blood of thy Redeemer, Christ,
and apply this cleansing many times by renewing thy
loving sorrow for thy sins. Thereby wilt thou find grace
in his eyes and thy beauty will be desired by Him, and all
thy adornments will be full of the greatest perfection and
purity.
86. And as thou hast been so highly favored and dis-
tinguished by the blessings of the Lord, it is just that
thou, more than many generations of men, give thanks
and with incessant praises magnify Him for what, He
has condescended to do for thee. If this vice of ingrati-
tude is so vile and reprehensible in the creatures, who owe
Him little and in their earthliness and coarseness, forget
the benefits of the Lord ; greater will thy guilt be in fall-
ing short of thy obligations. And do not deceive thyself
with the pretext of being humble; for there is a great
difference between thankful humility and humble thank-
lessness. Remember that the Lord very often shows
great favors to the unworthy, in order to manifest his
goodness and munificence. On the contrary let no one
become inflated, but let every one acknowledge so much
the more his unworthiness, using it as a medicine and
treacle against the poison of presumption. But gratitude
will agree with this humble opinion of self, since we must
acknowledge, that every good gift comes from the Father
of lights and cannot ever be merited by creatures
(James 1, 17). All have their source only in his good-
ness, binding us and obliging us to grateful recognition.
CHAPTER VIII.
OUR GREAT QUEEN, IN THE PRESENCE OE THE IX)RD,
PUEADS FOR THE HASTENING OF THE INCARNATION
AND OF THE REDEMPTION OF MAN, AND HIS MAJESTY
YIELDS TO HER PRAYER.
87. The heavenly Princess, most holy Mary, had now
attained such fullness of grace and beauty and the heart
of God was so wounded by her tender affections and
desires (Cant. 4, 9), that He was so to say irresistibly
drawn to begin his flight from the bosom of the eternal
Father to the bridal-chamber of her virginal womb and
end the long delay of more than five thousand years.
Nevertheless, since this new wonder was to be executed in
the plenitude of his wisdom and equity, the Lord arranged
this event in such a way, that the Princess of the heavens
Herself, being the worthy Mother of the incarnate Word,
should at the same time be also the most powerful Media-
trix of his coming and the Redeemer of his people much
more than Esther was of Israel (Esther ch. 7 and 8).
In the heart of most holy Mary burned the flame, which
God himself had enkindled, and without intermission She
prayed for the salvation of the human race. However,
as yet the most humble Lady restrained Herself in
modesty, knowing that on account of the sin of Adam,
the sentence of death and of eternal privation from the
vision of God had been promulgated (Gen. 3, 19),
88. A heavenly strife thus arose in the most pure heart
of Mary between her love and her humility, and, lost in
these sentiments, She repeated many times: "Oh who
shall be able to secure the salvation of my brethren ! Oh
who shall be able to draw from the bosom of the eternal
2-7 77
78 CITY OF GOD
Father his Onlybegotten and make Him a partaker of our
mortahty! Oh who shall oblige Him to give to our
human nature the kiss of his mouth, for which the bride
asks Him! (Cant. 1, 1). But how can we, the children
and descendants of the malefactor, who committed the
crime, ask for this favor? How can we draw Him
toward us, whom our fathers repelled? Oh my Love, if
I could but see Thee at the breasts of thy Mother, the
human nature! (Cant 8, 1). Oh Light of lights, God
of the true God, would that Thou descend, bending down
thy heavens (Ps. 143, 5) and shedding thy light upon
those that live sitting in darkness ! ( Is. 9, 2 ) . Would that
Thou pacify thy Father, and, by thy right hand that is
by his Onlybegotten, hurl the proud Aman, thy enemy,
the devil, from his height ! Who shall be the Mediatrix,
who shall draw from the celestial altar, as with tongs
of gold (Is. 6, 6), that ember of the Divinity, for the
purification of the world, as once did the seraphim, ac-
cording to the word of the prophet Isaias!"
89. This prayer most holy Mary repeated during the
eighth day of her preparation, and at midnight, being
wrapped and entranced in the Lord, She heard his
Majesty responding to Her : "My Spouse and my Dove,
come, my Chosen one, for the common law does not
apply to thee (Esther 15, 13). Thou art exempt from
sin and thou art free from its effects since the moment
of thy Conception. When I gave being to thee, I turned
away from thee the sceptre of my justice and laid upon
thy neck that of my great clemency, in order that the
general edict of sin might not touch thee. Come to Me,
and be not dismayed in the consciousness of thy human
nature; I am He, that raises the humble, and fills with
riches those that are poor. Thou hast Me for thy Friend
and my liberal mercies shall be at thy disposal."
THE INCARNATION 79
90. These words our Queen heard intellectually and,
as in the preceding night, She presently felt Herself
raised by the holy angels bodily to heaven, while in her
stead remained one of the angels of her guard. Again
She ascended to the presence of the Most High, so en-
riched by the treasures of his graces and gifts, so fortu-
nate and beautiful, that She singularly excited the wonder
of the supernal spirits. They broke out in praise of the
Almighty, saying: "Who is this, that ascends from the
desert, overflowing with delights? (Cant. 8, 5). Who is
She, that so attracts and compels her Beloved as to bear
Him with Her to the earthly habitation? Who is She,
that rises as the dawn, more beautiful than the moon,
chosen as the sun? (Cant. 6, 9). How refulgent doth
She rise from the darkness of the earth? How is She
so courageous and strong, being clothed in such fragile
nature? How does She in her strength overcome the
Almighty? And how comes it that the heavens, which
are closed against the children of Adam, are thus thrown
open to this singular Woman, sprung from the same
race?"
91. The Most High received his holy and chosen
Bride, most holy Mary, into his presence. Although this
happened not in an intuitive, but in an abstractive
vision of the Divinity, it was accompanied with incom-
parable favors of light and purification proceeding from
the Lord himself, such as were specially reserved for this
day. For they were so divine, that, in our way of speak-
ing, God himself who wrought them, was astonished and
was charmed with the work of his hand. As if entranced
with love, He spoke to Her and said: "Revertere,
revertere, Sulamitis, ut intueamur te" (Return, return, O
Sulamitess, that We may behold thee). "My Spouse, my
most perfect and beloved Dove, pleasing in my sight,
80 CITY OF GOD
turn and advance toward Us, that We may behold thee
and be charmed by thy beauty. I do not regret to have
created man and I delight in his formation, since thou
hast been born of him. Let my celestial spirits see how
justly I have desired and do desire to choose thee as my
Spouse and the Queen of all the creatures. Let them
see what good reason I have to rejoice in this my bridal
chamber, from whence my Onlybegotten, next to that of
my own bosom, shall derive the greatest glory. Let all
understand, that if I justly repudiated Eve, the first queen
of the earth, on account of her disobedience, I now place
thee and establish thee in the highest dignity, showing my
magnificence and power in dealing with thy purest
humility and self-abasement."
92. This day was for the angels a day of jubilation
and rejoicing greater than any since their creation. And
when the most blessed Trinity thus chose and appointed
his Spouse and Mother of the Word for the Queen and
Lady of the creatures, the holy angels and all the celes-
tial court of Spirits acknowledged and received Her as
their Mistress and Superior, and they sung sweet hymns
of glory in her honor and in praise of her Author. Dur-
ing these hidden and admirable mysteries the heavenly
Queen Mary was absorbed in the abyss of the Divinity
and in the light of his infinite perfections: and thereby
the Lord prevented Her from attending to all that hap-
pened. Thus the sacrament of her Mothership of the
Onlybegotten still remained hidden to Her until the
proper time. Never did the Lord deal in such a manner
with any nation (Ps. 147, 20), nor did He ever show
Himself so great and powerful in any creature, as on
this day in most holy Mary.
93. The Most High added yet other favors, saying to
Her with extreme condescension : "My chosen Spouse,
THE INCARNATION 81
since Thou hast found grace in my eyes, ask of Me with-
out restraint, what thou desirest, and I assure thee, as
the most faithful God and powerful King", that I shall
not reject thy petitions nor deny thee what thou askest."
Our great Princess humiliated Herself profoundly and
relying on the promise and royal word of the Lord, and
inspired with highest confidence. She answered saying:
"My Lord and highest God, if I have found grace in thy
eyes (Gen. 18, 3, 27), although I am dust and ashes, I
will speak in thy divine presence and pour out to Thee
my heart" (Ps. 61, 9). Again his Majesty assured Her
and commanded Her to ask in the presence of all the
heavenly court, for whatever She desired, even if it were
a part of his kingdom (Esther 5, 3). "I do not ask, O
Lord, for a part of thy kingdom in my own behalf,"
answered most holy Mary, "but I ask for the whole of
it for all the race of men, who are my brothers. I be-
seech Thee, highest and powerful King, that according
to thy immense kindness Thou send us thy Onlybegotten
our Redeemer, in order that He may satisfy for the sins
of all the world, that thy people may gain the freedom
so much desired, and that, through the satisfaction thus
rendered to thy justice, peace may be declared among
men upon (Ezech. 34, 25) earth, and that the portals of
heaven, closed by sin, may be thrown open for its in-
habitants. Let all flesh see thy salvation (Is. 52, 10) ;
let peace and justice give each other that close embrace
and the kiss, which David asked for (Ps. 84, 11) ; let us
mortals possess a Teacher, a Guide and a Savior
(Is. 30, 20), a Chief, who shall live and dwell with us
(Baruch. 3, 38). Let the day of thy promises dawn upon
us, O my God, let thy words be fulfilled, and let the
Messias, expected for so many ages, arrive. These are
my anxious desires, and for this do I breathe forth my
82 CITY OF GOD
sighs, since Thou showest to me the condescension of thy
infinite clemency."
94. The highest Lord, who wished to bind Himself
by her prayer, disposed and incited the petitions of his
beloved Spouse; benignly He inclined toward Her and
answered Her with singular clemency : "Pleasing to my
Will are thy requests, and acceptable are thy petitions :
it shall be done as thou askest. I desire, my Daughter
and Spouse, what thou seekest; and as a pledge of this,
I give thee my word and promise thee, that very shortly
my Onlybegotten shall descend to the earth and shall vest
Himself and unite Himself with the human nature. Thus
thy acceptable wishes shall be executed and fulfilled."
95. With this assurance and divine promise our great
Queen Princess felt new enlightenment and security in
her spirit, convincing Her, that the end of that long pro-
tracted and prolix night of sin and of the ancient Law
was approaching and that the brightness of human Re-
demption was about to dawn. And because the rays of
the Sun of Justice, whose dawn was soon to arise from
Her, so closely and so intensely enveloped Her about.
She became Herself the most beautiful aurora, inflamed
and refulgent as it were with the fiery clouds of the
Divinity, which transformed all things within Her. All
afire with love and gratitude for the approaching Re-
demption, She gave unceasing praise to the Lord both
in her own name and in that of all the mortals. In this
occupation She passed that day, after the angels had again
restored Her to the earth. 1 must grieve at my igno-
rance and shortcomings in explaining these so exalted
mysteries; and if learned men and great students can-
not give an adequate explanation of these things, how
shall it be given by a poor and lowly woman ? May my
ignorance be supplemented by the light of Christian
THE INCARNATION 83
charity and my presumption be atoned for by my
obedience.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MOST HOLY MARY, THE QUEEN,
GAVE ME.
96. My dearest daughter, how far removed is worldly
wisdom from the admirable operations of the divine
power in these sacraments of the Incarnation of the
divine Word in my womb! Flesh and blood cannot reach
them, and not the angels and seraphim, though they be
of the highest; nor can they know mysteries so deeply
hidden and so far above the ordinary course of grace.
Praise thou, my beloved, the Lord for them with inces-
sant love and thankfulness. Be thou not any longer
slow in understanding the greatness of his divine love
and his readiness to benefit his friends and dear ones,
whom He desires to elevate from the dust and enrich
in diverse manners. As soon as thou hast penetrated
into this truth, it will oblige thee to thank Him and incite
thee to undertake the great things, that become a most
faithful daughter and spouse.
97. And in order that thou mayest dispose thyself and
be inspired so much the more, I remind thee, that the
Lord often says these same words to his chosen ones :
"Revertere, revertere, ut intueamur te." For He de-
rives just as great pleasure from their deeds, as when
a father rejoices in his beloved and well-behaved son,
whom he looks upon many times with great affection;
or as an artist, when he beholds with pride the perfect
works of his hands; or as a king, who inspects the rich
city, which he has added to his dominions; or as one,
who is pleased with his much beloved friend. There is
only this difference: the Most High finds incomparably
more delight than all these in the souls, which He has
84 CITY OF GOD
chosen for his blessings; and in proportion as they dis-
pose themselves and advance in virtue, the Lord also
multiplies his favors and benefits. If the mortals, that
attain to the light of faith, would enter into this truth,
they would, merely on account of this complacence of
the Almighty in their good deeds, not only preserve
themselves from sin, but they would zealously engage
in great works until death and eagerly show their loving
servitude to Him, who is so liberal in rewarding, and
so generous in his favors.
98. When, on this eighth day which thou hast de-
scribed, the Lord in heaven spoke to me these words:
"Revertere, revertere," asking me to turn toward Him
and allow the celestial spirits to look upon me; I was
made aware, that the pleasure, which his divine Majesty
derived in beholding me, by itself exceeded all the de-
light and complacency, which He ever derived from all
the most saintly souls in the height of their sanctity. In
his gracious condescension He was more pleased in me
than in all the Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins
and all the rest of the saints. And this pleasure and
complacency of the Most High overflowed and enriched
my spirit with such an influx of grace and participation
of the Divinity, that thou canst neither understand nor
explain it as long as thou art in the mortal flesh. But
I tell thee of this hidden mystery, in order that thou
mayest bless its Author, and that, while yet thy exile from
the fatherland continues, thou dispose and exert thyself
in my place and name to extend and reach out thy hands
to great things (Pro v. 31, 19). Give to the Lord the
satisfaction expected of thee, and strive after it, thus
earning his blessings and soliciting them for thyself and
thy neighbor with perfect charity.
CHAPTER IX.
The most high renews all his favors and benefits
IN the most holy MARY AND, AS THE ULTIMATE
PREPARATION FOR THE INCARNATION, MAKES HER
sovereign and queen of all the UNIVERSE.
99. On the last day of the novena of immediate
preparation of the tabernacle (Ps. 45, 5), which He was
to sanctify by his coming, the Most High resolved to
renew his wonders and multiply his tokens of love, re-
peating the favors and benefits which up to this day He
had conferred upon the Princess Mary. But the Al-
mighty chose to work in such a way, that in drawing
forth from his infinite treasures his gifts of old, He al-
ways added thereto such as were new. All of these dif-
ferent kinds of wonders were appropriate to the end He
had in view : lowering his Divinity to the human nature
and raising a woman to the dignity of Mother of God.
In descending to the lowliness of man's estate, God
neither could, nor needed to change his essence: for,
remaining immutable in Himself, He could unite his
Person to our nature; but an earthly woman, in ascend-
ing to such an excellence that God should unite with
Her and become man of her substance, apparently must
traverse an infinite space and be raised so far above other
creatures, as to approach God's infinite being itself.
100. The day had then arrived, in which most holy
Mary was to reach the last stage and be placed so close
to God, as to become his Mother. In that night, at the
hour of greatest silence. She was ag^in called by the
85
86 CITY OF GOD
same Lord as it had happened on the other days. The
humble and prudent Queen responded : "My heart is
prepared (Ps. 107, 2), my Lord and exalted Sovereign:
let thy divine pleasure be fulfilled in me." Immediately
She was, as on the preceding day, borne body and soul
by the hands of her angels to the empyrean and placed
in the presence of the royal throne of the Most High;
and his divine Majesty raised Her up and seated Her
at his side, assigning to Her the position and throne,
which She was to occupy forever in his presence. Next
to the one reserved for the incarnate Word, it was the
highest and the most proximate to God himself; for it
excelled incomparably that of any of the other blessed,
and that of all of them together.
lOL From this position She saw the Divinity by an
abstractive vision, as at other times, and his Majesty,
hiding from Her the dignity of Mother of God, mani-
fested to Her such unusual and such high sacraments,
that on account of their sublimity and my insignificant
capacities, I cannot describe them. Again She saw in
the Divinity all things created and many other possible
and future ones. The corporeal things God manifested
and made known to Her by corporeal and sensible images,
as if they had been presented to her ocular vision. The
fabric of the universe, which before this She had known
in parts, now appeared to Her in its entirety, distinctly
pictured as upon canvas, with all the creatures contained
therein. She saw the harmony, order, connection and
dependence of each toward each, and of the divine will,
which had created them, governs and preserves them,
each in its place and mode of existence. Again She
saw all the heavens and the stars, the elements, and
those that lived in them, purgatory, limbo, hell and all
the occupants of these caverns. Just as the position of
THE INCARNATION 87
the Queen of creation was above all creatures and in-
ferior only to that of God, so also the knowledge given
to Her was superior to that of all created things being
inferior only to that of the Lord.
102. While thus the heavenly Lady was lost in ad-
miration of what the Almighty showed to Her, and was
wrapped in praise and exaltation of the Lord, his Ma-
jesty spoke to Her and said : "My chosen Dove, all the
visible creatures, which thou beholdest, I have created
and preserved in all their variety and beauty by my
Providence, solely for the love of men. And from all
the souls, which I have until now created and which
are predestined to be created unto the end, I shall choose
and select the congregation of the faithful, who shall be
set apart and washed in the blood of the Lamb in the
Redemption of the world. They shall be the special fruit
of his Redemption, and they shall enjoy its blessings
through the new law of grace and the sacraments to be
instituted by the Redeemer; and afterwards those that
persevere shall partake of my eternal glory and friend-
ship. For these chosen ones I have primarily created
these wonderful works! and if all of them would strive
to serve Me, adore and acknowledge my holy name; as
far as I am concerned, I would for each and every one of
them create these great treasures and assign all over to
them as their possession.
103. "And if I had created only one being capable of
my grace and glory, I would have made it the lord and
master of all creation ; for this would be a much smaller
favor than to make it partaker of my friendship and of
eternal happiness. Thou, my Spouse, shalt be my chosen
One and thou hast found grace in my sight ; and there-
fore I make thee Mistress of all these goods and I give
thee dominion and possession of them all, so that, if
88 CITY OF GOD
thou art a faithful spouse according to my wishes, thou
mayest distribute and dispose of them according as thou
desirest and according as thy intercession shall direct;
for this is the purpose, for which they are given into thy
possession." Therewith the most blessed Trinity placed
a crown on the head of our Princess Mary, consecrat-
ing Her as the sovereign Queen of all creation. Upon it
was spread and enameled the inscription: Mother of
God; but its meaning was not known to Her at this
time. The heavenly spirits, however, knew it and they
were filled with admiration at the magnificence of the
Lord toward this Maiden, most fortunate and blessed
among womankind. They revered and honored Her as
their legitimate Queen and as Sovereign of all creation.
104. All these portents of love the right hand of the
Most High wrought according to the order most befit-
ting his infinite wisdom; for before coming down to
assume flesh in the virginal womb of this Lady, it was
proper that all his courtiers should acknowledge his
Mother as their Queen and Mistress, and give Her due
honor as such. It was certainly proper and just that God
should first make Her Queen before making Her
Mother of the Prince of eternities; for She that was to
bear a Prince, must necessarily first be a Queen and be
acknowledged as Queen by her vassals. That the angels
should know Her as Mother, was not improper, nor was
there any necessity of concealing it from them. But on
the other hand it seemed due to the majesty of the Di-
vinity, that the tabernacle chosen for his indwelling
should appear before them prepared and adorned with
all that was highest in dignity and perfection, in nobility
and magnificence to the full extent, in which it was pos-
sible. Thus then, was She presented to the holy angels.
THE INCARNATION 89
and recognized by them, as their honored Queen and
Lady.
105. In order to put the last touch to this prodigious
work of preparing the most holy Mary, the Lord ex-
tended his powerful arm and expressly renewed the
spirit and the faculties of the great Lady, giving Her
new incHnations, habits and qualities, the greatness and
excellence of which are inexpressible in terrestrial terms.
It was the finishing act and the final retouching of the
living image of God, in order to form, in it and of it,
the very shape, into which the eternal Word, the essen-
tial image of the eternal Father (II Cor. 4, 4) and the
figure of his substance (Heb. 1, 3), was to be cast. Thus
the whole temple of most holy Mary, more so than that
of Solomon, was covered with the purest gold of the
Divinity inside and out, (III Kings, 6, 30), so that no-
where could be seen in Her any grossness of an earthly
daughter of Adam. Her entire being was made to
shine forth the Divinity; for since the divine Word was
to issue from the bosom of the eternal Father to descend
to that of Mary, He provided for the greatest possible
similarity between the Mother and the Father.
106. No words at my disposal could ever suffice to
describe as I would wish, the effects of these favors in
the heart of our great Queen and Mistress. Human
thought cannot conceive them, how then can human
words express them? But what has caused the greatest
wonder in me, when I considered these things in the
ligiht given to me, is the humility of this heavenly
Woman and the mutual contest between her humility and
the divine power. Rare and astonishing prodigy of hu-
mility, to see this Maiden, most holy Mary, though
raised to the supremest dignity and holiness next to God,
yet humiliating Herself and debasing Herself below the
90 ^" CITY OF GOD
meanest of the creatures; so that, by the force of this
humihty, no thought of her being destined for the Moth-
ership of the Messias could find entrance into her mind !
And not only this: She did not even have a suspicion of
anything great or admirable in Herself (Ps. 130, 1).
Her eyes and heart were not elated ; on the contrary the
higher She ascended by the operation of the right hand
of her God, so much the more lowly were her thoughts
concerning Herself. It was therefore just, that the Al-
mighty should look upon her humility (Luke 1, 48), and
that therefore all generations should call her fortunate
and blessed.
INSTRUCTION WHICH ThE^ QUEEN AND MISTRESS OE
HEAVEN GAVE ME.
107. My daughter, the soul that has only a selfish and
servile love is not a worthy spouse of the Most High,
for she must not love or fear like a slave, nor is she sup-
posed to serve for her daily wages. Yet although her
heart must be a filial and generous love on account of
the excellence and immense goodness of her Spouse, she
must nevertheless also feel herself much bounden to
Him, when she considers how rich and liberal He is;
how, on account of his love for souls, He has created
such a variety of visible goods in order that they might
serve those who serve Him; and especially, when she
considers how many hidden treasures He has in readi-
ness in the abundance of his sweetness (Ps. 30, 20) for
those that fear Him as his true children. I wish that
thou feel deeply obliged to thy Lord and Father, thy
Spouse and Friend, at the thought of the riches given
to those souls, who become his dearest children. For,
as a powerful Father, He holds in readiness these great
THE INCARNATION 91
and manifold gifts for his children, and if necessary, all
of his gifts for each one of them in particular. In the
midst of such motives and incentives of love the disaf-
fection of men is inexcusable, and at the sight of so
many blessings, given without measure, their ingratitude
is unpardonable.
108. Remember, also, my dearest, that thou wast no
foreigner, or stranger in this house of the Lord, his
holy Church (Ephes. 2, 19) ; but thou wast made a do-
mestic and a spouse of Christ among the saints, favored
by his gifts and by the dowry of a bride. Since all the
treasures and riches of the bridegroom belong to the
legitimate spouse, consider of how great possessions He
makes thee participant and mistress. Enjoy them all,
then, as his domestic, and be zealous for his honor as a
much-favored daughter and spouse; thank Him for all
these works and benefits, as if they had all been pre-
pared for thee alone by the Lord, Love and reverence
Him for thyself and for all thy neighbors, to whom God
has been so liberal. In all this imitate, with thy weak
faculties, that which thou hast understood of what I
have done. I assure thee also, daughter, that it will be
very pleasing to me, if thou magnify and praise the Om-
nipotent with fervent affection, for the favors and riches
which, beyond all human conception, the divine right
hand showered upon me.
CHAPTER X.
THE BLESSED TRINITY SENDS THE ARCHANGEL GABRIEL
AS A MESSENGER TO ANNOUNCE TO MOST HOLY MARY
THAT SHE IS CHOSEN AS THE MOTHER OE GOD.
109. For infinite ages had been appointed the con-
venient hour and time, in which the great mystery of
piety (I Tim. 3, 16), which was approved by the Spirit^
prophesied to men, foretold to the angels, and expected
in the world, was to be drawn from the hidden recesses of
the divine wisdom in order to be appropriately mani-
fested in the flesh. The plenitude of time (Gal. 4, 4)
had arrived, that time which until then, although filled
with prophecies and promises, was nevertheless void and
empty. For it wanted- the fullness of the most holy
Mary, by whose will and consent all the ages were to
receive their complement, namely the eternal Word
made flesh, capable of suffering and redeeming man.
Before all ages this mystery was prearranged in such a
way, that it should be fulfilled through the mediation
of this heavenly Maiden. Since now She existed in the
world the Redemption of man and the coming of the
Onlybegotten of the Father was not longer to be de-
layed. For now He would not need to come and live
as if by sufferance merely in tents (H Kings 7, 6) or
in a strange house; but He could enjoy a free welcome
as in His temple and as in his own house, one that had
been built and enriched at his own preordained expense,
more so than the temple of Solomon at the expense of
his father David (I Par. 22, 5).
92
THE INCARNATION 93,
110. In this predetermined time then the Most HigH
resolved to send his onlybegotten Son into the world.
And comparing, (according to our way of understand-
ing and speaking), the decrees of his eternity with the
prophecies and testimonies made to man from the be-
ginning of the world, and all this together with the po-
sition of sanctity to which He had raised most holy Mary,
He judged that all the circumstances were favorable for
the exaltation of his holy name, and that the execution
of his eternal will and decree should be made manifest to
the angels and be commenced by them. His Majesty-
spoke to the archangel Gabriel in such words or lan-
guage as He was accustomed to use in intimating his
will to the holy angels. Although God usually illumines
the holy spirits by commencing with the higher angels,
who in turn purify and illumine the others in their order
down to the least among them, thus making known the
revelations of the Divinity; yet on this occasion this
usage was not maintained, for the holy archangel re-
ceived his message immediately from the mouth of God.
111. At the bidding of the divine will the holy Ga-
briel presented himself at the foot of the throne intent
upon the immutable essence of the Most High. His Ma-
jesty then expressly charged him with the message,
which he was to bring to the most holy Mary and in-
structed him in the very words with which he was to
salute and address Her. Thus the first Author of the
message was God himself, who formed the exact words in
his divine mind, and revealed them to the holy archangel
for transmission to the most pure Mary. At the same
time the Lord revealed to the holy prince Gabriel many
hidden sacraments concerning the Incarnation. The
blessed Trinity commanded him to betake himself to the
heavenly Maiden and announce to Her, that the Lord
2-8
94 CITY OF GOD
had chosen Her among women to be the Mother of the
eternal Word, that She should conceive Him in her vir-
ginal womb through operation of the Holy Ghost with-
out injury to her virginity. In this and in all the rest
of the message, which he was to declare and manifest to
this great Queen and Mistress, the archangel was in-
structed by the blessed Trinity itself.
112. Thereupon his Majesty announced to all the
other angels that the time of the Redemption had come
and that He had commanded it to be brought to the
world without delay ; for already, in their own presence,
the most holy Mary had been prepared and adorned to
be his Mother, and had been exalted to the supreme dig-
nity. The heavenly spirits heard the voice of their Crea-
tor, and with incomparable joy and thanksgiving for the
fulfillment of his eternal and perfect will, they intoned
new canticles of praise, repeating therein that hymn of
Sion : "Holy, holy, holy art thou, God and Lord Sabaoth
(Is. 6, 3). Just and powerful art Thou, Lord our God,
who livest in the highest (Ps. 112, 5) and lookest upon
the lowly of the earth. Admirable are all thy works,
most high and exalted in thy designs."
113. The supernal prince Gabriel, obeying with sin-
gular delight the divine command and accompanied by
many thousands of most beautiful angels in visible forms,
descended from the highest heaven. The appearance of
the great prince and legate was that of a most hand-
some youth of rarest beauty; his face emitted resplen-
dent rays of light, his bearing was grave and majestic,
his advance measured, his motions composed, his words
weighty and powerful, his whole presence displayed a
pleasing, kindly gravity and more of godlike qualities
than all the other angels until then seen in visible form
by the heavenly Mistress. He wore a diadem of exqui-
THE INCARNATION 95
site splendor and his vestments glowed in various colors
full of refulgent beauty. Enchased on his breast, he
bore a most beautiful cross, disclosing the mystery of
the Incarnation, which He had come to announce. All
these circumstances were calculated to rivet the affec-
tionate attention of the most prudent Queen.
114. The whole of this celestial army with their
princely leader holy Gabriel directed their flight to Naz-
areth, a town of the province of Galilee, to the dwelling
place of most holy Mary. This was an humble cottage
and her chamber was a narrow room, bare of all those
furnishings which are wont to be used by the world in
order to hide its own meanness and want of all higher
goods. The heavenly Mistress was at this time fourteen
years, six months and seventeen days of age; for her
birthday anniversary fell on the eighth of September and
six months seventeen days had passed since that date,
when this greatest of all mysteries ever performed
by God in this world, was enacted in Her.
115. The bodily shape of the heavenly Queen was
well proportioned and taller than is usual with other
maidens of her age ; yet extremely elegant and perfect in
all its parts. Her face was rather more oblong than
round, gracious and beautiful, without leanness or gross-
ness; its complexion clear, yet of a slightly brownish
hue ; her forehead spacious yet symmetrical ; her eye-
brows perfectly arched ; her eyes large and serious, of
incredible and ineffable beauty and dovelike sweetness,
dark in color with a mixture tending toward green; her
nose straight and well shaped; her mouth small, with
red-colored lips, neither too thin nor too thick. All the
gifts of nature in Her were so symmetrical and beautiful,
tjiat no other human being ever had the like. To look
upon Her caused feelings at the same time of joy and
96 CITY OF GOD
seriousness, love and reverential fear. She attracted the
heart and yet restrained it in sweet reverence ; her beauty
impelled the tongue to sound her praise, and yet her
grandeur and her overwhelming" perfections and graces
hushed it to silence. In all that approached Her, She
caused divine effects not easily explained ; She filled the
heart with heavenly influences and divine operations,
tending toward the Divinity.
116. Her garments were humble and poor, yet clean,
of a dark silvery hue, somewhat like the color of ashes,
and they were arranged and worn without pretense, but
with the greatest modesty and propriety. At the time
when, without her noticing it, the embassy of heaven
drew high unto Her, She was engaged in the highest
contemplation concerning the mysteries which the Lord
had renewed in Her by so many favors during the nine
preceding days. And since, as we have said above, the
Lord himself had assured Her that his Onlybegotten
would soon descend to assume human form, this great
Queen was full of fervent and joyful affection in the ex-
pectation of its execution and inflamed with humble love,
She spoke in her heart: "Is it possible that the blessed
time has arrived, in which the Word of the eternal
Father is to be born and to converse with men? (Baruch
10, 38) . That the world should possess Him ? That men
are to see Him in the flesh ? (Is. 40. 5). That his inacces-
sible light is to shine forth to illumine those who sit in
darkness? (Is. 9, 2). O, who shall be worthy to see and
know Him! O, who shall be allowed to kiss the earth
touched by his feet!"
117. "Rejoice, ye heavens, and console thyself, O
earth (Ps. 95, 11); let all things bless and extol Him,
since already his eternal happiness is nigh ! O children of
Adam, afflicted with sin, and yet creatures of my Be-
THE INCARNATION 97
loved, now shall you raise your heads and throw off the
yoke of your ancient servitude! (Is. 14, 25). O, ye an-
cient Forefathers and Prophets, and all ye just, that are
detained in limbo and are waiting in the bosom of Abra-
ham, now shall you be consoled and your much desired
and long promised Redeemer shall tarry no longer! (Agg,
2, 8). Let us all magnify Him and sing to Him hymns
of praise! O who shall be the slave of Her, whom
Isaias points out as his Mother (Is. 7, 4) ; O Emmanuel,
true God and Man ! O key of David, who art to unlock
heaven! (Is. 22, 22). O eternal Wisdom! O Lawgiver
of the new Church ! Come, come to us, O Lord, and end
the captivity of thy people; let all flesh see thy salva-
tion!" (Is. 40, 5).
118. In these petitions and aspirations, and in many
more too deep for my tongue to explain, the most holy
Mary was engaged at the hour, when the holy angel
Gabriel arrived. She was most pure in soul, most per-
fect in body, most noble in her sentiments, most exalted
in sanctity, full of grace and so deified and pleasing in
the sight of God, that She was fit to be his Mother and
an instrument adapted for drawing Him from the bosom
of the Father to her virginal womb. She was the power-
ful means of our Redemption and to Her we owe it on
many accounts. And therefore it is just, that all gen-
erations and nations shall bless and forever extol Her
(Luke 1, 48). What happened at the entrance of the
heavenly embassy, I will relate in the following chapter.
1 19. I wish only to state here a fact worthy of admira-
tion, that for the reception of the message of the arch-
angel and for the execution of the exalted mystery,
which was to be wrought in the heavenly Lady by her
consent, his Majesty left Her without any other aid than
the resources of her common human nature and those
98 CITY OF GOD
furnished Her by the faculties and virtues of her ordi-
nary condition, such as have been described in the first
part of this history (Part I, 674-714). The Most High
disposed it thus, because this mystery was to be enacted
as a sacrament of faith conjointly with hope and char-
ity. And therefore the Lord provided Her with no spe-
cial aid, leaving Her to her belief and hope in his divine
promises. Thus prepared She experienced what I shall
try to relate in my inadequate and limited terms. The
greatness of these sacraments makes my ability to ex-
plain them appear so much the more insufficient
INSTRUCTION OF THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN.
120. My daughter, with special affection I manifest
to thee now my will and desire that thou make thyself
worthy of the intimate and familiar converse with God,
and that for this purpose thou dispose thyself with great
zeal and solicitude, weeping over thy sins, and forgetting
and rejecting all the visible things, so that thou have no
thought henceforth for any other thing outside of God.
Therefore thou must begin to practice all that I have
taught thee until now, and whatever I will yet teach
thee in the balance of this history. I will accompany
thee and guide thee on the course with which thou must
maintain in this familiar intercourse and in regard to
the favors, which thou receivest through his condescen-
sion, entertaining Him in thy heart by means of the
faith, light and grace given to thee. If thou dost not
first conform to this my admonition, and prepare thy-
self accordingly, thou wilt not reach the fulfillment of
thy desires, nor shall I reap the fruit of my instruc-
tions, which I give to thee as thy Teacher.
121. Since thou has found, without any merit of
THE INCARNATION 99
thine, the hidden treasure and the precious pearl of my
teachings and instruction (Matth. 13, 44), despise all
other things, in order to possess and secure for thyself
this prize of inestimable value; for with it thou shalt
receive all other goods and thou wilt make thyself
worthy of the intimate friendship of the Lord and of
his perpetual indwelling in your heart. In exchange for
this great blessing, I desire that thou die to all earthly
things and that thou offer the thankful love of an en-
tirely purified will. In imitation of me be thou so
humble, that as far as thou art concerned, thou be per-
suaded and convinced of thy entire worthlessness and in-
capability, not meriting to be considered even as a slave
of the servants of Christ.
122. Remember, I was far from imagining, that the
Most High had designed me for the dignity of Mother
of God; and this was my state of mind although He
had already promised his speedy coming into the world
and although He had commanded me to desire after
Him with such great affection, that on the day before
the execution of this mystery I thought I would die and
my heart would burst with loving sighs, if the divine
Providence had not comforted me. He dilated my spirit
with the firm hope, that the Onlybegotten of the eternal
Father would descend from heaven without delay; yet
on the other hand, my humility inclined me to fear, lest
my presence in the world might perhaps retard his com-
ing. Contemplate then, my beloved, this secret of my
breast, and what an example it is for thee and for all the
mortals. And since it is difficult for thee to understand
and describe such high wisdom, look upon me in the
Lord, in order that by his divine light, thou mayest
mediate and comprehend the perfection of my actions;
follow me by imitating me, and walk in my footsteps.
CHAPTER XL
MARY LISTENS TO THE MESSAGE OE THE HOLY ANGEL;
THE MYSTERY OE THE INCARNATION IS ENACTED BY
THE CONCEPTION OE THE ETERNAL WORD IN HER
WOMB.
123. I wish to confess before heaven and earth and
its inhabitants, and in the presence of the Creator of the
universe and the eternal God, that in setting myself to
write of the profound mystery of the Incarnation, my
feeble strength deserts me, my tongue is struck mute,
my discourse is silenced, my faculties are benumbed, my
understanding is eclipsed and overwhelmed by the divine
light, which guides and instructs me. In it all is per-
ceived without error and without any deviousness; I see
my insignificance and I am made aware of the empti-
ness of words and the insufficiency of human terms for
doing justice to my concepts of this sacrament, which
comprehends at one and the same time God himself and
the greatest and most wonderful work of his Omnipo-
tence. I see in this mystery the divine and admirable
harmony of his infinite providence and wisdom, with
which from all eternity He has ordained and prearranged
it, and by which He directed all creation toward its ful-
fillment. All his works and all his creatures were only
well adjusted means of advancing toward this apex of
his aims, the condescension of a God in assuming human
nature.
124. I saw that the eternal Word had awaited and
chosen, as the most opportune time and hour for his
100
THE INCARNATION 101
descent from the bosom of the Father, the midnight of
mortal perversion (Wis. 18, 14), when the whole pos-
terity of Adam was buried and absorbed in the sleep of
forgetfulness and ignorance of their true God, and when
there was no one to open his mouth in confessing and
blessing Him, except some chosen souls among his
people. All the rest of the world was lost in silent dark-
ness, having passed a protracted night of five thousand
and about two hundred years. Age had succeeded age,
and generations followed upon generations, each one in
the time predestined and decreed by the eternal Wisdom,
each also having an opportunity to know and find Him,
its Creator; for all had Him so nigh to them, that He
gave them life, movement and existence within their own
selves (Acts 17, 28). But as the clear day of his inac-
cessible light had not arrived, though some of the mor-
tals, like the blind, came nigh to Him and touched Him
in his creatures, yet they did not attain to the Divinity
(Rom. 1, 23) and in failing to recognize Him, they cast
themselves upon the sensible and most vile things of the
earth.
125. The day then had arrived in which the Most
High, setting aside the long ages of this dark ignorance,
resolved to manifest Himself to men and begin the Re-
demption of the human race by assuming their nature
in the womb of most holy Mary, now prepared for this
event. In order to be able to describe what was revealed
concerning this event to me, it is necessary to make men-
tion of some hidden sacraments connected with the de-
scent of the Onlybegotten from the bosom of the Fa-
ther. I assume as firmly established what the holy faith
teaches in regard to the divine Persons, that although
there is a real personal distinction between the three Per-
sons, yet there is no inequality in wisdom, omnipotence or
102 CITY OF GOD
other attributes, just as little as there is in the divine
nature; and just as They are equal in dignity and in-
finite perfection, so They are also equal in these opera-
tions ad extra, which proceed from God himself for the
production of some creature or temporal object. These
operations are indivisibly wrought by three divine Per-
sons; for not one Person alone produces them, but all
Three in so far as They are one and the same God, pos-
sessing one and the same wisdom, one and the same
understanding and will. Thus what the Son knows and
wishes, that also the Father knows and wishes; and so
also the Holy Ghost knows and wishes whatever is
known and willed by the Father and the Son.
126. In this indivisibility of action the three Persons
wrought and executed, by one and the same act, the mys-
tery of the Incarnation, although only the person of the
Son accepted for Himself the nature of man, uniting it
to Himself hypostatically. Therefore we say that the
Son was sent by the eternal Father, from whose intelli-
gence He proceeds, and that the Father sent Him by the
intervening operations of the Holy Ghost. As it was
the Person of the Son which came to be made man, this
same Person before descending from the heavens and
the bosom of the Father, in the name of that same hu-
manity to be received by Him, made a conditional re-
quest, that, on account of his foreseen merits, his salva-
tion and satisfaction of the divine justice for sins be ex-
tended to the whole human race. He desired the -fiat or
ratification of the most blessed will of the Father, who
sent Him, for the acceptance of this Redemption by
means of his most holy works and his passion, and
through the mysteries, which He was to enact in the
new Church and in the law of grace.
127. The eternal Father accepted this petition and the
THE INCARNATION 103
foreseen merits of the Word; He conceded all that was
proposed and asked for the mortals, and He himself
confirmed the elect and predestined souls as the inheri-
tance and possession of Christ forever. Hence, Christ
himself, our Lord, through saint John says that He has
not lost nor has allowed to perish, those whom the
Father had given him (John 18, 9). In another place it
is said : that no one shall snatch his sheep from his hands
nor from those of his Father (John 17, 12). The same
would hold good of all those that are born, if they would
avail themselves of the Redemption, which, as it is suffi-
cient, should also b6 efficacious for all and in all ; since
his divine mercy desired to exclude no one, if only all of
them would make themselves capable of receiving its
benefits through the Redeemer.
128. All this, according to our way of understanding,
happened in heaven at the throne of the most blessed
Trinity as a prelude to the £at of the most holy Mary, of
which I will presently speak. At the moment, in which
the Onlybegotten of the Father descended to her virginal
womb, all the heavens and the creatures were set in com-
motion. On account of the inseparable union of the di-
vine Persons, the Three of Them descended with the
Word, though the Word alone was to become incarnate.
And with the Lord their God, all the hosts of the celes-
tial army, issued from heaven, full of invincible strength
and splendor. Although it was not necessary to pre-
pare the way, since the Divinity fills the universe, is
present in all places and cannot be impeded by anything;
nevertheless all the eleven material heavens showed
deference to their Creator, and, together with the in-
ferior elements, opened up and parted as it were, for his
passage; the stars shone with greater brilliancy, the
moon and sun with the planets hastened their course in
104 CITY OF GOD
the service of their Maker, anxious to witness the great-
est of his wonderful works.
129. Mortals did not perceive this commotion and re-
newal of all the creatures ; both because it happened dur-
ing the night, as well as because the Lord wished it to
be known only to the angels. These with new wonder
praised Him, knowing these profound and venerable
mysteries to be hidden from men. For they knew that
men were far removed from understanding these won-
derful benefits, so admirable even in the eyes of angelic
spirits. To these angelic spirits alone was at that time
assigned the duty of giving glory, praise and reverence
for these benefits to their Maker. However, in the
hearts of some of the just the Most High infused at that
hour a new feeling and affection of extraordinary joy
of which they became conscious. They conceived new
and grand ideas concerning the Lord; some of them
were inspired and began to confer within themselves,
whether this new sensation, which they felt, was not the
effect of the coming of the Messias in order to redeem
the world; but all this remained concealed, for each one
thought, that he alone had experienced this renewal of
his interior.
130. In the other creatures there was a like renovation
and change. The birds moved about with new songs
and joyousness; the plants and trees gave forth more
fruit and fragrance; and in like proportion all the rest
of the creatures received and felt some kind of vivifying
change. But among those that received the greatest
share, were the Fathers and Saints in limbo, whither the
archangel Michael was sent with the glad message, in
order to console them and cause in them the fullness
of jubilee and praise. Only for hell it was a cause of
new consternation and grief; for at the descent of the
THE INCARNATION 105
eternal Word from on high, the demons felt an impet-
uous force of the divine power, which came upon them
like the waves of the sea and buried all of them in the
deepest caverns of their darkness without leaving them
any strength of resistance or recovery. When by divine
permission they were again able to rise, they poured
forth upon the world and hastened about to discover
what strange happening had thus undone them. How-
ever, although they held several conferences among them-
selves, they were unable to find the cause.
The divine Power concealed from them the sacra-
ment of the Incarnation and the manner in which most
holy Mary conceived the incarnate Word (No. 326).
Not until the death of Christ on the cross did they arrive
at the certainty, that He was God and true man, as we
shall there relate.
131. In order that the mystery of the Most High
might be fulfilled, the holy archangel Gabriel, in the
shape described in the preceding chapter and accom-
panied by innumerable angels in visible human forms
and resplendent with incomparable beauty, entered into
the chamber, where most holy Mary was praying. It
was on a Thursday at six o'clock in the evening and at
the approach of night. The great modesty and restraint
of the Princess of heaven did not permit Her to look at
him more than was necessary to recognize him as an
angel of the Lord. Recognizing him as such, She, in
her usual humility, wished to do him reverence; the holy
prince would not allow it; on the contrary he himself
bowed profoundly as before his Queen and Mistress, in
whom he adored the heavenly mysteries of his Creator.
At the same time he understood that from that day on
the ancient times and the custom of old whereby men
should worship angels, as Abraham had done (Gen. 28,
106 CITY OF GOD
2), were changed. For as human nature was raised to
the dignity of God himself in the person of the Word,
men now held the position of adopted children, of com-
panions and brethren of the angels, as the angel said to
Evangelist Saint John, when he refused to be wor-
shipped (Apoc. 19, 10).
132. The holy archangel saluted our and his Queen
and said : "Ave gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta
tu in mulieribus" (Luke 1, 28). Hearing this new sal-
utation of the angel, this most humble of all creatures
was disturbed, but not confused in mind (Luke 1, 29).
This disturbance arose from two causes: first, from her
humility, for She thought Herself the lowest of the crea-
tures and thus in her humility, was taken unawares at
hearing Herself saluted and called the "Blessed among
women;" secondly, when She heard this salute and be-
gan to consider within Herself how She should receive
it. She was interiorly made to understand by the Lord,
that He chose Her for his Mother, and this caused a still
greater perturbance, having such an humble opinion of
Herself. On account of this perturbance the angel pro-
ceeded to explain to Her the decree of the Lord, saying :
"Do not fear, Mary, for thou hast found grace before
the Lord (Luke 1, 30) ; behold thou shalt conceive a
Son in thy womb, and thou shalt give birth to Him, and
thou shalt name Him Jesus; He shall be great, and He
shall be called Son of the Most High," and the rest as
recorded of the holy archangel.
133. Our most prudent and humble Queen alone,
among all the creatures, was sufficiently intelligent and
magnanimous to estimate at its true value such a new
and unheard of sacrament; and in proportion as She
realized its greatness, so She was also moved with ad-
miration. But She raised her humble heart to the Lord»
THE INCARNATION 107
who could not refuse Her any petition, and in the secret
of her spirit She asked new light and assistance by which
to govern Herself in such an arduous transaction; for,
as we have said in the preceding chapter, the Most High,
in order to permit Her to act in this mystery solely in
faith, hope and charity, left Her in the common state
and suspended all other kinds of favors and interior ele-
vations, which She so frequently or continually enjoyed.
In this disposition She replied and said to holy Gabriel,
what is written in saint Liike: "How shall this happen,
that I conceive and bear; since I know not, nor can
know, man ?" At the same time She interiorly represented
to the Lord the vow of chastity, which She had made
and the espousal, which his Majesty had celebrated with
Her.
134. The holy prince Gabriel replied (Luke 1, 24) :
"Lady, it is easy for the divine power to make Thee a
Mother without the co-operation of man ; the Holy Spirit
shall remain with Thee by a new presence and the virtue
of the Most High shall overshadow Thee, so that the
Holy of holies can be born of Thee, who shall himself
be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisa-
beth has likewise conceived a son in her sterile years
and this is the sixth month of her conception ; for noth-
ing is impossible with God. He that can make her con-
ceive, who was sterile, can bring it about, that Thou,
Lady, be his Mother, still preserving thy virginity and
enhancing thy purity. To the Son whom Thou shalt
bear, God will give the throne of his father David and
his reign shall be everlasting in the house of Jacob. Thou
art not ignorant, O Lady, of the prophecy of Isaias (Is.
7, 14), that a Virgin shall conceive and shall bear a son,
whose name shall be Emmanuel, God with us. This
prophecy is infallible and it shall be fulfilled in thy per-
108 CITY OF GOD
son. Thou knowest also of the great mystery of the
bush, which Moses saw burning without its being con-
sumed by the fire (Exod. 3, 2). This signified that the
two natures, divine and human, are to be united in such
a manner, that the latter is not consumed by the divine,
and that the Mother of the Messias shall conceive and
give birth without violation of her virginal purity. Re-
member also, Lady, the promise of the eternal God to
the Patriarch Abraham, that, after the captivity of his
posterity for four generations, they should return to
this land ; the mysterious signification of which was, that
in this, the fourth generation,* the incarnate God is to
rescue the whole race of Adam through thy co-operation
from the oppression of the devil (Gen. 15, 16). And
the ladder, which Jacob saw in his sleep (Gen. 28, 12),
was an express figure of the royal way, which the eternal
Word was to open up and by which the mortals are to
ascend to heaven and the angels to descend to earth.
To this earth the Onlybegotten of the Father shall lower
Himself in order to converse with men and communicate
to them the treasures of his Divinity, imparting to them
his virtues and his immutable and eternal perfections."
135. With these and many other words the ambassa-
dor of heaven instructed the most holy Mary, in order
that, by the remembrance of the ancient promises and
prophecies of holy Writ, by the reliance and trust in
them and in the infinite power of the Most High, She
might overcome her hesitancy at the heavenly message.
But as the Lady herself exceeded the angels in wisdom,
prudence and in all sanctity. She withheld her answer,
*In the autograph manuscript Mary o£ Agreda explains this fourth genera-
tion as follows:
"The mystery of this fourth generation is that there are four generations:
ist, that of Adam without a father or mother; 2nd, that of Eve without a mother;
3rd, of our own, from a father and mother; 4th, that of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from a Mother without a father."
THE INCARNATION 109
in order to be able to give it in accordance with the
divine will and that it might be worthy of the greatest
of all the mysteries and sacraments of the divine power.
She reflected that upon her answer depended the pledge
of the most blessed Trinity, the fulfillment of his prom-
ises and prophecies, the most pleasing and acceptable of
all sacrifices, the opening of the gates of paradise, the
victory and triumph over hell, the Redemption of all the
human race, the satisfaction of the divine justice, the
foundation of the new law of grace, the glorification of
men, the rejoicing of the angels, and whatever was con-
nected with the Incarnation of the Onlybegotten of the
Father and his assuming the form of servant in her
virginal womb (Philip 2, 7).
136. A great wonder, indeed, and worthy of our ad-
miration, that all these mysteries and whatever others
they included, should be intrusted by the Almighty to
an humble Maiden and made dependent upon her fiat.
But befittingly and securely He left them to the wise and
strong decision of this courageous Woman (Prov. 31,
11), since She would consider them with such mag-
nanimity and nobility, that perforce his confidence in Her
was not misplaced. The operations, which proceed
within the divine Essence, depend not on the co-opera-
tion of creatures, for they have no part in them and God
could not expect such co-operations for executing the
works ad intra; but in the works ad extra and such as
were contingent, among which that of becoming man
was the most exalted, Pie could not proceed without the
co-operation of most holy Mary and without her free
consent. For He wished to reach this acme of all the
works outside Himself in Her and through Her and He
wished that we should owe this benefit to this Mother of
wisdom and our Reparatrix.
2-9
110 CITY OF GOD
137. Therefore this great Lady considered and in-
spected profoundly this spacious field of the dignity of
Mother of God (Prov. 21, 11) in order to purchase it
by her Hat; She clothed Herself in fortitude more than
human, and She tasted and saw how profitable was this
enterprise and commerce with the Divinity. She com-
prehended the ways of his hidden benevolence and
adorned Herself with fortitude and beauty. And hav-
ing conferred with Herself and with the heavenly mes-
senger Gabriel about the grandeur of these high and
divine sacraments, and finding Herself in excellent con-
dition to receive the message sent to Her, her purest
soul was absorbed and elevated in admiration, reverence
and highest intensity of divine love. By the intensity of
these movements and supernal affections, her most pure
heart, as it were by natural consequence, was contracted
and compressed with such force, that it distilled three
drops of her most pure blood, and these, finding their
way to the natural place for the act of conception, were
formed by the power of the divine and holy Spirit, into
the body of Christ our Lord. Thus the matter, from
which the most holy humanity of the Word for our Re-
demption is composed, was furnished and administered
by the most pure heart of Mary and through the sheer
force of her true love. At the same moment, with a
humility never sufficiently to be extolled, inclining
slightly her head and joining her hands. She pro-
nounced these words, which were the beginning of our
salvation: "Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum" (Luke
1,31).
138. At the pronouncing of this "fiat," so sweet to
the hearing of God and so fortunate for us, in one in-
stant, four things happened. First, the most holy body
of Christ our Lord was formed from the three drops of
THE INCARNATION 111
blood furnished by the heart of most holy Mary. Sec-
ondly, the most holy soul of the same Lord was created,
just as the other souls. Thirdly, the soul and the body
united in order to compose his perfect humanity.
Fourthly, the Divinity united Itself in the Person of the
Word with the humanity, which together became one
composite being in hypostatical union; and thus was
formed Christ true God and Man, our Lord and Re-
deemer. This happened in springtime on the twenty-
fifth of March, at break or dawning of the day, in the
same hour, in which our first father Adam was made
and in the year of the creation of the world 5199,
which agrees also with the count of the Roman Church
in her Martyrology under the guidance of the Holy
Ghost. This reckoning is the true and certain one, as
was told me, when I inquired at command of my supe-
riors. Conformable to this the world was created in the
month of March, which corresponds to the beginning of
creation. And as the works of the Most High are per-
fect and complete (Deut. 32, 4), the plants and trees
come forth from the hands of his Majesty bearing fruit,
and they would have borne them continually without in-
termission, if sin had not changed the whole nature, as
I will expressly relate in another treatise, if it is the will
of the Lord; now however I will not detain myself
therewith, since it does not pertain to our subject.
139. In the same instant, in which the Almighty cele-
brated the nuptials of the hypostatic union in the womb
of most holy Mary, the heavenly Lady was elevated to
the beatific vision and the Divinity manifested Itself to
Her clearly and intuitively. She saw most high sacra-
ments, of which I will speak in the next chapter. The
mysteries of the inscriptions, with which She was
adorned and which the angels exhibited as related in the
112 CITY OF GOD
seventh chapter (No. 82, also Part I, 207, 363-4), were
made clear to Her each in particular. The divine Child
began to g^ow in the natural manner in the recess of
the womb, being nourished by the substance and the
blood of its most holy Mother, just as other men; yet
it was more free and exempt from the imperfections, to
which other children of Adam are subject in that place
and period. For from some of these, namely those that
are accidental and unnecessary to the substance of the act
of generation, being merely effects of sin, the Empress of
heaven was free. She was also free from the superflui-
ties caused by sin, which in other women are common and
happen naturally in the formation, sustenance and
growth of their children. For the necessary matter,
which is proper to the infected nature of the descend-
ants of Eve and which was wanting in Her, was sup-
plied and administered in Her by the exercise of heroic
acts of virtue and especially by charity. By the fervor
of her soul and her loving affections the blood and hu-
mors of her body were changed and thereby divine
Providence provided for the sustenance of the divine
Child. Thus in a natural manner the humanity of our
Redeemer was nourished, while his Divinity was recre-
ated and pleased with her heroic virtues. Most holy
Mary furnished to the Holy Ghost, for the formation of
this body, pure and limpid blood, free from sin and all
its tendencies. And whatever impure and imperfect
matter is supplied by other mothers for the growth of
their children was administered by the Queen of heaven
most pure and delicate in substance. For it was built
up and supplied by the power of her loving affections
and her other virtues. In a like manner was purified
whatever served as food for the heavenly Queen. For,
as She knew that her nourishment was at the same time
THE INCARNATION 113
to sustain and nourish the Son of God, She partook of it
with such heroic acts of virtue, that the angelic spirits
wondered how such common human actions could be
connected with such supernal heights of merit and per-
fection in the sight of God.
140. The heavenly Lady was thus established in such
high privileges in her position as Mother of God, that
those which I have already mentioned and which I shall
yet mention, convey not even the smallest idea of her
excellence, and my tongue cannot describe it. For,
neither is it possible to conceive it by the understanding,
nor can the most learned, nor the most wise of men
find adequate terms to express it. The humble, who are
proficient in the art of divine love, become aware of it
by infused light and by the interior taste and feeling, by
which such sacraments are perceived. Not only was
most holy Mary become a heaven, a temple and dwelling
place of the most holy Trinity, transformed thereto, ele-
vated and made godlike by the special and unheard of
operation of the Divinity in her most pure womb; but
her humble cottage and her poor little oratory was con-
secrated by the Divinity as a new sanctuary of God. The
heavenly spirits, who as witnesses of this marvelous
transformation were present to contemplate it, magni-
fied the Almighty with ineffable praise and jubilee; in
union with this most happy Mother, they blessed Him in
his name and in the name of the human race, which was
ignorant of this the greatest of his benefits and mercies.
INSTRUCTION OF THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY.
141. My daughter, thou art filled with astonishment
at seeing, by means of new light, the mystery of the
humiliation of the Divinity in uniting Himself with the
114 CITY OF GOD
human nature in the womb of a poor maiden such as I
was. I wish, however, my dearest, that thou turn thy
attention toward thyself and consider, how God humih-
ated Himself, and came into my womb, not only for my-
self alone, but for thee as well. The Lord is infinite in
his mercy and his love has no limit, and thus He at-
tends and esteems and assists every soul who receives
Him, and He rejoices in it, as if He had created it alone,
and as if He had been made man for it alone. There-
fore with all the affection of thy soul thou must, as it
were, consider thyself as being thyself in person bound
to render the full measure of thanks of all the world
for his coming-; and for his coming to redeem all. And
if, with a lively faith thou art convinced and confessest,
that the same God who, infinite in his attributes and
eternal in his majesty, lowered Himself to assume
human flesh in my womb, seeks also thee, calls thee, re-
joices thee, caresses thee, and thinks of thee alone, as if
thou wert his only creature (Gal. 2, 20) ; think well and
reflect to what his admirable condescension obliges thee.
Convert this admiration into living acts of faith and
love; for, that He condescends to come to thee, thou
owest entirely to the goodness of the King and Savior,
since thou thyself couldst never find Him nor attain
Him.
142. Considering merely that which this Lord can
give thee outside of Himself, it will appear to thee
grand, even when thou perceivest it only by a mere
human intelligence and affection. It is certainly true that
any gift from such an eminent and supreme King is
worthy of all estimation. But when thou beginst to
consider and know by divine light, that this gift is God
Himself and that He makes Thee partaker of his Di-
vinity, when thou wilt understand, that without thy God
THE INCARNATION 115
and without his coming-, all creation would be as noth-
ing and despicable in thy sight; thou wouldst want to
enjoy thyself and find rest only in the consciousness of
possessing such a God, so loving, so amiable, so power-
ful, sweet and affluent; who, being such a great and in-
finite God, humiliates Himself to thy lowliness in order
to raise thee from the dust and enrich thy poverty, per-
forming toward thee the duties of a Shepherd, of a
Father, a Spouse and most faithful Friend.
143. Attend, therefore, my daughter, in the secret of
thy heart to all the consequences of thfese truths. Ponder
and confer within thyself about this sweetest love of the
great King for thee; how faithful He is in his gifts and
caresses, in his favors, in the works confided to thee, in
the enlightenment of thy interior, instructing thee by
divine science in the infinite greatness of his Being, in
his admirable works and most hidden mysteries, in uni-
versal truth and in the nothingness of visible existence.
This science is the first beginning and principle, the
basis and foundation of the knowledge which I have
given thee in order that thou mayest attain to the de-
corum and magnanimity, with which thou art to treat
the favors and benefits of this thy Lord and God, thy
true blessedness, thy treasure, thy light and thy Guide.
Look upon Him as upon the infinite God, loving, yet
terrible. Listen, my dearest, to my words, to my teach-
ings and discipline, for therein are contained the peace and
the enlightenment of thy soul.
CHAPTER XIL
OF THE FIRST ACTS OF THE MOST HOLY SOUIy OF CHRIST
OUR LORD IN THE FIRST INSTANT OF HIS CONCEPTION
AND OF THE CORRESPONDING ACTS OF HIS MOST PURE
MOTHER.
144. In order to understand what were the first acts
of the most holy Soul of Christ our Lord, we must refer
to that which has been said in the preceding chapter
(No. 138), namely, that all that substantially belonged
to this divine mystery, the formation of the body, the
creation and the infusion of the soul, and the union of
the individual humanity with the person of the Word,
happened and was completed in one act or instant; so
that we cannot say that in any moment of time Christ
our highest Good was only man. For from the first in-
stant He was man and true God ; as soon as his human-
ity arrived at being man, He was also God ; therefore
He could not at any time be called a mere man, not for
one instant; but from the very beginning He was God-
man or Mangod. And as the active exercise of the
faculties is co-existent with operative essences, therefore
the most holy soul of Christ our Lord, in the same in-
stant in which the Incarnation took place, was beatified
by intuitive vision and love. According to our way of
speaking, the powers of his intellect and will immediately
united with the Divinity itself. For his human essence
joined the Divinity in one instant by hypostatic union,
and thus his human faculties in their most perfect ac-
tivity were united with the essence of God himself, so
116
THE INCARNATION 117
that both in essence and in operation He was entirely
deified.
145. The wonder about this sacrament is that so
much glory, yea, the greatness of the immense Divinity,
was enclosed within such a small compass, not larger
than the body of a bee, or not greater than a small al-
mond. For the dimension of the most holy body of
Christ was not any greater than that at the instant when
the conception and hypostatic union took place. More-
over in this small compass was included the highest
glory as well as the capability for suffering; for the hu-
manity was at the same time glorified and also passible,
it was both a Comprehensor and a Viator, possessing
heaven though yet on his pilgrimage to heaven. God, how-
ever, in his infinite power and wisdom, could thus contract
Himself and enclose his infinite Deity within the sphere
of a body thus minute by a new and admirable mode of
existence, without in the least ceasing to be God. By the
same Omnipotence He provided that this most holy soul
of Christ, in its superior faculties and in its most noble
operations, should be in the state of glory and enjoying
beatitude; while all this immense glory was at the same
time compressed, as it were, into the superior parts of
his soul, suspending the effects and gifts of glory, that
would otherwise naturally have communicated them-
selves to his body. On this account He could be at the
same time a viator, subject to suffering, enabling Him to
procure our salvation by means of his Cross, Passion
and Death.
146, In order to be fully equipped for these and for
whatever the most holy humanity was to perform, all
the habits, natural to his faculties and necessary for their
activity and operation both as Comprehensor and as
Viator, were infused into it at the moment of his con-
118 CITY OF GOD
ception. Thus He was furnished with the infused
science of the blessed; with the sanctifying grace and
the g^fts of the Holy Ghost, which according to Isaias
rested upon the Christ (Is. 11, 2). He possessed all the
virtues, except faith and hope; for these are incom-
patible with the beatific vision and possession, and were
wanting in Him; likewise were wanting in the Holy of
the holy ones, all other virtues, which presuppose any
imperfection; since He could not sin, nor was deceit
found in his mouth (I Pet. 2, 22). The dignity and ex-
cellence of his science and grace, the virtues and perfec-
tions of Christ our Lord need not be mentioned here,
for that is taught by the sacred doctors and masters of
theology in a profuse manner. For me it is sufficient to
state that all this was as perfect as was possible to the
divine power and that it cannot be encompassed by hu-
man understanding. For the most holy soul of Christ
drank from the very fountain of the Divinity (Ps.
35, 10) and could do so without limit or retrenchment,
as David says (Ps. 109, 7). Therefore He must have
been possessed of the plenitude of all virtues and per-
fections.
147. Thus adorned and deified by the Divinity and its
gifts, the most holy soul of Christ our Lord proceeded
in its operations in the following order: immediately it
began to see and know the Divinity intuitively as It is
in Itself and as It is united to his most holy humanity,
loving It with the highest beatific love and perceiving
the inferiority of the human nature in comparison with
the essence of God. The soul of Christ humiliated it-
self profoundly, and in this humility it gave thanks to
the immutable being of God for having created it and
for the benefit of the hypostatic union, by which, though
remaining human, it was raised to the essence of God.
THE INCARNATION 119
It also recognized that his most holy humanity was
made capable of suffering, and was adapted for attaining
the end of the Redemption. In this knowledge it of-
fered itself as the Redeemer in sacrifice for the human
race (Ps. 39, 8), accepting the state of suffering and
giving thanks in his own name and in the name of man-
kind to the eternal Father. He recognized the composi-
tion of his most holy humanity, the substance of which
it was made, and how most holy Mary by the force of
her charity and of her heroic virtues, furnished its sub-
stance. He took possession of this holy tabernacle and
dwelling; rejoicing in its most exquisite beauty, and,
well pleased, reserved as his own property the soul of
this most perfect and most pure Creature for all eternity.
He praised the eternal Father for having created Her
and endowed Her with such vast graces and gifts; for
having exempted Her and freed Her from the common
law of sin, as his Daughter, while all the other descen-
dants of Adam have incurred its guilt (Rom. 5, 18).
He prayed for the most pure Lady and for saint Joseph,
asking eternal salvation for them. All these acts, and
many others, were most exalted and proceeded from
Him as true God and Man. Not taking into account
those that pertain to the beatific vision and love, these
acts and each one by itself, were of such merit that they
alone would have sufficed to redeem infinite worlds, if
such could exist.
148. Even the act of obedience alone, by which the
most holy humanity of the Word subjected itself to suf-
fering and prevented the glory of his soul from being
communicated to his body, was abundantly sufficient for
our salvation. But although this sufficed for our salva-
tion, nothing would satisfy his immense love for men
except the full limit of effective love (John 13, 1) ; for
120 CITY OF GOD
this was the purpose of his life, that He should consume
it in demonstrations and tokens of such intense love,
that neither the understanding of men nor of angels was
able to comprehend it. And if in the first instant of his
entrance into the world He enriched it so immeasur-
ably, what treasures, what riches of merits must He
have stored up for it, when He left it by his Passion and
Death on the cross after thirty-three years of labor and
activity all divine! O immense love! O charity without
limit I O mercy without measure ! O most generous kind-
ness! and, on the other hand, O ingratitude and base
forgetfulness of mortals in the face of such unheard of
and such vast benefaction! What would have become
of us without Him? How much less could we do for this
our Redeemer and Lord, even if He had conferred on
us but small favors, while now we are scarcely moved
and obliged by his doing for us all that He could? If
we do not wish to treat as a Redeemer Him, who has
given us eternal life and liberty, let us at least hear Him
as our Teacher, let us follow Him as our Leader, as our
guiding light, which shows us the way to our true hap-
piness.
149. This Lord and Master did not work for Himself,
nor did He preempt his soul, nor gain this augmentation
of grace, for Himself, but entirely for us. He had no
need of all this, nor could He receive an increase of
grace or glory, since He was filled with them (John 1,
14), as saint John says; for He was the Onlybegotten
of the Father at the same time that He was man. In
this He had no equal, nor could He have an imitator.
All the saints and mere creatures gained merits for
themselves and labored for reward; the love of Christ
alone was without self interest and altogether for us.
And if He wished to enter and go through the school
THE INCARNATION 121
of bodily experience of this life (Luke 2, 52), it was
in order to teach us and enrich us by his obedience (Heb.
5, 8), while He turned over to us his infinite merits and
his example, in order that we might be wisely instructed
in the art of loving-. For this is not learned perfectly by
affection and desire, unless it is truly and effectively
practiced in deeds. I do not enlarge upon the mysteries
of the most holy life of Christ our Lord, on account of
my incapacity, and I refer to the Gospels, selecting only
that which will seem necessary for the heavenly history
of his Mother, our Lady. For the lives of this Son and
his most holy Mother are so intimately connected and
intertwined with each other, that I cannot avoid making
references to the Gospels and besides add other facts,
which are not mentioned by them concerning the Lord
and which were not necessary in their narratives for
the first ages of the Catholic Church.
150. These operations of Christ our Lord in the first
instant of his conception were followed, in another es-
sential instant, by the beatific vision of the Divinity,
which we have mentioned in the preceding chapter (No.
139) ; for in one instant of time many instants of essence
can take place. In this vision the heavenly Lady per-
ceived with clearness and distinction the mystery of the
hypostatic union of the divine and the human natures in
the person of the eternal Word, and the most holy
Trinity confirmed Her in the title and the rights of
Mother of God. This in all rigor of truth She was,
since She was the natural Mother of a Son, who was
eternal God with the same certainty and truth as He was
man. Although this great Lady did not directly co-
operate in the union of the Divinity with the humanity.
She did not on this account lose her right to be called
the Mother of the true God; for She concurred by ad-
122 CITY OF GOD
ministering the material and by exerting her faculties,
as far as it pertained to a true Mother ; and to a greater
extent than to ordinary mothers, since in Her the con-
ception and the generation took place without the aid
of a man. Just as in other generations the agents,
which bring them about in the natural course, are called
father and mother, each furnishing that which is neces-
sary, without however concurring directly in the crea-
tion of the soul, nor in its infusion into the body of the
child; so also, and with greater reason, most holy Mary
must be called, and did call Herself, Mother of God;
for She alone concurred in the generation of Christ,
true God and Man, as a Mother, to the exclusion of any
other natural cause; and only through this concurrence
of Mary in the generation, Christ, the Man-God, was
bom.
151. The Virgin Mother of Christ also understood in
this vision the future mysteries of the life and death of
her sweetest Son and of the Redemption of the human
race, together with those of the new law of the Gospel,
which was to be established in connection therewith. To
Her were also manifested other great and profound
secrets, which were made known to none other of the
saints. The most prudent Queen, seeing Herself thus
in the immediate presence of the Deity and furnished
with the plenitude of divine gifts and science as became
the Mother of the Word, lost in humility and love,
adored the Lord in his infinite essence, and without de-
lay also in its union with the most holy humanity. She
gave Him thanks for having favored Her with the dig-
nity of Mother of God and for the favors done to the
whole human race. She gave thanks and glory also for
all the mortals. She offered Herself as an acceptable
sacrifice in his service, in the rearing up and nourishing
THE INCARNATION 123
of her sweetest Son, ready to assist and co-operate
(as far as on her part it would be possible), in the work
of the Redemption; and the holy Trinity accepted and
appointed Her as the Coadjutrix in this sacrament. She
asked for new graces and divine light for this purpose
and for directing Herself in the worthy ministration of
Her office as Mother of the incarnate Word, that She
might treat Him with the veneration and magnanimity
due to God himself. She offered, to her holiest Son all
the children of Adam yet to be born and the saints of
limbo; and in the name of all and of Herself She per-
formed many acts of heroic virtue and asked for great
favors, which however I will not stop to mention, as I
have already done in regard to others on different occa-
sions. For from these it can easily be conjectured what
petitions this heavenly Queen made on this occasion,
which so far excelled all the other fortunate and happy
days of her previous life.
152. But She was especially persistent and fervent
in her prayer to obtain guidance of the Almighty for
the worthy fulfillment of her office as Mother of the
Onlybegotten of the Father. For this, before all other
graces, Her humble heart urged Her to desire, and this
was especially the subject of her solicitude, that She
might be guided in all her actions as becomes the Mother
of God. The Almighty answered Her: "My Dove, do
not fear, for I will assist thee and guide thee, directing
thee in all things necessary for the service of my only-
begotten Son." With this promise She came to Herself
and issued from her ecstasy, in which all that I have
said had happened, and which was the most wonderful
She ever had. Restored to her faculties, her first action
was to prostrate Herself on the earth and adore her
holiest Son, God and Man, conceived in her virginal
124 CITY OF GOD
womb; for this She had not yet done with her external
and bodily senses and faculties. Nothing that She could
do in the service of her Creator, did this most prudent
Mother leave undone. From that time on She was con-
scious of feeling new and divine effects in her holiest
soul and in her exterior and interior faculties. And
although the whole tenor of her life had been most
noble both as regards her body as her soul ; yet on this
day of the incarnation of the Word it rose to still greater
nobility of spirit and was made more godlike by still
higher reaches of grace and indescribable gifts.
153. But let no one think that the purest Mother was
thus favored and so closely united with the humanity
and Divinity of her holiest Son, only in order to con-
tinue to enjoy spiritual delights and pleasures, free from
suffering and pain. Not so, for in closest possible imi-
tation of her sweetest Son, this Lady lived to share
both joy and sorrow with Him; the memory of what
She had so vividly been taught concerning the labors
and the death of her holiest Son, was like a sword
piercing her heart. This sorrow was proportionate to
the knowledge and love, which such a Mother had of
such a Son, and which his presence and intercourse so
continually recalled to her mind. Although the whole
life of Christ and of his most holy Mother was a con-
tinued martyrdom and suffering like that of the cross,
and was filled with incessant pain and labors; yet in
the most pure and loving heart of the heavenly Queen
there was also this special feature of suffering, that to
her inward sight as a most loving Mother, the passion,
torments, ignominies and death of her Son were for-
ever present. And by this continued sorrow of thirty-
three years She took upon Herself the long vigil of our
Redemption and during all this time this sacrament was
THE INCARNATION 125
concealed in her bosom without companionship or allevi-
ation from any creatures.
154. With this loving sorrow, full of the sweetest an-
guish, She often looked upon her holiest Son both be-
fore and after his birth, and speaking to Him from her
innermost heart. She would repeat these words: "Lord
and God of my soul, most sweet Son of my womb, why
hast Thou given me the position as Mother and yet
connected with it the sorrowful thought of losing Thee,
leaving me an orphan, bereft of thy desirable company?
Scarcely art Thou put in possession of a body for thy
earthly life, when Thou art notified of the sentence of
a sorrowful death for the rescue of men. The first of
thy actions is one of superabundant merit in satisfaction
for his sins. O would that the justice of the eternal
Father were thereby satisfied and thy sufferings and
death fall upon me! From my body and blood Thou
hast composed thine own, without which it would not
be possible for Thee to suffer, since Thou art the im-
mutable and immortal God. If therefore I have fur-
nished Thee the instrument or the matter of thy suffer-
ings, let me too suffer with Thee the same death. O
inhuman sin, how, being so cruel and the cause of so
much evil, couldst thou nevertheless be so fortunate,
that thy Repairer should be One, who on account of his
infinite Goodness, can make thee a "happy fault !" O
my sweetest Son and my love, who shall be thy guard,
who shall defend Thee from thy enemies? O would
that it were the will of the Father, that I guard Thee
and save Thee from death, or die in thy company, and
that Thou never leave mine! But that which happened
to the patriarch Abraham, shall not now take place
(Gen. 22, 11) ; for the predestined decree shall be exC'
cuted. Let the will of the Lord be fulfilled." These
2-10
126 CITY OF GOD
loving sighs were many times repeated by our Queen, as
I shall say farther on, and the eternal Father accepted
them as an agreeable sacrifice, while they were the sweet-
est diversion of her most holy Son.
INSTRUCTION WHICH OUR QUEEN AND I,ADY GAVE ME.
155. My daughter, since thou hast, by faith and divine
light, arrived at a knowledge of the grandeur of God
and of his ineffable condescension in coming down from
heaven for thee and for all the mortals, let not this
benefit be for the idle and fruitless. Adore the essence
of God with profound reverence, and praise Him for
what thou knowest of his goodness. Receive not light
and grace in vain (II Cor. 6, 1) ; and study the encourag-
ing example given by my most holy Son and myself
in imitation of Him, as thou hast come to be instructed
in it; for as He was the true God, and I his Mother
(for in so far as He was man his most holy humanity
was created), let us humiliate ourselves in the remem-
brance of our lowly human nature and confess the great-
ness of the Divinity, greater than any creature can com-
prehend. Do this especially when thou receivest the
same Lord in the holy Sacrament. In this admirable
Sacrament my most holy Son with Divinity and humanity
comes to thee and remains with thee in a new and incom-
prehensible way. His great condescension is manifest,
though it is little taken notice of and respected by
mortals, nor does it find the return due to such love.
156. Let then thy acknowledgment be accompanied
with as much humility, reverence and worship as is pos-
sible to thy combined powers and faculties; for though
they be exerted to the utmost limit, they will always
fall short of what thou owest to God and of what He
THE INCARNATION 127
deserves. And in order that thou mayest as far as
possible make up for thy deficiencies, offer up that, which
my most holy Son and I have done ; unite thy spirit and
thy affections in union with the Church triumphant and
militant, offering at the same time thy life as a sacrifice
and praying that all nations may know, confess and adore
their true God who became man for all. Thank Him for
the benefits, which He has conferred and confers on all,
whether they know Him or not, whether they confess
or repudiate Him. Above all I ask of thee, my dearest,
to do that which is most acceptable to the Lord and most
pleasing to me; that thou grieve, and in sweet affection
mourn over the gross ignorance and dangerous tardiness
of the sons of men; over the ingratitude also of the
children of the Church, who, having received the light
of the divine faith, yet live in such interior forgetfulness
of the works and benefits of the Incarnation, yea, of God
himself, and so much so, that they seem to differ from
infidels only in some ceremonies and exterior worship.
They perform these without spirit or heartiness, many
times offending and provoking the divine justice which
they should placate.
157. Through this ignorance and torpidity it happens
that they are not prepared to receive and acquire the
true science of the Most High. They bring upon them-
selves the loss of the divine light and they deserve to
be left in the heavy darkness, making themselves more
unworthy than the infidels themselves -and entailing upon
themselves an incomparably greater chastisement. Mourn
over such great damage of thy neighbors and pray for
help from the bottom of thy heart. And in order that
thou mayest put away from thy own self such formidable
dangers, do not undervalue the favors and benefits,
which thou receivest, nor, even under pretense of humil-
128 CITY OF GOD
ity, belittle or forget them. Remember and consider how
distant was the journey, which the grace of the Most
High has made in order to call thee (Ps. 18, 7). Pon-
der in thy mind, how it has waited upon thee and con-
soled thee, assured thee in thy doubts, quieted thee in
thy fears, ignored and pardoned thy faults, multiplied
favors, caresses and blessings. I assure thee, my daugh-
ter, that thou must confess in thy heart, that the Most
High has not done such things with any other genera-
tion; thou of thyself canst do nothing; thou art poor
and more useless than others. L«t then thy thanks be
greater than that of all the creatures.
CHAPTER XIII.
AN EXPLANATION OF THE STATE IN WHICH MOST HOLY
MARY FOUND HERSELF AFTER THE INCARNATION O?
THE DIVINE WORD IN HER VIRGINAL WOMB.
158. The deeper I begin to understand the divine ef-
fects and conditions which were caused by the concep-
tion of the eternal Word in the Queen of heaven, the
more am I involved in the difficulties of describing this
event. For I find myself immersed in exalted and com-
plicated mysteries, while my intellect and my power of
expression are entirely insufficient for encompassing what
is presented to me. Nevertheless my soul experiences
such great sweetness and such delight in spite of this
deficiency, that I cannot bring myself to repent entirely
of my undertaking; at the same time obedience animates
me and also compels me to overcome the hardships,
which in a weak and womanly mind would be insuper-
able, if the assurance and encouragement coming from
this source would not assist me. This is true especially
of this chapter, in which I am to treat of the gifts of
glory enjoyed by the blessed in heaven. Taking their
prerogatives as models I will try to describe the state of
the heavenly Empress Mary after becoming the Mother
of God.
159. For this purpose I will speak of the blessed from
two points of view : of their own perfection and of their
relation to God. As regards the latter, the Divinity is
made clear and manifest to them with all its perfections
and attributes. This is called the object of their beati-
129
130 CITY OF GOD
tude, their glory, the substantial joy, the ultimate
end, wherein the whole creature finds its adequate end
and rest. On the part of the saints there are the beatific
operations of vision and love, and of others necessarily
connected with that most happy state, which neither the
eyes have seen, nor ears have heard, nor can enter into
the thoughts of men (Is. 64, 4; I Cor. 2, 29). Among
the gifts and prerogatives of this glory of the saints,
some are called endowments freely given as to a spouse
entering upon the spiritual matrimony, which is con-
summated in the joys of the eternal felicity. Just as
the earthly spouse acquires possession and dominion of
her endowments and enjoys in common with her hus-
band the use of them, so also in glory these gifts are
made to the saints as their own, while their use is com-
mon both to them, in as far as they themselves rejoice
in them, and to God, in as far as He is glorified in them
by the saints. And these ineffable gifts are more or
less excellent according to the merits and the dignities of
each. But they are not given to those, who are not of the
same nature as the Spouse, namely Christ our Lord;
hence only to men, not to angels. For the incarnate
Word has not entered into any espousals with the angels,
(Heb. 2, 16) as He has done with men, by uniting Him-
self with them in that great sacrament mentioned by the
Apostle, (Eph. 5, 32), in Christ and in the Church. Since,
however, the Bridegroom Christ, as man, is composed
of body and soul, just like the rest of men, therefore
both body and soul are to be glorified in his presence
and the gifts of glory are both for the body and the
soul. Three of these gifts pertain to the soul and they
are called vision, comprehension and fruition; and four
pertain to the body: clearness, impassibility, subtility
THE INCARNATION 131
and agility, and these are properly the effects of intuitive
vision overflowing from the glory of the soul.
160. In all these gifts our Queen Mary participated
to a certain extent already in this life; especially after
the Incarnation of the Word in her virginal womb. It
is true that these gifts are given to the saints as com-
prehensors, being pledges and dowries of the eternal and
imperishable felicity, and as it were securities for
the unchangeableness of their state. On that account
they are not conferred upon those still on the way to
heaven. But upon holy Mary these gifts were conferred
as a viator; hence not as on a comprehensor, not per-
manently, but from time to time and step by step, and
with a certain difference, as we shall explain. In order
that the appropriateness of this rare blessing in the
sovereign Queen may be the better understood, let that,
which I have said in the seventh and following chapters
before the Incarnation, be remembered; for there the
preparation and espousal with which the Most High
favored his most blessed Mother in accordance with
her dignity, are explained. On the day in which the
divine Lord assumed human nature in her virginal womb,
this spiritual marriage, as far as the heavenly Lady is
concerned, was consummated by that most exalted afid
exquisite beatific vision, which, as we have said, was
then vouchsafed to Her. But for the other faithful the
Incarnation was as it were an espousal, which is to be
consummated in their heavenly fatherland (Osea 2, 19).
16L Our great Queen possessed another prerequisite
for these privileges: She was exempt from all stain of
original and actual sin and was confirmed in grace by
actual impeccability. Thus She was capable of celebrat-
ing this marriage in the name of the Church militant
and to make promises in the name of all its members
132 CITY OF GOD
(Eph. 5, 32) ; for in this matter, as She was the Mother
of the Savior, his foreseen merits found their apphca-
tion through Her. By her transient vision of the glory
of the Divinity, She became the accepted surety for all
the children of Adam, that this same reward will not
be denied to any of those, who shall use the grace of
their Redeemer to merit it. The divine incarnate Word
certainly was highly pleased to find, that his most burn-
ing love and his infinite merits should immediately bear
fruit in Her, who at the same time was his Mother, his
first Spouse and the bridal chamber of his Divinity;
and that his rewards should fall upon One, in whom
there was no hindrance. By conferring these privileges
and favors upon his most holy Mother, Christ our Salva-
tion, indulged and partly satiated his love for Her and
in Her, for all the mortals ; too long a delay did it seem
to the divine love, to wait thirty-three years until He
should manifest his Divinity to his own Mother. Al-
though He had shown Her this favor at other times,
as related in the first part (No. 382, 429), yet on this
occasion of his Incarnation He did it in a more excel-
lent manner; one which corresponded with the glory,
of his most holy soul. However, all this in Her was
not permanent, but renewed from moment to moment
with the flow of time, in as far as was compatible with
the ordinary state of pilgrimage.
162. Conformably to this, God, on the day in which
most holy Mary assumed the position of Mother of the
eternal Word by conceiving Him in Her womb, invested
us with a right to our Redemption, founded upon the
espousal of the human nature with Himself. In the
consummation of this spiritual marriage by the beatifica-
tion of the most holy Mary and the conferring upon
Her the gifts of glory, the same reward was also prom-
THE INCARNATION 133
Ised to us, if we should make ourselves worthy of it
through the merits of his most holy Son, our Redeemer.
But so far did the Lord raise his Mother above all the
glory of the saints in the blessings of this day, that all
the angels and men, even in their highest reaches of
beatific vision and love, cannot attain to that which the
heavenly Queen then attained; the same must also be
said of the gifts of glory, which overflowed from the
soul to her body; for all of them corresponded with her
innocence, holiness and merits, and these again corre-
spond with that highest of all dignities possible to a crea-
ture: that of being the Mother of her Creator.
163. Coming now to these gifts in particular, the first
gift to her soul was the clear and beatific vision, which
corresponds to the obscure knowledge of faith in the
viators. This vision was given to the most holy Mary
at the times and in the manner already explained and
to be explained later. Besides these intuitive visions.
She had many other abstractive ones of the Divinity,
of the kind mentioned above. Although all these were
transient, yet they left in her mind most exquisite and
various images furnishing Her with such a clear and
exalted knowledge of the Divinity, that no words can
be found to express it. In this our Lady was singularly
privileged before all other creatures, and thus She pos-
sessed the permanent effects of the gifts of glory as far
as compatible with her position as viator. When at
times the Lord hid himself from Her, suspending the
use of these images for certain high ends. She made use
of infused faith, which in Her was superexcellent and
most efficacious. In such manner, one way or the other,
her soul never lost sight of that divine Object, nor wan-
dered from It even for a moment. However, during
the nine months in which She bore in her womb the
134 CITY OF GOD
incarnate Word, She enjoyed even greater visions arid
gifts of the Divinity.
164. The second of these gifts is comprehension, pos-
session or apprehension. This consists in the attainment
of the end, corresponding to the virtue of hope, whereby
we seek after the final Object in order to possess It
without danger of ever losing It. This possession and
comprehension in most holy Mary corresponded to the
visions mentioned ; because seeing the Divinity, She pos-
sessed It, Whenever She depended on faith alone, hope
was in Her more firm and secure than in any other
creature; and more than this; for, as the security of
possession in the creature is founded to a great extent
upon sanctity and impeccability, our heavenly Lady on
this account was so privileged, that the firmness and
security of her possession of God, although She was a
pilgrim, equaled in certain respects the firmness and
security of the blessed. For on account of her stainless
and unimpeachable sanctity She was assured of never
losing God; although the cause of this security in Her
as Viatrix was not the same as in the glorified saints.
During the months of her pregnancy She enjoyed this
possession of God in various ways by special and won-
derful graces, through which the Most High manifested
Himself and united Himself to her most pure Soul.
165. The third gift is fruition, which corresponds to
charity, since charity does not cease but is perfected in
glory (I Cor. 13, 8) ; for fruition consists in loving the
highest Good possessed by us. This is the charity of
heaven, that, just as God is known and possessed as He
is in Himself, so also He is loved for his own sake. True,
even now, while we are yet viators, we love Him for his
own sake ; but there is a great difference. Now we love
him in desire and we know Him not as He is in Himself,
THE INCARNATION 135
but as He is represented to us by incongruous images
or by enigmas (I Cor. 13, 12; John 3, 2) ; therefore our
love is not perfected, nor do we rest in it, or find the
plenitude of delight therein, though there is much to in-
cite us. But in the clear vision and possession we shall
see Him as He is in Himself and we shall see Him
through Himself, not through enigmas; thus we shall
love Him as He should be loved and as far as we can
love Him respectively; our love will be perfected and
the fruition of Him will be satiated, without leaving any-
thing to be desired.
166. Most holy Mary participated in this fruition more
abundantly than in any other; for even though her most
ardent love might, in a certain respect, have been inferior
to that of the blessed whenever She was without the
clear vision of the Divinity, yet it was superior in many
other points of excellence, even while remaining in the
lower state. No one ever possessed the divine science
in the same degree as this Lady, and by it She under-
stood how God is to be loved for Himself. This science
was perfected by the memory of what She had seen and
enjoyed higher in degree than the angels. And as her
love- was nourished by this knowledge of God, it neces-
sarily exceeded that of the blessed in all that did not
pertain to immediate fruition and unchangeableness as
to increase or augmentation. On account of her pro-
found humility the Lord condescended to an arrange-
ment, whereby She could act as a Viatrix remaining
in a holy fear of displeasing her Beloved. This burning
love was of the most perfect kind and tended entirely to-
ward God himself; it caused in Her ineffable joy and
delight, proportioned to the excellence of her love.
167. In regard to the gifts of the body, redounding
from the gifts of glory, and other gifts of the soul con-
136 CITY OF GOD
stituting" the accidental part of the glory of the blessed,
I will say, that they serve for the perfection of the
glorious bodies in the activity of their senses and motive
powers. By them the bodies are assimilated to the soul
and throw off the impediments of their earthly gross-
ness, enabling them to obey the wishes of the souls,
which in that most happy state cannot be imperfect or
opposed to the will of God. The senses require two gifts :
one to refine the reception of sensible images, and this
is perfected by the gift of clearness; the other, to repel
all activity or passivity hurtful and destructive of the
body, and this is done by the gift of impassibility. Two
other gifts are required in order to perfect the power
of motion: one, in order to overcome the resistance or
impediment of gravity, furnished by the gift of agility;
the other, in order to overcome the resistance of other
bodies, furnished by the gift of subtlety. With these
gifts the body becomes glorious, clear, incorruptible,
agile and subtle.
168. In all these privileges our great Queen and Lady
participated during her mortal life. The gift of clear-
ness disposes the body to receive the light and at the
same time to give it forth, doing away with earthly
opaqueness and obscurity and making it more transparent
than clearest crystal. Whenever most holy Mary enjoyed
the clear and beatific vision, her virginal body partic-
ipated in this privilege in a measure beyond all human
calculation. The after-effects of this purity and clear-
ness would have been most wonderful and astounding,
if they could have been made perceptible to the senses.
Sometimes they were noticeable in her most beautiful face,
as I will say later on, especially in the third part; yet
they were not known or perceived by all who conversed
with Her, for the Lord interposed a curtain or veil, in
THE INCARNATION 137
order that they might not always or indiscriminately be
manifested. But in many respects She herself enjoyed
the advantages of this gift, though it was disguised, sus-
pended or hidden to the gaze of others ; She for instance
was not inconvenienced by earthly opaqueness, as the
rest of men.
169. Saint Elisabeth perceived something of this clear-
ness, when at the sight of Mary she exclaimed: "And
whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should
come to me?" (Luke 1, 43). The world was not capable
of perceiving this sacrament of the King (Tob. 12, 7),
nor was it opportune to manifest it at that time. Yet to
a certain extent her face was always more bright and
lustrous than that of other creatures. Also in other re-
spects it exhibited qualities altogether above the natural
order of other bodies, which produced in Her a most
delicate and spiritualized complexion, like that of an
animated crystal. This presented to the touch not the
asperity natural to the flesh, but the softness as it were
of the purest and the finest silk, so that I cannot find
any other comparison to make myself understood. Yet
all this should not appear strange in the Mother of God;
for She bore Him in her womb and She had seen Him
often, even face to face. For the Israelites could not look
upon Moses face to face, nor bear the splendor, which
shone forth from him after his communication with the
Lord upon the mountain (Exod. 34, 29), though it was
much inferior to that vouchsafed to most holy Mary.
There is no doubt, that if God had not by a special provi-
dence withheld and hidden the splendor in reality due to
the countenance and the body of his most pure Mother,
it would have brightened the world more than a thousand
suns combined. None of the mortals could, by natural
power, have sustained its brilliancy; since, even thus
138 CITY OF GOD
restrained and concealed, it was sufficient to cause in
them the same effects, which saint Dionysius the Areop-
agite experienced in looking upon Her and which he
describes in his letter to Paul.
170. Impassibility produces in the glorified body such
a condition, that no agent, except God himself, can by
any activity or influence, change or disturb it, no matter
how powerful this activity may be. Our Queen par-
ticipated in this gift in two ways : first, in regard to the
temperarnent and humors of the body. She possessed
these in such a delicate measure and proportion, that She
could not contract or suffer any infirmities, nor was
She subject to any other human hardships which arise
from the inequality of the four humors, being in this
regard as it were almost impassible. Secondly, in re-
gard to the dominion and commanding power, which
She had over all the creatures, as mentioned above,
(No. 13, 18, 43, 56, 60) ; for none of them had power to
act contrary to her will and consent. We can add still
another participation of impassibility: the assistance of
the divine power in proportion to her innocence. For, if
it is said, that the first parents in paradise could not
suffer a violent death as long as they persevered in orig-
inal justice, it must not be understood to mean that they
enjoyed this privilege by intrinsic or inherent powers
(for if a lance would have wounded them they could
die), but they enjoyed it through the assistance of
the Lord, who would always prevent them from being
wounded. If then the first parents possessed this priv-
ilege and could transmit it to their descendants as their
servants and vassals, it was due, by a much better title,
to the innocence of the sovereign Mary; and so in truth
was She endowed with it.
171. Our most humble Queen made no use of these
THE INCARNATION 139
privileges, for She renounced them in imitation of her
most holy Son and in order to labor and gain merits
for our benefit; in spite of them She wished to suffer
and She really suffered more than the martyrs. Human
intellect cannot weigh correctly the greatness of these
labors. We shall speak of them throughout this heavenly
history, leaving much more untold, for common language
and words cannot encompass them. But I must advert
to two things: first, that the sufferings of our Queen
bore no relation to any sins of her own, for She had
none to atone for; and therefore She suffered none of
the bitterness, which is mixed with pains endured in
the memory and consciousness of our own guilt of sins
committed. Secondly: that in her sufferings She was
divinely sustained in accordance with the ardors of her
love, for She could not naturally endure so much suf-
ferings, as her love called for, or as much as, on ac-
count of this very love, the Lord allowed Her to endure.
172. Subtility is a gift, which takes away from the
glorified body the density or grossness natural to quanti-
tative matter and which enables it to penetrate other
bodies and to occupy the same place with them. The
subtilized bodies of the blessed therefore are endowed
with qualities peculiar to the spirit and can without
difficulty penetrate the quantitative matter of other
bodies. Without dividing or separating them it can
occupy the same place. Thus our Lord's body, coming
forth from the grave (Matth. 28, 2) and entering the
closed doors (John 20, 19), penetrated the material en-
closing these places. Most holy Mary participated in
this gift not only while She enjoyed the beatific visions,
but also otherwise according to her will and desire, as
happened many times in her life in her bodily appear-
ances to some persons, of which we shall yet relate;
140 CITY OF GOD
for in all these She made use of her gift of subtlety
penetrating other bodies.
173. The last gift of the body enables the glorified
body to move from place to place instantly and without
the impediment of terrene gravity, in the manner of pure
spirits, which move by their own volition. Mary most
holy possessed a continual and wonderful participation
in this agility, especially as a direct result of the divine
visions. She did not feel in her body the force of weight
and gravity; therefore She could walk without feeling
the inconvenience usual to that kind of exercise ; She could
move about with instantaneous speed, without feeling any
shock or fatigue as we would feel. All this belonged
naturally to the quality and condition of her body, so
spiritualized and well-formed. During the time of her
pregnancy She felt even less the weight of her body;
although, in order to bear her share of labors, She al-
lowed hardships to produce their effect. She was so ad-
mirable and perfect in the possession and use of these
privileges, that I find myself wanting in words to ex-
press all that has been made manifest to me concerning
them; for it exceeds all that I have said or am able to
say.
174. Queen of heaven and my Mistress, since Thou
hast condescended to adopt me as thy daughter, thy
word will remain a pledge, that Thou wilt be my Guide
and Teacher. Relying on this promise I presume to
propose a difficulty, in which I find myself : How does it
come, my Mother and Lady, that thy most blessed soul,
after it had enjoyed the clear intuition of God accord^
ing to the disposition of his Majesty, did not remain in
the state of blessedness? And why can we not say,
that Thou didst remain in this state of beatitude, since
there Was no sin nor any other obstacle to this state
THE INCARNATION 141
in Thee, accordingf to the dignity and sanctity revealed
to me by the supernatural light?
ANSWER AND EXPLANATION OE OUR QUEEN AND LADY.
175. My dearest daughter, thou doubtest as one that
loves me and askest as one not knowing. Consider then,
that the perpetuity and durability of blessedness and
felicity is destined for the saints, since their happiness is
to be entirely perfect; if it would last only for some
time, it would be wanting in the completeness and ade-
quacy necessary for constituting it as the highest and
most perfect happiness. At the same time it is incom-
patible with the common law and ordinary course, that
the creature be glorified and at the same time be subject
to sufferings, even though it be without sin. If this law
did not hold good with my most holy Son (John 1, 18),
it was became He was at the same time God and man
and it was not befitting that his most holy soul, being
hypostatically united with the Divinity, should be with-
out the beatific vision ; and as He was at the same time
Redeemer of the human race. He could not suffer nor
pay the debt of sin, that is pain, if He had not possessed
a body capable of suffering. But I was a mere creature,
and therefore I could have no claim to the vision, which
to Him was due as a God. Moreover I could not be
said to have permanently enjoyed the state of blessedness,
because it was conceded to me from one time to another.
Under these conditions I was capable of suffering at one
time and enjoying blessedness at another; moreover it
was more usual for me to suffer and to gain merits, than
to be blessed, since I belonged to the viators and not to
the comprehensors.
176. Justly the Most High has ordained, that the
2-11
142 CITY OF GOD
blessedness of eternal life should not be enjoyed in this
mortal existence (Exod. 33, 20), and that immortality
should be reached by passing through existence in a mor-
tal body and by gaining merits in a state of suffering,
such as is the present Hfe of men (Rom. 6, 23). Al-
though death in all the sons of Adam was the stipend
and punishment of sin (Rom. 6, 23), and therefore
death and all the other effects and chastisements had no
rights in me, who had not sinned; yet the Most High
ordained, that I also, in imitation of my most holy
Son, should enter into felicity and eternal life by the death
of the body (Luke 24, 26). There was nothing in-
congruous in this for me, but it afforded me many ad-
vantages, allowing me to follow the royal way of all
men and gain many merits and great glory by suffering
and dying. Another advantage resulted therefrom for
men, for they saw that my most holy Son and I myself,
who was his Mother, were truly human as they them-
selves, since we proved to them our mortality. Thereby
the example, which we left them became much more
efficacious and they would be induced to imitate the
life, which we led and which redounded so much to the
greater glory and exaltation of my Son and Lord, and
of myself. All this would have come to nought, if the
visions of the Divinity had been continuous in me. How-
ever, after I conceived the eternal Word, the benefits
and favors were more frequent and greater, since I was
then brought into close connection with Him. This is
my answer to thy questions. No matter how much thou
hast meditated and labored in manifesting the privileges
and their effects enjoyed by me in mortal life, thou
wilt never be able to comprehend all that the powerful
arm of the Omnipotent wrought in me. And much less
THE INCARNATION 143
canst thou describe in human words what thou hast un-
derstood.
177. Now attend to the instruction, which I will give
thee regarding the preceding chapters. If I was the
model to be imitated in the way I responded to the
coming of God into the soul and into the world by show-
ing due reverence, worship, humility, and thankful love,
it follows, that if thou, (and in the same way the rest
of the souls), art solicitous in imitating me, the Most
High will come and produce the same effects in thee
as in myself; though they may be not so great and
efficacious. For if the creature, as soon as it obtains the
use of reason, begins to advance toward the Lord as it
should, directing its footsteps in the path of life and sal-
vation, his Most High Majesty will issue forth to meet it,
(Wis. 6, 15), being beforehand with his favors and
communications; for to Him it seems a long time to
wait for the end of the pilgrimage in order to manifest
Himself to his friends.
178. Thus it happens, that by means of faith, hope
and charity, and by the worthy reception of the Sacra-
ments, many divine effects, wrought by his condescen-
sion, are communicated to the souls. Some are com-
municated according to the ordinary course of grace and
others according to a more supernatural and wonderful
order; and each one will be more or less conformable
to the disposition of the soul and to the ends intended
by the Lord, which are not known at present. And if
the souls do not place any obstacle on their part. He
will be just as liberal with them as with those who dis-
pose themselves, giving them greater light and knowledge
of his immutable being, and by a divine and exceedingly
sweet infusion of grace, transforming them into a like-
ness of Himself and communicating to them many of
144 CITY OF GOD
the privileges of the beatified. For after He is found
He allows Himself to be taken possession of and enjoyed
by that hidden embrace, which the Spouse felt, when
She said: '*I will hold Him and not dismiss Him"
(Cant. 3, 4). Of this possession and of his presence the
Lord himself will give many token and pledges, in order
that the soul may possess Him in peace like the blessed,
although always only for a limited time. So liberal as
this will God, our Master and Lord, be in rewarding the
objects of his love for the labors accepted by them for
his sake and fearlessly undertaken to gain possession of
Him.
179. In this sweet violence of love the creature begins
to withdraw from and die to all earthly things; and
that is why love is called strong as death. From this
death arises a new spiritual life, which makes the soul
capable of receiving new participations of the blessed
and their gifts; for it enjoys more frequently the over-
shadowing of the Most High and the fruits of the high-
est Good, which it loves. These mysterious influences
cause a sort of overflow into the interior and animal
parts of the creature, producing a certain transparency
and purifying it from the effects of the spiritual dark-
nesses; it makes it courageous and as it were indifferent
to suffering, ready to meet and endure all that is adverse
to the inclinations of the flesh. With a certain subtle
thirst it begins to seek after all the difficulty and violence
incident to the attainment of the kingdom of heaven
(Matth. 11, 12); it becomes alert and unhindered by
earthly grossness, so that many times the body itself be-
gins to feel this lightness in regard to its own self; the
labors, which before seemed burdensome, become easy.
Of all these effects thou hast knowledge and experience,
THE INCARNATION 145
my daughter, and I have described and rehearsed them
for thee, in order that thou mayest dispose thyself and
labor so much the more earnestly; so that the divine
activity and power of the Most High, in working out
his pleasure in thee, may find thee well disposed and free
from resistance and hindrance.
CHAPTER XIV.
OF THE ATTENTION AND CARE, WHICH THE MOST HOLY
MARY BESTOWED UPON THE FRUIT OE HER WOMB AND
SOME HAPPENINGS IN REGARD TO IT.
180. As soon as our Lady and Queen issued from the
trance, in which She had conceived the eternal incarnate
Word, She prostrated Herself upon the earth and adored
Him in her womb, as I have already said in the twelfth
chapter (No. 152). This adoration She continued all
her life, commencing it at midnight every day and re-
peating these genuflexions three hundred times, until the
same hour of the following night, and oftener, whenever
She had opportunity ; in this She was even more diligent
during the nine months of her divine pregnancy. In
order to comply entirely with the new duties consequent
upon the guarding of this Treasure of the eternal Father
in the virginal bridal chamber, She directed all her at-
tention toward frequent and fervent prayer. She was
solicitous in sending up many and reiterated petitions to
be able worthily to preserve the heavenly Treasure con-
fided to Her. Accordingly She dedicated anew to the
Lord her soul and all her faculties, practicing all virtues
in a heroic and supreme degree, so that She caused new
astonishment in the angels. She also consecrated and
offered up all the motions of her body to the worship
and service of the infant Godman within Her. Whether
She ate, slept, labored or rested. She did it all for the
nourishment and conservation of her sweetest Son, and
146
THE INCARNATION 147
in all these actions She was inflamed more and more
with divine love.
181. On the day following the Incarnation, the thou-
sand guardian angels which attended upon most holy-
Mary, appeared in corporeal form and with profound
humility adored their incarnate King in the womb of
the Mother. Her also they acknowledged anew as their
Queen and Mistress and rendered Her due homage and
reverence, saying: "Now, O Lady, Thou art the true
Ark of the testament (Deut. 10, 5), since Thou con-
tainest the Lawgiver himself and preservest the Manna of
heaven (Heg. 9, 4), which is our true bread. Receive,
O Queen, our congratulations on account of thy dignity
and happiness, for which we also thank the Most High;
since He has befittingly chosen Thee for his Mother and
his tabernacle. We offer anew to Thee our homage
and service, and wish to obey Thee as vassals and ser-
vants of the supreme and omnipotent King, whose Mother
Thou art." These protestations and homages of the
holy angels excited in the Mother of wisdom incom-
parable sentiments of humility, gratitude and love of
God. For in this most prudent heart, where all things
were weighed with the scales of the sanctuary accord-
ing to their true value and weight, this reverence and
acknowledgment of the angelic spirits proclaiming Her
as their Queen, was held in high esteem. Although it
was a greater thing to see Herself the Mother of the
King and Lord of all creation, yet all her blessings and
dignities were made more evident by these demonstra-
tions and homages of the holy angels.
182. The angels rendered this homage as executors
and ministers of the will of the Most High. When their
Queen and our Lady was alone, all of them attended
upon Her in corporeal form, and they assisted Her in
148 CITY OF GOD
her outward actions and occupations; and when She
was engaged in manual labor, they administered to Her
what was needed. Whenever She happened to eat alone
in the absence of saint Joseph, they waited upon Her
at her poor table and at her humble meals. Everywhere
they followed Her and formed an escort, and helped
Her in the services rendered to saint Joseph. Amid all
these favors and obsequious attendance the heavenly
Lady did not forget to ask permission from the Master
of masters for all her operations and undertakings and
to implore his direction and assistance. So exact and so
well governed were all her exercises according to the
plenitude of perfection, that the Lord alone could com-
prehend and properly weigh them.
183. Besides the ordinary guidance during the time
in which She carried in her most holy womb the in-
carnate Word, She felt his divine presence in diverse
ways, all admirable and most sweet. Sometimes He
showed Himself to Her by abstractive vision, as men-
tioned above. At other times She saw and beheld Him
as He was now present in the virginal temple, united
hypostatically with the human nature. At other times
the most holy humanity was manifested to Her, as if in
a crystalline monstrance, composed of her own maternal
womb and purest body; this kind of vision afforded
special consolation and delight to the great Queen. At
other times She perceived how the glory of his most holy
soul overflowed into the body of the divine Child, com-
municating to It some of the effects of its own blessed-
ness and glory and how the clarity and light of the natural
body of her Son passed over in a wonderfully sweet
ineffable and divine manner into Herself as Mother. This
favor transformed Her entirely into another kind of
being, inflaming her heart and causing in Her such
THE INCARNATION 149
effects as no created capacity can explain. Let the in-
tellect of the highest seraphim extend and dilate as much
as it may, it would nevertheless find itself overwhelmed
by this glory (Prov. 25, 27) ; for the entire being of the
heavenly Queen was an intellectual and animated heaven,
and in Her was summarized the divine glory and great-
ness, in a measure that even the vast confines of the
heavens themselves could not encompass.
184. These and other prerogatives alternated and suc-
ceeded each other in accordance with the exercises of the
divine Mother, and such variety as suited the different
kinds of work which She performed. All her doings,
whether spiritual or manual or otherwise of the body,
served her God or benefited her neighbors, being under-
taken and accomplished by this prudent Maiden to pro-
duce a harmony admirable and most sweet before the
Lord, and wonderful to the angelic spirits. And when,
by the disposition of the Most High, the Mistress of the
world returned to a more natural state. She suffered
mortal agony, caused by the force and violence of her
love ; for to Her could in truth be applied what Solomon
says in the name of the Spouse : "Stay me with flowers,
compass me about with apples" (Cant. 2, 5) ; and thus
it would happen, that by the piercing wounds of these
sweet arrows of love She was brought near to the end-
ing of her life. But in this necessity the powerful arm
of the Most High was wont to strengthen Her in a su-
pernatural manner.
185. Sometimes, in order to afford Her sensible relief,
innumerable birds would come to visit Her by the com-
mand of the Lord. As if they were endowed with in-
tellect, they would salute Her by their lively movements,
and dividing into harmonious choirs, would furnish Her
with sweetest music, and they would wait for her bless-
150 CITY OF GOD
ing before again dispersing. This happened in a special
manner soon after She had conceived the divine Word,
as if they wished to congratulate Her on her dignity in
imitation of the angels. The Mistress of all creatures
on that day spoke to the different kinds of birds and
commanded them to remain and praise with Her the
Creator, in thanksgiving for the creation, and for the
existence and beauty given to them and to sing his
praises for their conservation. Immediately they obeyed
Her as their Mistress and anew they began to form
choirs, singing in sweetest harmony and bowed low to
the ground to worship their Creator and honor the
Mother, who bore Him in her womb. They were ac-
customed to bring flowers to Her in their beaks and place
them into her hands, waiting until She should command
them to sing or to be silent according to her wishes. It
also happened that in bad weather some birds would
come and seek the protection of the heavenly Lady, and
She took them in and nourished them, in her admirable
innocence glorifying the Creator of all things.
186. And our weak ignorance must not be estranged
at these wonders, for, though the incidents might be
called small, the purposes of the Most High are great
and venerable in all his works; and also the works of
our most prudent Queen were great, no matter of what
kind they might have been. And who is so presump-
tuous as to ignore the importance of knowing how much
of God's essence and perfections are manifest in the
existence of all the creatures? How important it is to
seek Him and find Him, to bless Him and magnify Him
in all his creatures, as admirable, powerful, generous and
holy? Why should it not be our duty to imitate Mary,
who overlooked no time, place or occasion, to attain this
object ? And how also shall our ungrateful forget fulness
THE INCARNATION 151
not be confounded, and our hardness of heart not be
softened? How can our Hstless heart fail to be aroused,
when we see ourselves reprehended and urged for very-
shame to thankfulness by the irrational creatures? Merely
for the slight participation of the Divinity that consists
in bare existence, they proclaim his praises without in-
termission ; whereas we men, who are made to the image
and likeness of God, furnished with the powers of know-
ing Him and enjoying Him eternally, forget Him so
far as not even to know Him, and instead of serving Him,
offend Him ! Thus it comes that in no wise can men be
preferred to the brute animals, since they have become
worse than the brutes (Ps. 48, 13).
INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY OUR MOST HOLY QUEEN
AND LADY.
187. My daughter, thou hast received my instruction
until now in order to desire and strive after the heavenly
science, which I wish thee so earnestly to acquire and
which shall teach thee to understand profoundly, what
decorous reverence is due to God. I remind thee once
more, that this science is very hard to learn and little
coveted by men on account of their ignorance ; for thence,
to their great loss, it arises that, in conversing with the
Most High or rendering Him service or worship, they
fail to form a worthy concept of his infinite greatness,
and to free themselves from the darksome images of
their earthly occupations, which make them torpid and
carnal, unworthy and unfit for the magnificent inter-
course with the supernal Deity. And this ill-bred
coarseness entails another disorder: namely, that when-
ever they converse with their neighbors, they do it with-
out order, measure or discretion, become entangled in
152 CITY OF GOD
their outward actions, and losing the memory and pres-
ence of their Creator in the excitement of their passions,
are completely entangled in what is earthly.
188. I desire therefore, my dearest, that thou fly from
this danger and learn the science, of the immutable being
and infinite attributes of God. In such a way must thou
study Him and unite thyself to Him, that no created being
will come between thy soul and the true and highest
Good. At all times and in all places, occupations and
operations thou must keep Him in sight, without re-
leasing Him from the intimate embrace of thy heart
(Cant. 3, 4). Therefore I command thee to treat Him
with a magnanimous heart, with decorum and reverence,
with deepfelt fear of the soul. And whatever pertains
to his divine worship, I desire that thou handle with
all attention and care. Above all in order to enter into
his presence by prayer and petitions, free thyself from
all sensible and earthly images. And since human frailty
cannot always remain constant in the force of love, nor
always experience the sweet violence of its movements
on account of its earthly nature, thou shouldst seek other
assistance, such as will help thee toward the same end
of finding thy God. Such help, for instance, is afforded
by his praise in the beauty of the heavens and of the
stars, in the variety of the plants, in the pleasant vista
of the fields, in the forces of the elements, and especially
in the exalted nature of the angels and in the glory of his
saints.
189. But bear continually in mind especially this par-
ticular caution, not to seek any earthly alleviation in any
event or in any labor which thou art to undergo, nor to
indulge in any diversion coming from human creatures;
and especially not in those coming from men, for an ac-
count of thy naturally weak and yielding character, so
THE INCARNATION 153
much adverse to giving- pain, thou placest thyself in dan-
ger of exceeding and overstepping the Hmit of what is
allowed or just, following, more than is proper for the
religious spouses of my most holy Son, thy sensible lik-
ings. The risks of this negligence all the human crea-
tures incur; for if full reins are given to frail human
nature, it will not give heed to reason, not to the true
light of the Spirit ; but, forgetting them entirely, it will
blindly follow the impulse of its passions and pleasures.
Against this general danger is provided the enclosure and
retirement of the souls consecrated to my Son and Lord,
in order to cut off the root of those unhappy and dis-
graceful occasions for those religious, who would will-
ingly seek them and entangle themselves in them. Thy
recreations, my dearest, and those of thy sister religious,
must be free from such danger and deadly poison. Seek
always those, which thou shalt find in the secret of thy
breast and in the chamber of thy Beloved, who is faith-
ful in consoling the sorrowful and in assisting the af-
flicted.
CHAPTER XV.
MOST HOI,Y MARY IS INFORMED OF THE WII,!, OF THE
IvORD, THAT SHE VISIT HOLY ELISABETH; SHE ASKS
SAINT JOSEPH EOR PERMISSION TO GO, REMAINING
SILENT ABOUT ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER.
190. By the words of the heavenly messenger, the
archangel Gabriel, most holy Mary had been informed,
that her cousin Elisabeth (who was held to be sterile)
had conceived a son and that She was already in the
sixth month of her pregnancy. Afterwards, in one of
the intellectual visions, the Most High revealed to Her,
that in a miraculous birth, Elisabeth would bring forth
a son, who would be great before the Lord (Luke 1, 15) ;
a Prophet and the Forerunner of the incarnate Word;
also other great mysteries of the holiness and of the per-
sonality of saint John were revealed to Her. On this
same occasion and on others the heavenly Queen was in-
formed, that it would be agreeable and pleasing to the
Lord, if She would visit her cousin, in order that as
well Elisabeth as also the child in her womb might be
sanctified by the presence of their Redeemer; for his
Majesty was anxious to communicate the benefits of his
coming into the world and his merits to his Precursor,
in order to make of him as it were the well seasoned
first fruit of his Redemption.
191. At the news of this sacramental mystery the
most prudent Virgin, with admirable jubilee of spirit,
rendered thanks to the Lord for such great condescension
and favor vouchsafed to the soul of the Precursor and
154
THE INCARNATION 155
Prophet and to his mother Elisabeth. Signifying her
readiness to fulfill the divine pleasure, She spoke to his
Majesty and said: "Most high Lord, beginning and
cause of all good, let thy name be eternally glorified,
acknowledged and praised by all the nations. I, the
least of thy creatures, give thee humble thanks for the
liberal kindness, which thou wishest to show to thy ser-
vant Elisabeth and to the son of her womb. If it is
according to the promptings of thy condescension, that I
serve thee in this work, I stand prepared, my Lord, to
obey eagerly thy divine mandates." The Most High
answered Her : "My Dove and my Beloved, elect among
creatures, truly I say to thee, that on account of thy in-
tercession and thy love I will, as a Father and most
liberal God, take care of thy cousin Elisabeth and of the
son, who is to be born of her: I will choose him as my
Prophet and as the Precursor of the Word, which is
made man in thee ; I will look upon them as belonging to
thee and intimately connected with thyself. Therefore
I wish, that my and thy Onlybegotten go to see the
mother, in order to free the son from the chains of the
first sin and in order that, before the common and ordi-
nary time decreed for other men, his voice and praise
may sound up to my ears (Cant. 2, 14), and that the
mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption may be
revealed to his sanctified soul. Therefore I wish thee
to visit Elisabeth; for We three Persons of the blessed
Trinity have chosen her son for g^eat deeds conformable
to our pleasure."
192. To this command of the Lord the most obedient
Mother responded : "Thou knowest, my Lord and God,
that all the desires of my heart seek but thy divine pleas-
ure and that I wish to fulfill diligently whatever Thou
commandest to thy humble servant. Allow me, my God,
156 CITY OF GOD
to ask permission from my husband Joseph and that I
make this journey according to his will and direction.
And in order that I may not diverge from what is thy
pleasure, do Thou govern me during that journey in all
my actions, direct my footsteps to the greater glory of
thy name (Ps. 118, 113). Accept therefore the sacri-
fice, which I bring in going out in public and in leaving
my cherished retirement. I wish to offer more than my
desires, God and King of my soul, I hope to be made able
to suffer all that will conduce to thy greater service and
pleasure purely for thy love, so that the longings of my
soul may not remain entirely unfulfilled."
193. When our great Queen came out of this vision,
She called upon the thousand angels of her guard, who
appeared to Her in bodily forms, and told them of the
command of the Most High. She asked them to assist
Her with careful solicitude in this journey, to teach Her
how to fulfill all the commands according to the greater
pleasure of the Lord, to defend Her and guard Her
from dangers so that She might conduct Herself ia all
things during that journey in the most perfect manner.
The holy princes, with wonderful devotion, offered to
obey and serve Her. In the same manner the Mistress
of all prudence and humility was wont to act also on
other occasions. For though She was Herself more wise
and more perfect in her deeds than the angels, yet be-
cause She was yet in the state of pilgrimage and endowed
with a nature lower than that of the angels, She was
always solicitous to attain the plenitude of perfection by
consulting and asking for the aid of her guardian angels,
though they were her inferiors in sanctity. Under their
direction, as also by the promptings of the holy Spirit,
all her human actions were well disposed and well or-
dered. The heavenly spirits obeyed Her with alacrity
THE INCARNATION 157
and punctuality, such as was proper to their nature and
due to their Queen and Lady. They held sweet inter-
course and delightful colloquy with Her, and alternately
with Her they sang highest songs of praise and adora-
tion of the Most High. At other times they conversed
about the supernal mysteries of the incarnate Word, the
hypostatic union, the sacrament of the Redemption, the
triumphs to be celebrated by Him, the fruits and blessings
acruing therefrom to mortals. It would necessitate
lengthening out this work too much, if I were to write
all that has been revealed to me about these conversa-
tions.
194. The humble Spouse proceeded immediately to
ask the consent of saint Joseph for executing the man-
date of the Most High, and, in her consummate prudence,
She said nothing of these happenings, but simply spoke
to him these words : "My lord and spouse, by the divine
light it was made known to me, that through condescen-
sion of the Most High the prayer of my cousin Elisabeth,
the wife of Zacharias, has been heard ; she has conceived
a son, though she was sterile. Since she has obtained
this singular blessing, I hope that through God's infinite
bounty, her Son will greatly please and glorify the Lord.
I think that on this occasion I am under obligation to
visit her and converse with her on certain things for her
consolation and spiritual encouragement. If this is ac-
cording to thy liking, my master, I will perform it with
thy permission, for I am entirely subject to thy will and
pleasure. Consider then what is best for me and com-
mand what I am to do."
195. This prudent silence of the most holy Mary, so
full of humble subjection, was very agreeable to the
Lord; for She showed Herself thereby worthy and ca-
pable of receiving the deposit of the great sacraments
2-12
158 CITY OF GOD
of the King (Tob. 12, 7). Therefore, and on account
of the confidence in his fidelity with which She proceeded,
his Majesty disposed the most pure heart of saint Joseph,
giving him his divine hght to act conformably to his will.
This is the reward of the humble, who ask for counsel :
that they will find it with certainty and security (Eccli.
32, 29). It is also the peculiar prerogative of a holy
and discreet zeal to be able to give prudent advice to
those that ask. Full of this holy counsel saint Joseph
answered our Queen : "Thou knowest already, my Lady
and Spouse, that my utmost desires are to serve Thee
with all diligence and attention; for I am bound to
have this confidence in thy great virtue, that Thou wilt
not incline toward anything, which is not according to
the greater pleasure and glory of the Most High; and
this is my belief also in regard to this journey. Lest
thy making this journey alone and without the company
of thy husband cause surprise I will gladly go with Thee
and attend to thy wants on the way. Do Thou appoint
the day on which we shall depart together."
196. The most holy Mary thanked her prudent spouse
Joseph for his loving solicitude and for his attentive co-
operation with the will of God in whatever he knew to
be for his service and honor. They both concluded to
depart immediately on their visit to the house of saint
Elisabeth (Luke 1, 39), and prepared without delay
the provisions, which consisted merely in a little fruit,
bread and a few fishes, procured by saint Joseph. In
addition to these he borrowed an humble beast of burden,
in order to carry their provisions and his Spouse, the
Queen of all creation. Forthwith they departed from
Nazareth for Judea; the journey itself I will describe in
the following chapter. On leaving their poor dwelling
the great Mistress of the world knelt at the feet of her
THE INCARNATION 159
spouse Joseph and asked his blessing in order to begin
the journey in the name of the Lord. The saint was
abashed at the rare humiHty of his Spouse, with which
He had already been impressed by experience on so many
other occasions. He hesitated giving Her his benedic-
tion ; but the meek and sweet persistence of the most holy
Mary overcame his objections and he blessed Her in the
name of the Most High. The heavenly Lady raised
her eyes and her heart to God, in order to direct her
first steps toward the fulfillment of the divine pleasure
and willingly bearing along in her womb the Onlybe-
gotten of the Father and her own, for the sanctification
of John in that of his mother Elisabeth.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE HEAVENLY QUEEN AND
LADY GAVE ME.
197. My dearest daughter, many times I have confided
and manifested to thee the love burning within my
bosom : for I wish that it should be ardently re-enkindled
within thy own, and that thou profit from the instruction,
which I g^ve thee. Happy is the soul, to which the Most
High manifests his holy and perfect will; but more happy
and blessed is he, who puts into execution, what he has
learned. In many ways God shows to mortals the high-
ways and pathways of eternal life: by the Gospels and
the holy Scriptures, by the Sacraments and the laws of
the holy Church, by the writings and examples of the
saints, and especially, by the obedience due to the guid-
ings of its ministers, of whom his Majesty said : "Who-
ever hpars you, hears Me;" for obeying them is the
same as obeying the Lord himself, WhenevP^ by any
of these means thou hast come to the knowledge of the
will of God, I desire thee to assume the wings of humility
160 CITY OF GOD
and obedience, and, as if in ethereal flight or hke the
quickest sunbeam, hasten to execute it and thereby ful-
fill the divine pleasure.
198. Besides these means of instruction, the Most
High has still others in order to direct the soul ; namely,
He intimates his perfect will to them in a supernatural
manner, and reveals to them many sacraments. This
kind of instruction is of many and different degrees ; not
all of them are common or ordinary to all souls ; for the
Lord dispenses his light in measure and weight (Wis.
11, 21). Sometimes He speaks to the heart and the
interior feelings in commands; at others, in correction,
advising or instructing : sometimes He moves the heart to
ask Him; at other times He proposes clearly what He
desires, in order that the soul may be moved to fulfill
it; again He manifests, as in a clear mirror, great mys-
teries, in order that they may be seen and recognized by
the intellect and loved by the will. But this great and
infinite Good is always sweet in commanding, powerful
in giving the necessary help for obedience, just in his
commands, quick in disposing circumstances so that He
can be obeyed, notwithstanding all the impediments
which hinder the fulfillment of his most holy will.
199. In receiving this divine light, my daughter, I
wish to see thee very attentive, and very quick and dili-
gent in following it up in deed. In order to hear this
most delicate and spiritual voice of the Lord it is neces-
sary, that the faculties of the soul be purged from earthly
grossness and that the creature live entirely according to
the spirit; for the animal man does not perceive the ele-
vated things of the Divinity (I Cor. 2, 14). Be atten-
tive then to his secrets (Is. 24, 16) and forget all that
is of the outside; listen, my daughter, and incline thy
ear; free thyself from all visible things (Ps. 44, IH.
THE INCARNATION 161
And in order that thou mayest be diligent, cultivate love ;
for love is a fire, which does not have its effect until
the material is prepared; therefore let thy heart always
be disposed and prepared. Whenever the Most High bids
thee or communicates to thee anything for the welfare
of souls, or especially for their eternal salvation, devote
thyself to it entirely; for they are bought at the in-
estimable price of the blood of the Lamb and of divine
love. Do not allow thyself to be hindered in this matter
by thy own lowliness and bashfulness; but overcome the
fear which restrains thee, for if thou thyself art of small
value and usefulness, the Most High is rich (I Pet. 1,
18), powerful, great, and by Himself performs all things
(Rom. 10, 12). Thy promptness and affection will not
go without its reward, although I wish thee rather to be
moved entirely by the pleasure of thy Lord.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE JOURNEY OF THE MOST HOLY MARY ON HER VISIT
TO SAINT EUSABETH AND HER ENTRANCE INTO THE
HOUSE OE ZACHARIAS.
2(X). "And Mary rising up in those days," says the
sacred text, "went into the hill country with haste, into
a city of Judea" (Luke 1, 39). This rising up of our
heavenly Queen signified not only her exterior prepara-
tions and setting out from Nazareth on her journey, but
it referred to the movement of her spirit and to the divine
impulse and command which directed Her to arise in-
teriorly from the humble retirement, which She had
chosen in her humility. She arose as it were from the
feet of the Most High, whose will and pleasure She
eagerly sought to fulfill, like the lowliest handmaid, who
according to the word of David (Ps. 122, 2) keeps her
eyes fixed upon the hands of her Mistress, awaiting her
commands. Arising at the bidding of the Lord She
lovingly hastened to accomplish his most holy will, in
procuring without delay the sanctification of the Precur-
sor of the incarnate Word, who was yet held prisoner
in the womb of Elisabeth by the bonds of original sin.
This was the purpose and object of this journey. There-
fore the Princess of heaven arose and proceeded in
diligent haste, as mentioned by the Evangelist saint Luke.
20L Leaving behind then the house of her father and
forgetting her people (Ps, 44, 11), the most chaste
spouses, Mary and Joseph, pursued their way to the
house of Zacharias in mountainous Judea. It was twenty-
162
THE INCARNATION 163
six leagues distant from Nazareth, and the greater part
of the way was very rough and broken, unfit for such
a dehcate and tender Maiden. All the convenience at
their disposal for the arduous undertaking was an hum-
ble beast, on which She began and pursued her journey.
Although it was intended solely for her comfort and
service, yet Mary, the most humble and unpretentious of
all creatures, many times dismounted and asked her
spouse saint Joseph to share with Her this commodity
and to lighten the difificulties of the way by making use
of the beast. Her discreet spouse never accepted this
offer ; and in order to yield somewhat to the solicitations
of the heavenly Lady, he permitted her now and then to
walk with him part of the way, whenever it seemed to
him that her delicate strength could sustain the exertion
without too ^eat fatigue. But soon he would again ask
Her, with great modesty and reverence, to accept of this
slight alleviation and the celestial Queen would then obey
and ag^in proceed on her way seated in the saddle.
202. Thus alleviating their fatigue by humble and
courteous contentions, the most holy Mary and saint
Joseph continued on their journey, making good use of
each single moment. They proceeded alone, without ac-
companiment of any human creatures; but all the thou-
sand angels, which were set to guard the couch of Solo-
mon, the most holy Mary, attended upon them (Cant.
3, 7). Although the angels accompanied them in cor-
poreal form, serving their great Queen and her most
holy Son in her womb, they were visible only to Mary.
In the company of the angels and of saint Joseph, the
Mother of grace journeyed along, filling the fields and
the mountains with the sweetest fragrance of her pres-
ence and with the divine praises, in which She unceas-
ingly occupied Herself. Sometimes She conversed with
164 CITY OF GOD
the ang-els and, alternately with them, sang divine canticles
concerning the different mysteries of the Divinity and
the works of Creation and of the Incarnation. Thus
ever anew the pure heart of the immaculate Lady was
inflamed by the ardors of divine love. In all this her
spouse saint Joseph contributed his share by maintaining
a discreet silence, and by allowing his beloved Spouse to
pursue the flights of her spirit; for, lost in highest con-
templation, he was favored with some understanding of
what was passing within her soul.
203. At other times the two would converse with
each other and speak about the salvation of souls and
the mercies of the Lord, of the coming of the Redeemer,
of the prophecies given to the ancient Fathers concerning
Him, and of other mysteries and sacraments of the Most
High. Something happened on the way, which caused
great wonder in her holy spouse Joseph : he loved his
Spouse most tenderly with a chaste and holy love, such
as had been ordained in Him by the special grace and
dispensation of the divine love itself (Cant. 2, 4) ; in
addition to this privilege (which was certainly not a small
one) the saint was naturally of a most noble and cour-
teous disposition, and his manners were most pleasing
and charming; all this produced in him a most discreet
and loving solicitude, which was yet increased by the
great holiness, which he had seen from the beginning
in his Spouse and which was ordained by heaven as
the immediate object of all his privileges. Therefore
the saint anxiously attended upon most holy Mary and
asked her many times, whether She was tired or fatigued,
and in what he could serve Her on the journey. But
as the Queen of heaven already carried within the
virginal chamber the divine fire of the incarnate Word,
holy Joseph, without fathoming the real cause, expe-
THE INCARNATION 165
rienced in his soul new reactions, proceeding from the
words and conversations of his beloved Spouse. He felt
himself so inflamed by divine love and imbued with
such exalted knowledge of the mysteries touched upon
in their conversations, that he was entirely renewed and
spiritualized by this burning interior light. The farther
they proceeded and the more they conversed about these
heavenly things, so much the stronger these affections
grew, and he became aware, that it was the words of his
Spouse, which thus filled his heart with love and inflamed
his will with divine ardor.
204. So g^eat were these new sensations, that the
prudent Joseph could not help but pay the greatest at-
tention to them. Although he knew that all this came
to him through the mediation of most holy Mary, and
although it was a wonderful consolation to him, that
She was the cause, he meditated upon it without curiosity,
and, on account of his great modesty, he did not dare to
ask Her any questions. The Lord having ordained it thus,
for it was not yet time, that he should know the sacra-
ment of the King, which was already completed in her
virginal womb. The heavenly Princess beheld the in-
terior of her spouse, knowing all that passed within
his soul ; and in her prudence She reflected how it would
naturally be unavoidable, that he should come to know
of her pregnancy; for there would be no possibility of
concealing it from her most beloved and chaste spouse.
The great Lady did not know at the time, how God would
arrange this matter; yet, although She had not received
any intimation or command to conceal this mystery, her
heavenly prudence and discretion taught Her that it
would be proper to conceal it as a great sacrament, greater
than all other mysteries. Therefore She kept it secret,
saying not a word about it to her husband, neither after
166 CITY OF GOD
the message of the angel, nor during this journey, nor
later on, during the anxieties occasioned to saint Joseph
at becoming aware of her pregnancy.
205. O admirable discretion and prudence more than
human! The great Queen resigned Herself entirely to
the divine Providence, hoping that God would arrange
all things; yet She felt anxiety and pain, at the thought
of what her husband might think, and of her inability
to do anything in order to dissipate his anxiety. This
anxiety was increased by the attentive care and service,
lavished by him upon Her with so much love and affec-
tion; since his faithful services certainly deserved a cor-
responding return on her part as far as was prudently
possible. Therefore, in loving solicitude and in pursuance
of her desires to solve this coming difficulty, She prayed
to the Lord, asking Him to grant his divine assistance
and guidance to saint Joseph, when it should arrive. In
this state of suspense, in which She found Herself, her
Highness performed great and heroic acts of faith, hope
and charity, of prudence, humility, patience and fortitude,
imbuing all her activity with the plenitude of holiness
and reaching in all things the summit of perfection.
206. This journey was the first pilgrimage begun by
the divine Word, four days after He had entered the
world; for his most ardent love would not suffer any
longer delay or procrastination in enkindling the fire,
which He came to scatter in the world (Luke 12, 49),
and in beginning his justification of mortals with his
Precursor. This haste He communicated also to his
holy Mother, in order that She might arise without de-
lay and fly on her visit to Elisabeth (Luke 1, 39). The
most heavenly Lady on this occasion served as the coach
of the true Solomon ; but much more richly adorned and
more elegant, as Solomon himself infers in the canticles
THE INCARNATION 167
(Cant. 3, 9). Therefore this journey was glorious and
occasioned great joy to the Onlybegotten of the Father.
For He traveled at his ease in the virginal chamber of his
Mother, enjoying the sweet tokens of her love. At the
time She alone was the archive of this Treasure, the
secretary of so great a sacrament, and She adored Him,
blessed and admired Him, spoke and listened to Him,
and answered Him; She reverenced Him and thanked
Him for Herself and for all the human race, much more
than all the men and the angels together.
207. In the course of the journey, which lasted four
days, the two holy pilgrims, Mary and Joseph, exercised
not only the virtues which were interior and had God
for their immediate object, but also many other outward
acts of charity toward their neighbors; for Mary could
not remain idle at the sight of want. They did not find
the same hospitable treatment at all the inns of the road;
for some of the innkeepers, being more rude, treated them
with slight consideration in accordance with their natural
disposition ; others received them with true love inspired
by divine grace. But the Mother of mercy denied to no
one such help as She could administer; and therefore,
whenever She could decently do so. She hastened to visit
and hunt up the poor, infirm and afflicted, helping them
and consoling them, and curing their sicknesses. I will
not stop to relate all that happened on the way, but will
only mention the good fortune of a poor sick girl, whom
our great Queen found in passing through a town on the
first day of her journey. She was moved to tenderest
compassion at the sight of her grievous illness ; and, mak-
ing use of her power as Mistress of the creatures, She
commanded the fever to leave the maiden and the
humors to recompose and reduce themselves to their
natural state and condition. At this command and at
168 CITY OF GOD
the sweet presence of the purest Mother, the sick maiden
was suddenly freed and healed from her pains of body
and benefited in soul; so that afterwards She lived more
and more perfectly and attained the state of sanctity;
for the image of the Authoress of her happiness re-
mained stamped within her memory and her heart was
enkindled with a great love toward the heavenly Lady,
although She never again saw Her, nor was the miracle
ever made public.
208. Having pursued their journey four days, the
most holy Mary and her spouse arrived at the town of
Juda, where Zachary and Elisabeth then lived. This
was the special and proper name of the place, where
the parents of saint John lived for a while, and there-
fore the Evangelist saint Luke specifies it, calling it
Juda, although the commentators have commonly be-
lieved that this was not the name of the town in which
Elisabeth and Zacharias lived, but simply the name of
the province, which was called Juda or Judea; just as
for the same reason the mountains south of Jerusalem
were called the mountains of Judea. But it was ex-
pressly revealed to me that the town was called Juda
and that the Evangelist calls it by its proper name; al-
though the learned expositors have understood by this
name of Juda the province, in which that town was sit-
uated. This confusion arose from the fact that some
years after the death of Christ the town Juda was de-
stroyed, and, as the commentators found no trace of
such a town, they inferred that saint Luke meant the
province and not a town; thus the great differences of
opinion in regard to the place, where most holy Mary
visited Elisabeth, are easily explained.
209. As holy obedience has enjoined upon me the
duty of clearing up these doubts, on account of the
THE INCARNATION 169
strange inconsistency in the sayings of learned men, I
will also add to what I have already said, that the house
in which the visitation took place was built upon the
very spot on which now the faithful pilgrims, who
travel to or live in the holy Land, venerate the divine
mysteries transacted during the visit. Although the
town of Juda itself, where the house of Zacharias stood
is ruined, the Lord did not permit the memory of the
venerable locality in which those great mysteries tran-
spired, and which were hallowed by the footsteps of
most holy Mary, of Christ our Lord, and of the Baptist
as well as of his holy parents, to be blotted out and ef-
faced from the memory of men. Therefore it was by
divine influence, that the ancient Christians built up
those churches and restored the holy places, in order to
preserve by the agency of divijje light the traditional
truth and to renew the memory of the admirable sacra-
ments. Thus we ourselves, the faithful of our times,
can enjoy the blessing of venerating and worshipping
the sacred localities, proclaiming and confessing our
Catholic faith in the works of our Redemption.
210. For the better understanding of these things
let it be remembered that after the demon had become
aware on Calvary that Christ our Lord was God and
the Redeemer of men, he sought with incredible fury
to blot out the remembrance of Him from the land of
the living, as Jeremias says (Jer. 11, 19) ; and the same
is to be said of the memory of his most holy Mother.
Thus he managed to have the most holy Cross hidden
and buried under ground and to have it delivered as
spoil of war to the Persians; and in the same way he
procured the ruin and obliteration of many holy places.
On this account the holy angels carried back and forth
so many times the venerable and holy house of Loretto;
170 CITY OF GOD
for the same dragon who pursued the heavenly Lady
(Apoc. 12, 13), had already excited the minds of the
inhabitants of that land to tear down and raze to the
ground that most sacred oratory, which had been the
workshop of the Most High in the mystery of the In-
carnation. The same astute hatred of the enemy urged
him to blot out the town of Juda, aided partly by the
negligence of the inhabitants, who gradually died off,
partly also by untoward events and happenings. Yet the
Lord did not allow all traces (?f the house of Zachary to
be effaced or obliterated, on account of the sacraments,
which were there enacted.
211. This town was distant from Nazareth, as I have
said, twenty-six leagues, and about two leagues from
Jerusalem, and it was situated in that part of the Judean
mountains, where the stream Sorec takes its rise. After
the birth of saint John and the return of the most holy
Mary and her spouse Joseph to Nazareth, saint Elisa-
beth received a divine revelation that a great calamity
and slaughter impended over the infants of Bethlehem
and its vicinity. And though this revelation was inde-
terminate and unclear, it nevertheless induced the mother
of saint John to betake herself with Zacharias, her hus-
band, to Hebron, which was eight leagues more or less
from Jerusalem; for they were rich and noble, and they
had dwellings not only in Juda and Hebron, but they
had houses and possessions also in other places. When
the most holy Mary and Joseph were on their way flying
from Herod to Egypt (Matth. 2, 14) after the birth of
the Word and some months after the birth of saint John,
saint Elisabeth and Zacharias were in Hebron. Zacharias
died four months after our Lord was born, which was
ten months after the birth of his son John. It seems to
me I have now sufficiently solved this doubt, and it
THE INCARNATION 171
ought to be evident that the house of the Visitation was
neither in Jerusalem, nor in Bethlehem, nor in Hebron,
but in the town called Juda. I saw that this is the true
explanation, which was made known to me by divine
light together with the other mysteries of this heavenly
history; afterwards, when I was constrained by obe-
dience to ask about this matter, a holy angel again made
the same declaration to me.
212. It was at this city of Juda and at the house of
Zacharias that most holy Mary and Joseph arrived. In
order to announce their visit, saint Joseph hastened
ahead of Mary and calling out saluted the inmates of
the house, saying: "The Lord be with you and fill your
souls with divine grace." Elisabeth was already fore-
warned, for the Lord himself had informed her in a
vision that Mary of Nazareth had departed to visit her.
She had also in this vision been made aware that the
heavenly Lady was most pleasing in the eyes of the Most
High; while the mystery of her being the Mother of
God was not revealed to her until the moment, when
they both saluted each other in private. But saint Elisa-
beth immediately issued forth with a few of her family,
in order to welcome most holy Mary, who, as the more
humble and younger in years, hastened to salute her
cousin, saying: "The Lord be with you, my dearest
cousin," and Elisabeth answered : "The same Lord re-
ward you for having come in order to afford me this
pleasure." With these words they entered the house of
Zacharias and what happened I will relate in the follow-
ing chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH OUR QUEEN AND LADY GAVE ME.
213. My daughter, whenever the creature holds in
proper esteem the good works and the services, which
172 CITY OF GOD
the Lord commands for his glory, it will feel within
itself great facility of operation, great sweetness in un-
dertaking them, and a readiness and alacrity in continu-
ing and pursuing them. These different feelings then
give testimony of their being truly useful and com-
manded by God. But the soul cannot experience these
affections, if it is not altogether devoted to the Lord,
keeping its gaze fixed upon his divine pleasure, hearing
of it with joy, executing it with alacrity and forgetting
its own inclination and conveniences. The soul must
be like the faithful servant, who seeks to do only the
will of his master and not his own. This is the manner
of obeying, which is fruitful and which is due from all
the creatures to their God and much more from all the
religious, who explicitly promise this kind of obedience.
In order that thou, my dearest, mayest attain to it per-
fectly, remember with what esteem David in many places
speaks of the precepts (Ps. 118), of the sayings and of
the justifications of the Lord; and remember the effects,
which they caused in that Prophet and even now in the
souls. He says that they make the infants wise (Ps.
18, 8), rejoice the heart of men (Ps. 18, 9), that they
enlighten the eyes of the soul, so that they become a
most brilliant light for its footsteps (Ps. 118, 105), that
they are more sweet than honey (Ps. 18, 11), more de-
sirable and more estimable than the most precious stones.
This promptitude and subjection to the divine will and
to his laws made David so conformable to the heart of
God. These are the kind of souls his Majesty seeks for
his servants and friends (I Kings 13, 14, Acts 13, 22).
214. Attend therefore, my daughter, with all solici-
tude to the works of virtue and perfection, which thou
knowest to be desirable in the eyes of the Lord. De-
spise none of them nor withdraw from any of them and
THE INCARNATION 173
cease not to exercise them, no matter how violently thy
inclinations and thy weakness should oppose their exer-
cise. Trust in the Lord and proceed to put them into
execution, and soon his power will overcome all diffi-
culties. Soon thou wilt also know by happy experience
how light is the burden and how sweet is the yoke of the
Lord (Matth. 11, 13). He did not deceive us when He
spoke those words, as might be argued by the tepid
and the negligent, who in their torpidity and distrust,
tacitly repudiate the truth of this statement. I wish also
that thou, in order to imitate me in this perfection, take
notice of the favor, which the divine condescension
vouchsafed me in furnishing me with a most sweet love
and affection for the creatures as participators in the
divine goodness and existence. In this love I sought
to console, alleviate and enliven all the souls; and by a
natural compassion I procured all spiritual and cor-
poreal goods for them ; to none of them, no matter how
great sinners they might have been, did I wish any
evil; on the contrary I was urged by the great compas-
sion of my tender heart to procure for them eternal sal-
vation. From this also arose my anxiety concerning
the grief, which was to grow out of my pregnancy to
my spouse saint Joseph; for to him I owed more than
to all other creatures. Tender compassion filled my
heart, especially for the suffering and the infirm, and I
tried to obtain some relief for all. In these virtues then
I wish that thou, making use of the knowledge of them
given to thee, most prudently imitate me.
2-lS
CHAPTER XVII.
THS salutation given to saint ELISABETH BY THE
QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND THE SANCTIFICATION OF
JOHN.
215. When the most holy Mother Mary arrived at the
house of Zacharias, the Precursor of Christ had com-
pleted the sixth month of his conception in the womb
of saint Elisabeth. The body of the child John had
already attained a state of great natural perfection;
much greater than that of other children, on account of
the miracle of his conception by a sterile mother and
on account of the intention of the Most High to make
him the depositary of greater sanctity than other men
(Matth. 11, 11). Yet at that time his soul was yet filled
with the darkness of sin, which he had contracted in
the same way as the other children of Adam, the first
and common father of the human race; and as, accord-
ing to the universal and general law, mortals cannot
receive the light of grace before they have issued forth
to the light of the sun (Rom. 5, 7) ; so, after the first,
the original sin contracted by our nature, the womb of
the mother must serve as a dungeon or prison for all of
us, who have laden upon ourselves this guilt of our
father and head, Adam. Christ our Lord resolved to
anticipate this great blessing in his Prophet and Pre-
cursor by conferring the light of his grace and justifi-
cation upon him six months after his conception by
saint Elisabeth, in order that he might be distinguished
174
THE INCARNATION 175
as well in holiness, as he was in his office of Precursor
and Baptist.
216. After the first salutation of Elisabeth by the
most holy Mary, the two cousins retired, as I have said
at the end of the preceding chapter. And immediately
the Mother of grace saluted anew her cousin saying:
"May God save thee, my dearest cousin, and may his
divine light communicate to thee grace and life" (Luke
1, 40). At the sound of most holy Mary's voice, saint
Elisabeth was filled by the Holy Ghost and so enlight-
ened interiorly, that in one instant she perceived the
most exalted mysteries and sacraments. These emo-
tions, and those that at the same time were felt by the
child John in the womb of his mother, were caused by
the presence of the Word made flesh in the bridal cham-
ber of Mary's womb, for, making use of the voice of
Mary as his instrument. He, as Redeemer, began from
that place to use the power given to Him by the eternal
Father for the salvation and justification of the souls.
And since He now operated as man, though as yet of
the diminutive size of one conceived eight days before,
He assumed, in admirable humility, the form and pos-
ture of one praying and beseeching the Father, He
asked in earnest prayer for the justification of his future
Precursor and obtained it at the hands of the blessed
Trinity.
217. Saint John was the third one for whom our
Redeemer made special petition since his presence in
the womb of his mother. His Mother was the first
for whom He gave thanks and prayed to the Father;
next in order was her spouse, saint Joseph, for whom the
incarnate Word offered up his prayers, as we have said
in the twelfth chapter; and the third one was the Pre-
cursor saint John, whom the Lord mentioned by name in
176 CITY OF GOD
his prayers to the Father. Such was the great good for-
tune and privilege of saint John, that Christ our Lord
presented to the eternal Father the merits of his Passion
and Death to be endured for men; and in view thereof
He requested the sanctification of this soul. He ap-
pointed and set apart this child as one who is to be born
holy as his Precursor and as a witness of his coming into
the world (John 1, 7) ; as one who was to prepare the
hearts of his people in order that they might recognize
and receive Him as the Messias. He ordained that for
such an exalted ministry the Precursor should receive
all the graces, gifts and favors which are befitting and
proportionate to his office. All this the Father granted
just as the Onlybegotten had requested it of Him.
218. This happened before the most holy Mary had
put her salutation into words. At the pronunciation of
the words mentioned above, God looked upon the child
in the womb of saint Elisabeth, and gave it perfect use
of reason, enlightening it with his divine light, in order
that he might prepare himself by foreknowledge for the
blessings which he was to receive. Together with this
preparation he was sanctified from original sin, made an
adopted son of God, and filled with the most abundant
graces of the Holy Ghost and with the plenitude of all
his gifts; his faculties were sanctified, subjected and sub-
ordinated to reason, thus verifying in himself what the
archangel Gabriel had said to Zacharias; that His son
would be filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb of
his mother (Luke 1, 17). At the same time the for-
tunate child, looking through the walls of the maternal
womb as through clear glass upon the incarnate Word,
and assuming a kneeling posture, adored his Redeemer
and Creator, whom he beheld in most holy Mary as if
enclosed in a chamber made of the purest crystal. This
THE INCARNATION 177
was the movement of jubilation, which was felt by his
mother EHsabeth as coming from the infant in her
womb (Luke 1, 44). Many other acts of virtue the
child John performed during this interview, exercising
faith, hope, charity, worship, gratitude, humility, devo-
tion and all the other virtues possible to him there. From
that moment he began to merit and grow in sanctity,
without ever losing it and without ever ceasing to exer-
cise it with all the vigor of grace.
219. Saint Elisabeth was instructed at the same time
in the mystery of the Incarnation, the sanctification of
her own son and the sacramental purpose of this new
wonder. She also became aware of the virginal purity
and of the dignity of the most holy Mary, On this oc-
casion, the heavenly Queen, being absorbed in the vision
of the Divinity and of the mysteries operated by it
through her most holy Son, became entirely godlike,
filled with the clear light of the divine gifts which She
participated ; and thus filled with majesty saint Elisabeth
saw Her. She saw the Word made man as through a
most pure and clear glass in the virginal chamber, lying
as it were on a couch of burning and enlivened crystal.
The efficacious instrument of all these wonderful ef-
fects was the voice of most holy Mary, as powerful as
it was sweet in the hearing of the Lord, All this force
was as it were only an outflow of that which was con-
tained in those powerful words: "Fiat mihi secundum
verbum tuum," by which She had drawn the eternal
Word from the bosom of the Father down to her soul
and into her womb.
220. Filled with admiration at what She saw and
heard in regard to these divine mysteries, saint Elisa-
beth was wrapt in the joy of the Holy Ghost; and,
looking upon the Queen of the world and what was
178 CITY OF GOD
contained in Her, she burst forth in loud voice of praise,
pronouncing the words reported to us by saint L,uke:
"Blessed are Thou among women and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the
Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold
as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my
ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy, and blessed
art Thou, that has believed, because those things shall
be accomplished, that were spoken to Thee by the Lord."
In these prophetic words saint Elisabeth rehearsed the
noble privileges of most holy Mary, perceiving by the
divine light what the power of the Lord had done in
Her, what He now performed, and what He was to ac-
complish through Her in time to come. All this also
the child John perceived and understood, while listen-
ing to the words of his mother; for she was enlight-
ened for the purpose of his sanctification, and since he
could not from his place in the womb bless and thank
her by word of mouth, she, both for herself and for
her son, extolled the most holy Mary as being the in-
strument of their good fortune.
221. These words of praise, pronounced by saint
Elisabeth were referred by the Mother of wisdom and
humility to the Creator; and in the sweetest and softest
voice She intoned the Magnificat as recorded by saint
Luke (Ch. 1,46-55).
46. My soul doth magnify the Lord;
47. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48. Because He hath regarded the humility of his
handmaid ; for behold from henceforth all genera-
tions shall call me blessed.
49. Because He that is mighty hath done great
things to me; and holy is his name.
THE INCARNATION 179
50. And his mercy is from generation unto gen-
eration to them that fear Him.
51. He hath shewed might in his arm; He hath
scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
52. He hath put down the mighty from their seat
and hath exalted the humble.
53. He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He hath sent empty away.
54. He hath received Israel, his servant, being
mindful of his mercy;
55. As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and
his seed forever."
222. Just as saint Elisabeth was the first one who
heard this sweet canticle from the mouth of most holy
Mary, so she was also the first one who understood it
and, by means of her infused knowledge, commented
upon it. She penetrated some of the great mysteries,
which its Authoress expressed therein in so few sen-
tences. The soul of most holy Mary magnified the
Lord for the excellence of his infinite Essence ; to Him
She referred and yielded all glory and praise (I Tim. 1,
17), both for the beginning and the accomplishment of
her works. She knew and confessed that in God alone
every creature should glory and rejoice, since He alone
is their entire happiness and salvation (II Cor. 10, 17).
She confessed also the equity and magnificence of the
Most High in attending to the humble and in confer-
ring upon them his abundant spirit of divine love (Ps.
137, 6). She saw how worthy of mortals it is to per-
ceive, understand and ponder the gifts that were con-
ferred on the humility of Her, whom all nations were
to call blessed, and how all the humble ones, each one
according to his degree, could share the same good for-
tune. By one word also She expressed all the mercies.
180 CITY OF GOD
benefits and blessings, which the Almighty showered
upon Her in his holy and wonderful name; for She calls
them altogether "great things" since there was nothing
small about anything that referred to this great Queen
and Lady.
223. And as the mercies of the Most High over-
flowed from Mary's plenitude to the whole human race,
and as She was the portal of heaven, through which they
issued and continue to issue, and through which we are
to enter into the participation of the Divinity; therefore
She confessed, that the mercy of the Lord in regard to
Her is spread out over all the generations, communi-
cating itself to them that fear Him. And just as the in-
finite mercies raise up the humble and seek out those
that fear God; so also the powerful arm of divine jus-
tice scatters and destroys those who are proud in the
mind of their heart, and hurls them from their thrones
in order to set in their place the poor and lowly. This
justice of the Lord was exercised in wonderful splendor
and glory upon the chief of all the proud, Lucifer and
his followers, when the almighty arm of God scattered
and hurled them (because they themselves precipitated
themselves) from their exalted seats which befitted their
angelic natures and their graces, and which they occu-
pied according to the original (Isaias 14; Apoc. 12)
decree of the divine love. For by it He intended that
all should be blessed (I Tim. 2, 4) while they, in trying
to ascend in their vain pride to positions, which they
neither could attain nor should aspire to, on the con-
trary cast themselves from those which they occupied
(Isaias 14, 13). In their arrogance they were found
opposed to the just and inscrutable judgments of the
L(Ord, which scattered and cast down the proud angel
and all his followers (Apoc. 12, 8). In their place were
THE INCARNATION 181
installed the humble of heart through the mediation of
most holy Mary, the Mother and the treasure house of
his ancient mercies.
224. For the same reason this divine Lady says and
proclaims that God enriches the needy, filling them with
the abundance of his treasures of grace and glory; and
those that are rich in their own estimation and pre-
sumptuous arrogance, and those who satisfy their heart
with the false goods, which the world esteems as riches
and happiness, the Most High has banished and does
banish from his presence, because they are void of the
truth, which cannot enter into hearts filled and occupied
with falsehood and deceit. He received his servants and
his children, the people of Israel, remembering his mer-
cies in order to teach them, wherein prudence, truth and
understanding (Bar. 3, 14), wherein free and abundant
life and nourishment, wherein the light of the eyes and
peace consists. He taught them the way of prudence
and the hidden paths of wisdom and discipline, which
is concealed from the princes of the gentiles, and is not
known to the powerful, who dominate over the beasts
of the earth and entertain themselves and play with the
birds of the air and heap up treasures of gold and silver.
Nor can the sons of Agar and the inhabitants of Teman,
who are the wise and the proudly prudent of this world,
ever attain this wisdom. But to those that are sons of
the light (Galat. 3, 7), and who are sons of Abraham by
faith, hope and obedience, the Most High distributes it;
for in this manner has it been promised to his posterity
and his spiritual children, made secure by the blessed
and happy Fruit of the virginal womb of the most holy
Mary.
225. Saint Elisabeth looking upon Mary the Queen
of creation understood these hidden mysteries; and not
182 CITY OF GOD
only those, which I am able to express here, did this for-
tunate matron understand, but many more and greater
sacraments, which my understanding cannot compre-
hend; nor do I wish to dilate upon all that have been
shown to me, lest I unduly extend this history. But the
sweet discourses and conversations, which these two holy
and discreet ladies held with each other, reminded me of
the two seraphim, which Isaias saw above the throne of
the Most High, repeating the divine and always new
canticle: Holy, holy, etc., while they covered their head
with one pair of wings, their feet with another, flew
with the third pair (Isaias 6, 2). It is certain that the
inflamed love of these two holy women exceeded that
of all the seraphim, and Mary by Herself loved more
than they all together. They were consumed in the flame
of divine love, extending the two wings of their hearts
in order to manifest to each other their love and in order
to soar into the most exalted intelligence of the mys-
teries of the Most High, With two more wings of
rarest knowledge they covered their faces; because both
of them discussed and contemplated the sacrament of
the King (Tob. 12, 7), guarding its secrets within
themselves all their lives; also because they restrained
their discourse and subjected it to their devoted faith,
without giving scope to proud inquisitiveness. They also
covered the feet of the Lord and their own with the
third pair of seraphic wings, because they were lowered
and annihilated in their own humble estimation of them-
selves at the sight of such great Majesty. Moreover
since most holy Mary enclosed within her virginal womb
the God of majesty himself, we can with reason and
with literal truth say, that She covered the seat where
the Lord sat enthroned.
226. When it was time to come forth from their re-
THE INCARNATION 183
tirement, saint Elisabeth offered herself and her whole
family and all her house for the service of the Queen
of heaven. She asked Her to accept, as a quiet retreat,
the room which she herself was accustomed to use for
her prayers, and which was much retired and accom-
modated to that purpose. The heavenly Princess ac-
cepted the chamber with humble thanks, and made use
of it for recollecting Herself and sleeping therein, and
no'one ever entered it, except the two cousins. As for
the rest She offered to serve and assist Elisabeth as a
handmaid, for She said, that this was the purpose of
visiting her and consoling her. O what friendship is
so true, so sweet and inseparable, as that which is
formed by the great bond of the divine love! How ad-
mirable is the Lord in manifesting this great sacrament
of the Incarnation to three women before He would
make it known to any one else in the human race! For
the first was saint Anne, as I have said in its place; the
second one was her Daughter and the Mother of the
Word, most holy Mary; the third one was saint Elisa-
beth, and conjointly with Her, her son, for he being yet
in the womb of his mother, cannot be considered as dis-
tinct from her. Thus "the foolishness of God is wiser
than men," as saint Paul says.
227. The most holy Mary and Elisabeth came forth
from their retirement at nightfall, having passed a long
time together; and the Queen saw Zacharias standing
before Her in his muteness, and She asked him for his
blessing as from a priest of the Lord, which the saint
also gave to Her. Yet, although She tenderly pitied
him for his affliction, She did not exert her power to
cure him, because She knew the mysterious occasion of
his dumbness; yet She offered a prayer for him. Saint
Elisabeth, who already knew the good fortune of the
184 CITY OF GOD
most chaste spouse Joseph, although he himself as yet
was not aware of it, entertained and served him with
great reverence and highest esteem. After staying three
days in the house of Zacharias, however, he asked per-
mission of his heavenly Spouse Mary to return to Naza-
reth and leave Her in the company of saint Elisabeth
in order to assist her in her pregnancy. The holy hus-
band left them with the understanding that he was to
return in order to accompany the Queen home as soon
as they should give him notice; saint Elisabeth offered
him some presents to take home with him ; but he would
take only a small part of them, yielding only to their
earnest solicitations, for this man of God was not only a
lover of poverty, but was possessed of a magnanimous
and noble heart. Therewith he pursued his way back to
Nazareth, taking along with him the little beast of bur-
den, which they had brought with them. At home, in
the absence of his Spouse, he was served by a neigh-
boring woman and cousin of his, who, also when most
holy Mary was at home, was wont to come and go on
the necessary errands outside of the house.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN AND LADY GAVE ME-
228. My daughter, in order that thy heart may be
ever more and more inflamed with the desire of gaining
the grace and friendship of God, I wish very much
that thou grow in the knowledge of the dignity, excel-
lence and happiness of a soul, that has been endowed
with this privilege ; however, remember that it is so ad-
mirable and of so great a value that thou canst not com-
prehend it, even if I would explain it to thee; and much
less canst thou express it in words. Look upon the
Lord and contemplate Him by means of the divine light.
THE INCARNATION 185
which thou receivest, and then thou wilt understand that
the Lord performs a greater work in justifying a soul
than in having created all the orbs of heaven and the
whole earth with all the beauty and perfection contained
within them. And if on account of the wonders which
creatures are able in part to perceive in these works by
the senses, they are impressed with the greatness and
power of God, what would they say and think if they
could see with the eyes of their soul the preciousness and
beauty of grace in so many creatures, who are capable
of receiving them?
229. There are no terms of human language equal to
the task of expressing what participations and perfec-
tions of God are contained in sanctifying grace. It is
little to say that it is more pure and spotless than the
snow; more refulgent than the sun; more precious than
gold or precious stones, more charming, more amiable
and pleasing than all the most delightful feasts and en-
tertainments, and more beautiful than all that in its en-
tirety can be imagined or desired by the creatures. Take
notice also of the ugliness of sin, in order that by the
opposite thou mayest come to so much the better under-
standing of the beauty of grace; for neither darknesses,
nor rottenness, nor the most horrible, the most dreadful,
nor the foulest of creatures can ever be compared to sin
and to its ugliness. The martyrs and saints understood
much of this mystery (Heb. 11, 36), who in order to
secure the beauty of grace and preserve themselves
from the ruin of sin, did not fear fire, nor wild beasts,
nor the sword, nor torments, nor prisons, ignominies,
pains, afflictions, nor death itself, nor prolonged and per-
petual suffering; for to escape all these must be counted
for little or nothing, and rhust scarcely be thought
of in comparison with one degree of grace, which souls
186 CITY OF GOD
may attain, even though they be the most abject of the
whole world. All this the men, who esteem and seek
after the fugitive and apparent beauty of creatures, are
ignorant of; and whatever does not present to them
this deceitful beauty, is for them vile and contemptible.
230. Thou perceivest therefore something of the
greatness of the blessing, which the incarnate Word con-
ferred upon his Precursor in the womb of his mother;
and because saint John recognized it, he leaped for joy
and exultation in the womb of his mother. Thou wilt
also see what thou thyself must do and suffer in order
to attain this happiness, and in order not to lose, or in
the least impair this most precious beauty by any fault,
nor retard its consummation by any imperfection, no
matter how small. I wish that in imitation of my cousin
Elisabeth, thou do not enter into any friendship with
any human creatures, except those, with whom thou
canst and shouldst converse about the works of the Most
High and of his mysteries, and with whom thou canst
learn to pursue the true path of his divine pleasure. Al-
though thou art engaged in important undertakings and
works, do not forget or omit thy spiritual exercises and
the strictness of a perfect life; for this must not only be
preserved and watched over, when all things go
smoothly, but also under the greatest adversity, diffi-
culty and labor; for imperfect human nature takes oc-
casion of the slightest circumstance to relax its vigilance.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MOST HOI.Y MARY ARRANGES THE ORDER OF HER DAILY
EXERCISES IN THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS; SOME IN-
CIDENTS IN HER INTERCOURSE WITH SAINT EUSA-
BETH.
231. When the Precursor John had been sanctified
and saint Ehsabeth, his mother, had been endowed with
such great gifts and blessings, and when thus the princi-
pal object of Mary's visit was fulfilled, the great Queen
proceeded to arrange her daily life in the house of Zach-
arias; for her occupations could not be uniformly the
same as those She was accustomed to in her own house.
In order to direct her desire by the guidance of the Holy
Ghost She retired and placed Herself in the presence of
the Most High, asking Him as usual to guide Her and
direct Her in that which She was to do during her stay
in the house of his servants Elisabeth and Zacharias; so
that She might in all things be pleasing to Him and
fulfill entirely his pleasure. The Lord heard Her peti-
tion and answered Her saying: "My Spouse and my
Dove, I will direct all thy actions and I will direct thy
footsteps in the fulfillment of my service and pleasure,
and I will make known to thee the day on which I wish
thee to return to thy home. In the meanwhile remain
in the house of my servant Elisabeth and converse with
her. As for the rest, continue thy exercises and prayers,
especially for the salvation of men, and pray also, that I
withhold my justice in dealing with their incessant of-
fenses against my bounty. Conjointly with thy prayers
thou shalt offer to Me the Lamb without spot (I Pet. 1,
187
188 CITY OF GOD
19) which thou bearest in thy womb and which takes
away the sins of the world (John 1, 291). Let these
now be thy occupations."
232. In conformity with this instruction and new
mandate of the Most High, the Princess of heaven or-
dered all her occupations in the house of her cousin
Elisabeth. She rose up at midnight in accordance with
her former custom, spending the hours in the continued
contemplation of the divine mysteries and giving to wak-
ing and sleep the time, which most perfectly and exactly
agreed with the natural state and conditions of her
body. In labor and repose She continued to receive new
favors, illuminations, exaltation and caresses of the
Lord. During these three months She had many visions
of the Divinity, mostly abstractive in kind. More fre-
quent still were the visions of the most holy humanity
of the Word in its hypostatic union; for her virginal
womb, in which She bore Him, served Her as her con-
tinual altar and sanctuary. She beheld the daily growth
of that sacred body. By this experience and by the
sacraments, which every day were made manifest to Her
in the boundless fields of the divine power and essence,
the spirit of this exalted Lady expanded to vast propor-
tions. Many times would She have been consumed and
have died by the violence of her affections, if She had
not been strengthened by the power of the Lord. To
these occupations, which were concealed from all. She
added those, which the service and consolation of her
cousin Elisabeth demanded, although She did not apply
one moment more to them, than charity required. These
fulfilled, She turned immediately to her solitude and
recollection, where she could pour out the more freely
her spirit before the Lord.
2Z2>. Not less solicitous was She to occupy Herself in-
THE INCARNATION 189
teriorly, while She was engaged for many hours in man-
ual occupations. And in all this the Precursor was so
fortunate that the great Queen, with her own hands,
sewed and prepared the swaddling clothes and coverlets
in which he was to be wrapped and reared; for his
mother Elisabeth, in her maternal solicitude and atten-
tion, had secured for saint John this good fortune, hum-
bly asking this favor of the heavenly Queen. Mary with
incredible love and subjection complied with her request
in order to exercise Herself in obedience to her cousin,
whom She wished to serve as the lowest handmaid ; for
in humility and obedience most holy Mary always sur-
passed all men. Although saint Elisabeth sought to
anticipate Her in much that belonged to her service,
yet, in her rare prudence and wisdom, Mary knew how
to forestall her cousin, always gaining the triumph of
humility.
234. In this regard a great and sweet competition
arose between the two cousins, which was very pleasing
to the Most High and wonderful in the sight of the
angels; for saint Elisabeth was very solicitous and at-
tentive in serving our Lady and great Queen, and in
commanding also the same service to be rendered Her
by all the inmates of the house. But She, who was the
Teacher of virtues, most holy Mary, being still more
attentive and eager to serve, met and diverted the anxie-
ties of her cousin, saying: "My dear cousin, I find my
consolation in being commanded and in obeying during
all my life; it is not good that thy love should deprive
me of the comfort I feel therein ; since I am the younger
one, it is proper that I serve not only thee, as my mother,
but all in thy house ; deal with me as with thy servant as
long as I am in thy company." Saint Elisabeth an-
swered: "My beloved Lady, it beseems much more that
2-14
190 CITY OF GOD
I obey Thee and that Thou command and direct me in
all things; and this I ask of thee with greater justice.
For if Thou, the Mistress, wishest to exercise humility,
I on my part owe worship and reverence to my God and
Lord, whom Thou bearest in thy virginal womb, and I
know that thy dignity is worthy of all honor and rev-
erence," And the most prudent Virgin rejoined: "My
Son and Lord did not choose me for his Mother, in
order that I receive reverence as mistress; for his king-
dom is not of this world (Joan 18, 36), nor did He
come into it in order to be served; but to serve (Matth.
20, 28), and to sufifer, and to teach obedience and hu-
mility to mortals (Matth. 11, 29), condemning fastidi-
ousness and pride. Since therefore his Majesty teaches
me this and the Highest calls Himself the ignominy of
men (Ps. 21, 22), how can I, who am his slave and do
not merit the company of creatures, consent that thou
serve me, who art formed according to his image and
likeness?" (Gen. 1, 27).
235. Saint Elisabeth still insisted and said : "My Mis-
tress and Protectress, this is true for those, who do not
know the sacrament which is enclosed in Thee. But I,
who have without merit been informed by the Lord, will
be very blamable in his eyes, if I do not give Him in
Thee the veneration which is due to Him as God, and
to Thee as his Mother; for it is just that I serve Both,
as a slave serves his masters." To this the most holy
Mary answered : "My dear sister, this reverence which
thou owest and desirest to give, is due to the Lord,
whom I bear within my womb, for He is the true and
highest Good and our Redeemer. But as far as I am
concerned, who am a mere creature and among creatures
only a poor worm, look upon me as I am in myself, al-
though thou shouldst adore the Creator, who chose my
THE INCARNATION 191
poor self as his dwelling. By his divine enlightenment
thou shalt give unto God, what is due to Him, and allow
me to perform that which pertains to me, namely to
serve and to be below all. This I ask of Thee for my
consolation and in the name of the Lord, whom I bear
within me."
236. In such blessed and happy contentions most holy
Mary and her cousin Elisabeth passed some of their
time. But the divine prudence of our Queen caused in
Her such an alertness and ingenuity in matters concern-
ing humility and obedience, that She never failed to find
means and ways of obeying and of being commanded.
However, during all the time in which She stayed with
saint Elisabeth, all this was done in such a way that
both according to their condition treated with the high-
est respect the sacrament of the King which had been
entrusted to their knowledge, and which was deposited
in the most holy Mary. This high respect in Mary was
such as befitted the Mother and the Mistress of all vir-
tue and grace, and in Elisabeth, such as was worthy of
the prudent matron, so highly enlightened by the holy
Spirit. By this light she wisely directed her behavior
in regard to the Mother of God, yielding to her wishes
and obeying Her in whatever she could, and at the same
time reverencing her dignity, and in it, her Creator. In
her inmost heart she made the intention that if she
were obliged to give any command to the Mother of
God, she would do it only in order to obey and satisfy
her wishes; and whenever she did it, she asked permis-
sion and pardon of the Lord, at the same time never
ordering anything by direct command, but always by
request ; and she would use greater earnestness only in
such things as were conducive to Mary's convenience, as
for instance, that She take some sleep or nourishment.
192 CITY OF GOD
She also asked Mary to make a few articles for her with
her own hands; Mary complied, but saint Elisabeth
never made use of them, except to preserve them with
the greatest veneration.
237. In this way most holy Mary put into practice
the doctrine of the eternal Word who humiliated Him-
self so far, that, being the form of the eternal Father,
the figure of his substance, true God of the true God, He
nevertheless assumed the form and condition of a ser-
vant (Heb. 1, 3, Philip 2, 6, 7). This Lady was the
Mother of God, Queen of all creation, superior in ex-
cellence and dignity to all creatures, and yet She re-
mained the humble servant of the least of them; and
never would She accept homage and service as if due to
Her, nor did She ever exalt Herself, or fail to judge of
Herself in the most humble manner. What shall we
now say of our most execrable presumption and pride?
Since, full of the abomination of sin, we are so sense-
less as to claim for ourselves with dreadful insanity
the homage and veneration of all the world? And if
this is denied us, we quickly lose the little sense which
our passions have left us. This whole heavenly history
bears the stamp of humility, and is a condemnation of
our pride. And since it is not my office to teach or cor-
rect, but to be taught and to be corrected, I beseech and
pray all the faithful children of light to place this ex-
ample before their eyes for our humiliation,
238. It would not have been difficult for the Lord to
preserve his most holy Mother from such extreme low-
liness and from the occasions in which She embraced it;
He could have exalted Her before creatures, ordaining
that She be renowned, honored and respected by all;
just as He knew how to procure homage and renown
for others as Assuerus did for Mardocheus. Perhaps,
THE INCARNATION 193
if this had been left to the judgment of men, they would
have so managed that a Woman more holy than all the
hierarchies of heaven, and who bore in her womb the
Creator of the angels and of the heavens, should be sur-
rounded by a continual guard of honor, withdrawn
from the gaze of men and receiving the homage of all
the world; it would have seemed to them unworthy of
Her to engage in humble and servile occupations, or
not to have all things done only at her command, or to
refuse homage, or not to exercise fullest authority. So
narrow is human wisdom, if that can be called wisdom,
which is so limited. But such fallacy cannot creep into
the true science of the saints, which is communicated to
them by the infinite wisdom of the Creator, and which
esteems at their just weight and price these honors with-
out confounding the values of the creatures. The Most
High would have denied his beloved Mother much and
benefited Her little, if He had deprived and withdrawn
from Her the occasion of exercising the profoundest
humility and had instead exposed Her to the exterior
applause of men. It would also be a great loss to the
world to be without this school of humility and this ex-
ample for the humiliation and confusion of its pride.
239. From the time of her receiving the Lord as her
Guest in her house, though yet in the womb of the Vir-
gin Mother, the holy Elisabeth was much favored by
God. By the continued conversation and the familiar
intercourse with the heavenly Queen in proportion as
she grew in the knowledge and understanding of the
mysteries of the Incarnation, this great matron advanced
in all manner of sanctity, as one who draws it from its
very fountain. A few times She merited to see most
holy Mary during her prayers, ravished and raised from
the ground and altogether filled with divine splendor and
194 CITY OF GOD
beauty, so that she could not have looked upon her face,
nor remain alive in her presence, if she had not been
strengthened by divine power. On these occasions, and
at others whenever she could be witness of them without
attracting the attention of most holy Mary, she pros-
trated herself and knelt in her presence, and adored the
incarnate Word in the virginal temple of the most holy
Mother. All the mysteries which became known to her
by the divine light and by the intercourse with the great
Queen, saint Elisabeth sealed up in her bosom, being a
most faithful depositary and prudent secretary of that
which was confided to her. Only with her son John
and with Zacharias, during the short time in which he
lived after the birth of his son, saint Elisabeth con-
versed to some extent concerning those sacraments
which had become known to all. But in all this she acted
as a courageous, wise and very holy woman.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN MOST HOLY MARY
GAVE ME.
240. My daughter, the favors of the Most High and
the knowledge of his divine mysteries, in the attentive
souls, engender a kind of love and esteem of humility,
which raises them up with a strong and sweet force, like
that which causes fire to ascend, like the gravity which
causes a stone to fall, each of them striving to reach its
own and natural sphere. This is done by the true light,
which places the creature in the possession of a clear
knowledge of its own self and attributes the graces to
the proper source, whence all perfect things come (James
1, 17) ; and thus it brings all things into correct bal-
ance. And this is the most proper order of right reason
which overthrows and as it were exerts violence against
THE INCARNATION 195
the false presumption of mortals. On account of this
presumption of pride the heart, wherein it lives, cannot
strive after contempt, nor bear it, nor can it suffer a su-
perior over itself, and is offended even at equals; it
violently opposes all in order to place itself alone above
all fellow creatures. But the humble heart is abased
in proportion to the benefits it received, and in its in-
terior quietly grows a desire or an ardent hunger for
self-abasement and for the last place; it is violently dis-
turbed in not finding itself esteemed as the inferior of
all and in being deprived of humiliation.
241. In me, my dearest, thou wilt find exhibited the
practical application of this doctrine; since none of the
favors and blessings, which the right hand of the Most
High lavished upon me, were insignificant. Yet never
was my heart inflated with presumption above itself
(Ps. 110, 1), nor did it ever know anything else than to
desire to be abased and occupy the last place among all
creatures. The imitation of this I desire especially of
thee; let thy ambition be to take the last place, to live
in subjection to all others; abased and considered as
useless, in the presence of the Lord and of men, thou
must judge thyself as less than the dust of the earth
itself. Thou canst not deny, that in no generation has
any one been more favored than thou, and no one has
merited these favors less than thou. How then wilt thou
make any return for this great debt of gratitude if thou
dost not humiliate thyself below all others and more
than all the sons of Adam; and if thou dost not awaken
within thyself exalted and loving sentiments concerning
humility? It is good to obey the prelates and instruc-
tors, therefore do it always. But I desire that thou
go much farther, and that thou obey the most insignifi-
cant of thy fellow beings in all that is not sinful, and in
196 CITY OF GOD
such a way, as if thou wert obeying the highest of thy
superiors; and I desire that in this matter thou be very
earnest, as I was during my earthly Hfe.
242. Thou must, however, be circumspect in regard
to the obedience to thy inferiors, so that they may not,
knowing of thy anxiousness to obey in all things, seek
to induce thee to obey in things unseemly and unbecom-
ing. Thou canst do much good by giving them the
good and orderly example of obedience, without caus-
ing them to lose any of their subjection and without
derogating from thy authority as their superioress. If
any disagreeable accident or injury should happen,
which affects thee alone, accept it gladly, without so
much as moving thy lips in self-defense, or making
any complaints. Whatever is an injury to God do thou
reprehend without mixing up any of thy own grievances
with those of his Majesty; for thou shouldst never find
any cause for self defense, but always be ready to defend
the honor of God. But neither in the one nor the other,
allow thyself to be moved by disorderly anger and pas-
sion. I wish also, that thou use great prudence in hid-
ing and concealing the favors of the Lord, for the sacra-
ment of the King is not to be lightly manifested (Tob.
12, 7), nor are carnal men capable or worthy of the
mysteries of the Holy Ghost (I Cor. 2, 14). In all
things imitate and follow me, since thou wishest to be
my beloved daughter; this thou wilt attain by obeying
me and thou wilt induce the Almighty to strengthen
and direct thy footsteps to that which I desire to ac-
complish in thee. Do not resist Him, but dispose and
prepare thy heart sweetly and quickly to obey his light
and grace. Let grace not be void in thee (II Cor. 6,
1 ) , but labor diligently and let thy actions be performed
in all perfection.
CHAPTER XIX.
of SOME CONVERSATIONS, WHICH MOST HOLY MARY
HELD WITH HER ANGELS IN THE HOUSE OE SAINT
ELISABETH, AND OE OTHERS, WHICH SHE HELD WITH
HER COUSIN.
243. The plenitude of the wisdom and grace of most
holy Mary, being- of such immense capacity, could not
remain idle at any point of time, nor in any place or
occasion. For it gave forth the plenitude of all perfec-
tion, active at all times and seasons to the fullest extent of
duty and possibility, without ever falling short of the
holiest and the most excellent in virtue. And as in all
places She acted the part of a pilgrim on earth and of
an inhabitant of heaven, and as She herself was the in-
tellectual and most glorious heaven, the living temple, in
which God himself had made his habitation ; so She also
carried with Her her own oratory and sanctuary and in
this respect there was for Her no difference between her
own house and that of her cousin saint Elisabeth, nor
could any other place, time or occupation be a hindrance
to Her in this regard. She was placed above all things
and without any outside claim She incessantly devoted
Herself to the influence of the love, which was contin-
ually in her sight. Yet at the same time She conversed
with the creatures at opportune times and treated with
them according as occasion required, giving as much at-
tention to them, as the most prudent Mistress could fit-
tingly spare for each in particular. And as her most
frequent conversings during the three months, in which
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198 CITY OF GOD
She remained in the house of Zacharias, were with saint
Elisabeth and with the holy angels of her guard, I shall
relate in this chapter something of that which formed
the subject of her conferences with them, and also men-
tion other things, which happened in her intercourse
with the saint.
244. When She was left alone and free to Herself
our heavenly Princess passed many hours ravished and
elevated in divine contemplations and visions. Some-
times during these trances, sometimes outside of them,
She was accustomed to converse with her angels about
the sacraments and mysteries of her interior love. One
day, soon after She had arrived at the house of Zacha-
rias, She spoke to them in the following manner : "Heav-
enly spirits, my guardians and companions, ambassadors
of the Most High and luminaries of his Divinity, come
and strengthen my heart, which is captured and wounded
by his divine love; for it is afflicted with its own limita-
tions in that it cannot properly respond to the obliga-
tions which are known to it and which dictate its de-
sires. Come, ye supernal princes, and praise with me the
admirable name of the Lord and let us magnify his holy
judgments and operations. Help this poor little worm
to praise its Maker, who condescends kindly to look
upon its insignificance. Let us talk of the wonders of
my Spouse; let us discuss the beauty of my Lord, of
my beloved Son! let my heart find relief in uniting its
inmost aspirations to your own, my friends and com-
panions; for you do know the secrets of my Treasure,
which the Lord has deposited within me in the narrow-
ness of so fragile and constrained a vase. Great are
these sacraments and admirable these mysteries; and I
contemplate them with sweet affection, but their su-
pernal greatness overwhelms me, the profundity and the
THE INCARNATION 199
greatness of my love overpowers me even while they
inflame my heart. In the ardor of my soul I cannot rest
satisfied and I find no repose ; for my desires surpass all
that I can accomplish and my obligations are greater
than my desires; I am dissatisfied with myself, because
I do not exert myself as much as I desire, because I do
not desire to accomplish as much as I should, and be-
cause I find myself continually falling short and van-
quished by the greatness of the returns which are due.
Ye heavenly seraphim, listen to my loving anxieties; I
am fallen sick with love (Cant. 2, 5). Open to me
your bosoms, whence the beauty of my God is flashed
forth, in order that the splendors of his light and the
visions of his loveliness may replenish the life, which
wastes away in his love."
245. "Mother of our Creator and our Mistress," an-
swered the holy angels, "Thou possessest truly the Al-
mighty and our highest Good. Since Thou hast Him so
closely bound to Thee and art his true Spouse and
Mother, rejoice in Him and keep Him with Thee for
all eternity. Thou art the Spouse and the Mother of
the God of love, and as in Thee is the only cause and
fountain of life, no one shall live with Him as Thou,
our Queen and Mistress. But do not seek to find re-
pose in a love so inflamed; for thy state and condition
of a pilgrim do not permit thy love to attain the repose
of perfect consummation, nor will it cease to aspire to
new and greater increase of merit and triumph. Thy
obligations surpass without comparison those of all the
nations; but they are to increase and grow continually;
never will thy so vastly inflamed love equal its Object,
since It is eternal and infinite and without measure in
its perfection; Thou shalt always be happily vanquished
by its greatness ; for no one can comprehend It ; only He
200 CITY OF GOD
himself comprehends Himself and loves Himself in the
measure, in which He deserves to be loved. Eternally,
O Lady, shalt Thou find in Him more to desire and
more to love, since that is required by the essence of his
greatness and of our beatitude."
246. In these colloquies and conferences the fire of di-
vine love was more and more enkindled in the heart of
most holy Mary; in Her was exactly fulfilled the com-
mand of the Lord (Levit. 6, 12), that in his tabernacle
and on his altar should burn continually the fire of the
holocaust and that the priest of the ancient law should
see to its perpetual nourishment and maintenance. This
precept was executed to the letter in the most holy Mary,
for in Her were jointly contained the altar and the new
Highpriest, Christ our Lord, who nourished and aug-
mented its flame day by day, by administering new ma-
terial in favors, blessings, graces and communications
of his Divinity; while the exalted Lady on her part,
contributed her ceaseless exertions, which were ineffably
enhanced in value by the continual flow of the graces
and sanctity of the Lord, From the moment in which
this Lady entered into the world, this conflagration of
his divine love took its rise, in order never to be extin-
guished on this altar through all the eternities of God
himself. For as lasting as this eternity and as contin-
uous was and will be the fire of this living sanctuary.
247. At other times She spoke and conversed with the
holy angels, when they appeared to Her in human forms,
as I have said in several places. Most frequently this con-
versation turned about the mystery of the incarnate
Word ; and in this She manifested so profound a knowl-
edge in citing the holy Scriptures and the Prophets
that She caused wonder even in the angels. On one oc-
casion in speaking to them of these venerable sacra-
THE INCARNATION 201
ments, She said : "My lords, servants of the Most High
and his friends, my heart is pierced and torn by arrows
of grief, when I meditate on what the sacred Scriptures
say of my most holy Son or what Isaias and Jeremias
wrote (Gen. 22, 2; Isai. 33, 2; Jerem. 11, 18) concern-
ing the most bitter pains and torments in store for Him.
Solomon says (Wis. 2, 20), that they shall condemn
Him to a most ignominous death and the Prophets al-
ways speak in weighty and superlative terms of his Pas-
sion and Death, which all are to be fulfilled in Him. O
were it the will of his Majesty that I live at that time in
order to offer myself to die instead of the Author of my
life ! My soul is sorely afflicted in the consideration of
these infallible truths and that my God and my Lord
should come forth from my womb only in order to suf-
fer. O who will guard Him and defend Him against
his enemies! O tell me, ye heavenly princes, by what
services or by what means can I induce the eternal Fa-
ther to divert the rigor of his justice upon me, in order
that the Innocent, who cannot have any guilt upon Him,
may be freed from punishment? Well do I know that
in order to satisfy the infinite God for the offenses of
men, the satisfaction of the incarnate God is required;
but by his first act my most holy Son has merited more
than all the human race can lose or demerit by its of-
fenses. Since this is sufficient, tell me, is it not possible
that I die in order to relieve Him from his death and
torments? My humble desires will not be annoying to
my God, and my anxieties will not be displeasing to
Him. Yet, what am I saying? and to what lengths do
sorrow and love drive me, since I must be subject in
all things to the divine will and its perfect fulfillment?"
248. Such and like colloquy the most holy Mary held
with her angels, especially during the time of her preg-
202 CITY OF GOD
nancy. The holy spirits met all her anxieties and com-
forted her with great reverence, consoling Her by re-
newing the memory of the very sacraments, which She
already knew and by reminding Her of the reasonable-
ness and propriety of the death of Christ for the salva-
tion of the human race, for the conquest of the demons
and spoliation of their power, for the glory of the
eternal Father and the exaltation of the most holy and
highest Lord his Son (Tim. 2, 14). So great and ex-
alted were the mysteries touched upon in these dis-
courses of the Queen with the holy angels, that neither
can the human tongue describe, nor our capacity compre-
hend them in this life. When we shall enjoy the Lord
we shall see what we cannot at present conceive. From
this little which I have said, our piety can help us to
draw conclusions in regard to others much greater.
249, Saint Elisabeth was likewise much versed and
enlightened in the divine Scriptures, and much more so
since the Visitation; and therefore our Queen conversed
with Her concerning these heavenly mysteries, which
were known and understood by the matron, instructing
and enlightening her by heavenly teachings ; for through
her intercession Elisabeth was enriched with many bless-
ings and gifts of heaven. Many times she wondered
at the profound wisdom of the Mother of God, and
blessed Her over and over again, saying: "Blessed art
Thou, my Mistress and Mother of my Lord, among all
womankind (Luke 1, 42) ; and may the nations know
and magnify thy dignity. Most fortunate art Thou on
account of the rich Treasure, which Thou bearest in
thy virginal womb. I tender to Thee my humble and
most affectionate congratulations for the joy with which
thy spirit shall be filled, when Thou shalt hold in thy
arms the Son of justice and nurse Him at thy virginal
THE INCARNATION 203
breasts. Remember me thy servant, O Lady, in that
hour and offer my heart in sacrifice to thy most holy
Son, my true and incarnate God. O who shall merit to
serve Thee from now on and attend upon Thee! But if
I am unworthy of this good fortune, may I enjoy that
of being- borne in thy heart; for I fear (not without
cause) that mine will be torn asunder, when I must part
from Thee." Many other sentiments of sweetest and
most tender love saint Elisabeth uttered in her personal
intercourse with the most holy Mary ; and the most pru-
dent Lady consoled her, strengthened and enlivened her
by her divinely efficacious reasonings. These so exalted
and heavenly dealings of Mary were diversified by many
other acts of humility and self-abasement in serving not
only her cousin Elisabeth, but also the servants of her
house. Whenever She could find an occasion. She
swept the house of her relative, and always her oratory
at regular times; and with the servants She washed the
dishes, and performed other acts of profound humility.
Let no one think it strange that I particularize in these
small matters ; for the greatness of our Queen has made
them of importance for our instruction and in order that
knowing of them, our pride may vanish and our vile-
ness may come to shame. When saint Elisabeth learnt
of the humble services, performed by the Mother of
piety, She was deeply moved and tried to prevent them;
and therefore the heavenly Lady concealed them from
her cousin wherever it was possible.
250. O Queen and Mistress of heaven and earth, my
Protectress and Advocate, although Thou art the
Teacher of all sanctity and perfection, lost in astonish-
ment at thy humility, I dare, O my Mother, to ask Thee :
how was it possible that, knowing of the Onlybegotten
of the Father within thy virginal womb, and wishing in
204 CITY OF GOD
all things to conduct Thyself as his Mother, thy great-
ness should abase itself to such lowliness, as sweeping
the floor and similar occupations ; since, according to our
notions. Thou couldst, on account of the reverence due
CO thy most holy Son, easily have excused Thyself with-
out failing against the duties of thy most perfect Moth-
erhood, My desire is, O Lady, to understand how thy
Majesty was governed in this matter.
ANSWER AND INSTRUCTION OF THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN.
251. My daughter, in order to solve thy difficulty
more explicitly than as already noted down in the fore-
going chapter, thou must remember that no occupation
or exterior act pertaining to virtue, no matter how lowly
it may be, can, if it is well-ordered, impede the worship,
reverence and exaltation of the Creator of all things ; for
these acts of virtue do not exclude one another ; but they
are all compatible with one another in the creature, and
much more in me, who lived in the continual presence of
the highest Good without ever losing It out of sight by
exterior activity. I adored and remembered God in all
my actions, referring them all to his greater glory; and
the Lord himself, who orders and creates all things, de-
spises none of them, nor is He offended, or irritated by
their smallness. The soul that loves Him, is not dis-
concerted by any of these little things in his divine pres-
ence; for it seeks and finds Him as the beginning and
the end of all creatures. And because terrestrial crea-
tures cannot exist without these humble performances
and without others that are inseparable from our lowly
condition and the preservation of our nature, it is neces-
sary to understand this doctrine well, in order that we
may be governed by it. For if we engage in these
THE INCARNATION 205
thoughts and occupations without reference to their Cre-
ator, they will cause many and great interruptions in the
practice of virtue and in our merits, as well as in the
right use of interior advantages. Our whole life will be
blameworthy and full of reprehensible defects, little re-
moved from the earthliness of creatures.
252. According to this doctrine thou must so regu-
late thy terrestrial occupations, whatever they may be,
that thou do not lose thy time, which can never be re-
covered. Whether thou eat, labor, rest, sleep, or watch,
in all times and places, and in all occupations, adore,
reverence and look upon thy great and powerful Lord,
who fills all things and conserves all things (I Cor. 10,
3; Matth. 11, 29). I wish also that thou pay special
attention to that which moved and incited me most to
perform all acts of humility; namely, the thought that
my divine Son came in the guise of humility in order
to teach the world this virtue in word and example, to
inculcate the hate of vanity and pride and rooting out
its seed sown by Lucifer among mortals in the first sin.
His Majesty gave me such a deep knowledge of how
much He is pleased with this virtue, that in order to be
allowed to perform only one of the acts mentioned by
thee, such as sweeping the floor or kissing the feet of
the poor, I would have been ready to suffer the greatest
torments of the world. Thou wilt never find words to
express the love for humility which I had, nor to de-
scribe its excellence and nobility. In the Lord thou
wilt know and understand what thou canst not describe
in words.
253. But write this doctrine in thy heart and observe
it as the rule of thy life; continue to exercise thyself in
the contempt of all things belonging to human vanity,
and esteem them as odious and execrable in the eyes of
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206 CITY OF GOD
the Most High. But in connection with this humiHty of
thy Hfe, let thy thoughts always be of the noblest and
thy conversation in heaven and with the angelic spirits
(Philip 3, 20) ; deal with them and converse with them
in order to obtain new light concerning the Divinity and
the mysteries of Christ my most holy Son. With crea-
tures let thy intercourse be such as will continually in-
crease thy fervor and serve thee as means of advancing
and profiting by means of humility and divine love. In
thy own mind assume the lowest place beneath all crea-
tures, so that when the occasion and the time of exer-
cising the acts of humility arrive, thou mayest be found
prompt and willing to exercise them. Only then wilt
thou be the mistress of the passions, if first thou hast
acknowledged thyself in thy heart as the least and weak-
est and most useless of all the creatures.
CHAPTER XX.
SOME SPECIAL FAVORS WHICH MOST HOLY MARY CON-
FERRED UPON SEVERAL PERSONS IN THE HOUSE OF
Z AC H ARIAS.
254. It is a well known quality of love to be active as
the fire in works of kindness, wherever it finds occasion ;
and this is especially true of the fire of spiritual love;
for it will reach out in search of material, as soon as this
falls short. The Master has taught lovers of God so
many ways and methods of pursuing virtue, that there
is no need of remaining idle. And as love is not blind
nor insane, it knows well the qualities of the noble ob-
ject it aims at. Its only concern is that not all men love
it properly; and thus it seeks to communicate this love
without strife or envy. We know that the love of all
the other saints, though most fervent and holy, appears
limited in comparison with that of most holy Mary.
Yet if their love is admirable and powerful, inciting them
to vast works of zeal for souls, what immense works
then must not the love this great Queen have accom-
plished for the benefit of her fellowmen, since She was
the Mother of the divine love (Eccli. 24, 24), and since
She carried with her the true and living fire that was to
enkindle the world ? ( Luke 12, 49) . Let all the mortals
learn from this heavenly history how much they owe to
the love of this Lady, Although it will be impossible to
notice all the particular instances of the benefits con-
ferred on the souls by Her, nevertheless, in order that
from some of them, many more may be inferred, I will
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208 CITY OF GOD
relate a few that our Queen conferred while in the
house of her cousin Elisabeth.
255. One of the servants in that house was of per-
verse inclination, restless, subject to anger, and accus-
tomed to swear and curse. With all these vices and dis-
orders, she still knew how to make herself agreeable to
her masters, but at the same time she was so given over
to the power of the demon that this tyrant could easily
induce her to throw herself into all sorts of miseries
and mistakes. For fourteen years many devils sur-
rounded and accompanied her without intermission in
order to make certain the capture of her soul. Only
when this woman came into the presence of the Mis-
tress of heaven, most holy Mary, these enemies with-
drew ; for, as I have said in other places, the virtue issu-
ing from our Queen tormented them, and especially dur-
ing that time when She carried within her virginal re-
pository the powerful God and Lord of all virtues. As
on the one hand this woman was freed from her cruel
exactors, being released from the evil influences of their
company, and as on the other hand she experienced
within her the beneficial effects of the sweet vision and
intercourse of the Queen, she began to be much at-
tracted and moved toward Mary and she sought to be
in her presence and offered to serve Her with much af-
fection, striving to pass all the time possible with Her
and watching Her with reverence; for among her
distorted inclinations she had also a good one, which
was a natural kindness and compassion for the needy
and the humble, so that she was naturally drawn to-
ward them and ready to do them good.
256. The heavenly Princess, who saw and knew all
the inclinations of this woman, the state of her con-
science, the danger of her soul and the malice of the
THE INCARNATION 209
demons against her, turned upon her an eye of mercy
and watched her with the love of a mother. Although
her Majesty knew that the company and the interference
of the demons was a just punishment for the sins of this
woman, yet She interceded for her and obtained for her
pardon, remedy and salvation. She commanded the de-
mons, in virtue of the authority conceded to Her, to
leave this creature and not dare to disturb her or molest
her thenceforth. As they could not resist the sway of our
great Queen, they yielded and fled in highest consterna-
tion, not knowing how to account for such power of
the most holy Mary. They conferred about it in as-
tonishment and indignation, saying: "Who is this
Woman, that exerts such dominion over us? Whence
does such strange power come, which enables Her to
perform all that She wishes?" The demons therefore
conceived new wrath and indignation against Her, who
had crushed their heads (Gen. 3, 15). The happy
woman, however, was snatched from their claws. Mary
admonished her, corrected her, and taught her the way
of salvation, and changed her into a woman of kind
and meek disposition. She persevered therein during all
her life, being well aware, that all this had come to
her through the hands of our Queen; although she did
not know nor penetrate into the mystery of her dignity,
she remained humbly thankful and lived a holy life.
257. Not in a better state than this servant was an-
other woman living in the neighborhood of the house
of Zacharias, who as a neighbor was wont to come and
listen to the conversation of the family of saint Elisa-
beth. She lived a licentious life, far from honorable,
and when she heard of the arrival of our great Queen
in that town, of her modesty and retirement, she spoke
of Her lightly and with some curiosity: "Who is this
210 CITY OF GOD
Stranger, that has come as a guest of our neighbors,
and who gives Herself such holy and recollected airs?"
In the vain and inquisitive desire of spying out novelty,
as is customary with such kind of people, she managed
to get sight of the heavenly Lady and scrutinized her
dress and her countenance. Her intention was imperti-
nent and presumptuous; but far different the effect: for
having succeeded in scrutinizing most holy Mary, she
left with a wounded heart: the presence and the sight
of the Queen transformed her into a new woman. Her
inclinations were altogether changed, and without know-
ing by what efficacious influence the change came about,
she felt its power and began to shed abundant floods
of tears in deepfelt sorrow for her sins. Merely on ac-
count of having fixed her attentive gaze , in curiosity
upon the Mother of virginal purity, this happy woman
received in return the love of chastity and was freed
from the sensual habits and inclinations of her former
life. In that very hour she sorrowfully retired to weep
over her wicked life. Whenever later on she desired
to converse with the Mother of grace, her Highness,
in order to confirm her, permitted it. For as Mary knew
what had happened and as She bore within Her the
origin of grace, the Sanctifier and Justifier by whose
power She fulfilled her office of Advocate of sinners
She received her with maternal kindness, admonished
and instructed her in virtue, dismissing her strengthened
and confirmed for perseverence in her new life.
258. In this manner our great Lady performed many
works and caused many admirable conversions in a great
number of souls; although it was done in silence and
hidden to all. The whole family of saint Elisabeth and
Zacharias were sanctified by her intercourse and conver-
THE INCARNATION 211
sation. Those who were just, experienced new increase
of gifts and favors; those that were not, She justified
and enlightened by her intercession; all of them were
captured by reverential love of Her so completely, that
each one strove to obey Her and acknowledge Her as
mother, as protectress and as a consolation in all their
necessities. The mere privilege of seeing Her, without
any words, was sufficient to produce all these effects;
yet She was careful not to omit whatever seemed neces-
sary to obtain this end. As She penetrated the secrets
of all hearts and knew the state of each one's conscience,
She knew how to apply the opportune medicine. Some-
times, not always, the Lord manifested to Her the final
end of those She met : informing Her, which were
chosen and which were reprobate, predestined for hap-
piness or foreknown as damned. At sight of both one
and the other her heart broke forth in admirable flashes
of most perfect virtue: for when She knew of any that
were just and predestined. She bestowed upon them
many blessings, which She also does now in heaven,
and the Lord looked with favor upon her beneficence.
Exerting incredible and prayerful diligence She asked
Him to preserve them in his grace and friendship. When-
ever She saw any one in sin. She asked from the bot-
tom of her heart for his justification and ordinarily
She also obtained it. But if it happened to be one of
the reprobate, She wept bitterly and humiliated Herself
in the presence of the Most High for the loss of that
image and work of the Divinity ; She redoubled her heart-
felt prayers, oft'erings and humiliations in order that no
others might damn themselves, and her whole being was
one flame of divine love, which never rested nor re-
posed in accomplishing great things.
212 CITY OF GOD
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE HEAVENLY QUEEN AND
I^DY GAVE ME.
259. My dearest daughter, within two limits, as if
within two extremes, all the harmony of thy powers and
wishes must move. They are: to preserve thyself in the
grace and friendship of God, and to seek the same good
fortune for others. In this let all thy life and activity be
consumed. For such high purpose I wish that thou spare
no labor, beseeching the Lord and offering thyself in
sacrifice unto death, accepting actually all that is op-
portune and possible. Although, in order to solicit the
good of souls, thou need not make any great ado before
creatures, since that is not appropriate to thy sex; yet
thou must seek and prudently apply all the hidden means,
that are most efficacious within thy knowledge. If thou
wilt be my daughter and a spouse of my most holy
Son, consider that the possessions of our house are the
rational creatures, which He acquired as a rich prize at
the cost of his life (I Cor. 6, 20) and of his blood; for
through their own disobedience they were lost to Him
(Gen. 3, 6), after He had created and selected them
for Himself.
260. Hence whenever the Lord sends to thee, or
throws in thy way, a needy soul and makes thee aware
of its state, labor faithfully to assist it. Pray and weep
with heartfelt and fervent love, that God may furnish
the remedy for such great and dangerous evil, and do
not neglect any means, divine or human, as far as thou
art concerned, in order to obtain the salvation of eternal
life for the soul entrusted to thee. By means of the
prudence and moderation which I have taught thee, thou
must not grow weary in admonishing, nor in praying
for that which will benefit that soul; and in all secrecy
THE INCARNATION 21J
continue thy labor in its behalf. Likewise I wish, that
whenever it is necessary, thou command the demons in
the powerful name of the Almighty and my own, to
depart and leave in peace the souls oppressed by them;
and as all this is to be done in secret, thou canst in all
propriety animate and encourage thyself to this kind of
work. Remember that the Lord has placed thee, and
will place thee in a position to exercise this doctrine. Do
not forget it, nor fail in understanding, how much thou
art bounden to his Majesty to use care and solicitude in
extending the possessions of thy Father's house. Do not
rest until thou accustom thyself to do this with all dili-
gence (Phil. 4, 13). Fear not, for thou canst do all in
Him that strengthens thee ; and his power will strengthen
thy arm to do great things (Pro v. 31, 27).
CHAPTER XXI.
SAINT ELISABETH ASKS THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN TO AS-
SIST AT HER CONFINEMENT AND IS ENEIGHTENED CON-
CERNING THE BIRTH OE JOHN.
261. Already two months had passed since the coming
of the Princess of heaven into the house of holy Elisa-
beth; and the discreet matron was even now filled with
grief at the thought of the departure and of the absence
of the Mistress of the world. She dreaded the loss of
so great a blessing as her presence was, and with reason,
since she knew, that it could not come within the range
of human merits; in her holy humility she scrutinized
her heart, fearing lest any fault of hers might be the
cause of the setting of that beautiful moon and of the
Sun of justice within the virginal Womb. Sometimes
She wept and sighed in private, because she could find
no means of prolonging their stay, which had shed much
clear light of grace in her soul. She asked the Lord
with many tears to inspire her Cousin, the most holy
Lady Mary, not to forsake her ; at least, not to withdraw
so soon her sweet company. She served Her with great
reverence and solicitude and studied to oblige Her. It is
no wonder, that so saintly, attentive and prudent a woman
should ask for that which even the angels coveted. For
in addition to the divine light, which she had received
from the Holy Ghost concerning the supreme dignity
and sanctity of the Virgin Mother, she had the personal
experience of her most sweet intercourse and conversa-
tion, and all this combined had ravished her heart, so that
214
THE INCARNATION 215
without divine aid, she could not have survived the part-
ing, after once having known and conversed with the
blessed Lady.
262. In order to find some consolation, saint Elisa-
beth resolved to open her heart to the heavenly Lady,
who was, however, not ignorant of her sorrow; and she
said to Her in great submission and humility : "Cousin,
dear Lady, on account of the respect and consideration,
with which I am bound to serve Thee, I have not until
now dared to speak of my desire and of the sorrow in
my heart ; give me now the permission to relieve it by
making them known. The Lord has condescended in
his mercy to send Thee hither, in order that I might have
the unmerited blessing of conversing with Thee and of
knowing the mysteries, which his divine Providence has
entrusted to Thee, my Mistress. Unworthy I am to
praise Him eternally for this favor (Dan. 3, 53). Thou
art the living temple of his glory, the ark of the Testa-
ment, containing the Manna, which is the food of the
angels (Heb. 9, 4). Thou art the tablet of the true
law, written in his own Being (Ps. 77 , 25). I appreciate
in my lowliness how rich his Majesty has made me, that
without my merit I should entertain in my own house
the Treasure of heaven and Her, whom He has chosen
as his Mother among all women. I justly fear that I
displease Thee and the Fruit of thy womb by my sins,
and that therefore thou wilt forsake thy slave, with-
drawing the great blessing, which I now enjoy. Pos-
sibly, if it be thy pleasure, I might have the happiness
of serving Thee and remaining with Thee all the rest
of my life. If it is a hardship for Thee to return to thy
dwelling, it will be most convenient for Thee to stay in
my house. If Thou wilt call thy holy spouse Joseph and
live with him here as my masters, I will serve you with
216 CITY OF GOD
affectionate readiness of heart. Althoug-h I do not merit
what I ask, I beseech Thee not to despise my humble
petition, since the Lord can surpass by his mercies all
my merits and desires."
263. The most holy Mary heard with sweetest com-
placency the petition of her cousin Elisabeth and an-
swered her : "Dearest friend of my soul, thy holy wishes
are acceptable in the eyes of the Most High. I also
thank thee from my heart; but in all our undertakings
and resolves it is necessary that we conform to the divine
will and entirely subject ourselves to it. Although this
is the duty of all creatures, thou knowest, that it is my
duty before all others, since by the power of his arm He
has raised me from the dust and in boundless love has
looked upon me (Luke 1, 53). All my words and move-
ments must be guided by the divine will of my Lord and
Son and I must not desire anything except what is ac-
cording to his pleasure. Let us present to his Majesty
thy desires, and whatever He in his goodness shall or-
dain, that let us execute. I must also obey my spouse
Joseph, for without his order and consent, I can neither
decide upon my occupations, nor upon my dwelling-
place ; it is just, my dearest, that we obey our superiors."
264. Saint EHsabeth yielded to the persuasive words
of the Princess of heaven and answered with humble
submission : "My Lady, I am ready to obey thy will
and revere thy teaching. I wish only once more to com-
mend to Thee my sincere affection and heartfelt devo-
tion to thy service. If my wishes cannot be fulfilled and
are contrary to the will of God, I desire at least, if pos-
sible, that Thou, my Queen, do not forsake me until my
son shall come forth to the light; in order that, just as
within my womb he has adored and recognized his Re-
deemer in thy own, so he may enjoy his divine presence
THE INCARNATION 217
and enlightenment before any other creature; and that
he may receive thy blessing for the first advances in life
(Prov. 16, 9) by the presence of Him, who is to direct
his footsteps. And do Thou, the Mother of grace, pre-
sent Him to the Creator and obtain from his goodness
the perseverance in that grace, which he received at
the sound of thy sweetest voice, when it came to my
unworthy ears. Let me behold my child in thy arms,
where the God, who made and preserves heaven and
earth, is likewise to rest (Is. 42, 5). Let not thy mater-
nal kindness be strained or diminished by my sins ; deny
not this consolation to me, nor to my son this great hap-
piness, which as a mother I ask and unworthily desire
for him."
265. Most holy Mary did not wish to refuse and She
promised to pray the Lord for the fulfillment of this
request of her cousin, asking her at the same time to
unite her prayers with hers in order to knoA"- ^is most
holy will. Accordingly the two mothers of the two most
holy Sons born into the world betook themselves to the
oratory of the heavenly Princess and presented their peti-
tions to the Most High. Most pure Mary fell into an
ecstasy, wherein She was enlightened anew concerning
the mysterious life and the dignity of the Precursor and
concerning his work in preparing the hearts of men for
the reception of their Redeemer and Teacher, and She
made known to saint Elisabeth these sacraments in as
far as it was proper. She was informed of the great
sanctity of her saintly cousin, also, that she had only
a short while to live and that Zacharias would die before
her. The kind Mother lovingly besought the Lord to
assist her at her death and to fulfill her wishes in regard
to her son. In regard to the other fond desires, the most
prudent Virgin made no request, for in her heavenly wis-
218 CITY OF GOD
dom She immediately saw, that to Hve always in the
house of her cousin was not advisable, nor according to
the will of the Most High.
266. To these petitions his Majesty answered: "My
Spouse and my Dove, it is my pleasure that thou assist
and console my servant Elisabeth at her childbirth, which
is to be very soon; for there are only eight days left
before that event. After her son shall be circumcised,
thou shalt return to thy home with thy spouse Joseph.
After his birth thou shalt ofifer to Me my servant John
in pleasing sacrifice; and continue, my Beloved, to pray
to Me for the salvation of souls." Saint Elisabeth united
her prayers with those of the Queen of heaven and earth,
beseeching the Lord to command his Mother and Spouse
not to forsake her during her confinement. During this
prayer the Lord revealed to her, that her confinement
was close at hand, and informed her also of many other
things for her relief and consolation in her anxiety.
267. Most holy Mary issued from her trance and, hav-
ing finished their prayer, the two mothers conferred upon
the nearness of the confinement of saint Elisabeth as made
known to them by the Lord; and anxious to make sure
of her good fortune, the holy matron asked our Queen :
"My Lady, pray tell me, whether I shall have the hap-
piness of thy assistance at my impending confinement?"
Her majesty answered: "My beloved cousin, the Most
High has heard our prayers and deigned to command
me to assist on that occasion. This I will do, not only
remaining till then, but also until the circumcision of thy
child, which will take place in fifteen days." At this
resolve of the most holy Mary the joy of her cousin
was renewed; she acknowledged this great favor in
humble thankfulness to the Lord and to the holy Queen.
THE INCARNATION 219
Thus rejoiced and enlivened by mutual conferences, the
holy matron began to prepare for the birth of her son
and for the departure of her exalted Cousin.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO ME BY THE HEAVENLY QUEEN
AND IvADY MARY.
268. My daughter, whenever our desires arise from
loving affection and are accompanied by a good inten-
tion, the Most High is not offended at our making them
known, as long as it is done with submission and resigna-
tion to the dispositions of his divine Providence. When
the soul presents itself before the Lord with such senti-
ments, He looks upon it as a Father and grants to it
what is proper, withholds what is improper or does not
conduce to its true welfare. The desire of my cousin
to remain with me all her life arose from a pious and
praiseworthy zeal ; but it was not in harmony with the
plans of the Most High, by which He had already ar-
ranged the conduct, travels and events of my life. Though
the Lord denied her this request He was not displeased,
but granted her whatever would not hinder the decrees
of his infinite wisdom and whatever would benefit her
or her son John. On account of the love shown toward
me by the mother and son, and on account of my inter-
cession, the Almighty enriched them with many blessings
and favors. For to ask Him with upright intention
and through my mediation, is always the most efficacious
means of moving his Majesty.
269. I wish that thou offer up all thy petitions and
prayers in the name of my most holy Son and my own ;
and be assured without doubt, that they will be heard, if
they are joined with the upright intention of pleasing
God. Look upon me with loving affection as thy Mother,
220 CITY OF GOD
thy refuge and thy help; trust thyself to my devoted
love, and remember, my dearest, that my desire for thy
greater good urges me to teach thee the means of ob-
taining great blessings and favors of divine grace at
the most liberal hands of God. Do not make thyself
unfit for them, nor hinder them by thy timidity. And
if thou wishest to induce me to love thee as my much-
beloved daughter, rouse thyself to a fulfillment of what
I tell thee and manifest to thee. Toward this direct thy
careful efforts, resting satisfied only when thou hast
labored hard to put my teachings into practice.
CHAPTER XXII.
The birth OF' The precursor OE CHRIST AND WHAT THE
LADY MARY DID ON THIS OCCASION.
270. The hour for the rising of the morning star,
which was to precede the clear Sun of justice and an-
nounce the wished- for day of the law of grace, had ar-
rived (John 5, 35). The time was suitable to the Most
High for the appearance of his Prophet in the world;
and greater than a prophet was John, who pointing out
with his finger the Lamb (John 1, 29), was to prepare
mankind for the salvation and sanctification of the world.
Before issuing from the maternal womb the Lord re-
vealed to the blessed child the hour in which he was to
commence his mortal career among men. The child had
the perfect use of his reason, and of the divine science
infused by the presence of the incarnate Word. He
therefore knew that he was to arrive at the port of
a cursed and dangerous land, and to walk upon a world
full of evils and snares, where many are overtaken by
ruin and perdition.
27 L On this account the g^eat child was as it were
in a state of suspense and doubt: for on the one hand,
nature having nourished his body to that state of perfec-
tion, which is proper to birth, he recognized and felt, in
addition to the express will of God, the compelling forces
of nature which urged him to leave the retreat of the
maternal womb. On the other hand he contemplated
the dangerous risks of mortal life. Thus he hesitated
between the fear of danger and the desire to obey. And
2-16 221
222 CITY OF GOD
he debated within himself: "If I meet this danger of
losing God, whither shall it lead me? How can I safely
converse with men, of whom so many are enveloped in
darkness and wander from the path of life ? I am in the
obscurity of my mother's womb, but I must leave it for
a more dangerous darkness. I was imprisoned here,
since I received the light of reason; but more must I
dread the unrestrained freedom of mortals. But let me,
O Lord, fulfill thy will and enter the world; for to exe-
cute it is always best. To know that my life and my
faculties shall be consumed in thy service, highest King,
will make it easier for me to come forth to the light and
begin life. Bestow, O Lord, thy blessing for my passage
into the world."
272. By this prayer the Precursor of Christ merited
new graces and blessings at his birth. The fortunate
child knew by the indwelling of God in his mind, that
he was sent to perform great things and was assured of
the necessary help. Before describing- this most happy
birth, I will try to explain the scriptural dates concerning
it. It must be remembered, that the miraculous preg-
nancy of saint Elisabeth lasted nine days less than nine
months. For on account of the fecundity miraculously
restored to a barren woman, the fruit cpnceived matured
for parturition in this shorter time. When the angel
Gabriel announced to most holy Mary, that her cousin
was in the sixth month of her pregnancy, it must be un-
derstood to mean, that eight or nine days were still
wanting for the completion of the sixth month. I have
also said in chapter sixteen that the heavenly Lady de-
parted on the fourth day after the incarnation of the
Word for her visit to saint Elisabeth. Saint Luke does
not say, that most holy Mary departed immediately, but
"in those days," and though She went "in haste," yet
THE INCARNATION 223
she consumed four days on her journey, as said in the
same chapter (No. 207).
273. I Hkewise reminded the reader, that when the
Evangelist says, that holy Mary remained about three
months in the house of saint Elisabeth, there were only
two or three days missing; for in all respects the Evan-
gelist was exact in his words. Accordingly most holy
Mary, our Lady, was present not only at the confine-
ment of saint Elisabeth and at the birth of John, but
also at the naming and circumcision of saint John, as I
will now show. Counting eight days after the incarna-
tion of the Word, our Lady arrived at the house of
Elisabeth on the evening of the second of April, if we
reckon according to our solar months; adding thereto
three months less two days, we have the first of July, the
eighth day of the birth of saint John, and early next
day most holy Mary departed on her return to Nazareth.
Saint Luke mentions the return of our Queen before he
speaks of the birth of saint John, although this happened
before She returned. The sacred text anticipates the
mention of the journey, in order to have done with it,
and not to interrupt the thread of the narrative of the
Precursor's birth. This is what I was told to write down
in explanation of the text.
274. Her time approaching, saint Elisabeth felt the
child in motion as if he wanted to place himself on his
feet; but he was merely following the ordinary course
of nature and the dictates of obedience. Some moderate
pains overtook the mother and she informed the Princess
Mary. But she did not call Her to be present at the
birth, because reverence for the dignity of Mary and for
ihe Fruit within her womb, prudently withheld her from
asking, what might not seem befitting. Nor was the
great Mistress in the same room, but She sent her the
224 CITY OF GOD
coverings and swaddling-clothes, which She had made
for the fortunate child. Presently thereafter he was
born, very perfect and complete in shape, and by the
freedom from impure matter showed signs of the purity
of his soul. He was wrapped in the coverings sent by
Mary, which therefore had already been great and ven-
erable relics. Shortly after, when saint Elisabeth had
composed herself, most holy Mary, at the command of
the Lord, issued from her oratory, in order to pay her
visit to the mother and child and give them her bless-
ing.
275. At the request of his mother the Queen received
in her arms the new-bom child and offered him as a new
oblation to the eternal Father, and his Majesty, well
pleased, accepted it as the first-fruits of the Incarnation
and of the divine decrees. The most blessed child, full
of the Holy Ghost, acknowledged his sovereign Queen,
showing Her not only interior, but outward reverence
by a secret inclination of his head, and again he adored
the divine Word, which was manifested to him in her
womb by an especial light. And as he also was aware,
that he was privileged before all men, the grateful child
performed acts of fervent thanksgiving, humility, love
and reverence of God and of his Virgin Mother. The
heavenly Queen, in offering him to the eternal Father,
pronounced this prayer for him: "Highest Lord and
Father, all holy and powerful, accept in thy honor this
offering and seasonable fruit of thy most holy Son and
my Lord. He is sanctified by the Onlybegotten and
rescued from the effects of sin and from the power of
thy ancient enemies. Receive this morning's sacrifice,
and infuse into this child the blessings of thy holy Spirit,
in order that he may be a faithful minister to Thee and
to thy Onlybegotten." This prayer of our Queen was
THE INCARNATION 225
efficacious in all respects, and She perceived how the
Lord enriched this child, chosen as his Precursor; and
She also felt within Herself the effects of these admirable
blessings.
276. While the Queen of the Universe held the in-
fant in her arms, She was for a short time secretly
wrapt in sweetest ecstasy; during it She offered up this
prayer for the child, holding it close to the same breast
where the Onlybegotten of the Eternal and her own was
soon to rest. This was the singular prerogative of the
great Precursor, granted to none among the saints.
Therefore it is not surprising, that the angel called him
g^eat in the eyes of the Lord; for before he was bom,
the Lord visited and sanctified him, and being born,
he was placed on the throne of grace; he was embraced
by the arms, which were to enfold the incarnate Word
God, and thereby excited in the sweetest Mother of God
the entrancing desire of holding within them the Son
of the Most High, filling Her with delightful affections
for his Precursor, the new-born child. Saint Elisabeth,
being divinely informed of these sacraments, beheld her
wonderful child in the arms of Her, who was his Mother
in a more exalted sense than she herself, she being his
mother only, as to his natural being, while most holy
Mary held that position as to his existence in the order
of grace. All this caused a most sweet tie of affection
between the most blessed women and in the child, who
likewise was enlightened in regard to these mysteries.
By the motions of his tender body he manifested the
joy of his spirit, clinging to the heavenly Lady and seek-
ing to attract her caresses and to remain with Her. The
sweetest Lady fondled him, but with such majestic mod-
eration, that She did not kiss him, as his age would have
permitted; for She preserved her most chaste lips intact
226 CITY OF GOD
for her most holy Son. Nor did She look intently into
his face, directing all her intention to the holiness of his
soul. So great was the prudence and modesty of the
great Queen of heaven in the use of her eyes, that She
would scarcely have known him by sight.
277. When the birth of John become known, all the
relations and acquaintances, as saint Luke says, gathered
to congratulate saint Zacharias and Elisabeth, for his
house was rich, noble and honored in the whole province
and their piety attracted the hearts of all that knew them.
Having known them so many years without children
and being aware of the sterility and advanced age of
Elisabeth, all were stirred to amazement and joyful
wonder, and they looked upon the birth of the child
rather as a miracle than as a natural event. The holy
priest Zacharias remained mute and unable to manifest
his joy by word of mouth ; for the hour of his miraculous
cure had not arrived. But, freed of his incredulity, he
showed his joy in other ways and he was full of affec-
tionate gratitude and praise for the rare blessing, which
he had now witnessed with his own eyes. His behavior
we shall describe in the next chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN GAVE ME.
278. My dearest daughter, do not be surprised, that
my servant John feared and hesitated to come into the
world. Life can never be loved by the ignorant devotee
of the world in the same degree, as the wise, in divine
science, abhor and fear its dangers. This science was
eminently possessed by the Precursor of my most holy
Son; hence knowing of the loss which threatened, he
feared the risk. But, since he that knows and dreads
the treacherous seas of this world, sails so much the
THE INCARNATION 227
more securely over their unfathomed depths, it served
him in good stead for entering securely into the world.
The fortunate child began his career with such disgust
and abhorrence of all earthly things, that his horror never
abated. He made no peace with the flesh (Mark 6, 17),
nor partook of its poison, nor allowed vanity to enter his
senses nor obstruct his eyes; in abhorrence of the world
and of worldly things, he gave his life for justice. The
citizen of the true Jerusalem cannot be in peace or in
alliance with Babylon; nor is it possible to enjoy at
the same time the grace of the Most High and the
friendship of his declared enemies; for no one can serve
two hostile masters, nor can light and darkness, Christ
and Beliel, harmonize (Matth. 4, 4).
279. Guard thyself, my dearest, against those living in
darkness and the lovers of the world more than against
fire ; for the wisdom of the sons of this world is carnal
and diabolical, and their ways lead to death. In order
to walk the way of truth, even at the cost of the natural
life, it is necessary to preserve the peace of the soul.
Three dwelling-places I point out for thee to live in,
from which thou must never intentionally come forth.
If at any time the Lord should bid thee to relieve the
necessities of thy fellow creatures, I desire that thou do
not lose this refuge. Act as one who lives in a castle
surrounded by enemies, and who perchance must go to
the gate to transact necessary business. He acts with
such wariness, that he will pay more attention to safe-
guard his retreat and shield himself, than to transact
business with others, being always on the watch and
on guard against danger. So must thou live, if thou
wishest to live securely ; for doubt not, that enemies more
cruel and poisonous than asps and basilisks surround
thee.
228 CITY OF GOD
280. Thy habitations shall be the Divinity of the Most
High, the humanity of my most holy Son, and thy own
hiterior. In the Divinity thou must live like the pearl
in its shell, or like the fish in the sea, allowing thy
desires and affections to roam in its infinite spaces. The
most holy humanity shall be the wall, which defends thee;
and his bosom shall be the place of thy rest, and under
his wings shalt thou find refreshment (Ps. 16, 8). Thy
own interior shall afford thee peaceful delight through
the testimony of a good conscience (Cor. 2, 12), and
it will, if thou keep it pure, familiarize thee with the
sweet and friendly intercourse of thy Spouse. In order
that thou mayest be aided therein by retirement of the
body, I desire that thou remain secluded in thy choir
or in thy cell, leaving it only, when obedience or charity
make it inevitable. I will tell thee a secret : there are
demons, whom Lucifer has expressly ordered to watch
for the religious, who come forth from their retire-
ment, in order to beset them and engage them in battle
and cause their fall. The demons do not easily go into
the cells, because there they do not find the occasions
afforded by conversations and the use of the senses,
wherein they ordinarily capture and devour their prey
like ravenous wolves. They are tormented by the re-
tirement and recollection of religious, knowing that they
are foiled in their attempts, as long as they cannot entice
them into human discourse.
281. It is also certain that ordinarily the demons have
no power over souls, unless they gain entrance by some
venial or mortal fault. Mortal sin gives them a sort of
direct right over those who commit it; while venial sin
weakens the strength of the soul and invites their attacks.
Imperfections diminish the merit and the progress of
virtue, and encourage the enemy. Whenever the astute
THE INCARNATION 229
serpent notices that the soul bears with its own levity
and forgets about its danger, it blinds it and seeks to
instill its deadly poison. The enemy then entices the
soul like a little heedless bird, until it falls into one
of the many snares from which there seems to be no
escape.
282. Admire then, my daughter, what thou hast
learned by divine enlightenment and weep in deepest
sorrow over the ruin of so many souls absorbed in such
dangerous tepidity. They live in the obscurity of their
passions and depraved inclinations, forgetful of the
danger, unmoved by their losses, and heedless of their
dealings. Instead of fearing and avoiding the occa-
sions of evil, they encounter and seek for ihem in
blind ignorance. In senseless fury they follow their
pleasures, place no restraint on their passionate desires,
and care not where they walk, even if to the most dan-
gerous precipices. They are surrounded by innumerable
enemies, who pursue them with diabolical treachery, un-
ceasing vigilance, unquenchable wrath and restless dili-
gence. What wonder then, that from such extremes,
or rather from such unequal combat, irreparable defeats
should arise among the mortals? And that, since the
number of fools is infinite, the number of the reprobate
should also be uncountable, and that the demon should
be inflated by his triumphs in the perdition of so many
men? May the eternal God preserve thee from such a
misfortune; and do thou weep and deplore that of thy
brethren, continually asking for their salvation as far
as is possible.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The good council and instruction, which most
holy mary gave to saint elisabeth at her re-
quest; saint john is circumcised and receives
his name; zacharias prophesies.
283. After the birth of the Precursor of Christ the
return of most holy Mary was unavoidable ; and although
the prudent Elisabeth had found consolation in resign-
ing herself to the divine will, she could not restrain
her desire of securing for herself the good counsel and
instruction of the Mother of wisdom. Therefore She
spoke to Her and said : "My Mistress and Mother of the
Creator, I know, that Thou art preparing to leave me
and that I am to be deprived of thy loving intercourse,
help and protection. I beseech Thee, my Cousin, furnish
me with some good counsel, which will help me to con-
form all my actions to the greater pleasure of the Most
High. In thy virginal womb Thou bearest Him, who is
the Corrector of the wise and the fountain of light
(Wis. 7, 15) ; through Him Thou canst communicate it
to all. Let some of the rays, which illumine thy purest
soul fall upon thy servant, in order that I may be en-
lightened in the paths of justice, until I arrive at the
vision of the God of gods in Sion." (Ps. 22, 3.)
284. These words of saint Elisabeth moved the most
holy Mary to tender compassion and She spoke words
that served her cousin as celestial guidance for the rest
of her life. This, She said, would be of short duration;
but the Most High would take care of her child, and She
230
THE INCARNATION 231
herself had prayed for him to the Almighty. Although
it is not possible to record all the sweet words of counsel,
which the heavenly Lady spoke to saint Elisabeth before
her departure, I will write down some of them, as far
as I have understood them and as far as they can be
reproduced by our insufficient language. Most holy Mary
said : "My beloved cousin, the Lord has selected Thee for
the fulfillment of most exalted mysteries. He has con-
descended to enlighten thee concerning them and wishes,
that I should open to thee my heart. Thy name is
written within it for remembrance before his Majesty.
I will not forget the devoted kindness with which thou
hast treated me, the most useless of creatures ; and from
my most holy Son and Lord I hope thou shalt receive a
plentiful reward."
285. "Keep thy mind and spirit fixed on high and by
the light of divine grace preserve the vision of the un-
changeable and infinite being of God and the remem-
brance of his immense goodness, which moved Him to
create out of nothing all the intellectual creatures in order
to bestow upon them his glory and his gifts of grace.
The extreme mercy of the Most High, in favoring us
more than all other creatures with his knowledge and
light, ought to incite us to make up by our thankfulness
for the blind ingratitude of mortals, who are so far re-
moved from acknowledging and praising their Creator.
This shall be our task, that we keep our hearts free and
unhindered in our advance toward the last end. There-
fore, my beloved, I charge thee to keep it unhampered
and unburdened of all earthly things, free from even
such as pertain to thy possessions, in order that, void
of earthly hindrances, it may attend to the divine calls.
Hope in the coming of the Lord (Luke 12, 36), so
that when He arrives, thou mayest answer his call joy-
232 CITY OF GOD
fully and not with convulsive violence at the thought
of leaving thy body and all earthly things. Now, while
it is time to suffer and earn the crown, let us gain merit
and hasten to be united intimately with our true and
highest God." ^
286. "As long as thy husband Zacharias lives, seek
to love, serve and obey him with especial earnestness.
Look upon thy miraculous child as a continual sacrifice to
his Creator; in God and for God thou canst love him as
a mother; for he shall be a great Prophet, and in the
spirit of Elias he shall defend the honor of the Most
High and exalt his name. My most holy Son, who has
chosen him for his Precursor and for the harbinger of
his coming, will favor him with the special gifts of his
right hand (Matth. 11, 9) and make him great and won-
derful among the nations, manifesting to the world
his great sanctity."
287. "See that the holy name of thy God and the Lord
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob be honored and reverenced
by all thy house and family (Tob. 4). Above all be
anxiously careful to relieve the needs of the poor, as far
as is possible; enrich them with the temporal goods so
lavishly given to thee by thy God ; show a like generosity
to the needy, knowing that these earthly goods are more
theirs than yours, since we are the children of the heav-
enly Father to whom all things belong. It is not proper,
that the child of a rich father should live in superfluity,
while his brethren live in poverty and need. In this thou
canst make thyself especially pleasing to the Good of
undying mercy. Continue in thy former practices and
follow out thy plans of still greater charity, since Zachar-
ias has given this work into thy hands. With his per-
mission thou canst be generous. Confirm thy hopes in
all the tasks imposed upon thee by the Lord, and with
THE INCARNATION 233
thy fellow beings practice kindness, humility and patience
in the joy of thy soul, although some of them will give
thee occasion to increase thy crown of merit. Bless
God eternally for having manifested to thee his exalted
mysteries and pray for the salvation of souls with un-
abated love and zeal. Pray also for me, that his Majesty
may govern and guide me worthily to preserve the sacra-
ment confided by his goodness to so lowly and poor a
servant as I am. Send for my husband in order that
I may have his company while returning to Nazareth.
In the meanwhile prepare for the circumcision of thy
child and call him John ; for this name was given to him
according to an unchangeable decree of the Most High."
288. These counsels of most holy Mary together with
other words of eternal life produced in the heart of saint
Elisabeth such divine affections, that for a time, she was
lost in the exalted teachings and sentiments of these
heavenly doctrines and made mute by the force of the
spiritual light infused into her. For the Lord, by means
of the living words of his most pure Mother, enlivened
and renewed the heart of his servant. When the flow of
her tears had moderated, she answered: "My Mistress
and Queen of the universe, speech fails me in alternate
sorrow and consolation. Hear Thou the words of my
inmost heart, which my tongue cannot express. My
affections shall witness, what my lips leave unspoken.
May the Lord, who is the enricher of our poverty,
return to Thee the favor Thou showest me. I beseech
Thee, who art the fountain of all my help and the source
of all my blessings, to obtain for me the grace to fulfill
thy counsels and to bear the great sorrow of losing thy
company."
289. Then they bespoke the arrangements for the cir-
cumcision of the child, for the time appointed by the
234 CITY OF GOD
law was approaching. Complying with the custom ob-
served among the Jews, especially among the more dis-
tinguished, many relatives and other acquaintances of the
house of Zacharias began to gather, in order to resolve
upon the name to be given to the child ; for, in addition
to the ordinary preparations and consultations concerning
the name to be given to a son, the high position of
Zacharias and Elisabeth and the news of the miraculous
fecundity of the mother naturally suggested the existence
of some great mystery to the minds of all their relations.
Zacharias was still dumb, and therefore it was necessary
that saint Elisableth should preside at this meeting.
Over and above the high esteem which she inspired, she
now exhibited such evident signs of the exalted renewal
and sanctification of her soul, which resulted from the
knowledge of the mysteries and from the intercourse
with the Queen of heaven, that all her relatives and
friends noticed the change. For even in her counte-
nance she exhibited a kind of efifulgence which made her
mysteriously attractive and was the reflection of the
Divinity, in whose presence she lived.
290. At this meeting was present also the heavenly
Lady Mary, for Elisabeth had earnestly besought Her,
and had even compelled Her by a sort of reverent and
humble command. The great Lady obeyed, but She
begged the Most High not to make known any of her
great privileges, lest She draw upon Herself the applause
or veneration of others. The desire of the most Hum-
ble among the humble was granted. And as the world
persists in ignoring those who fail to use ostentation,
nobody took particular notice of Her except saint Elisa-
beth, who looked upon Her with outward and inward
reverence and who knew, that on Her depended the
success of this consultation. As is recorded in the
THE INCARNATION 235
Gospel of saint Luke, some of those present in the meet-
ing suggested that the infant be named after his father:
but the prudent mother, seconded by the most holy Mary,
said: "My son must be named John." Her relatives
objected, that none of their family bore that name; for
the names of illustrious forefathers were always held in
great esteem, and were preferred in order to incite their
bearers to the imitation of ancestral virtues. Saint Elisa-
beth again expressed herself to the effect, that the child
should be called John.
291. The relatives then appealed by signs to Zacha-
rias, who, being unable to speak, asked for a pen and
declared his will by writing upon the tablet : "Johannes
est nomen ejus." "John is his name." At the same
time most holy Mary, making use of her power over all
nature, commanded the dumbness to leave him, his
tongue to be loosened, as the moment had arrived when
it should bless the Lord. At this heavenly command he
found himself freed from his affliction, and, to the as-
tonishment and fear of all present, he began to speak,
as narrated by the Evangelist. What I say here is not
adverse to the Gospel narrative; for, although it is there
related, that the angel foretold Zacharias that he should
remain mute until his message should be fulfilled, yet
God, when He reveals any decree of his will, absolutely
unfailing as they are, does not always reveal the means
or the manner of their fulfillment, foreseen by Him in
his infinite foreknowledge. Thus the archangel an-
nounced to Zacharias the punishment of his unbelief, but
he did not tell him that he should be freed from it by the
intercession of most holy Mary, although this also had
been foreseen and decreed.
292. Therefore, just as the voice of our Lady Mary
was the instrument for the sanctification of the child
236 CITY OF GOD
John and his mother, so her secret mandate and her inter-
cession had the effect of loosening the tongue of Zach-
arias, filling him with the holy Spirit and the gift of
prophecy. Hence he broke forth in the words (Luke 1,
68-79) :
68. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because
He hath visited and wrought the redemption of his
people :
69. And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us,
in the house of David his servant :
70. And he hath spoken by the mouth of his holy
prophets, who are from the beginning;
7L Salvation from our enemies, and from the hands
of all that hate us :
72. To perform mercy to our fathers, and to re-
member his holy testament,
73. The oath, which he swore to Abraham our
father, that he would grant to us,
74. That being delivered from the hand of our
enemies, we may serve him without fear,
75. In holiness and justice before him, all our days.
76. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of
the Highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the
Lord to prepare his ways :
77. To give knowledge of salvation to his people:
unto the remission of their sins :
78. Through the bowels of the mercy of our God,
in which the Orient from on high hath visited us :
79. To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in
the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way
of peace."
293. In the divine canticle of the Benedictus Zacharias
embodied all of the highest mysteries, which the ancient
prophets had foretold in a more profuse manner con-
THE INCARNATION 237
cerning- the Divinity, Humanity and the Redemption of
Christ, and in these few words he embraces many great
sacraments. He also understood them by the grace and
light, which filled his spirit, and which raised him up in
the sight of all that had come to attend the circumcision
of his son ; for all of them were witnesses to the solving
of his tongue and to his divine prophecies. I will hardly
be able to give an explanation of the deep meaning of
these prophecies, such as they had in the mind of that
holy priest.
294. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," he says,
knowing that the Most High could have saved his people
and given them eternal salvation merely by desiring it
or speaking one word, but He exerted not only his power,
but showed also his immense goodness and mercy, the
Son of the eternal Father himself coming down to visit
his people and to become their Brother in the human
nature ; their Teacher by his example and doctrine, their
Redeemer by his life, passion and death of the Cross.
At these words Zacharias understood the union of the
two natures in the person of the Word and in heavenly
clearness he saw this mystery realized in the virginal
bridal-chamber of the most holy Mary. He understood
also the exaltation of the Humanity by the triumph of
the Godman, in earning the salvation of the human race
according to the promises made to David and his ances-
tors (II Kings 7, 12; Ps. 131, 11). He understood
that the same promise had been made to the whole world
by the prophecies of the Saints and Patriarchs from the
beginning. For from the first creation God commenced
to direct the course of nature and grace toward his
coming into the world, and to ordain all his works since
the time of Adam toward this same blessed end.
295. He understood that the Most High in this man-
2-17
238 CITY OF GOD
ner provided for us the means of obtaining grace and
eternal life lost by our enemies in their pride and stub-
bom disobedience, which hurled them into hell; and the
seats which would have been theirs, if they had been
obedient, were reserved for the obedient among the
mortals. He saw how ever since then the enmity which
the serpent had conceived against God was now turned
against men, because we were decreed and enshrined in
the eternal mind according to his divine will (Apoca-
lypse 12, 17) ; how Adam and Eve, our first parents,
having fallen from his friendship and grace, were not
given over to chastisement, like the rebellious angels, but
were raised to a state of hope (Wisdom 10, 2) ; and
that, in order to assure their descendants of his mercy,
God provided the prophecies and figures of the old Tes-
tament, which were to be fulfilled in the coming of the
Redeemer and Savior. To make this promise still more
certain it was made to Abraham under an oath, affirm-
ing that he would be the father of all his people and of
all the children of the faith (Gen. 22, 16). Assured of
this stupendous and vast blessing, namely that of receiv-
ing his own Son made man, we may serve God free from
the fear of our enemies ; for by our adoption and regen-
eration they are already overcome and subdued through
our Redeemer (Gal. 4, 5).
296. In order that we may understand what the Word
has earned for us in restoring to us this liberty in the
service of God, he says: that He has renewed the world
in sanctity and justice, and founded the new law of
grace for all the days of this world, and for the time of
life given to each of the children of the Church. In it
they not only can, but they should live in holiness and
justice. And as Zacharias saw in his son John the be-
ginning of all these sacraments, he turns to him and con-
THE INCARNATION 239
gratulates him, because of the dignity and sancity of his
office, saying : And thou, child, shalt be called a prophet
of the Most High; for thou shalt go before his face,
namely his Divinity, and prepare his ways by spreading
the light of his coming, and giving notice to the people
of the Jews concerning eternal life, which is Christ our
Lord, the promised Messias (Mark 1, 41). Thus might
they dispose themselves by the baptism of penance for
the remission of their sins and become convinced that
the Messias has come to take away not only their sins,
but those of the whole world (John 1, 29) ; since it
is through his mercy and on account of his merits
(Tit. 3, 5) that He visits us, by descending from the
bosom of the eternal Father and by being born as man.
He it was that brought light to those who had lost the
truth for so many ages, who were sitting in darkness and
in the shadows of death. He it was who by his own
example taught us to direct our steps toward the true
peace, which we were awaiting.
297. Much more clearly than I can explain, Zacharias
perceived these mysteries in their plenitude and depth,
and expressed them in his prophecies. Some of those
present were likewise enlightened, becoming aware that
the time of the Messias and of the fulfillment of the
ancient prophecies was at hand. Full of astonishment at
these unexpected wonders and prodigies, they exclaimed :
"Who shall this child be, since the hand of the Most
High is in him so marvelous and powerful?" In ac-
cordance with the letter of the law, and with the concur-
rence of his father and mother, the child was then cir-
cumcised and named John ; and the report of these won-
ders spread through all the mountains of Judea.
298. Queen of the universe, I admire the wonderful
works wrought through thy intervention by the arm of
240 CITY OF GOD
the Lord in his servants Elisabeth, John and Zacharias.
At the same time I reflect on the different courses pur-
sued by divine Providence and on thy rare discretion.
Thy most sweet voice served the son and the mother as
an instrument of sanctification, filling them with the Holy
Ghost, and this remained hidden ; then again thy secret
prayer and command solved the tongue of Zacharias, and
this was manifested to all the bystanders, revealing the
effects of God's grace in the holy priest. I cannot find
the reason for this diversity, and therefore I make known
to Thee my ignorance, so that Thou mayest instruct me
as my Teacher.
ANSWER AND INSTRUCTION OF ThE QUEEN OE TH^
WORLD.
299. For two reasons, my daughter, the divine effects
wrought through me by my Son in saint John and Elisa-
beth were concealed, while those in Zacharias were mani-
fest. First, because Elisabeth spoke out clearly in praise
of the incarnate Word and of me; yet at the time it was
not proper that either this mystery or my dignity should
be openly known; the coming of the Messias was to be
manifested by other more appropriate means. Secondly,
not all hearts were so well prepared as that of Elisabeth
for receiving such precious and unprecedented seed of
divine knowledge, nor would they have welcomed such
sacramental revelation with due reverence. On the other
hand it was more becoming that Zacharias in his priestly
dignity should proclaim what was then to be made
known; for the beginnings of the heavenly light would
be accepted more readily from him than from saint
Elisabeth, especially while he was present. That which
she said, was reserved to bring forth its effects in due
THE INCARNATION 241
time. Although the words of God have their own
inherent force; yet the more sweet and acceptable man-
ner of communicating with the ignorant and the un-
skilled in divine mysteries is by means of the priest.
300. Likewise it was proper that the dignity and
honor of the priesthood should receive its due; for the
Most High holds the priests in such esteem, that if He
finds them in the right disposition, He exalts them and
fills them with his Spirit in order that the world may
venerate them as his chosen and anointed ones. More-
over the wonders of the Lord run less risk in priests,
even when they are more openly revealed to them. If
they live up to their dignity, their works in comparison
with those of the other creatures, are like those of the
angels and of the seraphim. Their countenance should
be resplendent, like that of Moses, when he came forth
from converse with the Lord (Exod. 34, 29). At least
they should deal with the rest of men in such a manner
that they be honored and revered as next to God. I
desire that thou understand, my dearest, that the Most
High is greatly incensed against the world in this
matter: as well against the priests as against laymen.
Against the priests because, forgetting their exalted dig-
nity, they debase themselves by a contemptible, degraded
and scandalous life, giving bad example to the world by
mixing up with it to the neglect of their sanctification.
And against the laymen, because they act with a fool-
hardy presumption toward the anointed of the Lord,
whom, though of imperfect and blameworthy lives,
they ought to honor and revere as taking the place of
Christ, my most holy Son, on earth.
301. On account of this reverence due to the priest-
hood my behavior toward saint Zacharias was different
from that toward Elisabeth. For, although the Lord
242 CITY OF GOD
wished, that I should be the instrument, by which the
gifts of the holy Spirit should be communicated to both;
yet I saluted Elisabeth in such a manner, that I at the
same time showed a certain authority, exerting my power
over the original sin of her son; for at my words this
sin was forgiven him, and both mother and son were
filled with the Holy Ghost. As I had not contracted
original sin and was exempt from it, I possessed do-
minion over it on this occasion: I commanded as the
Mistress, who had triumphed over it by the help of the
Lord (Gen. 3, 5), and who was no slave of it, as all
the sons of Adam, who sinned in him (Rom. 5, 12).
Therefore the Lord desired that, in order to free John
from the slavery and chains of sin, I should command
over it as one who never was subject to its bondage. I
did not salute Zacharias in this authoritative way, but I
prayed for him, observing the reverence and decorum
due to his dignity and my modesty. I would not have
commanded the tongue of the priest to be loosened, not
even mentally and secretly, if the Most High had not
enjoined it upon me, intimating at the same time, that the
defect of speech hardly suited his office, for a priest
should stand ready to serve and praise the Almighty with
all his powers. In regard to the respect due to priests I
will tell thee more on another occasion ; let this suffice at
present for the solution of thy doubt.
302. But from my instruction today learn especially
to seek direction in the way of virtue and of eternal life
in all thy intercourse with men, be they above or below
thee in dignity. Imitate therein me and my cousin Elisa-
beth, with due discretion asking all to direct thee and
guide thee; for in return for such humility the Lord will
provide thee with secure counsel and divine light for
exercising thy discreet and sincere love of virtue. Drive
THE INCARNATION 243
away, or do not allow thyself to be influenced by even
the least breath of flattery and avoid the conversations
which expose thee to it; for such deceitful pleasure
darkens the light and perverts the unsuspecting mind.
The Lord is so jealous of the souls especially beloved by
Him, that He will immediately turn away from them if
they find pleasure in the praises of men and seek to
recompense themselves by their flatteries; since by this
levity they become unworthy of his favors. It is not
possible to unite in a soul the adulations of the world
and the caresses of the Most High. For these latter
are sincere, holy, pure, and lasting: they humiliate,
cleanse, pacify and illumine the heart; while on the other
hand the flatteries of creatures are vain, fleeting, deceit-
ful, impure and false, issuing from the mouths of those
who are all liars (Ps. 115, 11) ; and whatever is deceitful
is a work of the enemy,
303. Thy Spouse, my dearest daughter, does not wish
thy ears to be enthralled by deceitful earthly talk, nor
contaminated by the flatteries of the world. Therefore
I desire that thou keep them closed and well guarded
against all these poisonous influences. If thy Lord is
pleased to speak to thy heart the words of eternal life, it
is proper that thou thyself be deaf and lifeless to all that
is earthly. All else should be to thee a deadly torment
in comparison with the caresses of his love. Remember
that thou owest Him the perfection of thy love, and that
all hell will combine against thee, in order to ensnare
thee by thy natural tenderness to be sweet and loving
toward creatures, and less grateful to the eternal God.
Watch over thyself, and see that thou resist this un-
faithfulness, trusting in thy beloved Master and Spouse.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MOST HOIvY MARY LEAVES THE HOUSE OE ZACHARIAS
AND RETURNS TO HER HOME IN NAZARETH.
304. At the call of Elisabeth, the most fortunate of
husbands, saint Joseph, had come in order to attend
most holy Mary on her return to her home in Nazareth.
On arriving at the house of Zacharias he had been wel-
comed with indescribable reverence and devotion by saint
Elisabeth and Zacharias; for now also the holy priest
knew that he was. the guardian of the sacramental treas-
ures of heaven, though this was yet unknown to the
great patriarch saint Joseph himself. His heavenly
Spouse received him in modest and discreet jubilation,
and, kneeling before him. She, as usual, besought his
blessing, and also his pardon, for having failed to serve
him for nearly three months during her attendance upon
her cousin Elisabeth. Though She had been guilty of
no fault, not even of an imperfection in thus devotedly
fulfilling the will of God in conformity with the wishes
of her spouse, yet, by this courteous and endearing act
of humility. She wanted to repay her husband for the
want of her consoling companionship. The holy Joseph
answered that as he now again saw Her, and again en-
joyed her delightful presence, he was relieved of the pain
caused by her absence. In the course of a few days
they announced the day of their departure.
305. Thereupon the princess Mary took leave of the
priest Zacharias. As he had already been enlightened
by the Lord concerning her dignity, he addressed
244
THE INCARNATION 245
Her with the greatest reverence as the living sanctuary
of the Divinity and humanity of the eternal Word. "My
Mistress," he said, "praise and bless eternally thy Maker,
who in his infinite mercy has chosen Thee among all his
creatures as his Mother, as the sole Keeper of all his
great blessings and sacraments. Be mindful of me, thy
servant, before thy Lord and God, that He may lead
me in peace through this exile to the security of the
eternal peace which we hope for, and that through thee
I may merit the vision of his Divinity, which is the
glory of the saints. Remember also, O Lady, my house
and family, and especially my Son John, and pray to the
Most High for thy people."
306. The great Lady knelt before him and in pro-
found humility asked him to bless Her. This Zacharias
hesitated to do and instead asked Her to give him her
blessing. But nothing could overcome the humility of
Her who was the Teacher of that virtue and of all holi-
ness; and therefore She importuned the priest for his
blessing until he yielded to the impulse of the divine light.
In the words of holy Scripture, he said to Her: "The
right arm of the almighty and true God assist Thee
always, and deliver Thee from all evil (Ps. 120, 7).
Possess thou the grace of His unfailing protection, and be
filled with the dew of heaven and with the fruits of
the earth, and let Him give Thee abundance of bread
and wine (Gen. 27, 28) ; let the nations serve Thee and
let the generations worship Thee, since Thou art the
tabernacle of God (Eccl. 24, 12) ; be Thou the Mistress
of thy brethren, and let the sons of thy mother kneel in
thy presence. Those that praise and bless Thee shall
be honored and blessed; and those that bless and extol
Thee not shall be cursed. In Thee let all nations know
246 CITY OF GOD
their God (Judith 13, 31), and through Thee let the
name of the most high God of Jacob be glorified."
307. In return for this prophetic blessing, most holy
Mary kissed the hand of the priest and asked him to for-
give Her the faults committed in his house. The saintly
old man was much moved by these parting words of the
most pure and amiable of creatures, and ever thereafter
bore hidden within him the memory of the mysteries
revealed to him concerning the most holy Mary. Only
once, when he was present at a meeting of the priests
in the temple, who were congratulating him on account
of the birth of his son and the restoration of his speech,
he was moved by the excess of his joy and he answered
them : "I believe firmly that the Most High has visited
us and has already sent us the promised Messias, who
will redeem his people." But he spoke no further of
what he really knew of the mystery. The holy priest
Simeon, however, who was present and heard these
words, was seized with great joy of spirit and by divine
impulse exclaimed: "Let not, O Lord God of Israel,
thy servant depart from this valley of misery before he
has seen thy salvation and the Redeemer of his people."
To this prayer he afterwards alluded when, at the presen-
tation of infant God in the temple, He received Him
into his arms, as we shall see later on. Until that event
took place he desired more and more ardently to see the
incarnate Word.
308. Leaving Zacharias in tears, Mary betook Herself
to her cousin Elisabeth. As She was a cousin of Mary,
of a tender heart, and as She had enjoyed so many days
of sweet intercourse, and had received so many favors
of the Mother of grace, she was almost overcome with
grief at the mere thought of now losing the source
whence so many blessings had flown and were yet to
THE INCARNATION 247
flow, if she could only retain it. Hence, when the time
for taking leave of the Mistress of heaven and earth
finally arrived her heart was torn with sorrow, and she
could say only a few words amid her copious tears and
sighs revealing her inmost soul. The serene Queen, be-
ing superior to all inordinate movements of the natural
passions, in affable modesty spoke to Elisabeth : "My
beloved cousin, do not grieve so much over my de-
parture, since the charity of the Most High, in whom I
truly love thee, knows no distance of time or place. In
Him I behold thee, and I keep thee in my mind; and
thou also wilt find me in that same presence. Short is
the time of our bodily separation, since all the days of
human life are so fleeting (Job 14, 5), and if we gain
the victory over our enemies we shall very soon see our-
selves and enjoy ourselves in the celestial Jerusalem,
where there is no sorrow, no weeping, no separation
(Apoc. 21, 4). In the meanwhile thou wilt find all
blessings in the Lord and also me thou wilt find and
possess in Him. He will remain in thy heart and con-
sole thee." Our most prudent Queen said no more to
allay the grief of saint Elisabeth ; instead She knelt down
at her feet and asked her blessing, and her pardon for
what might have been disagreeable in her intercourse
with her ; nor would Mary yield to the protests of Elisa-
beth until her petition was granted. Elisabeth then in-
sisted on her part and asked the blessing of the heavenly
Lady in return, and not wishing to deny her this con-
solation, most holy Mary complied.
309. The Queen visited also the child John, received
him in her arms and bestowed upon him many myste-
rious blessings. The wonderful infant by divine dispen-
sation spoke to the Virgin, although in a low and in-
fantile voice: "Thou art the Mother of God himself,
248 CITY OF GOD
the Queen of all creation, the Keeper of the ineffable
Treasure of heaven, my help and protection : grant me,
thy servant, thy blessing, and may thy intercession and
favor never fail me." Three times he kissed the hand of
the Queen of heaven; likewise he adored the incarnate
Word in her virginal Womb, and asked Him for his
benediction and grace. The infant God manifested his
pleasure and benevolence toward his Precursor, while the
most happy Mother Mary beheld and understood all that
was passing. In all things She acted with the plenitude
of divine science, venerating all these mysteries accord-
ing to their proper import; for She responded with a
magnanimous heart to all the works of his divine wisdom
(II Mach. 2, 9).
310. The whole household of Zacharias had been sanc-
tified by the presence of most holy Mary and of the
incarnate Word in her womb; all its inmates had been
edified by her example, instructed by her conversations
and teachings, and sweetly affected by her intercourse
and modest behavior. While She had drawn toward
Herself all the hearts of that happy family. She also
merited and obtained for them from her most holy Son
the plenitude of celestial gifts. Holy Joseph was held
in high veneration by Zacharias, Elisabeth and John ; for
they had come to know his high dignity before he him-
self was yet aware of it. The blessed Patriarch, happy
in his Treasure, the full value of which as yet he did not
know, took leave of all and departed for Nazareth : what
happened on the way I will narrate in the following
chapter. But before they began their journey most holy
Mary, on bended knees, besought saint Joseph to bless
Her, as She was accustomed to do on such occasions, and
after She had received his blessing, they betook them-
selves on their journey.
THE INCARNATION 249
INSTRUCTION BY THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY.
311. My daughter, the happy souls which God has"
chosen for his intimate friendship and perfection must
keep themselves in continual readiness and peace, in order
to perform all that his Majesty may ordain without hesi-
tation or delay. That is what I did when the Most High
commanded me to leave the beloved retreat of my house
and betake myself to Elisabeth; likewise, when he or-
dered me to return. I obeyed in all these things with
joyful alacrity; and although I had received so many
benefits from Elisabeth and her family and so many
tokens of love and friendship, as thou hast seen, yet,
knowing the will of the Lord, I set aside all obligation
and my own inclination and followed them only so far
as was strictly demanded by charity and compassion, and
in so far as the promptest obedience to the divine com-
mand permitted.
312. My dearest daughter, how wilt thou not hasten
to obtain this true and perfect resignation as soon as thou
knowest its vast value! How pleasing it is in the eyes
of the Lord, and how profitable for thy soul! Labor
then to attain it in imitation of me, as I have already
so often invited thee and urged thee. The greatest hin-
drances toward its attainment are the leanings and special
likings to earthly things; for these make the soul un-
worthy of the caresses of the Lord and of knowing
fully his will. And even if the soul knows his will, the
base love of unworthy things will keep the soul from
fulfilling it; for on account of its inclinations, it will be
wanting in the ready and joyful obedience required by
the Lord. Take notice of this danger, my daughter, and
do not allow any particular affection to enter into thy
heart, for I wish that thou be well versed and perfect in
250 CITY OF 'GOD
this art of divine love, and that thy obedience be that of
an angel, and thy love that of a seraphirti. Thus show
thyself in all thy actions, for to this my love urges thee,
and thus art thou taught by the knowledge and light
imparted to thee.
313. I do not say that thou must do away with all
sensible feeling, for that is not naturally possible to the
creature ; but whenever thou meetest adverse happenings,
or when thou art deprived of what is useful, necessary
or agreeable thou must bear it with joyful resignation
and give praise to the Lord, because his will is being
fulfilled in thy regard. By seeking only his pleasure,
and considering all else as of passing moment, thou wilt
gain a quick and easy victory over thyself, and thou wilt
seek all occasions to humiliate thyself under the mighty
hand of the Lord (I Pet. 5, 6). I also exhort thee to
imitate me in my esteem and veneration of the priests,
and that thou always ask their blessing before speaking
to them and in leaving them. Do this also in regard to
the Most High before beginning any work. Toward thy
superiors always show thyself devoted and submissive.
If any married women come to seek thy advice, exhort
them to be obedient to their husbands (Tit. 5, 2), peace-
fully subjecting themselves, living retired in their houses
and carefully fulfilling their obligations toward their
families. Tell them not to give themselves up entirely
to their occupations, nor to lose themselves in their daily
cares on pretext of necessity; for much more must be
trusted to the goodness and liberality of God than to
one's own immoderate bustle and activity. In whatever
happened to me in my condition, thou wilt find true
instruction and example; and my whole life will be an
example of perfection for the guidance of souls, and
therefore I will not need to give thee further direction.
CHAPTER XXV.
The journey oe most hoi^y mary erom the house
OF ZACHARIAS to her home in NAZARETH.
314. Returning from the town of Juda to Nazareth
the most holy Mary, the hving tabernacle of God, pur-
sued her way through the mountains of Judea in the
company of her most faithful spouse saint Joseph. Al-
though the Evangelists do not make mention of any haste
in this journey homeward, such as is recorded by saint
Luke and occasioned by the special mystery connected
with it, yet the great Princess made also this return
journey with great expediency, on account of the events
which awaited Her at home. All the journeys of this
heavenly Lady were a mystical counterpart of her spir-
itual and interior advances. For She was the true
tabernacle of the Lord, which was to find no definite
resting-place in this mortal pilgrimage (I Par. 17, 5) ;
on the contrary, progressing daily from one stage to
another and to higher condition of wisdom and grace,
She continually pushed forward on her pilgrimage to the
promised land (Numb. 7, 89) ; and She bore continually
with Her on her journey the true propitiatory, whence
She drew ceaseless increase of her gifts and acquired for
us eternal salvation.
315. The great Queen and saint Joseph again consumed
four days in their return journey, as they had done on
their coming. On the way they maintained the same
divine conversations, and they experienced events similar
to those already mentioned in chapter sixteenth. In the
251
252 CITY OF GOD
ordinary practices of humility, in which they vied with
each other, our Queen always came out victorious, except
when saint Joseph called obedience to his aid; because
She considered obedience the greater humility. As She
was already in her third month of pregnancy. She was
more attentive and careful in her journey; not that her
pregnancy caused her any difficulties, for it was on the
contrary a most sweet alleviation of any hardships. But
this careful and prudent Mother was filled with the con-
sciousness of her Treasure; for She beheld day by day
the natural growth of the body of her most holy Son in
her virginal womb. Notwithstanding the ease and light-
ness of her pregnancy, She nevertheless was subject to
the exertion and the fatigue of the journey; for the sov-
ereign Lady made no use of her privileges to diminish
her sufferings, but She gave free scope to the fatigues
and inconveniences of travel in order to be in all things
our teacher and the faithful image of her most holy Son.
316. As the divine Fruit of her womb was naturally
of the most perfect growth, and as She was Herself of
the most comely and well-proportioned shape without
any defect whatever, it was natural that her condition
should become noticeable, and She knew that it would
be impossible to conceal it much longer from her hus-
band. Already She began to look upon him with greater
tenderness and compassion in view of the shock which
his love would feel on noticing her condition. Gladly
would She have turned it aside if She had known that
such was the will of God. But the Lord gave Her no
intimation of his will in these anxious thoughts ; for He
had ordained that the event should come about in such a
way as to increase his glory and the merits both of saint
Joseph and of the Virgin Mother. Nevertheless the
great Lady besought his Majesty to fill the heart of her
THE INCARNATION 253
spouse with patience and wisdom, and to assist him with
grace, that he might act in this conjuncture according to
the divine pleasure. For She was convinced that it
would occasion him great grief to see her pregnant.
317. In the course of the journey the Mistress of the
world performed some wonderful works, although always
in secret. It happened that when they arrived at a place
not far from Jerusalem some people from another town
came to the same hostelry. They brought with them a
young woman seeking a cure for her sickness in the larger
and more populous city. She was known to be very sick,
but no one knew what was her sickness or the cause of
it. This woman had lived a very virtuous life. On this
account the enemy, who knew her character and her ad-
vanced virtues, began to direct his attacks especially
against her, as he always does against the friends of God,
since he considers them his own enemies. He caused
her to commit some sins and, in order to force her from
one abyss into another, he tempted her with despondent
thoughts and disorderly grief at her fall. Having thus
upset her judgment this dragon found entrance into
her body, and now he, with many other demons, had pos-
session of her. I have already said in the first part that
the infernal dragon, when he saw in heaven the woman
clothed with the sun (Apoc. 12, 1), conceived a great
wrath against all virtuous women. Of her progeny are
all those that follow Mary, as may be judged from that
same chapter of the Apocalypse. On this account he
exerted all his arrogance and tyranny in the possession
of the body and soul of this afflicted woman.
318. The heavenly Princess saw her in the tavern and
knew of her affliction, which was unknown to the others.
Moved by her motherly pity, She begged her most holy
Son to give health of body and soul to the unfortunate
2-18
254 CITY OF GOD
woman. Perceiving that the divine will was inclined to
mercy. She used her power as Queen and commanded the
demons instantly to leave this creature never to return.
Moreover, She banished them to the infernal depths, their
lawful and appropriate dwelling. This command of our
great Queen and Lady was not given vocally, but men-
tally, in such a way as to be perceptible to the impure
spirits. It was so powerful that Lucifer and his com-
panions hastened to leave that body and hurl themselves
into the infernal darkness. The fortunate woman was
freed and seized with wonder at the unhoped-for de-
livery; and in her inmost heart she was drawn toward
the most pure and holy Lady. She looked upon Her
with an especial veneration and love, thereby deserving
two other favors. One was that she was filled with a
most sincere sorrow for her sins ; the other, that the evil
effects or traces of the demoniacal possession ■ under
which she had suffered were effaced. She was aware that
the mysterious Stranger, whom she had so fortunately
met on her way was concerned in the heavenly blessing.
She therefore spoke to Her, and our Queen answered
with words that went straight to the heart ; She exhorted
her to perseverance and also merited it for her during
the rest of her life. Her companions likewise recognized
the miracle; but they attributed it to their promise of
bringing her to the temple of Jerusalem and of offering
some gift for her. This promise they fulfilled, praising
God, but remaining ignorant of the source of their good
fortune.
319. Vast and furious was the wrath of Lucifer when
he found himself and his demons dispossessed and cast
out from their abode by the mere word of this woman
Mary. Full of wrathful astonishment, he exclaimed:
"Who is this weak Woman, that commands us and op-
THE INCARNATION 255
presses us with so much power? What new surprise is
this, and how can my pride stand it? We must hold a
council and see how we can unite to destroy Her." Since
I will say more of their doings in the next chapter, I
leave them to their wrathful designs. Our pilgrims in
the meanwhile came to another tavern, the master of
which was a man of bad habits and character; and as a
beginning of his happiness, God ordained that he should
receive most holy Mary and Joseph with a good will and
marks of kindness. He showed them more courtesy and
good services than he was accustomed to show to others.
In order to return his hospitality with still greater kind-
ness the great Queen, who knew the sad state of his
interior, prayed for him, justifying his soul and causing
him to change his life. Her prayers had also the effect
of adding to his worldly possession, for on account of
the small favor done to his heavenly guests, God in-
creased them from that time on. Many more miracles
the Mother of grace wrought in this journey, for all her
doings were divine (Cant. 4, 13), and all who were of
proper disposition were sanctified by meeting Her. They
finished their journey at Nazareth, where the Princess
of heaven set her house in order and cleaned it with the
assistance of her holy angels, for they vied with Her in
humility and were anxious to serve and honor Her by
taking part in these humble occupations. The holy
Joseph applied himself to his ordinary daily work, pro-
viding for the sustenance of the Queen ; and his trusting
heart was not deceived in Her (Prov. 31, 11). She
girded Herself with new strength for the mysteries
which She awaited, and She put forth her hands to
valiant deeds, enjoying in her soul the undimmed vision
of the Treasure of her womb and, connected with it,
256 CITY OF GOD
incomparable delights and blessings. Thus She con-
tinued to gain vast merits and made Herself unspeak-
ably pleasing to God.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN GAVE ME.
320. My daughter, the faithful souls and children of
the Church, who know God, must make no distinction of
time, place or occasions in the practice of faith and the
other virtues connected with it. For God is present in
all things and fills them with his infinite being (Jer. 23,
24), and in all places and circumstances faith will enable
them to see and adore Him in spirit and in truth
(John 4, 22). Just as preservation follows upon cre-
ation, and as breathing follows upon life, and just as
there is no intermission in the breathing, nourishment
and growth of man until the end is reached: so the
rational creature, after having been regenerated by faith
of grace, must never interrupt the course of the spiritual
life, continually pursuing works of life by faith, hope and
charity in all places and at all time (James 2, 26). On
account of their forgetfulness and carelessness, the chil-
dren of men, and especially the members of the Church,
possess the life of faith as if they had lost it, allowing it
to die for want of charity. These are the ones who
have received in vain this their new soul, as David says,
because they neglect it as if they had never obtained it
(Psalm 23, 4).
321. I desire, my dearest, that thy spiritual life be just
as continual as thy natural life. Thou must continue to
lead a life such as is required by the grace and gifts of
the Most High, believing and hoping in the Lord, loving,
praising and adoring Him in spirit and in tnith, no
THE INCARNATION 257
matter what changes there may be in time, occupation
or place, He is in all things and He wishes to be loved
and served by all rational creatures. I therefore charge
thee that whenever souls come to thee full of this forget-
fulness of their faults, and harassed by the demons, thou
pray for them with lively faith and confidence. If the
Lord does not always fulfill what thou desirest and what
they ask. He will follow his own secret counsel, and thou
wilt have pleased Him by having acted as a true spouse
and daughter. If thou faithfully foUowest my instruc-
tions, I assure thee that He will confer upon thee many
special privileges for the benefit of souls. Consider what
I did at the sight of souls displeasing to the Lord, and
how zealously I worked for all, and for some in par-
ticular. To imitate and oblige me, do thou likewise work
and pray for those whose interior becomes known to thee
through the Lord or through other means; admonish
them with prudence, humility and resignation; for the
Almighty does not desire thee to proceed noisily, nor
that the results of thy labors be always manifest, but that
they remain hidden. In this He conforms Himself to
thy naturally retiring disposition and to thy desires, and
He seeks what is most secure for thee. And, although
thou must pray for all souls, yet thou must pray more
earnestly for those whom the divine will points out to
thee.
CHAPTER XXVI.
The demons hold a meeting in hele in order to
take counsel against most hoey mary.
322. At the instant of the incarnation of the Word, as
I said in chapter eleventh (140), Lucifer and all hell
felt the power of the right arm of the Almighty which
hurled them to the deepest of the infernal caverns.
There they remained overwhelmed for some days, until
the Lord in his admirable providence allowed them to
come forth from this captivity, the cause of which they
did not know. The great dragon then arose and scoured
the earth, spying everywhere for new developments to
which he might attribute the rout which he and all his
satellites had experienced. This search the proud prince
of darkness would not trust entirely to his companions,
but he himself issued forth in their company to course
about upon the globe, seeking with the most cunning
malice to find what he wanted. He spent in this search
three months and finally returned to hell just as ignorant
of the true cause as when he had come forth. For the
great mysteries of heaven were not intelligible to him
at that time, because the darkness of his malice did not
permit him either to rejoice in their wonderful effects or
to glorify and bless their Author. This was reserved to
us men, for whom Redemption was inaugurated.
323. The enemy of God was very much confused and
aggrieved, without knowing how to account for it. In
order to discuss the matter, he called together all the
infernal hosts, without excusing or permitting a single
258
THE INCARNATION 259
one of the demons to be absent. In this convention,
from a place of vantage, he addressed the meeting in this
manner : "You well know, my subjects, with what great
anxiety I, ever since God has cast us out from his dwell-
ing and deprived us of our might, have sought to avenge
myself and tried to destroy the power of the Almighty.
Although I cannot do anything to injure Him, I have
spared no time or exertion in extending my dominion
over men whom He loves. By my own strength I have
peopled my reign (Job 41, 25) and many nations and
tribes obey and follow me (Luke 4, 6). Day by day I
draw toward myself innumerable souls, depriving them
of the knowledge and possession of God, in order that
they may not enjoy the happiness which we have lost.
I ensnare them to these eternal pains which we suffer,
since they will follow my teachings and guidance: on
them I will wreak the vengeance which I have conceived
against their Creator. But all this appears of small con-
sequence to me in the face of the sudden overthrow which
we have experienced ; for an attack so powerful and
ruinous has not happened to us since we were hurled from
heaven. I must acknowledge that as well your as my
power has met a serious shock. This new and extraor-
dinary defeat must have some new cause, and our weak-
ness, I fear, is the beginning of our ruin."
324. "This matter will require renewed diligence, for
my fury is unquenchable and my vengeance remains insa-
tiable. I have scoured the whole earth, observed all its
inhabitants with great care, and yet I have found nothing
notable. I have watched and persecuted all the virtuous
and perfect women who are of the race of Her whom
we saw in heaven, and whom I expected to meet among
them. But I find no sign of her having as yet been
born ; for I do not find one who possesses the marks of
260 CITY OF GOD
Her who is to be the Mother of the Messias. A Maiden
whom I feared on account of her great virtues, and
whom I persecuted in the temple, is already married;
and therefore She can not be the one we look for, since
Isaiah says She is to be a Virgin (Is. 7, 14). Never-
theless I fear and detest this Maiden, since such a vir-
tuous Woman might give birth to the Mother of the
Messias or to some great prophet. To this hour I have
not been able to overcome Her in anything, and of Her
life I understand less than of that of others. She has
always valiantly resisted me, as She eludes my memory;
or remembering Her, I cannot approach Her. I have
not yet been able to decide whether these difficulties in
regard to Her are miraculous, or arise from 5ny forget-
fulness, or whether they are simply the consequences of
the contempt in which I hold such an insignificant
Maiden. But I will consider this matter; for recently
we could not resist the power of her command, by which
we were dispossessed of our right to dwell in those per-
sons from whom She drove us. This certainly requires
satisfaction, and She merits my wrath solely on account
of what She has shown Herself to be on these occasions.
I resolve to persecute Her and overcome Her, and do
you yourselves assist me in this enterprise with all your
strength and malice; and those who will distinguish
themselves in this conquest shall receive great rewards
at my hands."
325. The whole infernal rabble, which had listened
attentively to Lucifer, praised and approved his inten-
tions, and they told him not to worry over this Woman,
for She would easily be overcome and he should not be
without his triumphs over Her, since his power was so
great and ruled all the world (John 14, 30). Then they
set about discussing the means of entrapping most holy
THE INCARNATION 261
Mary, supposing Her to be a woman of distinguished
and remarkable virtue and holiness, but not the Mother
of the incarnate Word ; for at that time, as I have said,
the demons were ignorant of the hidden sacrament con-
nected with Her. Accordingly Lucifer and his com-
panions in malice immediately entered upon a mighty
conflict with the heavenly Princess, thus making it pos-
sible for Her to crush the head of the infernal dragon
many times (Gen. 3, 15). Yet, though this was a
great battle, and one of the most remarkable conflicts of
her life. She fought another one later on after the
Ascension of her most holy Son into heaven. Of this I
will speak in the third part of this history. It was very
remarkable, because Lucifer at that time already knew
Her as the Mother of God. Saint John speaks of it in
the twelfth chapter of the Apocalypse, as I will explain
in its place.
326. In dispensing the mysteries of the Incarnation the
providence of the Most High was most admirable, and
so it is even yet in the government of the Catholic
Church. There is no doubt that it is befitting the strbng
and sweet providence of God to hide many things from
the demons, which are better unknown to them ; as well
because they are unworthy of knowing the sacred mys-
teries (for the reason given above in number 318), as
also because the divine power becomes more manifest in
keeping the demons in subjection. But it is especially
necessary that they remain in ignorance in order that
the works of God in the Church and his sacraments may
take their course in greater peace ; also in order that the
unmeasured wrath of the demons may be more effectively
curbed by not allowing them to proceed according to their
malice. Although the Almighty could always repress
and restrain the devils by force, yet He proceeds in this
262 CITY OF GOD
matter according to what is most appropriate to his infi-
nite goodness. On this account the Lord concealed from
these enemies the dignity of the most holy Mary and the
wonderful manner of her pregnancy, as well as her
virginal integrity before and after the birth ; and He con-
cealed it still more effectively by giving her a husband.
Likewise they were uncertain of the Divinity of Christ
our Lord until the moment of his Death ; only then they
saw that they had been deceived and misled in regcird to
many mysteries of the Redemption. Instead of inciting
the Jews to inflict upon Him the most cruel death, they
would have sought to prevent it, and they would have
tried to retard our Redemption by making known to the
world that Christ is the true God. Therefore, when
saint Peter confessed Him as such, Christ forbade him
and the rest of the Apostles to make it known to any-
body (Matth. 16, 20). Although, on account of the
miracles He wrought and the exorcisms which He per-
formed (Luke 8, 28), they almost began to suspect Him
to be the Messias, and called Him Son of God; yet his
Majesty would not allow them to publish it about. Nor
did they call Him so with certain conviction. For their
suspicions subsided when they saw our Lord despised and
fatigued : they could never penetrate the mystery of the
Savior's humility and their inflated pride kept them in
darkness.
327. Since Lucifer then did not know the dignity
of Mary the Mother of God at the time of this persecu-
tion, fierce as it was, it was not so terrible as the one She
suffered later on, when He knew who She was. If in
this present occasion he had known that She was the
One whom he had seen in heaven clothed with the sun
and (Apoc. 12, 1) that She was to crush his head
(Gen. 3, 15), he would have been lashed into devouring
THE INCARNATION 263
fury and consumed in fiery wrath. If they were so
fearfully enraged at the mere thought of her sanctity and
perfection, it is certain, that, had they known her great-
ness, they would, as far as would be allowed them, have
disturbed the whole universe, in order to make an end of
Her. However, since they on the one hand were igno-
rant of the mysteries of the heavenly Lady and other
hand felt the effects of her extreme virtue and sanctity,"
they were on this occasion thrown into confusion and
doubt, asking each other: who this Woman could be,
against whom they saw their power dwindle into insig-
nificance? And whether perhaps She was not the one
who was to hold first place among creatures ?
328. Others judged that She could not possibly be the
Mother of the Messias, for whom men were waiting;
for besides having a husband, She with her husband
belonged to the poorest, humblest, and the most insig-
nificant people in this world : they had wrought no public
miracles or prodigies, nor had they attracted the esteem
or reverence of any of their fellowmen. As Lucifer and
his associates are so proud, they could not persuade
themselves that such extreme humility and self-debase-
ment can consort with the dignity of Mother of God.
Lucifer thought that God in his power would not choose
for Himself what the devil had considered unworthy of
his own dignity, which he knew was beneath that of the
Almighty. In short, he was deceived by his own arro-
gance and giddy pride, for these are the vices which are
most apt to darken the intellect and to drag the will to
ruin. On this account Solomon says, that their own
malice has made them blind (Sap. 2, 21), in order that
they might not know that the eternal Word was to
make use of such means in order to destroy the arro-
gance and haughtiness of the dragon. For his thoughts
264 CITY OF GOD
were distant from those of the Almighty farther than
the earth is distant from heaven (Is. 55, 9). He
thought that God would come from heaven into the
world with great show of strength and opposition, humil-
iating by his power the proud princes and monarchs,
which the demon had filled with his own arrogance ; and
so well had he succeeded, that many, who reigned before
the time of Christ, were inflated with such pride and pre-
sumption, as to have lost their common sense and to
have forgotten that they were mortal and earthly. Lucifer
judged of all these things according to his own vanity
and according to his own method of proceeding against
the works of the Lord.
329. But the infinite Wisdom took measures beyond
all the calculations of Lucifer: for He came to conquer
him not only by his Omnipotence, but by humility, meek-
ness, obedience and poverty, which are the weapons of
his warfare (II Cor. 10, 4) ; far from Him are the
empty show and vanity maintained by the riches of the
world. He came disguised and hidden in the outward
appearance of lowliness; He chose a poor Mother. All
that the world values. He came to despise, teaching the
true science of life in word and example. Thus the
devil found himself deceived and overcome by the very
things that were most repugnant and unbearable to him.
330. In ignorance of all these mysteries Lucifer spent
some days in spying out and reconnoitering the natural
condition of most holy Mary, her character, temperament,
inclinations, the tranquillity, evenness and considerateness
of her conduct; but the enemy could discover no flaw.
Seeing the perfection and sweetness of all that concerned
Her, and that She was like an impregnable wall, he re-
turned to his demons and laid before them the great
difficulty of tempting Her. All of them projected mighty
THE INCARNATION 265
plans of attack, encouraging each other in trying to solve
the difficulties. Of the execution of these designs, of the
glorious triumphs of the heavenly Princess over all her
enemies, and of the foiling of all their damned and ma-
licious counsels, I will speak in the following chapter.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED ME BY THE QUEEN OF
HEAVEN, THE MOST HOLY MARY,
331. My daughter, I wish that thou be very cautious
and watchful in regard to the ignorance and darkness,
by which the demon commonly ensnares mortals and
makes them forget their eternal salvation and the con-
tinual danger of its loss through his persecutions. Men
are lost in forgetful rest and sleep, as if there were no
vigilant and powerful enemies. This dreadful careless-
ness arises from two causes: on the one hand men are
so taken up with their earthly and sensible being
(I Cor. 2, 14), that they do not feel any other evils ex-
cept those concerning the animal nature in them; all
that is interior is harmless in their estimation. On the
other hand, since the princes of darkness are invisible and
unperceived by any of the senses (Ephes, 6, 12) and
since carnal men neither touch, nor feel, nor see them,
they forget the fear of them. Yet for this very reason
they ought to be more attentive and careful, since invis-
ible enemies are more cunning and adroit in injuring us
by their treachery. So much the more certain is the
danger, the more concealed it is, and so much the more
deadly are the wounds, the less they are felt and recog-
nized,
332. Listen, my daughter, to most important truths
concerning eternal life. Attend to my counsels, follow
my instructions and receive my warnings; for if thou
266 CITY OF GOD
pass them by unheeded, I will cease to speak to thee.
Hear what thou hast not until now known of the dis-
position of these enemies. I wish to make known to thee
that no intellect, nor any tongue of man or angels can
describe the wrath and fury which Lucifer and his
demons entertain against mortals just because they are
images of God and because they are capable of enjoying
Him for all eternity. The Lord alone can comprehend
the wicked malice of these proud and rebellious spirits
against his holy name and against his worship. If these
foes were not restrained by his almighty arm they would
in one moment destroy the world; they would like fam-
ishing lions, like wild beasts and fierce dragons, despatch
all mankind and tear them to pieces. Now however
the most kind Father of all mercies wards off and curbs
their wrath and He bears his little children in his arms
in order that they may not fall a prey to these hellish
wolves.
333. Consider then, as seriously as thou canst,
whether anything deserves greater pity, than to see so
many men misled into danger and made forgetful of it;
how some of them cast themselves into it on account of
their lightheartedness, some of them for trivial reasons,
others for a short and instantaneous pleasure, others
through negligence, and yet others on account of their in-
ordinate appetites, tearing themselves away from the
places of refuge, in which the Almighty has placed them,
to fall into the hands of such cruel and fiirious enemies;
and not only to feel their fury for an hour, a day, a month,
or a year, but to suffer indescribable and unmeasured tor-
ments for all eternity. Thou shouldst be filled with fear
and wonder, my daughter, to see such horrible and dread-
ful foolishness among the impenitent mortals and to see
even the faithful, who have come to know and confess
THE INCARNATION 267
all this by faith, so far lose their understanding and allow
themselves to be so insanely blinded by the devil that
they neither regard nor avoid this danger,
334. In order that thou mayest fear it and preserve
thyself the better, remember that this dragon knows thee
and lurks about thee ever since the hour of thy creation
and entrance into this world. Night and day he rest-
lessly prowls about seeking some chance of capturing
thee as a prize. He observes thy natural inclinations
and also the gifts of the Lord, in order to combat thee
with thy own weapons. He charges other demons with
thy ruin and promises reward to those that are more
diligent in securing it. They weigh thy actions carefully,
watch thy footsteps, and work zealously to lay snares for
thee in all thy undertakings. I desire thee to meditate
on these truths in the Lord, who will show thee whither
they lead; compare them afterwards with thy own ex-
perience and thou wilt understand, whether thou hast
any occasion for sleep in the midst for such dangers.
Although this watchfulness is important for all the
woman-born, it is more necessary to thee than to others
for especial reasons: and if I do not mention them all
Jo thee now, do not doubt, that thou must live with great
vigilance and caution. It suffices to remind thee of thy
soft and yielding nature, which thy enemies will strive
to make use of for thy destruction.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LORD PREPARES MOST HOLY MARY TO MEET I^UCIFER
IN BATTLE AND THE DRAGON BEGINS TO PERSECUTE
HER.
335. The eternal Word, already made man in the
womb of Mary the Virgin, and possessing Her as his
Mother, was aware of the designs of Lucifer, not only
through the uncreated knowledge of his Godhead, but
also by the created knowledge of his humanity. He pre-
pared the defense of his tabernacle, which was more
estimable in his sight than all the rest of the creatures.
In order to clothe the invincible Lady with new strength
against the foolhardy daring of the treacherous dragon
and his hosts, the most holy humanity of Christ, rose up
as it were in an attitude of defense in the virginal
chamber of Mary in order to meet and offer battle to
the princes of darkness. In this position He prayed to
the Father and asked Him to renew his favors and graces
in Mary, in order that She might with added strength
crush the head of the ancient serpent, that this Woman
might humiliate and overcome him, frustrate his designs
and all his powers, and that She come forth triumphant
and victorious over hell to the glory and praise of God and
of his virginal Mother.
336. The prayer of Christ our Lord was punctually
fulfilled in the most blessed Trinity. Then, in an inde-
scribable manner, her most holy Son was shown to Mary
in her virginal womb. In this vision the plenitude of
graces and imspeakable gifts were vouchsafed to Her.
268
THE INCARNATION 269
Illumined anew with additional light of wisdom She
recognized the highest and most hidden mysteries im-
possible to describe. She understood especially that
Lucifer had prepared vast designs of pride against the
glory of the Lord; and that his arrogance rose up to
drink the pure waters of Jordan (Job 40, 18). The
Most High, informing Her of these things, said to Her:
"My Spouse and my Dove, the infernal dragon thirsts
with such wrath against my holy name and all those that
adore it, that he wishes to drag toward him all without
exception and with daring presumption he tries to blot
out my name from the land of the living. I wish thee,
my Beloved, to come to the defense of my cause and of
my holy name, by giving battle to the cruel enemy ; and
I will be with thee in battle, since I am in thy virginal
womb. I wish that thou confound and destroy the
enemies before I appear in the world ; for they are con-
vinced that the Redemption of the world is nigh and
therefore they desire to gain over and ruin all souls
without exception, before the world is redeemed. I trust
this victory to thy fidelity and love. Do thou battle in
my name, just as I in thee, against this dragon and
ancient serpent" (Apoc. 12, 9).
337. These words of the Lord and the knowledge of
these secrets so moved the heart of the heavenly Mother,
that I cannot find expression for that which then hap-
pened. When She understood, that her most holy Son
wished Her to defend the honor of the Most High, She
was so inflamed with divine love and filled with such in-
vincible fortitude, that, if each one of the demons would
have been an entire hell and filled with the fury of all its
inmates, they altogether would have been only like a
few weak ants, compared to the incomparable strength
of this our valiant Leader. All of them She would have
2-19
270 CITY OF GOD
vanquished and destroyed by the smallest part of her
virtues and of her zeal for the honor and glory of the
Lord. And her divine Protector and Helper ordained
this glorious triumph of his most holy Mother over hell,
in order that the arrogance of his enemies might no
longer lord it over us nor rest assured of being able to
destroy the world. But He wished to hasten its Redemp-
tion and put us mortals under obligation not only to the
inestimable love of his most holy Son, but also to Mary,
our heavenly Defender and Reparatrix. She was to
issue forth to battle, stop his progress, vanquish and
suppress him, placing mankind on a proper footing for
the reception of their Redeemer.
338. O sons of men, dull and slow of heart ! How is
it that you do not heed such admirable blessings ? Who
is man, that Thou shouldst honor and favor Him thus
(Ps. 8, 5), O most high King! Thy own Mother and
our Mistress Thou sendest out to labor and combat in
our defense! Who ever heard of similar happenings?
Who has ever shown such force and ingenuity of love?
Where is our intellect ? Who has deprived us of the use
of reason? What hardness of heart is this? What has
drawn us into such vile ingratitude? What shameful
conduct of men, who, while they claim to love and honor
Her so much, are guilty of such low and infamous in-
gratitude as to forget such an obligation? The true
nobility and honor of the sons of Adam would rather
seem to consist in thanking Her incessantly and sacrific-
ing their lives in gratitude !
339. The obedient Mother, offering Herself to battle
with Lucifer for the honor of her most holy Son, of the
holy Trinity and our own, answered Him that had com-
manded Her, saying: "My Lord and highest Good, from
whom I have received my being and all the grace and
THE INCARNATION 271
light which I possess: to Thee I belong entirely, and
Thou, Lord, hast condescended to be my Son. Do with
thy servant, what shall be to thy greater glory and pleas-
ure. For if Thou art in me, and I in Thee, who shall
be powerful enough to resist thy will? I shall be the
instrument of thy almighty arm: give me thy strength
and come with me, and let us go forth to battle against
the dragon with all his followers." In the meanwhile
Lucifer issued from the meeting, now filled with such
hateful spite against Her, that he considered the perdition
of all the other souls as of small consequence. If we
could know the fury of satan as it is in reahty, we would
understand better what God says to holy Job, that he
counts steel as straw and bronze as rotten wood
(Job 41, 18). Such was the wrath of the dragon against
most holy Mary; and such it is even now against the
souls; for if he esteemed the most holy, the invincible
and most strong Woman to be no more than a dried up
leaf, what will he do to sinners, who like empty and de-
caying reeds do not withstand him? (Ephes. 6, 16).
Living faith alone and humility of heart are the double
armor which enable them to procure glorious victory.
340. In order to begin his battle Lucifer brought with
him the seven legions with their seven principal leaders,
whom after the fall from heaven he had appointed to
tempt men to the seven capital sins (Apoc. 12). Each of
these seven squadrons he charged with the duty of ex-
erting their utmost strength against the immaculate
Princess. The invincible Lady was occupied in prayer,
when the Lord permitted the first legion of devils to
begin the battle by tempting Her to the sin of pride, to
which special work they had been appointed. They
sought to approach the heavenly Queen by trying to cause
changes in her natural passions and inclinations, for this
272 CITY OF GOD
is the ordinary way in which the demons find access to
other mortals ; and they thought that She was infected in
the same way as other men with passions disordered by
sin. They could not however come as close to Her as
they wished, for they were repelled by the fragrance of
her virtues and holiness, which tormented them more
than the fire which consumes them. In spite of this
obstacle and although the very sight of most holy Mary
pierced them with raging torments, they nevertheless
ignored their pains and lashed themselves into furious
and ungovernable wrath in their obstinate endeavors to
approach nearer to Her and exert upon Her their cursed
and damnable influence.
341. The most holy Mary, who was alone and left
only to her natural forces, stood prepared for the assault
of those countless demons; yet She by Herself was as
formidable and terrible (Cant. 6, 3) to them as many
armies in battle array. They presented themselves before
Her (Ps. 118, 85) in the most horrid masks and with
wicked lies. But the sovereign Queen, teaching us how
to conquer, did not change her position nor was moved
interiorly or exteriorly, nor did She show any emotion
of fear in her countenance. She took no notice of them,
nor attended to them any more than if they had been
the weakest ants. She despised them with an invincible
and magnanimous heart ; for this kind of battle, as it is a
battle of virtues, is not accompanied by the extremes of
noise and excitement, but is fought in all tranquillity, in
outward and inward peace and modesty. Just as little
could She be moved by the passions and the appetites ; for
these were not in subservience to the devil in our Queen.
In Her they were all swayed by reason, and this again
was subject to God, since none of her faculties had been
cast into disorder by the first sin, as in the rest of the
THE INCARNATION 273
children of Adam. Therefore the arrows of these
enemies, as David says, were like those of little children
(Ps. 63, 8), and their armories were like those which
were without ammunition. Only to themselves were
they harmful, for their weakness only brought upon
them confusion. Although they were not aware of the
innocence and the original justice of most holy Mary
and therefore did not understand that She was not to
be injured by the common temptations; yet by the
Majesty of her bearing and her constancy they could
conjecture their ill-success and how She despised them.
Their efforts were not of the least avail ; for, as says the
Apostle in the Apocalypse (Apoc. 12, 18) and as I have
mentioned in the first part (1-129), the earth helped the
Woman, who was clothed with the sun, when the dragon
opened upon Her the flood of his impetuous temptations;
meaning thereby, that the earthly body of this Lady had
not been vitiated in its faculties and passions, as those of
others, who had been touched by sin.
342. The demons then assumed corporeal shapes of
the most horrible and dreadful kind; and they began to
emit fearful howls, roaring with terrible voices, pre-
tending to rush upon Her and threatening destruction;
they shook the earth and the house, striving also by other
furious assaults to frighten and disturb the Princess of
the world ; so that at least in this, or in making Her
desist from prayer, they might seem victorious. But the
invincible and magnanimous heart of most holy Mary
was not disturbed, nor moved in the least. It must be
remembered, that in order to enter upon this battle, the
Lord left Her entirely to the resources of her own faith
and virtue. He suspended the effects of the other favors
and privileges, which She was wont to enjoy at other
times. The Most High wished it so, in order that the
274 CITY OF GOD
triumph of his Mother might be more glorious and
honorable; besides this there were the other reasons,
which God has in allowing the souls to be tempted in
this manner. His judgments are unsearchable and un-
knowable (Rom. 11, 33). At times the great Lady-
would repeat : "Who is like unto God, that lives in the
highest and looks upon the humble in heaven and on
earth?" (Ps. 112, 5). By these words She routed the
hosts that opposed Her.
343. Then these hungry wolves laid aside their terri-
ble shapes: they assumed sheeps' clothing, transforming
themselves into angels of light, resplendent and beautiful.
Approaching the heavenly Lady, they said : "Thou hast
conquered, Thou hast conquered, we come to attend on
Thee and reward thy fortitude and invincible courage."
Surrounding Her, they protested their friendship in flat-
tering and deceitful terms. But the most prudent Lady
withdrew within Herself, suspended all the activity
of her senses and, raising Herself above Herself
(Thren. 3, 28) by means of the infused virtues, adored
the Lord in spirit and in truth (Jno. 4, 23). De-
spising all the snares of these evil tongues and their
deceitful lies. She spoke to her most holy Son : "My Lord
and Master, Light of light and my Strength, in thy help
alone do I place all my confidence and the exaltation of
thy holy name. All those that speak otherwise I abjure,
abhor and detest." But the doers of evil persevered in
their insane attempts against the Mother of knowledge
and continued to extol beyond the skies Her, who had
humiliated Herself beneath the lowest of creatures. They
protested that they wished to exalt Her above all women
and confer upon Her an exquisite favor: they would
select Her in the name of the Lord for the Mother of the
THE INCARNATION 275
Messias, and they assured Her that her holiness would
be greater than that of the Patriarchs and Prophets.
344. Lucifer himself was the author of this new plot
and his malice is here made known for a warning to
other souls. But it was ridiculous to offer to Mary, the
Queen of heaven, a dignity already her own. They
themselves were ensnared and deceived, not only in offer-
ing what they neither knew nor were able to give, but
also in being ignorant of the sacrament of the King so in-
timately connected with the rnost blessed Woman, whom
they persecuted. Nevertheless the iniquity of the dragon
was great, because he knew that he could not fulfill what
he promised. He tried to spy out whether perhaps our
blessed Lady held that dignity, or whether She would
give him some signs, by which he could conjecture it.
Most holy Mary was aware of this double-dealing of
Lucifer, and admirably met it with a quiet firmness. She
answered the deceitful flatteries by quietly continuing
her prayer and adoring the Lord. Prostrated upon the
floor She humiliated Herself, confessing Herself as the
most despicable of creatures, more despicable than the
dust under her feet. By this humble prayer and prostra-
tion She cut off the presumptuous pride of Lucifer as
long as this temptation lasted. As for the rest which
happened, the cunning of the demons, their cruelty and
lying deceits on this occasion, it seemed to me, that I
should not relate all, nor that I should expatiate on all
that has been shown to me ; let this much suffice for our
instruction; for not all can be trusted to the ignorance
of weak and earthly creatures.
345. Dismayed and routed, the first host of enemies
retired and gcive way to the second. These were to
tempt Her, who was the most poor of human kind, to
the sin of avarice. They offered to Her great riches.
276 CITY OF GOD
gold, silver, and most precious gems and in order that
these might not seem empty promises, thy placed before
Her a great quantity of these riches, although they were
only apparent; for they thought that they could exert
greater influence on her will by actually presenting these
objects before Her. They accompanied this offer with
many deceitful words and told Her that God had sent
Her all this for distribution among the poor. When
they saw that all this had no effect upon Her, they
changed their tactics and urged, that since She was so
holy, it was a great wrong that She should remain so
poor. It was more reasonable that She possess these
riches, than that they remain in the hands of wicked
sinners, for this would be an injustice and a disarrange-
ment of the divine Providence that the just be visited
with poverty, while God's wicked enemies abound in
riches and affluence,
346. In vain the net is spread before the eyes of the
bird in its flight, says the wise man. This was true of
all the temptations of our sovereign Queen; but the
malice of the serpent was much more preposterous in
regard to this temptation of avarice, for this Phoenix of
poverty was so far removed from the earth, and winged
her flight so far above that of even the seraphim, that
such a vile and contemptible snare was entirely in vain.
The most prudent Lady, although She possessed divine
wisdom, never undertook to argue with these enemies, as
in truth nobody should ; for they battle against the mani-
fest truth and will not admit defeat, even when they
must acknowledge its effects. The most holy Mary made
use of some words of the holy Scriptures and repeated
them with serene humility. On this occasion She selected
the words of the 1 18th Psalm : "Haereditate acquisivi test-
imonia tua in aeternum." "I have acquired for my heri-
THE INCARNATION 277
tage and for my riches the keeping of thy testimonies and
thy laws, my Lord" (Ps. 118, 112). She made use of
many other passages, gratefully praising and blessing the
Most High, because He had created and preserved Her
without her merits. In this most wise manner She re-
jected and overcame the second temptation, to the con-
fusion and torment of these agents of iniquity.
347. Then advanced the third legion, led on by the
prince of impurity who assails the weakness of the flesh.
These made so much the greater efforts, because they
foresaw more clearly the improbability of success ; and in
truth they gained less than all the others, if one may
speak of more or less in these different temptations of the
Virgin Mary. They tried to suggest to Her vile images
and to produce before her eyes unspeakable monstrosities.
But all their efforts vanished in midair ; for the most pure
Virgin, as soon as She had recognized the first signs of
this vice, withdrew entirely within Herself and suspended
all the activity of her senses. Thus not even the shadow
of a suggestion or indecent image could enter her
thoughts, since none of her faculties were in action. With
the most ardent longing She renewed many times her
vow of chastity in the presence of the Lord, and She
merited more on this occasion than all the virgins that
ever existed or will exist in this world. The Almighty
furnished Her with such virtue, that in comparison the
sudden expulsion of the cannon ball from the cannon, is
but a poor image of the force with which these enemies
were repelled from the presence of most holy Mary when
they sought to touch her purity by their temptations.
348. The fourth legion undertook to test her meek-
ness and patience, seeking to move this mildest Dove to
anger. This temptation was most annoying, for the
demons overturned the whole house: they broke and
278 CITY OF GOD
shattered everything contained therein, and in such a
manner as to cause the greatest amount of annoyance
to the most meek Lady ; but her holy angels soon repaired
all the damage. Foiled in this attempt, the demons as-
sumed the shapes of some women known to the serenest
Princess. They flew at Her with greater wrath and fury
than if they had been real women ; they added outrageous
insults, dared to threaten Her, and took possession of
things most necessary. But all these were only despicable
tricks in the eyes of Her that knew them; for none of
their pranks and assaults escaped the penetration of the
most holy Mary. She disregarded them altogether and
despised them entirely, without giving any signs of being
moved or influenced by them. The demons then chose
a real woman of a disposition adapted to their purposes,
whom they influenced by diabolical art against the Prin-
cess of heaven. For this purpose one of the demons as-
sumed the shape of an acquaintance of this Woman and
began to tell her that this Mary, the wife of Joseph, had
slandered her in her presence and had accused her of
many gross faults, which this demon invented for the
occasion.
349. The deceived woman, who was naturally very
much inclined to anger, hastened furiously to our meekest
Lamb and hurled at Her the vilest accusations and in-
sults. She, however, allowing the angry woman to pour
out her wrath gradually began to speak to her in words
so humble and sweet, that She changed her entirely, ap-
peased and softened her heart. When She had thus
brought her about, She consoled and admonished her
against the wiles of the devil. As this woman was poor,
Mary added some alms and dismissed her in peace. Thus
also this attempt was foiled, just as were many others,
by which Lucifer tried to irritate our meekest Dove and
THE INCARNATION 279
bring her into discredit. The Most High always defended
the honor of his most holy Mother, making use of her
own perfection in virtue and of her prudence and humil-
ity, so that the devil could never succeed in harming her
good name in the least. She always acted so prudently
and with so much meekness and wisdom, that the multi-
tude of the hellish attempts were totally ineffectual. The
tranquillity and meekness of the sovereign Lady during
these temptations of the dragon caused the admiration
of the angels. Even the demons were full of astonish-
ment, (though of a different kind), at seeing such be-
havior in a mere creature and that a woman; for never
had they seen the like.
350. The fifth legion followed with temptations to
gluttony. Although the ancient serpent did not bid our
Queen to turn stones into bread (Matth. 4, 3) as he after-
wards presumed to do with her most holy Son (for he
had not seen Her do such great wonders, since they had
been withheld from his knowledge), yet he tempted Her
like the first woman with the pleasures of the taste
(Gen. 1 ). They placed before Her a great feast, in order
to incite and mislead her appetite by outward allurance;
they tried to influence the humors of her body, so as to
cause in Her a counterfeit hunger and they used other
means to attract her attention to what they were offering.
But all their labor was in vain and without effect ; for
from all these material and earthly things the noble heart
of our Princess was as far removed as heaven is from
earth. Just as little did She use her senses in order to
enjoy the pleasures of taste, yea She never even took
notice of them; for in all things She had set Herself to
counteract what our first mother Eve had done. Eve
incautiously and heedlessly had looked upon the beauty
of the tree of knowledge and upon its sweet fruit.
280 CITY OF GOD
and then had reached out her hand to eat, thus beginning
our woe. Not so most holy Mary, who withdrew and
locked up her senses, although She was in no such danger
as Eve. Our first mother was overcome for our perdi-
tion, while our Queen conquered for our rescue and sal-
vation.
351. Much dismayed by the discomfitures of the pre-
ceding hosts, the spirits of envy approached. Though
they could not estimate the full perfection of the deeds
of the Mother of sanctity, they nevertheless felt her in-
vincible strength. They had seen Her so unmovable that
they almost despaired of enticing Her to any of their
wicked purposes. Nevertheless the insatiate hatred of
the dragon and his inmeasurable pride would not yield;
they laid new plots in order to provoke the Lady most
beloved of the Lord and of men to envy in others what
She Herself possessed and even what She abhorred as
useless and dangerous. They drew up a long list of
natural blessings possessed by others and denied to Her.
And as they thought that supernatural gifts would move
Her more, they mentioned great spiritual favors and
blessings, which the Almighty had conferred upon others
and not upon Her. But how could these lying repre-
sentations move Her, who was the Mother of all the
graces and gifts of heaven? For the blessings of all the
creatures taken together were less than her single privi-
lege of being the Mother of the Author of grace. Pre-
cisely because his Majesty had so favored Her and be-
cause the fire of his charity burned within Her, She
ardently desired, that the hand of the Most High enrich
and favor her fellowmen so much the more. How then
could envy find room, where charity abounded?
(I Cor. 13, 4). But the fierce enemies would not desist.
They pictured to the Queen the apparent happiness of
THE INCARNATION 281
those, who in their riches and good fortune, considered
themselves happy and exalted in this world. They in-
duced several persons to approach most holy Mary and
describe to Her the consolation of being rich and well-to-
do. As if this deceitful happiness of mortals had not
been condemned so often in holy Scriptures (Ps. 48),
and as if contempt of riches had not been the very science
and doctrine, which the Queen of heaven and her most
holy Son had come to exemplify in their lives for the
benefit of the whole world !
352. Those persons, who came to our heavenly Mother,
were exhorted by Her to use the temporal goods and
riches well and to give thanks for them to the Author of
all good. She Herself fulfilled this duty, making up for
the habitual ingratitude of men. Although the most
humble Lady judged Herself unworthy of the least of
blessings of the Most High; yet Her own sanctity and
exalted dignity in point of fact gave witness to the words
of holy Scriptures saying in her name : "With me are
glorious riches and justice. For my fruit is better than
gold and precious stone" (Prov. 8, 18), "In me is all
grace of the way and the truth, in me is all hope of life
and of virtue" (Eccli. 24, 25). In this exalted excel-
lence of virtue She conquered all her enemies, astonishing
and confusing them by this new experience. For they
were made to feel that where they had exerted their
greatest force and their deepest cunning, they gained least
and experienced the greatest repulse.
353. Nevertheless the demons stubbornly persisted and
proceeded with the seventh temptation, which was that of
idleness. They sought to cause in Her a corporeal indis-
position, or a feeling of weakness and fatigue, accom-
panied by dejection of spirit. This is a trick of satan
little known and under its cover the sin of laziness causes
282 CITY OF GOD
much ruin among souls and prevents much progress in
virtue. They suggested moreover that She postpone
some exercises on account of weariness in order to be
able to perform them so much the better after having
rested. This too is one among many other tricks of satan,
and we do not often discover it or know what to do
against it. They also sought maliciously to hinder the
most holy Lady in some exercises by means of human
creatures, whom they sent to visit Her at unseasonable
times, trying to impede the performance of some of her
holy exercises and occupations at the time and hour set
for them. But all these delusions were detected by the
most prudent and alert Princess. She evaded them by
her wise precautions, without permitting the enemy to
succeed in any of them and acting in all things up to the
standard of the most exquisite perfection. Her enemies
were obliged to desist, hopelessly foiled and repulsed.
Lucifer was full of rage against his companions and
against himself. But in their fury and insane pride, they
resolved to make one more general assault upon Mary,
as I will relate in the following chapter.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO ME BY THE MOST HOIvY
QUEEN MARY.
354. My daughter, although thou hast only very
briefly summed up my lengthy battle against temptations,
I wish that from what thou hast written and from what
thou knowest otherwise concerning these things, thou
learn the manner of resisting and overcoming the powers
of hell. The surest way of fighting the demon is to de-
spise him, looking upon him as the enemy of the Most
High, who has lost all fear of God and all hope of good ;
who in his stubbornness has deprived himself of all means
THE INCARNATION 283
of recovery and is without sorrow for his wickedness.
Relying- on this indubitable truth thou shouldst show thy-
self far superior to him, exalted and unflinching in thy
thoughts, and treat him as a contemner of the honor and
worship of his God. Knowing that thou art defending
so just a cause, do not let thy courage sink; but resist
and counteract him with great strength and valor in all
his attempts, as if thou wert fighting at the side of the
Lord himself; for there is no doubt that his Majesty
assists all those that enter loyally into his battles. Thou
art truly in good hope and in the way of eternal life
glory, as long as thou laborest faithfully for thy Lord
and God.
355. Remember then, that the demons detest and
abominate that which thou desirest and lovest, namely
the honor of God and thy eternal felicity; and that they
are striving to deprive thee of that which they cannot
restore to themselves. God has reprobated the demon,
while He offers to thee his grace, his virtues and his
strength in order to overcome his and thy enemy and to
procure for thee the happy end of eternal peace; only
thou must work faithfully and keep the commandments
of the Lord. The arrogance of the dragon is great
(Is. 16, 6), yet his weakness is greater; and he does not
represent more than a weak atom in the face of the
divine power. Yet as his cunning and malice far ex-
ceed that of mortals (Job 41, 21), it is not advisable to
allow the soul to bandy words with him, whether he is
present invisibly or visibly ; for from his darksome mind,
as from a smoking furnace, issue the shadows of con-
fusion, obscuring the judgments of mortals; if they
listen to him, he will fill their minds with deceits and
darkness, so that they will neither recognize the truth and
the beauty of virtue, nor the vileness of his poisonous
284 CITY OF GOD
falsehoods. Thus the souls will be made unable to dis-
tinguish the precious from the worthless, life from death,
truth from error (Jer. 15, 19), and they easily fall into
the clutches of this fierce and wicked dragon.
356. In temptation let it be thy invariable course not
to attend to anything which he proposes, not to listen,
not to argue with him concerning aught. If thou canst
withdraw and place thyself at a distance, so as not to
perceive or recognize his wicked attempts, so much the
more secure thou wilt be for thus looking upon him only
at a distance. The demon always seeks to prepare the
way for his deceits, especially in souls which he fears
will resist his entrance unless he can thus facilitate his
approach. He is accustomed to begin by causing sorrow
or dejection of heart, or he makes use of other trickery
or snares, by which he diverts or withdraws the soul from
the love of the Lord ; then he comes with his poison, con-
cealed in the golden cup in order to diminish the horror
of the soul. As soon as thou noticest in thyself any of
these signs, ( for thou hast thy experience, obedience and
instructions for a guide), I wish that with the wings of
the dove thou direct thy flight to the high refuge of the
Almighty (Ps. 54, 7), calling upon Him for aid and
proffering the merits of my most holy Son. To me also
shouldst thou fly for protection as I am thy Mother and
Teacher, and to thy devoted angels, and to all the rest of
thy advocates in the Lord. Quickly close up thy senses
and consider thyself as dead to them, or as a soul already
belonging to the other life, whither the jurisdiction and
the exacting tyranny of the serpent does not reach.
Occupy thyself so much the more earnestly in the exer-
cise of the virtue contrary to the vice to which he tempts
thee, and especially in acts of faith, hope and love, which
THE INCARNATION 285
dispel cowardice and doubt, and weaken the influence of
discouragement and fear in the human heart.
357. The arguments for overcoming Lucifer thou must
seek in God alone; and do not disclose them to your
enemy, lest he meet thee with fallacies and confusing pre-
tense. Besides knowing it to be dangerous, esteem it as
unworthy of thee to argue with him openly, or to pay
particular attention to him, who is not only the enemy of
thy Beloved but also of thee. Show thyself superior
to him and highmindedly apply thyself to the practice of
all virtues. Be content with this treasure and withdraw
thyself; for the most skillful battle of the sons of God
consists in flying farthest from evil. The devil is proud
and is deeply hurt by contempt; in the presumption of
his arrogance and vanity he desires above all the attention
of men. On this account he is so persistent in pursuing
us step by step; for in his deceitfulness he cannot rely
upon the force of truth, but on his persistent counter-
feiting of the good and the true. As long as this slave of
wickedness is not despised, he never believes himself dis-
covered and he continues, like an importunate fly, to buzz
about the spot tainted by the greatest corruption.
358. Not less warily must thou conduct thyself, when
thy enemy makes use of other creatures for thy destruc-
tion. This he does in two ways: either leading them on
to immoderate love, or to undue dislike or hatred. As
soon as thou noticest a disorderly affection in those with
whom thou conversest, observe the same precaution as in
flying from the demon; yet with this difference, that
while thou hatest him as thy enemy, thou consider the
others as God's creatures to whom thou must not deny
the consideration due to them on account of his Majesty.
But in as far as withdrawing from them is concerned,
act as if they were thy enemies; for in regard to the ser-
2-20
286 CITY OF GOD
vice, which the Lord requires of thee and in regard to
thy present condition, it is the devil who operates in these
persons toward separating thee from thy God and from
thy duty. If on the other hand they hate and persecute
thee, answer them with meekness and love, praying for
them with intimate affection of thy heart (Matth. 5, 44).
If it should be necessary, soothe the wrath of thy per-
secutors with sweet words, and undeceive those who are
led astray by false reports. Do this not in order to ex-
cuse thyself, but in order to pacify thy brothers and for
their inward and outward peace; thus thou wilt at one
and the same time conquer thyself and those who hate
thee. In order to be well practiced in this way of acting
it is necessary to cut off the very roots of the capital sins,
to tear them out, and to die to the movements of the
appetites. For in these appetites the seven capital vices
to which the devil leads men, are rooted, and in these dis-
orderly and undisciplined passions he sows the germs of
the seven sins.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
LUCIFER WITH ALI^ HIS SEVEN LEGIONS PERSISTS IN
TEMPTING MOST HOLY MARY; SHE CONQUERS THE
DRAGON AND CRUSHES HIS HEAD.
359. Even if the prince of darkness and wickedness
had now retreated, his exorbitant pride would have been
sufficiently discomfited and humiliated by the victories,
which had been gained by the Queen of heaven. But as,
even if vanquished, he continues to rise up against God
with insatiate malice, he did not acknowledge his defeat
(Ps. 7Z, 23). Finding himself conquered, and conquered
so completely by an apparently insignificant and weak
Woman, though he and his hosts had overcome so many
valiant men and high-minded women, his fury raged on-
ward, though in smothered flames of wrath. God had
permitted the enemies to become aware of the pregiiancy
of the most holy Mary, though leaving them under the
impression, that it was entirely a natural process ; for the
Divinity of the Child and other mysteries connected with
It always remained hidden to these enemies. Hence they
persuaded themselves that this was not the promised
Messias, since they held this Child to be a man like the
rest of the human race. This error also confirmed them
in the mistake that most holy Mary was not the Mother
of the Word (Gen. 3, 15) : Both of whom were to crush
the head of the dragon. Yet they were persuaded that
of a Woman so valiant and victorious, some man of dis-
tinguished sanctity would be born. The great dragon,
convinced of this, conceived against the fruit of the most
287
288 CITY OF GOD
holy Mary that vast fury mentioned in the twelfth chap-
ter of the Apocalypse and referred to in this history, and
he awaited the birth of her Son in order to devour Him.
360. Whenever Lucifer directed his looks toward this
Child enclosed in the womb of the most holy Mary, he
felt a mysterious power oppressing him. Although his
presence seemed to cause only a certain weakening and
deadening of his strength; yet this was sufficient to en-
rage him and to make him seek by all means the destruc-
tion of this suspicious Child and of his victorious Mother.
Assuming the most fearful shapes of fiercest bulls and
terrible dragons or of other monsters, he sought to ap-
proach Her without ever being able to succeed. He
rushed upon Her, but found himself repulsed, without
knowing by whom or how. He struggled like a wild
beast in chains and gave forth awe-inspiring howls, which,
if God had not prevented their being heard, would have
terrified the world and would have frightened many men
to death. He shot forth from his mouth fire and fumes
of sulphur mixed with poisonous spittle. All this the
heavenly Princess Mary saw and heard, without being
moved more than if She saw a gnat. He caused disturb-
ances in the air, upon the earth, or in her house, dis-
arranging and overthrowing it in all its parts; but most
holy Mary still remained unmoved, retaining her inward
and outward tranquillity and peace and showing Herself
invincibly superior to all his attempts.
361. Lucifer, finding himself thus vanquished, opened
his most impure mouth and set in motion his lying and
defiled tongue. He loosened the floodgates of his malice
and spouted forth in the presence of the heavenly Empress
all the heresies and infernal falsehoods of the sects, which
he and his associates spread through the world. For
after they had been hurled from heaven and after they
THE INCARNATION 289
were informed that the divine Word was to assume
human flesh in order to be the Chief of a race, which He
would replenish with graces and celestial teachings, the
dragon resolved to concoct falsehoods and heresies, in
opposition to all the truths concerning the knowledge,
love and worship of the Most High. In this occupation
the demons consumed many years before the coming of
Christ, the Lord of the world; and all this poisonous
deceit Lucifer, the ancient serpent, had stored up within
himself. Now he poured it out in the presence of the
Mother of truth and purity; hoping to infect Her by all
the falsehoods, which He had conceived against the truth
of God up to that day.
362. They are not fit to be described here, even less so
than some of the temptations indicated in the last chap-
ter; for it would be dangerous not only for the weak
souls, but even the strongest must fear the pestilential
breath of Lucifer, who on this occasion exhaled all his
deceitful malice. According to what I saw, I believe
doubtlessly, that there was no error, idolatry or heresy
known to have existed in the world to this day, which
this dragon did not vomit forth in the hearing of the
sovereign Mary. Therefore the Church can truly con-
gratulate Mary on account of her victories, affirming of
Her, that She by Herself has smothered and extinguished
all the heresies of the whole world (Office B. V. M.).
Thus in truth our victorious Sulamite, armed with her
virtues advanced like an army in battle array (Cant. 7,1)
to confound, overwhelm and destroy the infernal hosts.
All their falsehoods, and each one in particular, She re-
futed, contradicting, detesting and anathematizing all
of them with invincible faith and sublime constancy. She
proclaimed the various truths opposed to his falsehoods,
magnifying the Lord by means of them as true, just and
290 CITY OF GOD
holy. She broke out into songs of praise, in which his
virtues and doctrines were extolled as true, holy, immac-
ulate and altogether praiseworthy. In fervent prayer
She besought the Lord to humiliate the arrogance of the
demons by preventing them from spreading so freely
their poisonous errors through the world, and asking Him
to diminish the influence of the false teachings, which
they had already sowed and which they were yet allowed
to sow among men.
363. On account of this victory of the great Queen
and on account of her prayers, I perceived that the Most
High in justice set narrower bounds to the demons, so
that they would not be able to scatter the seeds of error
as much as they intended and as much as the sins of men
would merit. Although their sins are the cause of so
many heresies and sects unto this day, yet they would
have caused many more, if most holy Mary had not
crushed the head of the dragon by such great victories,
by her prayers and petitions. I have been informed of a
great mystery, which affords us consolation in this con-
flict of the holy Church against her wicked enemies.
Namely, on account of this triumph of most holy Mary
and on account of another, which She gained over the
demons after the Ascension of our Lord (Part III, 528),
the Almighty, in reward of her battles, decreed, that
through her intercession and virtue all the heresies and
sects of the world against the holy Church were to be
destroyed and extinguished. The time appointed for this
blessing was not made known to me; probably, the ful-
fillment of this decree is dependent upon some tacit and
unknown condition. Yet I am sure, that if the Catholic
princes and their subjects would seek to please this great
Queen of heaven and betake themselves to her intercession
as being their especial Patroness and Protectress, and if
THE INCARNATION 291
they would direct all their influence and riches, all their
power and sovereignty toward the exaltation of the faith
and the honor of God and of purest Mary (for this may
perhaps be the condition imposed), they would be as it
were the instruments, by which the infidels would be re-
futed and vanquished, the sects and errors infesting the
world would be repressed, and splendid and magnificent
victories would be gained for the Catholic truth.
364. Before the birth of Christ our Redeemer it
seemed to Lucifer (as was intimated in the foregoing
chapter) that his coming was retarded by the sins of the
world. In order to prevent his coming altogether he
sought to increase this hindrance by multiplying the
aberrations and crimes of mortals. This iniquitous
pride of the devil the Lord confounded by the magnifi-
cent triumphs of his most holy Mother. After the Birth
and the Death of the Redeemer, the malicious dragon
sought to hinder and divert the fruits of his blood and
redemption. For this purpose he began to sow and
spread the errors, which after the times of the Apostles
have afflicted and do now afflict the Church. The vic-
tory over this infernal malice was likewise left by Christ
in the hands of his most holy Mother : for She alone could
merit, and did merit, such a victory. Through Her
idolatry was extinguished by the preaching of the Gos-
pel; through Her were brought to naught the ancient
sects of Arius, Nestorius and Pelagius and of others;
She it was that instigated the zeal and solicitude of
kings, princes, fathers, and doctors of the holy Church.
Hence, how can it be doubted, if the Catholic princes,
both of the Church and of the state, would use the proper
diligence, aiding as it were this heavenly Lady, that She
on her part would not fail to help them, conferring upon
them happiness in this life and in the next, and cutting
292 CITY OF GOD
down all the heresies of the world? For this very pur-
pose the Lord has so enriched so greatly as well the
Church as the Catholic reigns and monarchies. If it
were not for this purpose, it were better that they remain
poor. It was not proper that all the results of the Gos-
pel should be obtained through miracles, but through
natural means, obtainable by the proper application of
riches. But it is not for me to judge whether they ful-
fill this obligation or not. I have only to report what
the Lord himself has made known to me : that those
who hold the titles of honor and sovereignty conferred
by the Church, without coming to her aid and defense
and without applying their riches toward preventing the
waste of the blood of Christ our Savior, are usurpers
and unjust possessors of those titles: for in this very
thing should the difference between Christian and infidel
princes consist.
365. Coming back to my subject, I say that the Most
High, in his infinite foresight, well knew the iniquity
of the dragon, and that in the pursuit of his wrath
against the Church he would bring to disorder many of
the faithful, striking down the stars of the heaven of the
militant church, namely the faithful, and thus seeking to
rouse still more the divine justice and diminish the fruits
of the Redemption. The highest Lord in immense kind-
ness resolved to meet this danger that threatened the
world. In order that He might be moved in this by so
much the greater equity and for the greater glory of his
name. He arranged that the most holy Mary should
oblige Him to give this help. She alone was worthy of
the privileges, gifts and prerogatives by which She was
to overcome the world ; and this most eminent Lady alone
was capable of such an enterprise as to draw toward Her
the heart of God by her holiness, purity, merits and
THE INCARNATION 293
prayers. For the greater exaltation of the divine power
He wished it to be known through all the eternities that
He had conquered Lucifer and all his followers through
means of a mere Creature and a Woman, just as the
devil had cast down the whole human race by another
woman, and that there was none other to whom this
salvation of the Church and whole world could be
worthily credited. On account of these and other rea-
sons apparent to us in faith, the Almighty gave into the
hands of our victorious Chieftainess the sword for cut-
ting off the head of the infernal dragon ; a power never
to be diminished in Her, and with which She defends
and assists the militant Church according to the labors
and necessities of coming centuries.
366. While Lucifer with his infernal legions in visi-
ble forms persisted in his unhappy attempts, the most
serene Mary never looked upon them nor paid any atten-
tion to them, although by the permission of God She
heard the uproar. Since the hearing cannot be so easily
stopped as the sight. She took precaution, lest what She
heard should enter her imagination or interior faculties.
Nor did She deign to speak to them otherwise than to
command them to stop their blasphemies. And this com-
mand was so powerful that it forced the demons to press
their mouths to the earth, while She in the meanwhile
sang great canticles of praise and glory in honor of the
Most High. This intercourse of her Majesty with God
and her profession of the divine truths, was likewise so
oppressive and painful to them that they began to attack
each other like ravenous wolves, or like rabid dogs ; every
action of the Empress Mary was for them a burning
shaft, and every one of her words a flame of fire more
dreadful than hell itself. This is not an exaggeration
for the dragon and his followers really strove to fly and
294 CITY OF GOD
escape from the presence of most holy Mary; while the
Lord, in order to enhance the triumph of his Mother and
Spouse and confound entirely the pride of Lucifer, de-
tained them by a secret force. His Majesty permitted
and ordained that the demons themselves should hu-
miliate themselves so far as to ask the heavenly Lady to
command them to go and be driven from her presence,
which they had sought. Accordingly She commanded
them to return to the infernal regions. There they lay
prostrate for a time, while the great Vanquisher Mary
remained absorbed in divine praise and thanksgiving.
367. When by the permission of the Lord Lucifer
rose from his defeat, he returned to the conflict, selecting
for his instrument some of the neighbors of the holy
spouses, and sowing among them and their wives the
hellish seed of discord concerning temporal interests.
For this purpose the demon took the shape of a woman
known to them all and telling them that they should not
disagree among themselves, since the source of all their
differences was none other than Mary, the wife of
Joseph. The woman, whose shape the demon took, held
the esteem and regard of all these persons, and there-
fore her words were so much the more weighty. Al-
though the Lord did not allow the good name of his
most holy Mother to suffer in any important point, yet
He permitted, that for her greater glory and merit, all
these deceived persons should give Her an opportunity
of exercising her patience on this occasion. They betook
themselves in a body to the house of saint Joseph and in
his presence they called forth most holy Mary and spoke
very harshly to Her, accusing Her of disturbing their
homes and their peace. This event was painful to the
most innocent Lady, on account of the worry occasioned
to saint Joseph, who had already noticed the increase of
THE INCARNATION 295
her virginal womb, and who, as She had perceived, was
already troubled by the thoughts beginning to arise in
his heart. Nevertheless, in her prudence and wisdom.
She sought to meet this disturbance with humility, and
overcome it by patience and lively faith. She did not
defend Herself, nor fall back on the faultlessness of her
conduct; on the contrary. She humiliated Herself and
begged Her ill-informed neighbors to pardon Her, if in
anything She had offended them. With sweet and wise
words She enlightened and pacified them, making them
understand that none of them had committed any offense
against the others. Satisfied by her explanations and
edified by the humility of her answer, they peacefully
withdrew to their houses, while the demon fled, not being
able to endure such great sanctity and heavenly wisdom.
368. Saint Joseph remained somewhat pensive and
sad, and he began to give way to conjecture, as I will
relate in the following chapters (Nos. 375 to 394). The
demon, although he was ignorant of the chief cause of
the troubled thoughts of saint Joseph, wished to profit by
the occasion (for he allows none to escape him), in order
to disquiet him still more. But doubting whether his dis-
satisfaction did not arise from a certain disgust at his
poverty and his lowly habitation, the demon hesitated be-
tween two different courses. On the one hand he sug-
gested a feeling of restlessness to saint Joseph, irritating
and disgusting him against his poverty ; and on the other
hand he tried to persuade him that Mary, his Spouse,
devoted too much time to her meditations and prayers,
and led a too negligent and leisurely life, instead of ex-
erting Herself to improve their poor circumstances. But
saint Joseph, upright and magnanimous of heart, readily
despised and rejected such considerations. The solici-
tude with which he was secretly filled in regard to the
296 CITY OF' GOD
pregnancy of his Spouse easily smothered all other anx-
ieties. The Lord, leaving him in the beginning to these
anxious thoughts, freed him from the temptations of the
demon through the intercession of the most holy Mary.
For She was very attentive to all that passed v^ithin the
heart of her most faithful spouse. She therefore be-
sought her most holy Son to relieve him of these as-
saults, and to be satisfied with the service which he ren-
dered to God in enduring the sorrow of seeing Her
pregnant.
369. The Most High ordained that the Princess of
heaven should still farther prolong this great battle with
Ljucifer. He permitted him and all his legions in one
general assault to strain all their forces and exert all
their malice, so that the demons might find themselves
entirely crushed and vanquished. The heavenly Lady
was to achieve the greatest triumph that ever was gained,
or could be gained, over hell by a mere creature. These
legions of wickedness arrived in all their hellish array
to present themselves before the heavenly Queen, and
with indescribable fury. Uniting all the scheming plots,
of which they had until now availed themselves sepa-
rately, and adding what little they could, they advanced
to make a universal onslaught. But I will not detain
myself in describing it specially, as nearly all can be un-
derstood from what has been described in the two pre-
ceding chapters. She met them all and awaited their
fearful onslaught with the same tranquillity, high-minded-
ness and serenity, as if She had been in the position of
the highest choirs of the angels seated on their secure
and unassailable thrones. No strange or improper emo-
tion could disturb the serenity of her heavenly interior,
although the menacing terrors, illusions and falsehoods
of all hell were poured forth in torrents by the dragon
THE INCARNATION 29/
against this strong and unconquered Woman, most holy
Mary.
370. While She thus in the midst of this conflict exer-
cised heroic acts of all the virtues against her enemies,
She was made aware of the adorable decree of the Most
High, that She should humiliate and crush the pride of
the dragon by her great dignity as Mother of God.
Rising up in ardent and invincible valor. She turned
toward the demons and spoke to them: "Who is like
unto God, who dwells on high?" And repeating these
words, She added: "Prince of darkness, author of sin
and death, in the name of the Most High I command
thee to become mute, and with thy legions to cast thyself
into the infernal caverns, where thy place is appointed to
thee, and whence thou shalt not come forth until the
promised Messias shall vanquish thee and crush thee, or
until He otherwise permit." The heavenly Empress
shone forth in the light and splendor of heaven; and, as
the proud dragon made a pretence of resisting Her com-
mand. She directed upon him the full force of her power.
His resistance drew upon him so much the greater pain,
humiliation and torment, since such he thereby merited
before all the other demons. Together they fell into
the abyss and remained fixed in its lowest caverns, as
had happened to them at the time of the Incarnation, and
as I will describe further on at the temptation and at the
death of Christ our Lord (No. 130, 999, 1421). And
when this dragon afterwards engaged in his last battle
with this Queen, which is described in the third part of
this history (Part III, 452 seq.), this heavenly Lady van-
quished him so completely that through Her and her
most holy Son his head was entirely crushed. In that
final battle his strength was so weakened and ruined
that if human creatures do not deliver themselves into
298 CITY OF GOD
the hands of his malice they can very easily resist and
overcome him with the divine grace.
371. Then the Lord himself appeared to his most holy
Mother, and in reward of her glorious victories He com-
municated to Her new gifts and privileges; Her thou-
sand guardian angels visibly presented themselves with
innumerable hosts of others, and sang to Her new canti-
cles of praise in honor of the Most High and of Herself,
And with celestial concord of sweet and audible voices
they sang of Her, that which the holy Church figura-
tively sings of the triumph of Judith : "Thou art all
beautiful, Mary our Lady, and there is no stain of sin
in Thee ; Thou art the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem ;
Thou the honor of the people of God ; Thou art She, who
magnifiest his name, the Advocate of sinners, who de-
fendest them against their proud enemy! O Mary!
Thou are full of grace and of all perfection." The
heavenly Lady was filled with glad jubilee, praising the
Author of all good and acknowledging Him as the source
of all She possessed. Whereupon She began to pay
more particular attention to the well-being of her spouse,
as I shall relate in the following chapter of the fourth
book.
INSTRUCTION WHICH OUR QUEEN AND MISTRESS GAVE ME.
372. My daughter, the silence which the soul should
maintain when the invisible enemies advance with their
specious reasonings, should not prevent it from imposing
silence upon them in the name of the Most High, and
from commanding them to leave its presence in confu-
sion. Therefore I desire this to be thy prudent behavior
Yv^hen they assault thee ; for there is no other defense so
powerful against the dragon than to be conscious of the
THE INCARNATION 299
power which we possess as children of God, and to use
the advantage which this confidence gives us by exercis-
ing our dominion and superiority over the infernal
spirits (Matth. 6, 9). For the whole aim of Lucifer,
after he had fallen from heaven, consists in enticing souls
from their Creator and in sowing the seed of discord, by
which he hopes to separate from the heavenly Father his
adopted children, and the spouses of Christ from their
Bridegroom. Whenever he perceives that a soul is
united with his Creator and in living communion with
its head Christ, he tries to surpass himself in his furious
attempts at persecuting it; his envy arouses the utmost
exertion of his deceitfulness and malice for its destruc-
tion. But as soon as he sees that he cannot succeed in
his attempts, because the soul takes refuge in the unfail-
ing and unassailable protection of the Most High, he
weakens in his attempts and begins to writhe in exquisite
torments. If the soul, thus strengthened with the au-
thority of God's truth, despises and casts him out, there
is no creeping worm or ant so weak as that giant of
iniquitous pride.
Z7Z. By this most true doctrine thou must comfort
and strengthen thyself, when, according to the decree of
the Almighty, thou meetest tribulations and art sur-
rounded by the sorrows of death in temptations such as
I have suffered. For they afiford thy Spouse the best
occasion of verifying thy fidelity by experience. There-
fore love must not be satisfied merely with mere protes-
tations of affection without looking for more valuable
fruit; for the desire which costs nothing is not a suffi-
cient proof of love in a soul, nor of its proper esteem of
the good which it pretends to hold dear and love. If
thou wishest to give a satisfactory proof of thy love to
thy Spouse, show thyself invincible in thy trust in Him
500 CITY OF GOD
also then when thou findest thyself most afflicted and for-
saken by human aid; confide in the Lord thy God, and
hope in Him, if necessary, against hope (Rom. 4, 18).
For He does not slumber, nor does He sleep, who calls
Himself the protection of Israel (Ps. 120, 4). In due
time He will command the waves and the wind, and
restore tranquillity (Matth. 8, 26).
374. Thou must be much more wary, my daughter, in
the beginning of the temptations; for there is then
greater danger lest the soul, yielding to the concupiscent
or the irascible passions, by which the light of reason
is obscured and darkened, allow itself to be thrown into
confusion. As soon as the demon notices such a state
of mind he will raise a whirlwind of dust in the faculties.
His fierceness is so immeasurable and implacable that it
will then increase in fury. He will add flame to flame,
thinking that the soul has no one to defend and rescue
it from his hands (Ps. 120, 11). With the force of his
temptations increases also the danger of failing in the
necessary resistance, since the soul has commenced to
yield in the very beginning. All this I make known to
thee, in order that thou mayest fear the danger of being
remiss in guarding against the first approaches of the
demon. Do not incur it in what is so important. Thou
shouldst continue in the even tenor of thy duties in every
temptation ; keeping up the sweet and devout union with
the Lord and preserving thy prudent and loving inter-
course with thy neighbors, thou shouldst forestall by
prayer and by restraint of thy feelings the disorder which
the enemy seeks to bring about in thy soul.
BOOK TWO
BOOK IV, II OF II PART
Describing the Anxieties of Saint Joseph on Account of the Pregnancy of
Most Holy Mary, the Birth of Christ our Lord, His Circumcision, the
Adoration of the Kings, the Presentation of the Infant Jesus
In the Temple, the Flight Into Egypt, the Death of the
Holy Innocents, and the Return to Nazareth.
CHAPTER I.
SAINT JOSEPH BECOMES AWARE OF THE PREGNANCY 01^
HIS SPOUSE, THE VIRGIN MARY, AND IS FILLED WITH
ANXIETY, AS HE KNOWS THAT HE HAD NO PART IN IT.
375. The divine pregnancy of the Princess of heaven
had advanced to its fifth month when the most chaste
Joseph, her husband, commenced to notice the condition
of the Virgin ; for on account of the natural elegance and
perfection of her virginal body, as I have already re-
marked (No. 115), any change could not long remain
concealed and would so much the sooner be discovered.
One day, when saint Joseph was full of anxious doubts
and saw Her coming out of her oratory, he noticed more
particularly this evident change, without being able to
explain away what he saw so clearly with his eyes. The
man of God was wounded to his inmost heart by an
arrow of grief, unable to ward off the force of evidence,
which at the same time wounded his soul. The principal
cause of his grief was the most chaste, and therefore the
most intense love with which he cherished his most faith-
2-21 301
302 CITY OF GOD
fill Spouse, and in which he had from the beginning
given over to Her his whole heart. Moreover, her
charming graces and incomparable holiness had captured
and bound to Her his inmost soul. As She was so per-
fect and accomplished in her modesty and humble
reticence, saint Joseph, besides his anxious solicitude to
serve Her, naturally entertained the loving desire of
meeting a response of his love from his Spouse. This
was so ordained by the Lord, in order that by the desire
for this interchange of affection he might be incited to
love and serve Her more faithfully.
376. Saint Joseph fulfilled this obligation as a most
faithful spouse and as the guardian of the sacrament,
which as yet was concealed from him. In proportion as
he was solicitous in serving and venerating his Spouse,
and loving Her with a most pure, chaste, holy and just
love, in so far also increased his desire of finding a re-
sponse to his affection and service. He never manifested
or spoke of this desire, as well on account of the rever-
ence elicited by the humble majesty of his Spouse as also
because the more than angelic purity, conversation and
intercourse of the Virgin with him had given him no
apprehension in this regard. But when he found him-
self thus unexpectedly in the face of this disclosure,
where the clear evidence of his senses allowed no denial,
his soul was torn asunder by sorrowful surprise. Yet,
though overwhelmed by the evidence of this change in
his Spouse, he gave his thoughts no greater liberty than
to admit what his eyes could not fail to perceive. For,
being a holy and just man (Matth. 1, 19), although he
saw the effect, he withheld his judgment as to the cause.
Without doubt, if the saint had believed that his Spouse
had any guilt in causing this condition, he would have
died of sorrow.
THE INCARNATION 303
377. Besides all this was the certainty of his not having
any part in this pregnancy, the effects of which were
before his eyes; and there was the inevitable dishonor
which would follow as soon as it would become public.
This thought caused so much the greater anxiety in him,
as he was of a most noble and honorable disposition, and
in his great foresight he knew how to weigh the dis-
grace and shame of himself and his Spouse in each cir-
cumstances. The third and most intimate cause of his
sorrow, and which gave him the deepest pain, was the
dread of being obliged to deliver over his Spouse to the
authorities to be stoned (Lev. 20, 10), for this was the
punishment of an adulteress convicted of the crime. The
heart of saint Joseph, filled with these painful consider-
ations, found itself as it were exposed to the thrusts of
many sharp-edged swords, without any other refuge than
the full confidence which he had in his Spouse. But as
all outward signs confirmed the correctness of his ob-
servations, there was no escape from these tormenting
thoughts, and as he did not dare to communicate about
his grievous affliction with anybody, he found himself
surrounded by the sorrows of death (Ps. 17, 5), and he
experienced in himself the saying of the Scriptures, that ;
"Jealousy is hard as hell" (Cant. 8, 6).
378. When he attempted to follow out these thoughts
in solitude, grief suspended his faculties. If his thoughts
touched upon the wrong, which his senses led him to sus-
pect, they melted away as the ice before the sun, or van-
ished like the dust before the wind, as soon as he remem-
bered the well-tried holiness of his modest and circum-
spect Spouse. If he tried to suspend the workings of
his chaste love, he could not ; for She continued to present
Herself to his thoughts as the most worthy object of his
love, and the hidden truth of her fidelity had more power
304 CITY OF GOD
of attracting his love than the deceitful appearances of
infidelity to destroy it. The strong and sure bond which
truth, reason and justice had woven about her fidelity
could not be broken. He found no suitable occasion of
opening his mind to his heavenly Spouse, nor did her
serene and heavenly equanimity seem to invite him to
such an explanation. Although he could not but admit
the change in her shape, yet he could not conceive how
her purity and holiness could be compatible with any
failing such as this change might indicate. For it seemed
impossible to him to connect such a sin Nvith One who
manifested such chastity, tranquillity and holy discretion,
and such united harmony of all graces and virtues in her
daily life.
379. In the midst of these tormenting anxieties the
holy Spouse Joseph appealed to the tribunal of the Lord
in prayer and placing himself in his presence, he said:
"Most high Lord and God, my desires and sighs are not
unknown to Thee. I find myself cast about by the vio-
lent waves of sorrow (Ps. 31. 10) which through my
senses have come to afflict my heart. I have given my-
self over with entire confidence to the Spouse whom thou
hast given me. I have confided entirely in her holiness;
and the signs of this unexpected change in Her are
giving rise to tormenting and fearful doubts lest my con-
fidence be misplaced. Nothing have I until now seen
in Her which could give occasion for any doubt in her
modesty and her extraordinary virtue; yet at the same
time I cannot deny that She is pregnant. To think that
She has been unfaithful to me, and has offended Thee,
would be temerity in view of such rare purity and holi-
ness : to deny what my own eyes perceive is impossible.
But it is not impossible that I die of grief, unless there
is some mystery hidden beneath it which I cannot yet
THE INCARNATION 305
fathom. Reason proclaims Her as blameless, while the
senses accuse Her. She conceals from me the cause of
her pregnancy, while I have it before my eyes. What
shall I do? We both have come to an agreement con-
cerning our vows of chastity, and we have both prom-
ised to keep them for thy glory; if it could be possible
that She has violated her fidelity toward Thee and toward
me, I would defend thy honor and would forget mine for
love of Thee. Yet how could She preserve such purity
and holiness in all other things if She had committed so
grave a crime in this? And on the other hand, why
does She, who is so holy and prudent, conceal this matter
from me? I withhold and defer my judgment. Not be-
ing able to penetrate to the cause of what I see, I pour
out in thy presence my afflicted soul (Ps. 141, 3), God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Receive my tears as an
acceptable sacrifice; and if my sins merit thy indig-
nation, let thy own clemency and kindness move Thee
not to despise my excruciating sorrow. I do not believe
that Mary has offended Thee; yet much less can I pre-
sume that there is a mystery of which I, as her Spouse,
am not to be informed. Govern Thou my mind and
heart by thy divine light, in order that I may know and
fulfill that which is most pleasing to Thee."
380. Saint Joseph persevered in this kind of prayer,
adding many more affectionate petitions ; for even though
he conjectured that there must be some mystery in the
pregnancy of the most holy Mary hidden from him, he
could not find assurance therein. This thought had no
greater force to exculpate most holy Mary than the other
reasons founded upon her holiness; and therefore the
idea that the most holy Queen might be the Mother of
the Messias did not come to his mind. If at times he
drove away his conjectures, they would return in greater
306 CITY OF GOD
number and with more urgent force of evidence. Thus
he was cast about on the turbulent waves of doubt.
From sheer exhaustion he would at times fall into a con-
dition of mind wherein he could find neither an anchor
of certainty for his doubts, nor tranquillity for his heart,
nor any standard by which he could direct his course.
Yet his forebearance under this torment was so great
that it is an evident proof of his great discretion and
holiness, and that it made him worthy of the singular
blessing which awaited him.
381. All that passed in the heart of saint Joseph was
known to the Princess of heaven, who penetrated into its
interior by the light of her divine science. Although her
soul was full of tenderness and compassion for the suffer-
ings of her spouse. She said not a word in the matter;
but She continued to serve him with all devotion and
solicitude. The man of God watched Her without out-
ward demonstration, yet with a greater anxiety than that
of any man that ever lived. The pregnancy of most
holy Mary was not burdensome or painful to Her; but
as the great Lady in serving him at table or any other
domestic occupations, necessarily disclosed her state more
and more openly, saint Joseph noticed all these actions
and movements and with deep affliction of soul verified
all his observations. Notwithstanding his being a holy
and just man, he permitted himself to be respected and
served by the most holy Virgin after their espousal,
claiming in all things the position of head and husband
of the family, though with rare humility and prudence.
As long as he was ignorant of the mystery of his Spouse
he judged it right, within befitting limits, to show his
authority in imitation of the ancient Fathers and Patri-
archs. For he knew that they demanded subjection and
prompt obedience of their wives, and he did not wish to
THE INCARNATION 307
recede from their example. He would have been right
in this course if most holy Mary, our Lady, had been
no more than other women. Yet although there was
such a great difference, no woman ever existed or will
exist who was or will be so obedient, humble and de-
voted to her husband as the most exalted Queen was
toward her spouse. She served him with incomparable
respect and promptitude ; although She knew his troubled
thoughts and observations concerning her pregnancy. She
omitted no service due to him, nor did She try to conceal
or palliate her state. For such evasion or duplicity would
not have consorted with the angelic truthfulness and
openness, nor with the nobility and magnanimity of her
generous heart,
382. The great Lady could easily have asserted her
entire innocence and referred to the testimony of saint
Elisabeth and Zacharias ; for, if saint Joseph had any sus-
picion of guilt in Her, he could naturally have supposed
it to have been incurred during her stay with them.
Hence, through them and by other references, She could
have justified Herself and quieted the anxieties of saint
Joseph without disclosing the mystery. The Mistress of
prudence and humility did nothing of the kind ; for these
virtues did not allow Her to think of Herself, nor to
trust the justification of her mysterious condition to her
own explanation. With great wisdom She resigned the
whole matter into the hands of divine Providence. Al-
though her compassion for her spouse and her love for
him made Her anxious to console and comfort him. She
would not do it by clearing Herself or by concealing her
pregnancy, but rather by serving him with more devoted
demonstrations of love, and by trying to cheer him up,
asking him what She could do for him and lovingly show-
ing her devoted and submissive affection. Many times
308 CITY OF GOD
She served him on her knees, and although this somewhat
consoled saint Joseph, yet on the other hand, it was also
a cause for new grief. For thus he only saw the motives
of love and esteem multiplied and still remained uncer-
tain whether She had been untrue or not. The heavenly
Lady offered up continual prayers for him and besought
the Most High to look upon him and console him ; as for
the rest She submitted all to the will of his Majesty.
383. Saint Joseph could not entirely conceal his cruel
sorrow, and therefore he often appeared to be in doubt
and sad suspense. Sometimes, carried away by his grief,
he spoke to his heavenly Spouse with some degree of
severity, such as he had not shown before. This was
the natural effect of the affliction of his heart, not of
anger or vengeful feelings; for these never entered his
thoughts, as we shall see later. The most prudent Lady,
however, never lost the sweetness of her countenance, nor
showed any feeling; but merely redoubled her efforts to
relieve her husband. She served at table, offered him
a seat, administered food and drink, and if, after all these
services, which She performed with incomparable grace,
saint Joseph urged Her to sit down, he could convince
himself more and more of her pregnancy. There is no
doubt that all this was one of the greatest trials not only
of saint Joseph, but of the Princess of heaven, and that
it greatly manifested the most profound humility and
wisdom of her most holy soul. The Lord thereby gave
Her an opportunity of exercising and proving all Her
virtues; for He had not only not commanded Her to
conceal the sacrament of her pregnancy, but contrary to
his usual manner of proceeding, He had not even mani-
fested to Her his pleasure in any way. It seemed as if
God had left this whole matter in her hands and en-
trusted it all to the wisdom and virtue of his chosen
THE INCARNATION 309
Spouse, without giving Her special enlightenment of
help. The divine Providence afforded the most holy
Mary and her most faithful Spouse an opportunity to
exercise in a heroic manner the gifts and graces which
He had infused into them, and delighted, (according to
our way of speaking) , in the faith, hope and love, in the
humility, patience, peace and tranquillity of these two
hearts in the midst of their grievous affliction. In order
to increase their glory and furnish to the world an ex-
ample of holiness and prudence, and in order to hear the
sweet cries of his most holy Mother and of her most
chaste spouse, He became as it were deaf to their pro-
longed invocations and delayed answering them until his
own opportune and fitting time.
[NSTRUCTION OF OUR MOST HOLY QUEEN AND I^ADY.
384. My dearest daughter, most exalted are the
thoughts and intentions of the Lord ; his Providence with
souls is sweet and powerful and He is admirable in the
government of them all, especially of his friends and
chosen ones. If mortals would strive to know the loving
care for their direction and advancement, as shown by this
Father of mercies (Matth. 6, 5), they would be relieved
and would not be involved in such irksome, useless and
dangerous anxieties, living in perpetual toils and vain
trust in the help of creatures. For they would resign them-
selves without hesitation to the infinite wisdom and love,
which, with paternal sweetness and gentleness would
watch over all their thoughts, words and actions and all
things necessary for them. I do not wish thee to be
ignorant of this truth, but to understand how the Lord
from all eternity bears in his mind all the predestined of
310 CITY OF GOD *
the different times and ages; and that by the invincible
force of his infinite wisdom and goodness He continually
disposes and prepares all the blessings useful to them, so
that the end desired for them may be attained.
385. Hence it is very important for the rational crea-
ture to allow itself to be led by the hand of the Lord and
leave all to the divine disposition; for mortal men are
ignorant of their ways and of the goal to which they
lead. In their ignorance they should not presume to
chose, lest they make themselves guilty of great temerity
and incur the danger of damnation. But if they resign
themselves with all their heart to the divine Providence
of God, acknowledging him as their Father and them-
selves as his children and creatures, his Majesty will con-
stitute Himself as their Protector, Helper and Director;
and He will assume these offices with such love that He
wishes to call heaven and earth to witness how much He
considers it his affair to govern his own and direct those
who trust and resign themselves into his hands. If God
were capable of grief, or of jealousy like men, it would
be aroused in Him at seeing creatures claiming a part in
the providing for the welfare of souls and that souls
should seek to supply their necessities from other quar-
ters independently -of Him (Wis. 12, 13). Mortals
would not be so ignorant of this truth if they would study
what happens between a father and his children, a hus-
band and his wife, one friend and another, a prince and
his well-loved and honored subject. All that these do is
nothing in comparison with the love which God had for
his children, and that which He can do and will do for
them.
386. Yet although men in general believe this truth,
no one can fully estimate the love of God and its effects
on those souls who resign themselves entirely to his will.
THE INCARNATION 311
Nor canst thou, my daughter, manifest what thou know-
est, nor shouldst thou ; but thou must not lose sight of it
in the Lord. His Majesty says, that not a hair of his
elect shall perish, because He keeps account of them
(Luke 21, 18). He directs their footsteps toward
eternal life and keeps them from death. He observes
their labors, lovingly corrects their defects, favors their
desires, forestalls their anxieties, defends them in anger,
rejoices them in peace, strengthens them in battle, assists
them in tribulation. His wisdom is at their service
against deceit, his goodness for their sanctification. As
He is infinite, whom none can hinder or resist. He exe-
cutes what He wishes, and He wishes to be entirely at
the service of the just, who are in his grace and trust
themselves wholly to Him. Who could ever measure the
number and greatness of the blessings which He would
shower upon a heart prepared to receive them !
387. If thou, my dearest, wishest to attain to gain this
good fortune, imitate me with true solicitude and apply
thyself from now on to establish in thee a true resigna-
tion in the divine Providence. If He sends thee tribula-
tions, sorrows and labors, accept and embrace them with
tranquillity of soul, with patience, lively faith and hope
in the goodness of the Most High, who always provides
that which is the most secure and profitable for thy salva-
tion. Chose nothing for thyself, since God knows thy
ways; trust thyself to the heavenly Father and Spouse,
who will shield and assist thee with most faithful love.
Study also My works, since they are known to thee ; and
remember that, excepting the labors of my most holy
Son, the greatest suffering of my life was to see the tribu-
lations of my spouse saint Joseph, and his grief in the
matter which thou hast described.
CHAPTER II.
THE ANXIETIES OF SAINT JOSEPH INCREASE ; HE RESOI^VES
TO I<EAVE HIS SPOUSE, AND HE BETAKES HIMSELF TO
PRAYER ON THIS ACCOUNT.
388. In his tormenting doubts the most upright heart
of saint Joseph sometimes prudently tried to find relief
and ease for his sorrow by reasoning for himself and per-
suading himself that the pregnancy of his Spouse was as
yet doubtful. But this self-deception vanished more and
more every day on account of the increasing evidence of
that state in the most holy Virgin. As this vain and
fleeting consolation failed him more and more and finally
changed into complete conviction as her pregnancy ad-
vanced, the glorious saint found no haven of refuge in
his anxieties. In the meanwhile the heavenly Princess
grew in loveliness and in perfect freedom from all bodily
failings. Her charming beauty, healthfulness and grace-
fulness visibly increased before his eyes. All this only
nourished the anxieties and the torments of his most
chaste love, so that his interior was involved by the turbu-
lent waves of his loving sorrow in unutterable confusion
and he was finally stranded on the shores of a sea of grief
by the overpowering evidence of his senses in regard to
the pregnancy of Mary. Although his spirit was always
conformed to the will of God, yet his flesh in his weak-
ness felt the excess of his interior trouble, which at last
reached such a point that he knew not any more which
way to turn. The strength of his body was broken and
vanished away, not by a definite disease, but in weakness
312
THE INCARNATION 313
and emaciation. These effects of his profound sorrow
and melancholy became openly visible in his countenance.
Moreover, as he suffered all this alone without seeking
relief or lessening his sorrow by communication with
others, as is customary with the afflicted, his suffering
grew to be so much the more serious and incurable.
389. In the meanwhile the sorrow which filled the
heart of the most holy Mary was equally great. Yet,
although her sorrow exceeded all bounds, the capacity of
her generous and magnanimous soul was much greater
and therefore She could conceal her grief more com-
pletely, and occupy her faculties in the loving care of
saint Joseph, her spouse. Her sorrow therefore only in-
cited Her to attend so much the more devotedly to his
health and comfort. Nevertheless, as the inviolable rule
of the actions of the most prudent Queen was to perform
all in the fullness of wisdom and perfection. She con-
tinued to conceal the mystery about the disclosure of
which She had received no command. Though She
alone could relieve her spouse by an explanation. She
withheld it in reverence and faithfulness due to the sac-
rament of the heavenly King (Tob. 12, 7). As far as
She herself was concerned. She exerted her utmost
powers; She spoke to him about his health, She asked
what She could do to serve him and afford him help in
the weakness which so mastered him. She urged him to
take some rest and recreation, since it was a duty to yield
to necessity and repair the weakened strength, in order
to be able to work for the Lord afterward. Saint
Joseph observed all the actions of his heavenly Spouse,
and, pondering over such virtue and discretion and feel-
ing the effects of her intercourse and presence, he said :
"Is it possible that a Woman of such habits, and in whom
such graces of the Lord are manifest, can bring over
314 CITY OF GOD
me such affliction ? How can this prudence and holiness
agree with these open signs of her infideHty to God and
to me, who love Her so much? If I conclude to send
Her away, or to leave Her, I lose her most loving com-
pany, all my comfort, my home and my tranquillity. What
blessing equal to Her can I find if I withdraw from Her?
What consolation, if this one fails? But all this weighs
less than the infamy connected with this sad misfortune,
and that I should come to be looked upon as her accom-
plice in crime. That this event remain concealed is not
possible; since time will reveal all, even if I strive now
to hide it. To pass as the author of this pregnancy will
be a vile deceit and a blotch on my good name and con-
science. I cannot recognize it as caused by me, nor can
I ascribe it to any other source known to me. Hence,
what am I to do in this dire stress? The least evil will
be to absent myself and leave my house before her de-
livery comes upon Her; for then I would be still more
confused and afflicted. I would then be obliged to live
in my own house with a child not my own, without being
able to find any outlet or expedient."
390. The Princess of heaven, becoming aware of the
resolve of her spouse saint Joseph to leave Her and ab-
sent himself, turned in great sorrow to her holy angels
and said to them : "Blessed spirits and ministers of the
highest King, who raised you to felicity which you enjoy,
and by his kind Providence accompany me as his faith-
ful servants and as my guardians, I beseech you, my
friends, to present before God's clemency the afflictions
of my spouse Joseph. Beseech the Lord to look upon
him and console him as a true Father. And you also,
who so devotedly obey his words, hear likewise my
prayers ; in the name of Him who is infinite, and to whom
I am to give human shape in my womb, I pray, beseech
THE INCARNATION 315
and supplicate you, that without delay you assist and
relieve my most faithful spouse in the affliction of his
heart and drive from his mind and heart his resolve of
leaving me." The angels which the Queen selected for
this purpose obeyed immediately and instilled into the
heart of saint Joseph many holy thoughts, persuading him
anew that his Spouse Mary was holy and most perfect,
and that he could not beheve anything wrong of Her;
that God was incomprehensible in his works, and most
hidden in his judgments (Ps. 33, 19) ; that He was al-
ways most faithful to those who confide in Him, and that
He would never despise or forsake them in tribulation.
391. By these and other holy inspirations the troubled
spirit of saint Joseph was somewhat quieted, although he
did not know whence they came ; but as the cause of his
sorrow was not removed, he soon relapsed, not finding
anything to assure and soothe his soul, and he returned
to his resolve of withdrawing and leaving his Spouse.
The heavenly Queen was aware of this and She con-
cluded that it was necessary to avert this danger and to
insist in earnest prayer on a remedy. She addressed
Herself entirely to her most holy Son in her womb, and
with most ardent affection of her soul She prayed:
"Lord and God of my soul, with thy permission, although
I am but dust and ashes (Gen. 18, 27), I will speak in
thy kingly presence and manifest to Thee my sighs, that
cannot be hidden from Thee (Ps. 37, 10). It is my
duty not to be remiss in assisting the spouse whom I
have received from thy hand. I see him overwhelmed
by the tribulation, which Thou hast sent him, and it
would not be kind in me to forsake him therein. If I
have found grace in thy eyes, I beseech Thee, Lord and
eternal God, by the love which obliged Thee to enter
into the womb of thy servant for the salvation of man-
316 CITY OF GOD
kind, to be pleased to console thy servant Joseph and dis-
pose him to assist me in the fulfillment of thy great works.
It would not be well that I, thy servant, be left without
a husband for a protection and guardian. Do not per-
mit, my Lord and God, that he execute his resolve and
withdraw from me."
392. The Most High answered Her: "My dearest
Dove, I shall presently visit my servant Joseph with con-
solation; and after I shall have manifested to him by
my angel the sacrament, which is unknown to him, thou
mayest speak openly about all that I have done with thee,
without the necessity of keeping silent thenceforward in
these matters. I will fill him with my spirit and make
him apt to perform his share in these mysteries. He will
assist Thee in them and aid Thee in all that will hap-
pen." With this promise of the Lord, most holy Mary
was comforted and consoled, and She gave most fervent
thanks to the same Lord, who disposes all things in ad-
mirable order, measure and weight. For besides the con-
solation, which the relief from this anxiety afforded Her,
She also knew well how proper it was that the spirit of
saint Joseph be tried and dilated by this tribulation be-
fore the great mysteries should be entrusted to his care.
393. In the meanwhile saint Joseph was anxiously de-
bating within himself concerning the proper course of
action, for he had borne his tribulation already for two
months; and now, overcome by the greatness of it, he
argued with himself: I do not find a better way out of
these difficulties than to absent myself. I confess that
my Spouse is most perfect and exhibits nothing but what
shows Her a saint; but after all She is pregnant and of
it I cannot fathom the mystery. I do not wish to injure
Her reputation of holiness by involving Her in the pun-
ishment of the law ; yet at the same time I cannot stand
i
THE INCARNATION 317
by and witness the consequences of her pregnancy. I
will leave her now, and commit myself to the providence
of the Lord, who governs me." He then resolved to de-
part during that night, and in order to prepare for his
journey he packed some clothes and other trifles into a
small bundle. Having also claimed some wages due to
him for his work, he retired to rest with the intention of
leaving at midnight. But on account of the strangeness
of his undertaking, and because he was in the habit of
commending his intentions to God in prayer, after he had
come to this resolve he spoke to the Lord: "Highest
and eternal God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, Thou true and only refuge of the poor and
afflicted, the grief and tribulation of my heart are well
known to thy clemency. Thou knowest also, O Lord
(although I am unworthy), that I am innocent of that
which causes my sorrow, and Thou likewise art aware
of the infamy and danger consequent upon the condition
of my Spouse. I do not believe Her an adulteress, be-
cause I see in Her great virtue and perfection ; yet I cer-
tainly see Her pregnant. I do not know by whom or
how it was caused ; and therefore I find no way to restore
my peace. In order to choose the least evil I will with-
draw from Her and seek a place where no one knows
me and, resigning myself to thy Providence, I will pass
my life in a desert. Do not forsake me, my Lord and
eternal God, since I desire solely thy honor and service."
394. Saint Joseph prostrated himself on the ground
and made a vow to go to the temple of Jerusalem and
offer up a part of the small sum of money which he
had provided for his journey, in order that God might
help and protect Mary his Spouse from the calamities
of men and free Her from all misfortune ; for great was
the uprightness of that man of God, and the esteem in
2-22
318 CITY OF GOD
which he held the heavenly Lady. After this prayer he
composed himself for a short sleep with the intention of
departing in secret and at midnight from his Spouse.
During this sleep, however, happened what I will relate
in the next chapter. The great Princess of heaven,
(assured by the divine promise), observed from her re-
tirement all that saint Joseph was preparing to do ; for the
Almighty showed it to Her. And hearing the vow,
which he made for her welfare, and seeing the small
bundle and the poor provision he prepared for his jour-
ney. She was filled with tender compassion and prayed
anew for him, giving praise and thanks to the Lord for
his Providence in guiding the actions of men beyond all
human power of comprehension. His Majesty so or-
dained events, that both most holy Mary and saint Jo-
seph should be brought to the utmost reach of interior
sorrow. For besides the merits of this prolonged
martyrdom they would gain the admirable and precious
blessing of the divine consolation deserved thereby. Al-
though the great Lady persevered in the belief and hope
of a seasonable intervention of the Lord, and therefore
remained, silent in order not to reveal the sacrament, con-
cerning the disclosure of which the King had given Her
no command; yet She was much afflicted by the resolve
of saint Joseph to leave Her ; because She reflected upon
the great inconvenience of being alone, without a com-
panion and a protector, on whom She could rely for con-
solation and support in the natural order; for She well
knew that She could not expect all to proceed according
to the supernatural and miraculous. Yet all her sighs
could not prevent Her from exercising the most exalted
virtues with a magnanimous spirit, such as patience in
bearing her afflictions and the suspicions of saint Joseph
and its results; prudence, in withholding the disclosure
THE INCARNATION 319
of the mystery on account of its greatness; silence, in
signalizing Herself as a woman who knew how to re-
frain from speaking about that which so many human
reasons urged Her to make known ; forbearance and hu-
mility, in silently submitting to the suspicions of saint
Joseph. Many other virtues did She exercise in this
trouble in a wonderful manner; by which She taught us
to hope in the Almighty for our deliverance in the
greatest tribulations.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MARY, THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN,
GAVE ME.
395. My daughter, the example of my silence, which
thou hast been writing about, should teach thee to use it
as a guide in thy treatment of the favors and sacraments
of the Lord, namely that thou keep them concealed
within thy heart. Although it might at times seem use-
ful to reveal them for the consolation of some soul, thou
must not act upon this opinion without having first con-
sulted God in prayer, and then thy superiors. For these
spiritual matters must not be made dependent upon
human feeling, which are so much subject to the passions
and inclinations of nature. There is always great dan-
ger of considering that to be an advantage which is
harmful, and a service to God, what is injurious. It is
not given to eyes of the flesh and blood (I Cor. 2, 14) to
discern the interior movements, so as to decide which of
them are divine and caused by grace, or which are
human, engendered by the disorderly affections. Al-
though there is great difference between these two kinds
of affections and their causes, nevertheless, if the creature
is not highly enlightened and dead to its passions, it can-
not recognize this difference, nor separate the precious
320 CITY OF GOD
from the vile (Jer. 15, 19). This danger is greater
when some temporal or human motive is mixed up with
or underlies our actions ; for then our natural selflove is
wont to creep in and take away discretion and supervi-
sion of heavenly and spiritual things, leading on to many
sudden and dangerous falls.
396. Let it therefore be to thee as a rule always to be
followed that thou reveal nothing to any one except to
thy spiritual guide, unless I command otherwise. Since
I have constituted myself thy Teacher, I will not fail to
give thee advice and direction in this and in all other
things, lest thou stray from the path appointed to thee by
the will of my most holy Son. Yet I admonish thee to
appreciate highly all the favors and revelations of the
Most High. Preserve them with a magnanimous heart ;
esteem them, give thanks for them, and put them to prac-
tice in preference to anything else, especially in pref-
erence to anything originating from thy own inclinations.
The reverential fear of God bound me to silence, having
(as was proper) such a high regard for the Treasure
deposited in me. Notwithstanding the natural feeling
of love and obligation toward my master and spouse
saint Joseph, and in disregard of the sorrow and compas-
sion for his afflictions, of which I so desired to free him,
I hid the secret of my state in silence, preferring the
pleasure of the Lord to all these, and leaving to Him the
defense of my cause. Learn also from this never to de-
fend thyself against accusations, no matter how innocent
thou mayest be. Oblige the Lord to do it by confiding in
his love. Charge thy reputation to his account; and in
the meanwhile overcome by patience and humility, by
sweet and kind words, those who have offended thee.
Above all things I admonish thee never to judge evil of
any one, even if thou seest with thy own eyes the out-
THE INCARNATION 321
ward warrants of thy judgment; for perfect and sincere
charity will teach thee to find a prudent evasion and ex-
cuse for all faults of thy neighbor. God has placed my
spouse, saint Joseph, as a shining example for such a
course of action, since no one had more evident proofs
of evil, and no one was more discreet in deferring his
judgment. For in the law of discreet and holy charity
it must be held as prudence, not temerity, to suspect
higher causes, as yet unseen, rather than to judge and
condemn our neighbors for faults in which his guilt is
not clearly evident. I do not give thee special instruc-
tions for those that are in the state of matrimony, since
they can derive them manifestly from the whole course
of my life. But from the above instruction all can profit,
although just now I have in view thy own advancement,
because I desire it with especial love. Hear me, daugh-
ter, and fulfill my counsels and follow these my words of
eternal life.
CHAPTER III.
THS ANGElv OF THE LORD SPEAKS TO SAINT JOSEPH IN
HIS SIvEEP AND MAKES KNOWN TO HIM THE MYS-
TERY OE THE INCARNATION HIS BEHAVIOR THERE-
AFTER.
397. The sorrow of jealousy keeps such vigilant watch
in those that are beset by it, that very often it not only
awakens them from sleep, but drives away altogether the
refreshment of slumber. Nobody ever suffered this sor-
row in the same degree as saint Joseph, although, if he
had known the truth, nobody ever had less occasion. He
was endowed with exalted light and knowledge, so that
he could penetrate to the abyss of the incalculable sanc-
tity and perfection of his heavenly Spouse. As the rea-
sons which urged him to resign the possession of such
great blessing were inexorable, it naturally followed that
the knowledge of what he was to lose should add to the
sorrow of parting therefrom. Hence, what saint Joseph
suffered in this regard exceeds all that ever was endured
by any man ; for no one ever equalled him in the loss, and
no one could so value and estimate it. Besides, there was
a great difference in the zeal and jealousy of this faithful
servant of God and the jealousies of others in like trou-
bles. For jealousies create in the vehement and ardent
lover a great anxiety to preserve and prevent loss of the
loved object; and to this anxiety is naturally added the
pain caused by the fear lest the loved one be alienated by
others. This kind of feeling or sorrow is commonly
called jealousy. In those who have disorderly passions,
322
THE INCARNATION 323
and who, for want of prudence or other virtues, yield to
them, it usually causes the different feelings of wrath,
fury, envy toward the person loved, or against the rival
who impedes the return of love, be it a well-ordered love
or not. Then arise the storms of suspicion and conjec-
ture in the imagination, engendered by these passions;
the tempests of alternate desire and abhorrence; of lov-
ing affection and vain regret. Thus the irascible and
concupiscent faculties are in perpetual strife, without any
regard for the demands of reason or prudence; for this
kind of sorrow confounds the understanding, perverts
reason, and rejects prudence.
398. In saint Joseph this disorder was not infected
with all these faults, nor could they find room in him, on
account both of his own exalted holiness and that of his
Spouse; for in Her he could find no fault to exasperate
him, nor had he any suspicion that her love had been
captured by any one else, against whom or toward whom
his envy might be aroused in defense. The jealousy of
saint Joseph was founded entirely in his own great love
for Her, in a certain conditional doubt or suspicion lest
his Spouse had not entirely responded to his own love;
for he found no such strong reasons against, as he did
for his mistrust. A greater uncertainty was not neces-
sary in his case in order to cause such vehement sorrows ;
for in the possession of a spouse, no rival can be toler-
ated. Hence, the chaste marital love of our saint, which
filled his whole heart, was sufficient to cause in him the
most vehement grief at the least appearance of infidelity,
or danger of losing this most perfect, most beautiful and
delightful object of all his desires and thoughts. For if
love is in possession of such just motives, strong and
unbreakable are the bonds and chains with which it cap-
tivates the heart and most powerful is the dominion which
324 CITY OF GOD
it exercises ; especially when there are no imperfections to
weaken it. Our Queen exhibited nothing which either
in the spiritual or in the natural order was calculated to
diminish or moderate this love in her holy spouse, but
only what tended to blow it into greater flame on many
occasions and for many reasons.
399. Full of this sorrow, which had now become an
intolerable pain, saint Joseph, after saying the prayer
above mentioned, composed himself for a short sleep,
assured that he would wake up at the right time to leave
his home at midnight, and, as he thought, without the
knowledge of his Spouse. The heavenly Lady awaited
the intervention of God, asking it of Him in most humble
prayer. For She knew that the tribulation of her
troubled spouse had reached such a high point, that the
time of God's merciful assistance must have arrived.
The Most High sent his archangel Gabriel, in order to
reveal to him during his sleep the mystery of the Incarna-
tion and Redemption in the words recorded in the gospel.
It might cause some wonder, (and such was caused in
me), why the archangel spoke to saint Joseph in his
sleep and not while awake; since the mystery was so
high, and so difficult to comprehend, especially in the
present afflicted and troubled state of his mind; while
this same mystery was made known to others, not while
they were asleep, but awake.
400. In these operations of course, the last reason is
always the divine will itself, just, holy and perfect.
However, as far as I have understood, I will partly men-
tion some other reasons in explanation. The first reason
is, that saint Joseph was so prudent, filled with such
heavenly light, and had such high conception of our
most holy Lady, the blessed Mary, that it was not neces-
sary to convince him by strong evidence, in order to
THE INCARNATION 325
assure him of her dignity and of the mysteries of the
Incarnation; for in hearts well-disposed the divine in-
spirations find easy entrance. The second reason is,
because his trouble had its beginning in the senses, namely
in seeing with his eyes the pregnancy of his Spouse ; hence
it was a just retribution, that they, having given occa-
sion for deception or suspicion, should as it were be dead-
ened or repressed by the privation of the angelic vision.
The third reason is as it were a sequence of this last
one: saint Joseph, although he was guilty of no fault,
was under the influence of his affliction and his senses
were so to say deadened and incapacitated for the sensi-
ble perception and intercourse of the angel. Therefore
it was befitting, that the angel deliver this message to
him at a time, when the senses, which had been scandal-
ized, were inactive and suspended in their operations.
Thus the holy man might afterwards, regaining their full
use, purify and dispose himself by many acts of virtue
for entertaining the operation of the holy Spirit, which
had been entirely interrupted by his troubles.
401. Hence will be also understood, why God spoke
to the ancient Fathers oftener during sleep than happens
to the faithful ones of the evangelical law; for in the
new law revelation in sleep is less frequent than direct
intercourse with angels, which affords a more efficient
mode of communication. The explanation of this fact
is this: since according to the divine ordainment the
greatest impediment and obstacle of a more familiar in-
tercourse and converse of the souls with God and his
angels is the commission of sins, even venial sins or even
only imperfections, it follows, that, after the divine Word
became man and conversed with mortals, the senses and
all our faculties are purified day by day by the sanctify-
ing use of sensible Sacraments, by which men in some
326 CITY OF GOD
degree are spiritualized and elevated, their torpid facul-
ties aroused and made apt for participation in the divine
influences. This blessing we owe in a greater degree to
the blood of Christ our Lord than the ancients; for by
its efficiency we are made partakers of his holiness
through the Sacraments, wherein we receive the effects
of special graces, and in some of them even a spiritual
character, which destines and prepares us for Most High
ends. But whenever the Lord in our times spoke or
speaks in sleep, He excludes the operations of the senses,
as being unfit and unprepared to enter into the spiritual
nuptials of his communications and divine influences.
402. It will also appear from this doctrine, that, in
order to receive the hidden favor of the Lord, men must
not only be free from guilt and possess merits and grace,
but that they be also in peace and tranquillity of spirit;
for if the republic of the faculties is in disturbance (as
it was in saint Joseph), the soul is not in a fit condition
to receive such exalted and delicate influences as are im-
plied by the visits and the caresses of the Lord. It is
not at all uncommon, that, no matter how much tribula-
tions and afflictions increase the merits of the soul (as
were those of saint Joseph, the spouse of the Queen),
they nevertheless hinder the divine operations. For in
suffering them the soul is involved in a conflict with the
powers of darkness, while this kind of blessing consists
in the possession of light; and therefore the vision of
darkness, even if only in order to ward it off, is not in
harmony with the vision of God or the angels. But in
the midst of the conflict and the battle of temptations,
which may be compared to a dream in the night, the
voice of the Lord is nevertheless wont to be heard and
perceived through the ministry of the angels, just as it
happened to saint Joseph. He heard and understood all
THE INCARNATION 327
that saint Gabriel said: that he should not be afraid to
remain with his Spouse Mary (Matth. 1, 20, 21), because
what She bore in her womb, was the work of the holy
Spirit; that She would give birth to a Son, who should
be called Jesus and who was to be the Savior of his
people ; that in all this should be fulfilled the prophecy of
Isaias, who said (Is. 7, 14) : A Virgin shall conceive and
shall bring forth a Son, who was to be called Emmanuel,
God with us. Saint Joseph did not see the angel by
imaginary image, he heard only the interior voice and he
understood the mystery. The words of the angel imply,
that saint Joseph had in his mind already resolved to
sever his connection with most holy Mary; for he was
told to receive Her again without fear.
403. Saint Joseph awoke with the full consciousness,
that his Spouse was the true Mother of God. Full of
joy on account of his good fortune and of his inconceiva-
ble happiness, and at the same time deeply moved by sud-
den sorrow for what he had done, he prostrated himself
to the earth and with many other humble, reverential
and joyful tokens of his feelings, he performed heroic
acts of humiliation and of thanksgiving. He gave thanks
to the Lord for having revealed to him this mystery
and for having made him the husband of Her, whom God
had chosen for his Mother, notwithstanding that he was
not worthy to be even her slave. Amid these recogni-
tions and these acts of virtue, the spirit of saint Joseph
remained tranquil and apt for the reception of new in-
fluences of the holy Spirit. His doubts and anxieties of
the past few months had laid in him those deep founda-
tions of humility, which were necessary for one who
should be entrusted with the highest mysteries of the
Lord ; and the remembrance of his experiences was to
him a lesson which lasted all his life. The holy man
328 CITY OF GOD
began to blame himself alone for all that had happened
and broke forth in the following prayer: "O my
heavenly Spouse and meekest Dove, chosen by the Most
High for his dwelling-place and for his Mother: how
could thy unworthy slave have dared to doubt thy
fidelity ? How could dust and- ashes ever permit itself
to be served by Her, who is the Queen of heaven and
earth and the Mistress of the universe ? How is it, that
I have not kissed the ground which was touched by
thy feet? Why have I not made it my most solicitous
care to serve Thee on my knees? How will I ever raise
my eyes in thy presence and dare to remain in thy com-
pany or open my lips to speak to Thee? O my Lord and
God, give me grace and strength to ask her forgiveness ;
and move her heart to mercy, that She do not despise
her sorrowful servant according to his gnilt. Ah woe
is me! since She is full of light and grace and She bears
within Herself the Author of light, all my thoughts were
open to her sight, also that I had in my mind actually to
leave Her ; hence it will be temerity on my part to appear
in her presence. I now recognize my rude behavior and
my gross error; since even with such great holiness be-
fore my eyes I gave way to unworthy thoughts and
doubts concerning her fidelity, which I did not deserve.
And if in punishment thy justice had permitted me to
execute my presumptuous resolve, what would now be
my misfortune ? Eternally be thanked, Most High Lord
for such great blessing! Assist me, most powerful King,
to make some kind of reparation. I will go to my Spouse
and Lady, confiding in her sweetness and clemency;
prostrate at her feet I will ask her pardon, so that for
her sake. Thou, my eternal Lord and God, mayest look
upon me with the eyes of a Father and mayest pardon my
gross error."
THE INCARNATION 329
404. The holy spouse now left his little room, finding
himself so happily changed in sentiments since the time
he had composed himself for sleep. As the Queen of
heaven always had kept Herself in retirement, he did not
wish to disturb her sweet contemplation, until She her-
self desired. In the meantime the man of God un-
wrapped the small bundle, which he had prepared, shed-
ding many tears with feelings quite different from those
with which he had made it up. Weeping, he began to
show his reverence for his heavenly Spouse, by setting
the rooms in order, scrubbing the floors, which were to
be touched by the sacred feet of most holy Mary. He
also performed other chores which he had been accus-
tomed to leave to the heavenly Lady before he knew her
dignity. He resolved to change entirely his relation
toward Her, assume for himself the position of servant
and leave to Her the dignity of Mistress. From that
day on arose a wonderful contention between the two,
which of them should be allowed to show most eagerness
to serve and most humility. All that happened with
saint Joseph the Queen of heaven saw, and not a thought
or movement escaped her attention. When the time
arrived, the saint approached the oratory of her High-
ness, and She awaited him with sweetest kindness and
mildness, as I will describe in the following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE HEAVENLY LADY, MOST HOLY
MARY, GAVE ME.
405. My daughter, in what thou hast understood of
this chapter, thou hast a sweet motive for praising the
wonderful ways of God's wisdom in afflicting and again
consoling his servants and chosen ones; from both the
one and the other, He most wisely and kindly draws for
330 CITY OF GOD
them increase of merit and glory. Besides this doctrine,
I wish that thou receive another one, most important for
thy direction, and for the narrow pathway, which the
Most High has assigned to thee. It is this, that thou
strive with all thy might to preserve thyself in tran-
quillity and interior peace, without allowing thyself to be
deprived of it by any troublesome event of this life what-
ever, and by always keeping in mind the example and
instruction contained in this part of the life of my spouse
saint Joseph. The Most High does not wish to see the
creatures disturbed by afflictions, but that they gain
merit; not that they lose courage, but that they test
their own power when aided by grace. Although the
more violent temptations are wont to close the haven of
exalted peace and knowledge of God, and although they
ground the creature more firmly in the knowledge of its
own lowliness; yet if the soul loses its interior tran-
quillity and equilibrium, it will make itself unfit for the
visit of the Lord, for hearing his voice, and for being
raised up to his embraces. The Majesty of God does not
come in a stormcloud (III. Reg. 19, 12), nor will the rays
of this supreme Sun of justice shine, when calm is not
reigning in the soul.
406. If then the want of this tranquillity so hinders the
pure intercourse of the Most High, it is clear that sins
are a still greater hindrance to this great blessing. I
desire that thou be very attentive to this doctrine and that
thou do not presume to allow any disregard of it in any
operation of thy faculties. Since thou hast so often
offended the Lord, call upon his mercy, weep and wash
thyself from thy sins with copious tears; remember that,
under pain of being condemned as unfaithful, thou art
obliged to watch over thy soul and preserve it for an
eternal resting-place of the Almighty, pure, clean and
THE INCARNATION 331
undisturbed; so that thy God may possess it and find
in it a worthy habitation (I Cor. 2, 16). The harmony
of thy faculties and feelings is to be like that of the
music of soft and delicate instruments ; in which the more
delicate the harmony, so much the greater is the danger
of discord and so much the greater must be the care to
preserve the instruments from all gross contact. For
even the atmosphere infected by earthly tendencies is
sufficient to disturb and spoil the powers of the soul thus
consecrated to God. Labor therefore to live a careful life
and to keep full command over thy faculties and opera-
tions. If at any time thou art disturbed or disconcerted
in maintaining this order, strive to attend the divine
light, making use of it without fear or hesitation and
working with it whatever is most perfect and pure. In
this I point out to thee the example of my spouse saint
Joseph, who believed the angel without a moment's hesita-
tion and immediately with prompt obedience executed his
commands ; and thereby he merited to be raised to great
reward and dignity. If he humiliated himself so deeply
after having had such great, though only apparent rea-
sons for anxiety and without even having sinned in what
he did, how must thou, a mere worm of the earth,
acknowledge thy littleness and humble thyself to the dust,
weeping over thy negligences and sins, in order that the
Most High may look upon thee as a Father and as a
Spouse.
CHAPTER IV.
SAINT JOSEPH ASKS PARDON OP THE MOST HOLY MARY,
HIS SPOUSE, AND THE HEAVEN1,Y I,ADY CONSOI^ES HIM
WITH GREAT PRUDENCE.
407. The husband of Mary, saint Joseph, now better
informed, waited until his most holy Spouse had finished
her contemplation, and at the hour known to him he
opened the door of the humble apartment which the
Mother of the heavenly King occupied. Immediately upon
entering the holy man threw himself on his knees, say-
ing with the deepest reverence and veneration: "My
Mistress and Spouse, true Mother of the eternal Word,
here am I thy servant prostrate at the feet of thy
clemency. For the sake of thy God and Lord, whom
Thou bearest in thy virginal womb, I beseech Thee to
pardon my audacity. I am certain, O Lady, that none of
my thoughts is hidden to thy wisdom and to thy heavenly
insight. Great was my presumption in resolving to leave
Thee and not less great was my rudeness in treating
Thee until now as my inferior, instead of serving Thee
as the Mother of my Lord and God. But Thou also
knowest that I have done all in ignorance, because I knew
not the sacrament of the heavenly King and the great-
ness of thy dignity, although I revered in Thee other
gifts of the Most High. Do not reflect, my Mistress,
upon the ignorance of such a lowly creature, who, now
better instructed, consecrates his heart and his whole life
to thy service and attendance. I will not rise from my
332
THE INCARNATION 333
knees, before being assured of thy favor, nor until I have
obtained thy pardon, thy good will and thy blessing,"
408. The most holy Mary, hearing the humble words
of saint Joseph, experienced diverse feelings. For with
tender joy in the Lord She saw how apt he was to be
entrusted with the sacraments of the Lord, since he
acknowledged and venerated them with such deep faith
and humility. But She was somewhat troubled by his
resolve of treating Her henceforth with the respect and
self abasement alluded to in his words; for the humble
Lady feared by this innovation to lose the occasions of
obeying and humiliating Herself as a servant of her
spouse. Like one, who suddenly finds herself in danger
of being deprived of some jewel or treasure highly
valued, most holy Mary was saddened by the thought
that saint Joseph would no longer treat Her as an inferior
and as subject to him in all things, having now recog-
nized in Her the Mother of the Lord. She raised her
holy spouse from his knees and threw Herself at his
feet (although he tried to hinder it), and said: "I my-
self, my master and spouse, should ask thee to forgive me
and thou art the one who must pardon me the sorrows
and the bitterness, which I have caused thee ; and there-
fore I ask this forgiveness of thee on my knees, and that
thou forget thy anxieties, since the Most High has looked
upon my desires and afflictions in divine pleasure."
409. It seemed good to the heavenly Lady to console
her spouse, and therefore, not in order to excuse Herself,
She added: "As much as I desired, I could not on my
own account give thee any information regarding the
sacrament hidden within me by the power of the
Almighty; since, as his slave, it was my duty to await
the manifestation of his holy and perfect will. Not be-
cause I failed to esteem thee as my lord and spouse did
2-23
334 CITY OF GOD
I remain silent: for I was and always will be thy faith-
ful servant, eager to correspond to thy holy wishes and
affection. From my inmost heart and in the name of the
Lord, whom I bear within me, I beseech thee not to
change the manner of thy conversation and intercourse
with me. The Lord has not made me his Mother in
order to be served and to command in this life, but in
order to be the servant of all and thy slave, obeying thy
will in all things. This is my duty, my master, and out-
side of it I would lead a life without joy and full of
sorrow. It is just that thou afford me the opportunity
of fulfilling it, since so it was ordained by the Most High.
He has furnished me with thy protection and devoted
assistance, in order that I may live securely in the shade
of thy provident solicitude and with thy aid rear the
Fruit of my womb, my God and my Lord." With these
words and others most sweet and persuasive most holy
Mary consoled and quieted saint Joseph, and he raised
Her from her knees in order to confer with Her upon all
that would be necessary for this purpose. Since on this
occasion the heavenly Lady was full of the Holy Ghost
and moreover bore within Her, as his Mother, the divine
Word, who proceeds from the Father and the Holy
Ghost, saint Joseph received special enlightenment and
the plenitude of divine graces. Altogether renewed in
fervor of spirit he said :
410. "Blessed art Thou, Lady, among all women,
fortunate and preferred before all nations and genera-
tions. May the Creator of heaven and earth be extolled
with eternal praise, since from his exalted kingly throne
He has looked upon Thee and chosen Thee for his dwell-
ing-place and in Thee alone has fulfilled the ancient
promises made to the Patriarchs and Prophets. Let all
generations bless Him: for in no one has He magnified
THE INCARNATION 335
his name as He has done in thy humility; and me, the
most insignificant of the Hving, He has in his divine con-
descension selected for thy servant." In these words of
praise and benediction saint Joseph was enlightened by
the Holy Ghost, in the same manner as saint Elisabeth,
when she responded to the salutation of our Queen and
Mistress. The light and inspiration, received by the most
holy spouse was wonderfully adapted to his dignity and
office. The heavenly Lady, upon hearing the words of
the holy man, answered in the words of the Magnificat,
as She had done on her visit to saint Elisabeth, and She
added other canticles. She was all aflame in ecstasy and
was raised from the earth in a globe of light, which sur-
rounded Her and transfigured Her with the gifts of glory.
411. At this heavenly vision saint Joseph was filled
with admiration and unspeakable delight; for never had
he seen his most blessed Spouse in such eminence of
glory and perfection. Now he beheld Her with a full
and clear understanding, since all the integrity and purity
of the Princess of heaven and mystery of her dignity
manifested themselves to him. He saw and recognized
in her virginal womb the humanity of the infant God and
the union of the two natures of the Word. With pro-
found humility and reverence he adored Him and recog-
nized Him as his Redeemer, offering himself to his
Majesty. The Lord looked upon him in benevolence and
kindness as upon no other man, for He accepted him as
his foster-father and conferred upon him that title. In
accordance with this dignity. He gifted him with that
plenitude of science and heavenly gifts which Christian
piety can and must acknowledge. I do not dilate upon
this vast excellence of saint Joseph made known to me,
because I would extend this history beyond the pre-
scribed bounds.
336 CITY OF GOD
412. However, if it was a proof of the magnanimity
of the glorious saint Joseph and a clear evidence of his
great sanctity, that he did not wear away and die of the
grief sustained at the thought of the loss of his beloved
Spouse, it is yet more astonishing, that he was not over-
whelmed by the unexpected joy of this revelation of the
true mystery connected with his Spouse. In the former
he proved his high sanctity; but in the latter he showed
himself worthy of gifts, such which, if the Lord had not
expanded his heart, he could neither have been capable of
receiving nor could he have outlived to bear in the joy
of his spirit. In all things he was renewed and elevated,
so as to be able to treat worthily Her, who was the
Mother of God himself and his Spouse, and to co-operate
with Her in the mystery of the Incarnation and in tak-
ing care of the Word made man, as I shall relate farther
on. In order that he might be still more apt and so much
the more recognize his obligation to serve his heavenly
Spouse, it was also made known to him, that all the gifts
and blessings came to him because of Her: those before
his espousal, because he had been selected for her hus-
band, and those afterward, because he had won and
merited this distinction. He also perceived with what
prudence the great Lady had acted toward him, not only
in serving him with such inviolate obedience and pro-
found humility, but also in consoling him in his affliction,
soliciting for him the grace and assistance of the Holy
Ghost, hiding her feelings with such discretion, tran-
quilizing and soothing his sorrow, thus fittingly dispos-
ing him for the influence of the divine Spirit. Just as the
Princess of heaven had been the instrument for the sanc-
tification of saint John the Baptist and his mother, so She
also was instrumental in procuring for saint Joseph the
plenitude of graces in still greater abundance. All this
THE INCARNATION 337
the most faithful and fortunate man understood and for
it, as a most faithful servant, was proportionately thank-
ful.
413. These great sacraments and many others con-
nected with our Queen and her spouse saint Joseph, the
sacred Evangelists passed over in silence, not only because
they wished to treasure them in their hearts, but also be-
cause neither the humble Lady nor saint Joseph had
spoken of them to any one. Nor was it necessary to men-
tion these wonders in the life of Christ our Lord, which
they wrote in order to establish our belief in the new
Church and the law of grace ; for such things might give
rise to many inconveniences among the heathens in their
first conversion. The admirable providence of God, in
his hidden and inscrutable judgments, reserved these
secrets for a more suitable time foreseen in divine wis-
dom. He wished that, after the Church had been al-
ready established and the Catholic faith well grounded,
the faithful, standing in need of the intercession, the as-
sistance and protection of their great Queen and Lady,
should draw, from the knowledge of these mysteries,
new and old treasures of grace and consolation (Matth.
13, 52). Perceiving by new enlightenment what a lov-
ing Mother and powerful Advocate they had in heaven
with her most holy Son, to whom the Father has given
the power to judge (John 5, 52), let them fly to Her
for help as to the only and sacred refuge of sinners. Let
the tribulations and the tears of the Church themselves
g^ve witness, whether such times of affliction have not
come upon us in our days; for never were her trials
greater than now, when her own sons, reared at her
breast, afflict her, seek to destroy her, and dissipate the
treasures of the blood of her Spouse with a greater
cruelty than was done by her most embittered enemies.
338 CITY OF GOD
In this crying need, when the blood, shed by her chil-
dren calls heavenward, and much more loudly, the
blood of our high Priest Christ (Heb. 12, 24) trodden
under foot and polluted under pretext of justice, re-
sounds in anguish, what are the most faithful children
of the Church doing ? Why are they so speechless ? Why
do they not call upon most holy Mary? Why do they
not invoke her aid and urge Her to help ? What wonder
if help is delayed, since we postpone seeking Her and
acknowledging Her as the true Mother of God? I give
witness, that great mysteries are enclosed in this City
of God and that in lively faith we should confess and
extol them. They are so great, that the deeper insight
into them is reserved for the time after the general resur-
rection, when all the saints will know them in the Most
High. But in the meanwhile let the pious and faithful
souls acknowledge the condescension of this their most
loving Queen and Lady in revealing some of the great
and hidden sacraments through me, a most unworthy
instrument; for I, in my weakness and insignificance,
could be induced to attempt this work only by the
repeated command and encouragement of the Mother of
piety, as was stated several times.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE HEAVENLY QUEEN AND
I,ADY.
414. My daughter, my object in revealing to thee in
this history so many sacraments and secrets, both those
which thou hast written and many others, which thou
art unable to manifest, is, that thou use them as a mirror
of my life and as an inviolable rule of action for thy own.
All of them should be engraven in the tablets of thy heart
and I recall to thy mind the teachings of eternal life.
THE INCARNATION 339
thereby complying with my duty as thy Teacher. Be
ready to obey and fulfill all commands as a willing and
careful pupil; let the humble care and watchfulness of
my spouse saint Joseph, his submission to divine direc-
tion and his esteem for heavenly enlightenment, serve
thee as an example. For only because his heart had been
well disposed and prepared for the execution of the divine
will, was he entirely changed and remodeled by the pleni-
tude of grace for the ministry assigned to him by the
Most High. Let therefore the consciousness of thy
faults serve thee as a motive to submit in all humility to
the work of God, not as a pretext to withdraw from the
performance of that which the Lord desires of thee.
415. However, I wish on this occasion to reveal to
thee the just reproach and indignation of the Most High
against mortals ; so that, comparing the conduct of other
men with the humility and meekness, which I exercised
toward my spouse saint Joseph, thou mayest understand
it better in divine enlightenment. The cause of this
reproach, which the Lord and I have to make against
men, is the inhuman perversity of men in persisting to
treat each other with so much want of humility and#love.
In this they commit three faults, which displease the
Most High very much and which cause the Almighty
and me to withhold many mercies. The first is, that men,
knowing that they are all children of the same Father in
heaven (Is. 64, 8), works of his hands, formed of the
same nature, graciously nourished and kept alive by his
Providence, reared at the same table of divine mysteries
and Sacraments, especially of his own body and blood,
nevertheless forget and despise all these advantages, con-
centrating all their interest upon earthly and trivial
affairs, exciting themselves without reason, swelling with
indignation, creating discords, quarrels, indulging in
340 CITY OF GOD
detractions and harsh words, sometimes rising up to most
wicked and inhuman vengeance or mortal hate of one
another. The second is, that, when through human
frailty and want of mortification, incited by the tempta-
tion of the devil, they happen to fall into one of these
faults, they do not at once seek to rid themselves of it
nor strive to be again reconciled, as should be done by
brothers in the presence of a just judge. Thus they
deny Him as their merciful Father and force Him to
become the severe and rigid Judge of their sins; for no
faults excite Him sooner to exercise his severity than
the sins of revenge and hate. The third offense, which
causes his great indignation, is, that sometimes, when a
brother comes in order to be reconciled, he that deems
himself offended will not receive him and asks a greater
satisfaction than that which he knows would be accepted
by the Lord, and which he himself offers as satisfaction
to God's Majesty. For all of them wish that God, who
is most grievously offended, should receive and pardon
them, whenever they approach Him with humility and
contrition; while those that are but dust and ashes, ask
to be i^evenged upon their brothers and will not content
themselves with the satisfaction, which the Most High
himself readily accepts for their own sins.
416. Of all the sins, which the sons of the Church
commit, none is more horrible than these in the eyes of
the Most High. This thou wilt readily understand by
the divine light and in the vigor of God's law, which
commands men to pardon their brethren, although they
may have offended seventy times seven. And if a brother
offend many times every day, as soon as he says that
he is sorry for it, the Lord commands us to forgive the
offending brother as many times without counting the
number. And those that are not willing to forgive, He
THE INCARNATION 341
threatens with severest punishment on account of the
scandal, which they cause. This can be gathered from
the threatening words of God himself : Woe to him from
whom scandal comes and through whom scandal is
caused ! It were better for him, if he fell into the depths
of the sea with a heavy millstone around his neck. This
was said in order to indicate the danger of this sin and
the difficulty of obtaining deliverance therefrom, which
must be compared to that of a man dropping into the
sea with a grinding-stone around his neck. It also points
out that the punishment is the abyss of eternal pains
(Matth. 18, 9). Therefore the command of my most holy
Son is good advice to the faithful, that they rather per-
mit their eyes to be torn out and their hands chopped off,
than allow themselves to fall into this crime of scandaliz-
ing the little ones.
417. O my dearest daughter! How thou must bewail
the wickedness and evils of this sin with tears of blood!
That is the sin, which grieves the Holy Ghost (Eph. 4,
30), affords proud triumphs to the demons, makes mon-
sters of rational creatures, and wipes out in them the
image of the eternal Father ! What thing more unbecom-
ing, or hateful and monstrous, than to see creatures of
the earth, the food of worms and corruption, rise up
against one another in pride and arrogance? Thou wilt
not find words strong enough to describe this wicked-
ness, in order to persuade mortals to fear it and guard
against the wrath of the Lord (Matt. 3, 7). But do
thou, dearest, preserve thy heart from this contagion,
stamp and engrave in it the most useful doctrine for thy
guidance. Never think for a moment, that in offending
thy neighbor or scandalizing him in this way, the guilt
can be small, for all these sins are weighty in the sight
of God. Place a damper on all thy faculties and feel-
342 CITY OF GOD
ings in order to observe most strictly the rules of charity
toward all creatures of the Most High. To me also
afford this pleasure, since I wish thee to be most per-
fect in this virtue. I impose upon thee as my most
vigorous precept, that thou give offense neither in
thought, word or deed to any of thy neighbors ; and that
thou prevent any of thy subjects, and, as far as thou
canst, any other person in thy presence from injuring
their neighbor. Meditate well on this, as I ask it of thee,
my dearest; for it is a doctrine most divine and least
understood by mortals. ^ Serve thyself with the only
remedy against these passions : namely, with the compell-
ing example of my humility and meekness, the effect of
the sincere love not only toward my spouse, but toward
all the children of the heavenly Father; for I esteemed
them and looked upon them as redeemed and bought for
a great price (I Pet. 1, 18). With true fidelity and in-
genious charity watch over thy religious. The divine
Majesty is offended grievously by any one who does not
fulfill this command expressly inculcated and called a
new one by my Son (John 15, 12) ; but He is roused to
incomparably greater indignation against religious per-
sons, who offend against it. Among these there are
many, who should distinguish themselves as perfect
children of the Father and Teacher of this virtue; never-
theless they cast it aside and thereby become more odious
and detestable in his sight than worldly persons.
CHAPTER V. .
SAINT JOSEPH RESOLVES TO DEVOTE HIMSELE ENTIRELY
TO THE SERVICE OF MOST HOLY MARY ; THE BEHAVIOR
OF HER MAJESTY, AND OTHER PARTICULARS OF THE
LIFE OF MARY AND JOSEPH.
418. The most faithful Joseph, after being informed
of the mystery and sacrament of the Incarnation, was
filled with such high and befitting sentiments concerning
his Spouse, that, although he had always been holy and
perfect, he was changed into a new man. He resolved to
act toward the heavenly Lady according to a new rule
and with much greater reverence, as I will relate farther
on. This was conformable to the wisdom of the saint
and due to the excellence of his Spouse ; for saint Joseph
by heavenly enlightenment saw well, that he was the
servant and She the Mistress of heaven and earth. In
order to satisfy his desire for honoring and reverencing
Her as the Mother of God, whenever he passed Her or
spoke to Her alone, he did it with great external venera-
tion and on bended knees. He would not allow Her to
serve him, or wait upon him, or perform any other
humble services, such as cleaning the house or washing
the dishes and the like. All these things the most happy
spouse wished to do himself, in order not to derogate
from the dignity of the Queen.
419. But the heavenly Lady, who among the humble
was the most humble and whom no one could surpass in
humility, so managed all these things, that the palm of
victory in all these virtues always remained with Her.
343
344 CITY OF GOD
She besought saint Joseph not to bend the knees to Her,
for though this worship was due to the Lord whom She
carried in her womb, yet as long as He was within
unseen by any one no distinction was externally manifest
between his and her own person. The saint therefore
allowed himself to be persuaded and conformed to the
wishes of the Queen of heaven ; only at times, when She
was not looking, he continued to give this worship to the
Lord whom She bore in her womb, and also to Her as
his Mother, intending thereby to honor Both according
to the excellence of Each. In regard to the other works
and services, an humble contention arose between them.
For saint Joseph could not overcome his conviction as
to the impropriety of allowing the great Queen and Lady
to perform them, and therefore he sought to be before-
hand with such household duties. His heavenly Spouse
was filled with the same eagerness to seize upon occasions
in advance of saint Joseph. As however he busied him-
self in these duties during the time which She spent in
contemplation, he frustrated her continual desire of serv-
ing him and of performing all the duties of the house-
hold, which She considered as belonging to Her as a
servant. In her affliction on this account, the heavenly
Lady turned to the Lord with humble complaints, and
besought Him to oblige saint Joseph not to hinder Her
in the exercise of humility, as She desired. As this
virtue is so powerful before the divine tribunal and has
free access, no prayer accompanied by it is small.
Humility makes all prayers effective and inclines the im-
mutable Being of God to clemency. He heard Her peti-
tion and He ordered the angel guardian of the blessed
husband to instruct him as follows: "Do not frustrate
the humble desires of Her who is supreme over all the
creatures of heaven and earth. Exteriorly allow Her to
THE INCARNATION 345
serve thee and interiorly treat Her with highest rever-
ence, and at all times and in all places worship the in-
carnate Word. It is his will, equally with that of the
heavenly Mother, to serve and not to be served, in order
to teach the world the knowledge of life and the excel-
lence of humility. In some of the work thou canst
assist Her, but always reverence in Her the Lord of all
creation."
420. Instructed by this command of the Most High,
saint Joseph permitted the heavenly Princess to exercise
her humility and so both of them were enabled to make
an offering of their will to God: most holy Mary, by
exercising the deepest humility and obedience toward her
spouse in all her acts of virtue which She performed
without failing in the least point of perfection ; and saint
Joseph by obeying the Almighty with a holy and prudent
embarrassment, which was occasioned by seeing himself
waited upon and served by Her, whom he had recognized
as his Mistress and that of the world, and as the Mother
of his God and Creator. In this manner the prudent
saint made up for the humility, which he could not prac-
tice in the works now consigned to his Spouse. This
arrangement seemed to humiliate him more and filled
him with a greater reverential fear. In this fear he
observed most holy Mary, always bearing in mind the
Treasure of her virginal womb and adoring, magnifying
and praising the Lord. A few times, in reward of his
holiness and reverence, or for the increase of both, the
infant God manifested Himself to him in a wonderful
manner: he saw Him in the womb of his purest Mother
enclosed as it were in the clearest crystal. The sovereign
Queen conversed with the glorious saint concerning the
Incarnation ; because She did not need to be so reserved
in her heavenly words, since he had been enlightened and
346 CITY OF GOD
instructed in the sublime sacraments of the hypostatic
union of the divine and human natures in the virginal
chamber of his Spouse.
421. No human tongue can reproduce the celestial
words and conversations of the most holy Mary and the
blessed Joseph. I will adduce some of them in the fol-
lowing chapters, as far as I know how. Yet, who can
declare the effects wrought in the sweet and devout heart
of this saint in seeing himself not only constituted the
husband of Her who was the true Mother of his Creator,
but in finding himself also served by Her as if She was
the humblest slave, while at the same time he beheld Her
raised in sanctity and dignity above the highest seraphim
and inferior only to God? If the divine right hand en-
riched with blessings the house of Obededom for having
sheltered for a few months the figurative ark of the old
Testament (I Par. 13, 14), what blessings did He not
shower upon saint Joseph, to whom He entrusted the
true ark and the Lawgiver himself enshrined in Her?
Incomparable was the good fortune and happiness of this
saint! Not only because he had with him in his house
the living and true ark of the new Testament, the altar,
the sacrifice, and the temple, all left in his charge; but
also because he cared for them worthily and as a faithful
servant (Matth. 24, 45), constituted by the Lord himself
over his family to provide for all their necessities in the
right time as a most faithful dispenser (Os. 14, 20).
Let all generations and peoples acknowledge and bless
him, let them extol his merits; since the Most High has
favored none other in the same degree. I, an unworthy
and poor worm, in the light of such venerable sacraments,
exalt and magnify this Lord God, confessing Him as
holy, just, merciful, wise and admirable in the disposi-
tion of all his great works.
THE INCARNATION 347
422. The humble but blessed house of Joseph con-
tained three rooms, which occupied nearly all its space
and formed the exclusive dwelling place of the two
Spouses ; for they kept neither a man- nor a maid-servant.
In one of the rooms saint Joseph slept, in another he
worked and kept the tools of his trade of carpentering;
the third was ordinarily occupied by the Queen of heaven
and was also her sleeping room. It contained a couch
made by the hands of saint Joseph. This arrangement
they had observed since their espousal and from the day
on which they had come to this, their dwelling. Before
knowing the dignity of his Spouse and Lady, saint Joseph
rarely went to see Her; for while She kept her retire-
ment he was engaged in his work, unless some affair
made it absolutely necessary to consult Her. But after
he was informed of his good fortune, the holy man was
more solicitous for her welfare, and in order to renew
the joy of his heart he began to come often to the retreat
of the sovereign Lady, visiting Her and receiving her
commands. But he always approached Her with extreme
humility and reverential fear, and before he spoke to
Her, he was careful to note in what She was engaged.
Many times he saw Her in ecstasy raised from the earth
and resplendent with most brilliant light; at other times
in the company of her angels holding celestial intercourse
with them; and at other times, he found Her prostrate
upon the earth in the form of a cross, speaking to the
Lord. Her most fortunate spouse was a participator in
these favors. But whenever he found the great Lady
in these occupations and postures, he would presume no
farther than to look upon Her with profound reverence;
and thereby he merited sometimes to hear the sweetest
harmony of the celestial music, with which the angels
regaled their Queen, and perceived a wonderful frag^ancy
348 CITY OF GOD
which comforted him and filled him entirely with jubila-
tion and joy of spirit.
423. The two holy spouses lived alone in their house,
for as I have said, they had no servants of any kind, not
only on account of their humility, but in order more
fittingly to hide from any witnesses the wonders, which
passed between them and which were not to be communi-
cated to outsiders. Likewise the Princess of heaven did
not leave her dwelling, except for very urgent causes in
the service of God or her fellow-men. Whenever any-
thing was necessary She asked that fortunate neighbor,
who as I have said had served saint Joseph during the
absence of Mary in the house of Zacharias. This woman
received such a good return from Mary, that not only
she herself became most holy and perfect, but her whole
household and family was blessed by the help of the
Queen and Mistress of the world. She was visited by
most holy Mary in some of her sicknesses and with her
family was copiously enriched by the blessings of heaven.
424. Never did saint Joseph see his heavenly Spouse
asleep, nor did he of his own experience know whether
She ever slept, although he besought Her to take some
rest, especially during the time of her sacred pregnancy.
The resting-place of the Princess was the low couch,
which I said had been constructed by saint Joseph; and
on it were the coverings which served Her during her
brief and holy sleep. Her undergarment was a sort of
tunic made of cotton, but softer than the ordinary or
common cloth. This tunic She never changed from the
time since She left the temple, nor did it wear out or
grow old or soiled, and no person ever saw it, nor did
saint Joseph know that She wore that kind of a gar-
ment; for he never saw any other part of her clothing
except the outside garments, which were open to the
THE INCARNATION 349
view of other persons. Those were of a gray color, as 1
have said (Part I. No. 400), and these only and her
head-coverings were the garments, which the Queen
changed now and then ; not because they were soiled, but
because, being visible to all. She wished to avoid notice
by such strange sameness of outward appearance. Noth-
ing that She wore upon her most pure and virginal body
became soiled or worn; for She neither perspired, nor
was She subject to the punishments, which are laid upon
the sin-impregnated bodies of the children of Adam. She
was in all respects most pure and the works of her hands
were like crystal ornaments; and with the same purity
She cared for the clothes and other necessities of saint
Joseph. The food of which She partook, was most
limited in kind and quantity; but She partook of some
every day and in company of her spouse; she never ate
meat, although he did, and She prepared it for him.
Her sustenance was fruit, fishes, and ordinarily bread and
cooked vegetables; but of all these She partook in exact
measure and weight, only so much as was necessary for
the nourishment of the body and the maintaining of the
natural warmth without any superfluities that could pass
over into excess of harmful corruption ; the same rule She
observed in regard to drink, although Her fervent acts of
love often caused a superabundance of preternatural
ardor. This rule, as to the quantity of her nourishment.
She followed during her whole life, although as to the
kind of food She adapted Herself to the various circum-
stances demanding a change, as I shall relate further on.
425. In all things the most pure Mary exhibited con-
summate perfection, without any fault or want of grace ;
and all her actions both in the natural and the super-
natural order reached the pinnacle of excellence. But
words fail me in describing it: for I am never satisfied,
2—24
350 CITY OF GOD
seeing how far short these words fall of that which I
perceive and how much more excellence this sublime
Creature possesses than I can express. Continually I am
grieved by my insufficiency and dissatisfied with my
limited terms and descriptions, fearing lest I presume
more than I should in striving to do that which so far
exceeds my powers. But the force of obedience inspires
me with I do not know what sweet strength, which
dispels my hesitancy and impels my backwardness, en-
couraging me to face the greatness of my undertaking
and the smallness of my ability. I work under obedience,
and through it I hope to make great gains. It will also
serve me as an excuse.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN ME BY THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN, MOST
HOEY MARY.
426. My daughter, in the school of humility, which
my whole life affords thee, I wish that thou be studious
and diligent; and this should be thy first and principal
care, if thou wishest to enjoy the sweet embraces of the
Lord, assure thyself of his favor and possess the treas-
ures of light, which are hidden to the proud (Matth. 11,
25). For without the trusty foundation of humility such
treasures cannot be confided to any man. Let all thy
ambition be to humble thyself in thy own estimation and
thought, so that in thy exterior actions thou mayest truly
exhibit this humility of thy interior. It must be a sub-
ject of confusion and a spur of humility for thee and for
all the souls to have the Lord as their Father and Spouse,
to see, that the presumption and pride of worldly wisdom
is more powerful in its devotees, than humility and true
self-knowledge is in the children of light. Consider the
watchfulness, the untiring study and care of ambitious
THE INCARNATION 351
and aspiring men. Look upon their struggle to be
esteemed in the world, their strivings never at rest,
though so vain and worthless; how they conduct them-
selves outwardly according to the false notions which
they have of themselves; how they pretend to be what
they are not, and how they ejcert themselves to obtain
through these false pretenses the treasures, which, though
only earthly, they do not deserve. Hence it should be a
cause of confusion and shame to the good, that deceit
should urge on the sons of perdition with greater force
than truth urges the elect ; that the number of those, who
in the world are anxious to strive in the service of their
God and Creator, should be so small in comparison with
the number of those who serve vanity ; that there should
be so few of the elect, though all are called (Matth. 20,
16).
427. Seek therefore, my daughter, to make progress
in this science of humility and to gain for thyself the
palm of victory in this virtue in the midst of the children
of darkness; in opposition to their pride, study what I
did in order to overcome darkness in this world by the
pursuit of humility. In this the Lord and I desire thee
to be very wise and proficient. Never miss an occasion
of exercising humility and allow no one to deprive thee
of such works; and if occasions of humility fail thee
and are scarce, seek after them and ask God to send
them to you; for it pleases his Majesty to see such kind
of anxiety and ambition in what He desires so much.
For the sake of this divine complacency alone, thou, as a
daughter of his house, as his domestic and as his spouse,
shouldst be solicitous and anxious for acts of humility;
for in this, human ambition itself will teach thee not to
be negligent. Observe how a woman in her house and
family conducts herself in order to benefit and advance
352 CITY OF GOD
her family, and how she loses no chance of advancing it ;
nothing seems too much for her, and if anything, no
matter how small it is, goes to loss (Lucas. 15, 8) she
becomes much excited. All this is the effect of worldly
covetousness, and there is certainly no reason, that the
wisdom of heaven be les^ fruitful or less careful in the
gifts received. Therefore I desire thee to allow no care-
lessness or forgetfulness concerning what so much con-
cerns thee, and to lose no occasion of practicing humility
and laboring for the glory of the Lord ; but do thou seek
and strive after his gifts and draw merits from them as
a faithful daughter and spouse. Then wilt thou find
grace in the eyes of the Lord and in mine, according to
thy desire.
CHAPTER VI.
SOMS OF THB SAYINGS AND CONVERSATIONS 01^ MOST
HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH REGARDING DIVINE THINGS/
OTHER WONDERFUL EVENTS.
428. Before saint Joseph had been instructed in the
mystery of the Incarnation, the Princess of heaven made
use of opportune occasions for reading to him some of
the passages of holy Scriptures, especially from the
Prophets and from the Psalms. As a most wise Teacher
She also explained them to him, and her holy spouse who
was indeed capable of the exalted truths contained therein,
asked Her many questions, wondering at and consoling
tiimself with the heavenly answers of his Spouse ; and
thus both of them alternately praised and blessed the
Lord. But after he had himself become instructed in the
great sacrament, he conversed with our Queen, as with
one, who was Herself to be the Coadjutrix of the admira-
ble works and mysteries of our Redemption. For now
they could more openly and clearly discuss the divine
prophecies and oracles concerning the conception of the
Word through a Virgin-Mother, of his birth, his bring-
ing up, and his most holy life. All these things her
Highness discussed and explained, delineating beforehand
the course of action, which they were to pursue, when
the longed-for day of the birth of the Child should have
arrived, when She should hold Him in her arms, nourish
Him at her breast with virginal milk, and when the holy
spouse himself should share in this greatest of mortal
blessedness. Only of his Passion and Death, and of the
353
354 CITY OF GOD
sayings of Isaias and Jeremias, the most prudent Queen
spoke more rarely ; for as her spouse was of a most kind
and tender heart, She thought it best not to dilate upon
or anticipate that which he himself remembered of the
sayings of the ancient writers concerning the coming and
the sufferings of the Messiah. The most prudent Virgin
also waited until the Lord should grant more particular
revelation of what was to happen, or until She herself
would know better the divine will in this respect.
429. Her most faithful and blessed husband was
wholly inflamed by her sweet words and conversations,
and with tears of joy he said to the heavenly Spouse:
"Is it possible, that in thy most chaste arms I shall see my
God and Redeemer? That I shall hear him speak, and
touch Him, and that my eyes shall look upon his divine
face, and that the sweat of my brow shall be so blessed
as to be poured out in his service and for his sustenance ?
That He shall live with us, and that we shall eat with
Him at the same table, and that we shall speak and con-
verse with Him ? Whence comes to me this good fortune
which nobody can ever deserve? O how much do I
regret that I am so poor ! Would I possessed the richest
palaces for his entertainment and many treasures to offer
Him !" And the sovereign Queen answered : "My mas-
ter and spouse, there is abundant reason that thy desires
extend to all things possible for the reception of thy
Creator; but this great God and Lord does not wish to
enter into the world in the pomp of ostentatious riches
and royal majesty. He has need of none of these (Ps.
15, 2), nor does He come from heaven for such vanities.
He comes to redeem the world and to guide men on the
path of eternal life (John 10, 10) ; and this is to be done
by means of humility and poverty; in these He wishes
to be born, live and die, in order to destroy in the hearts
THE INCARNATION 355
of men the fetters of covetousness and pride, which
keep them from blessedness. On this account He chose
our poor and humble house, and desired us not to be
rich in apparent, deceitful and transitory goods, which
are but vanity of vanities and affliction of spirit (Eccles.
1, 24) and which oppress and obscure the understanding."
430. At other times the saint asked the most pure
Lady to teach him the nature and essence of virtues,
especially of the love of God, in order that he might
know how to behave toward the Most High become man
and in order that he might not be rejected as a useless
and incapable servant. The Queen and Teacher of vir-
tues complied with these requests and explained to him
the nature of true virtues and the manner of exercising
them in all perfection. But in these discourses She pro-
ceeded with so much humility and discretion that She
did not appear as the Teacher of her spouse, though such
She was; but She managed to give her information
under the guise of conversation or in addressing the
Lord, or at other times asking questions of saint Joseph,
which of themselves suggested the information. In all
circumstances She knew how to preserve her most pro-
found humility, without permitting even the least gesture
not in accordance with it. These alternate discourses or
readings from the holy Scriptures they interrupted by
manual labor as occasion required. Not only was the
hard and tiresome labor of saint Joseph lightened by the
admirable words of sympathy of our Lady, but in her
rare discretion She also knew how to add instruction, so
that his manual labor became more an exercise of virtue
than a work of the hands. The mildest Dove, with the
prudence of a most wise virgin, administered her conso-
lations by pointing out the most blessed fruits of labor.
In Her estimation She held Herself unworthy of being
356 CITY OF GOD
supported by her spouse, and She felt Herself in con-
tinual debt to the sweat of saint Joseph, as one who is
receiving a great alms and most generous gift. All
these considerations caused in Her sentiments of deepest
obligation, as if She were the most useless creature on
earth. Therefore, though She could not assist the saint
in his trade, since that was above the strength of women
and unbecoming the modesty and retirement of the
heavenly Queen; yet in all that was befitting Her She
served Him as an humble handmaid, since her discreet
humility and thankfulness would not suffer any less re-
turn for the faithful services of saint Joseph.
431. Among other wonderful happenings in connec-
tion with his intercourse with most holy Mary during
these days of her pregnancy, saint Joseph one day saw
many birds flocking around Her in order to pay their
respect to the Queen and Mistress of all creatures. They
surrounded Her as if to form a choir and raised up their
voices in songs of sweet harmony not less wonderful than
their visit to the heavenly Lady. Saint Joseph had never
seen this wonder until that day and, full of admiration
and joy, he said to his sovereign Spouse : "Is it possible,
my Mistress, that these simple birds and irrational crea-
tures should understand and fulfill their obligations better
than I? Surely it is reasonable, that if they recognize,
serve and reverence Thee according to their powers, that
Thou allow me to perform that which in duty I am bound
to do." The most pure Virgin answered him: "My
master, in the behavior of these little birds the Creator
offers us a powerful motive worthily to employ all our
strength and faculties in his praise, just as they recognize
and acknowledge their Creator in my womb. I, how-
ever, am but a creature and therefore I deserve no vener-
ation, nor is it right that I accept it; it is my duty to
THE INCARNATION 357
induce all creatures to praise the Most High, since He
has looked upon me, his handmaid, and has enriched me
with the treasures of the divinity" (Luke 1, 48).
432. It happened also not a few times that the heavenly-
Lady and her spouse found themselves so poor and desti-
tute of means that they were in want of the necessaries of
life ; for they were most liberal in their gifts to the poor,
and they were never anxious to store up beforehand food
or clothing, as is wont with the children of this world in
their faint-hearted covetousness (Matth. 6, 25). The Lord
so disposed things that the faith and patience of his most
holy Mother and of saint Joseph should not be vain, for
this indigence was a source of incomparable consolation
to our Lady, not only because of her love of poverty, but
also on account of her astonishing humility. She con-
sidered Herself unworthy of the sustenance of life, and
that She above all others should suffer the want of it.
Therefore She blessed the Lord for this poverty as far
as it affected Her, while She asked the Most High to
supply the needs of saint Joseph, as being a just and holy
man and well worthy of this favor of the Almighty. The
Lord did not forget his poor entirely (Ps. 73, 19), for
while He permitted them to exercise virtues and gain
merits, He also gave them nourishment in opportune
time (Ps. 144, 15). This his Providence provided in
various ways. Sometimes He moved the hearts of their
neighbors and acquaintances to bring some gratuitous
gift or pay some debt. At other times, and more ordi-
narily, saint Elisabeth sent them assistance from her
home ; for ever since She had harbored in her house the
Queen of heaven this devoted matron insisted on sending
them a gift from time to time, which the humble Princess
always acknowledged by sending in return some work of
her hands. On some occasions, for the greater glory of
358 CITY OF GOD
the Most High, the blessed Lady availed Herself of the
power given to Her as the Mistress of all creation; then
She would command the birds of the air to bring some
fishes from the sea, or fruits of the field, and they would
fulfill her commands to the point ; sometimes they would
bring also bread in their beaks, which the Lord had fur-
nished them. Many times the most fortunate spouse
saint Joseph was a witness to all these happenings.
433. Also In other necessities they were on some occa-
sions succored by the holy angels in an admirable manner.
In order properly to understand some of the great mira-
cles which happened through the ministry of the angels
to most holy Mary and Joseph, it is necessary to take into
account the magnanimity and generous faith of the saint,
for these virtues were so great in him that not even the
shadow of covetousness, or greediness, could find en-
trance into his soul. Although he labored for others, as
did also his heavenly Spouse, yet never did they ask for
any wages, or set a price on their work, asking payment
therefor ; they performed all their work not for gain, but
in obedience to a request or for charity, leaving the pay-
ment of wages entirely in the hands of their employers
and accepting it not as a just return for their labors, but
as a freely given alms. This is the perfection of sanctity,
which saint Joseph learnt from the heavenly example
given to him in his house by the most holy Virgin. Owing
to this circumstance, that he was not paid for his work, it
happened sometimes that they were in total want of food
and sustenance until the Lord would provide for them.
One day it came to pass that the hour set for their meal
passed without their having anything in the house to eat.
They persevered in prayer until very late, giving thanks
to the Lord for this privation, and hoping that He would
open his all-powerful hand (Ps. 144, 16). In the mean-
THE INCARNATION 359
while the holy angels prepared the meal and placed upon
the table some fruit, and whitest bread and fishes, also
especially a sort of preserve or jelly of wonderful and
nourishing sweetness. Then some of the angels went to
call their Queen, and others called saint Joseph her spouse.
Each came forth from their separate retirement and, per-
ceiving the regalement provided by heaven, they thanked
the Most High in tears of fervent gratitude and partook
of the food; and afterwards they broke out in exalted
songs of praise of the Almighty.
434. Many other similar events came to pass almost
daily in the house of most holy Mary and her spouse ; for
as they were alone and as there was no need of hiding
these wonders from witnesses, the Lord did not hesitate
to perform them for his beloved, who were entrusted
with co-operation in the most wonderful of all the works
of his powerful arm, I wish merely to remark, that when
I say Mary sang canticles of praise, either She by Her-
self or in company with saint Joseph or the holy angels,
new songs are meant, such as saint Anne sang, the
mother of Samuel, or Moses, Ezechias and other
Prophets, when they were visited by great blessings of
the Lord. If all the canticles (Kings 2, 1 ; Deut. 32, 1,
etc.) which the Queen of heaven composed ^nd sang
would have been recorded, there would be a large volume
of them, the contents of which would excite unheard of
wonder in this world.
TEACHING VOUCHSAFED ME BY THE SAME QUEEN AND
LADY.
435. Much-beloved daughter, I wish that the science
of the Lord be many times renewed in thee, and that
thou acquire the knowledge of the voice (Wis. 1, 7), so
360 CITY OF GOD
that thou mayst know, (and let also mortals know), the
dangerous deceit and perverse estimation in which they,
as lovers of falsehood, hold the temporal and visible
goods (Ps, 4, 4), How many men are not fascinated by
their unbounded greed? All of them ordinarily stake
their hopes on gold and material riches; and in order to
increase them, they exert all the forces of their natural
being. Thus they spend all the time of their life, which
was given them in order to gain eternal rest and happi-
ness, in these vanities. They lose themselves in these
dark labyrinths and mazes, as if they knew nothing of
God and of his Providence ; for they do not think of ask-
ing Him for that which they desire, and do not moderate
their desires in such a way as will dispose them to ask
and hope for what they desire at his hands. Thus they
lose all, because they confide in the lying and deceitful
prospects of their own efforts. This blind greed is the
root of all evils (I Tim. 6, 20) ; for the Lord, incensed
at such great perversity, permits the mortals to be en-
tangled in the vile slavery of avarice, in which their
understanding is darkened and their will hardened. Soon
the Most High, for greater punishment, withdraws his
kindly care as from creatures so detestable and denies
them his paternal protection, thus letting them fall into
what is the deepest misfortune that can befall man in this
life.
436. Although it is true that nothing can hide itself
from the eyes of the Lord (Ps. 138, 6), yet when the
transgressors and enemies of his law offend Him, they
forfeit the kind attention and care of his Providence and
are left to their own desires (Ps. 80, 13). They cease
to experience the paternal foresight shown toward those
who trust in the Lord. Those that confide in their own
efforts and in the gold, which they can touch and feel.
THE INCARNATION 361
will reap the fruit of their hopes. But just as far as the
divine Essence and Power is distant from the lowHness
and Hmitation of mortals, so far also the results of human
covetousness are distant from the help and protection of
eternal Providence shown to the humble who trust in
it (Ps. 17, 31). Upon these his Majesty looks with
kindest love, delights in them, nourishes them at his
breast, and attends to their wishes and wants. I and my
holy spouse Joseph were poor, and at times we suffered
great wants ; but none of them were powerful enough to
engender within our hearts the contagion of avarice. We
concerned ourselves entirely with the glory of the Most
High, relying wholly on his most faithful and tender care.
This was what pleased Him so much, as thou hast under-
stood and written ; since He supplied our wants in various
manners, even commanding the angels to help us and pre-
pare for us our nourishment.
437. I do not wish to say that the mortals should yield
to laziness and negligence ; on the contrary it is just that
all should labor (Ps. 48, 7), and doing nothing is also
a great and very reprehensible fault. Neither leisure nor
solicitude must be disorderly; nor should the creature
trust in his own strength ; nor should he smother the
divine love in anxiety; nor seek more than is necessary
for a temperate life.. Neither should he fear that the
divine Providence will fail to supply what is necessary,
nor should he be troubled or lose hope when the Creator
seems to delay his assistance. In the same way he that
is in abundance should not (Eccli. 31, 8) lay aside all
exertion and forget that he is a man subject to labor and
travail. Thus riches as well as poverty must be attributed
to God and made use of in a holy and legitimate way for
the glory of the Creator and Ruler of all things. If men
would observe this rule of action nobody would be with-
362 CITY OF GOD
out the assistance of the Lord, who is a true Father, and
neither would the poor be led into sin by poverty, nor the
rich by prosperity. Of thee, my daughter, I require the
practice of these rules, and through thee I wish to incul-
cate them on other mortals. Thou must especially im-
press this doctrine upon all thy subjects, telling them not
to be troubled or faint-hearted because of the wants they
suffer, nor inordinately solicitous about their eating or
clothing (Matth, 6, 25), but that they confide in the
Most High and in his Providence. For if they corre-
spond to his love, I assure them that they shall never
suffer from the want of what is necessary. Exhort them
also to let their words and conversations continually turn
about holy and divine things, engaging in the praise' and
exaltation of the Lord according to the teachings of the
Bible and holy writings. Let their conversations be in
heaven (Philip 3, 20) with the Most High, and with me,
who am their Mother and Superior, and let it be with
the angels, imitating them in holy love.
CHAPTER VII.
The most holy MARY PREPARES THE SWADDLING-
CLOTHES AND THE LINENS FOR THE DIVINE INFANT
WITH ARDENT LONGINGS TO SEE IT BORN.
438. The divine pregnancy of the Mother of the
eternal Word had already far advanced. Although She
knew that the necessary coverings and linens for the
time of her parturition must be provided. She wished
to proceed in all things with the fullness of heavenly
prudence. Therefore, fulfilling all requirements of an
obedient and faithful handmaid. She presumed to arrange
nothing without the permission and consent of the Lord
and of her holy spouse. Although She could have acted
for Herself in such matters as pertained to her office of
chosen Mother and of her most holy Son, She would not
undertake anything without speaking to saint Joseph.
Therefore She said to him: "My master, it is time
that we prepare the things necessary for the birth of
my most holy Son. Although his Majesty wishes to
be treated as one of the children of men, humiliating
Himself and suffering with them, yet it is just that we
acknowledge Him as our God and as our true King and
Lord by rendering Him our devoted service, and by
making careful provision for his wants as an infant. If
thou give me permission I will begin to prepare the cov-
erings and linens for his protection and shelter. I have
already woven with my own hands a piece of linen
which may serve as his first swaddling-clothes; and do
thou, my master, seek to procure some woolen cloth of a
363
364 CITY OF GOD
soft texture and an humble color from which I may pre-
pare other coverings; and later on I will weave a seam-
less tunic appropriate for Him. In order to avoid any
mistake, let us offer special prayers asking his Highness
to govern and direct us in the right way, so that we may
know his will and fulfill his pleasure."
439. "My Spouse and Lady," answered saint Joseph,
"if it were possible to serve with my own heart-blood
my Lord and God and thus fulfill thy commands, I would
be willing to shed it amid most atrocious torments;
and as I cannot do this, would that I had great riches
to buy the most costly textures in order to offer them
to Thee on this occasion. Do Thou give thy orders as
Thou seest fit, for I will serve Thee as thy servant."
Both of them betook themselves to prayer, and each
separately heard the answer of the Lord, repeating what
the sovereign Queen had already heard many times, and,
which now was said in her hearing and that of saint
Joseph: "I have come from heaven to the earth in
order to exalt humility and discredit pride, to honor
poverty and contemn riches, to destroy vanity and estab-
lish truth, and in order to enhance worthily the value of
labor. Therefore it is my will that exteriorly you treat
Me according to the humble position which I have as-
sumed, as if I were the natural child of both of you,
and that interiorly you acknowledge Me as the Son of
my eternal Father, and bestow the reverence and love
due to Me as the Man-God."
440. Encouraged by this divine voice to seek the
wisest course in the rearing of the infant God, most holy
Mary and Joseph conferred with each other in what way
they might conceal the most noble and perfect worship
which was ever given to the true God by his creatures,
beneath the treatment which in the eyes of the world was
THE INCARNATION 365
due to a natural child of them both; for this was to be
the opinion of the world, and such a conduct the Lord
himself had enjoined upon them. Having therefore
come to an agreement they lived up to this command of
the Lord in such perfection that they were the admira-
tion of all heaven ; and further on I will say more of this
(Nos. 506, 508, 536, 545). They both concluded that
according to the limited means allowed them by their
poverty they were to expend whatever they could afford
in the service of the infant God without going into
excess or failing in anything; for the sacrament of the
King was to be concealed in humble poverty, though at
the same time they wished to exercise their burning love
as far as was possible. Saint Joseph, in exchange for
some of his work, accepted two pieces of woolen cloth
such as his heavenly Spouse had described ; the one white,
the other mulberry-colored mixed with g^ey, both of
them of the best quality he could find. Of these the
heavenly Queen made the first little dresses of her most
holy Son, while She prepared the swathing clothes and
shirts from the piece of linen which She herself had
spun and woven. Being woven by such hands, it was
a most delicate piece of cloth. She had commenced work
upon it from the day of her entrance into their house at
Nazareth; for She had intended it for the temple as a
present. Although it could now serve for another much
higher purpose, nevertheless. She offered whatever re-
mained of it after She had completed the furnishings of
the infant God as a gift to the temple of Jerusalem, ac-
cording to her original intention. All the articles and
coverings necessary for her divine Infant the great Lady
prepared with her own hands, and while She sewed and
trimmed them She shed tears of ineffable devotion
remaining continually on her knees. Saint Joseph gath-
2-26
366 CITY OF GOD
ered such flowers and herbs as he could find from which,
together with other aromatic materials, the zealous
Mother extracted fragrant essences. With these She
sprinkled the sacred vestments of the Victim of sacrifice
which She awaited ; then She folded and laid them away
in a chest, in which She afterwards took them along with
Her, as I shall relate farther on.
441. All these doings of the Princess of heaven are to
be thought of and estimated not as being without life,
nude and bare as I here represent them, but of incom-
parable grace and loveliness, full of sanctity and ex-
alted merit, of a greater perfection than human intel-
lect can comprehend; because She performed all these
works as the Mother of wisdom, and as the Queen of all
virtues. In preparing for the appearance of the most
holy humanity of her Son in this world, She celebrated
the dedication of the living temple of God. The sov-
ereign Queen understood better than all the rest of cre-
ation the ineffable greatness of the mystery of the Incar-
nation of a God and of his coming into the world. Not
in a spirit of doubt, but inflamed by love and veneration,
She repeated many times the words of Solomon when he
built the temple: "How is it possible that God should
dwell with men on earth? If all the heavens, and the
heaven of heavens cannot comprehend Thee, how can
this human body contain Thee, which is formed in my
womb?" But if the temple of Solomon, which served
only as a place in which God should hear the prayers
within it, was built and dedicated with such lavish ex-
penditure of gold, silver, treasures and sacrifices, what
should not the Mother of the true Solomon do for the
building up and the dedication of the living temple
(Colos. 2, 9) where was to dwell the plenitude of the
true Divinity, the eternal and incomprehensible God?
THE INCARNATION 367
All these innumerable sacrifices and treasures of the
figurative temple, most holy Mary duplicated not in gold,
silver, or rich texture, since God sought no such riches
in the living temple, but in heroic virtues and in canticles
of praise, by which She fructified and extolled the graces
and gifts of the Most High. She offered up the sacrifice
of her burning love, and ransacked all the holy writings
for hymns, canticles and psalms to praise and magnify
this mystery, adding thereto the expression of her own
exalted sentiments. In a mystical and yet altogether
real manner She fulfilled the ancient figures and types by
her virtues and by her interior and her exterior acts. She
called upon and invited all the creatures to praise their
God, to give honor and glory to their Creator, and place
the hope of their santification in his coming into the
world. In many of these exercises the most fortunate
and blessed Joseph, her spouse, took part.
442. No human tongue can describe, and no created
understanding can reach the sublime height of merit
which the Princess of heaven attained, and the degree of
pleasure and complacency which they afforded the Most
High. If the least degree of grace, which any creature
merits by an act of virtue, is more valuable than all the
created universe, what treasures of grace did She not
gain, whose acts exceeded in value not only all the sacri-
fices, offerings and holocausts of the old law and all the
merits of the human race, but far excelled also those of
the highest seraphim? The loving extremes of the
heavenly Lady in hoping to look upon her Son and true
God, to receive Him in her arms, nourish Him at her
breast, tend Him with her own hands, converse with Him
and serve Him, and adore Him made man from her own
flesh, reached such a pass that in the ardors of love She
would have breathed forth her spirit and have been con-
368 CITY OF GOD
sumed if She had not been preserved from dissolution,
assisted and strengthened by the miraculous intervention
of that same God. Yes, many times would She have lost
her life, if it had not been preserved by her most holy
Son ; for many times She saw Him in her virginal womb
and with divine clearness She saw his humanity united
to his Divinity, observed the interior acts of that most
holy Soul, the conditions and postures of his body, the
prayers offered up by Him for Her, for saint Joseph, for
all the human race and especially for the predestined.
All these and other mysteries were open to Her, and in
perceiving them She was altogether inflamed with the
desire of imitating and exalting Him, since She bore
within Her the devouring fires which illumine yet do
not consume (Exod. 3, 2).
443. Amidst this conflagration of divine love She
spoke sometimes to her most holy Son : "My sweetest
Love, Creator of the universe, when shall my eyes enjoy
the light of thy divine countenance? When shall my
arms be consecrated as the altar of the Victim, which is
awaited by the eternal Father? When shall I kiss the
earth trodden by thy divine feet, and when shall I as thy
Mother gain the coveted kiss of my Beloved (Cant. 1, 1)
so that I may inhale thy own Spirit from the flow of thy
breath ? When shalt Thou, the inaccessible light, the true
God of the true God, Light of the Light (John 1, 9),
manifest Thyself to us mortals, after so many ages of
concealment from our view? When shall the children
of Adam, laden with the guilt of their sins, know their
Redeemer (Baruch 3, 38), see their salvation, welcome
in their midst their Teacher, their Brother and their true
Father? O Light of my soul, my strength, my Beloved,
for whom dying I live! Son of my womb, how can I
fulfill the ofiice of a Mother, since I know not how to
THE INCARNATION 369
fulfill the duties, nor merit the name of even a slave?
How shall I be able to treat Thee worthily, who am a
vile and insignificant, poor worm ? How can I serve and
administer to Thee, since Thou art sanctity itself and
infinite goodness, and I only dust and ashes? How can
I dare to speak before Thee, or stand in Thy presence?
Do Thou, Master of my being, who hast chosen me, the
little one among the other daughters of Adam, govern
my conduct, direct my desires and inflame my affections,
in order that I may please Thee with all my powers!
And what shall I do, my only Delight, since Thou art to
issue from my womb into the World in order to suffer
affronts and death for the human race, if at the same time
I shall not be allowed to die with Thee and accompany
Thee in thy sacrifice? Since Thou art my life and my
being, let the same cause and motive that brings about
thy Death bring about also mine ; for they are united as
if they were one and the same. Less than thy Death will
suffice to save the world, yes thousands of worlds; let
me die instead of Thee, and let me suffer thy ignominies,
while Thou, by thy love and light, sanctify the world and
enlighten the darkness of mortals, and if it is not pos-
sible to revoke the decree of the eternal Father, which
requires that Redemption be abundant (Ephes. 2, 4) and
thy excessive charity be satisfied, look graciously upon
my desires and let me take part in all the labors of thy
life, since Thou art my Son and Lord."
444. The variety of these and other sweetest senti-
ments of love uttered by the Queen made Her most beau-
tiful in the eyes (Esth. 2, 9) of the Prince of the eterni-
ties, who was enshrined in the virginal chamber of her
womb. All her interior movements were conformable to
the actions of that most sacred and deified Humanity;
iSt as a worthy Mother of such a Son She closely ob-
370 CITY OF GOD
served them as models for her imitation. Sometimes the
infant God would place Himself on his knees in order
to pray to the Father or assume the position of one cru-
cified, as if in order to exercise Himself therein before-
hand. From that retirement (as even now from the
highest throne in heaven) He looked upon and compre-
hended, by the science of his most holy soul, all that He
knows even at this day, and no creatures of the present,
past, or future, with all their thoughts and actions, was
hidden from his view. To all things He attended as
the Lord and Redeemer, Since these mysteries were
manifest also to his heavenly Mother and since She was
also endowed with all the graces and gifts necessary for
acting in concert with Him, She brought forth such great
fruits of sanctity, that no human words can ever describe
them. But if we were not perverted in our judgments,
and if we were not hardened as stone, we would find it
impossible, at the sight and experience of these vast and
admirable works, to remain untouched by loving sorrow
and thankful acknowledgment.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MARY, THt MOST HOLY QUEEN,
GAVE ME.
445. The lesson of this chapter, my daughter, should
be, that thou bear in mind with what reverence thou must
handle all the things consecrated and devoted to the
divine service; and at the same time estimate how repre-
hensible is the irreverence with which the ministers of
the Lord offend in their disregard for the sacred objects.
They should not forget or slight the indignation of his
Majesty against them for the gross discourtesy and in-
gratitude, which they ordinarily show by handling the
sacred ornaments and objects of worship without attaia-
THE INCARNATION 371
tion and respect. And much greater is the anger of the
Lord against those who possess the incomes or stipends
of his most sacred blood, if they waste and squander them
in vile vanities and indecent profanities. They seek for
their sustenance and convenience what is most costly and
valuable, while for the honor and worship of the Lord
they are satisfied with what is most cheap, common and
ordinary. When this happens, especially in regard to
the linens, which touch the body and blood of my most
holy Son, such as corporals and purificators, I wish thee
to understand that the holy angels, that assist at the most
exalted and sublime sacrifice, are as it were struck with
horror and cover their eyes at the sight, full of astonish-
ment that the Most High bears with them and suffers
such boldness and presumption. Although not all offend
in this, yet there are many; and few distinguish them-
selves in outward respect and care at the divine cult, or
treat the sacred objects with due reverence; they are the
smaller number and even they do not all have the pure
intention, not observing this due respect out of reverence,
but out of vanity and for other human ends. Thus they
who adore and worship their Creator in the spirit of truth
and with a pure and upright intention have become very
scarce.
446. Consider, my dearest, what should be our senti-
ments when, on the one hand, we reflect on the incom-
prehensible being of God, who in his goodness has cre-
ated us for his honor and worship, establishing this as
the very law of our nature and of all the created universe,
and when, on the other hand, we see with what ingrati-
tude men correspond to the gifts of the most liberal
Creator by withholding from his service the very things
intended for it, reserving for their own vanities the most
costly and valuable and applying for their Creator only
372 CITY OF GOD
the most valueless and despicable of this world. This
fault is little thought of and recognized, and therefore I
wish not only that thou deplore it with true sorrow, but
also that thou make reparation for it as far as possible
during the time in which thou art superioress. Give to
the Lord of the best, and instruct thy religious that they
attend with a sincere and devout heart to the keeping
in order and the cleaning of the sacred articles ; and this
not only for their own convent, but also by seeking to
furnish other poor churches with the corporals and vest-
ments of which they stand in need. Let them be con-
vinced that the Lord will repay their holy zeal for his
worship, and that He will relieve their poverty and the
necessities of their convent like a Father, and that thereby
it will never become poorer. This is the most appro-
priate occupation and legitimate business of the spouses
of Christ, and in this they ought to consume their time
which may remain after fulfilling the obligations of the
choir and other duties of obedience. If all the religious
would busy themselves purposely in these honorable,
praiseworthy and agreeable occupations they would never
suffer any want and they would maintain an angelic ex-
istence in this life. Because they do not attend to this
service of the Lord, many of them, forsaken by the hand
of the God, turn toward the dangerous levities and dis-
tractions, which on account of their vileness, I do not wish
thee to describe or consider except to deplore them from
thy heart and to avert such displeasure and offense against
God.
447. But because I have especial reason to look with
favor upon the inmates of thy convent, I wish that, in my
name and by my authority, thou admonish and lovingly
urge them always to live retired and dead to the world,
with unbroken forgetfulness of all that passes within it;
THE INCARNATION 373
that among themselves their conversation be of heaven,
and that above all they preserve intact the mutual peace
and love, to which I have exhorted thee so often
(Philip 3, 20). If they obey me in this I ofifer them my
protection, and I will constitute myself their Mother, their
help and defense in the same way as I am thine, and I
will also promise them my continual and efficacious inter-
cession with my most holy Son, if they do not displease
me. For this purpose thou shouldst exhort them to con-
tinual love and devotion toward me, engrafting it in their
hearts ; in being thus faithful they will attain all that thou
wishest for them, and much more, for I will obtain it for
them. In order that they may occupy themselves with
joy and alacrity in preparing things for the divine wor-
ship, and gladly undertake all that pertains to it, remind
them of all that I did in the service of my most holy Son
and of the temple. I desire thee to understand that the
holy angels were full of admiration at the zeal, careful
attention and neatness with which I took charge of all
that belonged to the service of my Son and Lord. This
loving and reverent anxiety caused me to prepare all that
was necessary for his rearing up beforehand, so that I
was never in want of anything necessary for clothing
Him and administering to his comfort (as some have
thought) ; for my prudence and love would not permit
any negligence or inadvertence in this regard.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE EDICT OE CiESAR AUGUSTUS IS PUBLISHED, COM-
MANDING ALL SUBJECTS OE THE EMPIRE TO REGIS-
TRATE; AND WHAT SAINT JOSEPH DID WHEN HE
HEARD OE IT.
448. It had been decreed by the immutable will of
Providence that the Onlybegotten of the Father should
be born in the town of Bethlehem (Mich. 5, 2), and ac-
cordingly it had been foretold by the Saints and Prophets
of foregone ages (Jerem. 10, 9) ; for the decrees of the
absolute will of God are infallible, and since nothing can
resist them (Esther 13, 9), sooner would heaven and
earth pass away than that they fail of accomplishment
(Matth. 24, 35). The fulfillment of this immutable de-
cree the Lord secured by means of an edict of Caesar
Augustus for the whole Roman empire, ordering the
registration or enumeration of all the world, as saint
Luke says (Luke 2, 1), The Roman empire at that time
embraced the greater part of what was then known of
the earth and therefore they called themselves masters of
the world, ignoring all the other nations. The object
of this census was to make all the inhabitants acknowl-
edge themselves as vassals of the emperor, and to pay a
certain tax to their temporal lord; for this registration
every one was to go to his native city in order to be
inscribed. This edict was also proclaimed in Nazareth
and came to the hearing of saint Joseph while he was on
some errand. He returned to his house in sorrowful
consternation and informed his heavenly Spouse of the
374
THE INCARNATION 375
news which had spread about concerning the edict. The
most prudent Virgin answered : "Let not this edict of
our temporal ruler cause thee any concern, my master and
spouse, for all that happens to us is ordained by the Lord
and King of heaven and earth; and in all events his
Providence will assist and direct us (Eccli. 22, 28). Let
us resign ourselves into his hands and we shall not be
disappointed."
449. Most holy Mary was capable of being entrusted
with all the mysteries of her most holy Son and She
knew of the prophecies and their fulfillment ; hence, also,
that the Onlybegotten of the Father and her own was to
be born in Bethlehem, a Stranger and an Unknown.
But She said nothing of this to saint Joseph; for without
being commissioned by the Lord She would reveal none
of his secrets. All that She was not commanded to re-
veal She concealed with admirable prudence, notwith-
standing her desire of consoling her most faithful and
holy spouse. She wished to entrust Herself to his direc-
tion and arrangement without acting the part of those
who are wise in their own conceit, as Wisdom warns us
(Prov. 3, 7). They therefore conferred with each other
about the course to be pursued ; for already the pregnancy
of the heavenly Lady was far advanced and her parturi-
tion was approaching. Saint Joseph said: "Queen of
heaven and earth and my Mistress, if Thou hast no order
to the contrary from the Almighty, it seems to me nec-
essary that I go alone. Yet, although this order refers
only to the heads of families, I dare not leave Thee with-
out assistance, nor could I live without Thee, nor would
I have a moment's peace away from Thee ; for my heart
could not come to any rest without seeing Thee. Thy
heavenly delivery is too imminent to ask Thee to go with
me to Bethlehem, whither this edict calls us; and I fear
376 CITY OF GOD
to place Thee in any risk, as well on account of thy con-
dition as also on account of my poverty. If thy delivery
should happen on the way, amid inconveniences, which I
could not alleviate, I would be heartbroken. These are
the anxious thoughts which trouble me. I pray Thee,
Lady, present them before the Most High and beseech
Him to grant me my desire of not being separated from
Thee."
450. His humble Spouse obeyed saint Joseph and
although She was not ignorant of the divine will, yet
She would not omit this act of obedience as a most sub-
missive Spouse. She presented to the Lord the fervent
wishes of saint Joseph and received the following answer :
"My dearest Dove, yield to the wishes of my servant
Joseph in what he proposes. Accompany him on the
journey. I shall be with Thee and I shall assist Thee
with paternal love in the tribulations which Thou shalt
sufiFer for my sake; although they shall be very great,
my powerful arms will make Thee come forth glorious
from all of them. Thy footsteps will be beautiful in my
sight (Cant. 7, 1), do not fear, since this is my will."
Then the Lord gave to the holy guardian angels, in the
presence of the heavenly Mary, a new and special com-
mand and precept, that they serve Her during this jour-
ney with particular care and solicitude, as befitted the
magnificent mysteries that should be transacted. Beside
the thousand angels which served ordinarily as her guard,
the Lord commanded other nine thousand to attend on
their Queen and Mistress, and serve as a guard of honor
ten thousand strong from the first day of her journey.
This they did as most faithful servants of the Lord, as
I shall say later on (Nos. 456, 489, 616, 622, 631, 634).
The great Queen was renewed and strengthened with
new enlightenment for the troubles and tribulations
THE INCARNATION 377
which would be occasioned by the persecution of Herod
and other happenings at the birth of the infant God
(Matth. 2, 16). Her invincible heart being thus pre-
pared, She offered Herself to the Lord without any dis-
quietude and gave thanks for all that He should choose
to do and arrange in regard to these future events.
451. She returned from this heavenly interview to
saint Joseph, and announced to him the will of the Most
High, that She accede to his wishes and accompany him
on his journey to Bethlehem. Joseph was filled with
new consolation and delight; acknowledging the great
favor conferred upon him by the right hand of the Most
High, he gave thanks with fervent acts of gratitude and
humility; and, addressing the heavenly Spouse, he an-
«5wered : "My Lady, source of my happiness and good
fortune, the only cause of grief in this journey will now
be the hardships which Thou must undergo because I
have no riches to procure Thee the conveniences which I
would like to furnish for thy pilgrimage. But we shall
find relations, acquaintances and friends of our family in
Bethlehem ; I hope they will receive us hospitably, and
there thou canst rest from the exertions of the journey,
if the Lord will dispose as I thy servant would wish."
Thus the holy spouse saint Joseph lovingly planned ; but
the Lord had already pre-arranged all things in a way
unknown to him; and therefore he experienced so much
the greater bitterness of disappointment when all his
loving expectations failed, as we shall see. Most holy
Mary said nothing to saint Joseph of what She knew
the Lord had decreed concerning the heavenly Birth,
although She well knew that it would be different from
what he expected. She rather encouraged him, saying:
"My spouse and my master, I accompany thee with much
pleasure, and we will make this journey as poor people
378 CITY OF GOD
in the name of the Lord: for the Most High will not
despise poverty, which He came to seek with so much
love. Relying on his protection and assistance in our
necessities and labors, we will proceed with confidence.
Do thou, my master, place to his account all thy difficul-
ties."
452, They at the same time resolved upon the day of
their departure, and Joseph diligently searched in the
town of Nazareth for some beast of burden to bear the
Mistress of the world. He could not easily find one
because so many people were going to different towns
in order to fulfill the requirements of the edict of the
emperor. But after much anxious inquiry saint Joseph
found an unpretentious little beast which, if we can call
such creatures fortunate, was the most fortunate of all
the irrational animals; since it was privileged not only
to bear the Queen of all creation and the blessed fruit
of her womb, the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
but afterwards to be present at his Birth (Isaias 1, 3) ;
and since it gave to its Creator the homage denied to Him
by men, as I shall relate (No. 485). They provided the
articles for the journey, which would last five days. The
outfit of the heavenly travelers was the same as that
which they had provided for their previous journey to
the house of Zacharias on their visit to Elisabeth. They
carried with them bread, fruit and some fishes, which
ordinarily composed their nourishment. As the most
prudent Virgin was enlightened regarding their pro-
tracted absence. She made use of prudent concealment
in taking along the linens and clothes necessary for her
heavenly delivery, for She wished to dispose all things
according to the exalted intents of the Lord and in prepa-
ration for the events which She expected. Their house
THE INCARNATION 379
they left in charge of some neighbor until they should
return.
453. The day and hour for their departure for Beth-
lehem arrived and, because of the reverence with which
the most faithful and fortunate Joseph had begun to treat
his sovereign Spouse, he diligently and anxiously sought
to do all in his power to please Her; he besought Her
with great affection to make known to him all her wishes
and to call his attention to all that he might forget in
regard to her pleasure, convenience and comfort, or that
might please the Lord whom She bore in her womb.
The humble Queen thanked him for his loving attention,
and referring it to all the glory and service of her most
holy Son, She consoled and animated him to meet cour-
ageously the hardships of the journey, assuring him anew
that the Almighty was pleased with his affectionate solici-
tude. She also informed him of the will of his Majesty
that they meet with patience and joy of heart the hard-
ships of poverty on their way. In order to begin her
journey the Empress of heaven knelt at the feet of saint
Joseph and asked him for his blessing. Although the man
of God shrunk from such a request and strenuously ob-
jected on account of the dignity of his Spouse, She never-
theless remained victorious in her humility and prevailed
upon him to give Her his benediction. Saint Joseph
complied with great timidity and reverence, and imme-
diately cast himself at her feet in a flood of tears, asking
Her to present him anew to her most holy Son, and obtain
for him divine pardon and grace. Thus prepared they
started from Nazareth for Bethlehem in midwinter, which
made the journey more painful and difficult. But the
Mother of God, who bore eternal Life within Her, at-
tended solely to the divine activities and colloquies of the
Lord, observing Him in the virginal chamber of her
380 CITY OF GOD
womb, imitating Him in his works, and giving Him more
delight and honor than all the rest of creatures taken
together.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MOST HOLY MARY, THE QUEEN
VOUCHSAFED ME.
454. My daughter, in all thy discourse on my life, and
in each of the chapters and mysteries so far rehearsed,
thou wilt find the admirable providence of the Most High
and his fatherly love toward me, his humble servant.
Although human capacity cannot fully penetrate and
estimate the admirable works of such high wisdom, yet
it must venerate it with all its powers, and must seek to
participate in the favors which the Lord showed me, by
striving to imitate me. For mortals must not think that
only for my sake and in me God wished to show Him-
self as holy, powerful and infinitely good. It is certain
that if any or all of the souls would entrust themselves
to the direction and government of this Lord they would
soon experience that same fidelity, punctuality and most
sweet efficacy with which his Majesty arranged all things
that touched upon his honor and service in my life. They
would likewise taste those delightful and divine emotions
which I felt in relying upon his most holy will ; nor would
they fail to receive the abundance of his gifts, which are
enclosed as in an infinite ocean within his Divinity. And
just as the waters of the ocean rush forth wherever they
find a suitable opening, so the graces and blessings of
the Lord overflow upon rational creatures, when they are
well-disposed and do not hinder their course. This truth
is hidden to mortals because they do not stop to ponder
and consider the works of the Almighty.
455. I desire thee to study this truth, to write it within
THE INCARNATION 381
thy heart, and to learn from my own actions the secret
workings of thy own interior so that thou understand
what goes on within thee; also that thou practice ready
obedience and subjection to others, always preferring the
good counsels of others to thy own insight and judg-
ment. Thou must carry this to such a point that, in
order to obey thy superiors and thy spiritual directors,
thou take no notice of what thou foreseest will happen
contrary to their expectations; just as I, when I knew
that what my holy spouse Joseph expected would not
happen on our journey to Bethlehem. And even when
some equal or inferior command thee such things, be
silent and hide thy better foreknowledge ; perform all that
is no sin or imperfection. Listen to all with attention
and silence so that thou mayest learn ; in speaking be very
slow and reserved, for in this consist prudent and care-
ful intercourse. Always bear in mind that thou ask the
blessing of the Lord for all that thou wishest to under-
take, in order that thou mayest not wander from what
is pleasing to Him. Whenever thou hast an opportunity,
ask also the permission and blessing of thy spiritual
father and director, so that thou mayest not fall short of
the greatest merits and perfections in thy works, and in
order that thou mayest also give me the pleasure, which I
desire of thee.
2-26
CHAPTER IX.
iTllE JOURNEY OP MOST HOI^Y MARY FROM NAZARETH
TO BETHLEHEM IN THE COMPANY OE THE HOEY
SPOUSE JOSEPH AND OE THE HOEY GUARDIAN ANGEES.
456. The most pure Mary and the glorious saint
Joseph departed from Nazareth for Bethlehem alone,
poor and humble in the eyes of the world. None of the
mortals thought more of them than what was warranted
by their poverty and humility. But O the wonderful
sacraments of the Most High, hidden to the proud, and
unpenetrated by the wisdom of the flesh ! They did not
walk alone, poor or despised, but prosperous, rich and in
magnificence. They were most worthy of the immense
love of the eternal Father and most estimable in his eyes.
They carried with them the Treasure of heaven, the Deity
itself. The whole court of the celestial ministers ven-
erated them. All the inanimate beings recognized the
living and true Ark of the Testament ( Josue 3, 16) more
readily than the waters of the Jordan recognized its
type and shadow, when they courteously laid open and
free the path for its passage and for those that followed
it. They were accompanied by the ten thousand angels,
which as mentioned (No. 450), were appointed by God
himself as the servants of her Majesty during that whole
journey. These heavenly squadrons marched along as
their retinue in human forms visible to the heavenly Lady,
more refulgent than so many suns. She herself walked
in their midst better guarded and defended than the bed
of Solomon, surrounded by the sixty valiant ones of
382
THE INCARNATION 383
Israel, girded with their swords (Cant. 3, 7). Besides
these ten thousand angels there were many others, who
descended from heaven as messengers of the eternal
Father to his Onlybegotten made man in his most holy
Mother, and who ascended from earth as their ambassa-
dors with messages and treaties from them to the heavenly
Father.
457. In the midst of this royal retinue, hidden from
the gaze of men, most holy Mary and Joseph proceeded
on their way secure that their feet would not be bruised
by the stone of tribulation (Ps. 40, 12), since the Lord
had commanded his angels to be their defense and watch-
fulness. This command the most faithful ministers, as
vassals of their great Queen, fulfilled with wonder and
delight, seeing centered in a mere Creature such great
sacraments, such perfections, and immense treasures of
the Divinity, and seeing in Her all this distinction united
to dignity and grace far exceeding their own angelic
capacity. They composed new songs in honor of the
Lord, whom they saw reclining as the highest King of
glory, on his throne of gold (Cant. 3, 9) ; and in honor
of the heavenly Mother, who was like his living and
incorruptible chariot, or like the fertile ear of corn of the
promised land, enclosing the living grain (Lev. 23, 10) ;
or like the rich merchant ship, which brings the grain to
the house of bread, in order that dying in the earth it
might be multiplied for heaven (John 12, 24). Their
journey lasted five days, for on account of the pregnancy
of his Spouse, saint Joseph shortened each day's journey.
The sovereign Queen experienced no darkness of night
on the way ; for a few times, when their travel extended
beyond nightfall the holy angels spread about such
effulgence as not all the lights of heaven in their noontide
splendor would have thrown forth in the clearest heavens.
384 CITY OF GOD
This light and vision of the angels also saint Joseph
enjoyed at those times; then all of them together would
form celestial choirs, in which they and the two holy
travelers alternated in singing wonderful hymns and
canticles of praise, converting the fields into new heavens.
During this whole journey the Queen was rejoiced by
the sight of her resplendent ministers and vassals and by
the sweet interior conversation held with them.
458. With these wonderful favors and delights, how-
ever, the Lprd joined some hardships and inconveniences,
which the divine Mother encountered on the way. For
the concourse of people in the taverns, occasioned by the
imperial edict, was very disagreeable and annoying to the
modest and retiring Virgin-Mother and her spouse. On
account of their poverty and timid retirement they were
treated with less hospitality and consideration than others,
especially the well-to-do ; for the world judges and usually
confers its favors according to outward appearance and
according to personal influence. Our holy pilgrims were
obliged repeatedly to listen to sharp reprimands in the
taverns, at which they arrived tired out by their journey,
and in some of them they were refused admittance as
worthless and despicable people. Several times they as-
signed to the Mistress of heaven and earth some corner
of the hallway ; while at others She did not fare even so
well, being obliged to retire with her husband to places
still more humble and unbecoming in the estimation of
the world. But in whatever places She tarried, how con-
temptible soever it might be considered, the courtiers of
heaven established their court around their supreme King
and sovereign Queen. Immediately they surrounded and
enclosed them like an impenetrable wall, securing the
bridal chamber of Solomon against the terrors of the
night. Her most faithful spouse Joseph, seeing the
THE INCARNATION 385
Mistress of heaven so well guarded by the angelic hosts,
betook himself to rest and sleep; for to this She urged
him on account of the hardships of travel. She, how-
ever, continued her celestial colloquies with the ten
thousand angels of her retinue.
459. Solomon, in the Canticles, describes in diverse
metaphors and similitudes many great mysteries of the
Queen of heaven, but in the third chapter he refers more
particularly to what happened to the heavenly Mother in
her pregnancy and during this journey. During this
time was fulfilled to the letter all that is said of the couch
of Solomon (Cant. 3, 7), of his chariot and of his golden
bed, of the guard, which was stationed around it enjoying
the divine vision; also all the other sayings, which are
contained in those prophecies. What I have pointed out
will suffice to make them understood, and they should
excite our admiration of the wonderful sacraments of
God's activity for the good of man. Who is there among
mortals whose heart is not softened? Or who is so
proud as not to be abashed ? Or so careless as not to be
filled with wonder at such miraculous extremes? The
infinite and true God hidden and concealed in the virginal
womb of a tender Maiden, full of grace and beauty, inno-
cent, pure, sweet, pleasing and amiable in the eyeS of God
and of men, surpassing all that the Lord God has ever
or shall ever create ! To see this great Lady, bearing the
treasure oi the Divinity, despised, persecuted, neglected,
and cast out by the blind ignorance and pride of the
world ! And on the other hand, while She is thus pushed
aside into the last places, to see Her loved and esteemed
by the triune God, regaled by his caresses, served by
his angels, revered, defended and assisted with the greatest
anxiety and watchfulness ! O children of men, slow and
386 CITY OF GOD
hard of hearts ! ( Ps. 4, 3 ) . How deceitful are your ways
and how erroneous is your judgment in esteeming the rich
and despising the poor (James 2, 2), exalting the proud
and humiliating the lowly, applauding the braggarts and
casting out the just! Blind is your choice and full of
error your judgment, and you will find yourselves frus-
trated in all your desires. Ambitiously you seek riches
and treasures, and you find yourself in poverty beating
the air; if you had received the true ark of God, you
would have been blessed by the hand of the Almighty,
like Obededom (II Kings, 6, 11) ; but because you have
treated it unworthily, many of you have experienced the
punishment of Oza.
460. The heavenly Lady observed and knew the
secrets of the different souls of those She met, penetrating
into the very thoughts and conditions of each, whether
of grace or of guilt in their different degrees. Concern-
ing many souls She also knew whether they were pre-
destined or reprobate, whether they would persevere, fall,
or again rise up. All this variety of insight moved Her
to the exercise of heroic virtues as well in regard to the
ones as to the others. For many of them She obtained
the grace of perseverance, for others efficacious help to
rise from their sin to grace ; for others again She prayed
to the Lord with affectionate tears, feeling intensest
sorrow for the reprobate, though She did not pray as
efficaciously for them. Many times, worn out by these
sorrows, much more than by the hardships of travel, the
strength of her body gave way; on such occasions the
holy angels, full of refulgent light and beauty, bore Her
up in their arms, in order that She might rest and
recuperate. The sick, afflicted and indigent whom She
met on the way, She consoled and assisted by asking her
THE INCARNATION 387
most holy Son to come to their aid in their necessities
and adversities. She kept Herself silently aloof from the
multitude, preoccupied with the Fruit of her divine preg-
nancy, which was already evident to all. Such was the
return which the Mother of mercy made for the inhos-
pitality of mortals.
461. For the greater reproach of human ingratitude, it
happened also that once during these wintry days they
reached a stopping-place in the midst of a cold rain and
snow storm (for the Lord did not spare them this in-
convenience), and they were obliged to take shelter in
the stables of the animals, because the owners would not
furnish better accommodation. The irrational beasts
showed them the courtesy and kindness which was re-
fused by their human fellow-beings; for they retreated
in reverence at the entrance of their Maker and of his
Mother, who carried Him in her virginal womb. It is
true the Queen of creation could command the winds, the
frost and the snow not to inconvenience Her; but She
would not give such a command in order not to deprive
Herself of suffering in imitation of her most holy Son,
even before He came forth into the world. Therefore
the inclemencies of the weather affected Her to a certain
extent. The faithful saint Joseph, however, did his
utmost to shield Her; and still more did the holy angels
seek to protect Her, especially the holy prince Michael,
who remained at the right side of his Queen without
leaving Her even for a moment ; several times, when She
became tired, He led Her by the arm along the way.
Whenever the Lord permitted, he also shielded Her
against the weather and performed many other services
for the heavenly Queen and the blessed Fruit of her
womb, Jesus.
388 CITY OF GOD
462. Thus variously and wonderfully assisted, our
travelers arrived at the town of Bethlehem at four o'clock
of the fifth day, a Saturday. As it was at the time of
the winter solstice, the sun was already sinking and the
night was falling. They entered the town, and wandered
through many streets in search of a lodging-house or inn
for staying over night. They knocked at the doors of
their acquaintances and nearer family relations ; but they
were admitted nowhere and in many places they met with
harsh words and insults. The most modest Queen fol-
lowed her spouse through the crowds of people, while he
went from house to house and from door to door. Al-
though She knew that the hearts and the houses of men
were to be closed to them, and although to expose her
state at her age to the public gaze was more painful to
her modesty than their failure to procure a night-
lodging. She nevertheless wished to obey saint Joseph
and suffer this indignity and unmerited shame. While
wandering through the streets they passed the office of
the public registry and they inscribed their names and
paid the fiscal tribute in order to comply with the edict
and not be obliged to return. They continued their
search, betaking themselves to other houses. But having
already applied at more than fifty different places, they
found themselves rejected and sent away from them all.
The heavenly spirits were filled with astonishment at
these exalted mysteries of the Most High, which mani-
fested the patience and meekness of his Virgin Mother
and the unfeeling hardness of men. At the same time
they blessed the Almighty in his works and hidden sacra-
ments, since from that day on He began to exalt and
honor poverty and humility among men.
463. It was nine o'clock at night when the most
THE INCARNATION 389
faithful Joseph, full of bitter and heartrending- sorrow,
returned to his most prudent Spouse and said: "My
sweetest Lady, my heart is broken with sorrow at the
thought of not only not being able to shelter Thee as
Thou deservest and as I desire, but in not being able to
offer Thee even any kind of protection from the weather,
or a place of rest, a thing rarely or never denied to the
most poor and despised in the world. No doubt heaven,
in thus allowing the hearts of men to be so unmoved as
to refuse us a night-lodging, conceals some mystery. I
now remember. Lady, that outside the city walls there is
a cave, which serves as a shelter for shepherds and their
flocks. Let us seek it out ; perhaps it is unoccupied, and
we may there expect some assistance from heaven, since
we receive none from men on earth." The most prudent
Virgin answered: "My spouse and my master, let not
thy kindest heart be afflicted because the ardent wishes
which the love of thy Lord excites in thee cannot be ful-
filled. Since I bear Him in my womb, let us, I beseech
thee, give thanks for having disposed events in this way.
The place of which thou speakest shall be most satisfac-
tory to me. Let thy tears of sorrow be turned into tears
of joy, and let us lovingly embrace poverty, which is the
inestimable and precious treasure of my most holy Son.
He came from heaven in order to seek it, let us then
afford Him an occasion to practice it in the joy of our
souls; certainly I cannot be better delighted than to see
thee procure it for me. Let us go gladly wherever the
Lord shall guide us." The holy angels accompanied the
heavenly pair, brilliantly lighting up the way, and when
they arrived at the city gate they saw that the cave was
forsaken and unoccupied. Full of heavenly consolation,
they thanked the Lord for this favor, and then happened
what I shall relate in the following chapter.
390 CITY OF GOD
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOI^Y MARY, THE
QUEEN OF HEAVEN, GAVE ME.
464. My dearest daughter, if thou art of a meek and
docile heart, these mysteries which thou hast written
about and hast understood, will stir within thee sweet
sentiments of love and affection toward the Author of
such great wonders. I wish that, bearing them in mind,
thou from this day on embrace with new and great esteem
the contempt and neglect of the world. And tell me,
dearest, if, in exchange for this forgetfulness and scorn
of the world, God look upon thee with eyes of sweetest
love, why shouldst thou not buy so cheaply what is worth
an infinite price? What can the world give thee, even
when it esteems thee and exalts thee most? And what
dost thou lose, if thou despise it? Is its favor not all
vanity and deceit (Ps. 4, 3) ? Is it not all a fleeting and
momentary shadow, which eludes the grasp of those that
haste after it? Hence, if thou hadst all worldly advan-
tage in thy possession, what great feat would it be to
despise it as of no value? Consider how little thou dost
in rejecting all of it for the love of God, for mine and that
of the holy angels. And if the world does not neglect
thee as much as thou shouldst desire, do thou on thy own
behalf despise it, in order to remain free and unhampered
to enjoy to the full extent the highest Good with the
plenitude of his most delightful love and intercourse.
465. My most holy Son is such a faithful Lover of
souls that He hast set me as the teacher and living
example of the love of humility and true contempt of
worldly vanity and pride. He ordained also for his own
glory as well as for my sake that I, his Servant and
Mother, should be left without shelter and be turned
away by mortals, in order that afterwards his beloved
THE INCARNATION 391
souls might be so much the more readily induced to offer
Hira a welcome, thus obliging Him, by an artifice of love,
to come and remain with them. He also sought destitu-
tion and poverty, not because He had any need of them
for bringing the practice of virtues to the highest per-
fection, but in order to teach mortals the shortest and
surest way for reaching the heights of divine love and
union with God.
466. Thou knowest well, my dearest, that thou hast
been incessantly instructed and exhorted by divine en-
lightenment to forget the terrestrial and visible and to
gird thyself with fortitude (Prov. 31, 17), to raise thy-
self to the imitation of me, copying in thyself, according
to thy capacity, the works and virtues manifested to thee
in my life. This is the very first purpose of the knowl-
edge which thou receivest in writing this history; for
thou hast in me a perfect model, and by it thou canst
arrange the converse and conduct of thy life in the same
manner as I arranged mine in imitation of my sweetest
I Son. The dread with which this command to imitate
f me has inspired thee as a being above thy strength, thou
must moderate and thou must encourage thyself by the
words of my most holy Son in the Gospel of saint Mat-
thew : "Be ye perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect"
(Matth. 5, 48). This command of the Most High im-
posed upon his holy Church is not impossible of fulfill-
ment, and, if his faithful children on their part dispose
themselves properly. He will deny to none of them the
grace of attaining this resemblance to the heavenly
Father. All this my most holy Son has merited for them.
But the degrading forgetfulness and neglect of men hin-
der them from maturing within themselves the fruits of
his Redemption.
467. Of thee particularly I expect this perfection, and
392 CITY OF GOD
I invite thee to it by the sweet law of love which accom-
panies my instruction. Ponder and scrutinize, by the
divine light, the obligation under which I place thee, and
labor to correspond with it like a faithful and anxious
child. Let no difficulty or hardship disturb thee, nor
deter thee from any virtuous exercise, no matter how
hard it may be. Nor be content with striving after the
love of God and salvation of thyself alone; if thou
wouldst be perfect in imitating me and fulfilling all that
the Gospel teaches, thou must work for the salvation of
other souls and the exaltation of the holy name of my
Son, making thyself an instrument in his powerful hands
for the accomplishment of mighty works to advance his
pleasure and glory.
CHAPTER X.
CHRIST OUR SAVIOR IS BORN 01? THE VIRGIN MARY IN
BETHIvEHEM, JUDA,
468. The palace which the supreme King of kings
and the Lord of lords had chosen for entertaining his
eternal and incarnate Son in this world was a most poor
and insignificant hut or cave, to which most holy Mary
and Joseph betook themselves after they had been denied
all hospitality and the most ordinary kindness by their
fellow-men, as I have described in the foregoing chapter.
This place was held in such contempt that though the
town of Bethlehem was full of strangers in want of night-
shelter, none would demean or degrade himself so far
as to make use of it for a lodging; for there was none
who deemed it suitable or desirable for such a purpose,
except the Teachers of humility and poverty, Christ our
Savior and his purest Mother. On this account the wis-
dom of the eternal Father had reserved it for Them, con-
secrating it in all its bareness, loneliness and poverty as
the first temple of light (Malachy 4, 2, Ps. Ill, 4) and
as the house of the true Sun of justice, which was to
arise for the upright of heart from the resplendent Aurora
Mary, turning the night of sin into the daylight of grace.
469. Most holy Mary and saint Joseph entered the
lodging thus provided for them and by the effulgence of
the ten thousand angels of their guard they could easily
ascertain its poverty and loneliness, which they esteemed
as favors and welcomed with tears of consolation and
joy. Without delay the two holy travelers fell on their
393
394 CITY OF GOD
knees and praised the Lord, giving Him thanks for his
benefit, which they knew had been provided by his wis-
dom for his own hidden designs. Of this mystery the
heavenly Princess Mary had a better insight ; for as soon
as She sanctified the interior of the cave by her sacred
footsteps She felt a fullness of joy which entirely elevated
and vivified Her, She besought the Lord to bless with
a liberal hand all the inhabitants of the neighboring city,
because by rejecting Her they had given occasion to the
vast favors, which She awaited in this neglected cavern.
It was formed entirely of the bare and coarse rocks, with-
out any natural beauty or artificial adornment; a place
intended merely for the shelter of animals ; yet the eternal
Father had selected it for the shelter and dwelling-place
of his own Son.
470. The angelic spirits, who like a celestial militia
guarded their Queen and Mistress, formed themselves
into cohorts in the manner of court guards in a royal
palace. They showed themselves in their visible forms
also to saint Joseph ; for on this occasion it was befitting
that he should enjoy such a favor, on the one hand in
order to assuage his sorrow by allowing him to behold
this poor lodging thus beautified and adorned by their
celestial presence, and on the other, in order to enliven
and encourage him for the events which the Lord in-
tended to bring about during that night, and in this for-
saken place. The great Queen and Empress, who was
already informed of the mystery to be transacted here,
set about cleaning with her own hands the cave, which
was so soon to serve as a royal throne and sacred mercy-
seat; for neither did She want to miss this occasion for
exercising her humility, nor would She deprive her only-
begotten Son of the worship and reverence implied by
this preparation and cleansing of his temple.
THE INCARNATION 395
471. Saint Joseph, mindful of the majesty of his
heavenly Spouse (which, it seemed to him, She was for-
getting in her ardent longing for humiliation), besought
Her not to deprive Him of this work, which he con-
sidered as his alone ; and he hastened to set about cleaning
the floor and the corners of the cave, although the hum-
ble Queen continued to assist him therein. As the holy
angels were then present in visible forms, they were
(according to our mode of speaking) abashed at such
eagerness for humiliation, and they speedily emulated
with each other to join in this work; or rather, in order
to say it more succinctly, in the shortest time possible
they had cleansed and set in order that cave, filling it with
holy fragrance. Saint Joseph started a fire with the
material which he had brought for that purpose. As it
was very cold, they sat at the fire in order to get warm.
They partook of the food which they had brought, and
they ate this, their frugal supper, with incomparable joy
of their souls. The Queen of heaven was so absorbed
and taken up with the thought of the impending mystery
of her divine delivery, that She would not have partaken
of food if She had not been urged thereto by obedience
to her spouse.
472. After their supper they gave thanks to the Lord
as was their custom. Having spent a short time in this
prayer and conferring about the mysteries of the incar-
nate Word, the most prudent Virgin felt the approach
of the most blessed Birth. She requested her spouse
saint Joseph to betake himself to rest and sleep as the
night was already far advanced. The man of God
yielded to the request of his Spouse and urged Her to
do the same; and for this purpose he arranged and pre-
pared a sort of couch with the articles of wear in their
possession, making use of a crib or manger, that had been
396 CITY OF GOD
left by the shepherds for their animals. Leaving most
holy Mary in the portion of the cave thus furnished, saint
Joseph retired to a corner of the entrance, where he
began to pray. He was immediately visited by the
divine Spirit and felt a most sweet and extraordinary
influence, by which he was wrapt and elevated into an
ecstasy. In it was shown him all that passed during that
night in this blessed cave; for he did not return to con-
sciousness until his heavenly Spouse called him. Such
was the sleep which saint Joseph enjoyed in that night,
more exalted and blessed than that of Adam in paradise
(Gen. 21, 2).
473. The Queen of all creatures was called from her
resting-place by a loud voice of the Most High, which
strongly and sweetly raised Her above all created things
and caused Her to feel new effects of divine power; for
this was one of the most singular and admirable ecstasies
of her most holy life. Immediately also She was filled
with new enlightenment and divine influences, such as I
have described in other places, until She reached the clear
vision of the Divinity. The veil fell and She saw intui-
tively the Godhead itself in such glory and plenitude of
insight, as all the capacity, of men and angels could not
describe or fully understand. All the knowledge of the
Divinity and humanity of her most holy Son, which She
had ever received in former visions was renewed and,
moreover, other secrets of the inexhaustible archives of
the bosom of God were revealed to Her. I have not
ideas or words sufficient and adequate for expressing
what I have been allowed to see of these sacraments by
the divine light ; and their abundance and multiplicity con-
vince me of the poverty and want of proper expression in
created language.
474. The Most High announced to his Virgin Mother,
THE INCARNATION 397
that the time of his coming into the world had arrived
and what would be the manner in which this was now to
be fvilfilled and executed. The most prudent Lady per-
ceived in this vision the purpose and exalted scope of
these wonderful mysteries and sacraments, as well in so
far as related to the Lord himself as also in so far as
they concerned creatures, for whose benefit they had been
primarily decreed. She prostrated Herself before the
throne of his Divinity and gave Him glory, magnificence,
thanks and praise for Herself and for all creatures, such
as was befitting the ineffable mercy and condescension of
his divine love. At the same time She asked of the divine
Majesty new light and grace in order to be able worthily
to undertake the service and worship and the rearing up
of the Word made flesh, whom She was to bear in Her
arms and nourish with her virginal milk. This petition
the heavenly Mother brought forward with the pro-
foundest humility, as one who understood the greatness
of this new sacrament. She held Herself unworthy of
the office of rearing up and conversing as a Mother with
a God incarnate of which even the highest seraphim are
incapable. Prudently and humbly did the Mother of
wisdom ponder and weigh this matter. And because She
humbled Herself to the dust and acknowledged her noth-
ingness in the presence of the Almighty, therefore his
Majesty raised Her up and confirmed anew upon Her the
title of Mother of God. He commanded Her to exercise
this office and ministry of a legitimate and true Mother
of Himself; that She should treat Him as the Son of the
eternal Father and at the same time the Son of her womb.
All this could be easily entrusted to such a Mother, in
whom was contained an excellence that words cannot
express.
475. The most holy Mary remained in this ecstasy and
2-27
398 CITY OF GOD
beatific vision for over an hour immediately preceding
her divine dehvery. At the moment when She issued
from it and regained the use of her senses She felt and
saw that the body of the infant God began to move in
her virginal womb; how, releasing and freeing Himself
from the place which in the course of nature He had
occupied for nine months, He now prepared to issue forth
from that sacred bridal chamber. This movement not
only did not cause any pain or hardship, as happens with
the other daughters of Adam and Eve in their child-
births; but filled Her with incomparable joy and delight,
causing in her soul and in her virginal body such exalted
and divine effects that they exceed all thoughts of men.
Her body became so spiritualized with the beauty of
heaven that She seemed no more a human and earthly
creature. Her countenance emitted rays of light, like a
sun incarnadined, and shone in indescribable earnestness
and majesty, all inflamed with fervent love. She was
kneeling in the manger, her eyes raised to heaven, her
hands joined and folded at her breat, her soul wrapped
in the Divinity and She herself was entirely deified. In
this position, and at the end of the heavenly rapture, the
most exalted Lady gave to the world the Onlybegotten
of the Father and her own, our Savior Jesus, true God
and man, at the hour of midnight, on a Sunday, in the
year of the creation of the world five thousand one hun-
dred and ninety-nine (5199), which is the date given in
the Roman Church, and which date has been manifested
to me as the true and certain one.
476. There are other wonderful circumstances and par-
ticulars, which all the faithful assume to have miracu-
lously accompanied this most divine Birth ; but as the
only witnesses were the Queen of heaven and her cour-
tiers, they cannot all be certified, except only those which
THE INCARNATION 399
the Lord himself manifests in his holy Church to all or
to some particular souls in diverse ways. As I think there
is some divergence of opinion in this matter, which is
most sublime and venerable, as soon as I had manifested
to my superiors and directors what had been made known
to me, they commanded me under obedience to consult
anew the divine oracle and ask the Empress of heaven,
my Mother and Teacher, and the holy angels that attend
on me, for information on some particulars necessary for
a clearer statement of the most sacred parturition of
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, our Redeemer. In order to
comply with this command I returned for a better under-
standing of these same happenings and it was then ex-
pounded to me in the following manner:
477. At the end of the beatific rapture and vision of
the Mother ever Virgin, which I have described above
(No. 473), was born the Sun of Justice, the Onlybegotten
of the eternal Father and of Mary most pure, beautiful,
refulgent and immaculate, leaving Her untouched in her
virginal integrity and purity and making Her more god--
like and forever sacred ; for He did not divide, but pene-
trated the virginal chamber as the rays of the sun pene-
trate the crystal shrine, lighting it up in prismatic beauty.
Before I describe the miraculous manner in which this
took place. I wish to say that the divine Child was born
pure and disengaged, without the protecting shield called
sectmdina, surrounded by which other children are com-
monly born, and in which they are enveloped in the wombs
of their mothers. I will not detain myself in explaining
the cause and origin of the error, which is contrary to
this statement. It it enough to know and suppose that
in the generation and birth of the incarnate Word the
arm of the Almighty selected and made use of all that
substantially and unavoidably belonged to natural human
400 CITY OF GOD
generation, so that the Word could truly call Himself
conceived and engendered as a true man and born of the
substance of his Mother ever Virgin. In regard to the
other circumstances, which are not essential but acci-
dental to generation and nativity, we must disconnect our
ideas of Christ our Lord and of the most holy Mary not
only from all that are in any way related or consequent
upon any sin, original or actual; but also from many
others which are not necessary for the essential reality of
the generation or birth and which imply some impurity
or superfluity, that could in any way lessen or impair the
dignity of Mary as the Queen of heaven and as true
Mother of Christ our Lord. For many such imperfec-
tions of sin or nature were not necessary either for the
true humanity of Christ, or for his office of Redeemer or
Teacher ; and whatever was not necessary for these three
ends, and whatever by its absence would redound to the
greater dignity of Christ and his Mother, must be denied
of Both. Nor must we be niggardly in presuming won-
derful intervention of the Author of nature and grace
in favor of Her who was his worthy Mother, prepared,
adorned and made increasingly beautiful for this pur-
pose : for the divine right hand enriched Her at all times
with gifts and graces and reached the utmost limits of his
Omnipotence possible in regard to a mere creature.
478. In accordance with this truth her true motherhood
was not impaired by her remaining a Virgin in his con-
ception and birth through operation of the Holy Ghost.
Although She could have lost her virginity in a natural
manner without incurring any fault, yet in that case the
Mother of God would also be without this singular pre-
rogative of virginity. Therefore we must say, in order
that She might not be without it, the divine power of her
most holy Son preserved it for Her. Likewise the divine
THE INCARNATION 401
Child could have been born with this covering or cuticle
in which others are born; yet this was not necessary in
order to be born a natural Son of the blessed Mother;
hence He could chose not to take it forth with Him from
the virginal and maternal womb, just as He chose not to
pay to nature other penal tributes of impurity, which
other human beings do pay at their coming into the light.
It was not just that the incarnate Word should be sub-
ject to all the laws of the sons of Adam ; but it was conse-
quent upon his miraculous Birth that He be exempt and
free from all that could be caused by the corruption or
uncleanness of matter. Thus also this covering, or
secundina, was not to fall a prey to corruption outside
of the virginal womb, because it had been so closely con-
nected and attached to his most holy body and because
it was composed of the blood and substance of his
Mother ; in like manner it was not advisable to keep and
preserve it outside of Her, nor was it becoming to give
it the same privileges and importance as to his divine
body in coming forth from the body of his most holy
Mother, as I will yet explain. The wonder which would
have to be wrought to dispose of that sacred covering out-
side of the womb could be wrought much more appro-
priately within.
479. The infant God therefore was brought forth from
the virginal chamber unencumbered by any corporeal or
material substance foreign to Himself. But He came
forth glorious and transfigured for the divine and
infinite wisdom decreed and ordained that the glory of
his most holy soul should in his Birth overflow and
communicate itself to his body, participating in the
gifts of glory in the same way as happened afterwards
in his Transfiguration on mount Tabor in the pres-
ence of the Apostles (Matth. 17, 2). This miracle was
402 CITY OF GOD
not necessary in order to penetrate the virginal en-
closure and to leave unimpaired the virginal integrity;
for without this Transfiguration God could have brought
this about by other miracles. Thus say the holy doc-
tors, who see no other miracle in this Birth than that
the Child was born without impairing the virginity of the
Mother. It was the will of God that the most blessed
Virgin should look upon the body of her Son, the God-
man, for this first time in a glorified state for two reasons.
The one was in order that by this divine vision the most
prudent Mother should conceive the highest reverence for
the Majesty of Him whom She was to treat as her Son,
the true God-man. Although She was already informed
of his two-fold nature, the Lord nevertheless ordained
that by ocular demonstration She be filled with new
graces, corresponding to the greatness of her most holy
Son, which was thus manifested to Her in a visible man-
ner. The second reason was to reward by this wonder
the fidelity and holiness of the divine Mother; for her
most pure and chaste eyes, that had turned away from all
earthly things for love of her most holy Son, were to see
Him at his very Birth in this glory and thus be rejoiced
and rewarded for her loyalty and beautiful love.
480. The sacred evangelist Luke tells us that the
Mother Virgin, having brought forth her firstbegotten
Son, wrapped Him in swathing clothes and placed Him
in a manger. He does not say that She received Him
in her arms from her virginal womb; for this did not
pertain to the purpose of his narrative. But the two
sovereign princes, saint Michael and saint Gabriel, were
the assistants of the Virgin on this occasion. They stood
by at proper distance in human corporeal forms at the
moment when the incarnate Word, penetrating the vir-
ginal chamber by divine power, issued forth to the light,
THE INCARNATION 403
and they received Him in their hands with ineffable rev-
erence. In the same manner as a priest exhibits the
sacred host to the people for adoration, so these two
celestial ministers presented to the divine Mother her
glorious and refulgent Son. All this happened in a short
space of time. In the same moment in which the holy
angels thus presented the divine Child to his Mother,
both Son and Mother looked upon each other, and in this
look, She wounded with love the sweet Infant and was
at the same time exalted and transformed in Him. From
the arms of the holy princes the Prince of all the heavens
spoke to his holy Mother: "Mother, become like unto
Me, since on this day, for the human existence, which
thou hast today given Me, I will give thee another more
exalted existence in grace, assimilating thy existence as
a mere creature to the likeness of Me, who am God and
Man." The most prudent Mother answered: "Trahe
me post Te, curremus in odorem unguentorum tuorum"
(Cant. 1, 3). Raise me, elevate me, Lord, and I will
run after Thee in the odor of thy ointments. In the same
way many of the hidden mysteries of the Canticles were
fulfilled ; and other sayings which passed between the
infant God and the Virgin Mother had been recorded
in that book of songs, as for instance : "My Beloved to
me, and I to Him, and his desire is toward me"
(Cant. 2, 16). "Behold thou art beautiful, my friend,
and thy eyes are dove's eyes. Behold, my beloved, for
thou art beautiful"; and many other sacramental words
which to mention would unduly prolong this chapter.
481. The words, which most holy Mary heard from
the mouth of her most holy Son, served to make Her
understand at the same time the interior acts of his
holiest soul united with the EHvinity; in order that by
imitating them She might become like unto Him. This
404 CITY OF GOD
was one of the greatest blessings, which the most faithful
and fortunate Mother received at the hands of her Son,
the true God and man, not only because it was continued
from that day on through all her life, but because it fur-
nished Her the means of copying his own divine life as
faithfully as was possible to a mere creature. At the
same time the heavenly Lady perceived and felt the
presence of the most holy Trinity, and She heard the voice
of the eternal Father saying : "This is my beloved Son,
in whom I am greatly pleased and delighted" (Matth,
17, 5). The most prudent Mother made entirely god-
like in the overflow of so many sacraments, answered:
"Eternal Father and exalted God, Lord and Creator of
the universe, give me anew thy permission and benedic-
tion to receive in my arms the Desired of nations
(Agg. 2, 8) ; and teach me to fulfill as thy unworthy
Mother and lowly slave, thy holy will." Immediately
She heard a voice, which said: "Receive thy Onlybe-
gotten Son, imitate Him and rear Him; and remember,
that thou must sacrifice Him when I shall demand it of
thee." The divine Mother answered : "Behold the crea-
ture of thy hands, adorn me with thy grace so that thy
Son and my God receive me for his slave; and if Thou
wilt come to my aid with thy Omnipotence, I shall be
faithful in his service ; and do Thou count it no presump-
tion in thy insignificant creature, that she bear in her arms
and nourish at her breast her own Lord and Creator."
482. After this interchange of words, so full of mys-
teries, the divine Child suspended the miracle of his
transfiguration, or rather He inaugurated the other
miracle, that of suspending the effects of glory in his
most holy body, confining them solely to his soul; and
He now assumed the appearance of one capable of suf-
fering. In this forrn the most pure Mother now saw
THE INCARNATION 405
Him and, still remaining in a kneeling" position and ador-
ing Him with profound humility and reverence, She re-
ceived Him in her arms from the hands of the holy angels.
And when She saw Him in her arms, She spoke to Him
and said : "My sweetest Love and light of my eyes and
being of my soul, Thou hast arrived in good hour into
this world as the Sun of justice (Malach, 4, 2), in order
to disperse the darkness of sin and death ! True God of
the true God, save thy servants and let all flesh see Him,
who shall draw upon it salvation (Is. 9, 2). Receive me
thy servant as thy slave and supply my deficiency, in order
that I may properly serve Thee. Make me, my Son, such
as Thou desirest me to be in thy service." Then the
most prudent Mother turned toward the eternal Father
to offer up to Him his Onlybegotten, saying: "Exalted
Creator of all the Universe, here is the altar and the sac-
rifice acceptable in thy eyes (Malachy 3, 4). From this
hour on, O Lord, look upon the human race with mercy ;
and inasmuch as we have deserved thy anger, it is now
time that Thou be appeased in thy Son and mine. Let
thy justice now come to rest, and let thy mercy be ex-
alted ; for on this account the Word has clothed itself in
the semblance of sinful flesh (Rom. 8, 3), and became
a Brother of mortals and sinners (Philip 2, 7). In this
title I recognize them as brothers and I intercede for them
from my inmost soul. Thou, Lord, hast made me the
Mother of thy Onlybegotten without my merit, since this
dignity is above all merit of a creature ; but I partly owe
to men the occasion of this incomparable good fortune;
since it is on their account that I am the Mother of the
Word made man and Redeemer of them all. I will not
deny them my love, or remit my care and watchfulness
for their salvation. Receive, eternal God, my wishes
406 CITY OF GOD
and petitions for that which is according to thy pleasure
and good will."
483. The Mother of mercy turned also toward all
mortals and addressed them, saying: "Be consoled ye
afflicted and rejoice ye disconsolate, be raised up ye fallen,
come to rest ye uneasy. Let the just be gladdened
and the saints be rejoiced ; let the heavenly spirits break
out in new jubilee, let the Prophets and Patriarchs of
limbo draw new hope, and let all the generations praise
and magnify the Lord, who renews his wonders. Come,
come ye poor; approach ye little ones, without fear, for
in my arms I bear the Lion made a lamb, the Almighty,
become weak, the Invincible subdued. Come to draw
life, hasten to obtain salvation, approach to gain eternal
rest, since I have all this for all, and it will be given to
you freely and communicated to you without envy. Do
not be slow and heavy of heart, ye sons of men ; and
Thou, O sweetest joy of my soul, give me permission to
receive from Thee that kiss desired by all creatures."
Therewith the most blessed Mother applied her most
chaste and heavenly lips in order to receive the loving
caresses of the divine Child, who on his part, as her
true Son, had desired them from Her.
484. Holding Him in Her arms She thus served as the
altar and the sanctuary, where the ten thousand angels
adored in visible human forms their Creator incarnate.
And as the most blessed Trinity assisted in an especial
manner at the birth of the Word, heaven was as it were
emptied of its inhabitants, for the whole heavenly court
had betaken itself to that blessed cave of Bethlehem and
was adoring the Creator in his garb and habit of a pilgrim
(Phil. 2, 7). And in their concert of praise the holy
angels intoned the new canticle : "Gloria in excelsis Deo,
et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis" (Luke 2,
THE INCARNATION 407
14). In sweetest and sonorous harmony they repeated it,
transfixed in wonder at the new miracles then being-
fulfilled and at the unspeakable prudence, grace, humility
and beauty of that tender Maiden of fifteen years, who
had become the worthy Trustee and Minister of such vast
and magnificent sacraments.
485. It was now time to call saint Joseph, the faithful
spouse of the most discreet and attentive Lady. As I have
said above (No. 472) he was wrapped in ecstasy, in which
he was informed by divine revelation of all the mysteries
of this sacred Birth during this night. But it was be-
coming that he should see, and, before all other mortals,
should in his corporeal faculties and senses be present
and experience, adore and reverence the Word made
flesh ; for he of all others had been chosen to act as the
faithful warden of this great sacrament. At the desire
of his heavenly Spouse he issued from his ecstasy and,
on being restored to consciousness, the first sight of his
eyes was the divine Child in the arms of the Virgin
Mother reclining against her sacred countenance and
breast. There he adored Him in profoundest humility
and in tears of joy. He kissed his feet in great joy and
admiration, which no doubt would have taken away and
destroyed life in him, if divine power had not preserved
it ; and he certainly would have lost all the use of his
senses, if the occasion had permitted. When saint Joseph
had begun to adore the Child, the most prudent Mother
asked leave of her Son to arise (for until then She had
remained on her knees) and, while saint Joseph handed
Her the wrappings and swaddling-clothes, which She had
brought. She clothed Him with incomparable reverence,
devotion and tenderness. Having thus swathed and
clothed Him, his Mother, with heavenly wisdom, laid Him
in the crib, as related by saint Luke (Luke 2, 7). For
408 CITY OF GOD
this purpose She had arranged some straw and hay upon
a stone in order to prepare for the God-Man his first
resting-place upon earth next to that which He had found
in her arms. According to divine ordainment an ox from
the neighboring fields ran up in great haste and, entering
the cave, joined the beast of burden brought by the
Queen. The blessed Mother commanded them, with
what show of reverence was possible to them to acknowl-
edge and adore their Creator. The humble animals
obeyed their Mistress and prostrated themselves before
the Child, warming Him with their breath and render-
ing Him the service refused by men. And thus the God
made man was placed between two animals, wrapped in
swaddling-clothes and wonderfully fulfilling the proph-
ecy, that "the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his
master's crib; but Israel hath not known me, and my
people hath not understood."
TEACHING OP The MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY.
486. My daughter, if men would keep their heart dis-
engaged and if they would rightly and worthily consider
this great sacrament of the kindness of the Most High
towards men, it would be a powerful means of conduct-
ing them in the pathway of life and subjecting them to
the love of their Creator and Redeemer. For as men
are capable of reasoning, if they would only make use. of
their freedom to treat this sacrament with the reverence
due to its greatness, who would be so hardened as not to
be moved to tenderness at the sight of their God become
man, humiliated in poverty, despised, unknown, enter-
ing the world in a cave, lying in a manger surrounded
by brute animals, protected only by a poverty-stricken
Mother, and cast off by the foolish arrogance of the
THE INCARNATION 409
world? Who will dare to love the vanity and pride,
which was openly abhorred and condemned by the Crea-
tor of heaven and earth in his conduct? No one can
despise the humility, poverty and indigence, which the
Lord loved and chose for Himself as the very means of
teaching the way of eternal life. Few there are, who stop
to consider this truth and example: and on account of
this vile ingratitude only the few will reap the fruit of
these great sacraments.
487. But if the condescension of my most holy Son
was so great as to bestow so liberally upon thee his light
and knowledge concerning these vast blessings, ponder
well how much thou art bound to co-operate with this
light. In order that thou mayest correspond to this ob-
ligation, I remind and exhort thee to forget all that is
of earth and lose it out of thy sight; that thou seek
nothing, or engage thyself with nothing except what can
help thee to withdraw and detach thee from the world
and its inhabitants; so that, with a heart freed from all
terrestrial affection, thou dispose thyself to celebrate in
it the mysteries of the poverty, humility and divine love
of the incarnate God. Learn from my example the rev-
erence, fear and respect, with which thou must treat Him,
remembering how I acted, when I held Him in my arms ;
follow my example, whenever thou receivest Him in thy
heart in the venerable sacrament of the holy Eucharist,
wherein is contained the same God-Man, who was born
of my womb. In this holy Sacrament thou receivest Him
and possessest Him just as really, and He remains in thee
just as actually, as I possessed Him and conversed with
Him, although in another manner.
488. I desire that thou go even to extremes in this
holy reverence and fear ; and I wish that thou take notice
and be convinced, that in entering into thy heart in the
410 CITY OF GOD
holy Sacrament, thy God exhorts thee in the same words,
which thou hast recorded as spoken to me: become Hke
unto Me. His coming down from heaven onto the earth,
his being born in humihty and poverty, his living and
dying in it, giving such rare example of the contempt of
the world and its deceits; the knowledge, which thou
hast received concerning his conduct and which thou hast
penetrated so deeply by divine intelligence : all these things
should be for thee like living voices, which thou must
heed and inscribe into the interior of thy heart. These
privileges have all been granted to thee in order that thou
discreetly use the common blessings to their fullest ex-
tent, and in order that thou mayest understand, how
thankful thou must be to my most holy Son and Lord,
and how thou shouldst strive to make as great a return
for his goodness, as if He had come from heaven to re-
deem thee alone and as if He had instituted all his won-
ders and doctrines in the holy Church for none else than
thee (Gal. 7, 20).
CHAPTER XI.
The holy ANGEI^ ANNOUNCE THE BIRTH OE OUR LORD
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND THE SHEP-
HERDS 'COME TO ADORE HIM,
489. After the courtiers of heaven had thus celebrated
the birth of God made man near the portals of Bethlehem,
some of them were immediately dispatched to different
places, in order to announce the happy news to those, who
according to the divine will were properly disposed to
hear it. The holy prince Michael betook himself to the
holy Patriarchs in limbo and announced to them, how the
Onlybegotten of the eternal Father was already bom
into the world and was resting, humble and meek, as
they had prophesied, in a manger between two beasts.
He addressed also in a special manner holy Joachim and
Anne in the name of the blessed Mother, who had en-
joined this upon him; he congratulated them, that their
Daughter now held in her arms the Desired of nations
and Him, who had been foretold by all the Patriarchs
and Prophets (Is. 7, 14; 9, 7, etc.). It was the most
consoling and joyful day, which this great gathering of
the just and the saints had yet had during their long ban-
ishment. All of them acknowledged this new Godman
as the true Author of eternal salvation, and they com-
posed and sang new songs of adoration and worship
in his praise. Saint Joachim and Anne enjoined the
messenger of heaven, saint Michael, to ask Mary their
Daughter to worship in their name the divine Child, the
blessed Fruit of her womb ; and this the great Queen of
411
412 CITY OF GOD
the world immediately did for them, listening- with great
jubilee to all that the holy prince reported concerning
the Patriarchs of limbo.
490. Another of the holy angels that attended and
guarded the heavenly Mother was sent to saint Elisabeth
and her son John. On hearing this news of the birth
of the Redeemer, the prudent matron and her son, al-
though he was yet of so tender an age, prostrated them-
selves upon the earth and adored their God made man
in spirit and in truth (John 4, 23). The child which had
been consecrated as his Precursor, was renewed interiorly
with a spirit more inflamed than that of Elias, causing
new admiration and jubilation in the angels themselves.
Saint John and his mother requested our Queen through
the angels, that She in the name of them both, adore her
most holy Son and offer Him their services ; all of which
the heavenly Queen immediately fulfilled.
491. Having thus been informed of what had hap-
pened, saint Elisabeth hastened to send one of her domes-
tics to Bethlehem with presents for the blessed Mother
and the infant God. They consisted in some money, some
linen and other things for the comfort of the newly bom
and of his poor Mother and her spouse. The servant
betook himself on the way with no other instruction than
that he visit the blessed Virgin and saint Joseph and take
notice of what comfort or want was theirs, so that he
might bring back certain information of their circum-
stances and well-being. He had no other knowledge of
the sacrament, except what he himself could perceive
with his own eyes; but renewed and touched by an in-
terior and divine force he came back and in wonderful
jubilee described to saint Elisabeth the poverty and the
charming grace of her Cousin, of the Child and of saint
Joseph, and what feelings were excited in him on behold-
THE INCARNATION 413
ing them. Admirable were the sentiments roused in the
godly matron by his ingenuous narration. If it had not
been for the will of God, that the secret and privacy of
this high sacrament should be preserved, she could not
have restrained herself from visiting the Virgin Mother
and the newborn God. Of the things sent by her, the
Queen appropriated some for relieving their extreme
poverty, while She distributed the rest of them to the
poor; for She did not wish to be deprived of the com-
pany of the poor during the days in which She would
have to remain in the portal or cave of the Nativity.
492. Other angels were delegated to bring the news to
Zachary, Simeon and Anne, the prophetess, and to some
other just and holy people, who were worthy to be trusted
with this new mystery of our Redemption; for as the
Lord found them prepared to receive this news with
gratitude and with benefit to themselves. He considered
it a just due to their virtue not to hide from them the
blessing conferred upon the human race. Although not
all the just upon earth were informed at that time of this
sacrament; yet in all of them were wrought certain
divine eflfects in the hour in which the Savior of the
world was born. For all the just felt in their hearts a
new and supernatural joy, though they were ignorant of
its cause. There were not only movements of joy in the
angels and in the just, but also wonderful movements
in the insensible creatures; for all the influences of the
planets were renovated and enlivened. The sun much
accelerated its course; the stars shone in greater bright-
ness ; and for the Magi kings was formed that wonderful
star, which showed them the way to Bethlehem (Matth.
2,2). Many trees began to bloom and others to produce
fruit. Some temples of the idols were overthrown ; and
in others the idols were hurled down and their demons
2-28
414 CITY OF GOD
put to flight. These wonders and other happenings in
the world on that day men accounted for in different
ways, but far from the truth. Only among the just there
were many, who by divine impulse suspected or believed
that God had come into the world; yet no one knew it
with certainty, except those to whom it was revealed.
Among these were the three Magi, to each of whom in
their separate Oriental kingdoms angels of the Queen's
guard were sent to inform them by interior and intellect-
ual enlightenment that the Redeemer of the human race
had been born in poverty and humility. At the same
time they were inspired with the sudden desire of seek-
ing Him and adoring Him and immediately they saw the
star as a guide to Bethlehem, as I will relate farther on.
493. Amongst all these, the shepherds of that region,
who were watching their flocks at the time of the birth
of Christ, were especially blessed (Luke 2, 8) ; not only
because they accepted the labor and inconvenience of
their calling with resignation from the hand of God ; but
also because, being poor and humble, and despised by the
world, they belonged in sincerity and uprightness of
heart to those Israelites, who fervently hoped and longed
for the coming of the Messias, speaking and discoursing
of Him among themselves many times. They resembled
the Author of life, as they were removed from the riches,
vanity and ostentation of the world and far from its dia-
bolical cunning (John 10, 14). They exhibited in the
circumstances of their calling the office, which the good
Shepherd had come to fulfill in knowing his Sheep and
being known to them. Hence they merited to be called
and invited, as the first fruits of the saints by the Savior
himself, to be the very first ones, to whom the eternal
and incarnate Word manifested Himself and by whom
He wished to be praised, served and adored. Hence the
THE INCARNATION 415
archangel Gabriel was sent to them as they watched on
the field, appearing to them in human form and with
great splendor.
494. The shepherds found themselves suddenly en-
veloped and bathed in the celestial radiance of the angel,
and at his sight, being little versed in such visions, they
were filled with great fear. The holy prince reassured
them and said: "Ye upright men, be not afraid: for I
announce to you tidings of great joy, which is, that for
you is born today the Redeemer Christ, our Lord, in
the city of David. And as a sign of this truth, I announce
to you, that you shall find the Infant wrapped in swad-
dling-clothes and placed in a manger" (Luke 2, 10, 12).
At these words of the angel, suddenly appeared a great
multitude of the celestial army, who in voices of sweet
harmony sang to the Most High these words : "Glory to
God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good
will." Rehearsing this divine canticle, so new to the
world, the holy angels disappeared. All this happened
in the fourth watch of the night. By this angelic vision
the humble and fortunate shepherds were filled with
divine enlightenment and were unanimously impelled by
a fervent longing to make certain of this blessing and to
witness with their own eyes the most high mystery of
which they had been informed.
495. The signs which the holy angels had indicated
to them did not seem appropriate or proportioned for
attesting the greatness of the Newborn to eyes of the
flesh. For to lie in a manger and to be wrapped in
swaddling-clothes, would not have been convincing proof
of the majesty of a king, if these shepherds had not been
illumined by divine light and been enabled to penetrate
the mystery. As they were free from the arrogant wis-
dom of the world, they were easily made proficient in
416 CITY OF GOD
the divine wisdom. Conferring among themselves the
thoughts excited by this message, they resolved to hasten
in all speed to Bethlehem and see the wonder made known
to them by the Lord. They departed without delay and
entering the cave or portal, they found, as saint Luke
tells us, Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in a
manger. Seeing all this they recognized the truth of what
they had heard of the Child. Upon this followed an in-
terior enlightenment consequent upon seeing the Word
made flesh; for when the shepherds looked upon Him,
He also glanced at them, emitting from his countenance
a great effulgence, which wounded with love the sincere
heart of each of these poor yet fortunate men ; with divine
efficiency it changed them and renewed them, constituting
them in a new state of grace and holiness and filling them
with an exalted knowledge of the divine mysteries of the
Incarnation and the Redemption of the human race.
496. Prostrating themselves on the earth they adored
the Word made flesh. Not any more as ignorant rustics,
but as wise and prudent men they adored Him, acknowl-
edged and magnified Him as true God and man, as Re-
storer and Redeemer of the human race. Tlie heavenly
Lady and Mother of the Child took notice of all that they
did interiorly and exteriorly; for She saw into their in-
most hearts. In highest wisdom and prudence She pre-
served the memory of all these happenings and pondered
them in her soul, (Luke 2, 19), comparing them with
the other mysteries therein contained and with the holy
prophecies and sayings of the Scriptures. As She was
then the organ of the holy Spirit and the representative
of the Infant, She spoke to the shepherds, instructing
and exhorting them to persevere in divine love and in the
service of the Most High. They also conversed with Her
on their part and showed by their answers that they un-
THE INCARNATION 417
derstood many of the mysteries. They remained in the
cave from the beginning of dawn until mid-day, when,
having given them something to eat, our great Queen
sent them off full of heavenly grace and consolation.
497, During the days in which most holy Mary, the
Child and saint Joseph remained in the gates of Bethle-
hem, these holy shepherds returned a few times and
brought such presents as in their poverty they could spare.
What saint Luke says about those that wondered at what
the shepherds said concerning the holy Family, happened
later, after the Queen, the Child and saint Joseph had de-
parted and fled from the neighborhood of Bethlehem;
for divine Providence so arranged things, that the
shepherds were unable to spread about these news before
that time. Not all of those that heard them speaking about
this matter believed them, for they held them to be uncul-
tured and ignorant people. These shepherds however
were saints and were filled with divine knowledge until
they died. Among those who believed them was Herod,
although not because of any laudable faith or piety, but
on account of his worldly and wicked fear of losing his
kingdom. Among the children, who merited to be sacri-
ficed by him, there were also some belonging to these holy
men. Their parents consented joyfully to the martyr-
dom, which the children themselves desired and offering
themselves up to the Lord, whom they were made to
know beforehand.
INSTRUCTION 01^ THE MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY.
498. My daughter, forgetfulness and inattention re-
garding the works of the Redeemer are as reprehensible
as they are common and frequent among mortals. Yet
these works are most mysterious, loving, merciful and in-
418 CITY OF GOD
structive. Thou hast been called and chosen to receive
knowledge and enlightenment for avoiding such dan-
gerous and gross torpidity ; therefore I wish, that in the
mysteries thou hast just written, thou take notice of and
ponder over the burning love of my most holy Son in com-
municating Himself to men as soon as He was born, in
order to make them immediate partakers of the joyful
fruit of his coming. Men do not know of this obliga-
tion, because few of them penetrate to the significance
of this great blessing, just as there were few who saw
the Word at his Birth and thanked Him for his arrival.
They are not aware of the cause of their evil state and
of their blindness, which neither was nor is to be ascribed
to the Lord nor to any fault in his love, but to the sins
and the bad dispositions of men. If their own bad dis-
positions would not impede or make them unworthy of
this favor, the same light, which was given to the just,
to the shepherds and to the kings, would have been
vouchsafed to all or to many. That there should be so
few, will make thee understand in what an unhappy
condition the world was at the time of the coming of the
incarnate Word ; and also the unhappiness of the present
times, when these mysteries have become so evident and
when grateful memory of them is become so scarce.
499. Consider the wicked disposition of mortals in
the present age, in which the light of the Gospel has been
spread out and confirmed by so many miracles wrought
by God in his Church. In spite of all this there are so
few, who are perfect and who seek to dispose themselves
for greater participation in the fruits and benefits of the
Redemption, Although the number of fools is so great
and the vices are become so measureless, there are those
who think, that also the perfect are numerous, because,
forsooth, men do not so openly dare to act in opposition
THE INCARNATION 419
to God : there are fewer than one thinks, and many less
than there should be, seeing that God is so much offended
by the infidels and continually desires to communicate
the treasures of grace in his Church according to the
merits of his Onlybegotten made man. Be mindful,
dearest, of the obligation imposed upon thee by thy clear
knowledge of these truths. Live cautiously, with great
attention and watchfulness correspond to his graces, los-
ing no time, occasion or circumstance for acting in the
most holy and perfect manner known to thee; for thou
canst not fulfill thy duty otherwise. Remember what
I tell thee, command and urge upon thee, that thou re-
ceive not such great favor in vain (II Cor. 6, 1); do
not allow thy grace and light to be without profit, but
make use of them in the perfection of thankfulness.
CHAPTER XII.
WHAT WAS CONCEALED FROM THE DEMON CONCERNING
THE MYSTERY OF THE BIRTH OF THE INCARNATE
WORD, AND OF OTHER HAPPENINGS UNTII. THE CIR-
CUMCISION.
500. As far as depended upon the Lord the coming
of the eternal Word as man was most fortunate and
blessed for all the mortals ; for He came in order to give
light and life to all those that were in darkness and in
the shadows of death (Luke 1, 79). If the foreknown
and incredulous stumbled and hurt themselves on this
cornerstone (Rom. 9, 33), seeking ruin where they could
and should have found resurrection to an eternal life,
that was not the fault of the stone, but of those that
made of it an occasion of scandal and of harm to them-
selves. Only for hell the birth of the infant God was
terrible, since He was the strong and invincible One,
who came to despoil that armed enemy of his tyrannous
rule, founded in lies (Psalm 23, 8), who had held his
fortification in unjust yet peaceful possession for a long
time. In order to depose this prince of the world and
of darkness, it was befitting, that the sacrament of the
coming of the Word should be hidden from him. Be-
cause of his malice he was not only unworthy to be
informed of the mysteries of the divine wisdom (Wisd.
2, 21, 24) ; but it was just that by divine Providence the
malice of this enemy should be blinded and confused; in
his malice he had brought into the world the deceit and
420
THE INCARNATION 421
blindness of sin and cast down the whole human race
by the fall of Adam.
501. Accordingly Lucifer and his ministers were left
in ignorance of many things, which they could naturally
have known concerning the incarnation of the Word and
other events in the course of his most holy life, a fact
which it is necessary to take notice of in this history (Nos.
326, Vol. Ill, 217, 226, 284). For if he had known for
certain, that Qirist was the true God, he evidently would
not have procured his death (I Cor. 2, 8), but he would
have sought to prevent it, as will be said in its proper
place (Vol. Ill, 494, 540, 613). Concerning the mystery
of the Nativity he knew only that most holy Mary had
given birth to a Son in poverty and in a forsaken cave,
and that She had not found even lodging and shelter;
also that the Child was circumcised and otherwise treated
as mere man: all of which was calculated rather to mis-
lead his pride than to enlighten it. But he was ignorant
of the manner of his Birth, and of the virginity of the
blessed Mother before and after the Birth; likewise of
the message of the angels to the just, and to the
shepherds; of their conversations, and of their adora-
tion of the infant God. Nor did he see the star,
nor did he know the purpose of the kings in coming
to Bethlehem, although he saw them make the journey
and attributed it to some worldly enterprise. The de-
mons were also unable to account for the changes in
the elements, the stars and planets; though they well
perceived these changes and wonderful effects. They
misjudged the words of the Magi in the presence of
Herod, their arrival at the stable and the adoration, and
the gifts offered. Notwithstanding, that they perceived
the fury of Herod against the children and abetted it;
yet they did not understand his object and they stirred
422 CITY OF GOD
up his cruelty. Although Lucifer suspected, that Herod
was seeking to kill the Messias, he considered him de-
mented and treated him with derision. For in his pride
he obstinately held fast to the opinion, that the Word,
upon entering into the world in order to set up his
dominion, would not come humbly and in a hidden
manner, but with ostentatious power and majesty, while
in reality the infant God chose a far different way, being
born of a Mother poor and despised by men.
502. Thus misled, Lucifer, having noticed some of
the strange events connected with the Nativity, called
together his helpers in hell, and said to them : "I do not
find any occasion for fear in the events, which we have
noticed in the world. It is true, the Woman whom we
persecuted so much, has given birth to a Son, but in
such poverty and neglect, that She could not even pro-
cure a lodging-place in order to be delivered. We know
all this to be far from the power and greatness of God.
If He is to advance against us as weak as we have seen
this Child and as we have assured ourselves concerning
It, He certainly can make no headway against our power.
We need not fear that He is the Messias, since there
is even a plot to kill Him as being mortal like the rest
of men. This does not seem to point to the salvation
of the world, since He himself seems to stand in need
of atoning for his fault by death. All these signs con-
flict with the purpose of the Messias in coming into the
world and therefore it seems to me, that we can rest
assured, that He has not yet come." The ministers of
evil approved of the decision of their damned chief and
they were all satisfied, that the Messias had not yet
come, for they were all accomplices in the malice and
pride which blinded him (Wis, 2, 21). It never occurred
to satan in his vanity and indomitable pride, that the
THE INCARNATION 423
majesty and greatness of God should humiliate itself;
because he himself sought after applause, ostentation,
reverence and exaltation, wishing if possible to appro-
priate all honor to himself. Since all honor was attain-
able by God, it never entered his mind, that He would
consent to the contrary and subject Himself to humilia-
tion, so much abhorred by the spirits of evil.
503. O sons of vanity! What examples are not here
given to you for your enlightenment! Great is the
lesson, which the humility of Christ, our Teacher and
our highest Good, teaches and urges upon us : but if
this does not move us, let the pride of Lucifer at least
deter and frighten us. O vice, O sin, dreadful beyond
human imagination ! since it confused an angel of such
high intellect so much, that he could judge of the in-
finite bounty by no other standard than that by which
he judged himself and of his own malicious disposi-
tion! How far then does not man proceed in malice,
if to his ignorance he joins guilt and pride? O un-
happy and most foolish Lucifer! How far didst thou
go astray in judging of so reasonable and commendable
a proceeding! What is more beautiful than humility
and meekness joined with majesty and power? Why
dost thou fail to see, insignificant creature, that not to
know how to humiliate thyself is only weakness of mind
and comes from a base heart? The magnanimous and
truly great do not seek payment in vanity, nor do they
seek after what is low, nor can they be satisfied with what
is false and apparent. It is evident, O Lucifer, that thou
art shut out from truth and but an ignorant guide for
the blind (Matth. 15, 14) ; since thou didst fail to un-
derstand, that the greatness of the bounty and love of
God (Rom. 5, 8) manifested and magnified itself in
424 CITY OF GOD
humility and obedience even to the death of the Cross
(Phil 2, 8).
504. All these errors and insanities of Lucifer and his
ministers were known to the Mother of wisdom and
our Mistress; and with a just appreciation of such high
mysteries She magnified and blessed the Lord, because
He had concealed them from the proud and arrogant and
revealed them to the poor and humble, thus beginning to
overcome the tyranny of the demons (Matth. 11, 25).
The kind Mother offered up fervent prayers for all the
mortals, who on account of their faults were unworthy
of seeing the light, which for their salvation had ap-
peared in the world; of all this She reminded her most
sweet Son with incomparable compassion and love for
sinners. In these affections She spent most of the time
of her stay in the cave of the Nativity. But as this
place was bare of all comfort and much exposed to the
inclemencies of the weather, the great Lady was most
solicitous for the shelter of her tender and sweet Child.
As a most prudent Mother She had brought along a
mantle, with which She covered Him in addition to the
ordinary swaddling-clothes. Moreover She held Him con-
tinually in the embrace of her sacred arms, except at
times, when, in order to make saint Joseph happy, She
asked him to hold his incarnate God in his arms and
serve him as a father.
505. When for the first time She placed the infant
God in his arms, the most holy Mary said to him : "My
husband and my helper, receive in thy arms the Creator
of heaven and earth and enjoy his amiable and sweet
company, in order that my Lord and my God may be
delighted and recompensed by thy faithful services
(Prov. 8, 31). Take to thyself the Treasure of the
eternal Father and participate in this blessing of the hu-
THE INCARNATION 425
man race." And speaking interiorly to the divine In-
fant, She said : "Sweetest Love of my soul and Light of
my eyes, rest in the arms of Joseph, my friend and
spouse: do thou hold sweet intercourse with him and
pardon me my shortcomings. Much do I feel the loss
of Thee even for one instant, but I wish to communicate
without envy the good I have received, to all that are
worthy" (Wis. 7, 13). Her most faithful husband,
acknowledging this new blessing, humbled himself to
the earth and answered: "Lady and Sovereign of the
world, my Spouse, how can I, being so unworthy, pre-
sume to hold in my arms God himself, in whose presence
tremble the pillars of heaven? (Job 26, 11). How can
this vile wormlet have courage to accept such an exalted
favor? I am but dust and ashes, but do Thou, Lady,
assist me in my lowliness and ask his Majesty to look
upon me with clemency and make me worthy through his
grace."
506. His desire of holding the infant God and his
reverential fear of Him caused in saint Joseph heroic
acts of love, of faith, of humility and profoundest rev-
erence. Trembling with discreet fear He fell on his
knees to receive Him from the hands of his most holy
Mother, while sweetest tears of joy and delight copiously
flowed from his eyes at a happiness so extraordinary.
The divine Infant looked at him caressingly and at the
same time renewed his inmost soul with such divine ef-
ficacy as no words will suffice to explain. He broke out
in new canticles of praise at seeing himself thus en-
riched with such magnificent blessings and favors. After
having for some time enjoyed in spirit the sweetest ef-
fects of holding in his arms the Lord, who contains
heaven and earth (Is. 40, 12), He replaced Him into the
arms of his fortunate Mother, both of them being on
426 CITY OF GOD
their knees in receiving and giving Him. Similar rev-
erence the most prudent Mother observed every time
She took Him up or relinquished Him, in which also
saint Joseph imitated Her, as often as it was his happy-
lot to hold the incarnate Word. When they approached
his Majesty, they also made three genuflections, kissing
the earth and exciting heroic acts of humility, worship
and reverence. Thus both the great Queen and the
blessed Joseph observed all propriety in receiving or giv-
ing the Child from and to one another.
507. When the heavenly Mother judged it time to
nourish Him at her breast, She reverently asked permis-
sion of her Son; for although She knew, that She was
to nourish Him as her true and human Child, She never-
theless bore in mind, that He was at the same time the
true God and Lord and that a great distance intervened
between the infinite Being and a mere creature such as
She was. As this consciousness was unfailing in the
most prudent Virgin, her reverence remained faultless
and undiminished and permitted not the least forgetful-
ness in Her. She was always filled with a comprehensive
insight and She always reached perfection in all her acts.
Therefore She nourished, served and tended her Child,
not with an uneasy haste, but with unremitting care, rev-
erence and discretion, causing ever new admiration in
the angels, whose celestial understanding reached not
so far as to comprehend such heroic acts of a tender
Maiden. As they were always corporally present during
the time which She spent at the gates of Bethlehem, they
administered to Her in all things demanded by the service
of the infant God and of Her. All these mysteries are
so wonderful and admirable, and so worthy of our atten-
tion and remembrance, that we cannot deny our negli-
gence in forgetting them, and we cannot acknowledge
THE INCARNATION 427
sufficiently, what harm we are doing ourselves in ceas-
ing to think of them, nor do we sufficiently understand
the divine effect, which the memory of them produces in
the faithful and grateful children of the Church.
508. From what has been revealed to me of the rev-
erence, with which most holy Mary and the glorious
saint Joseph as well as the angelic hosts treated the In-
carnate God, I could easily extend my discourse on the
subject. Though I refrain, I yet wish to confess the
want of reverence, with which I have until now auda-
ciously behaved toward God, and how many faults, of
which I have been guilty toward Him in this respect,
have become known to me. As I said, and will relate
further on, in order to assist the Queen, all the angels
of her guard remained present in visible forms from the
time of the Birth until the flight of the Child into Egypt.
The solicitude of the humble and loving Mother for
her divine Infant was so unremitting, that She would
not part with Him to place Him in the arms of saint
Joseph or into those of the holy princes Michael or
Gabriel, except on rare occasions when She was obliged
to take some nourishment; for these two archangels had
besought Her, to consign the Child to their care during
meals or when saint Joseph was at his work. Thus He
was placed into the hands of the angels, in admirable
fulfillment of the words of David : "In their hands they
shall bear Thee up," etc. (Ps. 90, 12). The most watch-
ful Mother would not take any sleep in her solicitude for
her most holy Son, except when his Majesty commanded
Her to do so. In reward for her diligence He provided
for Her a new and more miraculous kind of sleep than
that which She had until then enjoyed; for while She
slept, her heart was awake, continuing or rather not in-
terrupting the divine intelligence and contemplation of
428 CITY OF GOD
the Divinity (Cant. 5, 2). But from this day on the
Lord added still another miracle, namely, during the
sleep, which was necessary. She retained in her arms
the power of holding and embracing the Child in the
same way as if She were awake; and She gazed upon
Him with the eyes of her intellect, as if She were look-
ing upon Him with her bodily eyes, understanding all
that She herself and her Child did exteriorly in the mean-
while. Thus was miraculously fulfilled, what is said in
the Canticles : "I sleep, but my heart is awake."
509. The canticles of praise and exaltation of the Lord,
which our celestial Queen composed in honor of the
Child, alternately singing them with the holy angels and
also with her spouse Joseph, I cannot expfess by my
limited terms of speech. Of them alone there would be
much to write, for they were uninterrupted; but the
knowledge of them is reserved for the special enjoyment
of the elect. Among all mortals the most faithful Joseph
was privileged and blessed in this respect, for in many
of them he himself participated and many of them he
understood. Beside this he enjoyed another favor, of
singular benefit and consolation to his soul and procured
for him by the most prudent Virgin: namely, many
times, in conversing with him of the Child, She spoke
of Him as of "our Son" (Luke 2, 48) ; not that He
was the natural Son of saint Joseph, since in the super-
natural order He was the Son of the eternal Father and
in the natural order, the Son of his Virgin Mother;
but because in the opinion of men He was reputed to be
the son of Joseph. This favor and privilege was of in-
estimable value to the saint and caused him immeasur-
able delight; on this account his heavenly Spouse de-
lighted in using this appellation when conversing about
her Son.
THE INCARNATION 429
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN AND IvADY OP HEAVEN
GAVE ME.
510. My daughter, I see thee full of devout emulation
of the happiness, which the intercourse with my Son af-
forded me, my spouse and the holy angels, since we be-
held Him present to our bodily eyes as thou desirest for
thyself, if it were possible. I wish to console thee and
guide thy affections toward that which thou thyself canst
and shouldst do according to thy condition in order to
attain the same happiness which thou covetest in us. For
this purpose, beloved, recall what thou hast already suf-
ficiently understood concerning the ways of God in rais-
ing up those souls, whom He seeks with paternal love
and affection. Thou hast attained this knowledge by be-
ing favored with so many particular calls and enlighten-
ments of the Lord, wherein He continually waits at the
portals of thy heart, and urges thee onward expecting
thy conversion (Wis. 6, 15). Thou hast seen Him draw-
ing thee to Himself by repeated favors and by most
exalted doctrines, selecting thee for the narrow bands
of his loving intercourse (Coloss. 3, 14) ; and the great
purity due to this concession.
511. Faith likewise teaches thee, that God is present
in all places by his essence and by the power of his
Divinity; and that to Him are open all thy thoughts,
thy desires and sighs without exception. If thou co-
operate with this truth so as to preserve the graces,
•which thou receivest through the sacraments and other
channels divinely instituted, the Lord will remain with
thee also by divine and special assistance; and in it He
will regale thee with his love as his chosen spouse. Now
since thou knowest and understandest all these truths,
tell me, what more canst thou envy or desire, when thou
2-29
430 CITY OF GOD
already possesses! all that thou so anxiously sighest
after? What I require of thee, and all that remains for
thee to do, is, that thou exert thyself in holy emulation
to imitate this intercourse and reproduce in thyself the
disposition of the angels, the purity of my husband, and
to copy in thyself my life, as far as possible, in order to be
a fit dwelling-place of the Most High (I Cor. 3, 17).
Thou must direct all those endeavors, all those desires
and exertions, with which thou wouldst have wished thy-
self to be animated if thou hadst seen and adored my
most holy Son in his birth and infancy, toward the ful-
fillment of this doctrine; for if thou imitatest me, thou
mayest rest secure, that thou hast me as a Teacher and
the Lord for an assured possession of thy soul. In this
assurance thou canst speak to Him, embrace Him and
delight thyself with Him, as with One who is present;
for in order to communicate these delights to the pure
and untainted souls He has assumed human flesh and
become a Child. But always look upon Him as the great
God, though a Child, in order that thy caresses may be
guarded by reverence and thy love accompanied by holy
fear; for the one is due to Him as God, and the other
befits his immense bounty and merciful magnificence.
512, In this manner of intercourse thou must continue
without intervals of lukewarmness, lest thou disgust Him.
Thy legitimate and chosen occupation should be none
other than the love and the praise of the infinite God.
All the rest thou must enter into only sparingly, in such
a way as if visible and earthly things scarcely concerned
thee and cannot detain thee even for a moment. Thou
must maintain thyself in this soaring height, so that thou
seem not to have anything earnestly to attend to, except
to seek the highest and true God. Me thou shouldst
imitate and for God alone thou shouldst live ; all the rest
THE INCARNATION 431
should not exist for thee, nor shouldst thou exist for it.
But the gifts and blessings, which thou receivest I wish
thou dispense and communicate for the good of thy fellow-
men, observing the perfect order of holy charity; thus
thy gifts will not evaporate, but be still more increased
(I Cor. 13, 8). In all this thou must keep the regula-
tions, which befit thy condition and state, as I have already
shown and instructed thee in other places at other times.
CHAPTER XIII.
ThS most HOIvY MARY IS INFORMED OF THE WII^L OE THE
I<ORD, THAT HIS ONIvYBEGOTTEN SON BE CIRCUMCISED,
AND SHE CONFERS ABOUT IT WITH SAINT JOSEPH!
THE MOST HOI.Y NAME OF JESUS IS BROUGHT FROM
HEAVEN.
513. From the moment the most prudent Virgin found
Herself chosen as the Mother of the divine Word, She be-
gan to ponder upon the labors and sufferings in store for
her sweetest Son. As her knowledge of Scripture was
so profound, She understood all the mysteries contained
therein and She began to foresee and prepare with in-
comparable compassion for all that He was to suffer
for the Redemption of Man. This sorrow, foreseen and
expected with such a full knowledge of details, was a
prolonged martyrdom for the most meek Mother of the
sacrificial Lamb of God (Jer. 11, 19). But in regard
to the Circumcision, which was to take place after the
birth of the Child, the heavenly Lady had received no
command or intimation of the will of the eternal Father.
This uncertainty excited the loving solicitude and sweet
plaints of the tender and affectionate Mother, Her pru-
dent foresight enabled Her to conjecture, that, as her
most holy Son had come to honor and confirm his law
by fulfilling it and as He had moreover come in order
to suffer for men. He would be constrained by his burning
love and by other motives to undergo the pains of cir-
cumcision.
514. On the other hand her maternal love and com-
432
THE INCARNATION 433
passion longed to exempt her sweet Child if possible,
from this suffering; moreover She knew, that circum-
cision was a rite instituted for cleansing the newborn
children from original sin, whereas the divine Infant
was entirely free from this guilt, not having contracted
it in Adam. In this hesitation between love of her divine
Son and obedience to the eternal Father, the most pru-
dent Virgin practiced many heroic acts of virtue, un-
speakably pleasing to his Majesty. Although She could
have easily escaped this uncertainty by directly asking the
Lord what was to be done ; yet, being as humble as She
was prudent, She refrained. Neither would She ask her
angels; for with admirable wisdom, She awaited the
opportune time and occasion, assigned by divine Provi-
dence for all things, and She would not presume curiously
to search or pry into his decrees by consulting supernat-
ural sources of information, especially in order to rid
Herself of any suffering. When any grave and doubt-
ful affair arose, in which there was danger of offending
God, or some urgent undertaking for the good of crea-
tures, in which it would be necessary to know the divine
will. She first asked permission to submit her petition for
enlightenment regarding the divine pleasure.
515. This does not conflict with what I said in book
second, chapter tenth, namely, that the most holy Mary
undertook nothing without asking permission and coun-
sel of God, for this consultation concerning the divine
pleasure was not coupled with the desire of special revela-
tion. In this as I have said, She was most discreet and
diffident, rarely asking for such extraordinary interven-
tion. Without aspiring to new revelation She was in
the habit of consulting the habitual and supernatural aid
of the Holy Ghost, who governed and guided Her in all
her actions. In directing Her faculties by this interior
434 CITY OF GOD
light, She perceived the greater perfection and sanctity
open to Her in the affairs and transactions of every-day
life. Although it is true, that the Queen of heaven
possessed special claims and rights to be informed of the
will of God in different ways ; yet, as She was the model
of all sanctity and discretion, She would not avail Her-
self of this supernatural order and direction, except in
such cases as were appropriate. As for the rest She
guided Herself by fulfilling to the letter the words of
David: "As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands
of her mistress, so are our eyes unto the Lord our God,
until He have mercy on us" (Ps. 122, 2). But this nat-
ural and ordinary light in the Mistress of the »vorld was
greater than that of all the mortals together; and in it
She sought the fiat of the divine will.
516. The mystery of the Circumcision required a
special and particular dispensation ; it demanded a sep-
arate enlightenment of the Lord, and for this the pru-
dent Mother was waiting. In the meanwhile, addressing
in these words the law that required it, She said: "O
law, made for all, thou art just and holy; but thou dost
afflict my heart by thy hardness, if thou art to wound
Him, who is thy life and thy Author ! That thou shouldst
inflict thy sufferings upon those, who must be cleansed
of guilt, is just; but that thou shouldst visit with thy
severity the Innocent, who is without fault (Heb. 7, 26),
seems the excess of rigor unless his own love concedes
this right to thee. O would that it might please my
Beloved to exempt Himself from this punishment! But
how shall He refuse to undergo it, since He came to seek
pain, to embrace the Cross, to fulfill and accomplish the
law? (Matth. 5, 27). O cruel knife! Would thou
couldst direct thy attacks upon my own life, and not
upon the Lord, who gave it to me! O my Son, sweet
THE INCARNATION 435
Love and Light of my soul, is it possible, that Thou so
soon shalt shed thy blood, which is more precious than
heaven and earth? My loving compassion inclines me
to hold Thee exempt from the common law, from which
Thou art excluded as its Author. But the desire to ful-
fill it urges me to comply with it, leaving Thee a prey
to its rigor, unless Thou, my sweet Life, art willing to
change the decree and punish me instead. The human
nature, which Thou hast from Adam, my Lord, I have
given Thee, but without its fault or g^ilt; since in thy
Omnipotence Thou hast preserved it among all the rest
from original stain. Since Thou art the Son of the
eternal Father and the figure of his substance (Heb. 1,
3 ) , and since thy generation is eternal. Thou art infinitely
removed from sin. Why then, my Lord, shouldst Thou
subject thyself to the remedy provided for sin by the
law ? Yet am I aware, my Son, that Thou art the Teacher
and Redeemer of men and that Thou must confirm thy
precepts by the example: Thou wilt not yield the least
point in this matter. O eternal Father, let the knife now
lose its sharpness and the flesh its sensitiveness! Let
pain descend rather upon me, insignificant wormlet; let
thy Onlybegotten Son fulfill the law, but let me alone feel
the punishment. O inhuman and cruel sin, which so soon
profferest the gall to Him, who cannot be guilty of thee !
O sons of Adam, abhor and fear sin, which, for a remedy,
demands bloody punishment of the Lord and God him-
self."
517. Such grief the sorrowful Mother mixed with the
joy of seeing the Onlybegotten of the Father born of
Her and resting in her arms, and thus She passed the
days which remained before the Circumcision, being
faithfully attended by her most chaste spouse Joseph.
To him alone She spoke of the Circumcision ; yet only in
436 CITY OF GOD
few words and mixed with the tears of compassion of
them both. Before the eight days after the Birth were
completed, the most prudent Queen placed Herself on
her knees in the presence of the Lord and thus addressed
Him: "Highest King, Father of my Lord (Eph. 5, 2),
behold here thy slave with the true Sacrifice and Victim
in her arms. My sighs and their cause are not unknown
to thy wisdom (Ps. 37, 10). I know, my Lord, what
according to the law is thy pleasure and what should be
done with thy Son. If by suffering much more rigorous
pains I can rescue my Son and God, my heart is prepared.
But I am likewise ready to see Him submit to circum-
cision, if that is thy will."
518. The Most High answered Her, saying: "My
Daughter and my Dove, do not let thy heart be afflicted
because thy Son is to be subjected to the knife and to
the pains of circumcision. I have sent Him into the
world as an example, that He put an end to the law of
Moses by entirely fulfilling it (Matth. 5, 17). Though
it is true that the habitation of his humanity, which thou
hast given Him as his natural Mother, is to be violated,
and his flesh wounded together with thy soul, yet re-
member: He is my natural Son by an eternal genera-
tion (Ps. 2, 7), the image of my substance (Heb. 1, 3),
equal to Me in essence, majesty and glory, and by thus
subjecting Himself to the sacramental law freeing from
sin (John 10, 30), without letting man know that He
is exempt therefrom, He suffers also in his honor
(II Cor. 2, 21). Thou knowest beforehand, my Daugh-
ter, that thou must reserve thy Onlybegotten and Mine
for this and other greater sufferings. Resign thyself,
then, to the shedding of his blood and willingly yield
to Me the first fruits of the eternal salvation of men."
519. To this decree of the eternal Father the heavenly
THE INCARNATION 437
Lady, as the Co-operatrix of our salvation, conformed
Herself with such a plenitude of all sanctity as is far
beyond human understanding. With complete and most
loving obedience She offered up her Onlybegotten, say-
ing: "Supreme Lord and God, I offer to Thee this
Victim and Host of acceptable sacrifice with all my
heart, although I am full of compassion and sorrow that
men have offended thy immense Goodness in such a way
as to force a God to make amends. Eternally shall I
praise Thee for looking with such infinite love upon thy
creatures and for preferring to refuse pardon to thy own
Son rather than hinder the salvation of man (Eph. 5, 2).
I, who by thy condescension am his Mother, must before
all other mortals subject myself to thy pleasure and
therefore I offer to Thee the most meek Lamb, which
is to take away the sins of the world by his innocence
(John 1, 29). But if it is possible to mitigate the pains
caused by this knife at the expense of suffering in me,
thy arm is mighty to effect this exchange."
520. Most holy Mary issued from her prayer and re-
quested saint Joseph to take the necessary steps for the
Circumcision of the divine Infant. With rarest prudence
She avoided telling Him anything of what She had been
told in answer to her prayer. She spoke as if She wished
to consult Him or ask his opinion in regard to the Cir-
cumcision, saying that the time appointed by law for the"
Circumcision of the Child had arrived and since they
had not received any orders to the contrary, it seemed
necessary to comply with it. They themselves, She said,
were more bound to please the Most High, to obey more
punctually his precepts, and to be more zealous in the
love and care of his most holy Son than all the rest of
creatures, seeking to fufill in all things the divine pleasure
in return for his incomparable favors. To these words
438 CITY OF GOD
saint Joseph answered with the greatest modesty and
discretion, saying, that, as no command to the contrary
had been given concerning the Child he wished in all
things to conform himself to the divine will manifested
in the common law; that, although as God the incarnate
Word was not subject to the law, yet He was now clothed
with our humanity, and, as a most perfect Teacher and
Savior, no doubt wished to conform with other men
in its fulfillment. Then he asked his heavenly Spouse
how the Circumcision was to take place.
521. The most holy Mary answered, that the Circum-
cision should be performed substantially in the same way
as it was performed on other children : but that She need
not hand Him over or consign Him to any other person,
but that She would herself hold Him in her arms. And
because the delicacy and tenderness of the Infant would
make this ceremony more painful to Him than to other
children, they should have at hand the soothing medi-
cine, which was ordinarily applied at circumcision.
Moreover, She requested saint Joseph to procure a crystal
or glass vessel for preserving the sacred relic of the Cir-
cumcision of the divine Infant. In the meanwhile the
cautious Mother prepared some linen cloths to catch the
sacred blood, which was now for the first time to be shed
for our rescue, so that not one drop of it might be lost
or fall upon the ground. After these preparations the
heavenly Lady asked saint Joseph to inform the priest
and request him to come to the cave where, without the
necessity of bringing the Child to any other place, he
might, as a fit and worthy minister of so hidden and great
a sacrament, with his priestly hands perform the rite of
the Circumcision.
522. Then most holy Mary and Joseph took counsel
concerning the name to be given to the divine Infant in
THE INCARNATION 439
the Circumcision, and the holy spouse said : "My Lady,
when the holy angel of the Most High informed me of
this great sacrament, he also told me that thy most
sacred Son should be called JESUS." The Virgin
Mother answered : "This same name was revealed to
me when He assumed flesh in my womb; and thus re-
ceiving this name from the Most High through the
mouth of his holy angels, his ministers, it is befitting
that we conform in humble reverence with the hidden and
inscrutable judgments of his infinite wisdom in confer-
ring it on my Son and Lord, and that we call Him
JESUS. This name we will propose to the priest, for
inscription in the register of the other circumcised
children."
523. While the great Mistress of heaven and saint
Joseph thus conversed with each other, innumerable
angels descended in human forms from on high, clothed
in shining white garments, on which were woven red
embroideries of wonderful beauty. They had palms in
their hands and crowns upon their heads and emitted a
greater splendor than many suns. In comparison with
the beauty of these holy princes all the loveliness seen
in this world appeared repulsive. But pre-eminent in
splendor were the devices or escutcheons on their breasts,
on each of which the sweet name of Jesus was engraved
or embossed. The effulgence which each of these es-
cutcheons emitted exceeded that of all the angels together,
and the variety of the beauty thus exhibited in this great
multitude was so rare and exquisite as neither human
tongue can express nor human imagination ever compass.
The holy angels divided into two choirs in the cave,
keeping their gaze fixed upon the King and Lord in the
arms of his virginal Mother. The chiefs of these
heavenly cohorts were the two princes, saint Michael
440 CITY OF GOD
and saint Gabriel, shining in greater splendor than the
rest and bearing in their hands, as a special distinction,
the most holy name of JESUS, written in larger letters
on something like cards of incomparable beauty and
splendor,
524. The two princes presented themselves apart from
the rest before their Queen and said: "Lady, this is
the name of thy Son (Matth. 1, 21), which was written
in the mind of God from all eternity and which the
blessed Trinity has given to thy Onlybegotten Son and
our Lord as the signal of salvation for the whole human
race; establishing Him at the same time on the throne
of David. He shall reign upon it, chastise his enemies
and triumph over them, making them his footstool and
passing judgment upon them; He shall raise his friends
to the glory of his right hand. But all this is to happen
at the cost of suffering and blood ; and even now He is
to shed it in receiving this name, since it is that of the
Savior and Redeemer; it shall be the beginning of his
suflferings in obedience to the will of his eternal Father.
We all are come as ministering spirits of the Most High,
appointed and sent by the holy Trinity in order to serve
the Onlybegotten of the Father and thy own in all the
mysteries and sacraments of the law of grace. We are
to accompany Him and minister to Him until He shall
ascend triumphantly to the celestial Jerusalem and open
the portals of heaven; afterwards we shall enjoy an
especial accidental glory beyond that of the other blessed,
to whom no such commission has been given." All this
was witnessed by the most fortunate spouse Joseph con-
jointly with the Queen of heaven ; but his understanding
of these happenings was not so deep as hers, for the
Mother of wisdom understood and comprehended the
highest mysteries of the Redemption. Although saint
THE INCARNATION 441
Joseph understood many more mysteries than other
mortals, yet he did not penetrate them in the same way
as his heavenly Spouse. Both of them, however, were
full of heavenly joy and admiration, and extolled the
Lord in new canticles of glory. All that they experi-
enced in these various and wonderful events surpasses
human language, and certainly my own powers, and I
cannot find adequate words for expressing my con-
ceptions.
INSTRUCTION WHICH MARY, OUR MOST HOLY LADY,
GAVE ME.
525. My daughter, I wish to renovate in thee the
enlightened teaching which thou hast received in order
that thou mayst treat with thy Spouse in the highest
reverence; for humility and reverential fear should in-
crease in the soul in the same measure in which especial
and extraordinary favors are conferred upon it. On
account of not being mindful of this truth, many souls
either make themselves unworthy or incapable of great
blessings, or, if they receive them, grow into a dangerous
rudeness and torpidity, which offends the Lord very
much. The loving sweetness with which the Lord often
treats them engenders in them a certain presumption and
disrespectful forwardness, causing them to deal with his
infinite Majesty in an irreverent manner, and with a vain
desire of searching and inquiring into those hidden ways
of God which are far above their comprehension and
capacity. They fall into this presumption because they
judge of the familiar intercourse with God according to
the imperfect insight of mortals, presuming to regulate
it after the friendly intercourse of human creatures with
one another.
442 CITY OF GOD
526. But in this way of judging the soul is much
deceived, measuring the reverence and respect due to the
infinite Majesty by the famiHarity and equahty caused
by the human love of mortals to one another. The
rational creatures are by nature equal to each other,
although the conditions and circumstances of each may
be different; and the familiarity of human love and
friendship may disregard the accidental differences in
yielding to the human feelings. But the love of God
must ever be mindful of the immeasurable excellence of
the infinite Being, since its object is as well the infinite
goodness as the infinite majesty of God : for just because
the goodness and majesty in God are inseparable, there-
fore also reverence must not be separated from love of
God in the creature. The light of divine faith must
always go before, manifesting to the one that loves the
greatness of the Object loved, awakening and fomenting
reverential fear, restraining the exuberance of blind affec-
tions, and bridling them by the memory of the excellence
and superiority of the Beloved.
527. If the creature is noble-hearted, practiced in and
accustomed to holy and reverential fear, it is not in such
danger of forgetting the respect due to the Most High,
no matter how great the favors it receives; for it does
not give itself up unguardedly to the spiritual delights
and does not lose, on account of them, the discreet con-
sciousness of the supreme Majesty; but it respects and
reverences Him in proportion to the greatness of his
divine love and enlightenment. With such souls the
Lord converses as one friend with another (Exod. 33,
11). Let it therefore, my daughter, be to thee an invio-
lable rule that the closer the embraces, and the greater
the delights with which the Most High visits thee, so
much the more unremitting shall be the consciousness
THE INCARNATION 443
of his immutable and infinite Majesty, extolling and
ioving- Him at one and the same time. In this wise
consciousness thou wilt learn to know and estimate more
becomingly the greatness of his favors. Thou wilt avoid
the dangerous presumption of those who lightly inquire
into the secrets of the Lord at each trivial or even im-
portant event, imagining that his most wise Providence
should pay attention to or regard the vain curiosity
excited by some passion or disorder, or some human and
reprehensible affection far removed from holy zeal and
love.
528. Take notice of the cautiousness with which I
proceeded in my duties; since, as regards finding grace
in the eyes of the Lord, a vast difference always remains
between the efforts of other creatures and my own.
Nevertheless, though I held in my arms God himself as
his true Mother, I never presumed to ask Him to explain
to me anything whatever by extraordinary revelation,
neither for the sake of knowing it or for the sake of
ridding myself of suffering, nor for any other merely
human reason ; for all this would have been human weak-
ness, vain and vicious curiosity, which could find no room
in me. Whenever necessity urged it upon me for the
glory of his Majesty, or some circumstances made it
unavoidable, I asked permission to propose my wishes.
Although I always found Him most propitious, ready to
answer me with kindness and mercifully urging me to
declare my wishes, I nevertheless humiliated myself to
the dust and merely asked Him to inform me of what was
most pleasing and acceptable in his eyes.
529. Write this doctrine in thy heart, my daughter,
and guard thyself against the disorderly and curious
desire of searching into or knowing anything above the
powers of the human intellect. For besides the fact that
444 CITY OF GOD
the Lord makes no response to such fooHsh inquiry,
because it displeases Him very much, remember that the
demon is the real author of this fault in those who are
in pursuit of a spiritual life. As he is ordinarily the
author of such blameworthy inquiries, astutely promot-
ing them in the soul, he also satisfies its curiosity by
answering them himself at the same time assuming the
appearance of an angel of light and thus deceiving the
imperfect and the unwary (II Cor. 12, 14). When such
inquisitiveness arises from one's own natural inclination,
one must be equally careful not to follow or attend to it.
For in what concerns such high matters as familiar inter-
course with the Lord, one's own reason and judgment is
not a safe guide, it being hampered by evil inclinations
and passions. Our depraved and infected nature has
been thrown into great disorder by sin, and is subject
to much confusion and excess, making it unfit for guid-
ance and direction in the high things of God. Equally
wrong is it for the soul to rely on divine revelations in
order to free itself from suffering and labor; for the
spouses of Christ and his true servants must not seek
his favors for the purpose of avoiding the cross, but in
order to seek and bear it with the Lord (Matth. 16, 24),
patiently enduring the sufferings which his divine Provi-
dence chooses to send. This course of action I desire
thee to maintain in humble fear, and rather to go to
extremes in this regard so as to avoid so much the more
securely the opposite fault. From now on I wish that
thou perfect all thy motives and thy undertakings by
divine love (Phil. 1, 9), as being the great end of all
thy undertakings. In this thou needst not observe degree
or measure ; on the contrary I wish thee to create in thee
an excess of love, accompanied by so much of holy fear
as will suffice to keep thee from transgressing the law
THE INCARNATION 445
of the Most High, and to perform all thy exterior and
interior acts in rectitude. Be careful and diligent therein,
even if it cost thee much exertion and pain; for I have
endured the same in the Circumcision of my most holy
Son, and for no other reason than because in his holy
law this was manifested and intimated to me as the will
of the Lord, whom we must in all things fully obey.
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CHAPTER XIV.
THE DIVINE INEANT IS CIRCUMCISED AND RECEIVES THE
NAME JESUS.
530. Like other towns of Israel, the city of Bethlehem
had its own synagogue, where the people came together
to pray (wherefore it was also called the house of
prayer), and to hear the law of Moses. This was read
and explained by a priest from the pulpit in a loud voice,
in order that the people might understand its precepts.
But in these synagogues no sacrifices were offered; this
was reserved for the temple of Jerusalem, except when
the Lord commanded otherwise. It was not left to the
choice of the people, in order to avoid the danger of
idolatry, as is mentioned in Deuteronomy (12, 6). But
the priest, who was the teacher or minister of the law in
those places, was usually also charged with administering
the circumcision ; not that this was a binding law, for not
only priests but any one could perform the circumcision ;
but because the pious mothers firmly believed that the
infants would run less danger in being circumcised by
the hands of a priest. Our great Queen, not on account
of any apprehension of danger, but because of the dignity
of the Child, also wished a priest to administer this rite
to Him; and therefore She sent her most fortunate
spouse to Bethlehem to call the priest of that town.
531. The priest came to the gates or cave of the
Nativity, where the incarnate Word, resting in the arms
of his Virgin Mother, awaited him. With the priest
came also two other officials, who were to render such
446
THE INCARNATION 447
assistance as was customary at the performance of the
rite. The rudeness of the dwelling at first astonished
and somewhat disconcerted the priest. But the most
prudent Queen spoke to him and welcomed him with
such modesty and grace that his constraint soon changed
into devotion and into admiration at the composure and
noblest majesty of the Mother; and without knowing the
cause he was moved to reverence and esteem for such an
unusual personage. When the priest looked upon the face
of Mary and of the Child in her arms he was filled with
great devotion and tenderness, wondering at the contrast
exhibited amid such poverty and in a place so lowly and
despised. And when he proceeded to touch the divine
flesh of the Infant, he was renovated by a secret influence
which sanctified and perfected him; it gave him a new
existence in grace, and raised him up to a state of holi-
ness very pleasing to the most high Lord.
532. In order to show as much exterior reverence for
the sacred rite of circumcision as was possible in that
place, saint Joseph lighted two wax candles. The priest
requested the Virgin Mother to consign the Child to the
arms of the two assistants and withdraw for a little
while in order not to be obliged to witness the sacrifice.
This command caused some hesitation in the great Lady ;
for her humility and spirit of obedience inclined Her to
obey the priest, while on the other hand She was withheld
by the love and reverence for her Onlybegotten. In
order not to fail against either of these virtues. She
humbly requested to be allowed to remain, saying that
She desired to be present at the performance of this rite,
since She held it in great esteem, and that She would
have courage to hold her Son in her arms, as She wished
not to leave Him alone on such an occasion. All that
She would ask would be that the circumcision be per-
448 • CITY OF GOD
formed with as much tenderness as possible on account
of the deHcacy of the Child. The priest promised to
fulfill her request, and permitted the Child to be held in
the arms of his Mother for fulfilling the mystery. Thus
She became the sacred altar on which the truths typified
in the ancient sacrifice became a reality (Heb. 9, 6) ; and
She herself ofiFered up this new morning^s sacrifice on
her own arms in order that it might be acceptable to the
eternal Father in all particulars.
533. The divine Mother then unwound the swaddling-
clothes in which her most holy Son was wrapped and
drew from her bosom a towel or linen cloth, which She
had previously placed there for the purpose of warming
it; for the weather was very cold on that day. While
holding the Child in her hands She so placed this towel
that the relics and the blood of the Circumcision would
fall upon it. The priest thereupon proceeded to his duty
and circumcised the Child, the true God and man. At
the same time the Son of God, with immeasurable love,
offered up to the eternal Father three sacrifices of so
great value that each one would have been sufficient for
the Redemption of a thousand worlds. The first was
that He, being innocent and the Son of the true God,
assumed the condition of a sinner (Phil. 2, 7) by sub-
jecting Himself to a rite instituted as a remedy for
original sin, and to a law not binding on Him (II Cor. 5,
21). The second was his willingness to suffer the pains
of circumcision, which He felt as a true and perfect man;
The third was the most ardent love with which He began
to shed his blood for the human race, giving thanks to
the eternal Father for having given Him a human nature
capable of suffering for his exaltation and glory.
534. This prayerful sacrifice of JESUS our Savior the
Father accepted, and, according to our way of speaking,
THE INCARNATION 449
He began to declare Himself satisfied and paid for the
indebtedness of humanity. The incarnate Word offered
these first fruits of his blood as pledges that He would
give it all in order to consummate the Redemption and
extinguish the debt of the sons of Adam. All these in-
terior acts and movements of the Only begotten his most
holy Mother perceived, and in her heavenly wisdom She
penetrated the mystery of this sacrament, acting as his
Mother and in concert with Her Son and Lord in all
that He was doing and suffering. True to his human
nature, the divine Infant shed tears as other children.
Although the pains caused by the wounding were most
severe, as well on account of the delicacy of his body
as on account of the coarseness of the knife, which was
made of flint, yet his tears were caused not so much by
the sensible pain as by the supernatural sorrow caused
by his knowledge of the hard-heartedness of mortals.
For this was more rude and unyielding than the flint,
resisting his sweetest love and the divine fire He had
come to enkindle in the world and in the hearts of the
faithful (Luke 12, 49). Also the tender and affectionate
Mother wept, like the guileless sheep, which raises its
voice in unison with the innocent lamb. In reciprocal
love and compassion the Child clung to his Mother,
while She sweetly caressed Him at her virginal breast
and caught the sacred relics and the falling blood in the
towel. These She entrusted to saint Joseph, in order
to tend to the divine Infant and wrap Him once more
in the swaddling-clothes. The priest was somewhat sur-
prised at the tears of the Mother; yet, not understanding
the mystery, he conjectured that the beauty of the Child
might well cause such deep and loving sorrow in Her
who had given Him birth.
535. In all these proceedings the Queen of heaven was
450 CITY OF GOD
so prudent, circumspect and magnanimous, that She
caused admiration in the angelic choirs and highest de-
light to her Creator. She gave forth the effulgence of
the divine wisdom, which filled Her, performing each of
her actions as perfectly as if She had that alone to per-
form. She was unyielding in her desire of holding the
Child in her arms during the Circumcision, most careful
in preserving the relics, most compassionate in her afflic-
tion and tears, feeling Herself his pains, most loving in
her caresses, most diligent in procuring his comfort,
fervent in imitating Him in his works, always careful to
treat Him with the highest reverence, without ever fail-
ing or intermitting her acts of virtue, and without ever
letting the perfection of one disturb that of the other.
Wonderful spectacle exhibited by a Maiden of fifteen
years, and affording even the angels a sort of new lesson
and cause of admiration! In the meanwhile the priest
asked the parents what name they wished to give to the
Child in Circumcision; the great Lady, always attentive
to honor her spouse, asked saint Joseph to mention the
name. Saint Joseph turned toward Her in like reverence
and gave Her to understand that He thought it proper
this sweet name should first flow from her mouth.
Therefore, by divine interference, both Mary and Joseph
said at the same time: "JESUS is his name." The
priest answered : "The parents are unanimously agreed,
and great is the name which they give to the Child" ; and
thereupon he inscribed it in the tablet or register of
names of the rest of the children. While writing it the
priest felt great interior movements, so that he shed
copious tears; and wondering at what he felt yet not
being able to account for, he said : "I am convinced that
this Child is to be a great Prophet of the Lord. Have
great care in raising Him, and tell me in what I can
THE INCARNATION 451
relieve your needs." Most holy Mary and Joseph an-
swered the priest with humble gratitude and dismissed
him after offering him the g^ft of some candles and other
articles.
536. Being again left alone with the Child, most holy
Mary and Joseph celebrated anew the mystery of the
Circumcision, commenting on the holy name of JESUS
amid sweet canticles and tears of joy, the fuller knowl-
edge of which (as also of other mysteries which I have
mentioned) is reserved as an additional accidental glory
to the saints in heaven. The most prudent Mother ap-
plied to the wound caused by the knife such medicines
as were wont to be used on such occasions for other
children, and during the time while the pain and the
healing lasted She would not for a moment part with
Him, holding Him in her arms day and night. The
tender love of the heavenly Mother is beyond all compre-
hension or understanding of man; for her natural love
was greater than any other mother was capable of, and
her supernatural love exceeded that of all the angels and
saints together. Her reverence and worship cannot be
compared with that of any other created being. These
were the delights of the incarnate Word (Prov. 8, 31),
which He desired and longed for among the children of
men ; and this was the recompense, which his loving
heart drew from the exceeding sanctity of the Virgin
Mother for the sorrows occasioned Him by their be-
havior. Although He pleased Himself in Her alone
above all the mortals and in Her found full satisfaction
of his love, yet the humble Queen sought to alleviate
his bodily pains by all the means within her power.
Therefore She besought the holy angels to assist Her
and produce sweet harmony for their incarnate God, and
452 CITY OF GOD
her suffering" Child. The ministers of the Most High
obeyed their Queen and Lady and in audible voices they
rehearsed the canticles which She herself had composed
with her spouse in praise of the new and sweet name
of JESUS.
537. With this music, so sweet that in comparison to it
all human music seemed but irksome discord, the heavenly
Lady entertained her most holy Son; and sweeter yet
was the harmony of her heroic virtues, which in her soul
formed "choirs as of serried armies," as the Lord and
Spouse himself says in the Canticles. Hard are human
hearts, and more than slow and dull in recognizing and
thankfully acknowledging such venerable sacraments, in-
stituted for their eternal salvation by the immense love
of the Creator and Redeemer. O sweetest Good of my
soul and of my life! What wicked return do we make
for the exquisite artifices of thy eternal love! O meas-
ureless charity, which is not extinguished by the over-
whelming waters of our gross and faithless ingratitude!
Truly the essential Bounty and Holiness could not go to
a greater length of condescension for love of us, nor
exercise more exquisite love than to assume the form of
a sinner (Phil. 2, 7), drawing upon his own innocence
the punishment of the sin, which otherwise could never
approach Him. If men despise such an example and
forget such a benefit, how can they be said to retain the
use of their reason? How can they presume upon and
glory in their wisdom, prudence or judgment? It would
be prudence, ungrateful man, if thou wouldst afflict thy-
self and weep over thy notorious dullness and darkness
of mind in not being moved by such great works of thy
God; since not even the divine love can melt the iciness
of thy heart.
THE INCARNATION 453
INSTRUCTION WHICH OUR MOST HOLY QUEEN MARY
GAVE ME.
538. My daughter, I wish thee to consider attentively
the blessed favor conferred upon thee by being informed
of the solicitous care and attention which I lavished upon
my most holy and sweetest Son in the mysteries just
now described. The Most High does not give thee this
special light in order only to be regaled by the knowledge
of these mysteries ; but in order to imitate me in all these
things as a faithful handmaid and in order to distinguish
thyself in rendering thanks for his works in the same
measure as thou art distinguished in knowing them more
fully. Ponder, then, dearest, upon the small return given
for the love of my Son and Lord by mortals, and how
forgetful of thanks even his faithful continue to be.
Assume it as thy task, as far as thy weak powers allow,
to render satisfaction for this grievous offense: loving
Him, thanking Him and serving Him with all thy powers,
for all the other men who fail to do so. Therefore thou
must be an angel in promptitude, most fervent and
punctual on all occasions; thou must die to all earthly
things, eliminating and crushing all human inclinations
and rising upon the wings of love to the heights of love
designed for thee by the Lord.
539. Thou art not ignorant of the sweet efficacy con-
tained in the memory of the works performed by my
most holy Son : and although thou canst so copiously
avail thyself of the light given thee to be thankful: yet,
in order that thou mayest fear so much the more the
danger of forgetfulness, I particularly inform thee that
the saints in heaven, comprehending by the divine light
these mysteries, are astonished at themselves for not
having paid more attention to them during their Hfe.
454 CITY OF GOD
And if they were capable of pain, they would be deeply
grieved for their tardiness and carelessness in not having
set proper value upon the works for the Redemption, and
for failing in the imitation of Christ. All the angels
and saints, by an insight hidden to mortals, wonder at
the cruelty of human hearts against themselves and
against Christ their Redeemer. Men have compassion
neither for the sufferings of the Lord, nor for the suffer-
ings they themselves stand in danger of incurring. When
the foreknown, in unending bitterness shall recognize
their dreadful forgetfulness and their indifference to the
works of Christ their Savior, their confusion and despair
will be an intolerable punishment, and it alone will be
a chastisement beyond all imagination ; for they will then
see the copiousness of the Redemption, which they have
despised ( Ps. 44, 11). Hear me, my daughter, and bend
thy ears to these counsels and doctrines of eternal life.
Cast out from thy faculties every image and affection
toward human creatures and turn all the powers of thy
heart and soul toward the mysteries and blessings of the
Redemption. Occupy thyself wholly with them, ponder
and weigh them, give thanks for them as if thou alone
wert in existence, as if they had been wrought solely for
thee, and singly for each human being in particular
(Gal. 2, 20). Thus thou wilt find life and the way of
life, proceeding thus thou canst not err; but thou shalt
find therein the light of thy eyes and true peace.
CHAPTER XV.
The most holy MARY REMAINS IN THE PORTAL O^ THE
NATIVITY UNTIL THE COMING OF THE MAGI KINGS.
540. By the infused knowledge of holy Scriptures and
her high supernatural enlightenment, our great Queen
knew that the Magi Kings of the Orient would come to
acknowledge and adore her most holy Son as their true
God. She was aware of it also more particularly be-
cause an angel had been sent to them to announce the
birth of the incarnate Word, as mentioned in chapter
second (No. 492), and the Virgin Mother was not
ignorant of this message. Saint Joseph had no fore-
knowledge of these mysteries ; because they had not been
revealed to him, nor had his most prudent Spouse in-
formed him of this secret. In all things She was most
wise and discreet, awaiting the sweet and timely dispo-
sitions of the divine Providence (Wis. 8, 1). After the
Circumcision, the holy spouse suggested to the Mistress
of heaven that they leave their poor and forsaken habita-
tion on account of the insufficient shelter which it
afforded the divine Infant and to Her ; for it would now
be possible to find a lodging in Bethlehem, where they
could remain until after presenting the Child in the
temple of Jerusalem. This proposal of the most faithful
spouse arose from his solicitude and anxiety lest the Child
and the Mother should want even that comfort and
convenience which it was possible for their poverty to
procure ; but he left it all to the disposition of his heavenly
Spouse.
455
456 CITY OF GOD
541. Without revealing the mystery, the humble Queen
answered: "My spouse and master, I resign myself to
thy will, and wherever thou wishest to go I will follow
with great pleasure: arrange it as thou pleasest." The
heavenly Lady had an affection for the cave on account
of its humbleness and poverty, and because the incarnate
Word had consecrated it by the mysteries of his Nativity
and Circumcision, and was to hallow it by the mystery
of the Magi's visit, although She did not know at what
time that would happen. This was a most pious affec-
tion, full of devotion and reverence ; yet She preferred to
give an example of the highest perfection in all things.
She considered it more important to resign and submit
to saint Joseph, letting her spouse decide what was to be
done. While they were thus conferring with each other,
the Lord himself informed them through the two celes-
tial princes Michael and Gabriel, who were attending in
corporeal forms to the service of their Lord and God
and of their great Queen. They spoke to Mary and
Joseph, saying: "Divine Providence has ordained that
three kings of the earth, coming from the Orient in
search of the King of heaven, should adore the divine
Word in this very place (Ps. 71, 6). They are already
ten days on the way ; for at the hour of the birth of Jesus
they were informed of it, and they immediately set out
on their journey. Therefore they will shortly arrive,
fulfilling all that the Prophets had from very ancient
times foreknown and foretold."
542. By this announcement saint Joseph was instructed
on his part concerning the will of the Lord, and Mary
his most holy Spouse said to him: "My master, this
place, chosen by the Most High for such magnificent
mysteries, although it is poor and ill-furnished in the
eyes of the world, in the sight of eternal Wisdom is
THE INCARNATION 457
rich, precious, the most estimable and preferable on this
earth, since the Lord of heaven is satisfied with it and
has consecrated it by his presence. He who is the true
land of promise can favor us with his vision in this
place. And if it is his pleasure, He will afford us some
protection and shelter against the inclemencies of the
weather during the few days in which we are to stay
here." Saint Joseph was much consoled and encour-
aged by these words of the most prudent Queen. He
answered Her, that, since the divine Child was to fulfill
the law, which required Him to be presented in the
temple, just as He had subjected Himself to the law of
Circumcision, they could remain in this sacred place until
that day should arrive, without first undertaking the dis-
tant and wearisome journey to Nazareth during the in-
clement weather. If, perhaps, the severity of the season
would compel them to seek shelter in the city, they could
easily do so; since from Bethlehem to Jerusalem there
was only a distance of two hours.
543. In all these matters the most holy Mary con-
formed Herself to the will of her watchful spouse; for
She knew his solicitude for the sacred tabernacle which
was confided to his care, and which was more holy and
venerable than the Holy of Holies in the temple. Await-
ing the time when her Onlybegotten should be presented
in the temple. She was unremitting in her care of Him,
lest She forget anything necessary to protect Him
against the cold and the roughness of the weather. She
also prepared the cave for the arrival of the Kings,
cleaning it once more and arranging it anew as far as
the rudeness and destitution of the place allowed. But
her greatest attention and care was always reserved for
the Child itself, bearing It in her arms continually unless
absolute necessity demanded otherwise. Besides all this
458 CITY OF GOD
She made use of her power as Queen of all creation
whenever the rigors of winter rose to excess; for She
commanded the frost and the winds, the snow and the
ice not to incommode their Creator, and to spend their
elemental fury and asperity upon her person alone. The
heavenly Queen gave her commands as follows : . "Re-
strain your wrath before your Creator, Author, Lord
and Preserver, who has called you into existence and
given you strength and activity. Be mindful, creatures
of my Beloved, that you are furnished with rigor on
account of sin for the chastisement of the disobedience
of the first Adam and his progeny. But with the second
Adam, who comes to repair this fall and cannot have
any part therein, you must be courteous, reverencing and
not offending Him, to whom you owe worship and sub-
jection. And therefore I command you in his name to
cause no inconvenience or displeasure to Him."
544. It is worthy of our admiration and imitation to
notice the ready obedience of the irrational creatures to
the divine will, intimated to them by the Mother of God :
for upon her command, the snow and rain approached
no nearer than ten yards, the winds stopped short and
the surrounding air retained a mild temperature. To
this miracle was added another one : at the same time in
which the divine Infant in her arms received this homage
of the elements and was protected from their asperity,
the Virgin Mother felt and suffered the cold and in-
clemency of the weather as if it were exerting all its
natural influences in that place. In this they obeyed the
Loving Mother and sovereign Mistress of creatures to
the letter, as She wished not to exempt Herself from
their asperity while She prevented her tender Child and
her God from suffering under it. Saint Joseph enjoyed
the same privilege as the sweet Infant; he noticed the
THE INCARNATION 459
favorable change of the temperature, without knowing
that it was due to the commands of his heavenly Spouse
and an effect of her power; for She had not manifested
to him this privilege, because She had no command to
that effect from the Most High.
545. As to the order and manner in which the great
Queen nourished her Child JESUS, it is to be remarked
that She offered Him her virginal milk three times a day,
and always with such reverence that She asked his per-
mission beforehand and his pardon for the indignity,
considering Herself and acknowledging Herself un-
worthy of such a privilege. Many times, while holding
Him in her arms. She was on her knees adoring Him;
and if at any time it was necessary to seat Herself She
always asked his permission. With the' same tokens of
reverence She handed Him to saint Joseph and received
Him from his arms, as I have said above. Many times
She kissed his feet, and when She wished to kiss his
face She interiorly asked his benevolent consent. The
sweetest Child returned these caresses of his Mother not
only by the expression of pleasure in his countenance,
which was at the same time full of majesty, but also
by other actions usual in children. In Him, however,
they were accompanied by a serene deliberation. The
most ordinary token of his love was to recline sweetly
upon the breast of the most pure Mother, or upon her
shoulder, encircling her neck with his divine arms.
These caresses the Empress Mary met with so much
attention and discretion that She neither petulantly sought
them as other mothers, nor too timidly withdrew from
them. In all these things She behaved most perfectly
and prudently, without defect or excess of any kind : the
more openly and affectionately her most holy Son mani-
fested his love toward Her, so much the more deeply did
460 CITY OF GOD
She humiliate Herself, and so much the greater was her
reverence; in the same manner She gaged also the
tokens of her affection and lent new glory to her mag-
nanimity.
546. There was an interchange of caresses of anothei
kind between the Infant and his Mother: for besides
understanding by divine enlightenment all the interior
acts of the most holy soul of her Onlybegotten, as I have
already stated (481, 534), it often happened that, hold-
ing Him in her arms. She was privileged to see through
his humanity as through a crystal casement, thus per-
ceiving the hypostatic union of the Son of God with his
human nature, and witnessing the activity of his soul in
interceding with the eternal Father for the human race.
These operations and intercessions the heavenly Lady
faithfully imitated, being entirely absorbed and trans-
formed in her divine Son. His Majesty on his part
looked upon Her with new accidental joy and delight,
regaling Himself in the purity of this Creature, rejoicing
that He had created Her, and that his becoming man had
resulted in such a living image of his Divinity and
humanity. In regard to this mystery the words of the
soldiers of Holo femes when they beheld the beauty of
Judith in the camp of Bethulia, occurred to me : "Who
can despise the people of the Hebrews, who have such
beautiful women? Shall we not think it worth our
while for their sakes to fight against them?" This say-
ing seemed to be mysteriously realized in the incarnate
Word, since He, with greater cause, could address them
to his eternal Father and to all the rest of the creatures:
"Who shall fail to see, that my coming from heaven and
assuming flesh is fully justified, since by coming upon the
earth and dethroning the demon, the world and the flesh,
and by conquering and vanquishing them, such a Woman
THE INCARNATION 461
is called into existence as is my Mother among the chil-
dren of Adam?" O sweetest love, essence of my virtue,
life of my soul, most loving Jesus, behold and see that
most holy Mary by Herself possesses such immense
beauty as exceeds that of all the human race! She is
the only and chosen One (Cant. 6, 8), so perfectly pleas-
ing to Thee, my Lord and my God, that She not only
equals but far surpasses all the rest of thy people; and
that She alone compensates God for all the wickedness
of the race of Adam.
547. So powerful were the effects of this delightful
intercourse with her Son and true God, that She was
more and more spiritualized and made Godlike. Many
times in these flights of her soul the force of her burning
love would have torn asunder the ligaments of her mem-
bers and destroyed the union of her soul and body, if
She had not been miraculously comforted and preserved.
She spoke to her most holy Son secret words so exalted
and full of weight that they cannot come within the
range of our expression. All that I can reproduce can
never be anything more than a mere shadow of that
which was manifested to me. She said to Him: "O
my Love, sweet Life of my soul, who art Thou, and
who am I? What dost Thou wish to make of me by
thus becoming man of man, lowering thy greatness and
magnificence in favor of such useless dust? O what
shall thy slave do to pay the debt of love which she owes
to Thee? What return shall I make for the great things
which thou hast done to me (Ps. 115, 12) ? My being,
my life, my faculties, my feelings, my desires and long-
ings, all is for Thee. Comfort thy servant and thy
Mother, in order that She may not fail in thy service
at the sight of her own insignificance, and in order that
she may not die for love of Thee. O how limited is
2-31
462 CITY OF GOD
the power of man! How circumscribed his capacity!
How insufficient is human affection, as it cannot suffi-
ciently render a just return for thy love! But the vic-
tory of mercy and magnificence must always be thine,
and to Thee belong the triumphal songs of love; while
we must on the contrary always consider ourselves over-
come and vanquished by thy power. Let us be humili-
ated and let us grovel in the dust, while thy greatness is
magnified and exalted in all the eternities." The heav-
enly Lady, partaking of the science of her most holy Son,
sometimes beheld the souls which in the course of the
new law of grace were to distinguish themselves in divine
love, the works which they were to perform, the martyr-
dom which they were to suffer in imitation of the Lord ;
in this knowledge She became so inflamed with love that
her longings of love caused in Her a greater martyrdom
than those actually suffered by the saints. To her
happened what the Spouse in the Canticles mentions
(Cant. 8, 6), that the emulations of love are strong as
death and hard as hell. To these agonies of the loving
Mother, caused by the mortal wounds of divine affection,
her most holy Son answered in the words there used:
"Place Me as a sign or seal in thy heart and upon thy
arm," causing in Her at the same time the full under-
standing of these words as well as their actual fulfill-
ment. By this divine suffering most holy Mary was a
Martyr above all other martyrs. Among such beds of
lilies the meekest Lamb, Jesus, wandered, while the day
of grace began to break and the shades of the ancient
Law receded.
548. The divine Child ate nothing during the time in
which He was nourished at the virginal breast of his
most holy Mother, for this milk was his only sustenance.
This was most sweet and substantial, since it originated
THE INCARNATION 463
in a body so pure, perfect and refined, and one built up
in exquisite harmony without any disorder or inequality.
No other body was equal to it in health fulness; and the
sacred milk, even if it would have been preserved a long-
time, would have remained free from corruption; by an
especial privilege it never changed or soured, though the
milk of other women immediately degenerates and be-
comes corrupt, as experience teaches.
549. The most fortunate Joseph not only witnessed
the favors and caresses which passed between the Child
and its Mother; but he himself shared in others, which
Jesus deigned to confer upon him. Many times his
heavenly Spouse placed him in his arms. This hap-
pened whenever She had to do some work during which
She could not hold Him herself; as for instance, when
She prepared the meals, or arranged the clothes of the
Infant or cleaned the house. On these occasions saint
Joseph held Him in his arms and he always felt divine
effects in his soul. The Child Jesus showed exterior
signs of affection by his pleased looks, by reclining upon
his breast, and by other tokens of affection usual with
children in regard to their fathers, but in Him these
tokens were always tempered with kingly majesty. Yet
all this was not so frequent in his dealings with saint
Joseph, nor with such endearment, as with his true Virgin
Mother. Whenever She left Jesus in his care. She
received from saint Joseph the relic of the Circumcision,
which the latter ordinarily bore about with him for
his consolation. Thus both the two Spouses were con-
tinually enriched : She by holding her most holy Son,
he by his sacred blood and deified flesh. They pre-
served it in a crystal vase, which saint Joseph had pur-
chased with the money sent to them by saint Elisa-
beth. In this they had enclosed the particle of flesh and
464 CITY OF GOD
the sacred blood shed at the Circumcision, which had
been caught up in pieces of hnen. The opening of the
vase was encased in silver, which the mighty Queen, in
order to preserve the sacred relics more securely, had
sealed by her mere command. Thus the silver opening
was more firmly sealed than if it had been soldered by
the artisan, who had made the vessel. In this vase the
prudent Mother treasured the relics during her whole
life and afterwards She entrusted it to the Apostles,
leaving it as an inheritance to the holy Church. In this
immense sea of mysteries I find myself so annihilated
and dumbfounded by my ignorance as a woman, and so
narrowed in my powers of expression, that I must leave
much of it to be fathomed by the faith and piety of the
Christians.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST H0I.Y QUEEN MARY
GAVE ME.
550. My daughter, in the foregoing chapter, thou hast
been instructed not to seek information from the Lord
by supernatural means, neither in order to relieve any
suffering, nor in order to satisfy a natural hankering of
curiosity. Now I exhort thee likewise not to yield, for
any of these reasons, to the desire of performing any
exterior action according to the promptings of nature.
For in all the activity of thy exterior faculties and senses
thou must seek to moderate and subject thy inclinations,
not yielding to them in their demands, although they may
have the color of virtue or piety. I was in no danger
of going to excess in these affections on account of my
sinlessness; nor was there a want of piety in my desire
of remaining in the cave, where my most holy Son had
been born and had been circumcised. Yet I did not wish
THE INCARNATION 465
to express my desire, even when asked about it by my
spouse; for I preferred obedience to this pious inclina-
tion, and I knew that it is more secure for the souls and
more according to the pleasure of the Lord to seek his
will in the counsel and decision coming from other,
rather than in their own inclination. In me this course
of action was advisable only on account of the greater
perfection contained therein, but in thee and in other
souls, who are subject to error in their judgment, this
rule must be observed most rigorously, so as to prevent
and avoid mistakes diligently and discreetly. For in
their ignorance and pusillanimity men are easily carried
away by their feelings and inclinations toward insignifi-
cant things, and very often they occupy themselves with
trifles as if they were important matters, and with vani-
ties, as if they were realities. All such activity weakens
the soul and deprives it of great spiritual blessings, of
grace, enlightenment and merit.
551. This doctrine shalt thou write in thy heart to-
gether with all the others which I am to give thee. Seek
to use it as a reminder of all that I did, so that as thou
hast come to know it thou mayest also understand and
execute it in thy life. Take notice of the reverence, love
and solicitude, the holy and discreet fear, with which I
conversed with my most holy Son. I always lived in
this kind of watchfulness; and even after I had conceived
Him in my womb, I never lost it out of sight, nor did
the great love which He showed me diminish it in me.
In this ardent desire to please Him my heart found no
rest until it was entirely united and absorbed in the en-
joyment of this my highest Good and ultimate End.
Excepting at certain times, during which I rested in
his love as in my sole joy, I invariably carried about with
me this continual solicitude, like one who restlessly pur-
466 CITY OF GOD
sues his way, and who permits himself not to be delayed
by anything that is useless or hinders the attainment of
his desired object. So far was my heart from attaching"
itself to any earthly thing, or from following the incli-
nation of the senses, that I lived as if I had not been
composed of earthly substance. If other creatures are
not free from passions, or do not overcome them as much
as possible, let them not blame nature, but their own will :
on the contrary, they justly incur the reproaches of weak
nature; because, instead of governing and directing
nature by the sovereign power of the will, they make no
use of that power. They allow the natural inclinations to
involve them in disorders, abetting it by the free will and
using their understanding to find still more dangerous
occupations and occasions of ruin. On account of these
pitfalls presenting themselves in mortal life, I warn thee,
my dearest, not to hanker after or seek any of the visible
things, although they may appear to thee necessary and
most appropriate for the circumstances. Use all things,
thy cell, thy garments, thy sustenance, and whatever else
of this life, only in obedience and with the full consent
of thy superiors ; because the Lord requires this of thee ;
and it is also my pleasure to see thee apply all things
for the service of the Omnipotent. According to these
great rules which I have g^ven thee thou must regulate
all thy activity.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE THREE KINGS OF THE ORIENT COME TO ADORE THE
WORD MADE MAN IN BETHLEHEM.
552. The three Magi Kings, who came to find the
divine Infant after his birth, were natives of Persia,
Arabia and Sabba (Ps. 71, 10), countries to the east
of Palestine. Their coming was prophesied especially
by David, and before him, by Balaam, who, having been
hired by Balaac, king of the Moabites, to curse the Israel-
ites, blessed them instead (Numb. 24, 17). In this
blessing Balaam said, that he would see the King Christ,
although not at once, and that he would behold Him,
although not present; for he did not see Him with his
own eyes, but through the Magi, his descendants many
centuries after. He said, also, that a star would arise
unto Jacob, which was Christ, who arose to reign for-
ever in the house of Jacob (Luke 1, 32).
553. These three Kings were well versed in the natural
sciences, and well read in the Scriptures of the people of
God ; and on account of their learning they were called
Magi. By their knowledge of Scripture, and by con-
ferring with some of the Jews, they were imbued with
a belief in the coming of the Messias expected by that
people. They were, moreover, upright men, truthful
and very just in the government of their countries.
Since their dominions were not so extended as those of
our times, they governed them easily, and personally
administered justice as wise and prudent sovereigns.
This is the true office of kings, and therefore the Holy
467
468 . CITY OF GOD
Ghost says, that He holds their hearts in his hands in
order to direct them like irrigated waters to the fulfill-
ment of his holy will (Prov, 21, 1). They were also of
noble and magnanimous disposition, free from avarice
and covetousness, which so oppresses,, degrades and be-
littles the spirits of princes. Because these Magi gov-
erned adjoining countries and lived not far from each
other, they were mutual friends and shared with each
other the virtues and the knowledge which they had ac-
quired, consulting each other in the more important
events of their reigns. In all things they communicated
with each other as most faithful friends.
554. I have already mentioned in the eleventh chapter
(No. 492) that in the same night in which the incarnate
Word was born, they were informed of his Birth by the
ministry of the holy angels. It happened in the follow-
ing manner: one of the guardian angels of our Queen,
of a higher order than that of the guardian angels of the
three kings, was sent from the cave of the Nativity. By
his superior faculties he enlightened the three guardian
angels of the Kings informing them at the same time of
the will and command of the Lord, that each of them
should manifest to his charge the mystery of the Incar-
nation and of the birth of Christ our Redeemer, Imme-
diately and in the same hour each of the three angels
spoke in dreams to the wise man under his care. This
is the usual course of angelic revelations when the Lord
communicates with souls through the angels. This en-
lightenment of the Kings concerning the mysteries of the
Incarnation was very copious and clear. They were in-
formed that the King of the Jews was born as true God
and man ; that He was the Messias and Savior who was
expected; that it was the One who was promised in the
Scriptures and prophecies (Gen. 3, 10) ; and that they
THE INCARNATION 469
themselves, the three Kings, were singled out by the Lord
to seek the star, which Balaam had foretold. Each one
of the three Kings also was made aware that the same
revelation was being made to the other two in the same
way ; and that it was not a favor or miracle which should
remain unused, but that they were expected to co-operate
with the divine light and execute what it pointed out.
They were inspired and inflamed with a great love and
with a desire to know the God made man, to adore Him
as their Creator and Redeemer, and serve Him with most
perfect devotion. In all this they were greatly assisted
by their distinguished moral virtues, which they had ac-
quired; for on account of them they were excellently
disposed for the operation of the divine enlightenment.
555. After receiving these heavenly revelations in
their sleep, the three Kings awoke at the same hour of
the night, and prostrating themselves on the ground
and humihating themselves to the dust, they adored in
spirit the immutable being of God. They exalted his
infinite mercy and goodness for having sent the divine
Word to assume flesh of a Virgin (Is. 7, 14) in order
to redeem the world and give eternal salvation to men.
Then all three of them, governed by an impulse of the
same Spirit, resolved to depart without delay for Judea
in search of the divine Child in order to adore Him.
The three Kings prepared gifts of gold, incense and
myrrh in equal quantities, being guided by the same mys-
terious impulse; and without having conferred with each
other concerning their undertaking, the three of them
arrived at the same resolve and the same plan of exe-
cuting it. In order to set out immediately, they procured
on the same day the necessary camels and provisions
together with a number of servants for the journey.
Without heeding the commotion caused among their peo-
470 CITY OF GOD
pie, or considering that they were to travel in foreign
regions, or caring for any outward show of authority,
without ascertaining particulars of the place whither they
were to go, or gathering information for identifying the
Child, they at once resolved with fervent zeal and ardent
love to depart in order to seek the newborn King.
556. At the same time the holy angel, who had brought
the news from Bethlehem to the kings, formed of the
material air a most resplendent star, although not so large
as those of the firmament ; for it was not to ascend higher
than was necessary for the purpose of its formation. It
took its course through the atmospheric regions in order
to guide and direct the holy Kings to the cave, where the
Child awaited them. Its splendor was of a different
kind from that of the sun and the other stars; with its
most beautiful light it illumined the night like a brilliant
torch, and it mingled its own most active brilliancy with
that of the sun by day. On coming out of their palaces
each one of the kings saw this new star (Matth. 2, 2)
although each from a different standpoint, because it was
only one star and it was placed in such distance and
height that it could be seen by each one at the same time.
As the three of them followed the guidance of this
miraculous star, they soon met. Thereupon it imme-
diately approached them much more closely, descending
through many shifts of the aerial space and rejoicing
them by shedding its refulgence over them at closer
range. They began to confer among themselves about
the revelation they had received and about their plans,
finding that they were identical. They were more and
more inflamed with devotion and with the pious desire
of adoring the newborn God, and broke out in praise and
admiration at the inscrutable works and mysteries of the
Almighty.
THE INCARNATION 471
557. The Magi pursued their journey under the guid-
ance of the star without losing sight of it until they
arrived at Jerusalem. As well on this account as also
because this city was the capital and metropolis of the
Jews, they suspected that this was the birthplace of their
legitimate and true King. They entered into the city
and openly inquired after Him, saying (Matth. 2, 8) :
Where is the king of the Jews, who is born? For we
have seen his star in the East, announcing to us his
Birth and we have come to see Him and adore Him.
Their inquiry came to the ears of Herod, who at that
time unjustly reigned in Judea and lived in Jerusalem.
The wicked king, panic-stricken at the thought that a
more legitimate claimant to the throne should have been
born, felt much disturbed and outraged by this report.
With him the whole city was aroused, some of the peo-
ple, out of flattery to the king, others on account of the
fear of disturbance. Immediately, as saint Matthew
relates, Herod called together a meeting of the principal
priests and scribes in order to ask them where Christ was
to be born according to the prophecies and holy Scrip-
tures. They answered that, according to the words of
one of the Prophets, Micheas (Mich. 5, 2), He was to
be born in Bethlehem; since it was written by him that
thence the Ruler of Israel was to arise.
558. Thus informed of the l^irthplace of the new King
of Israel, and insidiously plotting from that very moment
to destroy Him, Herod dismissed the priests. Then he
secretly called the Magi in order to learn of them at what
time they had seen the star as harbinger of his Birth
(Matth. 2, 7). They ingenuously informed him, and
he sent them away to Bethle^iem, saying to them in covert
malice : "Go and inquire after the Infant, and when you
have found Him, announce it to me, in order that I, too.
472 CITY OF GOD
may go to recognize and adore Him." The Magi de-
parted, leaving the hypocritical king ill at ease and in
great consternation at such indisputable signs of the com-
ing of the legitimate King of Israel into the world. Al-
though he could have eased his mind in regard to his
sovereignty by the thought that a recently born infant
could not be enthroned so very soon, yet human pros-
perity is so unstable and deceitful that it can be over-
thrown even by an infant, or by the mere threat of far-
off danger. Thus can even an imagined uncertainty
destroy all the enjoyment and happiness so deceitfully
offered to its possessors.
559. On leaving Jerusalem the Magi again found the
star, which at their entrance they had lost from view.
By its light they were conducted to Bethlehem and to the
cave of the Nativity. Diminishing in size it hovered
over the head of the infant Jesus and bathed Him in its
light; whereupon the matter of which it had been com-
posed dissolved and disappeared. Our great Queen had
already been prepared by the Lord for the coming of the
Kings, and when She understood that they were ap-
proaching the cave. She requested saint Joseph not to
leave it, but to stay at her side. This he did, although
the sacred text does not mention it. Like many other
things passed over in the Gospels, this was not neces-
sary for establishing the truth of the mystery. Never-
theless it is certain that *saint Joseph was present when
the Kings adored the infant Jesus. The precaution of
sending him away was not necessary; for the Magi had
already been instructed that the Mother of the Newborn
was a Virgin, and that He was the true God and not a
son of saint Joseph. Nor would God have permitted
them to be led to the cave ignorant of such an important
circumstance as his origin, allowing them to adore the
THE INCARNATION 473
Child as the son of Joseph and of a Mother not a Virgin.
They were fully instructed as to all these things, and
they were deeply impressed by the sacramental character
of all these exalted and complicated mysteries.
560. The heavenly Mother awaited the pious and de-
vout kings, standing with the Child in her arms. Amid
the humble and poor surroundings of the cave, in incom-
parable modesty and beauty, she exhibited at the same
time a majesty more than human, the light of heaven
shining in her countenance. Still more visible was this
light in the Child, shedding through the cavern effulgent
splendor, which made it like a heaven. The three kings
of the East entered and at the first sight of the Son and
Mother they were for a considerable space of time over-
whelmed with wonder. They prostrated themselves upon
the earth, and in this position they worshiped and adored
the Infant, acknowledging Him as the true God and
man, and as the Savior of the human race. By the
divine power, which the sight of Him and his presence
exerted in their souls, they were filled with new enlight-
enment. They perceived the multitude of angelic spirits,
who as servants and ministers of the King of kings and
Lord of lords attended upon Him in reverential fear
(Heb. 1, 4). Arising, they congratulated their and our
Queen as Mother of the Son of the eternal Father; and
they approached to reverence Her on their knees. They
sought her hand in order to kiss it, as they were accus-
tomed to do to their queens in their countries. But the
most prudent Lady withdrew her hand, and offered in-
stead that of the Redeemer of the world, saying: "My
spirit rejoices in the Lord and my soul blesses and extols
Him; because among all the nations He has called and
selected you to look upon and behold that which many
kings and prophets have in vain desired to see, namely,
474 CITY OF GOD
Him who is the eternal Word incarnate (Luke 10, 24).
Let us extol and praise his name on account of the sacra-
ments and mysteries wrought among his people; let us
kiss the earth which He sanctifies by his real presence."
561, At these words of most holy Mary the three
kings humiliated themselves anew, adoring the infant
Jesus ; they acknowledged the great blessings of living in
the time when the Sun of justice was arising in order to
illumine the darkness (Malachy 4, 2). Thereupon they
spoke to saint Joseph, congratulating him and extolling
his good fortune in being chosen as the spouse of the
Mother of God; and they expressed wonder and com-
passion at the great poverty, beneath which were hidden
the greatest mysteries of heaven and earth. In this in-
tercourse they consumed three hours, and then the kings
asked permission of most holy Mary to go to the city in
order to seek a lodging, as they could find no room for
themselves in the cave. Some people had accompanied
them; but the Magi alone participated in the light and
the grace of this visit. The others took notice merely of
what passed exteriorly, and witnessed only the destitute
and neglected condition of the Mother and her husband.
Though wondering at the strange event, they perceived
nothing of its mystery. The Magi took leave and de-
parted, while most holy Mary and Joseph, being again
alone with their Child, glorified his Majesty with new
songs of praise, because his name was beginning to be
known and adored among the Gentiles (Ps. 85, 9).
What else the three wise men did will be related in the
following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN GAVE ME-
562. My daughter, the events recorded in this chapter
contain much for the instruction of kings and princes
THE INCARNATION 475
and for the other faithful; as for instance, the prompt
obedience and humihty of the Magi, which men should
imitate, and the obdurate wickedness of Herod, which
they are to fear and abhor; for each reaped the fruit of
his actions. The kings reaped the fruit of justice and
other virtues, which they practiced; while Herod reaped
those of ambition and pride by which he had usurped the
government, and of other vices into which he cast him-
self without restriction or moderation. But let this re-
mark, together with the other teachings of the holy
church, suffice for those that live in the world. To thy-
self must thou apply the doctrine contained in what thou
hast written ; always remembering that all the perfection
of a Christian life must be founded upon the Catholic
truths, and in the constant and firm acknowledgment of
them, as they are taught by holy faith. In order to im-
press them upon thy heart, thou must profit of all that
thou readest or hearest of the divine Writings, and of
what is contained in the other devout and instructive
books concerning the virtues. Thy faith thou must ac-
company by the practice and abundance of all good works,
hoping ever in the visitation and coming of the Most
High (Tit. 2, 13).
563. By such a disposition thy soul will be prepared
in the manner I require of thee. For I desire that the
Almighty find in thee the sweet readiness to adopt what-
ever is manifested to thee, and to put in practice what-
ever may be enjoined without any human respect. I
promise, that if thou follow my counsel as thou shouldst,
I will be thy star and guide on the ways of the Lord, so
that thou wilt quickly arrive at the vision and enjoyment
of thy God and of thy highest good in Sion (Ps. 83, 8).
In this doctrine, and in what happened to the devout
kings of the Orient, there is contained a most effective
476 CITY OF GOD
means for the salvation of souls ; yet this is known to few
and heeded by a still smaller number of men. It is this :
that the inspirations and enlightenments are usually sent
by God to creatures in a certain order. At first some
are sent to incite the soul to practice some of the virtues ;
if the soul corresponds, the Most High sends other and
greater ones in order to move the soul to greater perfec-
tion in virtue; and thus, profiting from previous graces,
the soul is disposed for still others, receiving ever greater
helps and securing an increase of the favors of the Lord
according as it corresponds to them. Thou wilt there-
fore understand two things : first, how great a damage it
is to neglect the exercise of any virtue and not to prac-
tice perfection according to the dictates of the divine in-
spirations; secondly, how often God would give great
assistance to the souls, if they would begin to correspond
to the smaller ones ; since He is as it were in expectation
and hope that they will prepare for his greater ones
(Apoc. 6, 20). For He wishes to deal with the soul
according to his just judgments. But because they over-
look this orderly manner of proceeding in his invitations,
He suspends the flow of his divine gifts and He refuses
to the souls, what was intended for them if they had not
placed an obstacle, allowing them to fall from one abyss
to the other (Ps. 41, 8).
564. The Magi and Herod pursued opposite courses:
the Magi met the first inspirations and graces by the
practice of the good works; thus they disposed them-
selves by many virtues for being called and drawn by
divine revelation to the knowledge of the mysteries of
the Incarnation, the birth of the divine Word and the
Redemption of the human race ; and through this to the
happiness and perfection of the way of life. But Herod,
on the other hand, by his hard-heartedness and neglect
THE INCARNATION 477
of the helps, which God offered him for the practice of
virtue, was drawn into the abyss of his measureless
pride and ambition. These vices hurled him into such
vast precipices of cruelty as to be the first one among
men to seek the life of the Redeemer of the world under
the cloak of simulated devotion and piety. In giving
vent to his furious rage, he took away the life of the
innocent children and attempted by so foul a measure to
advance his damned and perverse undertaking.
2-32
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MAGI KINGS RETURN ONCE MORE TO SEE AND ADORE
THE INFANT JESUS: THEY OEEER THEIR GIFTS ON
TAKING LEAVE, AND RETURN BY A DIFFERENT ROUTE
TO THEIR HOMES.
565. From the grotto of the Nativity, into which the
three Kings had entered directly on their way to Jerusa-
lem, they betook themselves to a lodging inside of the
town of Bethlehem. They retired to a room where, in
an abundance of affectionate tears and aspirations, they
spent the greater part of the night, speaking of what they
had seen, of the feelings and affections aroused in each,
and of what each had noticed for himself in the divine
Child and his Mother. During this conference they
were more and more inflamed with divine love, amazed
at the majesty and divine effulgence of the Infant Jesus;
at the prudence, modesty and reserve of his Mother; at
the holiness of her spouse Joseph, and the poverty of all
three; at the humbleness of the place, where the Lord
of heaven and earth had wished to be born. The devout
kings felt a divine fire, which flamed up in their hearts,
and, not being able to restrain themselves, they broke out
into exclamations of sweet affection and acts of great
reverence and love. "What is this that we feel?" they
said. "What influence of this great King is it that
moves us to such desires and affections? After this, how
shall we converse with men? What can we do, who
have been instructed in such new, hidden and super-
natural mysteries? O greatness of his Omnipotence un-
478
THE INCARNATION 479
known to men and concealed beneath so much poverty!
O humility unimaginable for mortals! Would that all
be drawn to it, in order that they may not be deprived
of such happiness !"
566. During- these divine colloquies the Magi remem-
bered the dire destitution of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in
their cave, and they resolved immediately to send them
some gifts in order to show their affection and to satisfy
their desire of serving them, since they could not do any-
thing else for them. They sent through their servants
many of the presents, which they had already set aside
for them, and others which they could procure. Most
holy Mary and Joseph received these gifts with humble
acknowledgment and they made a return not of empty-
worded thanks, as other men are apt to make, but many
efficacious blessings for the spiritual consolation of the
three Kings. These gifts enabled our great Queen to
prepare for her ordinary guests, the poor, an abundant
repast ; for the needy ones were accustomed to receive
alms from Her, and, attracted still more by her sweet
words, were wont to come and visit Her. The Kings
went to rest full of incomparable joy in the Lord; and
in their sleep the angels advised them as to their journey
homeward.
567. On the following day at dawn they returned to
the cave of the Nativity in order to offer to the heavenly
King the special gifts which they had provided. Ar-
riving they prostrated themselves anew in profound
humility; and opening their treasures, as Scripture re-
lates, they offered Him gold, incense and myrrh (Matth.
2, 11). They consulted the heavenly Mother in regard
to many mysteries and practices of faith, and concerning
matters pertaining to their consciences and to the gov-^
ernment of their countries; for they wished to return
480 CITY OF GOD
well instructed and capable of directing themselves to
holiness and perfection in their daily life. The great
Lady heard them with exceeding pleasure and She con-
ferred interiorly with the divine Infant concerning all
that they had asked, in order to answer and properly to
instruct these sons of the new Law. As a Teacher and
an instrument of divine wisdom She answered all their
questions, giving them such high precepts of sanctity
that they could scarcely part from Her on account of the
sweetness and attraction of her words. However, an
angel of the Lord appeared to them, reminding them of
the necessity and of the will of the Lord that they should
return to their country. No wonder that her words
should so deeply affect these Kings; for all her words
were inspired by the holy Spirit and full of infused
science regarding all that they had inquired and many
other matters.
568. The heavenly Mother received the gifts of the
Kings and in their name offered them to the Infant Jesus.
His Majesty showed by signs of highest pleasure, that
He accepted their gifts: they themselves became aware
of the exalted and heavenly blessings with which He
repaid them more than a hundredfold (Matth. 19, 29).
According to the custom of their country they also offered
to the heavenly Princess some gems of great value; but
because these gifts had no mysterious signification and
referred not to Jesus, She returned them to the Kings,
reserving only the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. In
order to send them away more rejoiced, She gave them
some of the clothes in which She had wrapped the infant
God; for She neither had nor could have had any
greater visible pledges of esteem with which to enrich
them at their departure. The three Kings received these
relics with such reverence and esteem that they encased
THE INCARNATION 481
them in gold and precious stones in order to keep them
ever after. As a proof of their value these relics spread
about such a copious fragrance that they revealed their
presence a league in circumference. However, only those
who believed in the coming of God into the world were
able to perceive it ; while the incredulous perceived none of
the fragrance emitted by the relics. In their own coun-
tries the Magi performed great miracles with these relics.
569. The holy Kings also offered their property and
possession to the Mother of the sweetest Jesus, or, if She
did not wish to accept of them and preferred to live in
this place, where her most holy Son had been bom, they
would build Her a house, wherein She could live more
comfortably. The most prudent Mother thanked them
for their offers without accepting them. On taking leave
of Her, the three Kings besought Her from their inmost
hearts not to forget them, which She promised and ful-
filled ; in the same way they spoke to saint Joseph. With
the blessing of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, they departed,
so moved by tenderest affection that it seemed to them
they had left their hearts all melted into sighs and tears
in that place. They chose another way for their return
journey, in order not to meet Herod in Jerusalem; for
thus they had been instructed by the angel on the pre-
ceding night. On their departure from Bethlehem the
same or a similar star appeared in order to guide them
home, conducting them on their new route to the place
where they had first met, whence each one separated to
reach his own country.
570. For the rest of their lives these most fortunate
Kings lived up to their divine vocation as true disciples
of the Mistress of holiness, governing both their souls
and the people of their states according to her teaching.
By the example of their lives and the knowledge of the
482 CITY OF GOD
Messias, which they spread about, they converted a great
number of souls to the belief in the true God and to the
way of salvation. Finally, full of days and merits, they
closed their careers in sanctity and justice, having been
favored both in life and in death by the Mother of mercy.
After dismissing the Kings, the heavenly Queen and saint
Joseph spent their time in new canticles of praise of the
wonders of the Most High, conferring them with the
sayings of the Scriptures and the prophecies of the Pa-
triarchs, which they saw fulfilled one after another in
the Infant Jesus. But the most prudent Mother, who
profoundly penetrated into the deepest meaning of these
high sacraments, remembered them all and treasured
them up in her bosom (Luke 2, 19). The holy angels,
who were witnesses of these holy mysteries, congratu-
lated their Queen, that her most holy Son had been mani-
fested and that his Majesty had been adored by men;
and they sang to Him new canticles, magnifying his
mercies wrought upon mankind.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN GAVE ME.
571. My daughter, great were the gifts which the
Kings offered to my most holy Son ; but greater still was
the affection with which they offered them and the mys-
tery concealed beneath them. On account of all this
they were most acceptable to his Majesty. I wish that
thou also offer up similar gifts, thanking Him for hav-
ing made thee poor in condition and profession. For I
assure thee, my dearest, there is no more acceptable gift
to the Most High than voluntary poverty. There are
very few in the world in our days who use well the
temporal riches and offer them to their God and Lord
with the generosity and love of these holy Kings. The
THE INCARNATION 483
poor of the Lord, so numerous in our day, experience
and give witness how cruel and avaricious human nature
has become; since in their great necessities they are so
little succored by the rich. This gross uncharitableness
of men offends the holy angels and grieves the Holy
Ghost, since they are bound to witness the nobility of
the souls so degraded and abased in the service of vile
greed of gold with all its evil powers (Eccles. 10, 20).
As if all things had been created for the individual use
of the rich, they appropriate them to themselves and de-
prive the poor, their brothers springing from the same
nature and flesh; and denying them even to God, who
created and preserves all things, and who can give or
take at will. It is most lamentable that while the rich
might purchase eternal life with their possessions, they
abuse them to draw upon themselves damnation as sense-
less and foolish creatures (Luke 16, 9).
572. This evil is common among the children of
Adam; and therefore voluntary poverty is so excellent
and safe a remedy. By it, making man willing to part
joyfully with his possessions for the sake of the poor, ai
great sacrifice is offered to the Lord. Thou also canst
make such an offering of the things necessary for suste-
nance, giving a part of it to the poor and desiring, if it
were possible by thy labor and sweat, to help all of them.
Thy ceaseless offer, however, must be love, which is the
gold; continual prayer, which is the incense; and the
patient acceptance of labors and true mortifications,
which is the myrrh. All that thou dost for the Lord,
thou should offer up to Him with fervent affection and
promptitude, without negligence or fear; for negligent
works, and those not enlivened by love, are not an ac-
ceptable sacrifice in the eyes of his Majesty. In order
to make those incessant offerings, it is necessary that
484 CITY OF GOD
divine faith and light continually inflame thy heart, hav-
ing before thy eyes the great object of thy praise and ex-
altation, and the stimulus of love, by which thou art
bound to the right hand of the Most High. Thus
shouldst thou continue incessantly in this sweet exercise
of love, so proper to the spouses of his Majesty; for their
name implies such a continual payment of the debt of
love and affection.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DISTRIBUTE THE GIFTS
RECEIVED FROM THE MAGI ; AND THEY REMAIN IN
BETHLEHEM UNTIL THEIR DEPARTURE FOR THE
PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THB
TEMPLE.
573. After the departure of the three Kings and after
the due celebration of the great mystery of the adoration
of the Infant Jesus, there was really nothing to wait for
in that poor yet sacred place, and they were free to
leave it. The most prudent Mother then said to saint
Joseph: "My master and spouse, the offerings which
the Kings have made to our God and Child must not
remain here idle ; but they must be applied in the service
of his Majesty and should be used according to his will
and pleasure. I deserve nothing, even of temporal
goods ; dispose of all these gifts as belonging to my Son
and to thee." The most faithful of husbands answered,
with his accustomed humility and courtesy, that he would
leave all to Her and would be pleased to see Her dispose
of them. But her Majesty insisted anew and said:
"Since thou makest an excuse of humility, my master,
do it then for love of the poor, who are waiting for their
share ; they have a right to the things which their heav-
enly Father has created for their sustenance." They
therefore immediately concluded to divide the gifts into
three parts : one destined for the temple of Jerusalem,
namely the incense and myrrh, as well as part of the
gold ; another part as offering to the priest, who had cir-
485
486 CITY OF GOD
cumcised the Child, in order that he might use it for him-
self and for the synagogue or oratory in Bethlehem, and
the third part for distribution among the poor. This
resolve they executed with generous and fervent affection.
574. The Almighty made use of a poor but honorable
and pious woman to be the occasion of their leaving the
cave. She had come a few times to visit our Queen;
for the house in which She lived was built up against
the wall of the city, not far from the cave. Some time
later this devout woman, not being aware of what had
happened, but having heard the rumor of the Kings'
coming, held a conversation with most holy Mary and
asked Her whether She had heard that some wise men,
who were said to be kings, had come from far seeking
the Messias ? The heavenly Princess, aware of the good
disposition of this woman, took occasion to instruct her
and catechize her in the common belief, without reveal-
ing to her the hidden sacrament connected with Herself
and the sweetest Child whom She held in her arms
(Tob. 12, 7). In order to relieve her poverty She gave
her some of the gold destined for the poor. Thereby
the condition of this fortunate woman was much im-
proved and she became attached with heart and soul
to her Teacher and Benefactress. She invited the holy
Family to live in her house; and as it was a poor one,
it was so much the more accommodated to the Founders
and Builders of holy poverty. The poor woman pleaded
with great persistence, as she saw the great inconvenience
to which the most holy Mary and Joseph with the Child
were subject in the cave. The Queen did not refuse her
off'er and answered, that She would let her know of her
decision. Mary and saint Joseph conferred with each
other and they resolved to leave the cave and lodge in
the house of this woman, awaiting there the time of the
THE INCARNATION 487
purification and the presentation in the temple. They
did it so much the more willingly as it afforded them a
chance to remain near the cave of the Nativity; and also
because many people began to frequent the cave on ac-
count of the rumor of the visit of the Kings, which had
been spread about.
575. On account of these and other considerations
m6st holy Mary, with saint Joseph and the sacred Child
took leave of the cave although with tenderest regret.
They accepted the hospitality of that fortunate woman,
who received them with the greatest charity and assigned
to them the larger portion of her dwelling. The holy
angels and ministers of the Most High accompanied them
in human forms, which they had always retained. When-
ever the heavenly Mother and saint Joseph her spouse
piously revisited the memorable spots of this sanctuary,
they came and went with them as numerous courtiers
delegated to their service. Moreover, when the Child
and his Mother took leave of the cave, God appointed
an angel as its keeper and watcher, as He had done with
the garden of Paradise (Gen. 3, 24). And this guard
remained and does remain to this day sword in hand
at the opening of the cave; and never since then has an
animal entered there. That this holy angel does not
hinder the entrance of hostile infidels, in whose posses-
sion this and the other holy places are, is because of the
judgments of the Most High, who allows men to execute
the designs of his wisdom and justice. This permission
would not be necessary, if Christian princes were filled
with fervent zeal for the honor and glory of Christ and
would seek the restoration of these holy places, con-
secrated by the blood and the labors of the Lord and of
his most holy Mother, and by the works of our Redemp-
tion. And even if this would not be possible, there is no
488 CITY OF GOD
excuse for not attending* with faithful dihgence to the
decent keeping of the mysterious places ; since nothing is
impossible to the believer, who can overcome the moun-
tains (Matth. 17, 19). I was given to understand, that
the pious devotion and veneration for the Holy Land
is one of the most powerful and efficacious means for
establishing and confirming Catholic monarchies ; and no
one can deny, that many of their excessive and unneces-
sary expenses could be avoided by employing their re-
sources in such a pious enterprise, which would be pleas-
ing both to God and to men; for in making such an
honest use of their incomes there is no need of outward
justification.
576. The most pure Mary and her spouse, having with
her divine Child moved to the dwelling in the vicinity
of the cave, remained there until, according to the re-
quirements of the law. She was to be present Herself
with her First-born for purification in the temple. For this
mystery the most holy of creatures resolved to dispose
Herself worthily by a fervent desire of carrying the infant
Jesus as an offering to the eternal Father in his temple ;
by imitating her Son and by seeking the adornment and
beauty of great virtues as a worthy offering and victim
for the Most High. With this intention the heavenly
Lady, during the days which still remained until her
purification, performed such heroic acts of love and of
all other virtues, that neither the tongue of angels nor
of men can explain them. How much less can this then
be done by a useless and entirely ignorant woman? By
sincere piety and devotion, the Christians who dispose
themselves by reverent contemplation, will merit to feel
these mysteries. Judging of the more intelligible favors
received by the Virgin Mother, they can surmise and
THE INCARNATION 489
imagine the others, which do not fall within the scope
of human words.
577. From his very Birth the infant Jesus spoke to
his sweetest Mother in audible words; for immediately
after his Birth (as mentioned in chapter the tenth), He
said to Her : "Imitate Me, my Spouse, make thyself like
unto Me." This was when They were alone, and al-
though He always spoke to Her most plainly, saint
Joseph never heard his words until the Child was one
year of age, when He also spoke to him. Nor did the
heavenly Lady reveal this secret, for She understood,
that it was only for Her. The conversations of the in-
fant God were such as were worthy of the greatness of
his majesty and his infinite power; such as were befitting
the most pure and holy, the most wise and prudent of
all creatures next to Himself, and One who was his true
Mother. Sometimes He said: "My Dove, my chosen
One, my dearest Mother." (Cant. 2, 10). In such
caressing words as were contained in the Canticles and
other continual interior intercourse the most holy Son
and Mother passed their time ; and in these the heavenly
Princess received favors, and was delighted by caresses
so sweet and loving, as exceed those of the Canticles
of Solomon; and greater ones than all the just and holy
souls enjoyed from the beginning to the end of the world.
Many times, during these mysteries of his lovCj the In-
fant Jesus repeated these words already mentioned:
"Make thyself like unto Me, my Mother and my Dove."
As they were words of life and infinite power, and as
most holy Mary at the same time was furnished with the
infused knowledge of all the interior operations of the
soul of her Onlybegotten, no tongue can declare nor
thought can comprehend the effects wrought in the most
490 CITY OF GOD
candid and inflamed heart of this Mother of the God-
man.
578. Among the more rare and excellent privileges of
most pure Mary, the chief one is, that She is Mother of
God, which is the foundation of all the rest. The second
is, that She was conceived without sin. The third, that
She enjoyed many times the beatific vision in this mortal
life, and the fourth is that She continually saw clearly
the most holy soul of her Son and all its operations for
her imitation. She had it present to her eyes, as a most
clear and pure mirror, in which She could behold Her-
self again and again in order to adorn Herself with most
precious gems of virtue, made in imitation of those seen
in that most holy Soul. There She saw it united with
the divine Word and She exercised her humility in see-
ing how much her own human nature was inferior to
that of Christ. She perceived with the clearest insight
the acts of gratitude and praise, with which the soul of
Christ praised the Almighty for having been created
out of nothing as the rest of the souls, and for the graces
and gifts, with which it was endowed above others as
a creature; and especially, for having been elevated and
made godlike by the union of the human nature with the
Divinity. She pondered over his petitions, prayers and
supplications to his eternal Father for the human race;
and how in all his other activity He prepared Himself
for its Redemption and instruction, as the sole Redeemer
and Teacher of man for eternal life.
579. All these works of the most holy humanity of
Christ, our supreme Good, his most pure Mother con-
tinually sought to imitate. There is much to say con-
cerning this great mystery of her imitation in this his-
tory; for She had this example and model incessantly
before her eyes, and according to it She regulated her
THE INCARNATION 491
own activity and behavior during the Incarnation and
Nativity of her Son. Like a busy bee She continually
built up the sweetest honeycomb of delights for the in-
carnate Word. His Majesty, having come from heaven
as our Redeemer and Teacher, wished that his most holy
Mother, of whom He had formed his human existence,
should participate in a most exalted and singular manner
in the fruits of the common Redemption and that She
should be the chosen and selected Disciple, in whom his
teaching should be vividly stamped and whom He wished
to make as similar to Himself as possible. In the light
of these intentions and blessed purposes of the incarnate
Word we must judge of the greatness of Mary's deeds,
and of the delights, which He enjoyed while resting upon
her arms and reclining upon her breast; for it was in-
deed the bridal-chamber and the couch of this the true
Spouse (Cant. 1, 15).
580. During the days in which the most holy Queen
tarried near Bethlehem before the purification, some of
the people came to see and speak with Her; but almost
all of them were of the poorest class. Some of them
came because of the alms which She distributed, others,
because they had heard of the Kings, who had visited
the cave. All of them spoke of this visit and of the
coming of the Redeemer; for in those days, (not with-
out divine predisposal), the belief, that the birth of the
Messias was at hand, was very widespread among the
Jews, and the talk about it was very frequent. This gave
the most prudent Mother repeated occasion to exercise
Herself in magnanimous works, not only by guarding
the secret of her bosom and by conferring within Her-
self about all that She saw and heard, but also by direct-
ing many souls toward the knowledge of God, by con-
firming them in the faith, instructing them in the practice
492 CITY OF GOD
of virtues, enlightening them in the mysteries of the
Messias whom they were expecting, and dispelHng the
ignorance, in which they were cast as a low-minded peo-
ple, little versed in the things of God. Sometimes their
talk about these matters was so full of error and woman-
ish prattle, that the simple saint Joseph smiled in secret.
He wondered at the heavenly wisdom and force of the
answers, with which the great Lady met their gossip
and instructed them; at her patience and gentleness in
leading them to the truth and to the perception of the
light; at her profound humility and yet patient reserve,
with which She knew how to dismiss all of them con-
soled, rejoiced and furnished with all that was good for
them to know. She spoke to them words of eternal
life, which penetrated, inflamed and strengthened their
hearts (John 6, 69).
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE MOST HOLY MARY OUR QUEEN
GAVE ME.
581. My daughter, by the divine light I knew, better
than all other creatures, at what a low value the Most
High esteems earthly blessings and riches. Therefore,
in my holy liberty of spirit, I felt myself troubled and
inconvenienced by the possession of the treasures of the
Kings offered to my most holy Son. As in all my deeds
I was to shine in humility and obedience, I did not wish
to appropriate them to myself, nor dispose of them ac-
cording to my own will, but according to the wishes of
my spouse Joseph. In this resignation I managed to act
as if 1 were his handmaid and as if none of these gifts
concerned me in any way ; for it is debasing, and for you
weak creatures, very dangerous to appropriate or attrib-
ute any of the goods of the earth, be they of material
THE INCARNATION 493
possessions or goods of honor ; for all this cannot be done
without covetousness, ambition and vain ostentation.
582. I wished to tell thee all this, my dearest, in order
that thou may est know how to refuse riches or honor as
due to thee, and not appropriate to thyself any of them;
especially not if thou receive them from persons of in-
fluence and exalted station. Preserve thy interior liberty
and make no show of a thing- which is worth nothing and
which cannot justify thee before God. If anything is
brought to thee, never say : "This is given to me, or is
presented to me ;" but "This the Lord sends to our con-
vent; pray to God for those, whom his Majesty has sent
as the instruments of his mercies." And mention the
name of the giver, in order that they may pray partic-
ularly for him and that he may not be disappointed in
the purpose of his gift. Also do not receive it personally,
lest you raise a suspicion of covetousness, but let those
appointed for this duty receive it. And, if in thy office
as superior, thou must make distribution of things within
the convent, let it be with detachment and without any
show of personal rights of possession in them; yet at
the same time, as one who knows that she does not
deserve any favors, do not forget to thank the Most
High and the giver. That which is brought to the
other religious thou must acknowledge thankfully as the
superior and immediately see that thou apply it for the
community, without reserving any part of it for thy own
use. Do not inquire curiously about the incomes of the
convent, in order that thou mayest not take a sensible
pleasure therein and that thou mayest not seek delight
in the reception of such favors;- for frail and passionate
nature incurs many defects in such a transaction and of
few of the defects does it render much account to itself.
Nothing can be trusted to infected human nature; for it
2-33
494 CITY OF GOD
always seeks after more than it possesses, and it never
says enough, and the more it receives the greater thirst it
has for more.
583. But it is to the intimate and frequent intercourse
with the Lord by unceasing love, praise and reverence,
that I wish thee to attend most of all. In this I wish,
my daughter, that thou work with all thy strength, and
that thou apply thy faculties and powers incessantly with
great watchfulness and care; for without this the in-
ferior parts will inevitably weigh down thy soul, derange
and upset it, divert and cast it down, causing it to lose
the vision of the highest Good (Wis. 9, 15). This lov-
ing intercourse of the Lord is so delicate, that even by
listening or attending to the deceits of the enemy, the
soul loses it. On this account the enemy makes great
efforts to draw thy attention toward himself, knowing
that the punishment of listening to him will be the con-
cealment of the object of its love from the soul (Cant. 5,
6). As soon as it carelessly ignores the beauty of the
Lord, it enters upon the byways of neglect and is de-
prived of the divine sweetness (Cant. 1, 7). When after-
wards the soul, having with sorrow experienced the evils
of such inadvertence wishes to return to seek Him, it
does not always find or recover Him (Cant. 3, 1, 2).
As the demon, who deceived it, then presents other de-
lights so vile and unlike those to which the soul has been
accustomed interiorly, new cause of sadness, disturbance,
dejection, lukewarmness and dissatisfaction arises and
its whole interior is filled with dangerous confusion.
584. Of this truth, my dearest, thou thyself hast some
experience, wherein thou couldst notice the effects of
neglect and tardiness in believing the favors of the Lord.
It is time that thou be prudent in thy sincerity and con-
stant in keeping up the fire of the sanctuary (Lev. 6,
THE INCARNATION 495
12), without ever losing- sight for a moment of that same
Object, which I attended to with all the powers of my
soul and all my faculties. Although the distance between
thy conduct, that of a mere wormlet, and that which I
propose for thy imitation is g^eat, and although thou
canst not enjoy the supreme Good so unreservedly as I,
nor live in the same condition as I ; yet, since I instruct
thee and show thee what I did to assimilate myself to my
most holy Son, thou canst imitate me according to thy
strength using my doings as a mirror. I saw Him in
the mirror of his humanity, thou in my soul and person.
If the Almighty calls and invites all men to the highest
perfection by following Him, consider what thou art
obliged to do, since thou hast been drawn toward the
Most High by such a generous and powerful influence
of his right hand (Matth. 11, 28; Cant. 1, 3).
CHAPTER XIX.
MOST HOLY MARY AND JOSEPH DEPART WITH THE IN-
FANT JESUS, IN ORDER TO FUEEIEL THE I^W, BY
PRESENTING HIM IN THE TEMPEE OE JERUSALEM.
585. Already the forty days after the birth of a son,
during which a woman, according to the law, was con-
sidered unclean and during which she was obliged to con-
tinue her purification for her re-admittance into the tem-
ple, were coming to a close (Lev. 22, 4). In order to
comply with this law and satisfy another obligation con-
tained in Exodus, chapter thirteenth, which demanded the
sanctification and presentation to the Lord of all the first-
born sons, the Mother of all purity prepared to go to
Jerusalem, where She was to appear in the temple with
her Son as the Onlybegotten of the eternal Father and
purify Herself according to the custom of other women.
She had no doubts about complying with that part of
the law, which applied to Herself in common with other
mothers. Not that She was ignorant of her innocence
and purity; for, ever since the incarnation of the Word,
She knew of her exemption from actual sin and from the
stain of original sin. Nor was She ignorant of the fact
that She had conceived by the Holy Ghost, and brought
forth without labor, remaining a virgin more pure than
the sun (Luke 1, 15). Yet She hesitated not to subject
Herself to the common law; on the contrary, in the ar-
dent longing of her heart after humiliation and annihila-
tion to the dust. She desired to do this of her own free
will.
496
THE INCARNATION 497
586. In regard to the presentation of her most holy
Son there was some occasion for the same doubt as in
regard to the Circumcision, for She knew Him to be the
true God, superior to the laws, which He himself had
made. But She was informed of the will of the Lord
by divine light and by the interior acts of the most holy
soul of the incarnate Word; for She saw his desire of
sacrificing Himself and offering Himself as a living Vic-
tim (Eph. 5, 2) to the eternal Father, in thanksgiving
for having formed his most pure body and created his
most holy soul ; for having destined Him as an acceptable
sacrifice for the human race and for the welfare of mor-
tals. These acts of the most sacred humanity of the
Word were continual, conforming Himself to the divine
will not only in so far as He was already beatified, but
also in so far as He was still a wayfarer upon earth
and our Redeemer. Yet, in addition to these interior
acts and in obedience to the law. He wished to be offered
to the eternal Father in the temple where all adored and
magnified Him, as in a house of prayer, expiation and
sacrifice (Deut. 12, 5).
587. The great Lady conferred about the journey with
her husband, and, having resolved to be in Jerusalem
on the very day appointed by the law and having made
the necessary preparations, they took leave of the good
woman, who had so devotedly entertained them. Although
this woman was left in ignorance of the divine mysteries
connected with her Guests, she was filled with the bless-
ings of heaven, which brought her abundant fruit. Mary
and Joseph betook themselves to the cave of the Nativity,
not wishing to begin their journey without once more ven-
erating that sanctuary so humble and yet so rich in hap-
piness, though at that time this was yet unknown to the
world. The Mother handed the Child Jesus to saint
498 CITY OF GOD
Joseph in order to prostrate Herself and worship the earth
which had been witness to such venerable mysteries. Hav-
ing done this with incomparable devotion and tenderness.
She said to her husband : "My master, give me thy bene-
diction for this journey, as thou art wont to do at depart-
ing from home. I beseech thee also to allow me to per-
form this journey on foot and unshod ; since I am to bear
in my arms the Victim, which is to be offered to the
eternal Father. This is a mysterious work and as far
as it is possible, I should wish to perform it with due rev-
erence and ceremony." Our Queen was accustomed, for
the sake of modesty, to wear shoes, which covered her
feet and served as a sort of stocking. They were made
of a certain plant used by the poor and something like
hemp or mallow, dried and woven into a coarse and strong
texture, which, though poor, was yet cleanly and ap-
propriate.
588. Saint Joseph told Her to arise, for She was
kneeling before him, and said : "May the Most High Son
of the eternal Father, whom I hold in my arms, give
Thee his blessing. As for the rest it is well and good,
that Thou journey afoot in bringing Him to Jerusalem.
But Thou must not go barefoot, because the weather
does not permit it; and thy desire will be accepted by
the Lord instead of the deed." Thus saint Joseph, in
order not to deprive most holy Mary of the joy of
humiliation and obedience, made use of his authority
as husband, although with great reverence. And as
saint Joseph only obeyed Her and humiliated and mor-
tified himself in commanding Her, it happened that both
of them exercised humility and obedience reciprocally.
That he refused Her permission to go barefoot to Jeru-
salem was occasioned by his apprehensions, lest the cold
should injure her health; for he did not know the won-
THE INCARNATION 499
derful qualities and composition of her virginal and per-
fect body, nor the other privileges, conferred upon Her
by the divine right hand. The obedient Queen made no
reply to the orders of her husband and obeyed his wish
not to go unshod. In order to again receive in her arms
the Infant Jesus She prostrated Herself on the earth,
thanking Him and adoring Him for the blessings, which
He had wrought for them and for the whole human race
in. that cave. She besought his Majesty, that this sanc-
tuary be held in esteem and reverence by the Catholics
and that it remain in their possession; and She again
placed it in charge of the holy angel, who had been set
as its guardian. She covered Herself with a cloak for the
journey and, receiving in Her arms Jesus, the Treasure
of heaven, She pressed Him to her breast, tenderly shield-
ing Him from the inclemency of the wintry weather.
589. They departed from the cave, asking the blessing
of the infant God, which his Majesty gave them in a visi-
ble manner. Saint Joseph placed upon the ass the chest
containing the clothes of the Infant and the gifts of the
Kings destined for their temple-offering. Thus began
the most solemn procession, which was ever held from
Bethlehem to the temple in Jerusalem; for in company
with the Prince of the eternities, Jesus, the Queen, his
Mother, and saint Joseph, her spouse, journeyed the ten
thousand angels, that had assisted at these mysteries,
and the other legions, that had brought from heaven
the sweet and holy name of Jesus at the Circumcision
(No. 523). All these heavenly courtiers passed along
in visible human forms, so beautiful and shining, that in
comparison with them, all that is delightful or precious in
the world, is less than dirt or mud compared to the finest
and purest gold; and in their splendor they obliterated
the sun in its brightest light and would have turned
500 CITY OF GOD
night into the brightest day. The heavenly Queen and
saint Joseph rejoiced in their effulgence, while all of them
together exalted these mysteries by new canticles of praise
in honor of the divine Child about to be presented in
the temple. In this fashion they journeyed the two
leagues from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
590. On this occasion, not without divine dispensation,
the weather was unusually severe, so that, without regard
for the tender Child, its Creator, the cold and sleety
blasts pierced to his shivering limbs and caused the divine
Infant to weep as it rested in the arms of his loving
Mother, being however moved thereto more by his com-
passion and love for men than by the effects of the in-
clemency of the weather upon his body. The mighty
Empress turned to the winds and elements and as Mis-
tress of creation reprehended them with indignation, that
they should thus persecute their Maker. She commanded
them to moderate their rigor toward the Child but not
toward Her. The elements obeyed the commands of
their true and rightful Mistress: the cold blasts were
changed into a soft and balmy air for the Infant, without
diminishing their inclemency toward the Mother; thus
She herself felt it, but not her Infant, as on other occa-
sions already mentioned and yet to be mentioned. She
addressed also sin, which She had not contracted, and
said : "O sin, how most disorderly and inhuman art thou,
since, in order to satisfy for thee, the Creator of all
things is afflicted by the very creatures, which He has
made and preserves in being! Thou art a terrible and
horrible monster, offensive to God and destructive of
creatures; thou turnest them into abominations and de-
privest them of their greatest happiness, that of being
friends of God. O children of men, how long will you
be so heavy-hearted as to love vanity and deceit? Be
THE INCARNATION 501
not so ungrateful toward the Most High and so cruel
to yourselves. Open your eyes and recognize your dan-
gers. Do not despise the precepts of your eternal Father,
and do not forget the teachings of your Mother, who has
brought you forth by charity; for since the Onlybegot-
ten of the Father has assumed flesh in my womb, He
has made me the Mother of all creation. As such I love
you and if it were possible and according to the will of
the Most High, that I suffer all the punishments visited
upon you from the time of Adam until now, I would
accept them with pleasure."
591. During the journey of our Lady with the infant
God, it happened in Jerusalem that Simeon, the high-
priest, was enlightened by the Holy Ghost concerning
the coming of the incarnate Ayord and his presentation
in the temple on the arms of his Mother. The same
revelation was given to the holy widow Anne, and she
was also informed of the poverty and suffering of saint
Joseph and the most pure Lady on their way to Jeru-
salem. These two holy persons, immediately conferring
with each other about their revelations and enlighten-
ments, called the chief procurator of the temporal affairs
of the temple, and, describing to him the signs, whereby
he should recognize the holy Travelers, they ordered him
to proceed to the gate leading out to Bethlehem and re-
ceive them into his house with all benevolence and hos-
pitality. This the procurator did and thus the Queen
and her spouse were much relieved, since they had been
anxious about finding a proper lodging for the divine
Infant. Leaving Them well provided in his house, the
fortunate host returned in order to report to the high-
priest.
592. On that evening, before they retired, most holy
Mary and Joseph conferred with each other about what
502 CITY OF GOD
they were to do. The most prudent Lady reminded
him that it was better to bring the gifts of the Kings
on that same evening to the temple in order to be able
to make the offering in silence and without noisy demon-
stration, as was proper with all donations and sacrifices,
and that on the way he might procure the two turtle-
doves, which on the next day were to be the public offer-
ing for the Infant Jesus. Saint Joseph complied with her
request. As a stranger and one little known he gave the
myrrh, incense and gold to the one who usually received
such gifts for the temple, but saint Joseph took care not
to reveal himself to any one as the donor of these great
presents. Although he could have bought the lamb,
which the rich usually offered for their first-born, he
chose not to do so ; because the humble and poor apparel
of the Mother and the Child as well as of the husband,
would not have agreed with a public offering as valuable
as that of the rich (Matth. 8, 20). In no particular did
the Mother of wisdom deem it befitting to depart from
poverty and humility, even under the cover of a pious
and honorable intention. For in all things was She the
Teacher of perfection, and her most holy Son, that of
holy poverty, in which He was born, lived and died.
593. Simeon, as saint Luke tells us, was a just and
god-fearing man and was hoping in the consolation of
Israel (Luke 2, 24) ; the Holy Ghost, who dwelt in him,
had revealed to him, that he should not taste death until
he had seen the Christ, the Lord. Moved by the holy
Spirit he came to the temple; for in that night, besides
the revelations he had already received, he was ag^in
divinely enlightened and made to understand more clearly
the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption of man,
the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaias, that a Virgin
should conceive and bear a Son and that from the root
THE INCARNATION 503
of Jesse a flower should blossom, namely Christ (Is. 7,
14) ; likewise all the rest contained in these and other
prophecies. He received a clear understanding of the
hypostatic union of the two natures in the person of
the Word, and of the mysteries of the passion and death
of the Redeemer. Thus instructed in these two high
things, saint Simeon was lifted up and inflamed with
the desire of seeing the Redeemer of the world. On the
following day then, as soon as he had received notice
that Christ was coming to present Himself in the temple
to the Father, he was carried in spirit to the temple, for
so great is the force of divine enlightenment. Whereupon
succeeded that, which I shall relate in the following chap-
ter. Also the holy matron Anne was favored with a
revelation during the same night concerning many of
these mysteries and great was the joy of her spirit on
that account ; for, as I have said in the first part of this
history, she had been the teacher of our Queen, during
her stay in the temple. The Evangelist tells us that She
never left the temple-grounds serving in it day and night
in prayer and fasting (Luke 1, 27) ; that she was a
prophetess, daughter of Samuel, of the tribe of Aser.
She had lived seven years with her husband and was
now eighty years old. As will be seen, she spoke pro-
phetically of the Child's future.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN GAVE ME.
594. My daughter, one of the misfortunes, which de-
prive souls of happiness, or at least diminish it, is that
they content themselves with performing good works
negligently or without fervor, as if they were engaged
in things unimportant or merely accidental. On account
of this ignorance and meanness of heart few of them
504 CITY OF GOD
arrive at an intimate friendship of God, which they can
attain only by fervent love. This is called fervent pre-
cisely because of its similarity to boiling water. For just
as water is made to boil and foam by the fire, so the
soul, by the sweet violence of the divine conflagra-
tion of love, is raised above itself and above all created
things as well as above its own doings. In loving, it is
more and more inflamed, and from this very love springs
an unquenchable affection, which makes the soul despise
and forget all earthly things while at the same time it
becomes dissatisfied with all temporal goodness. And
as the human heart, when it does not attain what it
dearly loves (if that attainment is possible) is inflamed
with ever greater desire of reaching it by other means;
therefore, the loving soul, finds ever new things to strive
after for the sake of the Beloved and all service will seem
to it but little. Thus it will pass from good will to a
perfect will, and from this to what will please the Lord
still more, until it arrives at the most intimate union
with Him and at a perfect conformation with the will of
God.
595. Hence thou wilt understand, my dearest, why I
desired to go barefooted to the temple, carrying at the
same time my most holy Son in order to present Him
there; and why I also wished to comply with the law
of the purification ; for, urged on by my love, which in-
cessantly demanded what was most perfect and agree-
able to the Lord, I sought the fullness of perfection in all
my doings and it was precisely this anxiety, which
created in me such a desire of excellence in all my
works. Labor to imitate me with all diligence in all
that I did ; for I assure thee, my dear, that it is this exer-
cise of thy love, which the Most High is desiring and ex-
pecting of thee, and, as is mentioned by the spouse in the
THE INCARNATION 505
Canticles (Cant. 2, 9), He is watching thee so close at
hand, that not more than a slight screen intervenes be-
tween the soul and its vision of the Lord. Enamoured
and drawn onward He approaches closely to those souls,
who thus love and serve Him in all things, while He
withdraws from the lukewarm and negligent ones, or
deals with them only according to the general rules of his
divine Providence. Do thou aspire continually to the
most pure and perfect in the practice of virtues and study
and invent new schemes and projects of love; so that all
the forces of thy interior and exterior faculties continue
to be zealously occupied in what is most exalted and ex-
cellent in the service of the Lord. At the same time
mention all these affections to thy spiritual father and
subject them to the obedience and advice of thy counselor,
following his instructions : for this will always be the most
preferable and secure way.
CHAPTER XX.
THE PRESENTATION OE THE INEANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
AND WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT OCCASION.
596. The sacred humanity of Christ belonged to the
eternal Father not only because it was created like other
beings, but it was his special property by virtue of the
hypostatic union with the person of the Word, for this
person of the Word, being his Onlybegotten Son,
was engendered of his substance, true God of true God.
Nevertheless the eternal Father had decreed, that his
Son should be presented to Him in the temple in mys-
terious compliance with the law, of which Christ our
Ivord was the end (Rom. 10, 4). It was established
for no other purpose than that the just men of the
old Testament should perpetually sanctify and offer to
the Lord their first-born sons, in the hope that one
thus presented might prove to be the Son of God
and a Child of the Mother of the expected Messias (Exod.
13, 2). According to our way of thinking his Majesty
acted like men, who are apt to repeat and enjoy over and
over again a thing which has caused them enjoyment.
For although the Father understood and knew all things
in his infinite wisdom, He sought pleasure in the offer-
ing of the incarnate Word, which by so many titles al-
ready belonged to Him.
597. This will of the eternal Father, which was con-
formable to that of his Son in so far as He was God, was
known to the Mother of life and of the human nature
of the Word; for She saw that all his interior actions
506
THE INCARNATION 507
were in unison with the will of his eternal Father. Full
of this holy science the great Princess passed the night
before his presentation in the temple in divine colloquies.
Speaking to the Father She said: "My Lord and God
most high, Father of my Lord, a festive day for heaven
and earth will be that, in which I shall bring and offer
to Thee in thy holy temple the living Host, which is
at the same time the Treasure of thy Divinity. Rich, O
my Lord and God, is this oblation; and Thou canst well
pour forth, in return for it, thy mercies upon the human
race: pardoning the sinners, that have turned from the
straight path, consoling the afflicted, helping the needy,
enriching the poor, succoring the weak, enlightening the
blind, and meeting those who have strayed away. This
is, my Lord, what I ask of thee in offering to Thee thy
Onlybegotten, who, by thy merciful condescension is also
my Son. If Thou hast given Him to me as a God, I re-
turn Him to Thee as God and man; his value is infinite,
and what I ask of Thee is much less. In opulence do I
return to thy holy temple, from which I departed poor;
and my soul shall magnify Thee forever, because thy
divine right hand has shown itself toward me so liberal
and powerful."
598. On the next morning, the Sun of heaven being
now ready to issue from its purest dawning, the Virgin
Mary, on whose arms He reclined, and being about to rise
up in full view of the world, the heavenly Lady, hav-
ing provided the turtle-dove and two candles, wrapped
Him in swaddling-clothes and betook Herself with saint
Joseph from their lodging to the temple. The holy angels,
who had come with them from Bethlehem, again formed
in procession in corporeal and most beautiful forms, just
as has been said concerning the journey of the preced-
ing day. On this occasion however the holy spirits added
508 CITY OF GOD
many other hymns of the sweetest and most entrancing
harmony in honor of the infant God, which were heard
only by the most pure Mary. Besides the ten thousand,
who had formed the procession on the previous day, in-
numerable others descended from heaven, who, accom-
panied by those that bore the shields of the holy name
of Jesus, formed the guard of honor of the incarnate
Word on the occasion of his presentation. These how-
ever were not in corporeal shapes and only the heavenly
Princess perceived their presence. Having arrived at the
temple-gate, the most blessed Mother was filled with new
and exalted sentiments of devotion. Joining the other
women. She bowed and knelt to adore the Lord in spirit
and in truth in his holy temple and She presented Her-
self before the exalted Majesty of God with his Son
upon her arms (John 4, 23). Immediately She was
immersed in an intellectual vision of the most holy
Trinity and She heard a voice issuing from the eternal
Father, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased" (Matth. 27, 20). Saint Joseph, the
most fortunate of men, felt at the same time a new
sweetness of the Holy Ghost, which filled him with joy
and divine light.
599. The holy high-priest Simeon, moved by the Holy
Ghost as explained in the preceding chapter, also entered
the temple at that time (Luke 2, 27). Approaching the
place where the Queen stood with the Infant Jesus in
her arms, he saw both Mother and Child enveloped in
splendor and glory. The prophetess Anne, who, as the
Evangelist says, had come at the same hour, also saw
Mary and her Infant surrounded by this wonderful light.
In the joy of their spirit both of them approached the
Queen of heaven, and the priest received the Infant Jesus
from her arms upon his hands. Raising up his eyes to
THE INCARNATION 509
heaven he offered Him up to the eternal Father, pro-
nouncing at the same time these words so full of mys-
teries: "Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord, ac-
cording to thy Word in peace. Because my eyes have
seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the
face of all peoples : a light for the revelation of the gen-
tiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2, 29).
It was as if He had said: "Now, Lord, thou wilt release
me from the bondage of this mortal body and let me go
free and in peace ; for until now have I been detained in
it by the hope of seeing thy promises fulfilled and by the
desire of seeing thy Onlybegotten made man. Now that
my eyes have seen thy salvation, the Onlybegotten made
man, joined to our nature in order to give it eternal wel-
fare according to the intention and eternal decree of thy
infinite wisdom and mercy, I shall enjoy true and secure
peace. Now, O Lord, Thou hast prepared and placed
before all mortals thy divine light that it may shine upon
the world and that all who wish may enjoy it through-
out the universe and derive therefrom guidance and sal-
vation. For this is the light which is revealed to the
gentiles for the glory of thy chosen people of Israel"
(JohnI, 9, 32).
600. Most holy Mary and saint Joseph heard this can-
ticle of Simeon, wondering at the exalted revelation it
contained. The Evangelist calls them in this place the
parents of the divine Infant, for such they were in the
estimation of the people who were present at this event.
Simeon, addressing himself to the most holy Mother of
the Infant Jesus, then added : "Behold this Child is set
for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel,
and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own
soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts
may be revealed." Thus saint Simeon ; and being a priest
2-34
510 CITY OF GOD
he gave his blessing to the happy parents of the Child.
Then also the prophetess Anne acknowledged the incar-
nate Word, and full of the Holy Ghost, she spoke of the
mysteries of the Messias to many, who were expecting
the redemption of Israel. By these two holy old people
public testimony of the coming of the Redeemer was
given to the world.
601, At the moment when the priest Simeon men-
tioned the sword and the sign of contradiction, which
were prophetical of the passion and death of the Lord,
the Child bowed its head. Thereby, and by many in-
terior acts of obedience, Jesus ratified the prophecy of
the priest and accepted it as the sentence of the eternal
Father pronounced by his minister. All this the loving
Mother noticed and understood; She presently began to
feel the sorrow predicted by Simeon and thus in ad-
vance was She wounded by the sword, of which She
had thus been warned. As in a mirror her spirit was
made to see all the mysteries included in this prophecy;
how her most holy Son was to be the stone of stumbling,
the perdition of the unbelievers, and the salvation of the
faithful ; the fall of the synagogue and the establishment
of the Church among the heathens; She foresaw the
triumph to be gained over the devils and over death, but
also that a great price was to be paid for it, namely the
frightful agony and death of the Cross (Colos. 2, 15).
She foresaw the boundless opposition and contradiction,
which the Lord Jesus was to sustain both personally
and in his Church (John 15, 20). At the same time
She also saw the glory and excellence of the predestined
souls. Most holy Mary knew it all and in the joy and sor-
row of her most pure soul, excited by the prophecies of
Simeon and these hidden mysteries, She performed heroic
acts of virtue. All these sayings and happenings were
THE INCARNATION 511
indelibly impressed upon her memory, and, of all that
She understood and experienced. She forgot not the least
iota. At all times She looked upon her most holy Son
with such a living sorrow, as we, mere human creatures
with hearts so full of ingratitude, shall never be able to
feel. The holy spouse saint Joseph was by these prophe-
cies also made to see many of the mysteries of the Re-
demption and of the labors and sufferings of Jesus. But
the Lord did not reveal them to him so copiously and
openly as they were perceived and understood by his
heavenly spouse; for in him these revelations were to
serve a different purpose, and besides, saint Joseph was
not to be an eye-witness of them during his mortal life.
602. The ceremony of the presentation thus being over,
the great Lady kissed the hand of the priest and again
asked his blessing. The same She did also to Anne, her
former teacher; for her dignity as Mother of God, the
highest possible to angels or men, did not prevent Her
from these acts of deepest humility. Then, in the com-
pany of saint Joseph, her spouse, and of the fourteen
thousand angels in procession. She returned with the
divine Infant to her lodging. They remained, as I shall
relate farther on, for some days in Jerusalem, in order
to satisfy their devotion and during that time She spoke
a few times with the priest about the mysteries of the
Redemption and of the prophecies above mentioned. Al-
though the words of the most prudent Virgin Mother
were few, measured and reserved, they were also so
weighty and full of wisdom, that they filled the priest
with wonder and excited in him the most exalted and the
sweetest sentiments of joy in his soul. The same hap-
pened also to the prophetess Anne. Both of them died
in the Lord shortly afterwards. The holy Family
lodged at the expense of Simeon. During these days
512 CITY OF GOD
the Queen frequented the temple and in it She was visited
with many favors and consolations in recompense for
the sorrow caused by the prophecies of the priest. In
order to heighten their sweetness her most holy Son
spoke to Her on one of these days saying: "My dearest
Mother and my Dove, dry up thy tears and let thy purest
heart be expanded ; since it is the will of my Father, that
I accept the death of the Cross. I desire that Thou be
my companion in my labors and sufferings; I long to
undergo them for the souls, who are the works of my
hands (Ephes. 2, 10), made according to my image and
likeness, in order to make them partakers of my reign
and of eternal life in triumph over my enemies (Coloss.
2, 15). This is what Thou thyself dost wish in union
with Me." The Mother answered : "O my sweetest Love
and Son of my womb, if my accompanying Thee shall
include not only the privilege of witnessing and pitying
thy sufferings, but also of dying with Thee, so much the
greater will be my relief ; for it will be a greater suffering
for me to live, while seeing Thee die." In these exer-
cises of love and compassion She passed some days,
until saint Joseph was advised to fly into Egypt, as I
shall relate in the following chapter.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THB MOST H0I.Y QUEEN MARY
GAVE ME.
603. My daughter, the doctrine and example contained
in the foregoing chapter will teach thee to strive after
the constancy and expansion of heart, by which thou
mayest prepare thyself to accept blessings and adversity,
the sweet and the bitter with equanimity. O dearest
soul! How narrow and unwilling is the human heart
toward that which is contrary and distasteful to its earthly
THE INCARNATION 513
inclinations! How it chafes in labors! How impatiently
it meets them! How insufferable it deems all that is
contrary to its desires ! How persistently it forgets, that
its Teacher and Master has first accepted sufferings, and
has honored and sanctified them in his own Person! It
is a great shame, yea a great boldness, on the part of the
faithful, that they should abhor suffering, even after my
most holy Son did suffer for them and when so many of
the just before his Death were led to embrace the cross
solely by the hope that Christ would once suffer upon
it, although they would never live to see it. And if this
want of correspondence is so base in others, consider well,
my dearest, how vile it would be in thee, who art so
anxious to obtain the grace and the friendship of the
Most High; who desirest to merit the name of a spouse
and friend of God, who wishest to belong entirely to Him
and that He belong entirely to thee, who wishest to be
my disciple and that I be thy Teacher, who aspirest to
follow and imitate me, as a faithful daughter her mother
(Matth. 7, 21). All this must not result in mere senti-
ment and in empty words, or oft-repeated exclamations
of : Lord, Lord ; and, when the occasion of tasting the
chalice and the cross of suffering is at hand, thou must not
turn away in sorrow and affliction from the sufferings, by
which the sincerity of a loving and affectionate heart
is to be tried.
604. All this would be denying in your actions, what
you profess in your words, and it would be a swerving
from the path of eternal life: for thou canst not follow
Christ, if thou refusest to embrace the cross and re-
joice in it, nor shalt thou find me by any other way
(Matth. 8, 34). If creatures fail thee, if temptation or
trouble assail thee, if the sorrows of death encompass
thee (Ps. 17, 5), thou must in no wise be disturbed or
514 CITY OF GOD
disheartened ; since nothing displeases my most holy Son
or me more than placing a hindrance or misapplying the
grace given by Him for thy defense. By misusing it and
receiving it in vain, thou yieldest great victory to the
demon, who glories much in having disturbed or subjected
any soul that calls itself a disciple of Christ and of me;
and having once brought thee to default in small things,
he will soon oppress thee in greater ones. Confide then
in the protection of the Most High and press onward
trusting in me. Full of this trust, whenever tribulation
comes over thee, fervently exclaim: "The Lord is my
light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? (Psalm 26,
1 ) . He is my Helper, why should I hesitate ? I have a
Mother, a Queen and Mistress, who will assist me and
take care of me in my affliction."
605. In this security seek to preserve interior peace and
keep forever in thy view my works and my footsteps
for thy imitation. Remember the sorrow, which pierced
my heart at the prophecies of Simeon, and how I re-
mained in peace and tranquillity, without any sign of
disturbance, although my heart and soul were trans-
fixed by a sword of pain. In every event I sought mo-
tives for glorifying and adoring his admirable wisdom.
If the transitory labors and sufferings are accepted with
joy and with serenity of heart, they spiritualize the crea-
ture, they elevate it and furnish it with a divine insight;
by which the soul begins to esteem affliction at its proper
value and soon finds consolation and the blessings of
mortification and of freedom from disorderly passions.
This is the teaching of *the school of the Redeemer,
hidden from those living in Babylon and from those who
love vanity (Matth. 11, 25). I wish also that thou imitate
me in respecting the priests and ministers of the Lord,
who in the new law hold a much higher dignity than in
THE INCARNATION 515
the old, since the divine Word has now united Itself with
human nature and become the eternal High-Priest ac-
cording to the order of Melchisedech (Ps. 109, 4). Listen
to their words and instructions, as God requires, whose
place they take. Consider the power and authority given
them in the Gospels, where it is said: "Who hears you,
hears Me; who obeys you obeys Me" (Luke 10, 16).
Strive after the perfection they teach thee. Ponder and
meditate without intermission upon that, which my most
holy Son suffered, so that thy soul be a participant in his
sorrows. Let the pious memory of his sufferings en-
gender in thee such a disgust and abhorrence of all earthly
pleasures that thou despise and forget all that is visible,
and instead, follow the Author of eternal life.
CHAPTER XXL
run IX)RD PREPARES THE MOST HOIvY MARY EOR THE
FLIGHT INTO EGYPT; THE ANGEE SPEAKS TO SAINT
JOSEPH; AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH.
606. When the most holy Mary and glorious saint
Joseph returned from the presentation of the Infant
Jesus in the temple, they concluded to stay in Jerusalem
for nine days in order to be able each day to visit the
temple and repeat the offering of the sacred Victim, their
divine Son, thus rendering fitting thanks for the im-
mense blessing for which they had been singled out from
among all men. The heavenly Lady had a special venera-
tion for this number in memory of the nine days, during
which She had been prepared and adorned by God for the
incarnation of the Word, as I have related in the first
ten chapters of this second part; also in memory of the
nine months, during which She had borne Jesus in her
virginal womb. In honor of these events She wished
to make this novena with her divine Child, presenting
Him that many times to the eternal Father as an ac-
ceptable offering for her lofty purposes. They began
the devotions of the novena every day before the third
hour, praying in the temple until nightfall. They chose
the most obscure and retired place, meriting thereby the
invitation of the master of the banquet in the Gospel:
"Friend, go up higher" (Luke 14, 10). This invitation
was given to Her, on one of those days, when She was
516
THE INCARNATION 517
pouring" out her spirit in the presence of the eternal
Father in the following words:
607. "Highest King, Lord and Creator of all that has
being, here in thy presence lies the useless dust and ashes,
which thy ineffable condescension has favored with grace
such as it neither knew, nor ever could know, how to
merit. I find myself, O Lord, forced onward by the
impetuous flood of thy blessings to give Thee thanks.
But what return can she offer, who, being nothing, has
received her existence and her life from Thee, and who
over and above was overwhelmed by such incomparable
mercies and blessings of thy Divinity? What thanks can
she render in acknowledgment of thy immense bounty?
What reverence worthy of thy Majesty? What gift to
thy infinite Deity, since She is only a creature ? My soul,
my being", and my faculties, all have I received and con-
tinue to receive from thy hands. A thousand times do
I offer it in sacrifice to thy glory. I acknowledge my
indebtedness, not only for having given me all this, but
for the love with which Thou hast given it, and because
among all creatures, thy infinite bounty has preserved me
from the contagion of sin and has chosen me to give hu-
man form to thy Onlybegotten Son, to bear Him in my
womb and at my breast, though I am only a daughter
of Adam and made of lowly and earthly matter. I per-
ceive thy ineffable condescension toward me, O Lord, and
in gratitude for it my heart fails and my life is spent in
affections of divine love, having nothing else to repay all
the favors of thy right hand conferred upon thy hand-
maid. But now my heart is revived and rejoices in pos-
sessing" a gift worthy of thy greatness, since I can offer
Thee Him, who is one in substance with Thee, equal in
majesty, and perfection of attributes, the Onlybegotten
of thy intellect, the image of thy being, the fullness of
518 CITY OF GOD
thy own pleasure, thy only and most beloved Son. This,
eternal Father and Most High God, is the gift, which
I offer, the Victim which I bring Thee, and this I am sure
Thou wilt receive. Having received Him as God, I re-
turn Him to Thee God and man. Neither I nor any
other creature, O Lord, can ever offer Thee a greater
gift, nor can thy Majesty ever demand one more precious.
It is so valuable, that it will suffice to repay Thee for
what I have received. In his name and in mine I offer
and present Him to Thee. I am the Mother of thy Only-
begotten, having given Him human flesh, I have made
Him the Brother of mortals, and as He wishes to be their
Redeemer and Teacher, it behooves me to be their ad-
vocate, to assume their cause and claim assistance for
them. Therefore, Father of my Onlybegotten, God of
mercies, I offer Him to Thee from all my heart; with
Him and because of Him I beg Thee to pardon sinners,
to pour out upon the human race thy mercies of old and
to open new fountains for the renewal of thy wonders
(Eccli. 38, 6). This is the Lion of Juda become a Lamb,
which takes away the sins of the world (Apoc. 5, 5). He
is the treasure of thy Divinity."
608. Such prayers and petitions the Mother of piety
offered up in the first days of her novena in the temple.
To all of them the eternal Father responded, accepting
the offering of his Onlybegotten as a pleasing sacrifice,
being more and more enamored with the purity of his
only and chosen Daughter and looking upon her sanctity
with benign pleasure. As an answer to her petitions He
conceded to Her new and great privileges, among which
was also this one, that, as long as the world should last,
She should obtain all that She would ever ask for her
clients; that the greatest sinners, if they availed them-
selves of her intercession, should find salvation; that in
THE INCARNATION 519
the new Church and law of the Gospel She should be the
Cooperatrix and Teacher of salvation with Christ her
most holy Son. This was to be her privilege especially
after his Ascension into heaven, when She should re-
main, as Queen of the universe, as the representative and
instrument of the divine power on earth. This I will
show more particularly in the third part of this history.
Many other favors and mysteries the Most High con-
firmed upon the heavenly Mother in answer to her pray-
ers. They, however, are beyond the reach of spoken
language, and cannot be described by my short and
limited terms.
609. In the course of these manifestations, on the fifth
day of the no vena after the presentation and purifica-
tion, while the heavenly Lady was in the temple with the
Infant on her arms, the Deity revealed Itself to Her,
although not intuitively, and She was wholly raised and
filled by the Spirit. It is true, that this had been done to
Her before ; but as God's power and treasures are infinite,
He never gives so much as not to be able to give still
more to the creatures. In this abstractive vision the
Most High visited anew his only Spouse, wishing to
prepare Her for the labors, that were awaiting Her.
Speaking to Her, He comforted Her saying: "My Spouse
and my Dove, thy wishes and intentions are pleasing
in my eyes and I delight in them always. But Thou
canst not finish the nine days' devotion, which Thou hast
begun, for I have in store for Thee other exercises of
Thy love. In order to save the life of thy Son and raise
Him up. Thou must leave thy home and thy country,
fly with Him and thy spouse Joseph into Egypt, where
Thou art to remain until I shall ordain otherwise: for
Herod is seeking the life of the Child. The journey is
long, most laborious and most fatiguing; do thou suffer
520 CITY OF GOD
it all for my sake; for I iam, and always will be, with
Thee."
610. Any other faith and virtue might have been dis-
turbed (as the incredulous really have been) to see the
powerful God flying from a miserable earthly being, and
that He should do so in order to save his life, as if He,
being both God and man, could be affected by the fear
of death. But the most prudent and obedient Mother
advanced no objection or doubt: She was not in the
least disturbed or moved by this unlooked for order.
Answering, She said: "My Lord and Master, behold
thy servant with a heart prepared to die for thy love if
necessary. Dispose of me according to thy will. This
only do I ask of thy immense goodness, that, overlooking
my want of merit and gratitude. Thou permit not my
Son and Lord to suffer, and that Thou turn all pains and
labor upon me, who am obliged to suffer them." The
Lord referred Her to saint Joseph, bidding Her to fol-
low his directions in all things concerning the journey.
Therewith She issued from her vision, which She had
enjoyed without losing the use of her exterior senses and
while holding in her arms the Infant Jesus. She had
been raised up in this vision only as to the superior part
of her soul; but from it flowed other gifts, which spirit-
ualized her senses and testified to Her that her soul was
living more in its love than in the earthly habitation of
her body.
611. On account of the incomparable love, which the
Queen bore toward her most holy Son, her maternal
and compassionate heart was somewhat harrowed at the
thought of the labors which She foresaw in the vision
impending upon the infant God. Shedding many tears,
She left the temple to go to her lodging-place, without
manifesting to her spouse the cause of her sorrow. Saint
THE INCARNATION 521
Joseph therefore thought that She grieved on account of
the prophecy of Simeon. As the most faithful Joseph
loved Her so much, and as he was of a kind and solicitous
disposition, he was troubled to see his Spouse so tearful
and afflicted, and that She should not manifest to him
the cause of this new affliction. This disturbance of his
soul was one of the reasons why the holy angels spoke
to him in sleep, as I have related above, when speaking
of the pregnancy of the Queen. For in the same night,
while saint Joseph was asleep, the angel of the Lord
appeared to him, and spoke to him as recorded by saint
Matthew: "Arise, take the Child and its Mother and
fly into Egypt; there shalt thou remain until I shall
return to give thee other advice; for Herod is seeking
after the Child in order to take away its life." Imme-
diately the holy spouse arose full of solicitude and sor-
row, foreseeing also that of his most loving Spouse.
Entering upon her retirement, he said : "My Lady, God
wills that we should be afflicted; for his holy angel has
announced to me the pleasure and the decree of the
Almighty, that we arise and fly with the Child into Egypt,
because Herod is seeking to take away its life. Encour-
age thyself, my Lady, to bear the labors of this journey
and tell me what I can do for thy comfort, since I hold
my life and being at the service of thy Child and of
Thee."
612. "My husband and my master," answered the
Queen, "if we have received from the hands of the Most
High such great blessings of grace, it is meet that
we joyfully accept temporal afflictions (Job 2, 13). We
bear with us the Creator of heaven and earth ; if He has
placed us so near to Him, what arms shall be able to
harm us, even if it be the arm of Herod? Wherever we
carry with us all our Good, the highest treasure of heaven.
522 CITY OF GOD
our Lord, our guide and true light, there can be no desert ;
but He is our rest, out portion, and our country. All
these goods we possess in having his company; let us
proceed to fulfill his will." Then most holy Mary and
Joseph approached the crib where the Infant Jesus lay;
and where He, not by chance, slept at that time. The
heavenly Mother uncovered Him without awakening
Him; for He awaited those tender and sorrowful words
of his Beloved : "Fly away, O my Beloved, and be like the
roe and the young hart upon the mountains of aromatical
spices. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field,
let us ride in the villages" (Cant. 8, 14; 7, 11). And the
tender Mother added : "Sweetest Love, meekest Lamb,
thy power is not limited by that of earthly kings; but
Thou wishest, in thy exalted wisdom, to hide it for love
of men. Who among mortals can think of taking away
thy life, O my God? Is it not in thy power to anni-
hilate all life? Since Thou givest life to all, why should
men take away thine? (John 10, 10). Since Thou
visited them in order to give them eternal life, why should
they wish to give Thee death? But who shall compre-
hend the secrets of thy Providence? (Rom. 11, 34).
Allow me, then, O Lord and light of my soul, to awaken
Thee; for when thou sleepest thy heart is awake."
613. Some such sentiments were also expressed by
saint Joseph. Then the heavenly Mother, falling upon
her knees, awakened the sweetest Infant, and took Him
in her arms. Jesus, in order to move Her to greater
tenderness and in order to show Himself as true man,
wept a little (O wonders of the Most High in things
according to our judgments so small) ! Yet He was
soon again quieted ; and when the most holy Mother and
saint Joseph asked his blessing He gave it them in visible
manner. Gathering their poor clothing into the casket
THE INCARNATION 523
and loading it on the beast of burden which they had
brought from Nazareth, they departed shortly after mid-
night, and hastened without delay on their journey to
Egypt, as I will relate in the following chapter.
614. I will here add what I have been made to under-
stand as to the concordance of the two Gospels of saint
Matthew and saint Luke in regard to this event. For,
since all of them wrote under guidance and light of the
Holy Ghost, each of them knew what the other three
had written, and what they had omitted to s$iy in their
Gospels. Hence it happened that according to divine pre-
disposition some of the happenings of the life of Christ
and of the Gospel were described by all four of the
Evangelists, while again some other things mentioned by
one were omitted by the others. Saint Matthew de-
scribes the adoration of the Kings and the flight into
Egypt, while these events were not mentioned by saint
Luke. He again describes the Circumcision, Presenta-
tion and Purification, which are omitted by saint Mat-
thew. Thus saint Matthew, after referring to the de-
parture of the Magi, immediately, without speaking of
the Presentation, relates that the angel appeared to saint
Joseph commanding him to fly into Egypt; but it does
not follow therefrom that the Child had not been pre-
sented before that time in the temple, for it is certain
that this was done after the departure of the Kings and
before the flight into Egypt, as is narrated by saint Luke.
Thus, likewise, although saint Luke, after describing the
Presentation and Purification, immediately mentions that
the holy Family lived in Nazareth, we must not conclude
that they had not before that time lived in Egypt: he
writes nothing of this flight into Egypt either before or
after, because it had already been recorded by saint Mat-
thew. And this flight took^place immediately after the
524 CITY OF GOD
Presentation before most holy Mary and Joseph returned
to Nazareth. As saint Luke had received no commis-
sion to write about this journey it was natural that, in
continuing his history, he should mention the return to
Nazareth immediately after the Presentation. To say
that, having fulfilled what the law commanded, they re-
turned to Galilee, was not to deny the flight into Egypt,
but it was merely continuing the narrative without men-
tioning the flight from Herod. Even the very text of
saint Luke intimates that the return to Nazareth hap-
pened after their sojourn in Egypt; for he says that the
Child grew and increased in wisdom, and that grace was
manifested in Him ; which could not have been before He
had passed the years of infancy. Hence it must have
been after his return from Egypt, and at an age when
the use of reason usually begins to show itself in children.
615. I was also given to understand how foolish it is
in the infidels or incredulous to stumble against this cor-
nerstone of Christ even in his infancy and to take offense
at seeing Him fly to Egypt in order to defend Himself
against Herod ; as if this were on account of his weakness
and not a mystery, and as if it had happened for no
higher purpose than to defend his life against the cruelty
of a wicked man. For the well-disposed souls the words
of the Evangelist are amply sufficient: since he says it
happened in order that the prophecy of Osea might
be fulfilled, who prophesies in the name of the
eternal Father: "And I called my Son out of Egypt"
(Osee n, 1). The ends which He had in view in send-
ing Him there and in calling Him thence are most ex-
alted and mysterious : of these I will say something anon.
If not all of the doings of the incarnate Word are equally
admirable and sacramental, yet no one with sane judg-
ment can dispute or ignore the sweet providence of God
THE INCARNATION 525
in directing the secondary causes, while allowing full
liberty to the human will (EccH. 15, 14). For this rea-
son, and not for want of power. He permits so many
idolatries, heresies and other sins, which are not any
smaller than that of Herod ; for this reason He permitted
the crime of Judas and all those which followed in the
sufferings and crucifixion of Christ. Certainly He could
have prevented all these sins and yet would not ; not only
because He wished to work our Redemption, but also in
order that He might secure to man freedom of his will
in all his actions. He was ready to give to men the
helps and graces according to his divine Providence,
whereby they could accomplish the good, if they would
only use their free will to attain it in the same degree as
they were using it to follow evil.
616. In this sweetness of his Providence He gives sin-
ners time, hoping for their conversions, as in the case of
Herod. If He would use his absolute power and per-
form great miracles for p'-eventing the course of sec-
ondary causes, the order of nature would be confounded,
and to a certain extent He would contradict Himself in
his double role as Author of grace and as Author of
nature. Therefore, miracles must happen but rarely, and
on special occasions for particular reasons, or when some
end is to be served. Therefore, God reserves them for
the manifestations of his power at certain times. He
makes Himself known as the Author of his works by
bringing them into existence and preserving them inde-
pendently of creatures. Neither must we wonder that
He should consent to the death of the innocent children
which Herod murdered ; for it would not have been to
their benefit to save them through a miracle, since by
their death they were to gain eternal life together with
an abundant reward, which vastly recompensed them for
2-3&
526 CITY OF GOD
the loss of their temporal life. If they had been allowed
to escape the sword and die a natural death, all would
eventually not have been saved. The works of the Lord
are just and holy in all particulars, although we do not
always see the reasons why they are so ; but we shall come
to know them in the Lord when we shall see him face
to face.
INSTRUCTION WHICH THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, MOST
HOI<Y MARY, GAVE ME.
617. My daughter, what thou must especially learn
from this chapter is, that thou accustom thyself to humble
thanksgiving for the benefits which thou receivest, since
thou, among many generations, art so specially signalized
by the riches of grace with which my Son and I visit
thee without any merit of thine. I was wont to repeat
many times this verse of David : "What shall I render
to the Lord for all the things that he hath rendered to
me?" (Ps. 115, 12). In such sentiments I humiliated
myself to the dust, esteeming myself altogether useless
among creatures. Therefore, if thou knowest what I did
as Mother of God, consider what then is thy obligation,
since thou must with so much truth confess thyself un-
worthy and undeserving of all thou receivest, and so
poorly furnished for giving thanks and for making pay-
ment. Thou must supply thy insufficiency and thy
misery by offering up to the eternal Father the living
host of his onlybegotten Son, especially when thou re-
ceivest Him in the holy Sacrament and possessest Him
within thee: for in this thou shouldst also imitate David,
who, after asking the Lord what return he should make
for all his benefits, answers: "I will take the chalice of
salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord"
THE INCARNATION 527
(Ps. 115, 13). Thou must accept the salvation offered
to thee and bring forth its fruits by the perfection of thy
works, calHng upon the name of the Lord, offering up his^
Onlybegotten. For He it is who gave the virtue of
salvation, who merited it, who alone can be an adequate
return for the blessings conferred upon the human race
and upon thee especially. I have given Him human
form in order that He might converse with men and
become the property of each one. He conceals Himself
under the appearances of bread and wine in order to ac-
commodate Himself to the needs of each one, and that
each one might consider Him as his personal property
fit to offer to the eternal Father. In this way He fur-
nishes to each one an oblation which no one could other-
wise offer, and the Most High rests satisfied with it,
since there is not anything more acceptable nor anything
more precious in the possession of creatures.
618. In addition to this offering is the resignation with
which souls embrace and bear with equanimity and
patience the labors and difficulties of mortal life. My
most holy Son and I were eminent Masters in the prac-
tice of this doctrine. My Son began to teach it from
the moment in which He was conceived in my womb.
For already then He began to suffer, and as soon as He
was born into the world He and I were banished by
Herod into a desert, and his sufferings continued until
He died on the Cross. I also labored to the end of my
life, as thou wilt be informed more and more in the
writing of this history. Since, therefore. We suffered
so much for creatures and for their salvation, I desire
thee to imitate Us in this conformity to the divine will
as being his spouse and my daughter. Suffer with a
magnanimous heart, and labor to increase the possessions
of thy Lord and Master, namely, souls, which are so-
528 CITY OF GOD
precious in his sight and which He has purchased with
his Hfe-blood. Never shouldst thou fly from labors, diffi-
culties, bitterness and sorrows, if by any of them thou
canst gain a soul for the Lord, or if thou canst thereby
induce it to leave the path of sin and enter the path of
life. Let not the thought that thou art so useless and
poor, or that thy desires and labor avail but little, dis-
courage thee; since thou canst not know how the Lord
will accept of them and in how far He shall consider
Himself served thereby. At least thou shouldst wish to
labor assiduously and eat no unearned bread in his house
(Prov. 31, 27).
CHAPTER XXII.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH BEGIN THE JOURNEY TO EGYPT ;
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ANGEUC SPIRITS, THEY ARRIVE
AT THE CITY OF GAZA.
619. Our heavenly Pilgrims left Jerusalem and entered
upon their banishment while yet the silence and obscurity
of night held sway. They were full of solicitude for the
Pledge of heaven, which they carried with them into a
strange and unknown land. Although faith and hope
strengthened them (for in no other beings could these
virtues be more firmly and securely established than in
our Queen and her most faithful spouse), nevertheless
the Lord afforded them occasion for anxiety. Their love
for the Infant Jesus would naturally excite in them
anxiety and suffering on an occasion like this. They
knew not what would happen during such a long journey,
nor when it should end, nor how they would fare in
Egypt, where they would be entire strangers, nor what
comfort or convenience they would find there for raising
the Child, nor even how they would be able to ward off
great sufferings from Him on the way to Egypt. There-
fore the hearts of these holy Parents were filled with
many misgivings and anxious thoughts when they parted
with so much haste from their lodging-place; but their
sorrow was much relieved when the ten thousand heav-
enly courtiers above mentioned again appeared to them
in human forms and in their former splendor and beauty,
and when they again changed the night into the brightest
day for the holy Pilgrims. As they set forth from the
529
330 CITY OF GOD
portals of the city the holy angels humiliated themselves
and adored the incarnate Word in the arms of the Virgin
Mother. They also encouraged Her by again offering
their homage and service, stating that it was the will of
the Lord that they guide and accompany Her on the
journey.
620. To the afflicted heart the least consolation seems
precious; hence this one, being in itself a great relief,
comforted our Queen and her spouse Joseph very much.
They therefore entered upon their journey with good
heart, choosing the way which led through the city gate
in the direction of Nazareth. The heavenly Mother
longed to visit again the place of the Nativity, in order
to venerate the sacred cave and the crib, which had offered
shelter and hospitality to her most holy Son at his en-
trance into the world. But the holy angels, knowing of
her unspoken desires, said to Her: "Our Queen and
Lady, Mother of our Creator, it behooves us to hasten on
our journey without any delay; for on account of the
escape of the magi Kings and their failure to return to
Jerusalem, and on account of the words spoken by the
priest Simeon, and by Anne, the people have been roused
to attention. Some of them have begun to say that Thou
art the Mother of the Messias ; others that Thou knowest
of Him; and others say that thy Son is a Prophet.
Various rumors are also spread about concerning the
visit of the Kings in Bethlehem, and of all these things
Herod is informed. He has commanded that You be
sought after very carefully and consequently a most dili-
gent search is being made to find You. On this account
the Most High has commanded You to fly at night and
with so much haste."
62 L The Queen of heaven yielded to the will of the
Almighty thus made known to Her by the holy angels.
THE INCARNATION 531
She therefore reverenced from afar the sacred place of
the birth of her Onlybegotten, renewing the memory of
the mysteries there wrought and the favors there re-
ceived. The holy angel who stood as guard of the sacred
cave approached Them on their way in visible form and
adored the incarnate Word in the arms of his Mother.
As She was thus allowed to see this angel and speak to
him, the heavenly Lady was rejoiced and comforted still
more. She would have also preferred to travel by way
of Hebron; since it was only a short distance from the
one they were now traveling, and Elisabeth was just at
that time in that city with her son John. But the anxiety
of saint Joseph, who was more timid, prevented also this
diversion and delay ; for he said to his heavenly Spouse :
"My Lady, I think it is extremely important that we do
not delay our journey even for one instant ; and that we
hasten as much as possible to flee from the place of dan-
ger. Therefore it will not be prudent to go to Hebron,
where they will find us more easily than in any other parts
of the country." "Let it be according to thy pleasure,"
answered the humble Queen, "yet I wish thou give me
permission to send one of these celestial spirits to Elisa-
beth, in order to inform my cousin of the cause of our
flight, so that she herself may protect her son; for the
wrath of Herod is so roused .that it will extend to them."
622. The Queen of heaven knew of the design to mur-
der the children ; but She did not tell saint Joseph of it
at that time. Here I must marvel at the obedience and
humility of most holy Mary, which was so exquisite and
rare : for She obeyed saint Joseph not only in that which
he commanded, but also in that which concerned Herself
alone, namely in the matter of sending an angel to saint
Elisabeth. Although She could have sent the angel by
a mere wish, without even expressing it in words, She
532 CITY OF GOD
nevertheless preferred not to do so without permission
and in obedience to her spouse. I must confess my shame
and my negligence ; since having before my eyes the most
pure fountain of waters, I do not satiate my thirst, nor
profit by the light and the example before me, though it
is so vivid, so sweet, so powerful and so attractive in
teaching us all to abjure our own reprehensible wills.
With the permission of saint Joseph, then most holy Mary
despatched one of the principal angels of her guard, in
order to notify saint Elisabeth of what was passing. As
the Sovereign of the angelic spirits She instructed her
messenger on this occasion what he was to say to the
holy matron and to the child John.
623. The angel, according to the order and pleasure of
the Queen, proceeded to inform the fortunate and blessed
Elisabeth of all these events as far as was proper. He
told her that the Mother of God was fleeing before the
wrath of Herod into Egypt, as this tyrant was now
searching for the Child in order to kill It. He warned
her to see to the safety of saint John by hiding him in
some place of refuge. He also manifested to her other
mysteries of the incarnate Word according to the com-
mand of the heavenly Mother. The holy Elisabeth was
filled with joy and wonder at this message, and she ex-
pressed her desire to meet and adore the Infant Jesus,
and to see his Mother; asking him whether they could
be reached. The holy angel answered that his King and
Lord was passing with his Mother at a distance from
Hebron and could not wait for her visit; saint Elisabeth
therefore gave up her project. Overflowing with tender
and tearful affection, she asked the angel to bring affec-
tionate greetings to the Son and Mother. The angel
then returned with his message to the Queen. Saint
Elisabeth immediately despatched a servant with some
THE INCARNATION 533
gifts consisting in provisions, money and material for
clothing the Infant. She foresaw their needs in a strange
country and instructed the servant to overtake them with
all haste. He met them in Gaza, which lies a little less
than twenty hours from Jerusalem, on the river Besor,
and on the road from Palestine to Egypt, not far from
the Mediterranean sea.
624. In this town they remained two days, for saint
Joseph and the beast of burden which carried the Queen
were worn out by the fatigue of the journey. From
that place they sent back the servant of saint Elisabeth,
taking care to caution him not to tell any one of their
whereabouts. But God provided still more effectually
against this danger; for He took away from this man
all remembrance of what saint Joseph had charged him to
conceal, so that he retained only his message to saint
Elisabeth. Most holy Mary expended the presents sent
by Elisabeth in entertaining the poor; for She, who was
Mother of the poor, could not bear to pass them by
unassisted. Of the clothes sent to Her She made a cloak
for the divine Infant, and one for saint Joseph, to shelter
Them from the discomforts of the season and of the
journey. She also used other things in their possession
for the comfort of her Child and of saint Joseph. The
most prudent Virgin would not rely on miraculous as-
sistance whenever She could provide for the daily needs
by her own diligence and labor ; for in these matters She
desired to subject Herself to the natural order and depend
upon her own efforts. During the two days which they
spent in that city the most pure Mary, in order to enrich
it with great blessings, performed some wonderful deeds.
She freed two sick persons from the danger of death
and cured their ailments. She restored to another person,
a crippled woman, the use of her limbs. In the souls of
534 CITY OF GOD
many, who met Her and conversed with Her, She caused
divine effects of the knowledge of God and of a change
of life. All of them felt themselves moved to praise
their Creator. But neither Mary nor Joseph spoke a
word about their native country, nor of the destination
or object of their journey; for if this information had
been added to the public notice caused by their wonderful
actions, the attention of Herod's agents might have been
drawn toward them, and they might have found sufficient
inducement to follow them after their departure.
625. Words fail me to describe what I have been made
to understand concerning the happenings during this
journey of Jesus and Mary; moreover, I fall short of
the sentiments of reverence and piety which such admir-
able mysteries would require. The arms of the most
pure Mary continually served as a delightful couch for
the new and real King Solomon (Cant. 2>, 7). As She
penetrated in spirit into the secret of the most holy
humanity of Christ, it happened sometimes that the Son
and Mother interchanged sweet colloquies and canticles
of praise in honor especially of the infinite essence of God
and of all his attributes and perfections. On these occa-
sions the Son of God favored his sovereign Mother with
new visions of intellectual clearness, in which She per-
ceived the unity of Essence in the three persons of God,
the operations ad intra, in the generation of the Word,
and in the procession of the Holy Spirit. She perceived
how the Three are from eternity, and how the Word is
generated by the operation of the eternal Intellect, and
the Holy Ghost is breathed forth in the operation of the
Will ; how there is no need of any succession of before
or after, but how all is from eternity; and how it hap-
pens that we conceive these operations with the idea of
duration or succession of time. She also perceived how
THE INCARNATION 535
these three Persons comprehend each other by one and
the same act of understanding, and how this comprehen-
sion includes the Divinity of the incarnate Word united
to the humanity, forming one Person, and what effects
this union produces in the humanity.
626. Filled with this exalted knowledge, the great
Lady allowed her thoughts to descend from the Divinity
to the humanity and composed new canticles of praise
and thanksgiving for the creation of this sacred humanity,
most perfect in soul and body: the soul, in its plenitude
and all possible abundance of wisdom, gifts and graces
of the Holy Ghost ; the body, most pure, and in the
highest possible degree well composed and complexioned.
Then again She contemplated the exalted and heroic
activity of all his faculties, and, having in her soul
imitated Him therein, She passed on to bless and give
Him thanks for having made Her his Mother, caused
Her to be conceived without sin, chosen Her out of thou-
sands, enriched Her with all the favors and gifts of his
powerful right hand as far as was possible in a mere
creature. In the exaltation and glory of these and other
mysteries, the Child spoke to his Mother and She re-
sponded in words which are beyond the tongue of angels
and beyond the conception of any other created being.
To all this the heavenly Lady attended without neglect-
ing the care and comfort of her Child, giving Him nour-
ishment at her breast three times a day, tenderly caressing
Him as a Mother more attentive and loving than all other
Mothers combined could be toward their children.
627. At other times She said to Him : "My sweetest
and most beloved Son, permit me to speak to Thee and
to manifest to Thee my desires, although Thou, my Lord,
already knowest them ; permit me to be delighted in the
sound of thy voice. Tell me, life of my soul and light
536 CITY OF GOD
of my eyes, whether the labors of this journey are
fatiguing Thee, whether the rigors of the season and of
the weather cause Thee affliction, and what I can do for
thy service and for thy rehef." And the divine Infant
answered: "All the labors, O Mother, and all fatigue
are most light and sweet to Me, since I undergo them for
the honor of my eternal Father and for the instruction
and Redemption of men, especially in thy company."
The Child wept a few times, yet in great serenity and
in the manner of a grown-up and perfect man; and
immediately the loving Mother sought the interior cause
of these tears, finding it in his soul. She understood
that they were tears of love and compassion for the salva-
tion of men and caused by their ingratitude ; in this sor-
row and weeping the sweetest Mother imitated Him.
She was wont to answer his tearful plaints like a com-
passionate turtledove lovingly caressing and soothing Him
as his affectionate Mother, and kissing Him with match-
less reverence. The fortunate Joseph often witnessed these
divine mysteries; and shared in some of the enlighten-
ments, thus consoling himself for the hardships of the
journey. At other times he would converse with his
Spouse as they journeyed along, asking Her frequently
whether She desired any service for Herself or for the
Child ; or he would approach and adore the Infant, kiss-
ing his feet and asking his blessing, and sometimes taking
Him in his arms. By these little offices of kindness the
great Patriarch sweetened his labors, being at the same
time consoled and encouraged by his heavenly Spouse.
To all things She attended with a magnanimous heart,
being hindered neither by her interior prayer, nor by her
exalted and fervent contemplation, from attending to the
corporal affairs ; for in all things She was most perfect.
THE INCARNATION 537
INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY MY HEAVENLY MOTHER AND
MISTRESS.
628. My dearest daughter, for thy instruction and
imitation I wish, in what thou hast written, that thou
take as an example the affectionate wonder which the
divine Hght caused in my soul at seeing my most holy
Son subject Himself to the inhuman fury of wicked men,
such as was shown by Herod in this occasion of our
flight from his wrath and afterwards by the perverse
servants of the high priests and magistrates. In all the
works of the Most High his greatness, goodness and
infinite wisdom shine forth. But, since my understand-
ing, by means of the most exalted inspiration, penetrated
so deeply into the very essence of God in the person of
the Word united to the Divinity, and since I knew that
my most holy Son was the eternal, all-powerful, infinite
Creator and Preserver of all things, and that this iniqui-
tous king- depended for his life and existence entirely
upon this very beneficence, I was particularly struck with
wonder to see the most sacred humanity pray and beseech
his eternal Father to confer upon Herod, at this very
time, enlightenment, help and blessing; to see my Son,
who had it so much in his power to punish him, by his
prayers prevent the full measure of chastisement which
he deserved. Although Herod's purpose was frustrated,
yet this obstinate reprobate was visited with less chas-
tisement than would have been given to him if my holy
Son had not prayed for him. All this, and whatever
else is contained in this matchless mercy and kindness of
Jesus, I sought to imitate; for as a Teacher He taught
me thus early what He afterwards inculcated by his
actions, words and example concerning the love of
enemies (Matth. 5, 44). When I perceive how he con-
538 CITY OF GOD
cealed and disguised his infinite power, and how, being
the invincible Lion, He became a meek and humble Lamb
(Is. 5, 29), amidst the fury of ravenous wolves, my
heart was overwhelmed and my faculties failed me in the
ardent desire of loving Him, imitating and following
Him in his love, charity, patience and meekness.
629. This example I place before thee for thy con-
stant imitation, so that thou mayest understand to what
extremes thou must be willing to bear and suffer, forgive
and love all who offend thee ; for neither thou nor other
creatures are innocent and without fault, and many are
burdened with numerous and oft-repeated sins, by which
they have merited all offenses and insults. Now, if per-
secutions afford thee the advantage of imitating Him,
why shouldst thou not esteem them as a great blessing?
Why shouldst thou not love those who give thee occasion
to practice this highest perfection, why not thank them
for this benefit, and hold them not as enemies but as
benefactors, who afford thee a chance to obtain what is
of so much importance for thy welfare? On account of
the object-lesson contained in this history, thou wilt not
be without guilt if thou fall short in this matter; for the
divine light, and all that thou perceivest and under-
standest through it, is as it were before thy eyes, as in a
living example.
CHAPTER XXIII.
JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY FROM
THE CITY OE GAZA TO HEUOPOUS IN EGYPT.
630. On the third day after our Pilgrims had touched
Gaza, they departed from that city for Egypt. Soon
leaving the inhabited parts of Palestine, they entered the
sandy deserts of Bersabe, which they were obliged to
traverse for sixty leagues in order to arrive and take their
abode in Heliopolis, the present Cairo in Egypt. This
journey through the desert consumed a number of days,
for the distance they could travel each day was but short,
not only on account of the laborious progress over the
deep sand, but also on account of the hardships occa-
sioned by the want of shelter. There were many inci-
dents on their way through this solitude ; I will mention
some of them, from which others can be conjectured;
for it is not necessary to relate all of them. In order
to understand how much Mary and Joseph and also the
Infant Jesus suffered on their pilgrimage, it must be
remembered that the Almighty permitted his Onlybe-
gotten, with his most holy Mother and saint Joseph, to
suffer the inconveniences and hardships naturally con-
nected with travel through this desert. And although
the heavenly Lady made no complaints, yet She was
much afflicted, which was also true of her most faithful
husband. For both of them suffered many personal in-
conveniences and discomforts, while the Mother, in addi-
tion thereto, was afflicted still more on account of the
sufferings of her Son and of saint Joseph ; and the latter
539
540 CITY OF GOD
was deeply grieved not to be able by his diligence and
care to ease the hardships of the Child and his Spouse.
631. During all this journey of sixty leagues through
the desert they had no other night-shelter than the sky
and open air ; moreover, it was in the time of winter, for
this journey took place in the month of February, only
six days after the Purification, as was indicated in the
last chapter. In the first night on these sandy plains
they rested at the foot of a small hill, this being the only
protection they could find. The Queen of heaven with
the Child in her arms seated Herself on the earth, and
with her husband She ate of the victuals brought with
them from Gaza. The Empress of heaven also nursed
the Infant Jesus at her breast and He on his part re-
joiced his Mother and her husband by his contentment.
In order to furnish them with some kind of shelter
against the open air, however narrow and humble it
might be, saint Joseph formed a sort of tent for the divine
Word and most holy Mary by means of his cloak and
some sticks. During that night the ten thousand angels
who, full of marvel, assisted these earthly Pilgrims in
visible human shapes, formed a guard around their King
and Queen. The great Lady perceived that her divine
Son offered up to the eternal Father the hardships and
labors both of Himself and of Mary and Joseph. In
these prayers and in the other acts of his deified Soul, the
Queen joined him for the greater part of the night. The
divine Infant slept for a short time in her arms, while
She continued wakeful and engaged in heavenly col-
loquies with the Most High and his angels. Saint Joseph
slept upon the ground, resting his head upon the chest,
which contained the clothing and other articles of their
baggage.
632. On the next day they pursued their journey and
THE INCARNATION 541
their little store of fruit and bread was soon exhausted,
so that they began to suffer great want and to feel the
hunger. Although Joseph was more deeply concerned,
yet both of them felt this privation very much. On one
of the first days of their journey they partook of no
sustenance until nine o'clock at night, not having any
more even of the coarse and poor food which until then
had sustained them in their hardships and labor. As
nature demanded some refreshment after the exertion
and weariness of travel, and as there was no way of
supplying their want by natural means, the heavenly Lady
addressed Herself to the Most High in these words:
"Eternal, great and powerful God, I give Thee thanks
and bless Thee for thy magnificent bounty ; and also that,
without my merits, only on account of thy merciful con-
descension, Thou gavest me life and being and preservest
me in it, though I am but dust and a useless creature. I
have not made a proper return for all these benefits;
therefore how can I ask for myself what I cannot repay?
But, my Lord and Father, look upon thy Onlybegotten
and grant me what is necessary to sustain my natural
life and also that of my spouse, so that I may serve thy
Majesty and thy Word made flesh for the salvation of
men."
633. In order that the clamors of the sweetest Mother
might proceed from yet greater tribulation, the Most
High permitted the elements to afflict them more than
at other times and in addition to the sufferings caused
by their fatigue, destitution and hunger. For there
arose a storm of wind and rain, which harassed and
blinded them by its fury. This hardship gjieved still
more the tender-hearted and loving Mother on account
of the delicate Child, which was not yet fifty days old.
Although She tried to cover and protect Him as much
2-38
542 CITY OF GOD
as possible, yet She could not prevent Him from feeling
the inclemency of the weather, so that He shed tears and
shivered from the cold in the same manner as other
children are wont to do. Then the anxious Mother,
making use of her power as Queen and Mistress of crea-
tures, commanded the elements not to afflict their Cre-
ator, but to afford Him shelter and refreshment, and
wreak their vengeance upon Her alone. And, as related
once before, at the occasion of the birth of Christ and
of the journey to Jerusalem, again the wind immediately
moderated and the storm abated, not daring to approach
the Mother and Child. In return for this loving fore-
thought, the Infant Jesus commanded his angels to assist
his kindest Mother and to serve Her as a shield against
the inclemency of the weather. They immediately com-
plied and constructed a resplendent and beautiful globe
round about and over their incarnate God, his Mother
and her spouse. In this they were protected and de-
fended more effectually than all the wealthy and power-
ful of the world in their palaces and rich garments. The
same they did several times during the journey through
the desert.
634. Nevertheless, they were in want of food, and
they were destitute of other things unprovidable by their
own mere human effort. But the Lord allowed them
to fall into this need in order that, listening to the ac-
ceptable prayers of his Spouse, He might make provi-
sion also for this by the hands of the angels. They
brought them delicious bread and well-seasoned fruits,
and moreover a most delicious drink; all of which they
administered and served with their own hands. Then
all of them together sang hymns of praise and thanks-
giving to the Lord, who gives food to all creatures at
opportune times, in order that the poor may eat and be
THE INCARNATION 543
filled (Ps. 135, 25) whose eyes and hopes are fixed upon
his kingly providence and bounty. Of such a kind was
the delicate feast, with which the Lord regaled his three
exiled Wanderers in the desert of Bersabe (III Kings
19, 3), for it was the same desert in which Elias, fleeing
from Jezabel, was comforted by the hearth cake, brought
to him by the angel in order that he might travel to
Horeb mount. Yet neither this bread, nor the bread and
meat, which once before the ravens had miraculously
brought him every morning and evening at the torrent of
Carith, nor the manna which fell from heaven for the
Israelites, although it was called the bread of angels and
dropped from heaven, nor the quails, which were carried
to them by the African winds; nor the cloud-tent, which
overshadowed them ; none of all these could be compared
to the succor and relief which the Lord afforded to his
Onlybegotten and to his Mother and saint Joseph. For
these favors were not to be conferred upon a prophet, or
upon an ungrateful and unthinking people ; but they were
intended for the nourishment and protection of a God
incarnate, for his true Mother: they were intended for
the preservation of the natural life of Christ, on which
depended the eternal life of the whole human race. But
if this food was worthy of the excellence of those who
were invited, so was also the thanksgiving and gratitude
worthy of the blessings conferred. In order that all this
might be so much the more opportune, the Lord per-
mitted the necessity to become extreme and thus naturally
call into play the assistance of heaven.
635. Let the poor rejoice in this example, let the
hungry confide, let the destitute take new courage, let
none complain of divine Providence, no matter how
afflicted and needy they may find themselves to be. When
has the Lord ever failed him who hoped in his assistance?
544 CITY OF GOD
(Ps. 17, 31). When has He ever turned away his coun-
tenance from his afflicted and needy children? We are
brothers of his only Son incarnate, children and heirs
of his blessings, and also children of his kindest Mother.
Why, then, ye children of God and of this most holy
Mother, do you continue to distrust such Parents in your
poverty? Why do you deprive them of this honor, and
yourselves of the privilege of being assisted and sustained
by Them? Come, come to Them with humble confi-
dence, so that They may look upon you with the eyes of
Parents and listen to your crying needs. The arms of
this Lady are stretched out toward the poor and her
hands opened for the needy. And you, ye rich of this
world, why will you confide so much in your uncertain
riches, at the imminent danger of losing your faith, of
piling up for yourselves heaviest cares and sorrows as
mentioned by the Apostle? By your avarice you fail to
conduct yourselves as children of God or of his Mother;
by your actions you make of yourselves spurious off-
springs; for legitimate children confide in the care and
love of their parents, and abhor trusting in others, who
are not only strangers but enemies. These truths are
manifest to me by the divine light and charity compels
me thus to speak.
636. The most high Father not only provided nourish-
ment for our Pilgrims, but also visible relief against the
tediousnees of this journey and continued solitude. It
happened a few times, when the heavenly Lady rested on
the ground from her fatigne, that, as on other occasions,
a great multitude of birds came flying towards Her from
the mountains. By the sweetness of their warbling and
the variety of their plumage they sought to entertain and
delight Her, perching on her shoulders and hands with
signs of great joy. The most prudent Queen gently
THE INCARNATION 545
received them and invited them to acknowledge their
Creator by their songs and to be thankful for his having
created them so beautiful and arrayed them in their
gorgeous plumage, given them the air and the earth
for their enjoyment, and provided them with daily food
and sustenance. The birds responded to her exhorta-
tions with joyous movements and sweet warblings, while
the loving Mother joined them with still more sweet and
melodious songs for the Infant Jesus, extolling and bless-
ing Him, and acknowledging Him as her God and her
Son, and as the Author of all these wonders. Also the
holy angels took part in these colloquies so full of sweet-
ness, and alternated their offerings of praise with that of
the great Lady and of these simple birds. All this pro-
duced a harmony more perceptible by the spirit than by
the senses, and of admirable concord for the rational
soul.
637. At other times the heavenly Princess conversed
with the Child and said : "My love and light of my
soul, how can I diminish thy labor? How can I relieve
Thee of thy hardships? What can I do to lighten the
sufiferings of this journey? O would that I could carry
Thee, not in my arms, but in my bosom and make for
Thee a soft couch in my heart, in order that Thou mayest
rest there without fatigue!" And the sweetest Jesus
replied: "My beloved Mother, very easily do I rest in
thy arms while making this journey, and reclining on
thy breast, I am delighted by thy affection, and enter-
tained by thy words." Sometimes the Son and Mother
conversed with each other interiorly; and these conver-
sations were so exalted and divine that our words can-
not express them. Saint Joseph shared in many of these
mysteries and consolations; and thus he eased his jour-
ney, forgot his hardships, feeling within himself the
546 CITY OF GOD
delight and sweetness of such companionship. Yet he
did not hear or perceive what the Child said audibly to
his Mother; for at that time of the life of Jesus this
favor was reserved for Her alone, as I have already-
remarked above. In this manner our Exiles proceeded
on their way to Egypt.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE MOST H0I,Y MARY,
OUR LADY.
638. My daughter, just as those who know the Lord
also know how to trust in Him, so those who do not
hope in his goodness and immense love have no perfect
knowledge of the Majesty of God. On account of the
want of faith and hope, this love also is deficient ; for we
readily place our love in whom we have confidence and
whom we esteem. In this error lies the source of all the
damage done to mortals ; for they have such a low con-
ception of the infinite bounty, which gave them being and
which preserves them, that they fail to place full confi-
dence in their God. Failing in this, they also fail in the
love due to Him and they divert it toward the creatures.
They esteem in them what they are seeking, namely
power, riches, vain honor and ostentation. Although the
faithful can remedy these injurious influences by faith
and hope, yet they allow these virtues to remain dead,
and unused, and debase themselves to the level of worth-
less creatures. Those who have riches, trust in them, and
those who have none, greedily haste after them; some
procure them by very reprehensible ways and means;
some confide in influential persons, praising and flattering
them. And thus it happens that very few seek the Lord
in such a way as to deserve his providential care; very
few trust in God and acknowledge Him as their Father,
THE INCARNATION 547
who is willing to provide for his children, who will nour-
ish and sustain them without fail in all necessities.
639. This deceitful error has filled the earth with lovers
of the world ; has filled it with avarice and concupiscence
agrainst the law of the Creator; has made men insane in
their desires; for all of them commonly strive after riches
and earthly possessions; claiming thereby merely to
satisfy their needs, which is only a pretext for hiding
their want of interest in higher things. In reality they
lie to themselves abominously, since they are seeking the
superfluous; not what is really necessary, but what min-
isters to worldly pride. If men would confine their de-
sires to what is really necessary, it would be unreasonable
to put any confidence in creatures instead of placing it
in God alone, who ineffably provides even for the young
ravens with no less solicitude than if their Growings were
prayers sent up to their Creator for help (Prov. 28, 8).
Secure in this confidence, I was not alarmed in my exile
and prolonged journey. Since I trusted in the Lord,
He provided for me in the time of my need. Thou also,
my daughter, who art aware of this exalted Providence,
shouldst not afflict thyself in the time of need, nor neglect
thy duties in order to make provision for them, nor con-
fide in human efforts, nor in creatures. After having
done what is required of thee, the most efficacious means
is to confide in the Lord, without being disturbed or con-
fused; hope patiently, even when help is somewhat de-
layed. It will always be at hand at a time when it will
do most good, and when the paternal love of the Lord
can manifest itself most conveniently and openly. Thus it
happened with me and my spouse in the time of our
destitution and necessity.
640. Those that do not bear with adversity and do
not put up with privations, who turn toward dried up
548 CITY OF GOD
cisterns (Jer. 2, 5), trusting in deceit and in the powerful
of this world; those that are not moderate in their
desires and greedily covet what is unnecessary for the
sustenance of life ; those that anxiously cling to what they
possess, fearing that it may be diminished and withhold-
ing the alms due to the poor ; all of them have reasons to
dread lest divine Providence, showing Itself just as nig-
gardly in caring for them as they are in their confidence
and in their charities to the poor, deprive them of what
they could otherwise easily expect to receive at its hands.
But the Father in heaven, who lets the sun rise over the
just and the unjust (Matth. 5, 45), and lets the rain fall
on the good and the bad, nevertheless helps all, giving
them life and nourishment. However, just as his bless-
ings are distributed to the good and to the bad, so also
it cannot be a rule with God to give greater temporal
goods to the good and less to the bad. On the contrary
He prefers that the chosen and predestined ones be poor
(James 2, 5), both because they thus gain more merit
and reward, and because there are few who know how
to use wealth properly and who can retain it without
inordinate greed. Although my most holy Son and I
had nothing to fear from this danger, yet He wished to
furnish this example to men and to teach them this
science, through which eternal life comes to them.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE HOLY TRAVELERS, JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH,
ARRIVE IN EGYPT, AND AFTER SOME WANDERINGS THEY
COME TO HEUOPOLIS, WHERE GREAT MIRACLES AR^
WROUGHT.
641. I have already mentioned that the flight of the
incarnate Word contained other mysteries and aimed at
more exahed ends than to evade Herod and his perse-
cution. The flight into Egypt was to afford the infant
Savior an occasion of visiting that country and perform-
ing the miracles spoken of by the ancient Prophets. Isaias
more expressly prophesies of them, when he says: that
the Lord shall ascend upon a swift cloud and enter into
Egypt; that the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his
presence and that the heart of the Egyptians shall melt
in the midst thereof (Is. 19, 1). These and other things
contained in this prophecy happened at the time of the
birth of Christ our Lord. Yet, passing over what does
not pertain to my purpose, I wish to say that, continuing
their pilgrimage in the manner already described, Jesus,
Mary and Joseph arrived in the populated districts of
Egypt. Before They came to the place of their abode
in Heliopolis, They were conducted by the angels, accord-
ing to the ordainment of the Most High, in a round-
about way, so that They might pass through many
places, where God wished his miracles and blessings to
be wrought for the good of the Egyptians. Thus it came
that They consumed in this journey more than fifty
days; and the distance of their journey from Bethlehem
549
550 CITY OF GOD
or Jerusalem amounted to more than two hundred
leagues, while by a direct route such long-protracted
travel would not have been necessary,
642. Egypt was much given to idolatry and its con-
comitant superstition. Even the small villages of this
country were full of idols. In many of these places
temples had been built, where the demons dwelt; and
the inhabitants, instructed by these devils, gathered in
them to offer services and sacrifices in their honor, while
the demons answered their prayers by oracles, thus
obtaining full control of this foolish and superstitious
nation. Steeped in these deceits, they lived on in such
error and subjection to the demons, that only the strong
arm of the Lord (which is the incarnate Word) could res-
cue these forsaken people and deliver them from the op-
pression of Lucifer. It was a harder and more dangerous
slavery than that in which the Egyptians had held the
people of Israel (Exod. 1, 11). In order to obtain this
deliverance and enlighten those that were living in the
region and the shadows of death (Luke 1, 79), and in
order that they might see the great light spoken of by
Isaias (Is. 9, 2), the Most High, ordained that the
Sun of justice, Christ (Mai. 4, 2), shortly after his birth,
should appear in Egypt in the arms of his most fortunate
Mother, and that He should journey and pass through
this country, illumining it everywhere by the power of
his divine light.
643. So then the Infant Jesus, with his Mother and
saint Joseph, reached the inhabited country of Egypt.
On entering the towns the divine Infant, in the arms of
his Mother, raised his eyes and his hands to the Father
asking for the salvation of these inhabitants held captive
by satan. And immediately He made use of his sover-
eign and divine power and drove the demons from the
THE INCARNATION 551
idols and hurled them to the infernal abyss. Like light-
ning- flashed from the clouds they darted forth and de-
scended to the lowermost caverns of hell and darkness
(Luke 10, 4). At the same instant the idols crashed to
the ground, the altars fell to pieces, and the temples
crumbled to ruins. The cause of these marvelous
effects were known to the heavenly Lady, for She united
her prayers with those of her most holy Son as Co-opera-
trix of his salvation. Sairjt Joseph also knew this to be
the work of the incarnate Word; and He praised and
extolled Him in holy admiration. But the demons,
although they felt the divine power, knew not whence
this power proceeded.
644. The Egyptian people were astounded at these
inexplicable happenings; although among the more
learned, ever since the sojourn of Jeremias in Egypt, an
ancient tradition was current that a King of the Jews
would come and that the temples of the idols would be
destroyed. Yet of this prophecy the common people had
no knowledge, nor did the learned know how it was
to be fulfilled : and therefore the terror and confusion
was spread among all of them, as was prophesied by
Isaias (Is. 9, 1). In this disturbance and fear, some,
reflecting on these events, came to our great Lady and
saint Joseph ; and, in their curiosity at seeing these
strangers in their midst, they also spoke to them about
the ruin of their temples and their idols. Making use
of this occasion the Mother of wisdom began to undeceive
these people, speaking to them of the true God and teach-
ing them that He is the one and only Creator of heaven
and earth, who is alone to be adored, and acknowledged
as God; that all others are but false and deceitful gods,
nothing more than the wood, or clay, or metal of which
they are made, having neither eyes, nor ears, nor any
552 CITY OF GOD
power; that the same artisans that made them, and any
other man, could destroy them at pleasure; since any
man is more noble and powerful than they; that the
oracles which they gave forth were answers of the lying
and deceitful demons within them; and that the latter
had no power, since there is but one true God.
645. The heavenly Lady was so sweet and kind in
her words, and at the same time so full of life and
force; her appearance was so charming, and all her in-
tercourse was accompanied by such salutary effects, that
the rumor of the arrival of these strange Pilgrims quickly
spread about in the different towns, and many people
gathered to see and hear Them. Moreover, the power-
ful prayers of the incarnate Word wrought a change of
hearts, and the crumbling of the idols caused an incred-
ible commotion among these people, instilling into their
minds knowledge of the true God and sorrow for their
sins without their knowing whence or through whom
these blessings came to them. Jesus, Mary and Joseph
pursued their way through many towns of Egypt, per-
forming these and many other miracles, driving out the
demons not only from the idols, but out of many bodies
possessed by them, curing many that were grievously and
dangerously ill, enlightening the hearts by the doctrines
of truth and eternal life. By these temporal benefits and
others, so eflFectual in moving the ignorant, earthly-
minded people, many were drawn to listen to the instruc-
tions of Mary and Joseph concerning a good and salutary
life.
646. They arrived at Hermopolis, which lies in the
direction of the Thebaid, and is called by some the city
of Mercury. In it there were many idols infested by
powerful demons. One of them dwelt in a tree at the
entrance of the city ; for the neighboring inhabitants had
THE INCARNATION 553
beg^n to venerate this tree on account of its size and
beauty, whence the demon had taken occasion to erect his
seat in it. When the incarnate Word came within sight
of this tree, not only was the demon hurled from his seat
and cast into hell, but the tree bowed down to the ground,
as if rejoiced by its good fortune; for even the senseless
creatures testified how tyrannical is the dominion of the
devil. This miraculous reverence of the trees happened
at other times during this journey of Christ, although
these incidents are not all recorded. But the memory of
this event remained for centuries, for the leaves and
fruits of this tree cured many sicknesses. Of this miracle
some authors make mention, as well as of others in other
cities visited by the incarnate Word and his Mother
(Nicephor 1, 10, c. 31; Sozomen 1, 5, c. 20; Brocard
II, c. 4). There is to this day a traditional fountain near
Cairo from which the heavenly Lady drew water for Her-
self and the Child, and for washing his clothes; all this
rests on truth and the veneration for these wonders and
these places still lives, not only among the faithful who
visit the holy places, but also among the infidels, who
there occasionally obtain temporal benefits from the hands
of the Lord. For also the infidels sometimes obtain cer-
tain favors, in order that the Lord may be justified be-
fore them, or in order that the memory of his wonders
may be preserved. But it is not necessary to speak of
them especially just now; since the principal wonders
during the stay of our Lord in Egypt were wrought in
Heliopolis, which, not without mysterious import, was
called city of the sun, and is now called Cairo, the grand.
647. In writing of these wonders, I asked the great
Queen in astonishment how She could have traveled with
the Child through so many strange provinces and cities?
For it appeared to me that She thereby prolonged exceed-
554 CITY OF GOD
ingly the labors and hardships of their journey. And
our Lady repHed : "Do not wonder that my most holy
Son and I journeyed so far in order to gain souls. For
the sake of even one soul, if possible, and if there would
be no other way, We would willingly traverse the whole
world." If what Jesus and Mary did for the salvation
of us men does seem great to us, it is because we do not
understand the immensity of their love, and because we
understand just as little how to make a proper return for
such love.
648. On account of these strange happenings when so
many of the demons were driven by a new and unwonted
power to populate hell, Lucifer was highly disturbed.
Furiously enraged, He issued forth into the world in
order to investigate the cause of such unlooked for events.
He roamed about through all Egypt, where so many
temples and altars of his idols had been overthrown; and
reaching Heliopolis, the largest of the cities and the scene
of the greatest destruction in his dominions, he sought
to ascertain with the utmost anxiety what kind of people
dwelt therein. He found nothing new, except that most
holy Mary had arrived in the city. Of the Infant Jesus
he made no account, deeming Him a child just like all
the rest of that age, for he knew nothing particular about
Him. But as he had been so often vanquished by the
virtues and holiness of the Virgin Mother, he was seized
with new consternation ; although he considered a woman
far too insignificant for such great works, yet he resolved
anew to persecute Her and to stir up against Her his
associates in wickedness.
649. He therefore returned immediately to hell and,
calling a meeting of the princes of darkness, told them
of the destruction of the temples and idols in Egypt. For
these demons had been hurled by the divine power from
THE INCARNATION 555
their habitations with such suddenness, confusion and
torment that at their departure they were unable to ascer-
tain the fate of the idols and temples which they were
forced to leave. Lucifer, informing them of all that had
happened, and that he feared the destruction of his reig^
in Egypt, told them that he could not ascertain or under-
stand what was the cause of this ruin, since he had found
there only that Woman, his enemy (for so the dragon
called most holy Mary) ; and though he knew that her
power was extraordinary, yet he did not presume it to
be so great as to account for such portents. Neverthe-
less, he wished them to begin a new war against Her, and
that all should prepare themselves for it. The satellites
of Lucifer proclaimed their readiness to obey, trying to
console him in his desperate fury and promising him vic-
tory, as if their forces were as great as their arrogance
(Is. 16, 6).
650. Many legions of devils accordingly sallied forth
from hell and betook themselves to the place where the
Queen of heaven was at that time. As they suspected
that God had used the most holy Mary as his instrument
in causing all their losses in that unfortunate country,
they thought they could make up for their defeat and
restore their dominion if they succeeded in overcoming
Her. But they were astonished to find that when they
attempted to approach Her in order to begin their dia-
bolical temptations, they could not come nearer to Her
than a distance of two thousand paces; for they were
restrained by the divine power, which they perceived is-
suing forth from the heavenly Lady herself. Although
Lucifer and the hostile bands struggled violently, they
were paralyzed and as if bound in strong and tormenting
shackles, without being able to reach the most unconquer-
able Queen; while She witnessed their struggles, holding
556 CITY OF GOD
in her arms the omnipotence of God himself. As Luci-
fer persevered in his attempts, he was suddenly hurled
into the abyss of hell with all his squadrons and wicked
spirits. This defeat and ruin filled the dragon with vast
torment and anxiety, and as the like had overtaken him
repeatedly since the Incarnation, he began to have new
misgivings, whether the Messias had not come into the
world. But since he knew nothing of the mystery, and
expected the Messias to come in great splendor and re-
nown, he remained in uncertainty and doubt, full of tor-
menting fury and wrath. He was consumed with the
desire to find out the cause of his sufferings, and the more
he inquired the more was he involved in darkness and
so much the less did he ascertain of the true cause.
INSTRUCTION GIVEN MB BY THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN,
MOST HOIvY MARY.
651. My daughter, great and above all else to be es-
teemed, is the consolation of the faithful friends of my
most holy Son, when they with lively faith and assurance
are permitted to serve the Lord of lords and the God of
gods, who alone holds power and dominion over all cre-
ation and who triumphs and reigns over his enemies. In
this feeling of assurance the intellect is delighted, the
memory is recreated, the will is rejoiced and all the
powers of the devout soul enjoy the sweetness of the
most exalted activity. For they are entirely taken up
with this supreme Goodness, Holiness and infinite Power,
which has need of none outside Itself and whose will
governs all created things (II Mach. 14, 35, Apoc. 4, 11).
O how many thousandfold blessings do those creatures
lose who^ forgetful of their true happiness, employ all
the time of their life and all their powers in attending
THE INCARNATION 557
upon visible things, pursuing the momentary pleasures
and seeking the apparent and deceitful goods of this
world! In the knowledge and light vouchsafed to thee
I would wish, my daughter, that thou withdraw thyself
from this danger, and that thy intellect and memory
occupy themselves continually with the reality of the ex-
istence of thy God. In this endless sea, engulf and anni-
hilate thysdf, repeating without cessation : "Who is like
to God our Lord, that dwells on high and looks upon the
humble in heaven and on earth?" (Ps. 112, 5). Who
is like to Him, that is almighty and depends upon no one ?
that humbles the proud, and casts down those whom the
blind world calls powerful, that triumphs over the demon
and hurls him to the abyss?
652. In order that thy heart may dilate so much the
more upon these truths and attain a greater power over
the enemies of the Most High and of thyself, I wish that,
as far as is possible, thou imitate me, glorying in the
victories and triumphs of his mighty arm and seeking
thyself to have a share in those which he gains over this
cruel dragon. No created tongfue, not that of the sera-
phim, can describe what my soul felt when I beheld my
most holy Son working such wonders against his enemies
for the benefit of the souls blinded and terrorized by
their errors and for the exaltation and honor of the Most
High. In this jubilation I magnified the Lord; and in
company with my Son I composed new hymns of praise
as his Mother and as Spouse of the Holy Ghost. Thou
art a daughter of the holy Church and a spouse of my
most blessed Son, favored by his grace: it is therefore
just that thou be zealous in acquiring this glory and
honor for Him, striving against his enemies and battling
for the triumphs of thy Spouse.
S-S7
CHAPTER XXV.
m ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIVINE WILL, JESUS, MARY
AND JOSEPH SETTLE DOWN TO DWELL NEAR THE CITY
OF HELIOPOLIS AND THEY REGULATE THEIR DAILY
UFE DURING THEIR BANISHMENT.
653. The traditions, which in many parts of Egypt
kept aHve the remembrance of wonders wrought by the
incarnate Word, gave rise to differences of opinion among
the sacred and other writers in regard to the city, in
which our Exiles Hved during their stay in Egypt. Some
of them assert that they dwelt in this city, some in an-
other. But all of them may be right and in accordance
with facts, since each one may be speaking of a different
period of the sojourn of our Pilgrims in Memphis, or
Babylon of Egypt, or in Matarieh ; for they visited not
only these cities, but many others. I for my part have
been informed that they passed through these and then
reached Heliopolis, where they took up their abode.
Their holy guardian angels instructed the heavenly Queen
and saint Joseph, that They were to settle in this city.
For, besides the ruin of the temples and idols, which,
just as in other places, took place at their arrival here,
the Lord had resolved to perform still other miracles for
his glory and for the rescue of souls ; and the inhabitants
of this city, (according to the good fortune already prog-
nosticated in its name as "City of the Sun"), were to
see the Sun of justice and grace arise over them and shine
upon them. Following these orders, saint Joseph sought
to purchase for a suitable price some dwelling in the
558
THE INCARNATION 559
neighborhood ; and the Lord ordained that he should find
a poor and humble, yet serviceable house, at small dis-
tance from the city, just such as the Queen of heaven
desired.
654. Having therefore found this dwelling near Heli-
opolis, they took their abode therein. At the first en-
trance of the heavenly Lady with her divine Son and
saint Joseph, She prostrated Herself to the ground, kiss-
ing it in profound humility and lovingly thanking the
Most High for having secured them this place of rest
after their prolonged and laborious journeyings. She
thanked also the earth and the elements for bearing with
Her, since in her matchless humility She persisted in
esteeming Herself unworthy of all favors. She adored
the immutable being of God in this prostration, dedicat-
ing all that She was to do in this place to his honor and
worship. Interiorly She made a sacrifice of all her
powers and faculties, offering to assume readily and with
joy all the labors by which the Almighty could be served
during her exile; for in her prudence She foresaw and
affectionately embraced them all. By means of her
divine knowledge She set a great value on sufferings;
understanding how highly they are esteemed at the divine
tribunal, and how her most holy Son looked upon them
as a rich treasure and inheritance. Having performed
these exalted acts of devotion, She set about humbly to
clean and arrange the poor little house, borrowing the
instruments for this purpose. Although our heavenly
strangers were thus sufficiently provided with the shelter
of bare walls, they were in want of all else pertaining to
the sustenance and comfort of daily life. As they now
lived in an inhabited country, the miraculous assistance,
which they had enjoyed in the desert through the min-
istry of the angels, failed them; and the Lord left them
560 CITY OF GOD
to the last resource of the poor, namely, the begging of
alms. Having come to these straits of suffering hunger,
saint Joseph went forth to seek this kind of assistance
for the love of God; giving thereby an example to the
poor not to complain of their affliction and, all other
means failing, not to be ashamed to have recourse to this
expedient. For so early the Lord of all creation allowed
Himself to fall into this extreme of being obliged to beg
for his sustenance, in order that He might have an
occasion to return the alms a hundredfold.
655. During the first three days of their arrival in
Heliopolis, just as in other places of Egypt, the Queen
had for Herself and for her Onlybegotten no other suste-
nance than what was begged by his foster father saint
Joseph. When he began to earn some wages by his
work, he made an humble couch for the Mother and a
cradle for her Son; while he himself had as a resting-
place only the bare ground; for the house was without
any furniture until by his own labor he succeeded in
making some of the most indispensable pieces for the
convenience of all three. In this connection I must not
pass over in silence the fact that in their extreme poverty
and need most holy Mary and Joseph regretted not their
house in Nazareth, nor thought of the aid of their rela-
tions and friends, nor of the gifts of the kings, which
they had given away and which, if they had saved them,
would now be useful. All of these regrets were far from
their minds, nor did they complain of the great privation
and destitution, thinking of the past or worrying about
their future. But they bore all with incomparable
equanimity, joy and tranquillity, resigning themselves to
the divine Providence in their extreme need and poverty.
O smallness of our unfaithful hearts! In what excruci-
ating anxieties we are apt to be cast at finding ourselves
THE INCARNATION 561
threatened with poverty or privation! Immediately we
begin to rail at occasions lost, at having missed or neg-
lected this or that advantage, or at not having done this
or that, by which we would have evaded our misfortunes.
All these complaints are vain and most foolish, since they
can bring no relief. Although it would have been good
if we had not committed the sins by which we are thus
punished, yet very often we are sorry for them only on
account of the temporal disadvantages, and not for the
guilt connected with sin. Slow and stupid of heart are
we to perceive the spiritual things conducive to our justi-
fication and growth in grace (Luke 24, 25) ; while on the
other hand we are full of fleshly and earthly rashness in
entering upon temporal affairs and anxieties. The ex-
ample of our Exiles is indeed a severe reprimand for our
low-minded earthliness.
656. The most prudent Lady and her spouse, forsaken
and destitute of all temporal help, accommodated them-
selves joyfully to the poverty of their little dwelling. Of
the three rooms, which it contained, they assigned one
to be the sanctuary or temple of the Infant Jesus under
the tender care of the most pure Mother; there they
placed the cradle and her bare couch, until, after some
days, by the labor of the holy spouse, and through the
kindness of some pious women, they could obtain where-
with to cover it. Another room was set aside for the
sleeping place and oratory of saint Joseph. The third
served as a workshop for plying his trade. In view of
their great poverty, and of the great difficulty of sufficient
employment as a carpenter, the great Lady resolved to
assist him by the work of her hands to earn a livelihood.
She immediately executed her resolve by seeking to obtain
needlework through the intervention of the pious women,
who, attracted by her modesty and sweetness, were be-
37
562 CITY OF GOD
ginning to have intercourse with Her. As all that She
attended to or busied Herself with was so perfect, the
reputation of her skill soon spread about, so that She
never was in want of employment whereby to eke out
the slender means of livelihood for her Son, the true God
and man.
657. In order to obtain the indispensable victuals and
clothing, furnish the house ever so moderately, and pay
the necessary expenses, it seemed to our Queen that She
must employ all day in work and consume the night in
attending to her spiritual exercises. This She resolved
upon, not for any motives of gain, or because She did
not continue in her contemplations during the day; for
this was her incessant occupation in the presence of the
infant God, as I have so often said and shall repeat here-
after. But some of the hours, which She was wont to
spend in special exercises. She wished to transfer to the
night-time in order to be able to extend the hours of
manual labor, not being minded to ask or expect God's
miraculous assistance for anything which She could at-
tain by greater diligence and additional labor on her own
part. In all such cases we ask for miraculous help more
for our own convenience than on account of necessity.
The most prudent Queen asked the eternal Father to
provide sustenance for her divine Son; but at the same
time She continued to labor. Like one who does not
trust in herself, or in her own efforts, She united prayer
with her labors, in order to obtain the necessities of life
like other men.
658. The Infant Jesus was much pleased with the pru-
dence of his Mother, and with her resignation in the midst
of her dire poverty, and in return for her fidelity He
wished to lessen the labors She had undertaken. One
day He spoke to Her from the cradle and said: "My
THE INCARNATION 563
Mother, I wish to set up a rule for thy daily life and
labors." Immediately the heavenly Mother knelt before
Him and answered: "My sweetest Love, and Lord of
all my being, I praise and magnify Thee because Thou
hast condescended to meet my secret thoughts and de-
sires ; may it please Thee to direct my footsteps according
to thy holy will, to regulate all my labors according to
thy wishes, and to order all my occupations in each hour
of the day according to thy divine pleasure. And since
thy Deity became incarnate and thy Majesty condescended
to take heed of my longings, speak. Light of my eyes, for
thy servant hears." The Lord replied: "My dearest
Mother, from the time 'of nightfall" (that is, from the
hour called by us nine o'clock) "thou shalt take some
sleep and rest. And from midnight until the break of
day thou mayest occupy thyself in contemplation with
Me, and We will praise the eternal Father. Thereupon
prepare the necessary food for thyself and Joseph; and
afterwards g^ve Me nourishment and hold Me in thy
arms until the third hour, when thou shalt place Me in
the arms of thy husband, in order to afford him some
refreshment in his labors. Then retire until it is time
to prepare his meal and return to thy work. Since thou
hast not with thee the sacred Scriptures, which were wont
to console thee, thou canst, by my holy science, enter into
the doctrines of eternal life, in order that thou mayest
follow Me in perfect imitation. And continually pray to
the eternal Father for the sinners."
659. By this rule of life the most holy Mary governed
her doings during her stay in Egypt. Every day three
times She nursed the infant God at her breast ; for when
He pointed out to Her the hour in which She was to
nurse Him in the morning, He did not forbid Her to
afford Him nourishment at other times, as She had been
564 CITY OF GOD
accustomed to do since his Nativity. Whenever the
heavenly Mother was engaged in any work, She always
performed it in his presence and upon her knees; and it
•was very usual, during their colloquies and conferences,
that the King from his cradle and the Mother at her
work, broke out in mysterious canticles of praise. If
they were all written, they would outnumber all the
psalms and the hymns used by the Church, and all that
are written ; for there can be no doubt that God conversed
with the source of his humanity, his most blessed Mother,
in a more exalted and wonderful manner than with David,
Moses, Mary, Anne and all the Prophets. By these
hymns the heavenly Mother was continually filled with
new influences of the Divinity, and new longings to be
united to his unchangeable being; for She alone was the
Phenix which could be renewed in this conflagration, and
the royal Eagle which could penetrate into the ineffable
light and soar from height to heights, whither no other
created being could venture to wing its flight. She ful-
filled the end for which the divine Word had assumed
flesh in her virginal womb, namely, to draw on and ele-
vate the rational creatures to the Divinity. As She was
the only Creature which did not present the hindrance of
sin and its effects, nor from disordered passions and
appetites, but was free of the downward tendency of our
earthly nature. She flew upward to her Beloved and to
his exalted habitation, not resting until She reached her
Center, which was the Divinity. Moreover She had
always in view the way and the light (John 16, 6), the
incarnate Word, and all her desires and affections met
in the immutable being of the Most High ; and therefore
She hastened on in burning fervor, embracing Her goal
rather than flying towards it, and living more in her love
than in her life.
THE INCARNATION 565
660. Sometimes, also, the infant God slept under the
watchful care of his happy and fortunate Mother; in
order that also this saying might become true : "I sleep,
but my heart is awake" (Cant. 5, 2). And as this most
holy body of her Son was for Her a most clear mirror,
in which She saw and penetrated the secrets of his deified
Soul and its operations (Wis. 7, 16), She beheld Herself
therein again and again. Especially consoling to the
heavenly Lady was it to see the most holy Soul of her
Son revealed to Her in all its heroic operations as a Pil-
grim and yet a Comprehensor, while at the same time his
bodily faculties were lost in the tranquil and beauteous
sleep of childhood, his whole humanity being hypostatic-
ally united to the Divinity. Our language is incapable
of describing the sweet affections and flights of love, and
the heroic acts of the Queen of heaven on these occasions,
and falls far short of the reality; but where words fail,
let faith and love supply the deficiency.
661. Whenever She wished to afford saint Joseph the
consolation of holding the Infant Jesus, the Mother of
God said: "My Son and Lord, look upon thy faithful
servant Joseph with the love of a son and father, and
delight Thyself in the purity of his affectionate soul, so
acceptable in thy eyes." And to saint Joseph She said :
"My Spouse, receive in thy arms the Lord, who holds
in his hands all the orbs of heaven and earth, and who
has given them existence out of his mere bounty. Re-
fresh thyself from thy labors in Him who is the glory
of all creation." For these favors saint Joseph returned
most humble thanks ; and he was wont to ask his Spouse
whether he could dare to caress the Child. Encouraged
by Her, he would do so; and this privilege made him
forget all the hardships of his labor, and made them easy
and sweet in his eyes. Whenever Mary and Joseph were
566 CITY OF GOD
at their meals they had with them the Infant; in serving
the meals, the heavenly Queen held Him in her arms,
partaking of the food with great modesty and, in holding
Him, She at the same time afforded her most pure soul
a sweeter and more nourishing food than to the body,
adoring and loving Him as the eternal God, and caressing
Him with the tenderness of a Mother. It is impossible
to conceive the attention which She paid to this double
duty; on the one hand, to fulfill all obligation that was
due to Him as from a creature to its Creator, looking
upon Him in his Divinity, as Son of the eternal Father,
as King of kings, and Lord of lords, as the Maker and
Preserver of all the universe; and on the other hand, to
give to Him all the attention that He deserved as an
Infant, serving Him and nursing Him. Betwixt these
two extremes She was entirely inflamed with love, and
her whole being consumed in heroic acts of admiration,
praise and affection. Of all the rest which the two
Spouses did it can only be said that they were the wonder
of the angels, and that they attained the summit of
holiness and of divine pleasure.
INSTRUCTION VOUCHSAFED BY THE QUEEN OE HEAVEN,
MOST H0L,Y MARY.
662. My daughter, I came into Egypt, where I knew
no relations or friends, in a land of foreign religion,
where I could offer no home or protection or assistance
to my Son, whom I loved so much. It can easily be
understood, then, what tribulations and hardships we suf-
fered, since the Lord permitted them to come over Us.
Thou canst not understand with what patience and for-
bearance We accepted them; and even the angels cannot
estimate the reward I merited from the Most High by
THE INCARNATION 567
the love and resignation with which I bore them, and
which were greater than if I had been in the greatest
prosperity. It is true, I grieved much to see my hus-
band in such necessity and want ; but at the same time I
blessed the Lord to be able to suffer them. In this most
noble patience and joy of spirit I wish that thou imitate
me whenever the Lord offers thee an occasion; and that
thou learn to act with prudence interiorly and exteriorly,
ordering well thy actions and thy thoughts, without
hindrance to either of them.
663. When the necessaries of life are wanting to those
under thy charge, exert thyself properly to obtain them.
If sometimes thou must sacrifice thy own tranquillity in
fulfilling this obligation, thou needst not on that account
lose thy peace of mind; especially if thou art mindful
of what I have so often told thee: not to lose sight of
the presence of the Lord; for by his divine light and
grace, if thou art careful and preservest thy peace, thou
canst do all things. Whatever can duly be procured by
human exertion, is not to be expected by a miracle, nor
must one try to exempt himself from labor in the hope
of a supernatural interference on the part of God; for
the Lord sweetly concurs with the ordinary and natural
course of created things. The labor of the body is serv-
iceable to the soul as a sacrifice and as an increase of
the merits due to that kind of activity. While at work
the rational creature can praise God and adore Him in
spirit and in truth (John 4, 23). In order to fulfill this
duty, direct thy activity according to his pleasure, con-
sult his will in regard to them, weighing them with the
scales of the sanctuary and riveting thy attention upon
the divine light which the Almighty infuses in thy soul.
CHAPTER XXVI.
OF THE WONDERS WHICH THE INFANT JESUS, MOST HOLY
MARY AND JOSEPH WROUGHT AT HEUOPOUS IN
EGYPT.
664. Isaias says that the Lord shall enter Egypt upon
a light cloud in order to work miracles for that country.
Isaias, in calling the most holy Mary, or, as others think,
the humanity derived from Her, a cloud, no doubt
wishes to indicate that the Lord was to fertilize and
water the barren land of the hearts of its inhabitants, in
order that henceforth they might produce the fruits of
sanctity and of divine knowledge. And so it really hap-
pened after that heavenly cloud had overshadowed this
land. For immediately the belief in the true God began
to spread, and idolatry to be destroyed; the paths of
eternal life began to be opened, which until then had been
held closed by the demons. To such an extent was all
this true that there was scarcely any province in that land
in which the true God remained unknown, as soon as the
incarnate Word had arrived therein. Although some of
the people came to this knowledge through intercourse
with the Hebrews, which existed between these two
nations at that time (Kings IV, 17, 24) ; yet a great
many errors, superstitions and worship of the demons
were mixed up with it; just as was the case with the
Babylonians, who at another time came to live in Sa-
maria. But after the Sun of justice began to illumine
Egypt, and Mary most holy, the taintless cloud, began
to overshadow that land, it became so fertile in holiness
568
THE INCARNATION 569
and grace that it gave forth abundant fruit for many
centuries. This is witnessed by the many saints that
lived in it afterwards, and by the thousands of hermits
that made its mountains gather up and distil such sweet
honey of sanctity and Christian perfection.
665. As I said, in order to secure these blessings to
the Egyptians, the Lord took his dwelling in the city of
Heliopolis. As it was so full of idols, temples and altars
of the demons, which at his entrance all fell to the dust
with great crashing and noise, the whole city was set in
commotion and confusion by the suddenness of this ruin
(Is. 19, 1). People rushed about astonished and as if
crazed in mind; curiosity brought to the newly arrived
strangers numbers of men and women, who sought to
speak to the great Queen and saint Joseph. The heavenly
Mother, who was aware of the mysterious designs of
God, spoke to their inmost hearts with great wisdom,
prudence and sweetness. They were filled with wonder
at her incomparable gentleness and her exalted teachings,
which undeceived them of their errors ; and as She imme-
diately cured some of their sick. She quieted and en-
couraged them so much the sooner. These miracles were
so rapidly noised abroad that in a short time an immense
concourse of people gathered to see the heavenly Stran-
gers; and the most prudent Lady was forced to consult
her most holy Son as to her further conduct toward this
great multitude. The infant God told Her to instruct
them in the knowledge of God, teach them his true wor-
ship, and exhort them to desist from sinful life.
666. In this office of preaching to the Egyptians, and
of teaching them, our heavenly Princess served as the
instrument of her most holy Son, who lent power to her
words. The effect of it was so great that many books
would be required to describe the wonders and the con-
570 . CITY OF GOD
versions of souls that took place during the seven years
of their stay in this province; for in her ministry She
was filled with the benedictions of sweetness (Ps. 20, 4).
Whenever the heavenly Lady listened to and answered
those that came to Her, She held in her arms the Infant
Jesus, as the One who was the Author of all the graces
to be dispensed to sinners. She spoke to each one in
the manner suitable to his capacity and serviceable for
teaching him the doctrine of eternal life. She enlight-
ened them concerning the Divinity and made them under-
stand that there cannot be more than one God. She ex-
plained to them the several articles of truth pertaining
to the Creation and Redemption of the world. She im-
pressed upon their minds the commandments of the deca-
logue, founded upon the natural law; and She showed
them the manner of adoring and worshipping God, and
how they were to expect the regeneration of the human
race.
667. Concerning the demons. She explained how they
were enemies of God and men; how deeply they kept
men in error by their idol-worship and the false answers
of their oracles; how they induced men to commit the
vilest abominations and afterwards secretly tempted them
by exciting the disorderly passions. Although the Queen
of keaven was so pure and free from all that is imperfect,
nevertheless, for the glory of the Most High, She did
not deem it beneath Her to speak to them of those vile
and impure excesses in which all Egypt was sunk. She
also declared to them that the Repairer of so many ills,
v/ho was to overcome the demons as it was written of
Him, was already come into the world, although She did
not say that She held Him in her arms. In order that
her teachings might be accepted so much the more readily,
and the truth might be more apparent, She confirmed her
THE INCARNATION 571
words by great miracles, curing all sorts of people who
were sick or possessed by the devil and who came from
all parts of the country. A few times the Queen went to
the infirmaries and conferred admirable blessings upon
the sick. Everywhere She consoled the sorrowful and
brought relief to the afflicted and the unfortunate, win-
ning all by loving kindness and beneficence and admon-
ishing them with sweet earnestness.
668. In regard to the cure of the sick and wounded
the heavenly Lady hesitated between two different senti-
ments : the one of charity, which drew Her to nurse the
wounded with her own hand, and the other of modesty,
which forbade Her to touch anyone. In order that all
propriety might be observed, her most holy Son empow-
ered Her to cure the men by her mere word and 'exhorta-
tions; while She might cure the women by the touch
of her hands and cleansing their wounds. This course
of action She maintained thenceforward, taking upon
Herself as well the office of a mother as of a sick-nurse,
respectively. But, as I will narrate, after they had lived
two years in that place, saint Joseph also began to cure
the sick, while the matchless charity of the Queen busied
itself more particularly with the cure of the women.
Though She was Herself endowed with such unsullied
purity, free from all infirmities and sufferings, yet She
hesitated not to tend their festering ulcers and apply with
her own hands the coverings and bandages required. All
this She did with such tender compassion, as if She her-
self were afflicted with their misfortunes. Sometimes it
happened that, in order to relieve and cure the poor. She
asked permission of her divine Son to place Him in the
csadle; thus permitting the Lord of the poor to witness
in another way the loving charity of this humble Lady.
But in all these occupations and cures (O wonderful to
572 CITY OF GOD
relate!) this most modest Mistress never looked upon
the face of either man or woman. Even when the wound
was in the face, her modesty was so exquisite that She
would not have been able to recognize any of her patients
by their features if She had not known all men by another
interior kind of vision.
669. On account of the excessive heat pr
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