A SYMBOLICAL VISION. 187 I will relate with all simplicity what I experienced, and the manner of it. 66 One day, after Holy Communion, I was adoring the Saviour Jesus in my heart, when I saw before me a beautiful valley which the Saviour showed me. My daughter," said Jesus to me, "go across this valley, and ascend to the plain that stretches above it." I immediately obeyed. On either side of the valley I observed, at intervals, magnificent trees whose leaves shone like pearls. Between each tree there stood a sentinel; they wore no military uniform and carried no musket. All had their arms crossed on their breast; they stood erect, and looked up to Heaven. I saw them alternately cast their eyes on me and then lift them up to Heaven. I was not afraid, and continued on my way. Soon I reached the entrance of the valley. An immense wall had been raised on each side, and these two walls were joined by steps of stone about twelve feet in length, three in depth, and one in height. On each wall I saw figures of lions, elephants, and bulls. On reaching the highest step I beheld a vast plain entirely surrounded with walls, and in the middle of the plain a magnificent palace. An iron railing prevented my passing into this plain, but suddenly it opened, turning on the pavement, which was of finely polished stone. I passed through, and the gate immediately closed again. I crossed the plain all alone; the doors of the palace were shut, and it seemed to me to be inhabited. I found myself a prisoner, and did not know what would befal me. Nevertheless I felt happy, thinking I was about to 66 die there, and fly up to Heaven. "Lord," I cried, come to my assistance, make haste to succour me, and deliver my soul. Lord, have pity on me; turn Thyself towards me, O my God, and look favourably upon me. Wilt Thou forget Thy humble servant, O Jesus; and how long wilt Thou hide from me the sight of Thy glory? O Jerusalem, holy Sion, how blessed are they who live within thy precincts! as for me, I bemoan myself here as an exile, a poor prisoner. O Lord Jesus, wilt Thou not hearken to the voice of Thy servant?" Then a voice issued from the palace, and said: "Who is she who stands without and calls upon Me?" "Lord," I replied, "Thou knowest all things, Thou knowest the most secret thoughts of men, Thou hast numbered the hairs of my head, Thou knowest that the voice Thou hast heard is the voice of Thy servant Marie." Then I fell on my knees with my face to the ground. The gates of the palace opened, and, rising, I beheld a multitude of virgins, having crowns on their heads and palms in their hands. Jesus was in the midst of them, surpassing all in His splendour and His beauty. Seeing them approaching me, I cried : "Lord, I am only a poor sinner, I am not worthy to appear before Thee." Jesus drew near to me, and I said: "Thy beauty is above all beauty and Thy glory above all glory." Then I became beautiful like the other virgins, who put a crown on my head and a palm in my hand, and I took my place in their ranks. All now returned into the palace singing a canticle of sweetest melody, in which they promised Jesus that they would ever love Him, and follow Him whithersoever He should go. VISION AFTER COMMUNION. 189 9. The graces which Jesus bestows on souls who choose Him for their Spouse; of the soul espoused to One day I was about to have the happiness of receiving Holy Communion, when I heard the voice of the Saviour saying to me: "How I long to enter into your heart, My daughter, to give you the graces I have prepared for you!" As for me, I say it to my confusion, instead of being filled with love and gratitude to so good a God, I seemed to be without any feeling of affection for Him; my heart nevertheless retained a most sweet impression from His words. After communicating I entered into my heart, and bent my knee before Jesus, whom I found seated as a master and a sovereign. He gave me no sign of tenderness, not even one of those glances, so full of sweetness, which penetrate to the very depth of the soul. I did not venture to raise my eyes towards Him. I remained in silence at His feet, esteeming myself only too happy that He should be pleased to bear with me, making a sacrifice of the desire I had to participate in His sweet favours, and confessing how unworthy I was of them. It was not long before I felt myself gently drawn towards Him. Addressing Himself to His Father, He said: "My Father, send to her the Holy Spirit. Shed down upon this child Thy most abundant graces, Thou knowest My designs concerning her, look not upon her merits but only upon Mine." Then, regarding me with an eye full of kindness, He said: “Offer thyself in sacrifice to God My Father, as I offered Myself in the Temple in the arms of My Mother." I did as He bade me, and it seemed to me that God shed down upon me His grace and the sweetness of His Spirit. After this, I saw a person clothed in white coming towards me. I took him for an angel. This is what I witnessed, and these are the thoughts that came at the same time into my mind. The angel took a great chain of gold which was attached to the girdle of Jesus and, without saying a single word to me, fastened it by one end to my girdle, passing between two rings of the chain a padlock, which he locked with a golden key. He also attached my hands and my feet to the Hands and Feet of Jesus in like manner, but with smaller chains; and I said to myself: "These chains are a figure of the charity which ought to unite me to God in all my actions." Then the angel brought a robe of shining whiteness, but of very simple material, and clothed me therewith. I said to myself: "This robe is a figure of the innocence and simplicity which ought to be in me." The angel also put on me a red mantle, which he crossed over my breast; and I said to myself: "This is a figure of the sufferings I shall have to endure, but on which I must not let my mind dwell." After this, the angel threw over my shoulders a superb vesture, the colours of which I could not describe, so various and so beautiful were they. It was enriched with magnificent embroidery in gold, very wide, and secured on my bosom by a golden clasp. I said to myself: "This is a figure of charity." In the middle of this vesture I observed a very large white ribbon, the end of which was held by the Blessed Virgin. Mary advanced towards me, and, passing the ribbon three times round my neck, arranged it very gracefully. I said to myself: "This JESUS CHOOSES MARIE FOR HIS SPOUSE. 191 is a figure of the pure and tender devotion which you ought to have for Mary." The angel then combed my hair, and let it fall dishevelled on my shoulders; and I said to myself: "This figures to you the spirit of penance which you ought to have." He left my feet bare; and I said to myself: "This figures to you the complete detachment you ought to have from all things." He washed my feet, my hands, and my face, and they became of a dazzling whiteness, and the water he had used was sprinkled on my head. I said to myself: "This is a figure of the purity of intention which is necessary in all actions." Next, he put a crown of thorns upon my head, a poor and simple cross in my hand, and before my eyes a lance and a sword, whose edges were stained with blood, which he wiped and dipped in water. I said to myself: "This crown and this cross figure to you the suffering you are to endure; this lance and sword represent to you, not the blood you shall shed, but the tears you shall let fall, or, rather, the pains you shall suffer, not in your body, but in your soul." Then he covered me with a large black veil, and he also covered half the lance and sword with the veil ; and I said to myself: "The sword and the lance thus half-hidden figure to you your sufferings, which shall be half-hidden, and the veil represents the humility with which you ought to be clothed all your life long." Then Jesus said to me: "My daughter, be happy; I choose you for My spouse. Let this title be dearer to you than that of queen: I am your Beloved. Never share your heart, then, with any creature. Whom could you find more beautiful, more loving, more wealthy, more powerful, more perfect than Me? Who, |