Letter 58. To a Religious woman
He encourages her, and shows how she is to carry herself, at that time.
Devout servant of Christ our Lord; you sent me word, that you were in the last days of your life; and that this, was the time, wherein you desired me to remember you. So I do. And though the news you give me, is not pleasing to flesh and blood; yet when I look upon you, with christian eyes, it is to recreate my soul. And so is it also to recreate yours, as our Lord saith in the Gospel; when those things begin to show themselves, look about you, and lift up your heads, for your redemption is near at hand. For though Christ have freed you by his goodness, & the merit of his blood, from mortal sins; yet still you are in danger of committing even then, and you actually commit venial sins; and you are still in the captivity of your body, which is so subject to misery, as that it makes, even a S. Paul and others, who are like him, sigh and groan; and say, as himself relates it, that they lived in expectation of the redemption of their body.12
But there, you shall neither sin mortally, not venially. For by means of the blood of that lamb, which was shed for us, hell, where they ever sin, shall have nothing to do with you; but only Purgatory; where though they suffer, yet they sinne not. And from thence, you shall go forth to see your Spou●e, to enjoy that bliss, which he won for you, with the nails in his hands, and with his feet fastened to the Cross. And forasmuch as, it is a stranger thing, to see God nailed upon a Cross, then to see you placed in heaven; I confide in his goodness, that, since he had mercy enough, to make him do the more, he will not want it for that which is the less.
Thither will he carry you, thither, I say, will he carry you, to remain with himself. For the espousals, which here were celebrated between you, when you solemnly made Profession, that you would live and dye in the state of Religion, was one day to be concluded, by that being, together both of him the spouse, and of her, his fellow spouse in heaven. There shall you see yourself, in so great liberty, and abundance, that you will esteem your enclosure, & afflictions, here, for well employed. And there will they give you, a body, which though in substance it shall be the very same, which here you have; yet shall it be very different, in health, and life, and other things. And you will incomparably more rejoice in it there, than you have suffered in it, here. All entire, all entire, in body, and soul, are you to be blessed there; and so beautified, as is fit for the honour of him, who took you for his spouse Jesus Christ the lord, both of this, & the other world. Be not therefore dismayed, when you are to dye, by thinking of what your own sins deserve. Christ our lord, can do all things, and he love's you, & will not forsake you. And since he hath preserved you; in this time of your navigation, amongst all the tempests of this life; be sure, that he will not suffer you to perish; now that you are going to disinbarke.
Put yourself wholly into his hand, offering yourself entirely, to him, both in life, & death, and to whatsoever he will. And beg pardon of him, by his blood, for all that, wherein you have offended him: and being confessed, & communicated, cast yourself headlong at his feet, and desire of him, one drop of his blood, whereby you may be washed, and have great confidence, that you shall be so.
Be as reserved, to yourself, & as free from all conversation, as the state of your sickness will permit. For our Lord, before he was to die, left his disciples, that he might pray in solitude, to his father, giving us so to understand, that in this trance, we must resemble him. And let your discourse be with Christ our lord, & with his Bl Mother. And to the end that your infirmity divert you not, from them; it will be well, that you behold an image of the Crucifix; & of his Mother standing by him. Give thankes to our lord, with your whole hart, for the favour he hath done you, whether they be general, or particular; and cast yourself into the wounds of Christ soul Lord, which is that Sanctuary, out of which, his justice, must not draw such malefactors, as are repentant. And repose you there, and conceive strong hope, that by means of his blood, and death, you shall go, and enjoy, that life in heaven, which never is to have an end. Our Lord JESUS be ever with you. Amen.
Footnotes
Chapter 23 of 57