13. Of her divers raptures and her knowledge of the state of certain religious

And so this virgin, feeble in body, fervent in spirit, was very often rapt into ecstasy by excess of mind ; but in her rapture it was not rara hora et brevis mora (rare hour and brief delay). Once a certain religious questioned her con cerning her state and patience in her afflictions which she endured daily. To whom she replied that she was burdened very excessively and above her strength, and that, unless the loving Lord supported her with the staff of consolation, she might easily faint away under the weight of her sorrows. For she said that by the influx of the divine ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM mercy almost every night for a long period of one hour or more she was rapt to behold things heavenly, by the de light of which she was so refreshed that all torment, even the most bitter, was rendered for her not only bearable but even pleasant. She was also rapt to the regions of Purgatory and to the tortures of Hell, that, seeing these horrible punishments, she might more easily endure present scourgings, and by in terior compassion might willingly do penance for those who needed deliver ance. In these and the like blissful raptures, for nearly thirty-four years lying on a bed of pain, she was visited and strengthened in spirit ; but at times she was deprived of the divine raptures, as has been said, from certain causes. Finally, in His many dealings by contrary events, God trying her often humiliated her, and frequently visiting her raised her the higher. By occasion therefore of these raptures she knew many churches and monasteries of religious and the arrangement of places and the building of churches ; religious persons also, whom she had never seen, she knew by name, and what divinely befell them she sometimes narrated to others.

ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM She had said once to a certain Prior that she knew his monastery and church just as he did, and that at night while the brethren were sleeping she was wont to visit their dormitory, and that she used to see holy angels standing by the beds of the brethren.1 There was a certain youth, Henry by name, born at Hague, a town of the duchy of Holland, whom the virgin had never seen before, who, inspired by the grace of God, without the knowledge of his parents sought and obtained the habit of holy religion in the parts of Brabant near Diest. Whose father, named William, knowing not what had happened his son, came to the virgin perhaps to ask some questions. Who, at once addressed by her in his own name and surname, heard the virgin wishing all prosperity to his son, and rejoicing over the good things done to him by God. Whereupon he, wondering, de manded the reason of these congratula- 1 We learn from Brugman that this monastery was St. Elizabeth's of Briel, for the canons of which Ven. Thomas a Kempis compiled this Life. The community was incorporated into the Congregation of Windesheim by the general chapter of 1406 ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM tions. And she, adding joyous tidings to his astonishment replied that he had been clothed in the habit of holy religion in the aforesaid monastery.

There was also another religious, born at Dordrecht, but professed as a regular in Eymsteyn, who once entered the virgin's cell silently to visit her, whom she, calling by his own name, very graciously greeted. And although per haps she had seen him once before, at that moment certainly she did not see him bodily.1 Whereat also he, being astounded, asked whence she thus knew him, to whom she replying simply said, "The Lord hath granted." Let these two examples be enough for the moment. Brother Hugh, formerly Subprior in Briel, heard them from the mouth of those to whom they personally happened, and he remains as a witness of their truth.

1 The reader must remember again that the servant of God had entirely lost the use of one eye and almost entirely of the other, and that she habitually lay in darkness.