SYON'S ORCHARD
ST CATHERINE OF SIENA IN
ENGLISH
IN PROGRESS
The Translator's Prologue
eligious Mother and devout
Sisters
called and chosen busily to labour at the house of Syon, in the blessed
vineyard of our holy Saviour, his perfect Rule which he himself
dictated
to be kept continually until your lives' end under the governance of
our
blessed Lady, his service to read and to sing as her special servants
and
daughters, and she your most sovereign lady and chief abbess of her
holy
convent. I sinful creature, unworthy to bear any name, to the worship
of
that holy Saviour and at the reverence of his glorious mother, to your
spiritual recreation with help of your prayers, compelled by charity
for
spiritual affection, purpose to write to you after my simple feeling,
the
revelations of our Lord to his chosen maid, Catherine of Siena. This
Book
of Revelations as for your spiritual comfort to you I call a fruitful
orchard.
This orchard by God's grace my will is to divide into seven parts, and
each part into five chapters, as you may see and read in the following
calendar.
In this orchard, when you will be comforted, you may walk and see both fruit and herbs. And though some fruit or some herbs seem to some sharp, hard or bitter, yet for purging of the soul they are very helpful and profitable, when they are discreetly taken and received by counsel. Therefore, religious sisters, in this spiritual orchard at planned reasonable times, I would that you play and walk about where you will with your mind and reason, in what alley you like and namely there where you taste best, as you are disposed. You may choose if you will of thirty-five paths where you may walk, that is to say thirty-five chapters, at one time in one, at another in another. But first my counsel is clearly to try and search the whole orchard, and taste of such fruit and herbs reasonably after your affection, and what you like best, afterwards chew it well and eat of it for the health of your soul.
And now, Sisters, I cease writing this prologue, and in a kind of calendar here I will show you now the ordering of this orchard in time to come by God's grace, as he will of his mercy to grant me bodily health and length of life to plant it and set it with such fruit and herbs as our Lord showed to the aforesaid maid in her contemplation when her soul was ravished from all bodily feeling, as her secretaries witnessed and all her disciples. And forasmuch as I said before, this book shall be divided into seven parts, and each part into five chapters. Here, therefore, I begin the Calendar and I commend me to your prayers.
Calendar
First Part
The chapters of the first part
Chapter 1
The first chapter of this first
part speaks of how the soul of this maid is oned to God; and how, when
that soul was lifted up in contemplation, she made four petitions to
our
Lord. Also how the desire of this soul increased, while the need of the
world was showed to her by our Lord. Also how the works of a man in the
world do not suffice to punish his sin in purgatory, nor to be rewarded
in bliss without continual affection of charity. Also how desire and
contrition
of a man's heart make satisfaction for his sin, and for the punishment
of his sin, when he labours for his own soul and for all other men's
souls;
and how sometimes it makes satisfaction for the sin, and not for the
punishment.
Chapter 2
The second chapter is how each
virtue and fault is by some manner done to one's neightbouR; also how
virtues
are wrought in us by some way through our neighbour. Also why there is
so much difference in virtues which are in creatures. Also how virtues
are proved and strengthened by their contraries.
Chapter 3
The third chapter treats of the
virtue of discretion; and first how a soul shall not put his affection,
nor effectual working, in penance principally, but in virtues. And how
discretion comes from meekness; and how discretion yields to each
creature
who belongs to him. Also our Lord God shows here a similitude how
charity,
meekness and discretion be oned together; to which likeness a soul
conforms
as much as she may. Also how a bodily penance and other bodily exercise
should be taken for an instrument to come to virtues, and not for
principal
affection. Also of the light of discretion, that is to say: in diverse
ways and workings. Also here he shows a repetition of some words said
earlier:
and how God promises his refreshment and comfort, and to Holy Church
reformation
through suffereing in penance and tribulation.
Chapter 4
The fourth chapter is how the
working
of the soul of this maid by the answer of our Lord both increased and
failed
in the bitterness of her soul; and how she made her prayer for his holy
Church and for his people. Also how God moaned for his Christian
people,
and specially of his priests. Also here he touches somewhat of the
sacrament
of his holy body, and of the benefit of his incarnation.
Chapter 5
Also how sin is more grievously
punished after Christ's passion than before; and how God promises to do
mercy to the world and to holy Church through prayers and enduring
penance
and discomfort. Also how this soul knowing so much of the goodness of
God
prayed not only for Christian people and for holy Church, but prayed
also
for all the world. How God made his complaint of his rational
creatures,
and especially for their own self love which reigns in them, where he
comforts
this soul to prayers and to tears. Also how no man may escape the hands
of God, but that he must abide either his righteousness or his mercy.
How
this soul, on a time when she sweat water for a holy spiritual burning
heat in time of prayer, desired that her sweating should have been
blood
rather than water; and how she reproached herself that she had not
sweat
blood; and in this reproaching she made a special prayer for her
spiritual
father. Also how a man may not please God unless he bear tribulation
with
patience.
Second Part
The chapters of the second part
Chapter 1
The first chapter of the second
part make mention of a bridge, and how God made a bridge of his son
when
the way of going to heaven was broken by Adam's disobedience, by which
all true Christian may may pass over; how God induces and stirs this
soul
to behold the greatness of this bridge, that is to say, how it reaches
from earth to heaven. Also how we all are labourers, and are sent from
God to labour in the vineyard of holy Church; and how each man and
woman
has a vineyard of their own; and how we which be the twigs or the
branches
be oned in the true vine of the Son of God; also by what way God bears
the branches which are oned to the foresaid vine, and that is to say,
these
servants; also how the vineyard of each man is oned with the vineyard
of
his neighbour, insomuch that no man may set,
or till, or distrie
his own vineyard unless he set, till or
distrie
his neighbour's vineyard. Also how this foresaid soul, when she had
given
praise to God, prayed him to show her those who were going by that
bridge,
and those who were not going by that bridge.
Chapter 2
Also how that blessed bridge,
God's
son, has three stairs, by which are meant the three states of a soul;
and
how this bridge, when it is raised up at the top, yet is not separated
from the earth. Also how this word shall be understood: Si ergo
exaltatus
fuero a terra, omnia trahum ad me [ ]. Also how this bridge
is
walled with stones meaning real and true virtues, and upon this bridge
there is a shop or a place where meat shall be given to travellers; and
who goes by that bridge goes to life and who goes under by the river
goes
to perdition and to the depths; how men go that will travel by these
two
ways, whether he goes by that one or the other; and of the joy that a
soul
has that goes to the bridge.
Chapter 3
The third chapter makes mention
still of this same bridge, God's son, and tells how when our Lord was
ascended
up into heaven on the day of the Ascension he was not parted from the
earth.
Also how this soul as she wondered about the mercy of God, she numbered
in her soul the multitude of the gifts of God and the graces which came
to mankind of that same divine mercy. Also of the unworthiness of those
which went by the river under the foresaid bridge. And how God cleans
that
soul which goes under the tree of death, which has roots principally in
the four vices.
Chapter 4
Also how the fruit of this tree
is as different as is the diversity of sins; and here he shows first of
fleshly sin. Also how the fruit of some trees is avarice; and of the
evil
that comes of that sin; and how unrighteousness is the fruit of some
men's
trees which have the state of domination. Also through his
unrighteousness
and through other defaults a man comes into false judging. Also of the
unworthiness into which a man falls through these defaults. Here also
God
speaks upon that word which Christ said: Ego mittam paraclitum.
Christ said 'I shall send the holy Spirit, which shall reproach the
word
of unrighteousness and of false judging. And here he said that one of
these
reproaches is continual.
Chapter 5
The fifth chapter is of the
second
undernaming, or blaming, where unrighteousness and false judgment are
reproved,
both in general and in particular. Also of four principle torments of
them
who are damned, which all other torments follow; and in special and
singularly
of the foul sight of the fiend. Also of the third reproof and blaming
that
shall be at Doomsday, how they who are damned may not desire any
goodness;
and of the joy of them that are blessed. Also that after the general
Judgment,
the pain of them that shall be damned shall be increased.
Third Part
The chapters of the third part
Chapter 1
Also of the profit of temptation;
and how each soul in his last end of this life sees and tastes or feels
his place, before he departs from the body; that is to say: he shall
know
the pain or joy which he shall have hereafter. How the fiend catches
ever
soul under colour of some goodness; and how those who are stopped by
the
river and those who do not go by the bridge are deceived into believing
that there they will avoid punishment, they fall into torments. Here is
also put a vision, which this soul had, and was a vision of a tree.
Also
how the world for sin brought forth thorns and briars, yet there are
some
that are not annoyed by them, although no man may come to everlasting
life
without some pain suffered thereto. Also the evil that comes of the
blindness
of the spiritual eye or sight. Also how good deeds that are not in the
state of grace avail not for everlasting life.
Chapter 2
The second chapter tells how the
precepts must not be kept but that a man should of perfection keep the
counsels, and how in each estate which a man choses, so that he has a
holy
and a good will, that state is pleasing to God. Also how worldly men
with
all their goods may not be fulfilled; and of the pain they deserve by
their
wicked will, as well in this life as after. How a servile dread is not
enough for everlasting life; and how with exercise of this dread a man
may come to the love of virtues.
Chapter 3
Also how this soul fell into a
mourning for the blindness of them who were drowned in the foresaid
river.
And three stairs were figured in the foresaid bridge, that is to say:
in
God's son, meaning the three strengths in the soul; and how these three
virtues of the soul if are not joined together, there may be no
perseverance,
without which perseverance no man may come to the goal of perfection.
Also
in this chapter is an exposition of the word of Christ where he dais: Siqui
siti, et cetera. That is to say, 'Who so thirst, come to me and
drink'.
Also how each reasonable creature generally may govern themselves, so
that
he may pass out from the sea of this world, and go by the foresaid holy
bridge. Also here is a repetition of some words said before.
Chapter 4
The fourth chapter tells when our
Lord would show to his devout soul that the three stairs of the bridge
are figured by the three states of the soul, then he told her to lift
herself
up above herself to behold this truthfulness. Also how this devout
soul,
beholding in the mirror of God, saw diverse creatures go in diverse
ways.
Also how the dread of slavery without love of virtues is not sufficient
to everlasting life; and how the law of dread and the law of love be
oned
together. Also how a man who has the dread of bondage, or a slave state
which is the state of imperfection (by which state is understood to be
the first stair of the aforesaid holy bridge) he may come to the second
stair, which is the state of perfection. Also of the imperfection of
those
who love and serve God for their own profit, and love, or for their
comfort.
Also that God shows himself sometimes to a soul which loves him.
Chapter 5
Also why Christ did not say: Ego
manifestabo. 'I shall show my Father', but he said: 'I shall show
myself'.
What manner of governance a soul shall keep that he may come up to the
second stair of the holy bridge. How he who loves God imperfectly,
loves
mperfectly his neighbour; and of the tokens of his imperfect love.
Fourth Part
The chapters of the fourth part
Chapter 1
The first chapter of the fourth
part speaks of prayer, and first in what manner a soul shall givern
himself,
that he may come to pure and free love. But first God shows here
doctrine
of the holy sacrament of Christ's body on the altar, that is to say,
the
holy sacrament of Christ's body; and how a soul shall come from vocal
prayer
to mental prayer. And here is showed a vision which this devout soul
had
once. Also of a deceit that creatures have sometimes, who love God and
serve him for their own comfort and their deligth. Also of te deceit
that
they have, who set all their affection in vomfort and spiritual
visions;
and how such who delight in them in such comforts and visions may be
deceived,
and receive a wicked spirit under likeness of a good spirit; and of
tokens
how it may be known when it comes from God, and when of the enemy.
Chapter 2
Also of those who will not help
or comfort their neighbour in their need because they will not be
interrupted
nor leave their won comfort and peace and rest. Also of the deceit
which
God's servants have, and love God with such imperfect love as said
before.
How a soul who knows herself wisely in truthfulness keeps herself from
all these aforesaid deceits. Also by what manner a soul comes from
imperfect
love, and comes to a perfect, friendly and loving love.
Chapter 3
The third chapter of this part
is of tokens whereby it is known that a soul is come to the perfect
love.
Also how imperfect men will only follow me, the father, but perfect men
follow the son. Also God showed a vision which this devout maid had, in
which vision is showed diverse baptism, and of all other fair and
profitable
things. How a soul, when it is come to the mouth, soon it takes the
door
of the mouth, and when the proper will of man is dead, it is a true
token
that it is come there. Also of the workings of the soul after the time
that it is ascended to the third holy stair. Also of the fourth state
that
is not separated from the third, and of the workings of the soul which
has come to this state; and how God never goes away from the aforesaid
peerfect men by feeling of grace, because of the union between them.
Also
how worldly men give glory and worship to God, whether they will or
not.
Also how the fiends give worship to God against their will.
Chapter 4
Also how a perfect soul that
passes
from this world sees fully the glory and praise of the name of God in
each
creature, and how in the soul is ended the pain of desire, and not
desire.
Also, how Saint Paul, after the time that he was taken to see the glory
of them who are in bliss, desired to be unbound and loosened from the
body,
and do they who come to the third and furthest aforesaid stair. Whcih
causes
a soul to desire to be loosed from the body; and though it is not as he
desires, it is not against the will of God, but rather it gives worship
to God in that pain and in each other pain for the worship of God. How
they who are come to the aforesaid stair of union are lightened in the
eye of the intellect by grace with a light above nature. And how it is
better to go to have counsel for the soul's help to a meek man with a
holy
consicence than to a proud lettered man. Also here is a profitable
repetition
of many things, which are said: and how God induces the devout soul to
pray for every creature, and for all the Holy Church.
Chapter 5
The fifth chapter of this part
is much of the state of holy tears; and how this holy soul desired to
know
of the states and the fruits of holy tears. Also of the difference of
the
aforesaid tears; and how there are five kinds of tears. Also a short
repetition
of the matter; and how the wicked spirit flees away from those who come
to the fifth kind of tears. Also how they who desire to have tears from
their eyes and may not have them, such have tears of fear. And why God
withdraws bodily tears. How the four states of the five states of tears
give different tears. And how God will be served with things that have
no end, and not only with things that end. Also of the fruits of tears
of worldly men: and how such worldly weepers are buffeted with four
winds.
Also of the fruit of the second and the third state of tears; and of
the
fruit of the fourth and the fifth state of tears. Also how this devout
soul, when she gave thanks to God for the declaration of the aforesaid
states of tears, made
three petitions to God. Also how the light of reason is necessary
to
a soul that would serve God in truthfulness, and truly; and of a
general
light.
Fifth Part
The chapters of the fifth part
Chapter 1
Also those who desire more to
suffer
bodily pain than to mortify or destroy their own will; which is one
perfect
light, or a light of perfection more than the general light, and it is
the second light of perfection. Also of the third and most perfect
light
of reason; and of the works that a soul does when it comes to that
state.
Also there is showed a fair vision which this soul had, in which vision
is showed fully of the kind of coming of perfect purity of the soul.
Also
by what way they receive the promise of sureness of everlasting life in
this life, such as live in the third light, which is most perfect
light.
Also how our neighbour shall be reproved that he falls not into a false
judging. Also, if a man prays for a person, and God shows in the soul
of
the one praying that that soul is full darkness for whom he prays, yet
this shall not be considered wrong. Also how bodily penance shall not
be
taken for a principal foundation, nor for a principal desire, but
desire
and love of virtue shall be taken for a principal base. And of a short
repetition of words said already, with an addition of reproving our
neighbour.
Chapter 2
The second chapter is of tokens
to know when visitations or spiritual visions come from God or from the
fiend. Also how God is the fulfiller of holy desires of his servants,
and
how it greatly pleases God when a man asks with perseverance and knocks
at the gate of his truthfulness. How this devout soul humbled herself
and
gave thanks to God; and how she prays for all the world, and specially
for Holy Church, and also specially for her spiritual disciples and for
her two spiritual fathers, and after this, she asks to hear the deeds
of
the ministers of holy Church. Also how God sees the business of this
soul
about prayer, and answers some of her petitions.
Chapter 3
Also here God speaks of the
dignity
of priests, and of the sacrament of his holy body; and of them who
receive
that sacrament worthily and unworthily. Also how all the bodily senses
or feeling are deceived in the aforesaid sacrament, but not the
feelings
of the soul; there with the feelings or senses of the soul that holy
sacrament
shall be seen, tasted and felt. And here is a vision which this devout
soul had of this same matter, Also of the excellence in which a soul
stands,
who receives this sacrament in grace. How the words that are said of
the
excellence of the sacrament are said that the dignity of priests should
be better known. And how God asks more purity and cleanness of body and
soul in them than in other of his creatures. Also how the sacraments
shall
neither be sold nor bought. And those who receive the sacraments shall
help the ministers with their temporal goods, which goods the ministers
shall dispose and ordain into three parts.
Chapter 4
The fourth chapter speaks in the
beginning of the dignity of priests, and how the virtue of sacraments
is
not lessened nor diminished through the sins of those who minister, nor
through the sins of the receiver. And how God does not want the laity
to
correct the ministers. Also how God stops the persecution that is done
to holy Church or to the ministers as if it were done to himself. And
how
that sin is more grievous than any other sin. Here also God speaks
against
those who persecute holy Church, and of the ministers of holy Church in
several ways. And a short repetition of what is said earlier of holy
Church
and of the ministers. Of the excellence and virtues and of the holy
works
of virtues and holy ministers; and how they have the condition of the
Son.
And of the correction to her subject. A repetition of words beforesaid.
And of reverence that shall be done to priests, whether they are good
or
bad. And of the deeds and wicked life of evil priests and evil
ministers.
And how unrighteousness reigns in bad ministers, and in those who do
not
correc their subjects. Of many other defaults of the aforesaid
ministers,
and specially of going to taverns and of their vain plays, and of
keeping
their concubines. Also how the sin against natura reigns in some of the
aforesaid ministers; and of a fair vision which this soul had of this
matter.
Also how subjects who are in the aforesaid faults do not amend them;
and
of faults of religious persons who do not correct the aforesaid faults.
Also how the sin of lechery reigns in evil ministers of holy Church;
also
that avarice reigns in wicked ministers in lending in usury; and
especially
in buying and selling benefices and prelacies, and of much evil that
has
come in holy Church because of this covetousness. Also how pride reigns
in the aforesaid ministers, by which pride the feeling of God is lost,
and when that feeling is absent then they fall into this fault; that is
to say, such men pretend to consecrate, and do not. Also of many other
faults which come of pride and of man's self love.
Chapter 5
Of the difference of the death
of rightful men and of the death of great sinful men; and first of the
death of rightful men. Of the death of great sinners, and of their
pains
at the end, or point of death. And a repetition of much that is said
already.
And how God forbids that priests should not be touched by the hands of
secular men. And how God stirs this soul to pray and to weep in
compassion
of such misliving priests. And how this devout soul gives thanks to God
and praise, and prays specially for all holy Church.
Sixth Part
The chapters of the sixth part
Chapter 1
The first chapter of the sixth
part treats much of the providence of God; and first of his providence
generally, that is to say, how God provides man to be man and formed of
nought to his image and likeness; and how God provides man to his
salvation
with the incarnation of his Son, when the gate of Paradise was shut
through
the sin of Adam. And how he provides himself, giving himself
continually
to us into meat on the altar. Also how God provides to give hope in his
creatures; and how he who most perfectly hopes, most tastes the
providence
of God. And how God in the Old Testament provided the law and the
prophets
and afterward he sent his word by the apostles, martyrs and other holy
men. And how nothing falls to creatures, but that all is the providence
of God. Also how whatever God sufferes to do to us, it is only for our
good and for our soul's health, and they are blind and deceived that
believe
the contrary.
Chapter 2
The second chapter is how God
provides
in some special cases to the soul that falls. Here God shows his
providence
against his creatures in other diverse ways, and makes his complaint of
untruth of his creatures. And he expounds a figure of the Old
Testament,
and shows a profitble doctrine. How God provides for us, that we have
tribulations
for the health of our soul and of the misery of those who trust to
themselves
and not in the providence of God. And of the excellent grace of those
who
trust in the pèrovidence of God. How God has provided for souls,
giving them the sacraments for their health; and how he provides for
his
servants who are very hungry and desiorous, when he ordains them to be
fed with his Son's body Jesus Christ, where he tells that often times
he
provides Christ's body by a wonderful manner to a soul that was very
hungry.
Chapter 3
The third chapter is of the
providence
of God against those that are abiding in deadly sin; of the providence
which God uses and ordains for those that are in imperfect love, and
for
those that are in perfect love and charity. And a short repretition of
the aforesaid words. And how God speaks afterwards of the word which
Christ
said to Peter: Mitte rethe ad dexteram partem navis & invenietis,
that
is
to say: 'Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you
shall
find'. And how some men cast their net more perfectly than others, so
they
catch more fish than others. And of the excellence of such perfect men.
Chapter 4
The fourth chapter is of the
providence
of God in general, that he uses in his creatures in this life and that
other. Also of providence of God for his poor servants, helping them
with
temporal goods. And of evils that come in keeping and desiring temporal
goods inordinately. Of the excellence of them who are poor in spirit.
Chapter 5
The fifth chapter is how Christ
taught us of his poverty, not only by word but by example. Also of the
providence of God for those who take up his poverty. And a short
repetition
of the aforesaid divine providence. And how this soul when she gave
worship
and thanks to God, she prayed that he would speak to her of the virtue
of obedience.
Seventh Part
The chapters of the seventh part
Chapter 1
The first chapter of this seventh
part and all the chapters of this part speak of the virtue of
obedience.
And first, how obedience is has, and what is that thing which casts
obedience
away from us. And what is the token of obedience that a man has it, or
not. And who is the fellow of obedience, and of whom it is nourished.
How
obedience has a key whereby heaven is opened, and how the key must have
a thong and be born on the belt. Here also he speaks of the misery of
them
who are not obedient, and of the excellent grace of them who are
obedient.
Chapter 2
The second chapter is of them who
set so much love to obedience that it is not enough to them to obey to
the general obedience as to the commandments of God, unless they take
and
bind to themselves some special obedience. Also how a man comes, and
what
way, from the general obedience to the speical; and of the excellence
of
religion. Also of the excellence of them who are under obedience and
are
obedient, and of the misery of them who are disobedient, which are in
monastic
orders. How those who are very obedient receive a hundredfold for one,
and everlasting life. And what is understood by that one, and what by
that
hundred.
Chapter 3
The third chapter is of the
perversity,
misery and labours of he who is disobedient; and of the miserable
fruits
which come of disobedience. Of the imperfections of those who are slow
or unwilling in religiion, although they keep themselves from deadly
sin;
and of the remedy how they should come out of that unwillingness. Of
the
excellence of obedience, and of the goods that obedience gives to him
who
takes it in truthfulness.
Chapter 4
The fourth chapter is of the
distinction
of two ways of obedience, that is to say, of obedience of religious
people,
and of obedience that is due to a certain person out of religion for
God.
How God rewards not after the travail of obedience, nor after the
length
of the time, but after the magnitude of charity. Also of the readiness
and quickness of them who are very obedient. And of the miracles which
God shows of this virtue. And of discretion in obedience, and of the
works
and reward of them who are very obedient.
Chapter 5
The fifth chapter of this last
part is a repetition of the whole book; and how this devout soul,
giving
worship and thanks to God, made a prayer for all holy Church and for
all
the world. And here is commended the virtue of faith, and so is
fulfilled
the end of this book.
PROLOGUE
So, Sisters, I have showed you what bushes and trees I have found and gathered to plant and to set in your spiritual orchard. The alleys of your orchard are very long and broad, within which are many paths for walking, which shall lead you truly to what fruit you want to eat, in which part they have been set or planted. But, Sisters, you should know that in gathering delectable fruit I found many bitter weeds. Bitter and sour they are to taste, but profitable to know. Such weeds I intend to set amongst good fruit, not for eating, but for your knowing.
Taste them and know them, that you may beware of any spiritual enemy when they offer you such weeds. Savour them not for complete eating, for they work dangerously and often to dying, but by grace sooner it shall be remedied.
But, Sisters, though my herbs are gathered, yet I must have time for setting and plantings sometimes among my time of playing. I was never a great worker, bodily nor spiritually. I was never very strong to work with spade nor shovel. Therefore now, devout Sisters, help me with prayers, for I lack cunning, alongside my great feebleness. Strengthen me with your pity. And recommend me in your spiritual exercise to our blessed Lady. And greet her in my name with devout Aves, recalling to mind her five joys, and sometimes her five sorrows which she had on earth. With this work I charge you not but as your charity stirs you to. With that virtue help me forth, for hastily I go to labour, in purpose to perform the spiritual orchard as it pleases Almighty God to lighten my soul with true feeling and clear sight. Which Jesus Christ for his motehr's love grant only to his worship, and to your spiritual learning, and comfortable recreation. Amen.
Here begins the Book of Divine Doctrine, that is to say, of God's teaching, given by the person of God the Father to the intellect of the glorious virgin, Saint Catherine of Siena, of the Order of Saint Dominic, which was written as she dictated it in her mother tongue, when she was in contemplation rapt in spirit, and she actually hearing and in the same time telling before many what our Lord God spoke in her.
First Part
And here follows the first
chapter
of this book, which is how the soul of this maiden was oned to God, and
how she made four petitions to our Lord in that time of contemplation,
and of the answer of God; and of much other doctrine.
Chapter 1
A soul that is raised up with heavenly and ghostly desires and affections to the worship of God and to the health of man's soul, and with a great desire languishes, virtuously inhabited by a space of a long time, very busily works in spiritual exercise, and meekly abides in her inward beholding to know herself, to that intent only that she might better know in herself the godness of God; for as she well feels by grace that after that knowing the love that loves is knit and joined with a love to that that is loved, and forces and busies her to love and follow that knowing, and with continual excercise inhabits her with truthfulness. And forasmuch as a soul in no way tastes nor savours so much, also it is in no way so much lightened with knowing of that truthfulness as it is by the means of a meek, continual and devout prayer founded and grounded in the knowing of God and of itself. Therefore such a prayer ones such a soul to God, following the steps of Christ in his Passion. And so by desire, affection, and union of love, the soul makes herself another than she was before.
This seems well of Christ's words when he said: Siquis diligit me, sermonem meum servabit. That is to say: 'Who loves me shall keep my word'. Also he says elsewhere: Qui diliget me diligetur a patre meo, et ego diligam eum et manifestabo illi meipsum, et erit unum mecum et ego cum illo. That is to say: 'He who loves me shall be loved of my father, and I shall love him, and I shall show myself to him, and he shall be one with me and I with him'. and in many places of scripture we find similar words to the same purpose, by which we may openly know that a soul is altered and he makes himself other than he was before in truthfulness of love and desire.
And that we may see this more clearly I am reminded that I have read of a holy maid, servant of God, Catherine of Siena, who when she gave herself busily and attentively to prayer with enhancing of her mind to God to behold heavenly things in the ways of contemplation, then holy God did not hide his love that may not be measured which he has to his servants with the gift of intellect by the spiritual eye. But specially among other words our Lord God spoke to her and said: Open your eye of the intellect, or of spiritual udnerstanding, and see in me, and you shall see the dignity and the fairness or beauty of my reasonable creature, and the fairness which I have given to the soul, making it of nought to my image and likeness. Seen them who are arrayed with the precious clothing of spiritual weddings; that is to say, virtuously arrayed with charity and with many diverse virtues; continually you are joined to me by love. Therefore, if you should ask me who they are, I should answer you again: Those who are another I; as though he had said: Those who have my likeness. For such who have lost and mortified wilfully their own self will, and are conformed to my will, and in all things with my will they are clothed and preciously arrayed. Therefore it is true that such a soul ones itself to God through desire and affection of love. Also this soul still moreover willing to know the holy truthfulness of knowing and to follow it by exercise, considered first as for herself with a high desire that a soul may by no way of doctrine, nor of example, nor of prayer, benefit his neighbour but it benefit first itself; that is to say, in purchasing and in having in possession the perfection of virtures in itself. Therefore in that holy desire of true knowing meekly she asked four petitions of the eternal Father in heaven. The first petition was for herself; the second, for the reformation of holy Church; the third, in general for the health of all the world, and specially for the peace of Christian people which with great presumption and great persecution is rebel to holy Church; the fourth petition was that the providence of God should purvey for each dark case, or doubt, or need, in general and in special.
How the desire of this soul increased when she knew the need that is in the world
This desire was to her very great and remained continuously; which desire increased in her the more fervently when the great wretchedness of this world was shown to her by Almighty God, the maker of all the world, and when she also saw such great trouble in the world, and so much offence done to God in the world. Also in this time of this holy desire she understood by a writing that she had of her spiritual father, in which writing he showed her the great pain and the sharpness of intolerable sorrow ordained for sin and for the offence to God, and of the cause of the loss of souls, and for the persecution that is done to holy Church. Which words kindled in a fire of desire, with a loathing and a bittereness for the offence done to God, and then she with a gladness and joy of a trusted hope meekly attended the goodness of God, which mercifully would purvey for all the evils and perils.
And forasmuch that in receiving of the holy sacrament a soul more sweetly and more fervently cleaves to God and better knows his truthfulness, because that then is a soul in God, and God in the soul, right as fish abide in the sea, and the sea in the fish: therefore upon the next morning following she had a full fervent and burning desire to hear Mass; which day was on a feast of our Lady, God's mother. And when she heard Mass at a certain hour with a very great desire to have an inward knowing of herself and of her own imperfection, it seemed to her in a great shamefastnss that she was the principle cause of all the evils or diseases done in the world, and conceived in herself a sngular hate and displeasure of herself. And than with a desire of a holy righteousness to purify such filth of sin which she saw in the world and in her own soul, she lifted up her heart to the Father in heaven and said: Everlasting Father in Heaven, to you I make my complaint of myself, and to you I complain and accuse myself, to that intent that in this life you punish my sins. And forasmuch as I am the principle cause of the pains through my sins which my even-Christian should suffer, therefore meekly I beseech your high majesty that you put those pains on me.
How good or evil works in this world only suffice not to be punished in purgatory nor to be rewarded in bliss without continual desire of charity
Then the truthfulness of the
Godhead
took this desire and fervently drew it to him, and did as it was in the
Old Testament. For then when the sacrifice was acceptable to God, fire
came down from heaven and drew such a sacrifice to him. In the same way
that holy truthfulness did to that soul, for that truthfulness, Father
of heaven, sent the fire of the holy Spirit and took the sacrifice of
her
great desire, which sacrifice she made of herself to God. And when our
Lord had received this sacrifice of her, he spoke to her and said:
Daughter,
don't you know that all the pains that men suffer, or any creature may
suffer in this world, are not full worthy, nor even worthy penance, nor
sufficient to punish the least sin? And the cause is because the
offence
that is done to me, who am God and godness who has no end, asks blame
without
end. Therefore I would that you know that not all the pains that are
given
or sent of God in this world are for penance, but for correction, to
amend
and correct the child when he trespasses. And yet, furthermore, it is
true
that a man makes or does satisfaction by a fervent desire of the soul,
that is to say, with true contritition and true horror of sin. For true
contrition
IN PROGRESS