Vision of Jesus' Passion, blood shaped
like
to the scale of fish
I saw the bodily sight lasting of the plenteous bleeding of the Head.
The great drops of blood fell down from under the garland like pellots,
seeming as it had come out of the veins; and in the coming out they were
brown-red, for the blood was full thick; and in the spreading-abroad they
were bright-red I saw him bleeding, when they came to the brows, then they
vanished; notwithstanding, the bleeding continued till many things were
seen and understood. The fairness and the lifelikeness is like nothing
but the same; the plenteousness is like to the drops of water that fall
off the eaves after a great shower of rain, that fall so thick that no
man may number them with bodily wit; and for the roundness, they were like
to the scale of herring, in the spreading on the forehead. These three
came to my mind in the time: pellots, for roundness, in the coming out
of the blood; the scale of herring, in the spreading in the forehead, for
roundness; the drops off eaves, for the plenteousness innumerable. This
showing was quick and life-like, and horrifying and dreadful, sweet and
lovely. And of all the sight it was most comfort to me that our God and
Lord that is so reverend and dreadful, is so homely and courteous: and
this most fulfilled me with comfort and assuredness of soul.
The Nature of Her Visions:
by bodily sight, and by word formed in mine understanding, and by spiritual
sight.
Vision of Nature: Under the sea
One time mine understanding was led down into the sea-ground, and there
I saw hills and dales green, seeming as it were moss-be-grown, with wrack
and gravel. Then I understood thus: that if a man or woman were under the
broad water, if he might have sight of God so as God is with a man continually,
he should be safe in body and soul, and take no harm: and overpassing,
he should have more solace and comfort than all this world can tell. For
he willeth we should believe that we see him continually though that to
us it seemeth but little [of sight]; and in this belief He maketh us evermore
to gain grace. For he will be seen and he will be sought: he will be abided
and he will be trusted.
Doubts about her Showings and Further Meditations:
This Second Shewing was so low and so little and so simple, that my
spirits were in great travail in the beholding, -- mourning, full of dread,
and longing: for I was some time in doubt whether it was a Shewing. And
then diverse times our good Lord gave me more sight, whereby I understood
truly that it was a Shewing. It was a figure and likeness of our foul deeds'
shame that our fair, bright, blessed Lord bare for our sins.
If God has made everything, then how should
any thing be amiss?
And all this shewed he full blissfully, signifying thus: See! I am God:
see! I am in all thing: see! I do all thing: see! I lift never mine hands
off my works, nor ever shall, without end: see! I lead all thing to the
end I ordained it to from without beginning, by the same Might, Wisdom
and Love whereby I made it. How should any thing be amiss?
Amazon.com Revelations
of Divine Love (Penguin Classics)
Book
of Margerie Kempe:
The
Selected Writings of Christine De Pizan
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