most subtle questions concerning the Trinity and other mysteries of Scriptures.

⁴⁶ As we have seen above, Brother John was received first with tears at the feet of Christ, then with thanks into the hands of Christ and finally at his blessed breast with rays and rapture. These are great mysteries which cannot be explained in a few words. But if anyone wishes to know this, read Bernard on the Canticle of Canticles, who puts these stages there according to their order: namely, the beginners at the feet, those making progress at the hands, and the perfect at the kiss and embrace.^a By the fact that the blessed Christ without saying a word gave such grace to Brother John, He taught us that, as the Best Shepherd, He tried to nourish the souls more by internal sensing of God than by external sounds in the ears of the flesh; because the kingdom of God is not found in external things but in internal things, as the psalmist says: All his glory is from within.

To the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

L
A DIVINE ANSWER IS GIVEN TO BROTHER JOHN WHILE PRAYING FOR ANOTHER BROTHER, AND ALSO BLESSED LAWRENCE APPEARED TO HIM^b

¹ Brother John was asked by Brother James of Falerone to ask God about a certain scruple of conscience which worried him very much. It was about certain things which pertained to the priestly office. Brother John had an answer from the Lord before the feast of Saint Lawrence, as he himself said. He said that the Lord told him: "He is a priest according to the order of God." But as his conscience still troubled him, he asked Brother John again to ask the Lord about this.

³ Therefore, when on the night of the vigil of Saint Lawrence^c Brother John was faithfully keeping vigil and praying to the Lord that through the merits of Saint Lawrence He might reassure him about Brother James's scruple, blessed Lawrence dressed in white robes like a Levite appeared to him in his prayerful vigil, and said: "I am Lawrence the Levite. He for whom you are praying is a priest

 Previous

Next