|
"So hidden and transformed in God are they, that they rest content
with all his holy will. And if a soul, retaining the slightest
stain, were to draw near to God in the beatific vision, it would
be to her a more grievous injury, and inflict more suffering, than
purgatory itself. Nor could God himself, who is pure goodness and
supreme justice, and the sight of God, not yet entirely satisfied
(so long as the least possible purification remained to be
accomplished) would be intolerable to her, and she would cast
herself into the deepest hell rather than stand before him and be
still impure."
|
|
And thus this blessed Soul, illuminated by the divine ray, said:
"Would that I could utter so strong a cry that it would strike all
men with terror, and say to them: O wretched beings! why are you
so blinded by this world that you make, as you will find at the
hour of death, no provision for the great necessity that will then
come upon you?"You shelter yourselves beneath your hope in the
mercy of God, which you unceasingly exalt, not seeing that it is
your resistance to his great goodness which will be your
condemnation. His goodness should constrain you to his will, not
encourage you to persevere in your own. Since his justice is
unfailing it must needs be in some way fully satisfied.
"Have not the boldness to say: `I will go to confession and
gain a plenary indulgence and thus I shall be saved.' Remember
that the full confession and entire contrition which are requisite
to gain a plenary indulgence are not easily attained. Did you know
how hardly they are come by, you would tremble with fear and be
more sure of losing than of gaining them."
|