The Book of Divine Consolation of the Blessed Angela of Foligno

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Here Begin the Visions with Which She Was Comforted Concerning Her Children Who Should Follow After Christ


First Vision Concerning Her Children

Being exalted upon one occasion, and drawn and absorbed into the Light uncreate, I beheld that which cannot be related. And as I remained in that state, there appeared unto me the image of the blessed God made Man, Christ Crucified, as though He had been but then lifted down from the Cross, and His blood issued forth from His wounds as fresh and red as though it were at that very moment first bursting from the new-made wounds. In all His joints, moreover, there appeared such a dissolution of the sinews (caused by the cruel stretching upon the Cross) that the bones seemed all to be loosened from their proper places.

At this sight my bowels were pierced with anguish and I grieved more than I had ever grieved before. And as I stood thus plunged in grief, there suddenly appeared around the Crucified a multitude of my children who were devout and given unto preaching and to following the example of poverty, contempt, and suffering of Christ Crucified. The Blessed Jesus called them unto Himself, and drawing each one unto Him, He embraced him and made him to kiss the wound in His side, and clasping him close with His own hands, He laid his head there in that place. And because of the joy born in my soul at this sight, I did forget the aforesaid sorrow.

The degree of my children, however, was different one from another, for some did He press less and some more into His side; some did He place there often and some were wholly absorbed into His side, whence there appeared on their lips the redness of red blood, and the mouths of some were adorned with this blood and their faces all coloured with it, according unto their aforesaid degrees. And bestowing upon each one His liberal blessing, He said —

"Oh ye blessed sons, discover ye the way of the Cross — that is to say, the way of My poverty, contempt and suffering. For in these times especially do fellow-workers abound, and ye have I most especially elected in order that through you and your preaching and example may be discovered and made manifest My truth which hath hitherto been trodden upon and hidden by the world."

Then did my soul understand that in like manner as my children had been pressed upon His side according to their different degrees, so also unto each one were these words diversely addressed. In no wise is it possible to describe the exceeding great love which shone in that blessed Face and especially in those Eyes of God made Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, upon these children as He pressed them upon His sacred wounds, and which was moreover revealed in all the signs, words, and benedictions made and pronounced over them.


Second Vision Concerning Her Children

Upon another occasion, when I was walking in a certain procession, I felt that same unfathomable attraction of the Word Uncreate in the aforesaid ineffable manner. And I beheld the blessed God, Three in One, dwelling in the minds of my sons and transforming them diversely in Himself according unto their degrees, to behold which thing was verily like unto being in Paradise! For so tenderly and lovingly did He descend upon them that I wearied not of gazing at them, and so full and sweet, so cordially spoken was the blessing which God Uncreate poured out upon these children that it is altogether indescribable. Then called I unto my children, saying — "Oh my sons, be ye as a burnt sacrifice, wholly consumed both in mind and body."

In like manner was the supreme God made Man, Christ Crucified, shown unto me, with all His joints loosened as hath already been said, and during the whole time of the procession was He carried through the air before mine eyes without the help of any hand whatsoever. And He gathered the children unto Him and pressed them upon the wound in His side, saying unto them —

"I am He who taketh away the sins of the world. Your sins have I taken away and they shall never more be imputed unto you. For this is the fountain of the true and perfect cleansing, this is the price of the true redemption and this is the house of the true habitation. Wherefore, oh My children, fear not to discover and to defend both by word and deed this most excellent truth of life and of My way, which is assailed by the perverse and the wicked, for I am ever with you, your Helper and Defender."

Moreover, both now and also at other times was there shown unto me the cleansing of all my sons in three degrees. One was a special gift of great grace made unto some of them for the joyful perfecting of themselves in works of virtue. Another degree was the special gift of great grace and strength for the easy resisting of sin. The third and last degree was the perfection of the soul and its transformation in the Crucified. And although much beauty is bestowed upon the soul in all these changes and graces, yet is nevertheless the first degree of great, pleasing and most excellent beauty. Likewise is the last degree greater than I can say. These children did appear unto me to be so entirely transformed in God that now I do behold scarce aught else save Christ Crucified and not yet glorified, so wholly do my children seem to have been absorbed and transubstantiated into Him.


Third Consolation Concerning Her Children

During that same procession, as we were approaching unto a church of the Blessed Virgin, behold, the Queen of Mercy and Mother of all Grace herself arose, and inclining herself unto these children in a new and gracious manner, she bestowed on them blessings sweeter than all other blessings, kissing them all upon the breast, some more and some less; and some did she embrace with her arms as she kissed them. Of so great a charity was she, that — being apparently all luminous — she did seem to absorb those children into that infinite light within her own breast. Yet it seemed unto me that I beheld no arms of flesh, but a certain miraculous light into which, as hath been said, she absorbed them with a most great and tender love.


Fourth Consolation Concerning Her Children

Upon that same day, amongst many other things which I saw, whilst Mass was being celebrated, there appeared unto me the Blessed Francis, all glorious, offering me his customary salutation, the which is — "The peace of the Most High be with thee." His manner of saluting is always to speak in a voice pious, humble, gracious, and affectionate.

Then did he praise greatly unto me the ardent intentions of some of my sons and their zeal in observing the poverty of the Order. But he desired that it should increase with the work and he said —

"May the eternal, perfect and abundant blessing (which I have received from God Eternal) descend upon the heads of these beloved children of mine and thine. See that thou biddest them live according unto the way of Christ, showing it forth fearlessly both in word and deed; for I am with them and the Eternal God is their Helper."

With so much affection did he then praise these children for their good intentions, comforting them with the promise that they should assuredly make good progress and that he would help them in his own intention, and blessing them so lovingly that he appeared as though he would rend himself for love of them.

Many other things did I behold concerning myself and my children, all of which I cannot describe. But this will I say, that I have seen and clearly comprehended that the blessed God doth most tenderly overshadow us, and likewise His sweet Mother, and they are ready to bear the burden of our penitence, asking only that ye, oh my sons, should be shining examples of splendid gentleness in suffering, poverty, and derision. They desire, moreover, to see you dead unto this life, so that your habitation be in heaven and your body alone in this world. And as a dead man is not moved either by honour or beauty, so must ye be in all ways unchangeable and outside of all worldly fear; and ye must preach unto others rather for the mortification of your own lives than for the sake of making contentious discourse. They do likewise desire that in all your deeds your whole intention should be fixed in heaven in the blessed Christ Crucified.

Thus, whether outwardly ye work or speak or eat, ye are inwardly one with Him who desireth that ye should continually bear Him about with you in every place and land, and that He should ever direct all your actions. And I pray that He who hath deigned to ask this thing of you will likewise deign to fulfil His desire in you, through the merits of His most holy Mother, the Virgin Mary.

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Instruction and Consolation Received from God Concerning Her Tribulations


Once I besought God that He would give me something of Himself, and He made for me the sign of the Cross. Then I prayed Him that He would show me who were His best beloved sons. Wherefore, amongst other things, was this example immediately told unto me:

"Let us suppose that there was a man who had many dear friends whom he had bidden unto a feast prepared with great care and diligence. If it should happen, now, that many of those who were bidden refused to come, dost thou not think that he would grieve for those who came not, seeing that he had abundantly and with great cost prepared the feast, and that he would receive those who did come with great honour? And is there any doubt but that, amongst those who were all joyfully received, there were not some more familiarly loved, whom he placed near unto himself at table, eating with them out of the same dish and drinking with them from the same cup?"

With great joy in my soul I then asked: "Oh Lord, when Thou biddest all, do Thou tell me more fully of the difference."

And He answered: "I have bidden all unto the life eternal and preparations have been made for all, and none can excuse himself for that he hath not been asked. But of all who were bidden only few come and are given places at the table." And He gave me to understand that He Himself was the table, and not only the table, but the food likewise.

I did also ask by what way were those come who were come, and it was immediately told me by the way of tribulation, such as the virgins, the chaste, the poor, the sick, and the patient, with many others who had suffered tribulation and were destined unto salvation.

Understanding thus the reasoning and explanation, every word did greatly delight me. Yet all had He bidden and all did He equally call His children. In these words was it notified unto me that virginity, poverty, sickness, loss of children and possessions and other temporal goods, and finally that all tribulations were sent by God unto His children for their good, albeit at that time they did not know this and could not understand it. For this reason there were many greatly troubled in the beginning, but afterwards, like true sons, they endured everything with patience and thanksgiving.

Such are those who most commonly attain unto eternal life, nor is there any other way. But those who are bidden unto the special table, whom God maketh to eat out of the same dish and drink out of the same cup with Himself, are those who desire and strive to know who is this good Father and Lord who hath bidden them to the feast, and who seek to please Him by the imitation of His most holy Cross and by voluntarily taking upon themselves poverty, contempt, ignominy and affliction. For unto such sons as these doth God send many tribulations, the which are sent unto them as an especial grace in order that they may eat out of one dish with Him. "For at that table," said Christ, "I was called to drink the cup of the shameful Passion, which was made sweet unto Me through your love, although it was of itself exceeding hard and bitter."

Recognising this grace and mercy, therefore, albeit they do find the tribulations bitter, these sons do nevertheless esteem them supremely sweet because of the love, grace, honour and worthiness contained therein. Therefore are they now not afflicted by their troubles, and the greater their tribulations the more delighted are they and the closer do they feel themselves unto God. Wherefore do I say and affirm that the children of God do feel the divine sweetness mingled with persecutions, tribulations, and penances, all of which was set forth unto me in the aforesaid preaching. Countless times have I experienced this, and I could not reveal or declare the sweetness I felt or the tears of exceeding great joy that I shed when I was troubled or reviled by my brethren, my friends, or my kindred.

During a time of great sickness, as I was lying very weak, there did again appear unto me God made Man, Jesus Christ the Consoler, and methought that He had great compassion on me and said unto me: "I am come to serve thee." The service which He rendered me was to stand before my bed, showing Himself to be so pleasing and so gracious that it is a thing wholly unspeakable. And I beheld Him more clearly with the eyes of my mind than it is possible to behold any person with the eyes of the body, and so great was my joyfulness and supreme delight that it can in no wise be expressed or declared, because it is wholly ineffable.

Again, upon a certain Holy Thursday I said unto my companion: "Let us seek Jesus Christ the Crucified, and let us go unto the hospital, for perchance we shall find Him amongst those poor, suffering and afflicted ones." So we took the cloths we wore upon our heads (not having aught else), and giving them unto the servant of the hospital, we bade her sell them and with the money buy something for the poor of the hospital to eat. And albeit she feared to do it, telling us that we should cause ourselves to be reviled, yet because of our great importunity she went and sold those poor little cloths and purchased fish with the money, unto which we did add the bread which had been given unto us for the love of God for our own sustenance. After this we washed the feet of the poor women and the hands of the men, but especially those of a leper which were all putrefied and spoiled and full of corruption. Afterwards we did drink the water wherewith we had washed him, and that drink was so sweet unto us that we tasted of its sweetness all the way as we returned until we arrived at this place. And because a scale from those sores had got into my throat I endeavoured to swallow it as though I had received it in communion; and at last I did swallow it, and I found it to be so sweet that I can in no wise describe it.

This have I told, because although man is troubled in the beginning by the penances, afflictions and tribulations he has accepted of God, yet doth he at last find exceeding great consolation therein.

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A Further Consolation Given unto Her of God


Another time when I was stirred by spiritual tribulation it seemed unto me that for the space of a month I did feel nothing whatsoever of God; yea, it seemed even as though He had wholly forsaken me and I was not able to confess my sins.

Although upon the one hand methought this had happened unto me because of my pride, upon the other hand I perceived my sins so plainly and with such deep conviction that I doubted if ever I should be able to confess them with due contrition, or even declare them with my mouth. For this reason I could neither praise God nor pray; but I perceived that this alone remained unto me of God, that I was not as greatly troubled as I deserved to be for having desired to depart from God through sin, yet I could not have desired to offend God for all the good and evil in the world, or consent unto wickedness. Thus was I deeply and most terribly troubled and afflicted during the whole of the aforesaid time.

Then through the mercy and pity of God there spake unto me a voice and said: "Daughter beloved of Almighty God and of all the blessed saints in Paradise, God hath placed His love in thee and beareth more love toward thee than toward any other woman in the Valley of Spoleto."

Then did my soul cry aloud and answer: "How may I believe this, seeing that I am full of tribulation and do seem to be forsaken of God?"

The voice made answer: "When thou thinkest thyself to be most forsaken, then art thou most dearly beloved and nearest unto the eternal God." And again he added: "A father who hath but one dearly beloved son doth administer unto him delicate meats in moderation, and permitteth him not to drink pure wine; but he doth mingle the wine with water and permitteth him to eat nothing hurtful, in order that his food may do him no hurt but always good. And God doth likewise, mingling temptations and grievous tribulations with His consolations, and keeping the soul in these tribulations and temptations; for if He did not do this, it would plunge into intemperate enjoyments as into a sea and would be drowned. Wherefore, as I have said, when the soul seemeth to be most forsaken, then is it most loved."

Then were my tribulations somewhat tempered, but not wholly taken away, for I did not yet feel disposed to confess and communicate. But in a short time they were all taken away and thus was it told me —

"It pleaseth Me that thou shouldst communicate — because if thou receivest Me, thou hast already received Me, and if thou receivest Me not, thou hast received Me nevertheless. Communicate, therefore, with the blessing of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And do it for reverence of Almighty God, of Saint Mary the Virgin, and of Saint Anthony whose Feast it is to-day; for unto thee shall be given a new and most excellent grace which thou hast never had before."

There was vouchsafed unto me accordingly the grace to confess and the desire to communicate, and I did confess immediately.

Now whilst Mass was being said, I perceived myself to be so full of sins and shortcomings that I could not speak, and I thought that the Communion which I then desired would be a judgment upon me. Nevertheless there was presently granted me such an admirable disposition that I was able to place myself wholly in Christ. Then I entered into Him with a faith and security such as I had never before experienced; I placed myself in Him and in His merits as though I were dead, with an admirable certainty that He would raise me up to life again. Wherefore I communicated in His faith, and there was granted unto me a marvellous feeling which left in me a peace whereby I was given to understand and to feel that all tribulation which had happened unto me was for my good. And this Communion which I received did bring my soul in faith unto this perception and desire — that is to say, I desired to give myself wholly unto Christ because He hath given Himself unto us. Wherefore do I take new delight in the longing for martyrdom, and I desire so much that I rejoice when grief and tribulation more than usual do fall upon me. Hence do I conclude that in the end God consoleth every troubled soul.

Thus I do remember me that, being one time afflicted and believing myself forsaken, I heard it said unto me: "Know, thou beloved, that thou art not forsaken — yea, rather is God nearer unto thee and thou unto God in tribulation than in times more prosperous."

Then cried my soul — "If it be true that I am nearer unto God in tribulation, may it please Him to take away all my sin and through the merits of His Passion to give me free absolution, to give also His blessing unto me and unto my companion, and likewise unto the brother who hath written down these things." And the answer was given me, saying, "Thy sins have been taken away, and I bless you with the flesh of that Hand which was nailed upon the Cross."

Then I beheld that Hand stretched out in blessing over our heads; and I rejoiced greatly at the sight of that Hand, because verily it was a joyous thing to see it. And unto us three He gave His blessing, saying — "The blessing of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you, and may ye keep it through all eternity." Moreover He said unto me, "Say unto thy brother the writer that he should seek to make himself little, and forasmuch as he is greatly beloved of Almighty God, he must strive to love Him yet more."

Thus in many ways did He deign to console me, He who consoleth all who are in tribulation, unto Whom be honour and glory for ever and ever.

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The Testament and Last Admonition of the Blessed Angela of Foligno Which She Gave unto Her Children, She Being Nigh unto Death


"That which I now speak unto you, oh my children, I speak for no other reason save for the love of God, and because I did promise unto you that I would not willingly carry away with me beneath the earth aught of what I do know which might be profitable unto you.

"That which I am about to say is not of myself, but wholly of God, because it hath pleased His divine goodness to give into my care all His sons and daughters who are in this world, both here and beyond the sea. I have been as careful of them as I was able, and I have grieved for them and have suffered more sorrow because of them than ye would readily believe. Oh my God, now do I render them unto Thee again, and I pray Thee that of Thine ineffable charity Thou do protect them from all evil and do keep them in the way of all goodness, in the love of poverty, contempt, and suffering, and in the transformation and imitation of Thy life and perfection, which it hath pleased Thee to show forth in word and deed and actual life.

"Oh, my beloved sons, I do exhort you in this my last exhortation that ye strive to be little and truly humble and meek, not only in outward works but in the depth of your hearts, in order that ye may be true scholars and disciples of Him who said, 'Learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart.'

"Have no care for power, or honours, or being preferred before others, but strive ye to be of no account in order that Christ may exalt you in the perfection of merits and in His grace. Be ye so humble that ye do perpetually esteem yourselves as nothing. Cursed are those self-sufficiencies which make souls proud, such as power, honour and preferment, — fly ye from them, for in them lieth great deception and danger. And greater deception still is there in spiritual self-sufficiency even than in the worldly — that is to say, in knowing how to speak of God, in understanding the Scriptures, in performing great penances and keeping the heart busied over spiritual things. For the spiritually self-sufficient do often fall into error and are more difficult to correct than those who have worldly self-sufficiency. Esteem yourselves, therefore, as nothing, as nothing known or nothing unknown. Of a truth, the soul can possess no better insight or knowledge than to perceive its own nothingness and to remain within its own prison.

"Strive ye, oh my sons, to possess charity, without which there is neither salvation nor merit. Behold, God saith, 'All My things are thine.' Who is there who deserveth this, that all God's things should be his? Verily, there is naught else that deserveth this save the most ardent charity.

"Oh my sons, fathers and brothers, see that ye love one another amongst yourselves and that ye have true charity and love; for if it hath this, the soul deserveth to inherit the divine possessions. And I do exhort you that ye desire not only to have this charity amongst yourselves, but likewise unto all people. For I say unto you that of a certainty my soul hath received more profit from weeping and lamenting over the sins of my neighbour than over mine own. And the world doth scoff at that which I now say, namely that a man may weep for his neighbour's sins as for his own, or even more than for his own, for it seemeth to be contrary unto nature, but the charity which bringeth this about is not of this world.

"Oh my children, strive to possess this charity and judge not any man, even though ye should behold him commit a mortal sin. I do not say that sin should not be displeasing unto you and that ye should not hold it in the greatest horror, but I do say that ye should never judge the sinners, and moreover I say that ye should never despise them, for ye know not the judgments of our Lord God; and many are there who do appear unto men to be condemned unto hell, but who are saved in the sight of God, and many who appear unto men to be saved are reprobate in the sight of God and condemned unto hell. I could tell you of some whom ye have despised, but of whom I have the sure hope that God will lead them back into His own Hand.

"I will make no other testament, saving that I do commend unto you this mutual love and profound humility. And all mine heritage do I leave unto you, the which is likewise that of Christ Jesus, namely poverty, suffering, and scorn. Your life is that of Jesus Christ. Those who shall possess this heritage of the Life of Christ shall be my children, because they are the children of God; wherefore is there no doubt that they shall possess the heritage of eternal life."

When she had made an end of saying these things, she placed her hand upon the head of each person, saying —

"Blessed be ye, both of the Lord and of me, oh my children, ye and all the others who are not here present. And even as it hath been signified and shown forth unto me by the Lord, even so do I give this eternal blessing unto you who are present and unto those who are absent, and may that same Christ Himself give it unto you with the Hand whereby He was nailed upon the Cross. Amen."


The Passing Away of the Blessed Angela

About the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (at which time she passed away unto Christ), as she lay very sick, she said, "The Word is made Flesh," and after a long silence, as though she were returning from some other place, she said, "Oh, every creature faileth, and the whole of the angelic understanding sufficeth not to comprehend this." Then she added, "My soul is washed and cleansed in the blood of Jesus Christ, the which was as fresh and warm as though it had but this moment issued from the body of the Crucified."

After this she said: "Christ Jesus, the Son of God, hath now presented me unto the Father, and these words have been spoken unto me —

"'Oh bride and fair one, oh thou who art beloved of Me with perfect love, of a truth I would not that thou shouldst come unto Me with these exceeding great sufferings, but I would thou shouldst come with the utmost rejoicing and with joy unspeakable, even as it is seemly that the King should lead home the bride whom He hath loved so long, and clothed with the royal robe.'

"And he showed me the robe, even as the bridegroom showeth it unto the bride whom he hath loved a long time. It was neither of purple nor of scarlet, nor of sendal, nor of samite, but it was a certain marvellous light which clothed the soul. And then He showed unto me the Bridegroom, the Eternal Word, so that now I do understand what thing the Word is and what it doth mean — that is to say, this Word which for my sake was made Flesh. And the Word entered into me and touched me throughout and embraced me, saying, 'Come, My love, My bride, beloved of Me with true delight — come, for all the saints do await thee with exceeding great joy.' And He said again unto me, 'I will not commit thee in charge unto the blessed angels or other saints that they should lead thee unto Me, but I will come personally and fetch thee and will raise thee unto Myself, for thou hast made thyself meet for Me and pleasing unto My Majesty.'"

Now when she was nigh unto the time of her passing away (being the day before it), she did often repeat, "Father, into Thy Hands I do commend my soul and my spirit." Once, after repeating these words, she said unto us who were present —

"Now hath an answer unto those words been given unto me, and it is this: 'It is impossible that in death thou shouldst lose that which hath been impressed upon thine heart in life.'"

Then did we say unto her, "Wilt thou, then, depart and leave us?" And she made answer — "A long time have I hidden it from you, but now will I conceal it no longer. I say unto you that I must needs depart."

And upon that same day ceased all those sufferings with which for many days previously she had been grievously tormented in all her limbs, both within and without, and afflicted in many ways. And she did then lie in such repose of the body and cheerfulness of spirit that she appeared as though she already tasted somewhat of the joy which had been promised unto her.

Then did we ask of her whether that aforesaid joy had yet been granted unto her, and she replied that the above-mentioned joy had commenced.

And in this repose of body and cheerfulness of spirit she lay very joyfully until the hour of Compline on the Saturday, surrounded by many of the brethren who did administer the Holy Mysteries unto her. And upon that same day, that is to say, upon the Octave of the Innocents, at the last hour of the day she gently fell asleep and rested in peace. And that most holy soul was set free from the flesh, and being drawn into the abyss of the divine infinitude, it received from Christ, its Bridegroom, the garment of innocence and immortality, in order that it might reign together with Him. And unto this same place may He likewise bring us, through the virtue of the Cross, the merits of the Virgin, His Mother, and the intercession of this our mother, the Blessed Angela. Amen.


End of the Testament and Passing Away of the Blessed Angela.

The venerable bride of Christ, Angela of Foligno, passed from the shipwreck of this world unto the joys of heaven, which had long been promised unto her, in the year of our Lord's Incarnation, one thousand, three hundred and nine, on the fourth day of January, in the time of Pope Clement the Fifth.