The Book of Divine Consolation of the Blessed Angela of Foligno

[Stone]

Fourth Consolation of the Passion of Christ


Upon the fourth day of the great week I was meditating with grief upon the death of the Son of God, striving to empty my mind of all other things in order that my soul might be the more absorbed in this Passion and Death.

Being, therefore, wholly occupied with the endeavour and desire to cast out every other matter from my mind in order that I might the more speedily and completely think only upon this, I heard the divine voice saying within my soul, "My love for thee was no deceit." This word was as a shock of mortal pain unto my soul, for the eyes of my mind were instantly opened, and I saw that what He said was very true. I saw the working and effect of that delight; I saw all that the Son of God had done for the sake of this love, and I saw what Christ Crucified had borne in life and in death for the sake of this deep and unspeakable love. Wherefore did I understand that it was indeed true that His love for me had been no deceit or jest, but love most perfect and profound. Then did I perceive just the opposite in myself, that is to say, I knew that I loved Him deceitfully and not truly. For this reason did I suffer such mortal pain and intolerable grief that methought I was about to die.

Then were other words spoken unto me, which did make mine anguish greater still; and the words were these:

"Again I say unto thee, My love for thee was no deceit, My service of thee was not feigned, nor was My feeling for thee one of enlargement."

Then cried my soul, saying, "Oh Master, that which Thou sayest is not in Thee, is wholly in me; for never have I loved Thee saving deceitfully. I have served Thee with lies and I have never desired to draw nigh unto Thee in very truth for fear lest I might feel those burdens which Thou didst feel and bear for my sake. Wherefore have I never served Thee sincerely and for Thine own sake, but with negligence and duplicity."

Now when I perceived how that He had loved me sincerely, how that He bore in Him all the signs of true love, and how that He had drawn nigh unto me to such a degree that He was become Man in order that He might more completely bear and feel in Himself all our sufferings, I did feel such exceeding great anguish that my ribs seemed disjointed and methought mine heart would burst asunder. Reflecting, moreover, upon these words, "My feeling for thee was not one of enlargement," I did hear Him say further unto me, "I know thy soul more intimately than it knoweth itself," and these words did increase mine anguish, inasmuch as the more I perceived how intimately God did know me, the more did I realise that I myself had become enlarged.

After this He spake certain words unto me which did manifest and show forth His boundless love, saying:

"If there were any person who desired to feel Me in his mind, I would not withdraw Myself from him; and unto whomsoever did desire to behold Me would I willingly show Myself, and with whomsoever did desire to speak unto Me would I joyfully converse."

These words did arouse in me the desire never to feel or say or do aught which should offend God. And this is what God desireth and especially seeketh in His sons and His elect; for He hath called and chosen them in order that they may think, see, and speak according unto His will, and that they may take heed to do nothing contrary thereunto. Thus was it set forth and told unto me:

"Those who love My poverty, suffering, and contempt are My lawful sons and Mine elect, whose thoughts are fixed on My Passion and Death, for here and nowhere else is found salvation and true life for all; wherefore are these and none others My lawful sons."