Excerpts from the Prophecies of St. Bridget

St. Brigid saw that a devil appeared in the judgment seat of God, who had grasped the soul of a certain deceased, who was trembling like a heart that throbs. And the devil said to the Judge: Here is the prey. Your angel and I were following this soul from its beginning to the end; he to defend her, and I to harm him, and we both stalked her as hunters. But at last it fell into my hands, and to reach it I am as avid and impetuous as the torrent that falls from above, to which nothing resists but some strong stirrup, that is, your justice, which has not yet decided in this judgment, and , therefore, I still do not possess it with security. For the rest, I desire it with such eagerness, like the animal that is so consumed by abstinence, that it would eat its own members with hunger. And so, since you are a just Judge,

And the Judge answered: Why did it fall more in your hands, and why did you approach her more than my angel? And the devil answered: Because his sins were more than his good deeds. And the Judge said: Show what they are. The devil replied: A book I have filled with its sins. And the Judge said: What name does that book have? His name is inobedience, replied the devil, and in that book there are seven books, and each of them has three columns, and each column has more than a thousand words, but no less than a thousand, and some many more than a thousand. The Judge replied: Tell me the names of those books, because although I know everything, I want, however you speak, so that others may know your malice and my kindness.

The name of the first book, said the devil, is superb, and in it there are three columns. The first is the spiritual pride in his conscience, because he was ensoberbecido with the good life he thought he had better than that of others; and he was also proud of his intelligence and conscience, which he thought more prudent than that of others. The second column was, because he was superb with the goods that had been granted him, with the servants, with the clothes and other things. The third column was, because it ensoberbecía with the beauty of the members, with his illustrious birth and his works. In these three columns there are endless words, as you well know.

The second book is your greed: this has three columns. The first is spiritual, because he thought that his sins were not as serious as he said, and unworthily desired the kingdom of heaven, which is given only to the one who is perfectly clean.The second is, because he desired the world more than necessary, and his desire was only to exalt his name and his offspring, in order to raise and praise his heirs, not to honor you, but according to the honor of the world. The third column is, because he was superb with the honor of the world and with being more than the others. And in these columns, as you well know, there are innumerable words, with which he sought favor and benevolence, and acquired temporal goods.

The third book is envy, and it has three columns. The first was mental or in his mind, because he secretly envied those who had more than him, and prospered more. The second column is, because out of envy he received things from those who had less than him, and they needed him most. The third, because out of envy he harmed his neighbor secretly with his advice, and even publicly, both in word and deed, both for himself and for his own, and even incited others to do so.

The fourth book is greed, and in it there are three columns.The first is mental greed, because he did not want to tell others what he knew, with which the others would have had consolation and advancement, and he thought to himself in this way: What good is it for me, if I give this advice to this or that ? What reward do I have, if that advice or word were useful to another? And so, anyone left him very distressed, not edified or educated, as it could have been, if he had wanted. The second column is, because when he could pacify the dissenters, he did not want to, and when he could console the afflicted, he did not take care of it. The third column is avarice in your goods, in terms, that if you were to give a maravedi in your name, you would be distressed and it would be painful, and for the honor of the world you gave a hundred willingly. In these columns there are infinite words, as you very well know. You know everything and nothing can be hidden from you; But for your power you force me to speak, because you want this to be of benefit to others.

The fifth book is laziness, and it has three columns. First, because he was lazy in doing good works for your honor, that is, in keeping your commandments; for by the rest of his body he lost his time, and the enjoyment and pleasure of his body were very pleasing to him. The second column is because he was lazy in thinking, for whenever your good spirit instilled in his heart repentance, or some good spiritual idea, it seemed too diffuse, and he turned his mind away from spiritual thought, and he enjoyed all joy and pleasure. of the world. The third column is because I was lazy in the mouth, that is, in praying and speaking what was of benefit to others and in your honor; but he was very fond of shocking words. How many words are there in these columns, and how innumerable they are, you only know it.

The sixth book is anger, and it has three columns. The first, because he was irritated with his neighbor for things that did not interest him. The second column is, because with his anger he damaged his neighbor, and sometimes by anger he destroyed his things. The third is, because anger annoyed his neighbor.

The seventh book was its sensuality, and it also has three columns. The first is, because in an undue and disorderly way, he was carnally delighted; for although he was married, and did not mingle with other women, yet he sinned impudently in an illicit way with gestures, with inconvenient words and deeds. The second column is, because he was too bold to talk, and not only encouraged his wife to speak freely, but often with his words also attracted others, to hear and think lightness. The third column is, because he maintained his body with excessive delicacy, making prepare for himself in abundance the most exquisite meats for the greater pleasure of his body, and for men to praise him and call him splendid.

There are more than a thousand words in these columns, because he sat at the table more slowly than was just, without considering the loss of time; He spoke many untimely things, and ate more than nature demanded. Here you have, oh Judge, all my book: award me, then that soul.

The Judge was silent then, and the Mother, who was farther away, approached, said: I want to dispute with that demon about justice. And the Son answered: Beloved Mother, when the devil is not denied justice, how can it be denied to you, that you are my Mother and the Lady of the angels? You can do everything and everything you know in me, but nevertheless, speak, so that others know the love that I have for you.

Immediately the Virgin said to the devil: I command you, devil, to answer me to three things that I ask you, and although you do it by force, you are bound by justice, because I am your Lady. Tell me, do you know, by chance, all the thoughts of man?

And the devil replied: No, but only those I can judge by the exterior operations of man and by his disposition, and those that I suggest in his heart, because although I lost my dignity, however, by the subtlety of my nature , I was so penetrated, that by the man's disposition I can understand the state of his mind; but your good thoughts I can not know them.

Then the blessed Virgin spoke again to the devil, and said: Tell me, devil, even if it is by force: What is it that can erase what is written in your book? Nothing can erase it, the devil replied, but one thing, which is the love of God; and whoever has it in his heart, however sinful he may be, immediately erases what was written about him in my book. Tell me, devil, the Virgin asked her for the third time: Is there, by chance, some sinner so filthy and so separated from my Son that he can not obtain forgiveness while he lives? And the devil replied: No one is so sinful that, if he wants, he can not return to grace while he lives. Whenever anyone, however great a sinner, changes his bad will into good, has the love of God and wants to remain in it, all demons are not enough to tear it away.

Immediately the Mother of mercy told the people around: At the end of her life this soul turned to me, and she told me: You are the Mother of mercy and the help of the unhappy. I am unworthy to implore your Son, because my sins are serious and very many, and I have caused him greatly to anger, because I have loved my pleasure and the world more than God my Creator. I beg you, then, have mercy on me, you do not deny it to anyone who asks for it, and therefore I turn to you and I promise you that if I live, I want to amend and turn my will to your Son, and not to love anything else but him. But above all it weighs me down and I regret not having done anything for the honor of your Son, my Creator; and so I beg you to have mercy on me, most gracious Lady, because I have no one to whom I can turn. With such words and for this purpose this soul came to me at the end of her life. And should not I hear it? Who is there, that if wholeheartedly and purposefully the amendment makes a plea to another, it does not deserve to be heard? And how much more I, who am the Mother of mercy, should not hear all who cry out to me?

And the devil replied: I know nothing about that purpose; but if it is as you say, try it with obvious reasons. You are unworthy of me answering you, said the Virgin; However, because this is done for the benefit of others, I will answer you. You, miserable, you have already said, that nothing written in your book can be erased except by the love of God. And then the Virgin turned to the Judge, said: My son, have the devil open that book and read, and see if everything is written there completely, or if something has been deleted.

Then the Judge said to the devil: Where is your book? In my belly, the devil replied. And the Judge said to him: What is your belly? My memory, the devil replied; For as all uncleanness and stench is in the womb, so in my memory is all perversity and malice, which, like a terrible stench, smell in your presence. For when I turned away from you and your light because of my pride, then I found all malice in me, and my memory of the good things of God was obscured, and in this memory all the wickedness of sins is written. Then the Judge said to the devil: I command you, to see carefully and look in your book what is written and what is deleted regarding the sins of this soul, and say it publicly.

And the devil replied: I look at my book, and I see written things different from what I believed. I see that those seven catalogs have been deleted, and nothing remains of them in my book but the excesses and excesses.

Then the Judge said to the good angel who was present: Where are the good works of this soul? And the angel replied: Lord, all things are in your presence and knowledge, those present, past and future. We know everything and we see it in You, and You in us, nor do we need to speak to you, because you know everything. But because you want to show your love, you manifest your will to those you like. Since at first this soul was united in the body, I was always with her, and I have also written a book of her good works. And if you would like to see that book, it is in your power.

And the Judge said: It is not advisable to judge but after hearing and understanding the good and the bad, and examining everything well, it must then be sentenced according to justice, whether for life, or for death. My book, answered the angel, is obedience, with which he obeyed you, and in him there are seven columns. The first is baptism; the second, is his abstinence by fasting, and restraint in illicit works, in sins, and even in the pleasure and temptations of the flesh; the third column is the prayer and the good purpose that it had for you; the fourth column is his good deeds in alms and other works of mercy; the fifth is the hope that you had in you; the sixth is the faith he had as a Christian; The seventh is the love of God. Hearing this, the Judge said again to the good angel: Where is your book? And he replied: In your vision and love, my Lord. Then, in a tone of counter-claim, the Virgin said to the devil: How did you guard your book, and how was it erased from what was written in it? And the devil replied: Oh! Oh, because you cheated on me.

Immediately the judge said to his most compassionate Mother: In this particular you have been in favor of the sentence, and with justice you have won that soul. Then the devil cried out, and said: I lost, and I have been defeated; but tell me, Judge: How long shall I have this soul for its excesses and excesses? I will manifest it to you, replied the Judge;open and read are the books. But tell me, devil, although I know everything, tell me if, according to justice, this soul must enter or not into heaven. I allow you now to see and know the truth of justice. And the devil replied: It is justice in you, that if someone dies without mortal sin, he will not enter into the pains of hell, and everyone who has the love of God, by right can enter heaven. And as this soul did not die in mortal sin and had love from God, it is worthy to enter heaven,
And the Judge said: Since I have opened your understanding and allowed you to see the light of truth and justice, I gave to those who want it to hear it: what should be the sentence of this soul? The devil answered: Let him purify himself in such a way, that there be not a single spot left in it; because even if for justice you have been adjudged, yet, it is still unclean, and it can not come to you, but after purification. And like you, oh Judge, you asked me, now I also ask: How should it be purified and how long should it be in my hands? The Judge answered: I command you, devil, not to enter into it, nor absorb it in yourself; but you must purify it until it is clean and without stain, because according to its fault it will suffer its pain.

In three ways he sinned in sight, in three ways in the ear and in three other ways in touch. Therefore, it must be punished in three ways. At the hearing: first, you must personally see your sins and abominations; second, it must see you in your malice; third, he must see the miseries and terrible sorrows of the other souls.

It also has to afflict in three ways in the ear. First, he will hear a horrible woe, because he wanted to hear his own praise and the delight of the world: second, he must hear the horrible clamor and mockery of the demons: third, he will hear disgrace and intolerable miseries, because he heard more and with more pleasure the love and the favor of the world, that of God, and he served the world with more determination than his God.

In three ways it also has to afflict the touch. First, it must burn in
burned fire inside and outside, so that there is not even the slightest stain, that is not purified in the fire: second, it must suffer great cold, because it burned in his greed and was cold in my love: third, will be in hands of demons, so that there is not the slightest thought or the slightest word that is not purged, until it becomes like gold, which is purified in the crucible and in the forge, at the will of its owner.

Then the devil asked: How long will that soul be in this pain?
The Judge replied: Since his will was to live in the world, and such was his will, that he would gladly have lived in the body until the end of the world, this pain must last until the end of the world. My justice is that everyone who has divine love, and with all persistence desires and longs to be with me and separate from the world, this without penalty must obtain heaven, because the test of the present life is its purification.But he who fears death for the sake of bitter future sorrow, and would like to have more time to amend, he must have a slight sorrow in purgatory. But he who, forgetting me, wishes to live until the day of judgment, though he does not sin mortally, however, because of his perpetual desire to live, he must have a perpetual punishment until the day of judgment.

Then said the most blessed Virgin Mary: Blessed are you, my son, for your justice, which is with all mercy. Although we see and know everything in you, however, to the intelligence of others, what remedy should be taken to diminish so long a time of sorrow, and what other to extinguish such a cruel fire, and how can this soul also get rid of the hands of demons.

And the Son answered: Nothing can be denied to you, because you are the Mother of mercy, and you all provide and seek consolation and mercy. There are three things that make such a long time of sorrow diminish, and that the fire be extinguished, and that that soul be freed from the hands of the demons. The first is, if someone returns what he unjustly took or took from others, or is bound to return them in justice;for the soul must be purged, or by the prayers of the saints, or by alms and good works of friends, or by a sufficient purification. The second is a great almsgiving, because by it sin is erased, as thirst quenches with water. The third thing is, the offering of my body made by him on the altar, and the pleas of my friends. These three things are what will free you from those three penalties.

Then said the Mother of mercy: And what good are the good deeds that you did for her now? And the Son answered: You do not ask, because you ignore it, because you know everything and you see in me, but you investigate it to show others my love. In truth, the most insignificant word will not remain without compensation, nor the slightest thought that in my honor had; for everything that he did for me is now before him and within his own pain, and it serves as a refreshment and consolation, and therefore he feels less ardor than he would suffer otherwise.

And the Virgin returned to tell her Son: Why is that soul immobile, like one who does not move hands or feet against his enemy and yet lives? And the Judge replied: The Prophet wrote to me, that I was like a lamb that He is silent before the one who shears it; And in truth, I fell silent before my enemies: therefore, it is justice, that for not having taken interest in my death that soul and for having considered it of little importance, is now like the child who in the hands of the murderers can not give voices. Blessed are you, sweet Son of Mine, that you do nothing without justice, said the Mother.You said before, My son, that your friends could help this soul, and you know well that she served me in three ways. First, with the abstinence, because I fasted the vigils of my festivities and in them abstained in my name; second, because I read my Office; and third, because he sang for my honor. And so, my son, since you hear your friends who give you voices on earth, I beg you, that you also please to hear me.

And the Son answered: The supplications of the favorite person of some lord are always heard with greater benevolence; and since you are what I love most about all things, ask whatever you want, and it will be given to you. This soul, said the Mother, suffers three pains in sight, three in the ear, and three in the touch. I beg you then, beloved Son of mine, to diminish a sorrow in your sight, and not to see the horrible demons, even though you suffer the other two sorrows, because your justice demands it according to the justice of your mercy, to which I can not oppose. I beg you, secondly, that in your ear you will diminish a sorrow, and that is that he does not hear his reproach and confusion. I beg you, finally, that in touch you take away a pain, and that is that you do not feel that cold greater than the ice, which deserves to have, because it was cold in your love.

And the Son replied: Blessed are you, beloved Mother, nothing can be denied to you: your will be done, and it is, as you have asked. Blessed are you, sweet Son of Mine, said the Mother, for all your love and mercy.

At that moment a saint appeared with great accompaniment, and said: Praised be ye, Lord, our God, Creator and judge of all. This soul was in my life a devotee of mine, fasted in honor of me, and praised me by making supplications to me, in the same way as these friends of yours who are present. So, I beg of you and me, that you have compassion for this soul, and for our pleas you give him rest in a pain, and that the demons have no power to obscure his conscience; for if it is not contained, it will be obscured in such a way that the soul would never wait for the end of its misery and reach glory, but when it was your will to look at it especially with your grace;and this is a greater torment than any other. Therefore, most gracious Lord, grant him for our supplications, that in whatever pain he may be in,

And the Judge replied: True justice demands it, because that soul many times turned its conscience away from the spiritual thoughts and the intelligence of eternal things, and wanted to obscure its conscience, without fearing to act against me, and therefore, justly it is, I repeat, that the demons obscure their conscience. But because you, dear friends of mine, heard my words and put them to work, you should not deny anything, and so I will do what you ask.

Then all the saints answered: Blessed be ye, God, in all your righteousness, which you judge righteously, and leave nothing without punishment. Immediately he told the Judge the guardian angel of that soul: From the beginning of the union of this soul with his body, I was with her, and accompanied her by providence of your love, and sometimes did my will. I pray you, God and my Lord, that you have mercy on her. And the Lord answered: Yes, it is well; but about this, we want to deliberate. Then the vision disappeared.

DECLARATION

He was a kindly gentleman and friend of the poor, and he gave him a lot of alms his wife, who died in Rome, as he had announced the spirit of God, through Santa Brigida, to which he said: Have understood that Madame will return to her homeland, but she will not die there. And so it was, because the second time she returned to Rome, where she died and was buried.