Chapter 4

In this [moment] suddenly I saw the red blood trickle down from under the Garland hot and freshly and right plenteously, as it were in the time of His Passion when the Garland of thorns was pressed on His blessed head who was both God and Man, the same that suffered thus for me. I conceived truly and mightily that it was Himself shewed it me, without any mean.¹

At this moment, I suddenly saw red blood trickling from under the crown of thorns. It was hot, fresh, and flowing freely, as it had during his Passion, when the crown of thorns was pressed onto his blessed head. He was both God and Man, and he suffered this for me. I understood clearly and deeply that he himself showed me this vision, without any intermediary.¹

And in the same Shewing suddenly the Trinity fulfilled my heart most of joy. And so I understood it shall be in heaven without end to all that shall come there. For the Trinity is God: God is the Trinity; the Trinity is our Maker and Keeper, the Trinity is our everlasting love and everlasting joy and bliss, by our Lord Jesus Christ. And this was shewed in the First [Shewing] and in all: for where Jesus appeareth, the blessed Trinity is understood, as to my sight.

In the same vision, the Trinity suddenly filled my heart with the greatest joy. I understood that everyone who reaches heaven will have this joy forever. For the Trinity is God, and God is the Trinity. The Trinity is our maker and protector. The Trinity is our everlasting love, joy, and bliss, through our Lord Jesus Christ. This was shown in the first vision and in all the others. For, as I saw it, wherever Jesus appears, the blessed Trinity is understood to be present.

And I said: Benedicite Domine! This I said for reverence in my meaning, with mighty voice; and full greatly was astonied for wonder and marvel that I had, that He that is so reverend and dreadful will be so homely with a sinful creature living in wretched flesh.

And I said: Benedicite Domine! I said this loudly, intending to show reverence. I was filled with wonder and amazement that he who inspires such reverence and awe would be so familiar with a sinful creature living in wretched flesh.

This [Shewing] I took for the time of my temptation,—for methought by the sufferance of God I should be tempted of fiends ere I died. Through this sight of the blessed Passion, with the Godhead that I saw in mine understanding, I knew well that It was strength enough for me, yea, and for all creatures living, against all the fiends of hell and ghostly temptation.

I took this [Revelation] as a sign for the time of my temptation. For I thought God would allow demons to tempt me before I died. In this vision of the blessed Passion, I also saw the Godhead in my understanding. Through this vision, I knew well that it was strong enough to protect me. Indeed, it was strong enough to protect all living creatures against all the demons of hell and spiritual temptation.

In this [Shewing] He brought our blessed Lady to my understanding. I saw her ghostly, in bodily likeness: a simple maid and a meek, young of age and little waxen above a child, in the stature that she was when she conceived. Also God shewed in part the wisdom and the truth of her soul: wherein I understood the reverent beholding in which she beheld her God and Maker, marvelling with great reverence that He would be born of her that was a simple creature of His making. And this wisdom and truth: knowing the greatness of her Maker and the littleness of herself that was made,—caused her to say full meekly to Gabriel: Lo me, God's handmaid! In this sight² I understood soothly that she is more than all that God made beneath her in worthiness and grace; for above her is nothing that is made but the blessed [Manhood]³ of Christ, as to my sight.

In this [Showing] he brought our blessed Lady to my mind. I saw her spiritually, in bodily form. She was a simple, humble young woman, scarcely more than a child. She appeared as she was when she conceived. God also showed me something of the wisdom and truth of her soul. I understood how reverently she looked upon God, her Maker. She wondered with great reverence that he would be born of her, a simple creature he had made. She knew the greatness of her Maker and how small she was, as one he had made. This wisdom and truth led her to say very humbly to Gabriel: See me, God's handmaid! In this vision² I truly understood that she surpasses all that God made beneath her in worthiness and grace. For, as I saw it, nothing created is above her except the blessed [Manhood]³ of Christ.