Chapter 18

Here I saw a part of the compassion of our Lady, Saint Mary: for Christ and she were so oned in love that the greatness of her loving was cause of the greatness of her pain. For in this [Shewing] I saw a Substance of Nature's¹ Love, continued by Grace, that creatures have to Him: which Kind Love was most fully shewed in His sweet Mother, and overpassing; for so much as she loved Him more than all other, her pains passed all other. For ever the higher, the mightier, the sweeter that the love be, the more sorrow it is to the lover to see that body in pain that is loved.

Here I saw some of the compassion of our Lady, Saint Mary. Christ and Mary were so united in love that the greatness of her love caused the greatness of her pain. In this [Showing], I saw the essence of the natural¹ love that creatures have for him, sustained by grace. This natural love was shown most fully and surpassingly in his sweet Mother. Because she loved him more than all others did, her pain was greater than all others’ pain. For the higher, stronger, and sweeter the love, the greater the sorrow a lover feels at seeing the beloved body in pain.

And all His disciples and all His true lovers suffered pains more than their own bodily dying. For I am sure by mine own feeling that the least of them loved Him so far above himself that it passeth all that I can say.

And all his disciples and all who truly loved him suffered pain greater than the pain of their own death. For I know from my own feelings that even the least of them loved him far more than themselves. Their love for him is beyond anything I can describe.

Here saw I a great oneing betwixt Christ and us, to mine understanding: for when He was in pain, we were in pain.

Here I understood that Christ and we are deeply united, because when he was in pain, we were in pain.

And all creatures that ought suffer pain, suffered with Him: that is to say, all creatures that God hath made to our service. The firmament, the earth, failed for sorrow in their Nature in the time of Christ's dying. For it belongeth naturally to their property to know Him for their God, in whom all their virtue standeth: when He failed, then behoved it needs to them, because of kindness [between them], to fail with Him, as much as they might, for sorrow of His pains.

All creatures capable of suffering pain suffered with him. These are all the creatures God made to serve us. At the time of Christ’s death, the heavens and the earth failed from sorrow, as their nature required. For it is natural to them to recognize him as their God, in whom all their power rests. When he failed, their bond with him meant that they too had to fail, as much as they could, in sorrow for his suffering.

And thus they that were His friends suffered pain for love. And, generally, all: that is to say, they that knew Him not suffered for failing of all manner of comfort save the mighty, privy keeping of God. I speak of two manner of folk, as they may be understood by two persons: the one was Pilate, the other was Saint Dionyse² of France, which was [at] that time a Paynim. For when he saw wondrous and marvellous sorrows and dreads that befell in that time, he said: Either the world is now at an end, or He that is Maker of Kind suffereth. Wherefore he did write on an altar: This is the Altar of Unknown God. God that of His goodness maketh the planets and the elements to work of Kind to the blessed man and the cursed, in that time made withdrawing³ of it from both; wherefore it was that they that knew Him not were in sorrow that time.

And so his friends suffered pain for love. And, in general, all suffered. That is, those who did not know him suffered because they lacked every kind of comfort except God’s powerful, hidden protection. I speak of two kinds of people, as represented by two persons. One was Pilate, and the other was Saint Dionyse² of France, who was a pagan at the time. When Saint Dionyse saw the wondrous and terrible sorrows and fears that arose then, he said: Either the world is now ending, or the Maker of Nature is suffering. So he wrote on an altar: This is the Altar of the Unknown God. In his goodness, God makes the planets and the elements follow their natural course for both the blessed and the cursed. At that time, he withheld³ this natural order from both. That is why those who did not know him were in sorrow then.

Thus was our Lord Jesus made-naught for us; and all we stand in this manner made-naught with Him, and shall do till we come to His bliss; as I shall tell after.

Our Lord Jesus was made nothing for us. And all of us remain made nothing with him in the same way. We will remain so until we enter his bliss, as I will explain later.