Chapter 8

New miracles

For an entire day, I basked in this new happiness. I went to bed with confidence replacing my fear, soothing myself with beautiful fancies. I’d thought all day on what I had seen, replacing the self-destructive thoughts of the previous day. My friends were surprised to see me so distracted, but I told them there was no meaning in it, and they paid it no mind. At last, I retired to my house. But no sooner was I in bed than I was beset by worries about everything that had happened. I spoke to the Lord then,  telling him that I only wished to be in his presence, with no other people around to see me. 

I left my apartment and walked out of the city and through the countryside, without meeting anyone, and came, at last, to a large road. This, I told myself and God, was where I wanted to be. I looked at the sky, and then cast my gaze to the earth. The earth was a remarkable sight, unadorned, without civilization, with neither plants nor trees to be seen. Before me I saw a furrow which seemed to stretch endlessly, to the right and left.  A fire within it ran from east to west, showing in six or seven colors, different and distinct. “Lord,” I asked, “What does this mean?”  I did not know what to make of it. It was like a volcano, but those only came from the tops of mountains. I could not understand it, but God alone could teach what was beyond human intelligence.

I prayed to him, several times, and the flames of the furrow descended to a half of a foot over the ground. In those flames I saw the suffering of men and women, and I begged God for mercy for them. “God of goodness!” I cried, “Free them from the sufferings they endure, let their punishment not be eternal!”

The flames resumed their height, seeming hotter and brighter. Within the flames I saw a woman of dazzling whiteness, a vision of purity. Her head and her hands were raised to heaven, and she made visible to me several angels. I knew that she had shown me how those people I prayed for would be spared an eternity of suffering, and as I looked again into the flames, those souls had disappeared. I  was filled with a joy that I could not hide, and by day, my friends asked me the same questions they had before.  But I was too far away to respond to their questions.

Several days and nights passed much the same. I found myself worried by the shortcomings of my fellow humans, and left town, hoping and praying to avoid meeting anyone on this journey. I avoided the large road, taking instead a narrow and less traveled path. Now, the countryside was far different from what it was before, many different kinds of trees decorating the land, and I walked on a lush green carpet. The sky was serene, the sweet breeze refreshed my senses. I was on the road to happiness, the trees heavy with beautiful fruit, and a distant music in the air.

In the distance, I saw a woman bending low in the high grass, sometimes standing again, stooping and standing up again. I went to speak to her, to ask about the music I had heard, and could still hear in faint strains.  Was I meant to be here, to take this road? Yes, she answered. This road would take me to paradise, if I followed it, where I could rest and meditate.

She was graceful and beautiful of body. Her honesty was touching, Yet as she told me more of the path to paradise, of this place of happiness that many mortals will never know, I found myself beginning to worry. I walked along the path, and in the darkness along the path, saw places along this delightful road that could hold soldiers, armed with deadly weapons, dressed frightfully to inspire horror and dread. How would I have the strength to endure this journey, to brave the people between myself and that divine majesty?  I soon understood: The journey could only be made by the virtuous man, naked, but wrapped in a mantle of modesty, decorated with the sublime virtues that encourage the goodness of man. Here on earth we can confront the vices and passions that dominate us, and bring us so much misfortune.