The Prophecies and Revelations of Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden: Book 1, Chapter 1

Book 1

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ to His chosen and dearly beloved bride, Saint Bridget, about the proclamation of His most holy Incarnation and the rejection, desecration and abandonment of our faith and baptism, and how He bids His beloved bride and all Christian people to love Him. 

Chapter 1

"I am the Creator of the heavens and the earth, one in Divinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. I am the one who spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets and the one whom they awaited. For the sake of their longing and in agreement with my promise, I assumed flesh without sin and concupiscence, by entering the womb of the Virgin like the sun shining through the clearest gem. For just as the sun does not damage the glass by entering it, likewise the virginity of the Virgin was not lost when I assumed Manhood. I assumed flesh in such a way that I did not have to forsake my Divinity, and I was no less God - with the Father and the Holy Spirit, governing and upholding all things - although I was in the womb of the Virgin in my human nature. Just as brightness is never separated from fire, so too, my Divinity was never separated from my Humanity, not even in death.

Thereafter I allowed my pure and sinless body to be wounded from the foot to the head, and to be crucified for all the sins of mankind. That same body is now offered each day on the altar so that mankind might love me more and remember my great deeds more often. But now I am totally forgotten, neglected, despised, and expelled as a king is from his own kingdom and in whose place the most wicked robber has been elected and honored.

I have indeed wanted my kingdom to be within man, and by right I should be King and Lord over him, for I made him and redeemed him. However, now he has broken and desecrated the faith which he promised me in his baptism, and he has broken and spurned my laws and commandments which I prescribed and revealed to him. He loves his own will and refuses to hear me. In addition, he exalts the most wicked robber, the devil, above me and has given him his faith. The devil really is a robber, since he steals for himself, by way of evil temptations, bad councils, and false promises, the human soul that I redeemed with my blood. But he does not do this because he is mightier than me; for I am so mighty that I can do all things with a word, and so just, that even if all the saints asked me, I would not do the least thing against justice.

But, since man, who has been given free will, willfully rejects my commandments and obeys the devil, it is only right that he also experiences his tyranny and malice. This devil was created good by me, but fell by his own wicked will, and has become, so to speak, my servant for inflicting vengeance on the workers of evil.

Yet, even though I am now so despised, I am still so merciful that whoever prays for my mercy and humbles himself in amendment shall be forgiven his sins, and I shall save him from the evil robber - the devil. But to those who continue despising me, I shall visit my justice upon them, so that those hearing it will tremble, and those who feel it will say: "Woe, that we were ever conceived or born! Woe, that we ever provoked the Lord of majesty to wrath!"

But you, my daughter, whom I have chosen for myself, and with whom I now speak in spirit: love me with all your heart - not as you love your son or daughter or parents, but more than anything in the world - since I, who created you, did not spare any of my limbs in suffering for your sake! Yet, I love your soul so dearly that, rather than losing you, I would let myself be crucified again, if it were possible. Imitate my humility; for I, the King of glory and of angels, was clothed in ugly, wretched rags and stood naked at the pillar and heard all kinds of insults and ridicule with my own ears. Always prefer my will before your own, because my Mother, your Lady, has, from the beginning to the end, never wanted anything but what I wanted.

If you do this, then your heart shall be with my heart, and it will be inflamed by my love in the same way that anything dry becomes rapidly inflamed by fire. Your soul shall be so inflamed and filled with me, and I will be in you, so that everything worldly becomes bitter to you and all fleshly lusts like poison. You will rest in the arms of my Divinity, where no fleshly desires exist, but only spiritual delight and joy which fill the delighted soul with happiness - inwardly and outwardly - so that it thinks of nothing and desires nothing but the joy which it possesses. So love me alone, and you will have all the things you want, and you will have them in abundance. Is it not written that the oil of the widow did not decrease until the day the rain was sent to earth by God according to the words of the prophet? I am the true prophet! If you believe my words and follow and fulfill them, the oil - joy and jubilation - shall never decrease for you for all eternity."

Imitation of Christ: Regarding Feeling Humble

Book 1, Chapter 2


1. Need of knowledge is human nature, but what is use of knowledge if we do not fear God?A farmer who is humble and serve God, is better than a proud philosopher who, investigates the science of astronomy, but not taking into account of his soul.

One who knows himself well, will feel humiliated and do not feel happy for man compliment .
If I know everything, but if I do not have love, what use is it for me to God who will judge me according to my deed?

2. Let us throw away all desire for knowledge beyond the limit, because it just raises a lot of confusion and only disappointment.

Those who have a lot of knowledge usually like to be known and called smart people.
Full of knowledge that is less, or even not at all beneficial to the soul.

It's not wise of a man to pursue anything, unless that is useful for the salvation of his soul.
Much talking about knowledge do not satisfy the soul, but righteous living will soothe your heart and pure heart will make our relationship with God more closely and intimately.

3. The more extensive and deep of our knowledge, the harder we will be judged, if our lives do not become more virtuous balanced by it.

Therefore let us not boast our skills or knowledge, but we had better be afraid of the responsibility for the knowledge given to us.

If we suppose that we know many things and feel understand about those things, remember, that there are many other things that we do not know.

Do not have a high presumption of yourself (Rm 11:20), but admit, that we lack of knowledge.
Why do we consider ourselves higher than others, while still many others who are more proficient in the rules of religion than we are?

If we want to know and learn what is useful to us, we should prefer to remain obscure and ignored by common.

A good suggestion and the most useful are: truly know yourself and see yourself as a humble person.
Do not like yourself and always think, that other people are kind and friendly, it is a very wise and perfect nature.

Even if we see other people sinned even doing great crime, do not ever think, that we are better than them. Because we ourselves do not know how long we will remain strong in pretty good state. We are all weak, but we should not assume that others are weaker than us.


Thomas a Kempis. Of 1987. The Imitation of Christ. Penerbit Obor. Page 3-5

Regarding The Imitation of Christ and Ignoring All of World Futility

1. God said, "Whoever follows me, he will not walk in darkness." (John 8:12)
This is the word of Christ to advise us that we may imitate His life diligence, if we truly want to get the light and want to be delivered from all heart blindness.
Therefore let us prioritize and devote our attention to contemplate the life of Jesus Christ.

2. Teachings of Christ far exceeds all the teachings of the saints, and whoever has the true spirit, would find a hidden meaning in it. But it often happens, that many people, although they many times heard the gospel, their gospel longing is only a very little, because they do not have the spirit of Christ. But whoever wants to understand deeply and fully enjoy the words of Christ, let him try to adjust his life to the life of Christ.

3. For what good does in-depth debate about the Holy Trinity of God do, if we are not humble, so that the Trinity is not pleased with us?

It is: not turgid words that make people holy and righteous, but the righteous life that pleases God.
It is better we feel despondent hearts than to understand all the ropes.
If we had memorized all the scriptures and the sayings of all philosophers, what good were they, if we do not have God's love and mercy
"Vanity, vanity and everything is really futile." (Eccl 1:2), unless the charity of God and His grace.
This is the highest wisdom: the refuse of the world to enter the kingdom of heaven.

4. It is futile to seek wealth and give hope to its mortal. Futility is also pursuing the honor and pride.
Vanity is the desire of the flesh and wanting everything that should eventually result in severe punishment for us. Vanity is to expect a long life, but few heed the good life. Vanity is to love of all that passed quickly and there is no pursuit of eternal happiness.

5. Let us always remember the words, "the eye is never satisfied to see and ears do not get enough of hearing." (Eccl 1:1,8).
Then let our hearts try to avoid from love of the visible and steer it to what is not visible.
Because whoever desires sense pleasure, would tarnish his heart and loose the grace of God.

Thomas a Kempis. Of 1987. The Imitation of Christ. Penerbit Obor. Page 1-2