The Prophecies and Revelations of Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden: Book 1, Chapter 3

Our Lord Jesus Christ's words of wisdom to His bride about how she should love and honor Him, the Bridegroom, and about how the evil love the world and hate God.

Chapter 3

"I am your God and Lord, whom you worship and honor. I am the one who upholds heaven and earth with my power; they are not upheld by any pillars or anything else. I am the one who is handled and offered up each day on the altar under the appearance of bread as true God and true man. I am the same one who has chosen you. Honor my Father! Love me! Obey my Spirit! Honor my Mother as your Lady! Honor all my saints! Keep the true faith which you shall learn by him who experienced within himself the battle of the two spirits - the spirit of falsehood and the spirit of truth - and with my help won. Maintain true humility. What is true humility if not to behave as one really is, and to give praise to God for the good things he has given us? 

But now, there are many who hate me and my deeds, and who account my words as sorrow and vanity, but instead, with affection and love, embrace the whoremonger: the devil. Whatever they do for my sake is done with grumbling and bitterness. They would not even confess my name or serve me, if they did not fear the opinion of other men. They love the world with such fervor that they never tire of working for it night and day, always burning with their love for it. Their service is as pleasing to me as that of someone who gives his enemy money to kill his own son! This is what they do to me. They give me some alms and honor me with their lips in order to gain worldly success and to remain in their honor and in their sin. The good spirit is therefore hindered in them and they are prevented from making any progress in doing good. 

However, if you want to love me with all your heart and to desire nothing but me, I will draw you to myself through love, just as a magnet draws iron to itself. I will place you on my arm, which is so strong that no one can stretch it out, and so firm that, once outstretched, no one is able to bend it back, and is so sweet that it surpasses every fragrance and is beyond comparison to any sweet thing or delight of this world. 

EXPLANATION 

This man, who was the teacher of the bride of Christ, was the holy theologian and canon of Linkoping, named Master Mathias of Sweden. He wrote an excellent commentary on the whole Bible. He was ingenuously tempted by the devil with many heresies against the Catholic faith. However, he overcame all of them with the help of Christ and could not be conquered by the devil, as is shown in the written biography of Saint Bridget. It was this Master Mathias who composed the prologue to these books which begins thus: "Stupor et mirabilia," etc. He was a holy man with great spiritual power in both word and deed. When he died in Sweden, the bride of Christ was living in Rome. While she was praying, she heard a voice saying to her in spirit: "Happy are you, Master Mathias, for the crown that has been prepared for you in heaven! Come now to the wisdom that will never end!" 

One may also read more about Master Mathias in this Book (in chapter 52), in Book V (in the answer to question 3 in the last interrogation), and in Book VI (chapters 75 and 89).

Imitation of Christ: Regarding The Truth

Book 1, Chapter 3

1. Blessed are those who are directly taught by the truth, not by mortal images and words, but the real truth.

Thoughts and feelings often lead us astray and are only able to unveil the truth a little.

What use is much debate about the various hidden and obscure matters, but about it later on in the court they would not be accountable to us, because we do not know about it?

What a foolish would it be if we neglect what is useful and very important, by prioritizing of what is our interest drawn to, but dangerous. We have eyes but do not see.

2. And why are we fighting over various things?

When the eternal Word speaks to us, surely we will be separated from various understandings.

From the One Word comes everything and everything become witnesses about the One, and the Word was from the beginning spoke to us, too (John 8:25).

Without Him no one could understand or consider the matter properly. People who understand that all things are one and also return everything to the one and everything is seen in relation to the one, the person will find peace in his heart and is at peace with God.

O God, the Truth, unite us with You in everlasting love. Sometimes I regret that I read and hear a lot. At Thee there is everything that I aspire to and I want. Make them quite, men who gave wisdom and mute all the creatures with Thy presence. Speak Thou, Only Thou to us.

3. The more people pay attention to his soul and unite his mind, the more sublime and the more matters that can be understood easily, because he receives light from above to understand everything. Pure, simple and firm soul, will not be disturbed by a lot of work, because he does everything for the glory of God and always dispels in his heart all self interests. Nothing is more difficult, hurdle and troublesome to our way than the our own uncontrolled desires. 

Good and pious people will first think of his deed, before he rolls up his sleeves.

In this way he will not be dragged down by uncontrolled desires, but he himself would drive his desires in harmony with reason.

No greater struggle than someone's who subjects himself.

And this is what should be our task: subjecting and mastering ourselves, and advancing in virtue.

4. Any perfection in this life usually still contains thing that is not perfect, and all the views we have certainly are still foggy.

Know yourself humbly is a safer way to God than a deep and thorough investigation based on science.

Of course we should not denounce science or simple knowledge about anything, which is essentially good and governed by God, but it can not be denied, that good conscience and pious life is better than all this.

For precisely many people prefer sciences to good life, so they often stray from the right path and their work can only give a little fruit or no fruit at all.

5. Ah, if they are in combating crime and cultivating virtues as diligently as questioning things, there would be less crime and stumbling blocks in community, and it would reduce weak in spirit of monasteries! 

Indeed, on the Judgment Day it will not be asked to us, what we have read, but what we have done. It will not be asked whether we speak beautiful language, but whether we lead a good live in the world.

Tell me : where are now the great masters and wise men, that during their lives we know them so well, and the names of the highest honors. Other people have seized control of their posts and wealth they had left, but I do not know if they still remember the old masters. When they lived, it seems that they were special persons, but after their death no one speaks about them any more.

6. Ah, how quickly the grandeur of this world goes by!

Had they lived according to their knowledge, they will for sure learn and provide good lessons.

Too many people are just a little concerned with their devotion to God and lost in this world because of vain knowledge.

Anyway because they would rather be famous than become humble, they become weak-minded in their mind.

Truly noble are people who have great love.

Truly noble are people who disregard their own views and not give value to the highest honor.

Truly wise are people who consider all the worldly goods as rubbish (Philippians 3:8) so that they may gain Christ.

And truly clever are people who accord to God's will and put aside their own.

Thomas a Kempis. Of 1987. The Imitation of Christ. Obor Publishers. Page 5-8