THE learned and pious Cardinal
then proceeds to relate the history of St. Christine the Admirable, who lived
in Belgium at the close of the twelfth century, and whose body is preserved
to-day in St. Trond, in the church of the Redemptorist Fathers. The Life of
this illustrious virgin was, he says, written by Thomas de Cantimpre, a
Religious of the Order of St. Dominic, an author worthy of credit and
contemporary with the saint. Cardinal James de Vitry, in the preface to the
Life of Maria d Ognies, speaks of a great number of holy women and illustrious
virgins ; but the one whom he admires above all others is St. Christine, of
whom he relates the most wonderful deeds. This servant of God, having passed
the first years of her life in humility and patience, died at the age of thirty-two.
When she was about to be buried, and the body was already in the church resting
in an open coffin, according to the custom of the time, she arose full of
vigour, stupefying with amazement the whole city
of St.Trond, which had witnessed this wonder. The astonishment increased when they
learned from her own mouth what had happened to her after her death. Let us
hear her own account of it.
As soon, “said she, “as my soul
was separated from my body, it was received by angels, who conducted it to a very
gloomy place, entirely filled with souls. The torments which they there endured
appeared to me so excessive, that it is impossible for me to give any idea of
their rigour.
I saw among them many of my
acquaintances, and, deeply touched by their sad condition, I asked what place
it was, for I believed it to be Hell. My guide answered me that it was
Purgatory, where sinners were punished who, before death, had repented of their
faults, but had not made worthy satisfaction to God. From thence I was
conducted into Hell, and there also I recognized among the reprobates some whom
I had formerly known.
The angels then transported me into Heaven,
even to the throne of the Divine Majesty. The Lord regarded me with a favorable
eye, and I experienced an extreme joy, because I thought to obtain the grace of
dwelling eternally with Him. But my Heavenly Father, seeing what passed in my heart,
said to me these words: Assuredly, my dear daughter, you will one day be with me.
Now, however, I allow you to choose, either to remain with me henceforth from
this time, or to return again to earth to accomplish a mission of charity and
suffering. In order to deliver from the flames of Purgatory those souls which
have inspired you with so much compassion, you shall suffer for them upon earth;
you shall endure great torments, without, however, dying from their effects. And
not only will you relieve the departed, but the example which you will give to
the living, and your life of continual suffering, will lead sinners to be converted
and to expiate their crimes. After having ended this new life, you shall return
here laden with merits.
At these words, seeing the
great advantages offered to me for souls, I replied, without hesitation, that I
would return to life, and I arose at that same instant. It is for this sole
object, the relief of the departed and the conversion of sinners that I have
returned to this world. There fore be not astonished at the penances that I
shall practise, nor at the life that you will see me lead from henceforward. It
will be so extraordinary that nothing like to it has ever been seen.
All this was related by the
saint herself; let us now see what the biographer adds in the different
chapters of her Life. “Christine immediately commenced the work for which she
had been sent by God. Renouncing all the comforts of life, and reduced to
extreme destitution, she lived without house or fire, more miserable than the
birds of the air, which have a nest to shelter them. Not content with these
privations, she eagerly sought all that could cause her suffering. She threw
herself into burning furnaces, and there suffering so great torture that she
could no longer bear it, she uttered the most frightful cries. She remained for
a long time in the fire, and yet, on coming forth, no sign of burning was found
upon her body. In winter, when the Meuse was frozen, she plunged
herself into it, staying in that cold river not only hours and days, but for
entire weeks, all the while praying to God and imploring His mercy. Sometimes,
whilst praying in the icy waters, she allowed herself to be carried by the
current down to a mill, the wheel of which whirled her round in a manner
frightful to behold, yet without breaking or dislocating one of her bones. On
other occasions, followed by dogs, which bit and tore her flesh, she ran, enticing
them into the thickets and among the thorns, until she was covered with blood; nevertheless,
on her return, no wound or scar was to be seen.
Such are the works of
admirable penance described by the author of the Life of St. Christine. This
writer was a Bishop, a suffragan of the Archbishop of Cambray; and we have,
says Bellarmine, reason for believing his testimony, since he has
for guarantee another grave author, James de Vitry, Bishop and Cardinal, and
because he relates what happened in his own time, and even in the province
where he lived. Besides, the sufferings of this admirable virgin were not
hidden. Every one could see that she was in the midst of the flames without
being consumed, and covered with wounds, every trace of which disappeared a few
moments afterwards. But more than this was the marvellous life she led for
forty-two years after she was raised from the dead, God clearly showing that
the wonders wrought in her by virtue from on high. The striking conversions
which she effected, and the evident miracles which occurred after her death,
manifestly proved the finger of God, and the truth of that which, after her resurrection,
she had revealed concerning the other life.
Thus, argues Bellarmine, God
willed to silence those libertines who make open profession of believing in
nothing, and who have the audacity to ask in scorn, Who has re turned from the
other world? Who has ever seen the torments of Hell or Purgatory? Behold two
witnesses.
They assure us that they have
seen them, and that they are dreadful. What follows, then, if not that the
incredulous are inexcusable, and that those who believe and neverthe less
neglect to do penance are still more to be condemned?
