LET us narrate a third vision
relating to the interior of Purgatory that of St. Lidwina of Schiedam, who died
April 11, 1433, and whose history, written by a contemporary priest, has the most
perfect authenticity. This admirable virgin, a true prodigy of Christian
patience, was a prey to all the pains of the most cruel maladies for the period
of thirty-eight years. Her sufferings rendering sleep impossible to her, she
passed long nights in prayer, and then, frequently wrapt in spirit, she was conducted
by her angel-guardian into the mysterious regions of Purgatory. There she saw dwellings,
prisons, diver’s dungeons, one more dismal than the other; she met, too, souls
that she knew, and she was shown their various punishments.
It may be asked, “What was the
nature of those ecstatic journeys? “and it is difficult to explain; but we may
conclude from certain other circumstances that there was more reality in them
than we might be led to believe. The holy invalid made similar journeys and
pilgrimages upon earth, to the holy places in Palestine, to the churches of Rome,
and to monasteries in the vicinity. She had an exact knowledge of the places which
she had thus traversed. A Religious of the monastery of St. Elizabeth,
conversing one day with her, and speaking of the cells, of the chapter-room, of
the refectory, of his community, she gave him as exact and detailed a
description of his house as though she had passed her life there. The Religious
having expressed his surprise, “Know, Father” said she,“ that I have been through your
monastery ; I have visited the cells, I have seen the angel-guardians of all
those who occupy them. “One of the journeys which our saint made to Purgatory
occurred as follows : An unfortunate sinner, entangled in the corruptions of the
world, Wcis finally converted. Thanks to the prayers and urgent exhortations of
Lidwina, he made a sincere confession of all his sins and received absolution,
but had little time to practice penance, for shortly after he died of the plague.
The saint offered up many
prayers and sufferings for his soul; and some time afterwards, having been
taken by her angel-guardian into
Purgatory, she desired to know if he was still there, and in what condition. “
He is there, “said her angel, “ and he suffers much. Would you be willing to
endure some pain in order to diminish his ? “Certainly, “she replied, I am
ready to suffer anything to assist him. “Instantly her angel conducted her into
a place of frightful torture. “Is this, then, Hell, my brother? “asked the holy
maiden, seized with horror. “No, sister, “answered the angel, “but this part of
Purgatory is bordering upon Hell. “Looking around on all sides, she saw what
resembled an immense prison, surrounded with walls of a prodigious height, the
blackness of which, together with the monstrous stones, inspired her with
horror. Approaching this dismal enclosure, she heard a confused noise of lamenting
voices, cries of fury, chains, instruments of torture, violent blows which the
executioners discharged upon their victims. This noise was such that all the
tumult of the world, in tempest or battle, could bear no comparison to it.“ What,
then, is that horrible place? “ asked St. Lidwina of her good angel. “Do you
wish me to show it to you? “No, I beseech you,” said she, recoiling with terror;“
the noise which I hear is so frightful that I can no longer bear it; how, then,
could I endure the sight of those horrors ?”Continuing her mysterious route,
she saw an angel seated sadly on the curb of a well. “Who is that angel ? “ she
asked of her guide.“ It is, “he replied, “the angel-guardian of the sinner in
whose lot you are interested. His soul is in this well, where it has a special
Purgatory.” At these words, Lidwina cast an inquiring glance at her angel ; she
desired to see that soul which was dear to her, and endeavor to release it from
that frightful pit. Her angel, who understood her, having taken off the cover
of the well, a cloud of flames, together with the most plaintive cries, came
forth. “Do you recognize that voice? “Said the angel to her. Alas! Yes,
“answered the servant of God. “ Do you desire to see that soul? He continued.
On her replying in the affirmative, he called him by his name; and immediately our
virgin saw appear at the mouth of the pit a spirit all on fire, resembling
incandescent metal, which said to her in a voice scarcely audible, “ O Lidwina,
servant of God, who will give me to contemplate the face of the Most High ? “The
sight of this soul, a prey to the most terrible torment of fire, gave our saint
such a shock that the cincture which she wore around her body was rent in twain
; and, no longer able to endure the sight, she awoke suddenly from her ecstasy.
The persons present, perceiving
her fear, asked her its cause. “Alas!” she replied, “how frightful are the
prisons of Purgatory! It was to assist the souls that I consented to descend
thither. Without this motive, if the whole world were given to me, I would not
undergo the terror which that horrible spectacle inspired. ”Some days later, the same angel whom she
had seen so dejected appeared to her with a joyful countenance; he told her
that the soul of his protégé had left the pit an passed into the ordinary Purgatory.
This partial alleviation did not suffice the charity of Lidwina; she continued
to pray for the poor patient, and to apply to him the merits of her sufferings,
until she saw the gates of Heaven opened to him.
