‘Miracles of Mary’ by Herolt; 1928 edition; Chapters VI-IX; pages 23-27
“Chapter VIA knight, having put off his knight’s belt, entered the Cistercian Order in Clairvaux. Once on a time at harvest, having gone out to labour with the brothers, he was told to sit there and rest, because he was full of years and had not been accustomed to work with his hands. Sitting thus, he struck his breast, taking it ill that he did no work while the rest laboured, and thus talked with himself : “ Wretched weakling ! what wise and noble men according to the flesh are working here who, if they wished to enter on worldly paths, would have a great name, and you sit here all day so very precious, you who have grown old in evil days, whilst they before you bear the burden and heat of the day, youths of gentle birth and breeding though they be.”
Thus talking with himself, he saw in a vision descending from a hill above a white-clad company led by a very beautiful woman, and before her two others carrying towels in their hands. This lady coming with her company saluted the brothers with a holy kiss and took them into her loving embrace, and by the hands of the two companions who went before her, she wiped away with the towels the duff and sweat from the brows of the monks.
The knight, seeing this and ignorant that it was Mary, the Mother of God, gnashed with his teeth against the brothers, saying to himself : “ What sort of brothers are these, and what sort of religion is this, where women are thus admitted not only to their presence and converse, but even to their embraces and kisses ! ” Whilst he was thus thinking, one of that white-clad band approaching, said : “ Why do you ignorantly imagine such things, old man ? This lady whom you see is Mary the Mother of Jesus, who has come to see her reapers, comforting and helping them as her dearest: sons.” The knight was edified and consoled by the reassurance of this vision in Mary the Mother of God and his brothers, and laboured with the strength of that spiritual food, making a good end of his life.
Chapter VII
A certain church was built in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in the building thereof columns were brought of wonderful size. And when they could not be raised and every day men were wearied out with, labour in vain, there appeared to the master-builder the Virgin Mary in a vision, saying : “Be not troubled; take to help you three children from the schools and with their aid effect what you wish.”
And this was done.
And the people came to see that wonderful miracle and how that which a host of strong men could not lift three boys not yet fully-grown raised with the greatest ease.
Chapter VIII
When the Blessed Dominic was pleading with God and the Lord Pope for the establishment of His Order, whilst praying one night in a church at Rome he saw in a vision the Lord Jesus Christ standing in the air and aiming three lances at the world.
And the Virgin Mary, falling at His feet, begged Him to be merciful to those whom He had revealed, and to temper justice with mercy. To her the Son said : “ Seest thou not what wrong is done to me and how wickedly Christians with their sins crucify me afresh ? My justice cannot suffer wickedness to go unpunished.”
Then His Mother said to Him : “As Thou knowest, because Thou knowest all things, there is a way by which Thou mayest bring them back to Thee. I have one faithful servant, whom Thou shalt send into the world to give a message to them, and they shall be converted and shall seek Thee, the Saviour of all.
Another servant also will I give to help him, who shall work in like fashion.”
Then her Son said: “ Mother, behold, I am appeased, and thy presence is well-pleasing to me. But show me whom thou do ft wish to appoint to so great a service.” Then the Lady Mother presented the blessed Dominic to our Lord Jesus Christ, and He said : “ Then shall he do well and zealously what thou haft said.”
She brought also the Blessed Francis, and commended him in like manner to the Saviour. Now the Blessed Dominic in that vision earnestly regarded his companion whom he had not before that known, and on the morrow when he found him in the church among those whom he had not seen in the night, he recognised him and, running up to him, gave him a holy kiss and embraced him heartily saying : “ Thou art my comrade. Thou shalt run with me. Let us stand together and no adversary shall prevail over us.”
Also he told him of that vision, and afterwards they became of one heart and soul in God, and this unity they handed down to those who came after them to be observed for ever more.
Chapter IX
There was a certain priest named William, to whom many secret things were revealed from Heaven. For, as he stood in prayer, he fell into an ecstasy. He was carried before the Tribunal of Christ, at Whose right hand he saw an angel stand, with a trumpet, and, whilst all the ho ft of Heaven listened, in a loud voice Christ spake to him : “ Sound the trumpet.”
When that was done, so loud was the noise of the trump that all the world seemed to shake like the leaves of a tree. And when He a second time said : “ Sound the trumpet yet once again ”, the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, knowing that if He should sound the trumpet again, the whole world would come to an end, whilst the rest of the Saints remained silent, rose and threw herself at the feet of her son entreating Him with much supplication to put away His wrath and spare the world.
To her Christ replied : “ Mother, the whole world lies in wickedness and so vexes me with its sins that I ought not to hold my wrath or spare mankind. Not only laymen but clergy and monks are utterly corrupt in their ways and offend me from day to day.”
Then she said : “ Beloved Son, if not for those wicked men’s sake yet at least for my loved ones.”
Image: Nativity (ca 1457) ~ Jaume Ferrer (Spanish, 1430 - 1461)
Music: Kathy Mattea ~ Christ Child's Lullaby
>>> youtube.com/watch?v=1tGRSIM_Iag