Flower of Devotion

Once, when the psalm “Laudate Dominum” (Praise the Lord, Ps. 148) was sung, with the words: “And let the waters that are in heaven praise the name of the Lord,” said St. Mechtilde to the Lord: “O Lord, what are these waters of which they sing? I know that You, in Yourself, experience glory in a special way through every drop of water. The Lord replied: “These are the tears of all the saints, which they shed at one time out of love, devotion, compassion and repentance.”
And in that hour the saint saw pure water, signifying the tears of the saints. The bottom of its spring was of purest gold, and instead of sand there were pearls and precious stones, to mark the various virtues in which the saints practiced on earth. That is: in prayer, in night vigil, in fasting and in various other similar works of God’s service.
There were also many fish playing and swimming in the water. They represented the desires that draw the soul to God, as well as the sighs of longing with which the soul brings God to itself. For the saints in Heaven see their virtues and all their good works united in God to increase the joy of their hearts, although each of them is adorned with his own virtues.