Flower of Devotion

On the eve of the Feast of the Purification of Love, St. Mechtilde saw the Blessed Virgin and Mother carrying the royal Child Jesus in her arms, dressed in a blue robe full of golden flowers. On his chest, around his neck and hands, was written the Name “Jesus.”
St. Mechtilde said to the Blessed Virgin, “O you, most beloved Virgin, did you adorn your Son in such a way when you were to offer him in the temple?” The Blessed Virgin answered, “Not so, but I have prepared Him in a charming way. From the day of the birth of my Son, I have awaited with a joy that even man cannot imagine, the day on which I was permitted to offer my Son of God to the heavenly Father as a sweet sacrifice. By which sacrifice and for which God accepted all the sacrifices offered to Him from the beginning of the world. And I offered Him with such devotion and gratitude that if the holiness of all the saints were poured into one man, it could not go in comparison with My devotion. But all My joy was turned into sorrow by Simeon’s words: “A sword of sorrow shall pierce your soul.” Very often afterwards, when I kept My Son in my bosom in excess of sweetness and devotion, I bent My head to His Head. I shed so many tears that I sprinkled them on His Head and Face. I have often pronounced these words: “For the salvation and joy of my soul!”

While St. Mechtilde was looking with tender desire at the lovely Child, the royal Mother placed the Child in her bosom according to her wishes. The saint felt an unspeakable joy as a result. But when she wanted to embrace the Child, she embraced herself, for she no longer had the Child.

Later, when the antiphon was sung, “Haec est, quae nescivit forum” (She who did not know the guilt of the stained intercourse), the holy choirs of angels heard the above words singing in sweet tones. Also the entire Psalm 84, “Thou hast blessed the Lord,” was sung by the holy choirs of angels in the air. And the antiphons were preached alternately, first by the angels, then by the archangels, the principalities, the principalities, the powers, the dominions, and the thrones. And since these angels were joined by the Cherubim and Seraphim, the singing of these united choirs of angels sounded so sweet that it could not be compared with any earthly singing even remotely.
The Blessed Virgin stood in the middle of these choirs, holding the Child Jesus in her arms. Now there appeared a splendour that hovered three cubits above the earth, and in its brightness surpassed thousands of suns. On this splendour the virginal Mother laid her sweetest Son. This effulgence signified Deity, for God was His own bearer on earth, and Deity rules over Humanity. The Blessed Virgin wore on her head a royal diadem, which was raised by two angels over her forehead, and on it were written as if in gold and precious stones the names of all those saints who had served her in this life with pious hearts. Drops from this diadem also fell, signifying the graces that God pours into the hearts of all those who devoutly serve His Blessed Mother.
The Archangel Gabriel walked in front of the Blessed Virgin and carried in his hand a scepter on which was written in golden letters: “Hail Mary, gratia plena” (Hail Mary, full of grace). From this St. Mechtilde knew that Gabriel was distinguished in Heaven with a special dignity because he had the grace to be able to greet the Mother of God so miraculously before the other angels.
The Blessed Virgin stood on the right side of her Most Holy Son and held a golden capsule in her right hand. And when St. Mechtilde asked what was in it, she answered: “From the sweetness of the Divine Heart, which I wish to offer to My Son, together with all the work that is done in His service and in Mine.”
On the Lord’s left stood the prophetess Anna; St. Mechtilde asked the Blessed Virgin how long this holy old woman had lived on earth. Our Lady answered, “Until the return of my Son from Egypt.”
She also saw St. Mechtilde Simeon standing at the altar. From his heart came a threefold ray, in the shape of a rainbow, which made her understand that this saint had a humble, strong, and ardent desire for God. St. Mechtilde said to him, “Obtain for me the true desire for death, that I may be with Christ.” Simeon answered, “It is better and more perfect if you give your will to God and desire only what God wills.” Now she asked the Blessed Virgin to pray to her Son for her and for the convent congregation, which the Blessed Virgin did that hour.
When the primaries were over, and St. Mechtilde, together with the other singers, was about to sing the Benedicamus, she asked the Blessed Virgin once more to praise her Son for the convent assembly. Then the sonorous voice of the Blessed Virgin resounded, pronouncing in sweet tones: “Jesus, crown of virgins, love, sweetness and kiss!” And all the angels and saints who were in the air sang, “We praise you in eternity, whom love has made the son of the Virgin!” Then there was a glow that filled the whole choir. The saint understood its significance because the Blessed Virgin praised her Son for her with Him and in Him.
Then all the hosts of angels and saints followed their Lord joyfully to the heavens, singing and saying, “Sing to him, you above, and you below with an equal voice.” (from the hymn “Jesu corona Virginum”)