Flower of Devotion

On one occasion St. Mechtilde saw in an apparition of Heaven a golden staircase with nine steps, surrounded everywhere by a multitude of angels. On the first step stood the Guardian Angels, on the second the archangels, and on each step was one of the choirs of angels. By divine inspiration she knew that these stairs signify the steps of heavenly happiness which the blessed enjoy according to their life on earth and the merits they have acquired. Everyone in the Church who serves God faithfully, humbly and devoutly, and who lovingly helps the sick, the poor, pilgrims and all others in need, has a place for himself on the first step and enjoys the same glory as the Guardian Angels. And those who pray more devoutly and love God more, and give instruction, advice and help to their neighbors, will be given a place on the second step in the company of the archangels. Those who exercise themselves in patience, in obedience, in voluntary poverty and in humility, and who exercise all the virtues courageously, are raised to the third degree, where the “Powers” are. Those who resist vices and lusts and Satan and all the things he submits are victorious and will receive the victory of glory in the fourth degree, where the “Powers” are. Those who are superiors of others in the Church, and who faithfully exercise the office entrusted to them, watching day and night to win souls to God, thus multiplying the talents entrusted to them according to their strength, will receive for their work their heavenly happiness in the fifth degree together with the “Princes.” Those who surrender themselves to the Divine Majesty with complete submission, who worship all men in love for the sake of God, and love themselves only because they are created in the image of God, who strive to be like God as far as they can, who subject their bodies to the dominion of the soul, who, having dominion over their spirit, they turn entirely to heavenly things, and they will rejoice in the sixth degree with the “States.” Those who are continually engaged in considerations and thoughts, who in purity of heart and peace of mind show themselves to be the chosen dwellings of God, so that they may truly be called the paradise of God, according to the statement, “My love be with the sons of men” (Proverbs 8:32), or, “And I will dwell and walk in them” (2 Corinthians 6:16), these will be assigned to the seventh degree of the choir of angels. who bear the name “Thrones“. Those who excel others in the knowledge of God and in the doctrine of God; those who, in a special blessing, behold God as face to face with a spirit separately enlightened; and all things which thus draw from the fountain of all wisdom and pour it out into the souls of others by teaching and enlightening them, these will ascend to the eighth degree of the “Cherubim.”
Finally, those who love God with all their heart and with all their soul, and who immerse themselves completely in the eternal fire of that love which is God, so that they become completely like Him; who love God, not with self-love, but with the love that God has poured into them, such as God Himself loves them; so that they love all things through God and for God; who look upon their enemies as their friends; whom nothing can dissuade from loving God, and nothing can hinder them from loving God; who also inflame others to such love, so that all men may be perfect in the love of God; those who mourn for the transgressions and sins of others, Ithat they may be their own, because they seek in all things the honor and glory of God, and not their own; they go straight to God, to the ninth degree to the “Seraphim,” and there are no other spirits between them and God.