Flower of Devotion

Once the Lord said to St. Bridget:

“I am the Creator of heaven and earth. You wondered, My bride, why I am so patient with sinners. It is because I am merciful. My justice abolishes them in three ways.
Firstly, so that their time may be fulfilled. For as a just king who has several criminals in prison, when someone asks him why he does not have them executed, he answers, “Since the day has not yet come when they are to be interrogated for the greater warning of those present, so I also endure the wicked, until their time comes that others may know their malice.” Did I not foretell long in advance that I would reject Saul before the people knew of him? That is why I have endured this for so long, that others may know of his malice. Secondly, because the wicked often do good deeds for which they will receive a reward for even the smallest moment of their lives. They must receive the reward, so that they will not do the slightest good thing for me, so that they will not be rewarded for it, and that they will not receive my reward here on earth. Thirdly, that the reverence and patience of God may be manifested. That’s why I put up with Pilate, Herod, and Judas.
For three reasons, too, My mercy spares evil people. First, for My love is too great, for the eternal punishment is long. That is why I suffer them for My very great love, until the last moment, so that by the long delay of the time I leave them, their torments may later begin. Secondly, that their nature should be consumed by sin, for sin consumes nature, so that it may not feel the death of the flesh more bitterly, as it would have if their nature had been fresher.
For fresh nature suffers a longer and more bitter death. Thirdly, that the good may progress in virtue, and that some of the wicked may be converted. For when good and righteous men are grieved by the wicked, they benefit either by abstaining from sin or by increasing their merit. Bad people live in a similar way, sometimes for the benefit of other bad people. For when the wicked look upon the fall and wickedness of other wicked men, they begin to reflect upon themselves and ask themselves, “What good is it for us to imitate them? Because the Lord is so patient, it will be better that we improve.” And so, sometimes those who have turned away from Me come back to Me because they abhor doing what the wicked do, and their conscience advises them to repent.