Flower of Devotion

One Sunday, when the “Mane prima sabbati” was sung (on the morning of the first day of the week), during the stanza, “As the source of supreme goodness,” St. Mechtilde reflected on what and which goods flow from the source of all good without end. Then the Lord said to her:
“Go and see the least inhabitant of Heaven, and then you will know the source of goodness.”
St. Mechtilde began to ponder where she would find the little one, and how she would know him. Suddenly, a man dressed in a green robe, with curly golden hair, of medium height, kind in face, and very well dressed, came out to meet her. The saint said to him, “Who are you?” When asked, he replied, “I have been a robber and a thief on earth, and I have never done a good deed.” The saint went on to ask, “How did you come to these joys?”
He answered: “I did my wrongdoings not out of malice, but out of habit, because I did not know a good example, for that was how my parents brought me up. At the end of my life, I merited God’s mercy through penance.” For ten years I was in purgatory and suffered many torments, and it was only by the unmerited goodness of God that I was brought into this peace.” Then he showed St. Mechtilde all the good that God had done for him in His love, which gave her great joy. This is how she came to know the Source of goodness in the least. For if God does this to one who has done nothing good in his life, what will He do in His full of virtues and merits saints!