Flower of Devotion

The Lord’s Invitation

On Sunday, “Esto michi” (Shrove Sunday), St. Mechtilde heard the Beloved of her soul say to her in the sweet voice of love: “Do you want to dwell with me on the mountain these forty days and nights?” The saint answered: “Oh, how willingly, my Lord, this is what I want and desire!” Then the Lord showed her a high mountain of marvellous size, which from sunrise to sunset had seven steps, by which one enters seven springs.

Entrance to the mountain

And the Lord took her and led her to the first step, which is called the step of “humility.” On it was a spring of water, which cleansed her soul from all the faults it had made with pride. Then they went to the second step, which is called the degree of gentleness,” and the spring called “patience” washed away the sins of the sins which it had brought upon itself by wrath. Thus they entered the third degree, called the stage of “love.” The fountain was here called “love,” and in it the soul was washed clean of all the sins it had committed through jealousy. On this step God stood with his soul a little longer, and the soul fell at the feet of the Lord Jesus. At that same hour there was the sound of the sweet and honeyed voice of Christ, who said: “Arise, my friend, show me your face!” (PnP 2). All the multitudes of saints and angels who were at the height of the mountain sang the sweet song of love with God and in God, as if there were only one glorious voice, so that human language is not enough to tell it.
Then they ascended to the fourth degree, called the degree of “obedience.” Here was the fountain of “holiness” that cleansed the soul of all disobedience. Then they came to the fifth degree, called the degree of “temperance.” This fountain was called “generosity,” and it cleansed the soul of all that it had done with covetousness, when it had never used created things for its salvation and for the glory of God, as it ought to have done. At that same hour they ascended to the sixth degree, called the degree of “innocence.” Here was the fountain of divine “purity,” which cleanses the soul of all carnal passions, should it sin by them. Here we see the Lord and others dressed like Him in a garment that shines brightly. And they came to the seventh degree, called the stage of “spiritual joys,” and the fountain of heavenly “joy” washed the soul from the sins of sloth. After all, this spring did not flow as fast as the others, but fell in drops quietly and slowly. For no one, as long as he lives on earth, can fully enjoy the joys of heaven, but uses them only as if it were a drop, and this happiness is nothing in comparison with all reality.
Eventually, the Friend of the Soul ascended with her to the top of the mountain. Here was a multitude of angels like birds. They had golden bells and made sweet sounds.

Throne of the Most Holy Trinity

At the top there were two thrones glittering in a marvellous ornament. The first of these was the seat of the supreme and indivisible Trinity. Four streams of living water came out of this capital. The first stream, as Saint Mechtilde understood, signified the wisdom of God, in which the Most High governs the saints so that they always recognize His will and joyfully carry it out. The second stream represented Divine Providence, in which the Most High presides over His saints in all that is good, and over-satisfies them by imparting to them an interiorgraces and freedoms. The third stream represented God’s super-riches, with which he fills his saints with the fullness of all good, so that they never desire so great things that he would not give them still more abundant goods. In the fourth stream is shown the delight of God, in which the saints live so inexpressibly joyfully in God, filled with the fullness of happiness,
overflowing in an excess of joy that has no end, for God wipes away every tear from their eyes, and there is no more death for them. 7. 17).
This throne had a golden roof over it, which in its size filled the whole circle of the earth. It represented the Deity Himself. It was adorned with precious stones and the purest gold, and it shone wonderfully, like the edifice of the King of Heaven. And this throne included a multitude of the dwellings of the saints: patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, and other elect of the Lord.

Throne of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The second throne was the seat of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, as befits the Queen, sat beside her King. And this throne had many dwellings for the holy Virgins, who worthily imitated the Blessed Virgin Mother in their earthly lives.

Heavenly Feast

Soul of the saint, seeing Jesus, the King of glory, on the throne of His Majesty and His Mother at the right hand, fell with admiration for that Holy Face into which the angels desire to look, and fell before the throne to which all who had received the Body of the Lord in this life had gone. The Son of the Blessed Virgin served here His most glorious Body as the most precious food, and gave to everyone the Living and Whole Bread. They
were also served a cup of the Sweetest Wine. It was the Blood of the Lamb without blemish, in which hearts were washed from all sins. Thus they all experienced an over-refreshment, an unspeakable joy, and a happy union with God. Then the Lord said to the soul, “Now I give myself to you with all the good that I am and that I can give. You are in Me and I am in you, and you will never be separated from Me.”

Glorification of the Son of God in Heaven

St. Mechtilde now asked the Blessed Virgin to worship her Son with her. At that very hour the Blessed Virgin descended from her throne and, together with a choir of virgins, proclaimed the glory of her Son in ineffable adoration. And the patriarchs and prophets praised the Lord and said, “Praise and glory to the Trinity, one and threefold God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!” (Responsory for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity). And the venerable choir of the apostles sang devoutly: “To the Lord, of whom are all things, and through whom are all things, praise be for ever!” For it was the holy apostles who knew Him on earth: from whom all good flowed, through whom all things were made in heaven and on earth, and in whom all good things are preserved. Then the victorious crowd of martyrs sang, saying, “Praise be to you!” Then the devotees sang, “Blessing and brightness to you!”
When St. Mechtilde began to wonder that the angels did not sing, the Lord said, “You will sing with the angels.” At that same hour the angels sang with St. Mechtilde: “Thee, the holy Lord in the highest, the angels praise and say, ‘To thee is due honor and glory, O Lord.’”