Flower of Devotion

The heavenly mountain described in the previous chapter was shown by God to St. Mechtilde once more on another day, and the saint ascended it alone. When she came to the third degree, the stage of “love,” she was washed of all her sins in the fountain. And when she came to the sixth degree, she was clothed in a white robe. When she finally climbed the last step, she saw the Lord standing on the top of the mountain. The Lord gave her his hand, lifted it up, and said, “Come, let us take a walk here!” And Sam went with her, and the saint saw nothing but Jesus. And so they came to a little house, built of transparent silver. The saint saw cheerful children, dressed in white dresses, jumping around the house and praising the Lord. She understood then that these were children who had died before the age of five and were enjoying weddings here endlessly. Then she came to another house, which was carved out of purple stone, and in it sang a multitude of souls in purple robes. The saint recognized that they were widows and married people, that they were the people of the ordinary blessed. Then they came upon a house made of shining ruby, and with which there were also an innumerable multitude of holy souls. They were those who had fought for Christ in mortality, overcame Satan, and now rejoice endlessly with God.
Then they came to a house built of the purest gold. The Lord showed it to the saint and said, “This is the house of which it is written, ‘I will bring you into my mother’s house and into my mother’s chamber’ (Song 3:4). From these words, the saint understood in God that the Virgin Mary conceived the Son of God out of the love of the Holy Spirit. Thus Christ was born of love, and His mother is Love.
When they entered the house, the saint fell at Jesus’ feet. The Lord eagerly lifted her up and held her to Himself. And all those who commended themselves to her prayer were at the door, and a rope came out of the Heart of God, by which all grasped it, which was a sign that all those for whom St. Mechtilde prayed had received grace. And when she had received the Body of Christ, the saints around the house sang: “The bread of the angels has been eaten by man, Hallelujah!” And the angels sang, “He has given them the Bread of Heaven!”
St. Mechtilde was so joyful and united in the Lord and with the Lord, in whom are all perfections and there is fullness of all good and abundance of eternal bliss.